COVID-19 Information & Announcements
City offices are closed to vistors until further notice.
Please contact us by phone (217-253-2112) or email (info@tuscola.org) as necessary.
Scroll down this page for information about the many changes or closures with local restaurants, events and businesses.
Tuscola Public Library is OPEN to patrons, they are also offering curbside pickup.
Tuscola Community Building and Tuscola Senior Center are closed until further notice, all events are cancelled
Advanced Disposal changes starting 3/23/2020
As the world is adjusting daily to the challenges that COVID19 is creating for all of us, rest assured we are prepared to continue providing our essential services to you and your residents. As a company, we are implementing policies and procedures to ensure that our employees are as safe as possible while performing our services, and to keep our customers and the public safe as well.
EFFECTIVE MARCH 23, 2020, ADVANCED DISPOSAL IS IMPLEMENTING THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO OUR COLLECTION SERVICE:
· All trash/refuse and recycling must be placed in the company designated cart or a can with handles ONLY if you do not have a cart. Loose items outside of the container will not be collected.
· At this time, yard waste service is unaffected by the changes; however, we do anticipate potential changes to this program as well.
At an emergency meeting on March 16, 2020, and in response to the developing situation related to the COVID-19 virus, the Tuscola City Council unanimously approved an Ordinance granting certain emergency powers to the mayor, for up to 30 days, in order to ensure continued and effective local government, and to help protect community members and public employees from exposure. The City of Tuscola will continue to provide its normal services, it will just do so by limiting in-person contact as much as possible.
Please contact us by phone (217-253-2112) or email (info@tuscola.org) as necessary.
All City Council Meetings, Committee Meetings and Board Meetings of the City of Tuscola, or its departments haver been cancelled until April 13.
City of Tuscola Press Release 03/17/2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2020
Media Contact:
J. Drew Hoel, City Administrator
City of Tuscola
214 N. Main St.
Tuscola, IL 61953
(217)253-2112 x23
CITY OF TUSCOLA TAKES PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 VIRUS
Mayor Dan Kleiss issued a Declaration of Emergency effective 11:40 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2020 in response to the developing situation related to the COVID-19 virus. In the Declaration, Mayor Kleiss called an Emergency Meeting of the Tuscola City Council for 5:00 p.m. on March 16th. The Tuscola City Council unanimously approved an Ordinance granting certain emergency powers to the mayor for up to 30 days in order to ensure continued and effective local government response to the situation, and to help protect community members and public employees from exposure.
The City of Tuscola has enacted the following changes to its operations:
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
City Hall, the Tuscola Senior Center, the Tuscola Community Building (open for Primary Elections on March 17, 2020), and all other City offices and facilities will be closed to the public until at least April 13, 2020, or until further notice. Citizens may call City Hall during business hours at 217-253-2112 for assistance. Emails may be directed to info@tuscola.org, and residents are encouraged to visit www.tuscola.org and The City of Tuscola Facebook page and/or Twitter accounts for additional information.
The Tuscola Police Department will remain open, but citizens are encouraged to phone 217-253-2351 in lieu of walk-in visits, if possible. As always, please call 911 in the event of an emergency.
Events scheduled at the Tuscola Community Building or Tuscola Senior Center have been cancelled.
The Tuscola Library has been closed to the public until further notice.
WATER/SEWER BILLING
Customers are encouraged to pay bills online (tuscola.org/pay-bill ), by mail, or by use of the drop box outside of City Hall. In-person payments at City Hall will not be accepted for the time being. Late penalties will not be charged on delinquent accounts until further notice.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
The regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held on March 23, 2020 is cancelled, as are all meetings of committees, subdivisions, and other bodies of the City of Tuscola, until at least the April 13, 2020 City Council meeting.
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The City of Tuscola will continue to provide its normal services, it will just do so by limiting in-person contact as much as possible. Please contact us by phone or email as necessary.
Local resources and services to help you and your kids stay busy and engaged in socially distancing ways.
We will update this information as quickly as we can as the situation with dining services is rapidly evolving.
