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Just had to hold that three-day cornhole tournament

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Illinois

* From the blog yesterday…

On behalf of the Christain County Health Department:

At the recent Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Chilifest, an employee of the Capital City Cornhole company has tested positive for COVID-19. Capital City Cornhole organized and conducted the three-day bag tournaments. They held four tournaments total throughout the weekend (Oct 2-4, 2020) to include two at Chilifest, one at the American Legion, and one at Mity’s Pub. There were two hundred and thirty participants registered total at these events and numerous observers in attendance. Anyone in attendance at this event that mingled amongst the participants/employees are at risk for exposure. […]

The full extent of this mass exposure at such a large gathering is not possible to fully contact trace, so we encourage all participants/observers that may have been exposed to players/employees to self-monitor for symptoms. This event was not condoned by Christian County Public Health who had met with and advised officials.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:42 am

Comments

I just do not understand why people continue to hold and/or attend these type of events. Yes we can’t “hide in our basements forever” as another commenter said this morning, but we also don’t need to be doing non-essential events that involve large groups of people.

Comment by tea_and_honey Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:47 am
So K-12 students cannot share playground/PE equipment, but a cornhole competition took place?!?

Did the county or city approve permits for these events?

Comment by WTH Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:51 am
“Capital City Cornhole organized and conducted the three-day bag tournaments.”

At least this public health disaster was the direct result of something that was both pointless and idiotic.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:53 am
I have reams of material on Chili eatin’ Cornholers…not fit to print.

Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:54 am
I wonder how this article plays outside the Cornholio zone?

Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:56 am
Remind me again how we’re saving small businesses?

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:57 am
I’m happy to say I would not have attended even if we weren’t in the middle of a pandemic.

Comment by SSL Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:57 am
At this rate, we’ll never have nice things again.

Clearly some folks aren’t au courant with the Atlantic.

Comment by dbk Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:58 am
You can get COVID through cornhole exposure?

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:58 am
“When asked about the super-spreader event, an unnamed spokesperson said, ‘The rules clearly state… “the boxes shall be be 27 feet apart“… that’s greater than 6 feet. It’s math’

The science to this super spreader and pictures show that social distancing was clearly ignored.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:00 pm
Tom DeVore should make the hour ride south and represent Taylorville residents in their suit against Capital City Cornhole. /S

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:03 pm
And where was the Christian County Health department when the chamber of commerce was putting this together?

I continue to be disappointed in the lack of any seriousness by county health departments across the state.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:05 pm
=== This event was not condoned by Christian County Public Health who had met with and advised officials. ===

Not good enough.

1. The public health department can invoke police powers. Did they reach out to municipal, police, and sheriff and direct them to shut down the event?

2. This event took place 30 miles from Springfield. Taylorville is home to hundreds and hundreds of state employees. How did IDPH and the Governor’s Office not know about this event? And if they did know about the event, what, if anything, did they do to prevent it?

The Governor should issue a declaration today in response to a known super-spreader event, and shut down Christian County for two weeks. Furthermore, all state employees from Christian County should be ordered to isolate at home. They need to prevent this from spreading out-of-control, and they need to give pause to any other fools considering allowing such a nitwit event.

You forfeit the right to criticize the President’s management of the Rose Garden on Twitter if you are not going to manage your own back yard.

Comment by Rubber Band Man Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:12 pm
I literally refused to get on a bus because there were people on it who were wearing their masks on their chins. Because someday I’d like to go outside and not wear a mask, I’d like to eat a meal not in my own home, I’d even like it to be possible for people interested in sports to be able to attend sporting events. I don’t want anyone of these people to be able to do any of those things ever again.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:26 pm
==Four deaths..who cares== That seems to be the unspoken thought. I prefer, when seeing a 90+ year old male has died, to wonder where he was in WW2. And a 90+ year old woman, did she work in a defense plant ? Have a victory garden? That generation is being taken silently..

Comment by Anotheretiree Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:26 pm
Not the brightest bulbs in the state.

Comment by LBJ Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:29 pm
Same county that wanted to kick Chicago out of Illinois so they probably would ignore any state advise anyway.

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:35 pm
The more these events occur, the longer the recovery will take. It’s everybody’s choice.

Comment by Ares Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:42 pm
This is half snark And rambling….I think health Dept may, unfortunately, be a relic from the past. A past when most people believed in science, even if they didn’t understand it, and trusted, at least local government, to operate in their best interests. Health Dept officials were looked upon and trusted to provide guidance to keep us safe. You didn’t need armed police, At least those that don’t refuse too, to normally escort health officials to do their job. I retired from law enforcement and during my career had mean and vile things said to me, I didn’t like it but understood it was part of my job. Public health officials didn’t expect, nor should they, have to deal with the crap they deal with now.

