THEThe G Talk AndAZETTE- Cobden Review • ServingD UnionEMOCRAT County Since 1849 Thursday, July 4, 2019 Anna, Illinois ©2019 Reppert Publications $1.00 Volume 170, Number 29 News Governor issues new state disaster proclamation Gov. JB Pritzker on Fri- day, June 28, issued a new state disaster proclamation NotesItems of interest for all 36 counties currently from throughout undergoing flood response the Union County area or recovery activities in Illinois. Happy Independence Union County is included Day to all of our readers. in the state disaster procla- *** mation. Remember to keep your While some portions of holiday celebrations safe... the state have begun re- and sober...please do not covery operations, there are drink and drive. still several river communi- *** ties in an active flood fight The Shawnee Com- with river levels in major munity College Board of flood stage, the governor’s Trustees announced early office noted. this week that Dr. Kathleen “For more than three Curphy has been appointed months, Illinois residents as the college's interim have witnessed a seemingly Sunday sunset in river bottom lands president. Curphy has been constant wave of storms The setting sun on Sunday evening cast an almost golden hue in waters along the Refuge Road at serving as the college's vice that have generated sig- the Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area near Ware. president of academic af- nificant rainfall, triggering fairs. Curphy's appointment ground and levee saturation was announced in a news and significant river flood- release which the paper ing,” the governor said in a received at press time on River levels slowly falling in region news release. Tuesday afternoon. Major flooding was oc- backwater flooding. stage near 38.4 by Saturday *** “Life safety continues to curring. Major flooding was Flooding has led to the morning, July 6. A new, 1 percent county be our priority. The State in the forecast. closing of Illinois Routes Big Muddy River near sales tax which will gener- of Illinois will continue to The forecast early this 3 and 146 in McClure and Murphysboro: At 8:30 ate funding for local school provide the resources nec- week was calling for the East Cape Girardeau areas. p.m. Monday, July 1, the improvements went into essary to protect lives, save river to continue to slowly Mississippi River at river’s stage was 26.8 feet. effect on July 1. critical infrastructure and fall to a stage near 40.1 Thebes: At 8:30 p.m. Mon- Flood stage is 22.0 feet. *** help our local governments feet by Saturday morning, day, July 1, the river’s stage Minor flooding was oc- in their time of need.” The Illinois Principals July 6. was 40.3 feet. Flood stage is curring. Minor flooding was The governor recently Association is welcoming The weather service 33.0 feet. in the forecast. activated an additional 80 Anna Junior High School noted that thousands of Moderate flooding is oc- The forecast called for principal Mark Laster as a National Guardsmen to bol- acres are flooded. Numer- curring. Moderate flooding the river to continue to member of the association’s ster flood fighting efforts in Route 3 closed ous roads are closed, both was in the forecast. slowly fall to a stage near board of directors. northern Alexander County, A sign along Illinois *** Route 146 between along the Mississippi River The forecast called for 24.5 feet on Saturday morn- along the Mississippi River Jonesboro and Ware and in areas impacted by the river to slowly fall to a ing, July 6. The Cobden Women’s community of East Cape Club has been chosen to alerts motorists that Girardeau. part of state Route 3 is serve as grand marshal for The governor’s office the 2019 Cobden Peach closed due to flooding. Festival parade. The parade, said that officials with the ‘Flood the Bus’ event planned Water levels were slow- with a theme of “Celebrat- Illinois Emergency Man- As volunteers continue to number of volunteers now Save-a-Lot in Jonesboro, ing Our Agricultural His- agement Agency and Illi- ly falling early this week battle the rising seep water sandbagging the homes of and Dollar General stores tory,” is planned Aug. 3. nois Department of Trans- along the Mississippi and in Alexander County from residents in the county, re- in Union County. *** portation, IDOT, have Big Muddy rivers in South- this year’s historic flood- sources are being depleted All donations must be Story hours are sched- worked hand-in-hand with ern Illinois and Southeast ing, the rising temperatures faster than they can be re- taken to the collection site uled on Tuesdays during local and county officials to Missouri. create an additional need stocked,” Southern Seven at the bank for immediate July at the Jonesboro Public ensure critical community Even as river levels of bottled water for those Health Department MRC delivery, the health depart- Library. The