Burger King
Drive thru only
Phone: 217-253-2757
Hours: Mon- Sun 6am-11pm
Casey's
Carry Out: Yes
Delivery: Yes- evening only
Curbside Pick up: No
Phone: 217-253-4226
Hours: Mon- Sun 6am-10pm
Cast Iron Pub
Outdoor dining available
Carry Out: Yes
Delivery: yes
Curbside Pick up: Yes
Phone: 217-599-1511
Visit their facebook page for updated hours
Taking orders Via phone, facebook message, or walk-in
Burgers only. Selling growlers to-go
Chinatown
Carry out only
Phone: 253-4173
Dairy Queen
Drive thru only
Phone: 21-253-2500
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am-10pm
Outdoor dining available.
It'll Do 2 will be open 11 to 2 and 4 to 7 for carry out
Jimmy John's
Drive thru only
Delivery: Yes
Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-10pm
Order on their ap or on-line : https://locations.jimmyjohns.com/il/tuscola/sandwiches-2716.html
Joe's Pizza
Outdoor dining available via reservation
Carry Out: Yes
Delivery: Yes- evening only
Curbside Pick up: No
Phone: 217-253-6500
Hours: Friday-Saturday 3:30-9
Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday 3:30-8
Daily Specials
Lambo's
Carry Out: Yes
Drive Thru: Yes
Delivery: No
Curbside Pick up: No
Phone: 217-253-3116
Hours: Mon- Sun 5am-9pm
McDonalds
Carry Out: Yes
Drive Thru: Yes
Delivery: No
Curbside Pick up: No
Phone: 217-253-5266
Hours: Mon-Thurs 5am-11pm
Fri-Sat 5am- Midnight
Sun- 5:30am- 11pm
Mi Veracruz
Outdoor dining available
Carry Out: Yes
Delivery: No
Curbside Pick up: No
Phone: 217-599-1001
Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-9pm
Monical's Pizza
Delivery: Yes
Curbside only, call when you arrive.
Phone: 217-253-4749
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
7 days a week
Curbside pick-up and delivery all day.
Order on their app or on-line at https://monicals-tuscola.foodtecsolutions.com/ordering/intro
Pizza Hut
Drive Thru only
Delivery: Yes
Phone: 217-253-6767
Hours: Sun- Thurs: 11am- 9pm
Fri-Sat- 11am-10pm
On-line ordering: https://locations.pizzahut.com/il/tuscola/1110-tuscola-blvd/delivery
Sol Del Mar
Outdoor dining available
Carry Out: Yes
Delivery: No
Curbside Pick up: No
Phone: 217-599-1012
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-9:30pm and Fri-Sat 11am-10:30pm
Monday - Sunday: 10am-8pm
Outdoor dining available
Orders can be made in drive-thru, remote orders, or by calling 253-5050, we can do curbside pick ups as well . You may order inside too.
Ta'Carbon: 11 AM – 8 PM for carry out and free delivery within the City of Tuscola. Call 217-599-1430 for menu options available.
Taco Bell
Drive Thru: Yes
Curbside pick-up: Yes, only offered during the day
Hours: Mon- Thurs: 10am-1am
Fri-Sat: 10am-2am
Sun: 10am-12am
Many local restaurants are now offering outdoor dining!
Drive-up open normal hours. Visit arcolafb.com for more info. 253-4774
Lobby by appointment only. Drive-up open normal hours. 253-2265
Drive-up and the walk-up lobby will continue to be OPEN.
Customers can make appointments with officers, customer service representatives or to get into lockboxes by calling 217.253.4711.
Drive-up hours:
Monday thru Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00am to 1:00pm
253-1000
We will keep the community updated as we have information about business hours, limits or levels of service, as well as their policy changes in an effort to keep the public socially distanced.
Allied Capital – 217-599-1393 – Office is open by appointment only.
All Pro HVAC Plumbing – 217-599-1046 - Open normal hours
American Central Insurance - Closed to walk in business; Available by - phone 217-599-1202 and email sherri@americancentralins.com
Chatterbox Hair Studio- Normal business hours, by appointment only
Douglas County Abstract/ Chicago Title- Normal business hours
Downtown Design Studio- temporarily closed for retail shopping. Take & Make Kits available. Visit their facebook page for more information
Fitness Center- Normal business hours; all classes are suspended until further notice
Ford of Tuscola indicates they are an essential business and will be open during the Shelter in Place order to assist with vehicle sales and service 253-3353
We are very pleased to announce that Ironhorse Golf Club will officially reopen Friday, May 1st! Our hours of operation will be from 7:00am - 7:00pm.
