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The Fairfield City Council The Fairfield City Council met for their regular meeting last night with all members present. Although there were only 3 agenda items to be addressed, discussion on some of the items was lengthy. The council reviewed a proposed ordinance regarding the placement of storage containers on residential property. This issue was briefly discussed at the last meeting with City Attorney Darren Rice instructed to draft a proposed ordinance. Some of the stipulations that are being proposed in the ordinance are: Can't exceed 30% of the property or 320 sq. ft., whichever is less; Must be painted a monochrome color with no visible lettering or signage; Placed to minimize visibility from the street; May only be placed in areas zoned R1, R2, or R3; May be altered but must retain structural integrity; Must be 7' from a structure - Applies to storage containers only. Truck bodies, etc. are still prohibited by ordinance. City Attorney Rice will draft the revised ordinance and present for approval at a later council meeting. A requested water line extension southeast of Fairfield remains unresolved after the council again discussed the issue last night. Blake Spurlock has requested the city run a water line to serve his new home and perhaps a few others in the immediate area. The estimated cost of the project is $50,000, with Spurlock committing $10,000 of his own money for the project. He stated that he had been trying to get a water line for 16 years. Spurlock was unable to say if any of the others in the immediate area would be willing to commit dollars towards the project. Alderman Jerry Lisenbee made a motion to proceed with the project at a cost to the city of $40,000, with Alderman McGill providing a second. Alderman Tyler Lampley stated that the city loses money on every gallon of water and he was not willing to support such a costly project. The vote was 4-3 to reject the Lisinbee motion. The votes were: NO: Stahl, Eckleberry, Lampley, Reever YES: McGill, Lisinbee, Atteberry The project is not dead however, with alderman pledging to work with Spurlock to hopefully find a solution. The city voted to scrap a pickup truck with a blown engine from the Water Filtration Plant and a mower from the Cemetery. The city will sell a Gator from the Cemetery for $4,000 first come, first served Fairfield resident Tonya Gale addressed the council during Public Comments. She stated that pickup trucks were parking on sidewalks in her area, making the sidewalk impassable for a wheelchair. She further stated that she had contacted the Fairfield Police Department regarding the issue and was not satisfied with the lack of action by the Police Department on the matter. The council reminded residents that the Fairfield Fire Departments annual Chili Supper is this Friday, October 28, Fire Chief Andrew Miller says they are preparing 120 gallons of chili for the event. Also, the Fairfield Veterans Day Parade will be held on November 5. ### FCC Foundation and Carnaby Square to Host Second Annual Fran Carter Memorial Scholarship Fashion Show The Frontier Community College Foundation and Carnaby Square are teaming up again to host the Fran Carter Memorial Scholarship Fashion Show, Sunday November 6th at the First Christian Church in Fairfield. This is the fourth fashion show the two entities have sponsored together and the second with proceeds benefiting the Fran Carter Memorial Scholarship. "Fran played such an important role in the college foundation and was one of Carnaby Square's biggest fans. I couldn't think of a better way to honor my friend's legacy than working with the foundation to raise money in honor of her for scholarships," said Kristi Hornung, owner and operator of Carnaby Square. The location is a new one for the event, as it will be held at the First Christian Church of Fairfield. "The response to this event year after year continues to grow," said Sarah Rush, President of the FCC Foundation. "We are so thankful to Pastor Craig Scott and the church leadership team for allowing us to use the multipurpose room for this event. Fran was also a faithful member and servant of First Christian Church, so it is truly fitting to have the event there." The fashion show is scheduled to begin at 3pm on Sunday, November 6th. Doors will open at 2:30pm. A light dessert and drinks will be served. Tickets are on sale now at Carnaby Square for $15 each or $100 for a reserved table of eight. Tamara Vail has donated a stained glass piece as a silent auction item and a basket raffle featuring items from local business will also be offered. For questions or to donate to the event, please contact Sarah Rush at 618-516-1200. ### "Bob's Tree" Returns to the Edwards County Farm Bureau for the 11th year The Edwards County Farm Bureau is sponsoring the eleventh annual "Bob's Tree." "Bob's Tree," is a Christmas tree dedicated to former Edwards County Farm Bureau manager Bob Mason. Bob had a passion for several things, two of them being children and Farm Bureau. In addition, even after retirement, he always brought a Christmas Tree into the Farm Bureau office. To help those who are less fortunate, and as a way to honor Bob, the "Bob's Tree" project was created. The community is urged to bring in new, homemade, or gently used scarfs, hats, and gloves for children and adults, to be displayed on a Christmas tree, into the Farm Bureau office from now until December 2, 2022. The items will then be donated to needy children in the county. All who donate a scarf, hat, or gloves will be entered into a drawing for a gift card. The drawing will be held on Friday, December 2, 2022. ### Local Halloween Events Friday, October 28th One Strong Mission Group's Haunted Attic & Chili Supper October 28 7-11. Haunted Attic Tour – $10. Chili Supper by donation – Chili, Chili Dog, Hot Dog & Drink. St. John the Baptist, Piopolis Saturday, October 29th A Halloween Party sponsored by the Fairfield American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary will be Saturday at 1pm. A total of $600 in prize money will be awarded for categories ranging from babies to adult. The Hanna House Museum will be handing out treat bags for children on Saturday, October 29th from 10-2. Dressing in a costume