I was, and still should be a Republican, but I can’t support them any more. They left me when the party of responsibility advocated for govt bankruptcy at the state and federal level and it’s leader takes no responsibility for what is going on in our country today. Eisenhower had a note in his pocket, prior to the invasion on D Day, taking responsibility if it failed. That is Leadership. Where are the Republican Ike’s of today?

Comment by Retired and still in Illinois Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:50 pm
Owning the libs.

Comment by filmmaker prof Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:52 pm
It seems in many cases the county health departments are acting at the behest of the elected county officials. This is causing less than robust responses to events like this. It seemed that in the past health departments had no problem shutting down restraurants or events for minor issues. For COVID they are no where to been seen on enforcement.

Comment by Publius Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:54 pm
Someone should explain to these small towns that if even 1% of their population dies, nobody and I mean nobody is going to be moving in to replace them.

There has to be some way to find the self-interest angle that will motivate a behavioral change in these areas. The method taken so far, attempting to appeal to a concern for their fellow elderly townsfolk, obviously isn’t cutting it.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:07 pm
My mom, a soon-to-be 73 year old 2x cancer survivor, has been hospitalized with Covid.

It isn’t over because you’re bored.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:08 pm
It would be nice if we could identify the people who don’t want to wear masks so when they do get sick they could go home and die without Hospital aide instead of infecting Brave healthcare workers who are trying to stop this plague

Comment by Drake Mallard Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:08 pm
So what did the winner get?

Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:38 pm
Freedom, amiright?

This is also Rodney’s hometown. I’ve been looking for his press release telling everyone not to let Covid rule your life.

Comment by don the legend Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:42 pm
“I wonder how this article plays outside the Cornholio zone?”

As a warning to stay away from the Utica burgoo festival this weekend.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:45 pm
You can do most of those things now Cheryl, cowardice is your problem.

Maybe if rich does enough of these covid hit pieces small town papers will start dropping his article.

Comment by I Am Cornholio Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:46 pm
=== cowardice===

You’re not a hero.

“Tough guy” thinking is how 211,000 died in this country.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:48 pm
Utica Burgoo festival was canceled

Comment by Duke Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:50 pm
===small town papers will start dropping his article===

I don’t charge for it, so I don’t really care that much. I write what I write.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:56 pm
Chili Pepper Pageant…. Talk about a hot zone. Keep your fingers away from your eyes, nose and mouth. They may be hotter than you think.

Comment by In_The_Middle Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:57 pm
I don’t think Cheryl is a coward. Other than a blog handle, we know nothing about her. We can infer from her comments what she thinks. That is all.

I think she is a smart person wishing for simpler days. When there wasn’t the fear of catching a deadly disease while participating in ordinary daily activities with friends and family.

Your bullying her and calling her a coward is unbecoming a person of your education and stature in society.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:57 pm
You can do things outdoors with some common sense. And yet, we cannot do things outside given what we keep seeing.

Also, the American Legion needs to start threatening to revoke some chapters–for an organization with a significant number of seniors, the number of chapters holding events during this period is unreal.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 2:17 pm
== I Am Cornholio ==

I guess I am a coward too. I don’t go out much. Let me tell you why.

Every weekday my wife goes to a facility that treats older people who are recovering from surgery. Every day she is at risk for getting COVID and to be blunt spreading COVID. She has an ethical responsibility to take steps to avoid unnecessary risks to avoid getting the disease and attending a Cornhole tournament is an unnecessary risk.

If my wife was a coward she wouldn’t be going to work every day, now would she?

I’m not going to curl this year, still going to pay my fee to my club, but I am not going to curl, why? Because of the increased risk, I am to my fellow club members and the risk they are to me and my wife.

Trust me, I would love to go hang out at bar, I would love to enjoy all you can eat shrimp at Red Lobster but I chose not to, not because I am a coward (at least I don’t think I am) but to protect in part folks like you.

So go ahead and lick doorknobs if you want to. If you end up needing healthcare just be thankful the people providing it to you are ‘cowards’.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 2:25 pm
AlfondoGonz_

Prayers for your mom’s speedy recovery.

Comment by Proud Sucker Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 2:29 pm
@OneMan

Thank you for your wife’s steady service to those who need her care and healing touch.

Bummed you have to miss the upcoming bonspiel season. But your diligence be rewarded in the end.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 2:52 pm
- OneMan -

You’re a good soul, honest to your convictions, and honest to your situation too.

Thank your wife for all the work she is doing. She’s a hero.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 2:57 pm
==The Governor should issue a declaration today in response to a known super-spreader event, and shut down Christian County for two weeks.==

That and/or apply the mitigations not just to Christian County, but to all of the rest of Region 3 (Springfield included) even though the region currently only has 5.1% positivity. And keep the mitigations throughout the rest of October, including Halloween in downtown Springfield.

Comment by Chatham Resident Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 9:33 pm
I’ve supported our govenor throughout but the fact that he doesn’t do anything to punish these people might cause me not to support him financially anymore.

Comment by The Dude Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 6:14 am