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OPINION: Don’t say goodbye to pay phones just yet: Page A3 COURT: Alluvial Water affiliates look to future after appeal: Page B2
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PAID Jerseyville, IL PERMIT NO. 204
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
P.O. Box 407 Jerseyville, IL 62052
JERSEY COUNTY
JERSEYVILLE, IL 62052
INSIDE NEWS Mayor: Decision on TIF likely by summer. See page A2
SPORTS
Jerseyville High School Dance team qualifies for state. See page A6
FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Welcome, baby Evan . See page A6
WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, MAR. 19
MARCH 17, 2021
JOURNAL VOL. 19, NO. 11 - 75¢
Got Faith encouraging week of roadside cleanup By JARAD JARMON Jersey County Journal Ahead of what is considered by many to be a prime time to clean the house and the yard, Got Faith Ministries is calling on people to also clean up their streets for spring cleaning. Got Faith leaders, in a week-long campaign of sorts, will be trying to get people to pay attention to the roads – or more specifically the roadsides and the trash strewn about them. Dubbed Jersey County Cleanup, this campaign and event will run from March 25-31, and throughout the week, people are encouraged to pick up trash on the sides of the road, namely highways where trash is especially prevalent, and put it in either their own trash or leave it for Got Faith members to pick up. Steve Pegram, who heads up Got Faith, was inspired to organize a cleanup day a month or two ago. “What started this whole thing; my wife and I went over to St. Louis. If you are driving down the highway, there is nothing but trash on the highway,” Pegram said. “I mean it is really bad over there in St. Louis. That is
“If people see people cleaning Jersey County, they are going to start thinking, ‘Hey, they did. Let us do it in Madison County.’”
Steve Pegram Got Faith leader what gave me the idea. Then, I came home, and I was looking at our ditches coming down into Jersey County. It is not as bad as St. Louis, but I am telling you what – they are dirty out there.” Pegram feels the litter, whether it be plastic bags, milk jugs or any other such piece of garbage, is a development that has only gotten worse over the years. So, in an effort to curb that trend, Pegram as a part of Got Faith has called on the community to get involved, whether they be churches, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, athletic teams, coun-
ty boards, city councils, fair boards, American Legion, motorcycle clubs or even businesses. Pegram noted when developing this week-long effort that he noticed even parking lots are filled with litter. “Let the businesses know, ‘Hey, go clean up your trash,’” Pegram said. Already, Pegram noted classes have confirmed they will go out to pick up trash near the River Road. March 30, Kathy Shalley, Christy Schilling and student council members from the fifth, sixth and seventh grades – about 40 students – will be going down to the bike path from Grafton to Pere Marquette cleaning up along the way. Initial plans consisted of securing a few trash drop off points, but Pegram said it was not feasible, keeping in mind some might just throw in their own personal trash or throwing something in that they should not. He said the focus is on roadsides. “That is the whole purpose – just to clean up Jersey County – not to just clean out these peoples’ [residences],” he said. “...These people come out at night and fill your dumpster.” People are asked to pick and bag the trash and simply place it in their own
Blaze totals house in Elsah By JARAD JARMON Jersey County Journal
J
ersey firefighters were quick on the scene Thursday to 51 27 High Low tackle a blaze that consumed a SATURDAY, MAR. 20 section of a house in Elsah.
57 36 High
Low
SUNDAY, MAR. 21
64 43 High
Low
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TOP STORIES ONLINE Week of Mar. 10-16 1. City council approves commercial building grant application 2. Courthouse donates historic library to historical society 3. !uarry Township Community Building to be open soon 4. Jersey County fourth in state for percentage vaccinated
INDEX Classifieds. . . . . . . . .B2 Court . . . . . . . . . B2, B4 Editorial . . . . . . . . . .A3 Friends and Neighbors . . .A6 News . . . . . . . . . . . A2, A5 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . A4 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Our Town. . . . . . . . . .A4 Public Notice . . . . B4-5 Real Estate . . . . . . B1-2 School . . . . . . . . . . . .A6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . .A6
OBITUARIES: DUBLO, HOLYBEE, MENZIE, MEREDITH, QUIRK, ROSS
JERSEY COUNTY
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QEM Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a call of a structure fire at approximately 9:30 a.m. Thursday, just off the corner of Mill Street and Cemetery Road in Elsah. Firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes, but even still, the fire had nearly completely involved the northern section of the home where the fire was presumed to have originated. Once firefighters did arrive on scene, the blaze was quickly quelled. During the course of their fight against the blaze, there were reports of pops, but it is believed that they came from a tractor’s tires popping in the carport area. QEM Fire Chief Gerry New said some of the southern section of the home was saved, but noted the house as a whole will still be a total loss. Although the house was a loss, the fire was well contained even with trees surrounding the property. “They got a pretty good knock down on it,” he said. “We were able to save quite a bit of the home. The home is a total loss, but there is quite a bit of it that is still standing.” (See, BLAZE, A2)
Jarad Jarmon/Jersey County Journal
Emergency personnel stand outside the remains of the home in Elsah that was engulfed in flames.