is not necessary to receive a treat bag. This is the last weekend that the museum will be open until spring so it is an excellent opportunity to check it out with your kids! It's fun and it's free! Don't let local history be a mystery! Albion's Annual Boo on the Bricks will take place on Saturday, October 29th on the Albion Square. There will be a Pet Parade with prize. Costume contest starts at 4pm, Costume Categories are: Best Group, Best Overall in each of the brackets of 0-3 yrs, 4-7 yrs, 8-12 yrs, and 13 & up. Treats start at 5pm, Trunks can set up after 3pm. There will be a prize for Best Decorated Trunk. Boo on the Bricks 2022 is sponsored by the Albion Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information visit their Facebook page, website, or call Michelle at 302-4655. The West Salem Development Association has finalized plans for its annual Halloween activities to be held on Saturday, October 29 on the West Salem Square. Judging for the annual Costume Contest will begin at 5 p.m. and will be held at the bandstand. No registration is required. It is open to all ages, but participants may only enter in one category: Ages 3 and under, 4-5 Years Old, 6-7 Years Old, 8-9 Years Old, 10-12 Years Old, 13 and Up, Couples, and Groups. Cash prizes will be awarded to the1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category except Couples and Groups. A $20 cash prize will be given for both Best Couple and Best Group. Trunk or Treating will then be held on the Square, beginning at 6 p.m. People are encouraged to decorate their vehicles, and an overall winner for the Best Decorated Vehicle will receive $25. The festivities are being sponsored by First National Bank of Allendale – West Salem, Carmi, and Mt. Carmel, and the West Salem Development Association. Sunday, October
The Fairfield City Council met in regular session last night and worked through an 8-item agenda. After an Executive Session, the council voted unanimously to sell the former Fairfield Auxiliary Police Building on South 1st St. The minimum bid for the property is $60,000 with a retail buyer preferred. The bid opening is scheduled for the first council meeting in October. Discussion was held concerning the proposed water tower on NW 7th St. It was announced that the cost of the project had blossomed from $1.4 million to $1.8 million. The project is TIF eligible and $200,000 has been pledged from Senator Darren Baileys office. An ordinance was approved allowing city access to utility meters which may be inside fenced properties. An ordinance was passed allowing for the abatement of certain fines imposed in municipal court. The abatement will allow the city to recover some of its costs if the Street & Bridge Dept. has to haul off debris from property cleanup. The airport maintenance agreement with Albion Radio Communications was approved for another year. Discussion was also held concerning the distance a fence must be from the property line. Currently, the fence must be 7' from the line, however the discussion among alderman indicated that they preferred a much shorter distance. City Attorney Darren Rice will revise the current ordinance and present it to the council at a future meeting. Alderman Tyler Lampley announced that the Recreation Committee would be working with the Chamber to bring back the ice skating rink downtown and would be expanding the event to include a vendor tent. The Wayne County Coroner's office has completed their investigation into the death of Trask C. Smith. 27-year-old Smith was found dead in Fairfield, in a shallow creek bed in the 600 block of SE 4th Street on the morning of Saturday, March 12. A forensic autopsy conducted on March 13 indicated Smith's blood-alcohol concentration was 0.373. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.250-0.399% is a level that may be indicative of alcohol poisoning and result in a loss of consciousness. Toxicology also revealed findings of THC, the principle psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. Environmental exposure to temperatures as low as 16 degrees, water submersion and evidence of blunt force trauma consistent with a fall into the creek were additional factors considered in the finding. A single cause of death was not determined to be more compelling than another, therefore the death and the manner of death were ruled as "undetermined". A case review by a second forensic pathologist concurred with the initial undetermined finding. According to Wayne County Coroner Carrie Dagg the case is now considered closed and no additional information will be released at this time. Ray Tate, the 42-year-old man convicted of murdering Wayne County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Riley last year, pleaded not guilty in Clinton County Court, on Monday, to 30 felony charges stemming from events following the crime spree that started after Deputy Riley was shot to death on Interstate 64. Tate is currently serving a life sentence in Menard Correctional Center for Deputy Riley's first-degree murder but is attempting to withdraw his guilty plea in the Wayne County case and to have his life sentence tossed out. Prosecutors claim that after shooting Deputy Riley and stealing his squad car, Tate forced a truck driver to take him to Missouri where he allegedly shot another person and stole their vehicle. Missouri prosecutors have filed 14 felony charges against Tate and have expressed a strong desire to bring him to trial. Tate then crossed back into Illinois where he reportedly carjacked another person taking the driver and his car to Clinton County, where he allegedly forced his way into a rural Carlyle home, holding both the car driver and the homeowner captive during a police standoff. The two men were ultimately released unharmed. But Clinton County authorities have charged Tate with 13 Class X felonies for aggravated kidnapping and also home invasion, four Class 1 felonies for residential burglary and possessing stolen firearms, Class 2 felonies for being a felon in possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, Class 3 felonies for aggravated battery, and aggravated unlawful restraint, and three Class 4 felonies for reckless discharge of a firearm. Tate is prohibited from having any contact with his alleged kidnapping victims Leonard Cox or Joseph Reagan. The defense noted in court Monday they expect Tate to be transferred soon to St. Charles, Missouri from Menard to be arraigned on the charges he faces there. A video hearing in the Clinton County case is scheduled for September 28 and a status hearing on the Wayne County case is set for September 15. An Effingham County man is now facing charges related to a shooting on Sunday in rural Edwards County. 