The Metro East Region 4 will return to stricter COVID mitigations Wednesday, Oct. 28, after the region experienced positivity rates over 8 percent for three straight days.
The region includes Clinton, Washington, Bond, St. Clair, Monroe, Madison and Randolph counties.
The Metro East region's triggering of the 8-percent threshold for added mitigations is the second time it has done so since mid-summer.
Six of the state's 11 Restore Illinois regions will be operating under new mitigations.
Clinton County's test positivity percentage, for Oct. 11-17, was at 13.3 percent, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The number of COVID-19 tests performed during that period was 1,079, according to IDPH.
IDPH's metrics, found on their website, were last updated Oct. 23, and run three days behind.
The region on Sept. 2 saw stricter mitigations enacted by Pritzker after positivity rates jumped to beyond 8 percent for three-plus consecutive days.
On Oct. 9, after nearly of month of monitoring, the region was brought out of those mitigations and back to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan.
The stronger mitigations do not affect schools, as school officials — working with IDPH and the Illinois State Board of Education — have been allowed to enact their own COVID mitigations to determine if they will stay with in-person or remote learning.
Among the Phase 4 restrictions have been capacity limits of 50 people or less, or 50 percent of allowable occupancy; 20 percent seating capacity for outdoor spectator events; for bars and restaurants, parties up to 10 people allowed; buffets and self-serve stations adhering to added minimum guidelines.
State Rep. Charlie Meier (R, 108-Okawville) expressed dismay at the announcement from Gov. J.B. Pritzker Monday afternoon in Peoria.
“The governor’s enhanced restrictions for our region is very discouraging. These small businesses are following the rules and doing their part to keep their patrons safe and healthy and are now told to close again while all the big box stores remain open," Meier said in a statement.
The Diocese of Belleville has removed a priest, who has served two Clinton County parishes, following allegations of inappropriate conduct with a minor.
The Rev. Anthony Onyango, the administrator of St. Damian Parish in Damiansville and St. Bernard Parish in Albers,
In a letter to members of both parishes issued Oct. 24, the Most Rev. Michael McGovern, bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, explained what has occurred and the investigative steps the diocese is taking following Onyango's removal from his post.
McGovern, in his letter, writes that the allegations "are claims that have not been proven as true or false; therefore, guilt or innocence should not be assumed."
The Rev. Monsignor John T. Myler, a diocesan spokesman, has said in news reports that the conduct in question is not of a sexual nature.
A call to Myler on Tuesday was not immediately returned.
The allegations made against Onyango were reported to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and local civil authorities.
The diocese's Victim Assistance Ministry has made available its services to the individual who made the accusations against Onyango.
Onyango has been instructed to live away from the parish as the incident is investigated.
McGovern writes, "It is crucial that you know nothing is more important than the welfare of the youth entrusted to our care."
He said the diocese takes allegations of inappropriate or sexual misconduct seriously and asked anyone who believes they may have been "harmed by a priest, deacon, [or a] religious lay employee, to come forward."
In Onyango's absence during the investigation, the Rev. Monsignor John McEvilly will provide pastoral services at both parishes effective this Saturday.
Making history — Central senior cross country runner Kristen Ess takes the turn on the first mile in her Class 1A Freeburg Regional title run on Saturday in Smithton. Ess will have her last high school race this Saturday. (Photo by Jeremy Chawgo) Central senior Kristen Ess and Wesclin senior Justin Mumford continue to etch their names in each of their school’s record books in cross country history.
Ess became the first female athlete to win a cross country regional, as she dominated the field on Saturday at the Smithton Community Park.
She won the Freeburg Regional title with a time of 18:29 which was 46 seconds better than Julia O’Neill in second place with a time of 19:15.
Prior to Ess’ title on Saturday, the best finish in school history was KC Root winning second place in both 2005 and 2006. Root also finished fourth overall in 2004. Leann Voss claimed fourth in 2005, while Katelyn Wiegmann was third in 2006.
The Cougars, as a team, also advanced to the Althoff Sectional as they tied for second place, as they and Mater Dei each scored 83 points. Freeburg won the overall title with 55 points. Wesclin was 10th with 250 points.
Central’s second runner to cross the line was sophomore Elizabeth Detmer in 18th place with a time of 20:59 followed by Lucia Knapp in 21st place with a time of 21:13 and senior Regan Albers right behind her in 22nd place with a time of 21:15.
Up next for the Cougars was junior Elizabeth Schroeder in a time of 21:21 which was good for 25th overall. Sophomore Haley Huelsmann was the important sixth runner for CHS to win the tiebreaker with her time of 21:26 in 27th place.
Senior Emma Wesselmann was the seventh runner for the Cougars in 37th place with a time of 22:31.
Mater Dei had a great effort as well with sophomore Alexis Kampwerth taking fourth place with a time of 19:47. Up next for the Lady Knights was fellow sophomore Avery Rahden in 10th place with a time of 20:25.
The youth success continued for Mater Dei with freshman Coryn Toennies in 15th place with a time of 20:53. Up next for MD was sophomore Julia Korte in a time of 21:21 in 26th place.
| Fri., Oct. 23 | 445.44 |
| Sun., Oct. 25 | 445.52 |
| Tues., Oct. 27 | 445.58 |
| Oct. 21 | .19" |
| Oct. 22 | .00" |
| Oct. 23 | .00" |
| Oct. 24 | .01" |
| Oct. 25 | .00" |
| Oct. 26 | .00" |
| Oct. 27 | 1.04" |
