Village Crier: December 31, 2020

Active COVID cases remain low

According to the Champaign-Urbana Health District there are 65 active COVID-19 cases, five more than the area's six week low of 60 on Sunday, within the six villages covered by The Sentinel.

To date, there has been 73 positive cases in Ogden, 36 in Royal, 426 in St. Joseph, 6 in Sidney, 11 in Philo and 324 identified in Tolono since March of this year.

St. Joseph IGA open New Year's Day

Looking for additional snacks for tonight's countdown to 2021? The St. Joseph IGA will be open today from 6a-8p. The store will also be open on January 1, New Year's Day, from 6a-6p for last minute shopping needs.

Recycling reminder for Tolono residents

The Village posted a reminder that users should only place approved items in are recycling bins and asks that all boxes be broken down or flattened in order to make plenty of room for the increase in material due to the holidays.

Recycle bins use is for Tolono residents only. If the bins are full, residents are asked to take items back with them. Leaving boxes and recyclable material on the ground next to bins is considered illegal dumping. Illegal dumping is punishable with a $500 fine from the village. There are surveillance cameras to record activity at the bin location.

Here is a list of acceptable items that can be disposed at recycling bins.

Possible winter storm on New Year's

Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a Winter Weather Advisory for today starting at 4:03am until 12pm on January 1. In addition to Champaign County, the advisory also covers Edgar, Vermilion, Shelby, Coles, Piatt and Douglas counties.

The area is expected to see a mixture of precipitation late tonight and Friday. A winter storm system is expected to bring snow, sleet and freezing rain to the area. While the exact track and strength of this storm has not been determined, the threat for ice and snow now appears to be likely to make road conditions hazardous during early hours New Year's Day.

Current prediction calls for snow accumulations up to a half inch, sleet accumulations between one and two tenths of an inch, or ice accumulations between one- and two-tenths of an inch.

For the latest road conditions throughout Illinois visit www.gettingaroundillinois.com.

Forest preserve collecting Christmas trees

The Champaign County Forest Preserve District is accepting Christmas trees now until mid-January. Only undecorated trees will be accepted. Artificial trees or commercial drop-offs will not be taken as they cannot be used for the natural recycling by the Preserve District.

The tree can be dropped off any day of the week between 7am and sunset. Once you arrive at the park, there are signs to direct vehicles to the following drop-off locations:

• Homer Lake – drop trees off near the Maple Sugar Grove
• Lake of the Woods – drop trees off at the west maintenance entrance off Rte. 47.
• Middle Fork River – drop trees off at maintenance building

The trees are chipped and used for trails and landscaping at forest preserves throughout Champaign County. When the lakes freeze over, the trees are dragged onto the lake with cinder blocks attached to them. These will sink when the ice thaws to provide a natural aquatic habitat.

Billy Bob's closed

On December 11, the Champaign County public health agency suspended the health permit for Billy Bob's in Ogden. Yesterday, Judge Roger Webber granted a restraining order sought by the agency barring the restaurant from operating without a valid health permit.

Billy Bob's, represented by attorney Tom DeVore, will be back in court at 9am on January 12, when the TRO expires, for another hearing to force the restaurant to comply with the state's ban on indoor dining.

Judge Ben Dyer was replaced on the bench by Webber after a request submitted by DeVore, who had hoped for a friendlier court after Dyer shot down a pair of earlier attempts by DeVore to keep two other clients open, the Apple Dumplin' and Mary Ann's Diner in Champaign.

The timing could not be worse for the establishment which will now be closed during a typically profitable New Year's celebration. On their Facebook page, a message stated that the restaurant will be open "for carry-out in the near future".

Photo of the Day - December 30, 2020

Third at state!

Spartan volleyball players Jenna Albrecht and Lacey Kaiser celebrate with teammates after the team's 2-1 win over Rockford Lutheran to finish 3rd at the 2019 Illinois High School Association's Volleyball State Final in Class 2A. Finishing the season 36-5, St. Joseph-Ogden brought home the hardware after a three-set thriller, 25-11, 20-25, 25-23. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Lender makes home loan process easier for buyers

Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company and Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee, has launched a new video promoting its easy loan process.

"Getting a home loan should not be an intimidating and difficult process, and we are continuously working to make the home financing journey - from application to closing - as easy as possible," said company president Eric Hamilton "A seamless home loan process greatly improves the customer experience, which is at the heart of our business."

Vanderbilt also enhanced its online application to simplify the process for customers on the company website.

Along with making the loan approval process easier for customers, Vanderbilt is continuing a program offering no payments for 60 days. This program automatically extends most new customers' first mortgage payment due date for 60 days after closing. While there are some additional requirements and restrictions, the program gives customers extra time to focus on paying the costs of moving in, without worrying about their first mortgage payment.

Over the last two years, the mortgage company has published an updated version of their home loan guide that contains helpful articles designed to explain the loan process to customers and valuable tips to ensure they are prepared during each step along the way.

