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Restaurants and bars in Champaign County that continue to serve customers indoors in defiance of a state order face swift enforcement action, according to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.

At least two restaurant and bar owners in Champaign County planned to open in defiance of the order, one of several temporary restrictions that took effect in East Central Illinois Monday morning to try and turn back the growing swell of COVID-19 cases. […]

Jeff Buckler, owner of Buford’s in Sadorus, said that location is normally closed anyway on Mondays, but his Tolono location, Lil Buford’s, was open, serving indoors and busy.

* December 10…

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District suspended the food permit of Apple Dumplin’, 2014 N. High Cross Road, U, late last week and has now turned the matter over to the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office after that restaurant continued to operate without a permit, according to Sarah Michaels, food program manager for the health district. […]

But several others that were visited by health district officials and warned about the loss of their food permits have decided to comply and stop indoor service, she said.

Among them was Jeff Buckler, owner of Buford’s Pub in Sadorus and Lil’ Buford’s in Tolono. […]

[Apple Dumplin’ owner Jim Flaningam] said the health district told him Dec. 3 that his food permit would be suspended, but he had passed his inspection without issues Nov. 24.

“To me, it doesn’t matter,” he said about his food permit being suspended. “Even if they did, they did it wrongly.”

* Buckler changed his mind…

After a long discussion with my attorney I've decided to open up indoor dining. Without indoor dining this location…

Posted by Lil Bufords on Thursday, December 10, 2020

Two guesses who his attorney is.

* Meanwhile…

A controversial concert is planned for an area where indoor dining is banned. It’s a restaurant known for defying Illinois Governor J.B Pritzker’s orders and, thus far, getting away with it.

Washy’s Saloon in Waterloo, Illinois defies orders to close down inside, even after the Illinois State Police came by and took the case to prosecutors. The Monroe County prosecutor declined the case.

Now, Washy’s is planning a show Dec. 19 with Platinum Rock Legends, a band so popular it says its crowds cannot be controlled.

The band offers no apologies.

* Um…

The Henry & Stark County Health Dept will be executing a temporary policy to our Henry & Stark County Food Ordinances to allow for the following new guidelines for food establishments which become effective Friday, December 11, 2020 6:00am. Here's a quick, easy to read reference pic.twitter.com/XKabKrrOe7

— Henry-Stark Health Department (@HenryStarkHD) December 9, 2020

But sanity prevailed…

After consulting with the Henry County State Attorney’s Office the Henry-Stark County Health Department and Henry County Office of Emergency Management has retracted a previous statement on Wednesday, December 9th saying they would allow indoor dining at bars and restaurants.

According to a statement, the health department will not make any further changes to their current policy and are encouraging all in Henry and Stark Counties to follow Illinois’ Tier 3 guidelines. The new policy was set to take place on December 11th and would have allowed bars and restaurants in Henry and Stark Counties to operate at a maximum of 25% capacity for indoor dining, however with the retraction the changes will not take place.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker was asked yesterday in his daily presser specifically about the new policy to which he replied, “local public health officials are trying their best to manage in these extraordinary circumstances in these unprecedented times and they’re doing the best they can without having elected officials who don’t know much about public health themselves interfere with what’s best for public health of people who live in those counties. So I just discourage elected officials from exercising that kind of political influence.”

* One more…

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R) says COVID-19 data shows 70% of outbreaks have occurred in long-term care facilities, and is calling on the Illinois Department of Public Health to loosen restrictions on businesses.

“Restaurants, retailers and houses of worship are not the culprits of community spread of COVID-19 and we need to stop treating them as such. IDPH’s own data demonstrates that most outbreaks of COVID-19 in Illinois are attributable to long-term care and other congregate living facilities. With this undisputed fact in mind, destroying people’s livelihoods and forcing people out of work with extreme statewide restrictions is clearly not based on data and science,” Sosnowski said in a statement on Thursday.

Response…

Pritzker responded by saying, “I know Sosnowski does not believe bars and restaurants have anything to do with transmitting or amplifying the disease, but he’s wrong. Medical doctors, epidemiologists, experts on infectious disease all have, nearly universally, said that bars and restaurants are places [where the virus is transmitted] because people aren’t wearing masks for lengthy periods of time.”

