The Illinois Department of Public Health Friday reported 8,039 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease in Illinois, including 109 deaths since March 18. Friday the IDPH reported 1,309 new cases of Coronavirus and 14 additional deaths. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,061,224 cases, including 33,307 deaths. Since March 18, laboratories have reported 563,249 specimens for a total of 56,891,628. As of Thursday night, 470 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 64 patients were in the ICU and 33 patients were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from March 18-24, is 1.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from March 18-24, is 1.6%. A total of 21,315,893 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of Thursday night, 4,259,641 of those were booster doses. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 7,513 doses. Since Mar
Edwards County Treasurer Debbie Smith says the due date for the first installment of 2020 payable 2021 Real Estate Taxes is November 30th, and the second installment is due by December 30th. The total extension this year is $6,276,962. Last year's was $6,443,317.14. Payment may be made in person, by mail, or in the drop box in front of the cell tower on the northeast side of the courthouse. People can also pay online with a credit or debit card at govtechtaxpro.com, though a 2.5 percent fee will be added for the credit card company. Two people were sentenced to prison in Wayne County Circuit Court recently. 37-year-old Fairfield resident Shaun D. Carl pleaded guilty last week to a Class 3 felony count of possession of less than five grams of meth. Judge William Hudson sentenced him to seven years in prison. 39-year-old Mt. Vernon resident Matthew D. Allen pleaded guilty Tuesday to the same offense. Judge Michael Molt sentenced him to five years in prison and one year mandatory su