Photo of the Day - December 29, 2020

Taking their best shot

St. Joseph-Ogden's Seth Wedig takes a shot on the Unity goal during his team's home game in 2017. After playing to scoreless finish after regulation time expired, the Spartans fell 2-1 in a shootout against the Rockets.

Photo:
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Photo of the Day - December 28, 2020

Tres grandes sonrisas

Former Spartan athletes JC Ducey, Tyler Johnson and Lukas Graves flash million dollar smiles as they show a little love to their favorite sports photographer from the back of a truck bed in 2013 during St. Joseph-Ogden's home football game against Marshall. The trio, who played in a state football title game together in 2006, also were teammates on the baseball field. Johnson, a three-sport athlete, played basketball while Graves wrestled his way to state finals appearances during the winter seasons. Later that evening the entire Spartan nation wore smiles as SJO rolled to a 47-0 shutout over the visiting Lions in the season opener on August 30.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Guest Commentary: Decisions determine our destiny

By Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

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2021 is here, and will it be just another year?

If it's just another year then that won't be bad at all because too many will not have another year. The opportunity and privilege to have another year is the gift of life. Being alive and living your life is about as good as it gets. Aim for being alive this time next year.

Make some decisions about 2021. Where do you want to be this time in 12 months? Would you like to be ten pounds heavier? Maybe you would like to be ten or twenty pounds lighter?

If you cut back on your portions and get off the couch you can lose a pound a week on average. This is daunting but just think about where you can be the first of March if you start today? Don't start tomorrow. Start right now. Today. This minute. Throw all that junk cake and pie in the trash. This is a tough decision because we hate to say goodbye to all those holiday cookies and candies. Your body will thank you and you will feel so much better very soon.

Decide about financial habits. Millions of Americans carry credit card debt. Minimum payments on $3,000 of credit card debt is like swimming up river. If you have missed a few payments your credit card company may be anxious to hear from you. Ask them if they will consider a settlement payoff. A friend of mine owed $5,000 and his credit card company settled for a $2800 payoff. Your company might or might not but it never hurts to negotiate. You might be able to sell some things in order to erase that back breaking high interest debt.

Make some money in 2021 - if you want to. Most Americans need to make money in 2021. Work on job applications. Peruse the newspaper. Search online. Consider places you have heard about and call them, go see them. Knock on doors of opportunity. You get nowhere if you do not try. You might complete 20 or 30 applications to get one job interview. Complete the application thoroughly. Give them a reason to consider you. Put together a good biographical sketch, resume. Have a friend or two to review and edit because two heads are better than one. Have some good trusted references. Wherever you work do a good job because you want them to say a good word about you. A good word may seal the deal on your next job opportunity.

Jobs sometimes are scarce. Consider your personal knowledge and abilities and what might you do to make a dollar or two? What do you know that others need to know? What can you offer that others need or might want? Can you make something? Can you fix things? How can you help others? Creating your own life and business might be the financial and mental sanity answer for you. If you create your own work and are good at what you do, you will not run out of something to do.

Our decisions determine our destiny. Whatever decision we make we have to put into action. Faith without works is dead. May your life be good, healthy and filled with wonderful love, family and friends in 2021. Let's work together for a good year.

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Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of American Issues, Every American Has An Opinion and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.

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This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of PhotoNews Media. We welcome comments and views from our readers.

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Area restaurant owners have a court date for operating without a health permit

"Not till I get a court order," is what restaurateur Jeff Buckler told The News-Gazette on Friday, December 18, the day after his establishment, Lil Buford's in Tolono had its health permit pulled and was asked to close. "Wars aren’t won in one fight." Now he is a little more than three weeks of finding out if he picked the wrong battle.

This morning, the Champaign-Urbana newspaper reported that Buckler, and Charles Buck, owner of Billy Bob’s Under the Water Tower in Ogden, are formally charged with operating a restaurant without a valid health permit.

Billy Bob's permit was suspended on December 11. Both restaurant owners have continued to operate providing dining services without county permits.

Despite Champaign County having the third lowest positivity level among the 102 Illinois counties, under Illinois' multi-tier resurgence mitigation plan indoor service at bars and restaurants is prohibited. However, outdoor service and carry-out and delivery sales are still allowed at establishments that possess all the requisite permits by state, county and local governments.

Buckler also owns Buford's in Sadorus which currently offers carryout and outdoor service only after he ceased indoor dining earlier this month. Even in the face of fines, attorney fees and possible court order closure, Lil Buford's, which opened in October, continues to offer dine-in service today.

Fighting tooth and nail for the survival of his business, Buckler's resistance effort made the national news on Sunday. He told FoxNews "there are thousands of servers and cooks and bartenders are out of work" and that "People are starving. It's going to get bad here soon."

The two owners and their attorneys are scheduled to be in court January 21.

