respublica

Meanwhile we wait

We've been watching the vaccine issuance for some time now and we can't make heads or tails out of how this is being done in Madison County. It just seems like surrounding counties and areas are way ahead of us. We heard to today from someone who is sort of involved that Madison was just overwhelmed and is trying to keep up.

What I read is St. Clair County has vaccine times at several places. Part of St. Louis will be adding vaccines at Walmarts and Sam's Club. Around here? no.   Walgreen's and possibly CVS is doing the shots, but when I check I get the notice that nothing remotely near us is doing this.

So, my question is, was Madison slow on the uptake with this? I have friends in the Chicago area, a major population place, and they have had both shots. Same for others in places other than here. It's very frustrating to read news reports that Illinois and even Madison will be extending the list of those who can now get the shots including kids. I mean, come on, those of us who qualified in group 1B have heard nothing except they were overwhelmed and now they will add even more numbers to this list.

We are doing our best to stay safe, staying home except for grocery runs and wearing two masks. But it's getting exhausting not letting our guard down especially when reading the cheers from so many others posting they got their shots.

I do recommend double masks, though. The paper type under a cloth mask feels much more secure. And, oddly, easier to breath.

And one more update I just read from the Post Dispatch. Missouri said it will double the doses to the St. Louis region after local officials complained. Now there's an idea for Madison County.

 

Ok, I have to say this once again

We woke up to very cold temperatures and snow. The snow was maybe 2 inches or less, but miserable to clear off in the cold. However one thing never changes in this area and that is traffic reports of one accident after another during the morning commute.

But, since Dale had to drive into Clayton to teach a class today, I was paying more attention to the traffic reports. Almost every report from local news stations mentioned how much better the roads on the Illinois side were than on the Missouri side. Every year it's like this. For some reason MODOT cannot get this winter weather clearing right. Each year I get on here on beg the MODOT people to come over to IDOT headquarters in Collinsville and take a lesson on how to do winter weather clearing.

But they don't it seems and drivers over there pay the price of accidents and sitting in long jams. This is not to say the Metro East has no snow/ice accidents but they are far fewer. It makes no sense.

We over achieved!

According to a senior meteorologist, the snowfall in our area in the Metro-East/St. Louis over achieved. Forecasts before yesterday's snow began falling, was calling for a dusting or as their newly coined weather term predicted, "Mood Snow."  

Mood snow. now that's a first. The two-four inches was a surprise to the predictors. The Mood Snow they expected is described as snow or flurries that sticks to roofs, grassy surfaces and parked cars but not the roads. I guess this mood thing is the kind of snow that looks pretty but doesn't force us out to clean walks and steps.

So the snow over achieved its predictions which isn't a surprise around here. And, I see by traffic reports this morning that once again MODOT has not done the best job in getting the highways cleared while IDOT has. Some things never change.

Our birds were really after the seed we put out.

Mask fines

The Edwardsville Illinois city council adopted a measure Tuesday night mandating face coverings while engaging in almost any activity outside a residence. Such activities include shopping or working at retail businesses; picking up food curbside or from a drive-thru restaurant; visiting a doctor's office; traveling on public transportation; and interacting with customers, clients, patients or colleagues at businesses or places of worship that are open to the public.

And there will be fines, first offense is $25, a second is $50, a third is $100; and the fourth or more are $250. Higher penalties, ranging from $50 to $500, are stipulated for businesses, stores, offices, property owners, managers or operators.

But what I most approve of is: Anyone not wearing a mask over mouth and nose in public spaces in Edwardsville may now be fined. 

It drives me crazy to be around people in public places or working in businesses who have their noses uncovered which also makes the mouth part of the mask with a wide open gap. I see this and come into contact with, more people than I can count. So I'm happy to see Edwardsville taking note of the importance of getting the nose covered, not just the mouth.

On the search for paint

Last weekend I began a job we've put off and that is painting the front steps and porch. We've had almost everything else redone since we moved back except the front curb appeal. It was a debate on where to start so I ended that by painting the actual steps a brown color to mirror the cedar siding on the upper dormer. The steps were in worse condition than the actual porch floor. Then I scrubbed down the porch and hoped to get that done the next day, but then came rain.

We decided to paint the stair risers the same color as the house (I watch too much HGTV). We do like that look, though, and it's less tricky walking up them in the dark. I had to find a Benjamin Moore paint store since the color of our house has been the same for decades, Kennebunkport Green. It was that color when we bought it and it has been re-painted at least 3 times over the years.

I found the Troy Ace Hardware sold this paint so off I went. It's been a long time since I've been in Troy and it has really built up. And the Ace was just such a great find. I could have spent half the day in that store. It has so many interesting things to look at and I did a lot of that while the paint was being mixed. The paint guy was super nice. It took a bit of time to spell out Kennebunkport green for him to type into his paint machine computer but his mix was perfect.

I'd recommend them.

A Sad time for an old newspaper

We were mistakenly delivered the Belleville News Democrat newspaper this morning and frankly, it was sad. That paper used to be something of a "go to" paper for many in the Metro East for local news and sports. We used to get a kick out of the letters to the editor and the "sound off" page which shared reader's frustrations anonymously each Monday.

The reporters sent to any number of communities to write up city goings on and we got to know those whose beat was Collinsville. High school sports were given a lot of page time. Today I did not see any local by-lines, most stories were wire stories from the Associated Press. These stories could be read anywhere and had no relation to local readers.

I find this a loss to grieve over. It was also sad when the Collinsville Herald/Journal went out of business. These papers kept us up date on what was happening in our towns and the main news options now are Facebook postings or word of mouth. I wish it weren't so.

Back to the tally

Late yesterday afternoon a mattress hit the road on 143 near Edwardsville.

Mattresses 131

Ladders 127

A New Week, another mattress

Already this morning a mattress fell onto 161 near Frank Scott Highway in Belleville.

Mattresses 113

Ladders 111

More Poplar work on the way

From IDOT, two eastbound lanes will be closed for two weeks in July for roadwork.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Monday that the eastbound exit ramp from Interstate 55/64 to southbound Illinois 3 will be closed as workers repair the surface of the ramp. The work begins early morning on July 15 and will last until July 29. A marked detour utilizing Barack Obama Avenue will be in place during the closure period.

To keep traffic flowing into Illinois, one lane will be closed on the Poplar Street Bridge along with two exit ramps. Missouri roadways will be impacted as well. In Missouri, the Marion Street entrance ramp to I-55 northbound and the right lane of I-55 northbound approaching the bridge will be closed. Three lanes of interstate traffic will remain open on the bridge and through the Illinois 3 and Tudor Avenue ramp areas.

They say to expect extensive delays, especially during evening rush hours.

Hot time, summer in the city, sitting on the bridge. Again.

Read more here: https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article232410317.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article232410317.html#storylink=cpy

Two road things this morning

There is a shovel in one of the lanes of 255 near Collinsville road and another ladder hit the highway on 270. The normal tallies take into account only mattresses and ladders since they are the most common items to fall. But it's often interesting to hear about other things which could be just as detrimental to your vehicle if you run into them.

Mattresses 54

Ladders 49