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First local flu death is recorded in Bureau County By Ken Schroeder
The first local flu-related death this season has been reported to health officials in Bureau County. Diana Rawlings, administrator at the Bureau-Putnam Health Department, has confirmed a death
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Flu isn’t going away kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
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of an adult woman who resided in Bureau County was reported by a hospital outside of the area. Influenza-A was listed as a contributing factor in her death. While the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is still recommending flu shots, this year’s shot isn’t completely effective
against the strain causing deaths across the country. The CDC has termed the current outbreak as an epidemic, with Illinois one of the five hardest-hit states. The fault isn’t with the flu shot. The leading flu virus this year is influenza A (H3N2), which has been linked to higher rates of hospitalization for those highly susceptible to infection, particularly the very young. Approximately 97 percent of the flu
cases reported so far this flu season are strains of influenza A. The CDC predicted influenza A would be a threat, and this year’s flu vaccine contained an A/Texas/50/2012 (H3N2)like virus. Unfortunately, H3N2 is what’s known as a weakcell virus, which means it is subject to change when exposed to outside influences. H3N2 has mutated into a strain that
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PCR photos/Dixie Schroeder
Bingo...compliments of the Hennepin Park District Left: John Hrasch (left), employee at the Hennepin Park District, helps Gracie Ciucci (seated) check her card during the bingo event hosted during school break. Above: Gerri Skowronski, employee at the Hennepin Park District, was the caller for the children’s bingo games during school break. Prizes included Silly String, spray hair colors and card games.
Putnam County unemployment rises
Illinois figures continue to improve By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
As always, the monthly unemployment figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security consist of good news and bad news. This time around, the news for Putnam County is worse than usual. The state has as a whole fared much better with unemployment statewide at 6 percent for November 2014, down from October’s 6.6. But while most of the state continues to see unemployment shrink, Putnam County isn’t following the trend. Following last month’s figure of 6.6 percent, the local percentage has inched up to 7.1 percent. While lower than a year ago when local unemployment stood at 10.2 percent, the reversal is still not a good sign for the county. Nationwide, the unemployment figure stands at 5.5 percent. “Our local economies continue to grow at a steady, deliberate pace, just as they have throughout the year,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “Diverse economies such as Illinois’ move deliberately because we have exposure in multiple
sectors. Worker training programs driven by the private sector will lead to a more nimble workforce in a better position to qualify for unfilled job opportunities.” Locally, Bureau and LaSalle County saw their fortunes continue to rise. LaSalle County’s unemployment stayed steady at 7.9 percent, the same as October and down from November 2013’s 11.0 percent. Bureau County’s numbers shrank to 7.2 percent compared to October’s 7.6 and November 2013’s 9.3 percent. “November data follow trends established earlier this year. More people describe themselves working than one year ago and the labor force remains stable. Help-wanted advertising continues to be steady,” Media Relations Director Greg Rivara said. “Declines in professional and business services are concentrated in temporary help and likely are seasonal. Declines in retail trade are curious and could reflect more online purchasing activity rather than at brickand-mortar storefronts.” The greatest job growth statewide was seen in the education and health services industry. The lowest unemployment figure in the state belongs to Henderson County where only 4.3 percent of the populace are unemployed.
One-on-one with the state’s attorney Judd-Mennie: ‘Sometimes service comes before what you want to do’ By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — Sometimes good news has a trickle-down effect. When Republican James Mack was elected to the position of circuit court judge in the November election, that created a vacancy for the Putnam County Vol. 147 No. 19 One Section - 16 Pages
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State’s Attorney position he held. Due to regulations, the position had to be filled by a member of the same political party, so with a recommendation from Republican Central Committee Chairman Alma Toedter and unanimous support of the Putnam County Board, Christina Judd-Mennie became the first female state’s attorney
in Putnam County. The Putnam County Record spoke with Judd-Mennie PCR: How’s the job been so far? Judd-Mennie: So far, so good. Everybody’s been very helpful. I’ve had Paul Bauer from the state’s attorney’s office in Marshall come down. He showed me a couple of things. All of the office-holders have been great. PCR: Was this something you ever thought you’d want to do? Judd-Mennie: I would say early on in my career I thought about it. As my
career grew and I opened my own office, it kind of dissipated a little bit. When the opportunity came, I toyed with it for a while and first I thought, “I don’t know. I just got my office up and running.” I love my office, and I liked being able to do a little bit of everything. But I just decided, sometimes service comes before what you want to do, so I decided I would try to help the county the best I could. PCR: Were you surprised when you were recommended for the post?
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Christina Judd-Mennie