Local News
FIVE DEFENDANTS SENTENCED IN WAYNE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Five defendants entered guilty pleas Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court before Judge Matt Vaughn. 54-year-old David Branagin appeared by Zoom from Robinson Correctional Center and pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. Branagin was sentenced to two years in the Illinois Departme...
10h ago
FAIRFIELD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL RECEIVES RURAL HEALTH GRANT FOR PORTABLE ULTRASOUND TECHNOLOGY
Fairfield Memorial Hospital has been selected as one of two recipients of Claritev's 2026 Rural Health Grants. The funding will help Fairfield Memorial Hospital bring portable ultrasound technology directly to patients' bedsides. The equipment will give clinicians another tool to evaluate patients and make critical car...
10h ago
WAYNE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT NOW OFFERING FLU SHOTS
The Wayne County Health Department has announced that flu vaccinations are now available for the upcoming flu season. Flu shots are available for anyone six months of age and older, with high-dose vaccines also offered for adults age 65 and older. The Health Department says options are available for both insured and un...
10h ago
CRUDE OIL, GAS PRICES SURGE AMID MIDDLE EAST FIGHTING
Continued fighting in the Middle East is pushing crude oil and gasoline prices higher, including here in Southern Illinois. CountryMark Refinery in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, is paying $89.05 per barrel for locally produced crude oil. That price is based on the settled daily price for West Texas Intermediate crude, minus $7 ...
10h ago
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF WAYNE CITY TO HOST WILD WEST FAMILY EVENT
First Christian Church of Wayne City will host a free Wild West-themed family event, "Outlaws in Christ," on Saturday The event will be held at the church, located at 201 North Main Street in Wayne City. Registration for Vacation Bible School begins at 12:30 p.m., with VBS activities for children ages 4 and o...
10h ago
SKILLET FORK RURITAN TO HOST SPAGHETTI SUPPER IN MILL SHOALS
The Skillet Fork Ruritan Club will host a spaghetti supper Saturday at Mill Shoals Christian Church. The supper will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. and will include spaghetti, garlic bread, salad and drinks. The cost is $10 per plate for adults and $5 for children age 6 and younger. The event is open to everyone, with orga...
10h ago
FAIRFIELD LEGION RIDERS TO HOLD FISH FRY SUNDAY
The Fairfield Legion Riders Post 176 will hold a fish fry Sunday at the Anthony Wayne American Legion in Fairfield. The fish fry will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Legion, located at 111 SW Fourth Street. Fish dinners will be $10 and include two sides and bread. Side choices include hushpuppies, French fries, coles...
10h ago
BEALL WOODS STATE PARK TO CELEBRATE 60 YEARS AS ILLINOIS NATURE PRESERVE SUNDAY
Beall Woods State Park will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its old-growth forest being dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve on Sunday. The celebration will run from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Beall Woods State Park Visitors Center, located at 9285 Beall Woods Avenue near Mt. Carmel. In 1966, 329 acres of old-growth fore...
10h ago
BILL WOULD REQUIRE ILLINOIS SCHOOLS TO TEACH ABOUT 9/11 EACH YEAR
Illinois schools would be required to teach students about the September 11 terrorist attacks each year under new legislation introduced by State Senator Dave Syverson. Currently, Illinois does not mandate annual instruction on the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The date is included on the Illinois State Board of Education'...
10h ago
FEDERAL JUDGE ALLOWS ILLINOIS MEDICAL AID-IN-DYING LAW TO TAKE EFFECT
A federal judge has declined to block Illinois' new medical aid-in-dying law, allowing the measure to take effect tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 12th). The law allows terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to request life-ending medication from a physician. Two doctors must confirm the terminal diagnosis, a...
10h ago
Obituaries
John W. Ray, 60, of Fairfield
John W. Ray, 60, of Fairfield, passed away at 9:57pm on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at his home. John was born on August 22, 1966, in Fairfield, to Charles and Betty (DeWitt) Ray. He shared 30 years with his life-long partner, Rhonda Smothers. John was the owner and operator of Ray's Mowing and Backhoe Service in Fai...
5h ago
Lois G. Koontz Wood, 86, of Carmi
Lois G. Koontz Wood, 86, of Carmi, passed away at her residence on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, surrounded by family. Born October 7, 1939, in Princeton, IN, she was the daughter of Royal and Mary Josephine (Walker) Martin. Lois married Kenneth L. Koontz on August 1, 1958, and they shared more than 45 years of marriag...
Sep 09, 2026
Carol "Will" Willard Braddock, 83, of Johnsonville
Carol "Will" Willard Braddock, 83, of Johnsonville, IL, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 7th, 2026, at Countryside Manor in Mt. Vernon, IL. Will was born on December 29th, 1942, at home, in Keenes, Illinois. Will was a lifelong farmer and master mechanic who took great pride in his work and his abi...