42-year-old Sean Adam Curtiss of Altamont was formally charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Additional charges are possible as Edwards County State's Attorney Eric St. Ledger reviews police reports of the incident. Curtiss was not permitted to possess a firearm after a 2008 conviction in Jasper County of being in possession of meth precursors. The victim was identified as Malinda Williams, a former Carmi woman. She was taken first to Wabash General Hospital in Mount Carmel and was later airlifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville where her condition was listed as stable. In addition to the charge related to the alleged shooting, Curtiss was wanted on an active Effingham County warrant for failure to appear in court on two felony charges of driving suspended. He is being held in the White County jail in Carmi for Edwards County on an Edwards County charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm is a Class-2 felony. If convicted, the offense carries a prison sentence of 3-14 years without the possibility of probation or conditional discharge. No court dates have been set at this time. Fairfield Public School District #112 have called for a Special Board Meeting to be held on Thursday, August 25 at 6:00 pm in the Center Street School Board Room. Items on the agenda are Supply Chain Assistance, and the Community Eligibility Provisions with action expected. The Second Judicial Circuit is proud to announce it was recently awarded a grant to establish a new program aimed at providing free legal advice to individuals who are representing themselves in court. The grant made available through the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts will be used to fund a new program in which a licensed attorney will be available to meet with individuals in the library and provide them with free legal coaching, document review, e-filing, and referrals. The funding will also establish a Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator who will not only oversee this specific project but will also assess the needs of self-represented litigants (SRLs) throughout the Circuit and the resources currently available to them. The goal of the program is to then seek new resources and develop new programs geared toward providing assistance to SRLs. Second Circuit Chief Judge Melissa Morgan has announced that DeeDee O'Bright will serve in this Coordinator role and the program is set to kick-off in the West Frankfort Public Library in Franklin County. Chief Judge Morgan stated, "This program, referred to as "Lawyer in the Library" has been offered in not only different areas across the state, but the country as well, and I am excited for the opportunity to initiate it in the Second Circuit. So many people attempt to navigate the legal process without the benefit of an attorney because they have limited resources, but we are committed to providing them assistance and access to justice. I am extremely grateful to the ATJ Commission and the Administrative Office for this grant and the establishment of a Coordinator that will work to improve our court services for self-represented litigants." "Ms. O'Bright has alre
***BOLO*** Please be aware that the Wayne County Sheriff's Office is currently searching for a white male wearing a muddy Carhartt style jacket and jeans. Subject appeared to be in his late 20's to early 30's and is approximately 5'10" tall. Subject was last seen on foot in the 1800 block of County Highway 7. Subject is wanted for questioning in regards to a stolen vehicle and loader tractor out of Clay County. If spotted do not approach subject, but call the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 842-6631 or 911. The Fairfield City Council met in regular session Tuesday evening with all alderman present. The annual Appropriations Ordinance was unanimously approved after a public hearing prior to the council meeting. The appropriation stands at $28,720,000. This does not include any grants that may be accessed and is not considered a budget. The appropriation process only places dollars in each department for possible spending during the year and doesn't mean they will spend all the dollars appropriated. Water and Sewer rates will be going up slightly after the council unanimously passed an increase in the water and sewer rates. Alderman Tyler Lampley stated that the city's water and sewer utilities lost $330,000 last year and he indicated that the sewer plant is requiring some significant maintenance involving some very expensive items. He also indicated the cost of chemicals had risen 100% over 2 years along with other maintenance items feeling the inflation pinch as well. Water rates will increase .25 annually over the next 5 years. This is per 1000 gallons. Also, water meter rates will raise $1.00 annually for 5 years. Sewer rates will increase .50 the first year and .25 each year for the 5 years. This is also per 1000 gallons. Gas and electric rates will not be increased. Both the Mayor and Lampley indicated that they hated to increase any cost to Fairfield residents given the current economic climate, but some of the increased operational costs have to be passed on. A Memo of Understanding was approved with the IBEW regarding residency requirements. The city recently negotiated residency for the FOP to 45 minutes from Fairfield. The Memo of Understanding extends the same 45-minute residency to other city workers. Alderman Dewey Eckleberry voted no on the memo. The old Electric Power Plant was sold to Shannon Withrow, who had the only bid. The sale includes the building, tanks, and fuel contained in the tanks. Withrows winning bid was $38,000. A $15,000 revolving loan was approved for Mindy's Sew Shop in downtown Fairfield. The loan will be used to purchase specialized equipment and will result in the addition of an employee. The council approved the $2,500 annual dues from the Greater Wabash Planning Commission for grant writing services. 