Tee time reservations for twosomes only are now available on our website & can be booked 7 days in advance. Here is a direct link: https://www.ironhorsegc.com/teetimes/
You can also make a tee time reservation by calling us:
(217) 253-6644
We ask that all golfers please take the new guidelines posted below seriously. This will allow us to stay open and keep our staff and all of you safe!
We are very excited to see all of you!
Thank you for all of your support of Ironhorse Golf Club!
John Davis State Farm Agency - no walk-in business Please call 217-253-4000 or email info@johndavisagency.com
Larsson, Woodyard & Henson- The lobby is now open to the public. If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please continue to use the mail slot in the door. If there is a client in the lobby, please remain outside until that client exits to help maintain social distancing. Face coverings and social distancing are encouraged when entering the premises.
Kelsey Furniture – 217-253-2142 - Open normal hours
Warehouse sale postponed.
Okaw Veterinary Clinic – 217-253-3221 For medications, call first. Upon arrival, stay in your car, call their number and they will bring the medication out to you. They are seeing one client at a time. If your pet has an appointment, stay in your car, call their number, they will come out to your car and get your pet. After the examination, they will call you to discuss and bring pet to your vehicle. Their hours are staying the same.
Petals & Plants has someone here between 9-2 daily and 9-12 Sat. We are only doing deliveries. The shop itself is closed to walk in traffic.
Patterson & Parsons Dentistry- Closed; Emergencies only until April 1 or furthur notice. 253-5216
SavMor- Message from SavMor staff: For the safety of our customers/patients and staff members, we are open for business to take care of your prescription and over the counter medication needs as usual. For your convenience we suggest using our drive through window or free delivery service to your home or work or curb side pick up, we can bring out to your car. If you need OTC medications please call ahead so that we can have your order ready if you do not want to come inside.
Monday - Friday 8:30-6:00
Saturday 8:30-2:00
217-253-2309
Studio 36 Hair Salon- Temporarily closed
Sweet Soul Boutique- temporarily closed for shopping, but offering curbside pickup for orders. Follow their facebook page for more info!
The Vault- Closed 3/21-4/7/2020 ; Hootenany Country Gospel and Bluegrass Jam on 03/21/20 both cancelled
email contact thevaultarts@gmail.com
Tuscola Home Center – open regular hours; practice social distancing when you shop
Tuscola IGA- 6 AM - 8 PM; - Stocked, but limiting some items based on availability
6 AM - 7:30 AM reserved for Seniors and vulnerable individuals please.
Deli 6 AM - 7 PM
call 217-253-5086, email us at kendra@thetuscolajournal.com or office@thetuscolajournal.com, Facebook message, or use the drop box by the front door.
Tuscola Nails- Closed until April 1
Vintage Karma- temporarily closed thru May 1
Visual Image Salon- temporarily closed thru April 7
Information on changes in Church services, contact information and on-line services and teaching during the gathering bans due to COVID-19.
Eagle Mountain Assembly of God- No Services; live streaming services at 10 am Facebook: Eagle Mountain Assembly of God; Staff available by phone at 253-4444
First Christian Church- No services, activities or groups at the church. Staff available by phone 253-2394; church on-line at 10:30 Sunday mornings https://fcctuscola.online.church
Forty Martyrs Catholic Church- Services canceled. The Springfield Diocese will livestream mass on the diocesan Facebook page. Masses also available on EWTN.
Tuscola United Methodist Church: No services; Teaching on YouTube- search “Tuscola United Methodist Church”
United Church of Christ- No services; Sermons available by e-mail, postal service and will be on the Facebook page: Tuscola United Church of Christ. Reverend Deal's phone 217-372-4727
Faith Baptist Church - No Services- visit Facebook page "Faith Baptist Church of Tuscola"
Phone # 217-208-8610
Tuscola Church of the Nazarene - no services or Sunday School
Due to a shortage of masks, both Sarah Bush Lincoln and Carle hospitals are now accepting hand-sewn surgical masks. In an effort to help our community, we are encouraging anyone who is able and willing to sew masks for those on the front lines in the medical community. To assist in this, Immanuel Lutheran Church at 600 E Northline Road will serve as a local drop off location, with a drop off box located at the door to the church. There is no need to bundle or wash the masks prior to dropping off. The masks will be gathered daily and delivered to the hospitals.
