A letter from Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges

To the Residents of the Village of St. Joseph,

I wanted to give a brief update as to what the next two weeks may look like in the village.

We will continue to have the village office closed to the public this week and probably the following week. Staff will be in the office answering phones and handling all daily operations. Sewer payments can be made by phone, mail or dropped off at the village’s night deposit located next to the front door.

The public works department will also continue to operate as usual to keep the village running as smoothly as possible under these circumstances. Please avoid approaching the village workers and practice safe distancing.

If you have concerns, questions or emergency needs please contact the office during office hours. The office staff will notify the public works department or have someone contact you by phone.

The village parks will be closed. Enjoy the open space but avoid the playground and the restrooms will remain closed.

Please visit the village website for more information and changing schedules. We will do our best to keep you informed.

I want to thank our wonderful community for being the St. Joseph that I have always loved. Once again, I’m proud to say that this is my hometown and so very thankful to be able to serve my community as your Mayor.

As we make our way through these frightening and trying times continue to be patient with those around you. Continue to work together to help our community members and businesses. Help our local businesses during the shutdown and thereafter. Curbside services are being offered by the restaurants, grocery store and apothecary.

Please check on your neighbors especially our senior citizens and those with disabilities medical or otherwise.

Contact the village office if any of these citizens need help picking up groceries or prescriptions.

Just a few suggestions as we continue to practice safe distancing and staying home; go online and complete your census, read a good book, play board games with your children, take a walk or bike ride (the bike trail is open for business), contact the food bank or schools to help with their curbside services and most of all smile and wave at those you meet each day.

We will all need that bit of encouragement as we work our way through the next few days or weeks to come.

Thank you and God Bless.

Tami Fruhling-Voges, St. Joseph Village Mayor

Village of St. Joseph office closed to the public until further notice

While there has been only one confirmed case of the Coronavirus in Champaign County, following the lead of government offices around the state, village officials have closed their physical office in St. Joseph to the public.

There was no indication on the village website when they might reopen at this time.

Residents can, however, still interact with the village and leaders by phone or email during normal business hours. Staff members will be available to answer phones, respond to email and process all payments as usual.

Sewer payments are asked to be made by using the night box on the left hand side of the building. While checks and money orders are the preferred methods as they leave a paper trail to verify receipt, cash payments will be accepted by the village and a receipt will be mailed as soon as possible.

For more information contact the village office by phone at (217) 469-7371. Questions or concerns can be emailed to office manager Julie Hendrickson at julie.quednau@stjosephillinois.org or Debbie Routh at debbie.routh@stjosephillinois.org.

Happy trails await in Vermilion County Parks

Yesterday, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced the closure of state parks until further notice citing the Coronavirus pandemic as the underlying cause for the decision.

Today, the Vermilion County Conservation District announced that its Kennekuk, Forest Glen, Lake Vermilion, and Heron County Park properties are still open to the public. The parks will remain open until 8pm daily but with reduced services.

Camping, especially at Forest Glen is not permitted until further notice. The Conservation District will not accept shelter or building reservations at this time. Also, all facilities will be closed to the public. Closed facilities include Visitor Centers, Education Centers, Maintenance Buildings, Ranger Station, and inside and outside Restroom Facilities at all four parks.

Great Value products recalled

Before you chow down on those sausage patties in the morning you might want to look at the label first.

Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released a statement that more than six thousand pounds of ready-to-eat pork sausage and turkey patty products produced in George's Prepared Foods' Caryville, Tennessee facility is subject to recall after a small quantity tested positive for Salmonella.

The contaminated product packaged under the Great Value brand name may have been distributed to Walmart Stores after their third-party cold storage facility inadvertently shipped the meat products.

If you purchased these items you are urged not to eat them and return it to the place of purchase for a refund or exchange, or thrown away immediately.

"FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' refrigerators or freezers or both," the agency announced in Friday'statement. "Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase." Here are the packaged goods recalled :

Product Name: Great Value Original Breakfast Turkey Patties 24.92oz
UPC: 0007874212373 Best If used By Date: 10/24/2019 EST Number: 2260T

Product Name: Great Value Fully Cooked Original Pork Sausage Patties 35.6oz
UPC: 0007874203062 Best If used By Date: 11/05/19 EST Number: 2260T

Product Name: Great Value Fully Cooked Original Pork Sausage Patties 35.6oz
UPC: 0007874203062 Best If used By Date: 11/03/19 EST Number: 2260T

Product Name: Great Value Original Pork Sausage Patties 24.9oz
UPC: 0007874202095 Best If used By Date: 10/16/19 EST Number: 2260T

Salmonella symptoms usually start 12 to 72 hours after the contaminate food has been eaten. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. While most people recover in four to seven days without treatment, death may occur with older people, infants, or those with compromised immune systems.

As of today there has not been any reported illness attributed to the listed products. George's issued a statement on their website confirming the recall.