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Five Mt. Vernon Residents in Custody Following Wednesday Drug Sweep

MT. VERNON – Multiple people were arrested early Wednesday morning after the Mt. Vernon Police Department/Jefferson County Office High-Risk Team executed two narcotics search warrants in Mt. Vernon. According to the Mt. Vernon Police Department, after both residences were secured, the Mt. Vernon Police Department/Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office/Southern Illinois Drug Task Force Narcotics Unit searched

Ferrell Hospital Vaccine Appointments Are Filled

22Januaryadmin

ELDORADO – Vaccination appointments for the current allotment of COVID-19 vaccines at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado have been filled. More appointments will be available when further vaccine allocations are sent by the state. The Ferrell Hospital Facebook page and local media will be updated when more vaccine appointments are available. The process and administration of

SSM Health in Illinois to Give COVID-19 Vaccines in Phase 1B

22Januaryadmin

MT. VERNON, IL (January 20, 2021) – SSM Health began providing COVID-19 vaccinations to Phase 1B patients on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Per the Illinois Department of Public Health, Phase 1B includes persons aged 65 years and older and frontline essential workers. Currently, vaccines are being administered at our primary care office in Mt. Vernon

Valier Mourning the Loss of Longtime Village President Martin Buchanan

21Januaryadmin

VALIER – Longtime Valier Village President Martin Buchanan has passed away. Franklin County officials made the announcement regarding Buchanan’s passing Wednesday afternoon in a written statement on their Facebook page. Buchanan served the Village of Valier for more than 50 years. The statement from Franklin County read “His dedication to the village and the public

Minor Injuries Reported in Wednesday Afternoon School Bus Accident in Franklin County

21Januaryadmin

UPDATED 12:36 p.m. 1-21-2021 BENTON – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Thursday afternoon release more details into an accident involving a school bus around 2:15 Wednesday afternoon on Route 37 at the intersection of Forrest Baptist Church Road south of Benton. According to Sheriff David Bartoni, the accident happened when a school bus, driven by

Hamilton Memorial Hospital District Awaits COVID-19 Vaccine Allotment from the Illinois Department of Public Health

20Januaryadmin

MCLEANSBORO – The Hamilton Memorial Hospital District is currently awaiting COVID-19 vaccine allotments, including for those who are aged 65 and older, from the Illinois Department of Public Health. At this time, all COVID-19 vaccine allotments available for Hamilton County residents are exclusively coordinated directly through the local Hamilton County Health Department. Unfortunately, there is

Jefferson County Health Dept. to Begin COVID-19 Vaccinations for Phase 1B Residents January 25

19Januaryadmin

MT. VERNON – Jefferson County residents included in Phase 1B can start scheduling appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting Jan. 25. According to the Jefferson County Health Department, it received its first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine at the end of December and was able to begin vaccinating those healthcare personnel as part of

Ferrell Hospital to Begin Vaccinating Phase 1B Established Primary Care Patients

19Januaryadmin

ELDORADO, IL – On Thursday, Ferrell Hospital will begin giving COVID-19 vaccines to established primary care patients who are in Phase 1B, which includes residents age 65 and older, and essential non-healthcare workers.* Due to a limited initial supply, Ferrell Hospital will focus on patients who are already established with a Ferrell Hospital primary care

SIU Research Discovers New, Dominant Variant of U.S. COVID-19 Virus

15Januaryadmin

CARBONDALE, Ill. – A team led by a researcher at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has discovered a new variant of the COVID-19 virus that is specific to and dominant in the United States, adding to the growing list of mutations such as those discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa. It might be more

Jefferson County Sheriff Reacts to Criminal Justice Reform Bill

14Januaryadmin

MT. VERNON – A controversial criminal justice reform bill has passed both chambers of the Illinois legislature. House Bill 3653, formerly the over 600 page House Bill 163, was delivered to lawmakers around 3 a.m. Wednesday and comprised of over 764 pages. The new bill, among many other things, would eliminate cash bail, require body