Today’s Bone Gap Chowder has been postponed to Saturday August 27.
The Ferris wheel at the Ag Days festival in Mt. Carmel was shut down around 7 p.m. Thursday night after an incident causing a minor injury. Several eye-witnesses reported that it seemed like the boarding ramp that is raised and lowered to let people off and on the ride was left up as the wheel was in motion. As a result of the incident, a 13-year-old girl received a “goose egg” type of injury on her shin when the bottom portion of her passenger car hit the boarding ramp and a bolt hit her shin, her mother said. An accident was also reported on Wednesday night.
The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association is advising all state residents that there is a phone campaign fraudulently using the name of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association in their solicitation. The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association never solicits by phone but does conduct a direct mail campaign throughout the state endorsed by the individual sheriffs across Illinois. Phone solicitors who want you to “act immediately” or are offering a “too good to be true” opportunity are most likely fraudulent. Remember that if you have any doubts, or are highly pressured, just hang up.
On Thursday afternoon the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Carbondale Police Department in reference to a stolen vehicle. Carbondale Police said they were tracking a stolen vehicle using a GPS system. As they gave locations of the stolen vehicle it seemed to travel into Herrin. The vehicle fled at high rates of speed. Near the intersection of Wilson Street and Weaver Road in Herrin, the vehicle failed to navigate a turn and drove through several yards before coming to rest against a culvert. After a short time the driver was located by a Herrin police. The driver was taken into custody without further incident.
Crops in Illinois continued to benefit from favorable weather last week. Statewide, the average temperature was 76.4 degrees, 2.7 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.86 inches, 0.04 inches below normal. There were 5.3 days suitable for field work during the week ending August 7. Topsoil moisture supply was rated at 1% very short, 6% short, 85% adequate, and 8% surplus. Corn dough was at 60%, compared to 61% for the five-year average. Corn dented reached 6%, compared to 14% last year. Corn condition was rated 1% very poor, 2% poor, 14% fair, 57% good, and 26% excellent. Soybeans blooming were at 91%, compared to 87% last year. Soybeans setting pods was at 68%. Soybean condition was rated 2% very poor, 3% poor, 16% fair, 58% good, and 21% excellent.