3 street closing requests were granted: Fairfield Fall Fun Fest, 1st Baptist Church VBS, Car Show on Industrial Drive. The expenditure of $3,100 from the Recreation Fund was approved. The funds will be used to order Solar Eclipse Glasses for the upcoming eclipse. It was noted that the glasses are going to be in short supply so an early order should ensure availability. Sponsorships will offset much of the costs for the eclipse celebration, which as one alderman indicated was "going to be a big deal". Interim Mayor Gary Moore announced the next City of Fairfield Town Hall will be held on August 16 at 6:00 pm at City Hall. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is seeking sealed bids for a used 2013 Dodge Ram 4x4 truck, a used 2012 Dodge 3500 pickup and a used 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL Convertible. Proposal forms are available at the Sheriff's Office. These vehicles may be viewed and inspected at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 305 E. Court Street Fairfield, IL 62837. Proposals are to be placed in a sealed envelope marked "Vehicle 1, Vehicle 2 or Vehicle 3" and submitted no later than 12:00pm on August 9, 2022 to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 305 E. Court Street Fairfield, IL 62837. At this time all bids will be opened and read aloud publicly. If you wish to bid on multiple vehicles a separate bid sheet will need to be filled out and submitted for each vehicle. Equipment is to be sold as is and where is. Successful bidder shall furnish a bank draft or cashier's check in the full amount of the bid upon taking possession of equipment no later than August 16, 2022. The County reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to select and award to the bidder whose bid it is felt is in the best interest of the County. Wayne County Sheriff's arrested 40-year-old Ely J Taylor on Tuesday stemming from a Warrant for Failure to appear on charges of Driving while License Suspended/Revoked. He was transported to the Wayne County Jail and held pending posting of $595 bond. A court date has been set in this case for September 15, 2022, at 1 pm in Wayne County Court. In-person registration for FCHS continues today from 10am until 2pm in the school study hall/library. The fees for this year are: Textbook rental and computer disk fee - $50 per student; Drivers Education Fee (if enrolled) - $50; Student Parking Paved Lot - $25; Student Parking Gravel Lot - $15. The Technology Fee of $55 has been waived for the 2022-2023 school year. Financial aid forms will be available at registration for fee waivers. The first day of classes for the 2022-2023 school year will be Monday, August 15 with buses running a normal schedule. Classes will be in session from 8:10 to 3pm. Every Tuesday will be a 9am late start for the purpose of curriculum development and teacher training. Classes will begin at 9 and dismiss at 3pm. Buses will run at their normal time and student who arrive early will report to study hall until the first period begins. There will be no half day or early dismissals. Recently, the Clover Buds (a 4H Youth Group), donated blankets to Fairfield Memorial Hospital Emergency Department. 4-H Cloverbud membership is reserved for kids who are 5 to 7 years old. The focus of Cloverbuds is to introduce kids to all that 4-H has to offer. 4-H Cloverbud programs are developmentally appropriate, activity-focused, and build on cooperative learning. Several Wayne County 4H clubs have Cloverbuds made up of siblings/friends that are just not old enough to be in 4H "club" yet. Each Cloverbud group has a "group" project for presenting at the fair on general project day. The blankets that were donated to the pediatric patients at FMH was the Cloverbud group project this year. "We started the blankets at one of our earlier meetings and have worked on them at our monthly meetings, after finishing the half a dozen we have the group voted on where they wanted to donate them. It was unanimous that they be given to kids in the hospital. Who doesn't feel better with a blanket, right? And, they wanted them to be colorful to maybe make their visit/stay a little brighter. As their leader, along with the families, we wanted the boys and girls to have an opportunity to see and feel what it was like to do something for others and then make a commitment to the hospital to continue to supply the lap blankets as much as possible." commented Gayle McGehee, Cloverbud Group Leader. The Edwards County 4-H Goat Show was held Tuesday afternoon, July 26. In the Dairy Goat division, Kamryn Trowbridge showed the Grand Champion Dairy Female. She received a banner donated by the Edwards County Ag in the Classroom. Adalynn Potter showed the Reserve Grand Champion Dairy Female. In the Meat Goat division, JW Simms-Reisner showed the Grand Champion Female and the Reserve Grand Champion Meat Female. JW received the banner donated by the JTK Services Inc. The Grand Champion Market Goat was shown by Kamryn Trowbridge who received a banner donated by Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners. The Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat was shown by Chloe Iles. In the Showmanship division, the Senior Showmanship trophy donated by Terry Mewes and Ashley Craig was awarded to Laney Stephens. Parker Biggs won the Junior Showmanship trophy donated by Meridith/Ingra
The Fairfield City Council met last night. It voted to approve the use of credit or debit cards to pay various departments, not just utility payments. Acting Mayor Gary Moore detailed various fees associated with card usage, but the City is currently paying a one percent fee; he said he doesn't like the idea of paying a fee to use his own money and was not keen on adding a fee structure to the City. Alderman Tyler Lampley agreed and said Save-A-Lot chalks up the fee as a cost of doing business. The Council indicated the City should absorb the cost at no additional charge to the customer and unanimously approved that motion. Acting Mayor Moore also said a town hall meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on June 30th at City