Several other Champaign County bar and restaurant establishments that have ignored the state's public health mandate have entered settlement agreements with the health department's enforcement after appearances in court or prior docketed dates. Merry-Ann’s Diner in Champaign, the American Legion Post 71, Apple Dumplin’ at 2014 N. High Cross Road, U; Not Too Far Bar at 203 Chapin St., Ivesdale; and Red Wheel Restaurant at 741 Broadmeadow, Rantoul, all were cited for continuing indoor dining.

The Apple Dumpling was permanently restricted from operating without a valid health permit in a decision by Judge Benjamin Dyer. In a settlement agreement by owners Jim and Kathryn Flaningam and county health officials, a permanent injunction order approved a little more than a week ago included provisions that the restaurant owners must comply with all applicable laws, including any notice of requirements issued by the Champaign County Public Health Department.

The Red Wheel's suspension barely lasted 24 hours and was reinstated after a written correction was accepted by the CUPHD and a reinstatement fee was paid. In a settlement agreement with City of Champaign and the county, Merry-Ann’s agreed to quit offering indoor dining services to the public.

Photo of the Day - December 27, 2020

Unity falls in OT loss to SJO

Unity three-sport athlete Skyler Shepherd dribbles around St. Joseph-Ogden's Jake Pence during the Rockets home game on February 5, 2016. The Spartans in prevailed in an overtime thriller defeating the Rockets, 76-67.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Area COVID cases hit six-week low

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District data shows the total number of COVID-19 cases for six villages The Sentinel covers is now down to 66, a six-week low. The county's seven-day rolling positivity, excluding University of Illinois testing is a mere 6.1% and our region is down to 9% as of December 23.

On November 15 the area's active cases nearly doubled going from 69 to 110 after tests confirmed 41 new cases. The bulk of the surge came from households in Tolono and St. Joseph. The number of confirmed cases peaked at 142 on November 22, two days after Illinois was mandated to Tier 3 guidelines.

Despite the declining number of cases in Region 6 and 20% or better availability of ICU beds, Governor J.B. Pritzker has made it clear that he has no plans in the near future to relax restriction for our region and Region 1, which have met the criteria to roll back to Tier 2 mitigation.

"Since the surge hit us, it’s been important for us to get the right trajectory of cases, and hospitalizations and ICU use, and to make sure that we get to the right level," Pritzker said during his press conference a week ago Christmas day. "Remember, there are still many hospitals around the state, that have limited ability to take in new ICU patients, or even new hospitalizations. And so we’re trying very hard to bring it down all across the state before we start to relieve the regions from Tier 3 to Tier 2."

Rather than "yo-yo" in out of stricter mitigation measures, the Governor said he is taking a wait-and-see approach for a week or two after the holiday period.

Illinois reported 3,293 new and probable cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the statewide total since the beginning of the pandemic to 934,142. The state also reported 66 new deaths, raising the overall toll to 15,865.

Illinois' case total is now at the lowest since Oct. 19, when 3,113 cases were reported. And on Thursday, the state's seven-day average for coronavirus deaths fell to 116, its lowest point since December 2.

Photo of the Day: December 26, 2020

Going long

Junior Keanen Swanson looks to throw a pass during St. Joseph-Ogden's home football game against Illinois Valley Central in 2017. Swanson and the Spartans, who finished 4-5 after a heartbreaking loss to Monticello in the regular season finale two weeks later, rolled to a 38-20 victory against the Grey Ghosts.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Roe & Co making its way to Illinois next year

Diageo, one of the world's largest beverage alcohol distributor, plans to introduce Roe & Co Blended Irish Whiskey, in Illinois in 2021.

Made from the finest hand-selected stocks of Irish malt and grain whiskies and aged in bourbon casks, the Irish Whiskey is a contemporary blend, non-chill filtered and bottled at an ABV of 45 percent (90 proof). According to Diageo, "It has the signature smoothness of Irish Whiskey with remarkable depth of flavor – a luxuriously smooth blend, with a perfect harmony between the intense fruitiness of the malt and the mellow creaminess of the grain whiskies."

Photo Provided

Last year, Roe & Co converted the Guinness Power Station into a new urban distillery in the heart of Dublin's whiskey district adjacent to where the old George Roe and Co distillery was originally located. The company has teamed up with Guinness in a new advertising campaign highlighting the importance of being good neighbors.

Named after George Roe, regarded as a pioneer in the distillery and export business during the golden era of Irish whiskey in the 19th century, his distillery was located on Thomas Street in Dublin and was a neighbor to the well-known Guinness brewery. Now a historic landmark, Roe's operation covered nearly 17 acres of ground.

Currently, Roe & Co is available in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Washington, D.C. and one of several major brands, including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness, distributed by Diageo.

The distillery is located at 92 James's Street in Dublin, Ireland where tours and tasting events are held Thursday through Saturday from 3p-8p.