programs be- lifelines, such as transporta- were falling, the National sandbagging in the area. coordinator Bobi Cavins ment noted. gin at 2 p.m. tion corridors, remain open Weather Service office in In response, Southern said. Once collected, the items *** during this historic flood. Paducah reported that flood Seven Health Department’s “The Medical Reserve will be delivered to the The Anna-Jonesboro However, due to inland warnings remained in effect Medical Reserve Corps, Corps is hoping to fill the sandbagging operations Elks Lodge recently donat- until further notice for the flooding, both Illinois MRC, plans to collect do- bus with enough supplies center, located in the Spark ed a laptop computer to the Mississippi and Big Muddy Ministries Church along Route 3 and Illinois Route nations of bottled water, to meet the need while we Anna Police Department. rivers. Illinois Route 146 in Mc- 146 in the immediate area Powerade and Gatorade wait for backup reserves to *** The weather service Clure. of East Cape Girardeau shared the following flood products at its “Flood the arrive.” More information about were no longer viable. updates: Bus” for Flood Relief on Throughout the area, “Flood the Bus” for Flood The following state re- Mississippi River at Friday, July 5, from 9 a.m. local businesses are en- Relief and the Medical sources had been deployed Cape Girardeau: At 8:30 until noon at Anna-Jones- couraging customers to Reserve Corps is available through June 28 in response p.m. Monday, July 1, the boro National Bank on donate to help meet the by contacting the Southern to the flooding: river’s stage was 42.1 feet. North Main Street in Anna. need, including the Anna Seven Health Department (continued on page 2) Flood stage is 32.0 feet. “With the increased Kroger and Walmart stores, at 618-634-2297. Independence Day deco- July 1 proclaimed Paula Stairs Day in Union County rations are on display at the Union County Museum in The Union County Board Union County coordinator. and Developmental Cen- been employed through the was on the mission of downtown Cobden. of Commissioners has hon- Shawnee Development ter at 1000 N. Main St. in local Community Action changing people’s lives, im- ored the long-time coordi- Council is a Communi- Anna. Agency, Shawnee Develop- proving communities and (continued on page 2) nator of a local Community ty Action Agency which The proclamation honor- ment Council Inc., for the being dedicated to helping Action Agency. serves Union, Alexander, ing Stairs was read at last past 50 years.” people help themselves...” Monday, July 1, was pro- Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Friday morning’s regular The proclamation con- “...after giving the entire claimed as Paula Stairs Day Pope and Pulaski counties. meeting of the Union Coun- tinued: county of Union 50 years of in Union County. The agency has an out- ty Board of Commissioners. “...through her work as dedicated service, Paula has Stairs is retiring after reach office which serves County board chairman Union County Coordinator, decided to retire...” 50 years of service with Union County. The office Max Miller read the proc- has been a conscientious “...the County of Union the Shawnee Development is located on the grounds of lamation, which began by and dedicated employee...” wished to honor Paula Council. She is the agency’s the Choate Mental Health noting that “Paula Stairs has “...Paula Stairs’ focus Stairs for her distinguished service to the county...” “...therefore, we the County Commissioners, do hereby proclaim July 1, 2019, as Paula Stairs Day in Union County, Illinois, in recognition of her hard work and dedication.” After reading the proc- lamation, Miller told Stairs that “we so sincerely ap- preciate what you’ve done.” Commissioner Bobby Toler Jr. serves as the county representative to the Shawnee Development Council. Toler also praised the work Stairs has done. “We wish you the very best,” he said. Stairs voiced apprecia- Paula Stairs honored tion for the honor she re- Paula Stairs was honored at last Friday morning’s regular meeting of the Union County Board of ceived. Stairs noted that Commissioners. From left are county commissioner David Gould, county board of commissioners when she was hired, she chairman Max Miller, Paula Stairs, county commissioner Kent Pitts, county board of commissioners was told that she was to vice chairman Bobby Toler Jr. and county commissioner Dale Foster. have a job for six months. Page 2 - Section A Thursday, July 4, 2019 The Gazette-Democrat County tax bills mailed Union County Treasurer Leigh Burns reported on Friday that local property tax bills would be arriving in the mail this week. The treasurer reported at last Friday’s regular meet- ing of the Union County Board of Commissioners meeting that tax bill due Street project work continues dates are set for Aug.