Hall. He says he wants to give residents an opportunity to voice concerns, see what can be done better and what has been done well. The town hall will be open to any city resident, and there will be no time limit as long as the conversation is constructive. Acting Mayor Moore provided a financial report to attendees as well for the month of May. Fairfield revenues topped $1.66 million and expenses about $1.36 million, for a total revenue of about $301,000. He said the General Fund balance was about $2.45 million, and the City had payroll expenses of about $336,000. He says he will continue to give financial reports at each meeting going forward. Fairfield Memorial Hospital says Urgent Care will begin seeing patients at its new location on the first floor of the new Surgical Pavilion starting today. Patients needing to be seen in Urgent Care can enter through the main doors of the Surgical Pavilion, and Urgent Care will be straight ahead. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 7 to 5 on weekends. The Emergency Department began seeing patients on the first floor of the new building Monday night. Patients seeking care after 10 p.m. will need to ring the buzzer at the entryway to be admitted by security. Before 10, anyone needing emergency treatment should follow signs to the new department. Tomorrow, the FMH Orthopedic Clinic and Urology Clinic will see patients on the second floor of the Surgical Pavilion. The Pain Clinic will move to Suite C in the Medical Arts Complex tomorrow, as well. University of Illinois Extension Offices in Wayne and Edwards counties are offering free testing of dial gauge pressure canners this summer. Anyone interested in a free test can drop off lids at the Wayne or Edwards county offices, and, once lids are checked, people will be contacted for pickup. Offices are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays but are closed from noon to 1 for lunch. The Wayne County Office is at 2B Frontier Drive in Fairfield and can be reached at 842-3702, and the Edwards County Office is at 350 North Seventh in Albion and can be reached at 445-2934. The IDPH reported nine new cases of COVID-19 in Wayne and Wabash counties yesterday. Marion County added 12 cases, Clay County added eight, Richland County added six, Lawrence and Jefferson counties added three, Hamilton County added two, and Edwards County added one. White County held steady on the state website. As a state, Illinois announced 3,879 new cases and 21 additional deaths. River stages as of early this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 5.96 feet, below the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.08 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 5.20 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 1.78 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 3.99 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 7.65 feet. Today's crude oil price is $112.00, down $2.00 from yesterday. The July crude oil price is $119.07, down $2.81 from yesterday morning.
Alderman Tyler Lampley has announced that all flags in the city are to be flown at half-staff until further notice in honor of the passing of Fairfield Mayor Dr. Mike Dreith. Dr. Michael L. Dreith, age 65, of Fairfield, died Saturday, May 28th. According to the Wayne County Coroner's office, local responders were dispatched to a rural Wayne County location Saturday afternoon. Dr. Dreith was transported by ambulance to Fairfield Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Dr. Dreith's manner of death was ruled due to natural causes. Memorial Day services have been set in Fairfield at the Veterans Section in Maple Hill Cemetery. Dave Land will emcee, and Robert Taylor will be the featured speaker. Taylor attended grade school in Mt. Erie and high school in Cisne, has been a pastor at the Mt. Erie Church of the Nazarene for the past seven years, and served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Wayne City will hold Memorial Day services today at 2 at Thomason Cemetery. Sharon White will emcee, and Lamar Choate will be the featured speaker. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts will pass out pamphlets and recite the pledge of allegiance, Gary Cline and his daughter will offer a prayer and sing the National Anthem, and Chris Draper will announce the veterans buried there during the passed year. The Fairfield VFW and American Legion will also be on hand. Edwards County VFW Memorial Post 8222 will conduct services today to honor veterans. The post will visit 12 cemeteries and hold a service at the courthouse in Albion on Monday. It will begin at Birk Cemetery at 7 a.m. and move to Mt. Zion at 7:15, Wanborough at 7:30, Little Prairie at 7:45, Samaria Baptist at 8, Pleasant Hill at 8:15, West Village at 8:30, Bone Gap at 8:45, Browns at 9, Union at 9:15, Graceland at 9:30, and Old Albion at 9:45. The post will conclude its Memorial Day services with a public program on the Edwards County Courthouse Square in Albion at 10 a.m., weather permitting. All times are approximate. 47-year-old Olney resident Ryan R. Mattingly was sentenced in Wayne County Circuit Court Thursday. He pleaded guilty to a Class 3 felony count of possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 18 months probation and time served. A separate case was dismissed per his plea, and Mattingly was ordered to pay $954 in fines and court costs. A 69-year-old Louisville man was injured when his motorcycle struck a deer on US 45 north of the Iola Road in Clay County Sunday morning. State Police say a preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 10:12 Lewis Charlton was traveling south on US 45 north of Iola Road when they struck a deer, causing the motorcycle to be laid down on its right side. Charlton fell off the motorcycle which continued south before coming to rest in the middle of the southbound lane. Charlton was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 18.96 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.45 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 7.89 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 2.09 feet, the Littloe Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 13.91 feet, and the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 15.61 feet.