Sep 09, 2026
Connie Sue (Harris) Butler, 75, of Fairfield
Connie Sue (Harris) Butler, 75, of Fairfield was welcomed into Heaven on September 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on April 2, 1951, to Gene and Doris (Keen) Harris. Connie graduated from Plainfield High School. She married Ronald Butler on June 28, 1969. They had two children, Donna Lynn Foreman...
Sep 09, 2026
Antonia Oliver, 84, of Naples, Florida
Antonia Oliver, 84, of Naples, Florida, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2026. She was born in New York City on October 7, 1941. She met Norwood Oliver formerly from Springerton, Illinois while working at Raymond Loewy/William Snaith, Inc. They married on May 30, 1964 and enjoyed 62 wonderful years together in New ...
Sep 09, 2026
Charles E. "Charlie" Hale, 81, of Carmi
Charles E. "Charlie" Hale, 81, of Carmi passed away on Monday, September 7, 2026 at Murray Calloway County Hospital in Murray, KY. He was born in Tuttle, KY on October 16, 1944 the son of Claude and Otie (Hopper) Hale. Charlie married Cathy Eaglin in July 1968. He retired from White County Coal where he had b...
Sep 09, 2026
Sheryl Lynn Walker, 59, of Fairfield
Sheryl Lynn Walker, 59, of Fairfield, passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at her home. Born on September 23, 1966, in Fairfield to Kenneth and Marilyn (Blackford) Meritt, she worked for the Southern 14 Workforce Investment Board as Fiscal Officer after graduating with her associate's degree at Frontier Communit...
Sep 05, 2026
David E. Briscoe, 86, of Norris City
David E. Briscoe, 86, of Norris City passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at Deaconess Illinois Medical Center in Marion, IL. He was born August 9, 1940 in Flora, IL the son of James and Elizabeth Rita "Betty" (Uebinger) Briscoe. Shortly after David graduated from Flora High School he joined the United ...
Sep 04, 2026
Marla Sue Shoaff, 62, of Fairfield
Marla Sue Shoaff, 62, of Fairfield passed away at 12:15AM on Wednesday September 2, 2026, at her home. Marla was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on April 24, 1964, to James D. and Hattie (Suddarth) Marsh. Marla is survived by her husband, Randy Shoaff of Fairfield; son, Mark Shoaff of Fairfield; daughters, Lisa Shoa...
Sep 02, 2026
Valerie Sue Horwath, 65, of Enfield
Valerie Sue Horwath, 65, of Enfield, passed away at her residence on Tuesday, September 2, 2026. Born on November 22, 1960, in Kankakee, IL, she was the daughter of George and Virginia (Windmiller) Nanos. In 1991, Valerie married David Eugene Horwath, with whom she shared 35 years of marriage. She worked as a CNA and f...
Sep 02, 2026
Sports
SPORTS FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Mules Football at Sesser-Valier-Waltonville 7:00 p.m. WFIW's LeMond's Chevrolet Chrysler Pre-Game Show begins at 6:30 p.m on WFIW-FM 104.9 and also video streaming on wfiwradio.com and tocsportsnetwork.com. Lady Mules Volleyball at the Crossroads Classic at Effingham Fairfield vs. Minooka...
16h ago
SPORTS FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Mules Freshman Football vs West Frankfort at The Trainyard 6:00 p.m. Mules and Lady Mules Cross Country at the Herrin Invitational 4:30 p.m. Lady Mules Tennis vs. Carmi-White County at the Lakeside Tennis Courts 4:00 p.m. OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR TODAY: HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Cisne vs. Oblo...
Sep 10, 2026
SPORTS FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Mules Boys Golf at Carmi-White County 4:00 p.m. Lady Mules Golf at the Richland County Girls Invitational 3:00 p.m. OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR TODAY: HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: NCOE INVITATIONAL: Wayne City vs. Eldorado Wayne City vs. NCOE JR HIGH BOYS BASEBALL: Fairfield vs. Cisne (JV Only) JR H...
Sep 09, 2026
SPORTS FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Lady Mules Volleyball at Newton 5:00 p.m. Mules and Lady Mules Cross Country at the Roger Lee Invitational at Dolan Lake 4:00 p.m. Lady Mules Golf at Benton 4pm Lady Mules Tennis vs. Mt. Vernon at the Lakeside Tennis Courts 4:00 p.m. OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR TODAY: HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Wa...
Sep 08, 2026
SPORTS FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Fairfield Mules JV Football at Eldorado 7:00 p.m. AREA SPORTS RESULTS FROM SATURDAY: HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: OLNEY LADY TIGERS VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC: The Fairfield Lady Mules Varsity and JV Volleyball squads were both in action Saturday at the Olney Lady Tigers Volleyball Classic with the Va...
Sep 07, 2026
Community Events
Podcast - Focus on Family with Jim Daly
Podcast - Learn From People Who Lived it
Podcast - Unashamed, with The Robertson Family
Podcast - The Steve Deace Show
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