Several defendants were sentenced Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court in cases involving theft, burglary, aggravated battery, methamphetamine possession and other charges. 33-year-old Cody L. Hicks of Mt. Vernon pleaded guilty to an amended charge of Class 3 felony theft. Hicks was sentenced to two years of probatio...

Petition packets are now available for candidates interested in running for the Edwards County School District Board of Education in the April 2027 Consolidated Election. The Edwards County Clerk and Recorder's Office says four seats on the school board will be up for election. Petition packets can be picked up at the ...

Fairfield Memorial Hospital is encouraging women to schedule mammograms during October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. FMH offers 3-D mammography, also known as tomosynthesis, which provides layer-by-layer images of breast tissue. Hospital officials say the technology can provide greater accuracy, reduce exam...

The Fairfield Memorial Hospital Foundation is offering community members an opportunity to leave a permanent mark on the hospital through its commemorative brick program. For $500, supporters can purchase a personalized engraved brick honoring a loved one, healthcare worker, family or business, memorializing someone sp...

Jefferson County and the City of Mt. Vernon are moving to a new emergency notification system, and residents currently receiving Nixle alerts will need to register for the new service. The county and city emergency management agencies announced Thursday that Nixle service will end September 30. Current subscribers will...

Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation is reminding area residents that Medicare open enrollment will begin October 15th and continue through December 7th. The annual enrollment period gives individuals with Medicare an opportunity to review and make changes to their health and prescription drug coverage for the...

Mt. Vernon Mayor John Lewis has been elected president of the Illinois Municipal League. Lewis was unanimously selected for a one-year term during the organization's 113th Annual Conference in Chicago. He has served as an IML vice president since 2019 and becomes the first president of the organization whose father als...

Eastern Illinois University has received several national and regional honors recognizing its affordability, academic programs and student outcomes. Time magazine and research partner Statista recently named EIU to its "America's Best Colleges of 2026-2027" list. EIU is the only Ohio Valley Conference institu...

Southern Illinois patients have access to specialized treatment for chronic and complex wounds through SSM Health's Wound Healing Centers in Centralia and Mt. Vernon. SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is used to treat certain chronic wounds associated with diabetes, rad...

Megan Valentine will remain in custody while awaiting trial in connection with the death of her husband, former Edwards County Circuit Judge Michael Valentine. During a court appearance Thursday in Williamson County, Valentine was denied pretrial release. The court found that she poses a real and present threat to the ...

ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Fairfield Mules Football vs. Johnston City at the Trainyard 7:00 p.m. LeMond's Chevrolet Chrysler Pre-Game Show begins at 6:30 p.m. on WFIW-FM 104.9, wfiwradio.com and tocsportsnetwork.com Lady Mules Golf at Hamilton County 4:00 p.m. OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR TODAY: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: BLAC...

ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Lady Mules Volleyball at Eldorado, 3 levels 5:00 p.m. Mules Boys Golf at the Black Diamond Conference Championship at the Franklin County Country Club 9:00 a.m. Lady Mules Tennis vs. Carbondale at the Lakeside Tennis Courts 4:00 p.m. *SENIOR RECOGNITION DAY* OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR T...

ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Lady Mules Golf at the Black Diamond Conference Championship at the Franklin County Country Club 9:00 a.m. JR HIGH BOYS BASEBALL REGIONAL: SIJHSAA CLASS S REGION 7 REGIONAL: Summersville vs. Bluford-Farmington Field vs. Ewing-Northern JR HIGH GIRLS SOFTBALL REGIONALS: SIJHSAA CLASS M REGI...

ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Lady Mules Volleyball vs. Hamilton County at the Mule Barn 5:00 p.m. Lady Mules Tennis at Carmi-White County 4:00 p.m. OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR TODAY: HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Cisne vs. Lawrenceville Wayne City vs. Mt. Vernon JR HIGH BOYS BASEBALL REGIONAL: SIJHSAA CLASS M REGION 8 REGIONAL: ...

ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Mules JV Football vs. Carmi-White County at the Trainyard 6:00 p.m. Mules and Lady Mules JV Golf vs. NCOE and Edwards County at the Fairfield Public Golf Course 4:00 p.m. Lady Mules Tennis at Mt. Vernon 4:00 p.m. OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR TODAY: HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Cisne at St. Elmo-Brown...