The Fairfield City Council met last night. Aldermen approved a $1.8 million bid from Caldwell Tank, Inc., out of Louisville, Kentucky for a new water tower next to the million gallon storage tank on Northwest Seventh Street. Funding will come from a combination of TIF and city funding and a grant from then-Representative Darren Bailey. The City will likely need to finance about $700,000 of the project, per Alderman Tyler Lampley, and it may utilize a line of credit to do so. Payment would take one year and would have no impact on the general fund. The council heard several nominations for city positions. The nomination of former mayor Brent Maguire for Police Chief failed for lack of a motion. Most other appointments were unanimous, though three did have abstentions. In his report at last night's meeting, Mayor Mike Dreith gave a more detailed account of the 2020 Census. Per the Census, the median age of Fairfield residents is 42.7, and the average resident has a 20-minutes commute to work; 56 percent have at least two vehicles, and the average income is about $34,000 per person, with 8.4 percent below the poverty line. The largest employer was educational services at 26.9 percent, and the next highest was retail sales at 16.7 percent. 30 percent of respondents rent their residences. About 13 percent of adults did not have a high school diploma, and 11 percent had a bachelor's degree. The Illinois Fuel & Retail Association has filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Revenue in Sangamon County Circuit Court. Retailers say a requirement to post signs alerting consumers about a six-month freeze in the state motor-fuel tax is unconstitutional, as it compels them to promote Governor J.B. Pritzker's re-election campaign. Retailers who don't post or maintain the signage announcing the freeze on every pump for the next six months could be fined $500 per day. Volunteers are needed to help place flags in Maple Hill Cemetery for Memorial Day. Volunteers will meet today at 4 at the cemetery's Veterans Section. Large flags will be placed around the Veterans Section, and individual flags will be placed by the graves of veterans. Anyone wanting to help with the flags is welcome. Memorial Day services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday. The IDPH reported one new case of COVID-19 in Wayne, Wabash, and Hamilton counties yesterday. Marion County added four cases, Lawrence County added three, and Clay and Jefferson counties added two. Richland, Edwards, and White counties held steady on the state website. As a state, Illinois announced 3,988 new cases and nine additional deaths. River stages as of early this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 18.97 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 6.07 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 19.19 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 2.70 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 14.26 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 13.49 feet. Today's crude oil price is $102.75, down $0.50 from yesterday. The July crude oil price is $110.86, up $1.15 from yesterday morning.
The Fairfield City Council met last night and tabled the vote on a potential business district. Another vote will be scheduled in June, within 90 days of the public hearing held on the matter before the March 8th council meeting. With the delay, should the district be approved later this year, the one-percent sales tax increase wouldn't take effect until next year. Alderman Tyler Lampley initially motioned to vote on the matter last night, but that motion died for lack of a second. Alderman Gary Moore then motioned to table the matter for a year, saying it isn't the right time to increase taxes. That motion was seconded by Alderman Dewey Eckleberry, but it failed on a 3-4 vote; aldermen Moore, Eckleberry, and Jerry Lisenbee voted yes, and aldermen Lampley, Clifford Reever, Cody Attebery, and Terry Stahl voted no. Alderman Eugene McGill was absent. Atteberry then motioned to vote again within 90 days of the public hearing, and that motion passed 4-3 with the same voting blocs. In other action at last night's council meeting, aldermen approved an agreement with IDNR for $450 annually for gas and water line easements through Atkinson Forest. They also approved the sale of approximately $66,400 in tools and excess inventory to Wayne-White, and they approved the sale of used airpacks to the Strasburg Fire Protection District. About 10 will be sold for $100 each. In his report last night, Mayor Dreith said the USDA and NRCS report they are close in submitting a preliminary feasibility report on flooding problems along Johnson Creek in Fairfield. Early data indicates 55 percent of the watershed, or about 3,200 acres, is now residential property. He said in February FEMA had revised the flooding risk map along the creek. The Illinois State Police has activated an Endangered Missing Person Advisory. The Breese Police Department is asking for assistance in locating 72-year-old Olivia Salanik. She is driving a black 2011 Chevrolet Impala with Illinois license plate WALUNA2 and has a condition placing her in danger. She is described as a 5'2" woman with brown hair and weighing 105 pounds. Anyone with information should contact 911 or the Breese Police Department at (618)594-4555. Olivia-Salanik The IDPH reported no new cases of COVID-19 in Wayne, Edwards, Hamilton, Marion, Clay, Richland, and Lawrence counties yesterday. Wabash County added three cases on the state website, and White and Jefferson counties added one. As a state, Illinois announced 1,442 new cases and 44 additional deaths. Statewide totals sat at 3,057,078 cases and 33,260 deaths. The Southern Region had a seven-day positivity rate of 1.6 percent on the 19th, unchanged from the 18th. River stages as of early this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 18.75 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 10.58 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 16.98 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 12.54 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 20.73 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 15.25 feet. Today's crude oil price is $104.75, down $0.25 from yesterday. The May crude oil price is $110.32, up $0.52 from yesterday morning. "Morning Coffee" will feature Mark Turner and Jeremy Smith. "Morning Coffee" is between 8-9 a.m. on 104.9 weekdays. To listen to a podcast of Morning Coffee and Community Connection, click on "About Us" on the top right of wfiwradio.com. Then, from the dropdown, make your choice of program.
