SPRINGFIELD – The state on Wednesday released new guidelines for youth and recreational sports that will drastically limit allowable activities based on the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus.
CHAMPAIGN — Local health officials recorded the largest-ever daily increase in COVID-19 cases Tuesday, with 55 new positive tests in Champaign County.
CHAMPAIGN — A man in his 40s was the 10th person in Champaign County to die of COVID-19, according to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.
For the fourth straight day, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Champaign County was in single digits.
Of 389 new COVID-19 tests reported Wednesday in Champaign County, 15 — or 4 percent — came back positive.
URBANA — A man wanted for the fatal shooting of his friend in west Champaign last week turned himself in to authorities in Urbana late Wednesday morning.
RANTOUL — Rantoul Foods, which has had at least 87 workers stricken with COVID-19 at its meat processing plant, started hiring again.
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RANTOUL — Lance Cloninger said he didn’t know what to expect for graduation this year.
SafeWorks Illinois has issued the following press release regarding Rantoul Foods. It appears as presented:
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RANTOUL — A sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in Rantoul has been linked to an outbreak at the hog processing plant Rantoul Foods.
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, wrote letters to five Illinois meat processing companies Saturday, including Rantoul Foods, asking them to provide information about how they plan to protect workers from COVID-19 infections in the afte…
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RANTOUL — Golfers were back in their element Friday morning as the state of Illinois lifted its restrictions that had closed gold courses due to the COVID-19 virus.
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Rantoul continues to climb. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department said there are now 10 individuals who have contracted the virus in the community.
FISHER — A cross covered by a Bears jersey stands in memory outside the classroom at Fisher High School where Christina Jamison taught for nearly a decade and a half.
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RANTOUL — Roger Campbell can’t wait. The avid Rantoul golfer who likes to golf even when most people are sitting at home by the fire has been missing his favorite pastime since golf courses were closed last month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Champaign County recorded its sixth death — a woman in her 60s — from the COVID-19 virus, and the number of Rantoul cases jumped to six, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District reported Monday.
Thomasboro is the latest Champaign County community to join an unwanted club — the one with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
There was little joy among area school administrators Friday afternoon.
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday he is “given up” on an adequate coronavirus response from the federal government and announced an expansion of emergency child care during his daily COVID-19 briefing Sunday in Chicago.
Updated Wednesday, April 1
Despite the unsettling times, members of the Gifford and Rantoul communities are doing their best to put smiles on people’s faces.
RANTOUL — Although the entire state went on a soft lockdown March 21, restaurants have been scrambling to stay open since March 16. That is when the Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all restaurants and bars to close except for dine-in and carry-out only.
POTOMAC — The Potomac Food Pantry will still hold its distribution at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at the old ambulance building, with a few modifications due to the stay-in-place order. It will be a drive-up pickup arrangement. Patrons will give their names and remain in their vehicle. The …
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Area students may be spending more time at home, but they aren’t getting a break from their studies due to the COVID-19-induced schools shutdown. They’re still learning.
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RANTOUL — Officials at two Rantoul golf courses that were told by the state they could be reopen in the midst of the COVID-19 scare have now been told they have to shut down again — dampening the mood of area players.
WATSEKA — A man in his 50s is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Iroquois County.
CHAMPAIGN — The number of persons diagnosed with COVID-19 in Illinois continues to rise. As of today, there are 10 confirmed cases in Champaign County.
On Saturday, March 28, ChambanaMoms.com, You’re Welcome CU, and Visit Champaign County will host Takeout & A Toast for Champaign County virtually though Facebook.
RANTOUL — Schae Rutledge has been named Rantoul Exchange Club student of the month for March.
RANTOUL — PRO Ambulance personnel have responded to a “handful” of calls where the patients’ symptoms have mirrored those of COVID-19 in the past couple of weeks, Director Bob Holloway said, but to date none of those have tested positive for the virus.
Note: This column will have more news telling what is not happening in our area right now, due to you-know-what (if the word isn’t mentioned, maybe it will go away?!). Please note the e-mail address at the end of the column if there is something about which you’d like to notify our community…
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RANTOUL — Like students everywhere, Lincoln’s Challenge Academy cadets will not be continuing classes/duties until at least the end of March. Whether cadets will have to wait to resume classes the next semester remains to be seen.
The Fisher High School scholastic bowl team is regional champion.
RANTOUL — An event to honor the Tuskegee Airmen in Rantoul this month has been postponed over concerns regarding the coronavirus.
LUDLOW — The village of Ludlow might be preparing to borrow money at just the right time for its new water main project.
RANTOUL — In an effort to improve student ownership of the school, Rantoul Township High School administrators are forming a 67-student leadership team drawn from this year’s freshmen, sophomores and juniors.
FISHER — The Fisher Village Board voted to contribute $2,000 toward the membership of the Fisher Area Business Association in the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce.
ROYAL — Top Quality Roofing was selected to install the new roof on South Elementary this summer.
RANTOUL — St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Gifford will sponsor a food distribution Saturday, March 28, at Community Service Center, 520 E. Wabash Ave., Rantoul.
POTOMAC — Two Potomac-Armstrong basketball players were recently honored with an invitation to the All-State Junior High Classic, held at Lincoln College.
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RANTOUL — Rantoul village officials would still like to name a street Tuskegee Drive, but the original location was scrapped for now.
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DEWEY — If America grinds to a halt because of the coronavirus, farmers could see lower corn prices, a University of Illinois agricultural economist told farmers in Dewey.
Keith C. Kesler, 95, of rural Urbana died Sunday, March 15, 2020, at Country Health Care & Rehab in Gifford.
James “Paul” Lafary, 102, of Paxton, formerly of Rantoul, died at 3:24 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2020, at Accolade of Paxton Senior Living.
RANTOUL — Rantoul Public Library will be closed from March 17 until at least March 30.
In the light of Gov. JB Pritzker’s order that all Illinois schools will be closed from March 17 through the end of the month, Rantoul City Schools and Rantoul Township High School will work together to provide meals for school children starting March 23.
RANTOUL — Effective Saturday morning, the village of Rantoul will be closing Forum Fitness Center and Rantoul Youth Center until further notice due to concerns over the coronavirus.
URBANA — A Rantoul man and Gifford woman who were in a stolen car that had a gun and other people’s debit cards and checks have been charged with a number of crimes.
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all schools in the state to close from March 17 to the end of the month.
