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SPECIAL EVENT Blood drive March 26; fish fries continue

St. Mary’s Parish is again hosting an annual blood drive, held in conjunction with its Lenten Fish Fries, on Friday, March 26.

The blood drive will be held from 1- 7 p.m. in the large room off of the dining area.

“Because of COVID-19 blood supplies are low and we could really use your help,” said Gus Lamesch, St. Mary’s blood drive chairperson. “As usual we are doing this in conjunction with our St. Mary’s Oregon Lenten Fish Fries. Unfortunately it will be a drive thru Fish Fry this year, but you can come in to the Community Center for the blood drive. If you can’t make it, please help spread the word. Thanks in advance!”

Lamesch said donors can call him at 815-2893328 to be put you on the schedule for quicker service

“You can also sign with this link if you would like to schedule yourself for the drive: https:// donor.rrvbc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/53984,” Lamesch said.

Remaining drive-thru fish fries are Friday, March 19 and March 26 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dinners cost $10 and include fried cod, french fries, and cole slaw. Cash only.

St. Mary’s Parish Center is located at 881 Mongan Dr., just west of Oregon along Illinois 64.

Lamesch can also be reached by email: gus@ windmillhilllc.com.

ABOVE: Mark Kramer was one of the parish volnteers who helped at a recent St. Mary’s Parish Fish Fry. AT LEFT: Volunteers fill takeout tins with french fries. This year’s event is a drive-thru only event as part of COVID-19 precautions.

Earleen Hinton Shaw Media

MT. MORRIS BUSINESS Telepharmacy coming to Mt. Morris

BY JEFF HELFRICH

jhelfrich@shawmedia.com

A telepharmacy is coming to Mt. Morris later this year, Village Clerk Paula Diehl said in a press release.

One of the earliest innovations in telemedicine, telepharmacies operate the same way as other pharmacies, except that the licensed pharmacist is not onsite.

The patient takes their prescription to the local telepharmacy or it’s received electronically from the healthcare provider. A registered pharmacy technician prepares the prescription and sends several digital images to the monitoring pharmacist. The pharmacist reviews the patient’s medication profile for drug interactions and other potential problems before examining the prescription images for accuracy, via videoconferencing.

After the pharmacist has approved the prepared prescription it’s ready for pick up. It’s all done in a few minutes. Patients picking up their prescriptions can speak directly with the pharmacist via videoconferencing to receive instructions and ask questions.

The pharmacist is ultimately responsible for properly preparing and dispensing the medication.

This model has worked for owners Kip and Karrie Sabinson of Warren.

In addition to their traditional pharmacies in Warren and Lena, they own telepharmacies in Polo, Lanark and Elizabeth. Mt. Morris will be their latest site.

The Mt. Morris Pharmacy will be located at 117 S. Wesley Avenue, formerly the office of Jerry Griffin Insurance, and before that, Light’s Jewelry. It will be a full-service Health Mart brand pharmacy, fully-stocked with medications, over the counter (OTC) items and a few gifts.

“We were approached by a group from Mt. Morris Economic Development about a year ago,” Kip Sabinson said. “The size of Mt. Morris is ideal. We believe this is a good opportunity. Until we’re able to open our doors, people can move their prescriptions to the Polo Pharmacy and we will deliver in Mt. Morris.”

The phone number for Polo Pharmacy is 779-226-1129.

The Sabinsons hire local people to staff their pharmacies and intend to hire a pharmacy technician from Mt. Morris or the surrounding area for this location.

“It works very well in small communities,” Kip Sabinson said. “It’s a service these towns don’t have and it works well for us. One pharmacist, one location. It’s good for them and good for us.”

The next step is to apply for the pharmacy license, followed by building reconstruction. They hope to open later this year or early 2022.

“A gentleman is working on rehabbing the building,” Kip Sabinson said. “Then we’ll have to apply for licenses and get insurance contracts. It will take some time, though.”

The Sabinsons have owned and operated Warren Drug Store for 20 years. Through telepharmacy they saw the opportunity to get medications and pharmacies to people in rural communities.