Frontier Community College has announced its academic honor recipients for the Fall 2021 Semester. 76 students were named to the CEO/ Chancellor's List, requiring at least a 3.9 GPA. 42 students were named to the President's List with a GPA or 3.75 to 3.89, and 27 were named to the Dean's List for having a GPA between 3.5 and 3.74. A full list of honor recipients can be found in the following attachment: Honors-List-Fall-2021 49-year-old Rockford resident Eddie W. Thomasson was sentenced in Wayne County Circuit Court yesterday. He pleaded guilty to a Class 3 felony count of forgery and was sentenced to one year conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay $1,018 in fines and court costs. 20-year-old Woodlawn resident Jonathan M. Richardson pleaded guilty in October to a Class 2 felony count of burglary. He was sentenced yesterday to two years probation. A separate case was dismissed, and he was ordered to pay $1,863.75 in fines, court costs, and restitution. Fairfield police arrested 44-year-old Fairfield resident Daniel B.J. Brockett last night on a Wayne County failure to appear warrant for driving without a valid permit or license. He was held in the Wayne County Jail, pending the posting of $345 bond. 39-year-old Albion resident Steven Earl Linder was arrested by White County deputies one week ago in Crossville. He was stopped for driving with a revoked license, and, when asked if he had any illegal items on his person, he pulled out a small bag of cannabis and a metal smoking pipe. He was charged with driving revoked, possession of cannabis in a motor vehicle, and possession of drug paraphernalia and taken to the White County Jail, pending the posting of $200 bond. He was also cited for two traffic violations. As a court decision has hit pause on masking in schools, Governor J.B. Pritkzer could consider ending other mandates. He says changes could come to mitigation efforts as hospitalizations drop. The governor is expected to address the matter this afternoon, and some believe the mandate could be lifted by March for malls, restaurants, bars, and businesses but not schools, prisons, healthcare facilities, or public transit. Once lifted, the mask mandate could be put back in place if numbers surge again. The Fairfield City Council met last night and heard a presentation on the proposed Business District by Moran Economic Development. Retailers in the proposed area would see an additional one percent sales tax on goods sold, raising it from seven to eight percent; the tax would not be assessed on medical or prescription items, vehicles, and food prepared at home. A public hearing for the district will be held on March 8th at 5:30 at City Hall. The council also discussed the ongoing handling of stray and vicious animals. Alderman Tyler Lampley has talked with the Wayne County Humane Society, who recently presented a new contract to the City, and its higher price caused concern among city officials. Murphy's from Cisne addressed the council regarding their services and what it can offer. The Humane Society has provided animal control services to the city since 1992, and the City will continue discussions with both options to determine which is the best fit going forward. Doug Skaggs was appointed as the new Zoning Officer, replacing Flo Simpson, and First Ward Alderman Brett Coale submitted his resignation from the council. In his report at last night's meeting, Mayor Mike Dreith said Wabash Communications will soon begin marketing its Internet service in Fairfield, per management. Crews will be seen in the next few months for construction of fiberoptic main lines moving west to east. After a series of delays, the mayor says McDonald's is set to begin work on its new facility in Fairfield on May 5th. As of yesterday, 11 people had taken out police applications for hire, and five people had taken fire applications. The City aims to have at least 15 police candidates for testing by the mandatory meeting on the 25th. Applications are due by the 18th and can be picked up at City Hall. The Wayne County Spelling Bee is scheduled to be held tonight at 6 at Fairfield City Hall. Participants include Austin Grieve and Deacon Tindall of Jasper, Karoline Book and Kamden Vaughan of New Hope, Evan Keen and Isabella Smith of Wayne City, Addisyn Hutchcraft and Esme Kupp of Cisne, Jedd Wellen and Kacie Kinsolving of Geff, and Ethan Hungerford and Teagan Moyer of Fairfield 112. Students should arrive no later than 5:45. We will broadcast the bee on 104.9 WFIW, and we will also have a free video stream under the Sports Videos tab on wfiwradio.com. Judges for the night will be Lori Robson, Sarah Rush, and Katie Liston. 40-year-old Ray E. Tate is scheduled to appear in Wayne County Circuit Court today at 1:30. He has been indicted on 36 Class M felony counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking, and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon in connection to the December death of Wayne County Deputy Sean Riley. Tate could face a term of natural life in prison if found guilty. The IDPH reported 20 new cases of COVID-19 in Wayne County yesterday. Edwards County had just four new cases, per the state, Hamilton County had seven, and Wabash County had 19. White County added 11 cases, Richland County 21, Lawrence County 23, and Clay County 32. Jefferson County totals increased by 41, and Marion County jumped by 30. As a state, the IDPH announced 5,825 new cases and 87 additional deaths. Statewide totals sat at 2,977,341 cases and 31,570 deaths. The Southern Region had a seven-day positivity rate of 14.2 percent on the 5th, up from 14.1 percent on the 4th. Attorney General Kwame Raoul has unveiled a new proposal to fight organized retail crime. Along with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Attorney General Raoul is pushing legislation that would give prosecutors more power to go after crime rings and to convene a statewide grand jury. Officials say organized retail theft has increased by 60 percent over the last five years. River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 12.08 feet, below the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 6.23 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 8.10 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 4.86 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 12.14 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 10.03 feet. Today's crude oil price is $82.25, down $2.00 from yesterday. The March crude oil price is $89.38, down $1.30 from yesterday morning.
