Local government meetings next week. The Chronicle story of the week. A tool for checking hospital stress levels from COVID-19. A cool virtual Black History Month program courtesy of Flossmoor Public Library. News from Olympia Fields Country Club. And thanks to public works crews for getting the streets cleared.
The future
We predict that …
- Flossmoor Board of Trustees will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 7, in the board room of village hall, 2800 Flossmoor Road. Check here for the agenda.
- Homewood Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8, in the board room of village hall, 2020 Chestnut and virtually. Check here for the agenda tomorrow afternoon.
- Flossmoor Public Library Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8, in the library at 1000 Sterling Ave. Check here for the agenda.
The past
You were there because we were there …
On Tuesday, we published a story by Angela Denk introducing the community to our future neighbors, the Poarch Band of the Creek Indian tribe. Wind Creek Hospitality, which will develop the casino on land at Interstate 80/294 and Halsted Street in Homewood and East Hazel Crest, is associated with the tribe.
We thought it would be good to learn about the tribe behind the casino. Angela’s story tells us about the Alabama-based tribe’s history and its gaming business.
Virtual life
Quilt codes and family bibles as keys to freedom. Illinois Humanities’ Road Scholar Connie Martin will present “Pre-Civil War Quilts: Secret Codes To Freedom On The Underground Railroad™” from 7 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 16, courtesy of the Flossmoor Public Library. Registration for the virtual session is required and limited. Email [email protected] (Subject: Martin) for more information.
What we’re watching
Not on TV. These are things we’re paying attention to in the H-F community. Let us know what you’re watching. We’ll watch, too.
COVID-19 hospital stress. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, health officials have focused on hospitalizations as one of the most important metrics to watch. Case numbers and deaths often get more public attention. With the dramatic spike caused by the Omicron variant, and because the increase in at-home testing means official case counts are less likely to tell the whole story, Illinois officials have been more assertive about focusing on hospital numbers.
Late in January, NPR posted a tool for checking the proportion of hospital capacity consumed by COVID-19 patients.
The numbers refer to the percentage of adult inpatient beds used by COVID-19 patents, the percentage used overall, the percentage of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients, the percentage used overall, the seven-day average of COVID-19 patients and the seven-day average of all patients.
Franciscan Health Olympia Fields
- Late January: 34% | 90% | 51% | 99% | 77
- Feb. 3: 19% | 83% | 30% | 98% | 44
Ingalls Memorial Hospital Harvey
- Late January: 35% | 75% | 46% | 89% | 75
- Feb. 3: 28% | 77% | 48% | 100% | 60
(Note: Advocate South Suburban in Hazel Crest is not represented in the results.)
NPR notes that when the ratio of COVID-19 hospitalizations to total beds is higher than 10% there is cause for concern, and when it is higher than 20% the facility is considered to be in “extreme stress,” according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
Both local hospitals are still under stress, but the situation does appear to be improving as the Omicron surge recedes.
Changing of the guard at Olympia Fields Country Club
Brian Morrison was a key source in the Chronicle’s The State of Golf in the Chicago Southland digital documentary project last year.
OIympia Fields Country Club announced recently that on Jan. 21, Morrison was named Illinois PGA Professional of the Year. In a news release from Illinois PGA, the organization noted that Morrison was recognized for his 41 years of service to the organization and to PGA of America. The PGA announced noted:
“Morrison has served as a model leader and visionary to his staff, mentoring over 30 PGA professionals who have gone on to succeed as head professionals or directors of instruction elsewhere in the industry.”
The country club also announced that Morrison is retiring, and Doug Farrell has been appointed to serve as director of golf at Olympia Fields. He has been on the club staff since 2005.
Aside
I, for one, am grateful every time I face off with that crunchy mini-mountain of snow and ice at the end of the driveway.
That’s a sign that public works crews have been by, and that means the streets are passable.
I do have to hack my way through the pile of snow, which is a pain, but I compare it to the pain of having to dig my way eight miles to work. It takes 15 minutes to clear the driveway. I wouldn’t get to work until August (the snow would be gone in March but my back would be out of commission for another few months) without our plow drivers.
Thanks to Homewood and Flossmoor plow crews for your long hours and hard work helping us get where we’re going!
Also …