In 2015, they opened Lanark Pharmacy, with Karrie as the licensed pharmacist. Elizabeth Pharmacy and Polo Pharmacy were opened shortly after that. They purchased Lena Drug Store in 2018 and it will be the “home store” for Mt. Morris Pharmacy.

COUNTY NEWS Body found in river confirmed as missing man

Brandon Cuddy was missing since Dec. 26

BY JEFF HELFRICH

called us and gave us the same information.” Cuddy said he was told there “weren’t any surprises” with the autopsy and that the crash scene and an injury to his brother’s head jhelfrich@shawmedia.com pointed the car to him being ejected from into the river due to the

The family of a missing Byron crash. man received confirmation Tuesday The stretch of river from the crash that the body found in the Rock to where Cuddy was found spans River near Sterling on Saturday about 40 miles. Ice covered portions near the Oppold Marina was 27-year- of the river in January and Februold Brandon Cuddy. ary and there are two dams between

Billy Cuddy, Bran- Byron and Sterling, one in Oregon don’s brother, said and one in Dixon. Lee County author- Billy Cuddy thanked search and ities confirmed the rescue groups, volunteers and law identity Tuesday enforcement for their efforts over after an autopsy. the past few months. Cuddy was found “We really came together as a famaround 4:30 p.m. Sat- ily and community,” Cuddy said. urday after a fisher- “We’re thankful. The search groups man noticed Cuddy said. his body, Brandon we Ch re awesom ristian Aid e. Wings o Ministries f H and ope, the

Cuddy went missing Cuddy groups the Sheriff had in.” the night of Dec. 26. Much of the searching was done His car was found damaged on a by close family members, even when steep bank of the river in the 9,000 conditions were too dangerous for block of Illinois 2 in rural Byron search groups to be brought in. covered in snow on Jan. 6. Searches Donations were given for the family of the area had been done since by to buy search equipment like a boat the family and search groups. about a body being found in Ster- Cuddy said. “One officer described and sonar.

A search was taking place Sat- ling. the clothing and it matched my “We’re happy we found him, but urday and wrapping up when the “We got in the car and got there brother. 15 minutes later [Ogle we’re sad about the circumstances,” Cuddy family saw a Facebook post and started asking questions,” Billy County Sheriff] Brian VanVickle Cuddy said.

Earleen Hinton Shaw Media

Ogle County Coroner Lou Finch stands by an empty gurney as he waits for the body to be brought to the shore at Oppold Marina.

COUNTY NEWS Donations pay for funeral of 7-year-old Oregon boy

Oregon Chief: No update on homicide investigation

BY JEFF HELFRICH

jhelfrich@shawmedia.com

Donations raised for a 7-year-old Oregon boy who died in his home last month have helped pay for his funeral and will be put towards additional ways to remember him, according to a family member’s Facebook page.

The family of Nathaniel Burton has checked into a possible memorial on school grounds which could include a bench, tree or a plaque.

Any additional memorial would be paid for by donations. Those that have donated money will be receiving bracelets in honor of Burton.

On Feb. 17, Burton, son of Bryan E. and Sarah L. (Safranek) Burton, was pronounced deceased after Oregon Police responded to a 2:35 a.m. 911 call for a seven-year-old who was not breathing at 403 South 10th Street.

After CPR attempts, Burton was transported to KSB Hospital in Dixon where he was later pronounced deceased. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Oregon Police Chief Shawn Melville said Tuesday there is no update on Burton’s case and a final autopsy report has yet to come back. Melville said additional information could be released this week.

“No new developments as far as our investigation,” Melville said. “We’re following up on every lead. Every possible piece of evidence and we’re working on electronic resources.”

Oregon is the lead agency on the investigation and has been working with the Lee County Coroner’s office and Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock.

“We meet with them pretty much every day. The sheriff’s detective division has done a couple follow ups with peripheral parts of the investigation,” Melville said Feb. 25.

Melville said his department has spoken to the Department of Children and Family Services about the case and DCFS is aware of the investigation. He declined to say what those conversations consisted of.

Police have had experiences in the past responding to calls at the home where Burton was found deceased.

“We’ve had experiences in the past with the family,” Melville said. “Numerous calls to the residence. I don’t want to say what they’re in reference to because a lot of it is juvenile and medical information.”