* Related…

* Military-grade camera shows risks of airborne coronavirus spread

* Cuomo: Indoor Dining To Be Suspended Starting Monday

* 200 hospitals have been at full capacity, and 1/3 of all US hospitals are almost out of ICU space

* CTU releases list of demands for reopening CPS

* Chicago Tribune live blog headlines…

Some COVID-19 vaccines are nearly ready for use. Others are still being tested. Here are some of the local volunteers taking part in vaccine trials.

Illinois State University cancels spring break over COVID-19 concerns

Hines VA hospital among 37 VA hospitals to receive initial vaccine doses

New hospital data shows wide disparities in available beds; search for any Illinois hospital below [Click here]

‘This feeling is needed.’ Virtual Santas go all out to make Christmas special for kids during the pandemic.

* Sun-Times live blog headlines…

Bus drivers on Chicago’s busiest routes among nearly 900 CTA employees with COVID-19

Union says almost 20% of MLS players tested positive for coronavirus

National Guard joins fight against COVID-19 at veterans homes

Panel of FDA advisors back Pfizer coronavirus vaccine

COVID killed my stepfather, who followed the rules

* NBC Chicago live blog headlines…

50K People Sign Up For Suburban COVID-19 Portal, Register for Vaccine

Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Application Deadline Looms Next Week

IDPH Will Protect Personal Information, Immigration Status Amid Vaccine Distribution: Ezike

Pritzker Expresses Cautious Optimism as State Continues to Monitor for Post-Thanksgiving Surge

6 Coronavirus Vaccine Myths ‘Debunked,’ According to Health Experts [Click here]

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 11, 20 @ 12:52 pm

Comments

According to WGN Radio news, Richard’s Bar has removed it’s sign saying it is staying open and replaced it with a “carry out only” sign

Comment by Stu Friday, Dec 11, 20 @ 1:03 pm
== Platinum Rock Legends, a band so popular it says its crowds cannot be controlled ==

Because if there is a band I want to get COVID over it’s one that brags it impersonates “more than 20 rock icons”.

Be sure to share that nugget with the medical team before they Intubate you. It was all worth it so see some dude sing Billy Jean.

Comment by OneMan Friday, Dec 11, 20 @ 1:05 pm
The owner of Bufords is also the same person who posted someone’s phone number on Facebook and encouraged people to call and harass this person because they disagreed with him on his decision to keep the dining room open. He removed the post, but it was several hours later.

It’s a bummer because the place has really good food, but I just can’t support someone who behaves in that manner.

Comment by SalukinCU Friday, Dec 11, 20 @ 1:21 pm
Springfield Bar and Restaurant employees headed by Ryan Bandy are planning a Rally at the Governor’s Mansion. So he knows how much he is hurting them with his mitigation guidelines. Bandy says look at the numbers how can it be our fault. Well because you’ve been closed to indoor dining for almost a month so the numbers are showing it.

Alderman Ralph Hanauer is preaching the same sermon about it can’t be the restaurants and bars. He wants an emergency ordinance to allow unsafe heaters and if not then open for indoor dining.

Just what is it these people don’t get? It’s like anything coming from the Governor and his team is an attack. Trying to save lives is not more important than a burger fries and a cold beer while sitting at a bar.

Comment by Club J Friday, Dec 11, 20 @ 1:32 pm
Does Sosnowski think nursing home employee are catching the virus at work and then bringing it to the outside world? The opposite is true.

Comment by TNR Friday, Dec 11, 20 @ 1:37 pm
I thought others might find this interesting, though it is definitely not Illinois centric.

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/10/945137222/newly-sworn-in-n-h-gop-house-speaker-dies-of-covid-19-autopsy-shows

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Dec 11, 20 @ 1:38 pm
One day this pandemic will be over.

Cops, in my experience, have long, long memories.

Comment by Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, Dec 11, 20 @ 1:41 pm
I’m keeping a list of every single restaurant that is violating these orders and will never frequent them again.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Dec 11, 20 @ 2:00 pm
= Two guesses who is attorney is. =

One is enough.

Comment by JoanP Friday, Dec 11, 20 @ 2:58 pm