Mayor predicts weeks of senior vaccinations
Patrick Stout
MACOMB Mayor Mike Inman discussed coronavirus vaccinations for those 65 and older on Friday.
He spoke from Macomb City Hall and his comments were posted on the Macomb YouYube channel. Vaccination of older residents is part of Illinois Department of Health Phase 1B, which began Monday.
The mayor predicted release of a distribution plan by the McDonough County Health Department. I m convinced of that, Inman said. I m confident they have a plan ready to roll out..The whole process will be laid out, especially for those in the 65 and older category.
Inman urged patience. He said there are more than 5,000 people in McDonough County who are 65 or older. It will take weeks to complete these vaccinations, he said.
Voice Correspondent
MACOMB The management board of the Macomb/Bushnell Enterprise Zone was told Thursday that nearly $1.4 million was spent in 2020 for new bins at Western Grain Marketing and that $57,163 was spent on electrical improvements at NTN Bower.
Of the Western Grain Marketing improvements, McDonough County Board Chairman Scott Schwerer said, Agriculture is still a major economic driver in the county.
The county hosts one wind farm and another one is in development. Zone Administrator Kim Pierce said neither is actually in the enterprise zone, but they are considered high impact businesses by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Inman talks about Tier 1 possibility
Patrick Stout
Voice Correspondent
MACOMB With last Friday s placement of McDonough County in Restore Illinois Tier 2 status, Mayor Mike Inman said the county is very close to a Tier 1 declaration and resumption of limited indoor dining. The mayor spoke from Macomb City Hall and his comments were posted to the city s YouTube channel.
Inman said the county meets all but one of the Tier 1 requirements. He said a coronavirus positivity rate of under eight percent for three days is required. The positivity rate was 7.9 percent on Friday. Mitigation efforts are paying off, the mayor said. He also mentioned that hybrid learning classes in Macomb schools would begin January 19, as would classes at Western Illinois University.
Voice Correspondent
MACOMB Mayor Mike Inman said last week that coronavirus vaccinations had been completed at all nursing homes in Macomb. Employees of CVS Pharmacy and Walgreen Drug Store gave those shots.
The mayor spoke at Macomb City Hall and his comments were posted to the city s YouTube channel. He said it will be several more weeks before members of the general public will receive vaccination information from the McDonough County Health Department.
Inman said that the Illinois Department of Public Health has scheduled three more days of COVID-19 testing in Macomb. Testing will be done, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Tanner Hall Circle on the Western Illinois University campus, on Friday, January 15, Saturday, January 23, and Sunday, January 24.
Historical magazine recognizes Rev. C.T. Vivian
Steven Barnum
Voice Correspondent
MACOMB The Illinois State Historical Society featured Rev. C.T. Vivian in a recent publication in the Illinois Heritage magazine.
The magazine recognized Vivian, Civil Rights activist and Macomb native who died in July, for dedicating his life to advocating for social and racial justice. They highlight his achievements, including leading nonviolent protests, creating civil rights organizations, and becoming an advisor to Martin Luther King.
The civil rights leader was a native of Macomb, where he lived and attended school. In September, city leaders honored Vivian by unveiling a historical marker at the site of his former home on East Adams Street.