The first installment of 2020 payable 2021 Edwards County Real Estate Taxes was due November 30th. The total extension was $6,276,962, and, as of Tuesday, 71 percent of that total had been paid, according to County Treasurer Debbie Smith. The second installment is due by December 30th, and payment may be made in person, by mail, or in the drop box on the northeast side of the courthouse. People can also pay online at govtechtaxpro.com, though a 2.5 percent fee will be added for the credit card company. Certified delinquent letters will be sent out January 5th, and people must pay delinquent taxes by January 13th to avoid publication in the newspaper on the 19th. The tax sale will be on February 9th. Illinois firearm deer hunting totals were down this year, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. Hunters took 71,675 deer over the two firearm weekends, compared to more than 77,000 last year. Wayne County totaled 1,414 deer in the two weekends compared to 1,446 in 2020. Edwards County saw its total increase from 384 in 2020 to 394 this year. Fairfield Community High School Board of Education will hold a special meeting in its District Office tomorrow morning at 8. The purpose of the meeting is strategic planning for the district going forward, and there will also be an executive session to discuss personnel and/or contract negotiations. The agenda does not call for any action after the executive session. Janie McDowell and Steve Lee will perform Christmas season music in piano and organ duets in "A Keyboard Christmas Gift" on December 19th. The event will begin at 4 p.m. at the Fairfield First United Methodist Church, and original narration for the hour-long program will be delivered by Mike and Cori Copeland. The FCHS Class of 22 AfterProm Committee has announced the December 10th, $150 winner for its 12 Days of Christmas Drawing. The winner is Dana Vandergraph, and the winning ticket was sold by Levi Vandergraph. Illinois State Police District 19 Commander Captain Nathan Douglas has announced the activity and enforcement figures for the month of November. Enforcement activity consisted of 693 citations and 977 written warnings, including one DUI, 389 speeding citations, 69 occupant restraint citations, 40 distracted driving citations, 18 criminal arrests, and 282 written warnings for speeding. The Fairfield Park Board met last night. Alderman Tyler Lampley appeared to gauge interest in the park working with the City to restore a lake at Lakeside Park. No action was taken, though all parties said they wanted to lake to come back, and the board said it would be open to working with the city to accomplish the goal, however that process may look. In other business, the board discussed the splash pad project at the pool. After hearing the price could potentially be $1.5 million last meeting, the board heard a revised estimate of $500,000 last night and agreed to move ahead with the project by looking at companies to do the construction and generating community interest and involvement. The Wayne County Board met last night and authorized the donation of nearly $33,000 in TIF Surplus Funds to the Wayne County Senior Citizen and Community Center project. Gary Sloan made the motion, Robert Pearce offered a second, and the motion passed six to four, with Gordon Endsley, Nathan Jones, Shane Neuman, and Gene Kollak also voting yes. Roy Estheimer, Jamie Greenwalt, Joe Coy, and Bill Bruce voted no. Vern Hutson, Darrell Hargrave, Kelly Locey, and Board Chair Amy Pollard were absent from the meeting. The Fairfield Public School District 112 Board of Education is conducting a search for a new superintendent, and it has hired the Illinois Association of School Boards to assist in the process. The board is seeking public input in the search process, and all board members, staff, parents, and community members are asked to complete an online survey provided by the IASB. No password is needed, and the survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/83MQ6QY. The link may also be found at fairfieldcolts.com. State Representative Adam Niemerg has sponsored a bill creating the COVID-19 Freedom Act in Illinois. The bill makes it unlawful for any person, public or private institution, or public official to discriminate against any person in any manner because of a person's refusal to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to his or her belief. The Egyptian Health Department reported seven new cases of COVID-19 yesterday morning, bringing the county's total to 3,200. Jefferson County reported 11. The state Department of Public Health announced 9,301 new cases and 54 additional deaths. Statewide totals sat at 1,877,213 cases and 26,766 deaths. The Southern Region had a seven-day positivity rate of 6.6 percent on the 6th, unchanged from the 5th. After a shot of cold air to begin the week, we'll have a warm-up heading into the weekend in Illinois. DTN Ag Meteorologist Bryce Anderson says some parts of the state could see an inch of precipitation. Some severe storms are possible, per the National Weather Service. Looking ahead, he says temperatures could be about 10 degrees above normal for a portion of next week. The State has announced a new $42 million water assistance program for low-income Illinoisans. The effort is for those facing disconnection, or who have $250 of more in overdue water and sewer bills. Applicants must make 200 percent of the poverty level or less in order to qualify, and more information can be found at helpillinoisfamilies.com. River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 7.61 feet, below the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.21 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 6.18 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 3.38 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 7.06 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 8.82 feet. Today's crude oil price is $64.00, down $1.25 from yesterday. The January crude oil price is $71.21, down $0.84 from yesterday morning.
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