80 Loft makes debut in Jerseyville By CONNOR ASHLOCK Jersey County Journal 1880 Pizza and Pasta, located in Jerseyville’s Downtown Historic District, has added a major addition to its business, one that incorporates not only an experience for patrons, but strengthened family ties for owner Andrea Ringhausen. Ringhausen, who also owns Espresso Yourself Bakery, has worked tirelessly for several years at achieving her dreams with the opening of her bakery, as well as her pizzeria. Now, she’s taken the next step of adding an element of shopping to her little empire. The 80 Loft opened on the second floor of the pizzeria back in December, but the opening was soft on account of COVID concerns. But now, Ringhausen, along with her cousin, Dave Auston, are ready to get the word out there. A gift shop had always been in the works, but Ringhausen initially planned to take it slow over the first several years before tackling it. Ultimately, it was the pandemic that pushed them into it, according to Ringhausen. “When the pandemic hit, we couldn’t have any cater-
Connor Ashlock/Jersey County Journal
Andrea Ringhausen organizes dishes on one of the display tables in her new shop, the 80 Loft, located above her pizza and pasta house in Jerseyville’s historic business district.
ing, so the upstairs sat empty. I decided to turn it into a food-related gift shop,” Ringhausen said. “Due to the pandemic, we decided to move forward with it, probably sooner than what my business plan had called for,” Ringhausen said. Ringhausen has also partnered up with Nicole McKinney of Deer Lane Boutique, who will be selling items that will be exclusive to the 80 Loft. “She’ll be selling items that won’t be on her website or in her main store,” Ringhausen noted. On Ringhausen’s side of
the shop, she and Auston are hoping that their gift shop will be a means for families to create memories such as the ones they had growing up with their family. Ringhausen’s family has always been a tight-knit one, something that both she and Auston are proud of. “That’s where all my inspiration comes from — my great memories of being on the farm and the family cooking together. It was my mom, Dave’s mom, Aunt Donna and Mammaw,” Ringhausen said. “I can remember just waiting for her homemade rolls to come
out of the oven and watching her pour fresh milk and cream and making homemade butter.” What Ringhausen came to realize was that it wasn’t the stuff that she remembers fondly, but rather the experiences with the people she loved that were really worth recreating — experiences that often involved food, a love language of sorts in their family. Thus, incorporated into her business model is some wonderful childhood experiences coupled with the necessities to make that a reality for other families. “I guess I’m getting to the point in my life when people get a lot of stuff,” Ringhausen said. Ringhausen isn’t a fan of clutter, so she wanted to ensure that the gift shop would focus on food, as opposed to clothing goods. “I just wanted something that was more homey, and food is homey,” Ringhausen said. The experience of putting this shop together has proven to be a bit sentimental for Auston and Ringhausen, prompting them to consider those wonderful times from their childhood down at the farm. (See, 80 LOFT, A2)
dumpsters. For those that cannot do so, Pegram noted people can leave trash in bags that can then be picked up. “If they can’t take them home with them to put it in your own trash, I will drive down the highways and pick them up.” Those that do so are asked to use very visible trash bags. Notably, Pegram said Nature Kist Nutritional Center would have orange bags that people can pick up and use for such cleanup efforts. People can also inform Pegram they have done so by calling 618-567-5877. Beyond the efforts of Jersey County, Pegram hopes this inspires residents in the area to expend the effort and clean up the trash. “If people see people cleaning Jersey County, they are going to start thinking, ‘Hey, they did. Let us do it in Madison County,’” Pegram said. In tandem with this cleaning campaign, Got Faith has also organized an electronic recycling collection day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at R&R Auction House in Dow, where people will be able to drop off TVs, electronics, aluminum, refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers.
Johnson and Johnson vaccine has not reached Jersey County By LUCAS GARDNER Jersey County Journal It will still be some time before the Johnson and Johnson vaccine makes its way to Jersey County, according to local health officials. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is a single-dose vaccine that has recently reached other area health departments. This vaccine was approved by the FDA and issued as a EUA (Emergency Use Authorization), but Jersey County has not received them yet. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine was developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Because of the EAU, this vaccine is allowed to be used by medical facilities as data is collected. Johnson and Johnson expect to deliver over 20 million vaccines by the end of March and over 100 million to the US in the first part of the year. According to the local health department administrator, Doug King, they have not received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine yet and have not yet been told when the department will receive it. However, when the department gets the vaccine, the department will be using it alongside the other two currently-available Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. So far, Jersey County is still near the top of the pack in terms of vaccine administration. As of March 16, 4,090 have been fully vaccinated, representing 18.72 percent of the population. As of March 11, there are 14 Jersey County residents that have active cases of COVID and there have been 47 deaths. Overall in the county, there have been 2,505 positive cases and 2,444 have recovered from the ailment. The health department is focusing on all phase 1A and 1B individuals including: those 65 and older, all healthcare workers, first responders, educators, daycare providers, public transit workers, agriculture workers, postal, manufacturers, front line workers such as grocery and or supply employees and individuals that are 16 and older that have underlying conditions that could increase the risk of contracting COVID. Those interested in getting vaccinated are urged to call the health department at 618-498-9565, visit the website at jerseycountyhealth.org or check the department’s Facebook page for registration. The next clinic will be Friday, March 19, and for more information, interested individuals can visit the health department’s website. If more information is needed about the vaccination plan or COVID, it can be found on the IDPH website. NUMBERS AS OF MARCH 16 Fully Vaccinated Administered Percent of Population Fully Vaccinated
4,090 9,632 18.72 percent