There are a couple styles of masks. https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/ This pattern calls for elastic cording. If you make this style but do not have the elastic cording, please drop it off anyway and we will add the elastic.
JoAnn Fabric has a YouTube that shows how to make a different style of mask. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHrnS6n4iA
If you have any questions, please call the Immanuel church office at 217-253-4341. Thank you for helping your community and neighbors.
SBL Expands Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing
Sarah Bush Lincoln is expanding drive-thru testing for non-symptomatic individuals in three other communities, while maintaining the drive-thru testing on the east side of the SBL campus.
Testing will be available at the SBL Tuscola Clinic – noon to 5 pm, Wednesday, May 20; at the SBL Newton Clinic – noon to 5 pm, Thursday, May 21; and the SBL Bonutti Clinic, Effingham – noon to 6 pm, Friday, May 22.
Those interested in being tested will first call 217 258-7490 to pre-register. Participants can arrive any time during the day. The cost of the test is $95 and there is no out-of-pocket expenses. The participant’s health insurance or the CARES Act will be billed for the service.
The staff is taking pre-registration calls from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
People coming for testing should follow the signage when pulling into the parking lot. They will be tested inside their vehicles.
On the Sarah Bush Lincoln campus, people with last names beginning with A to M can come anytime from 8 am to 5 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, while people with last names beginning with N to Z can come anytime from 8 am to 5 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Any pre-registered person can come from 8 to 5 pm on Fridays. People coming for testing should arrive from the Loxa Road entrance and exit the same way. Please follow the signage.
It generally takes 24 hours for SBL to receive the results. People who test positive for COVID-19 will receive a telephone call, while those who test negative will receive a letter in the US Mail. Please refrain from calling for your results. All test resulting is coordinated through one area in the Health Center, which is currently inundated with sorting test results.
For more information, please call 217 258-7409.
Due to a shortage of masks, both Sarah Bush Lincoln and Carle hospitals are now accepting hand-sewn surgical masks. In an effort to help our community, we are encouraging anyone who is able and willing to sew masks for those on the front lines in the medical community. To assist in this, Immanuel Lutheran Church at 600 E Northline Road will serve as a local drop off location, with a drop off box located at the door to the church. There is no need to bundle or wash the masks prior to dropping off. The masks will be gathered daily and delivered to the hospitals.
There are a couple styles of masks. https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/ This pattern calls for elastic cording. If you make this style but do not have the elastic cording, please drop it off anyway and we will add the elastic.
JoAnn Fabric has a YouTube that shows how to make a different style of mask. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHrnS6n4iA
If you have any questions, please call the Immanuel church office at 217-253-4341. Thank you for helping your community and neighbors.
Sam Food Pantry (At Tuscola United Methodist Church) open Wed-Fri 8-10; Drive through – form line in vehicle, stay in vehicle staff will bring out a list and fulfill the orders; Donations of food items being accepted due to some shortages in the supply chain being anticipated.
Tuscola Chamber & Economic Development will try to keep this resource page updated with information as it becomes available. Small Business Resources during COVID-19
Governor's shelter-in-place order shutting down non-essential government services, we will no longer be open to the public in any capacity. That means curbside service is discontinued, and we won't have the ability to monitor the phones. Please keep all the items you have regardless of due date for the duration of the shelter-in-place: do not put them in the book drop. There will be no fines or other fees. Please stay safe and healthy. I will try to post on the library Facebook page often and look forward to hearing from you on there.
Thursday, March 26th, 2020, First Christian Church of Tuscola will host a blood drive from 8am-1:30pm. 100 East Church Street, Tuscola, IL 61953.
You can sign up to donate at:
https://login.bloodcenter.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/95391
Loan Programs related to COVID-19
Two articles have been published by the Journal of Accountancy that provide information on obtaining loans through the SBA and modifying existing loans.
SBA Loans
Loan Modifications
Pre-application Checklist and Guidelines
State of Illinois Uniform Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Summary Information
DOWNSTATE SMALL BUSINESS STABILIZATION PROGRAM
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This is a listing of CANCELLED or MODIFIED community events.