The Edwards County Courthouse was cleared and evacuated yesterday morning for about three hours after a report of a suspicious package left near a courthouse door. The Secretary of State Bomb Squad was called to x-ray the unmarked, hand-sealed package, and their inspection found no suspicious items. Courthouse offices were cleared to open near noon, but court cases scheduled for yesterday were continued. 26-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger appeared in Wayne County Circuit Court yesterday morning. His attorney, Christian J. Baril, asked to continue the motion hearing on a change of location for the trial, which had been the purpose for the meeting. Hearing no objection from Assistant Attorney General Myra Yelle-Clark or State's Attorney Kevin Kakac, Judge Michael Molt continued the hearing to July 12th at 10 a.m. Baril said the defense was in the process of gathering evidence in support of its motion for a change of venue, but it was having technical difficulties converting it to the p
The Fairfield Public School District 112 Board of Education met last night and voted to employ Josh Kissen as Center Street Principal. Kissen currently teaches sixth grade math at Red Hill; he will take over at Center Street, and current Principal April Smith will move to Principal at North Side, effective July 1st. Current North Side Principal Kristina Gardner was previously hired as the district superintendent to replace Interim Superintendent Diana Zurliene. 26-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger is scheduled to appear in Wayne County Circuit Court today. In February, his attorney, Christian J. Baril, filed a motion for a change of venue, and a hearing on that matter is scheduled for this morning. At the last pre-trial conference last month, Baril filed a motion to continue the jury trial in the case from May 2nd to September 19th, and Judge Michael Molt granted that motion. The Fairfield City Council will meet tonight at 6. The council is anticipated to approve the closure of the alley we
At the recent Wayne City School Board meeting, Tabitha Borah was hired as a full-time elementary teacher for next year. Adria Marlett was hired as a full-time paraprofessional. The board also accepted the resignation of Mrs. Martin as second grade teacher at the end of the current year. The board is also moving forward with plans to name the big gym after Conrad Allen and is discussing details with the family. The name will be displayed on the red wall by the entry of the gym. Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 7 officials report the arrest of a Golconda, IL man on Thursday. 20 year old Jacob L. Lemon was arrested on charges of Obstructing Justice, a class 4 felony in an ongoing August 2021 Possession of Child Pornography investigation. Lemon was held in the Saline County Jail and released on $25,000 bond. Sparklight, along with the other Cable One family of brands, has announced it will open spring applications for the company's Charitable Giving Fund,
The Fairfield City Council met last night and approved a contract with the Wayne County Humane Society for animal control. The society had sent a proposal for $3,100 per month, limited hours, and no pick-ups of bite dogs or vicious animals earlier this year; the new contract is for $2,000 per month and includes 24/7 pickup on bite dogs and vicious animals. In other action, the council approved an ordinance to proceed in seeking bids for water tower construction and demolition. The new tower will go on Northwest Seventh Street and will replace the existing tank already in use. That tank, and the old tower downtown, will be demolished, and the work is included in the roughly $1.5 million price tag. Financing will be comprised of state grants and TIF money, and the balance will be taken care of in some way by the city, depending on total grant amounts. In his report at last night's meeting, Mayor Mike Dreith said inflation will take a toll on the City budget. Chemicals for the water
Dr. Nicole Fyie has tendered her resignation from Fairfield Memorial Hospital and Horizon Healthcare. Unverified reports surfaced yesterday saying she was escorted out of the hospital, but FMH Administration said this morning that was not the case. Dr. Fyie "remains part of the organization" through her resignation period, which ends January 2nd. The first installment of Wayne County Property Tax Bills is due Friday, according to county Treasurer Donna Masterson. The second installment is due November 29th. The total amount to be collected this year is $19,118,774.94. Masterson said yesterday about 51 percent of that total had been collected so far, or about $10 million. Wayne County deputies have released information on a two-vehicle accident that occurred Friday afternoon north of Golden Gate. Deputies say 34-year-old Fairfield resident Roger R. Hutchinson was eastbound on Highway 15 in a 2008 Pontiac G6 when he traveled off the south side of the road, overcorrected, went i