Local News
THREE SENTENCED THURSDAY IN WAYNE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Three defendants were sentenced Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court. Fifty-two-year-old Lige Cheek of Enfield pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to one year of conditional discharge plus court costs. Cheek was ordered to have no contact with Fairfield Memorial Hospital personnel and not to enter ...
8h ago
GRAYVILLE DAYS KICKS OFF TONIGHT (FRIDAY) WITH THREE DAYS OF ACTIVITIES
Grayville Days gets underway tonight (Friday) with a full weekend of food, entertainment and family activities hosted by the Grayville Community Arts Association. Tonight's events begin with the Senior Citizens Chicken Noodle Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. The official kickoff is at 5:45, followed by music from the Impact Ban...
8h ago
THIRD WEST NILE POSITIVE MOSQUITO SAMPLE CONFIRMED IN CLAY COUNTY
The Clay County Health Department has confirmed the county's third West Nile virus-positive mosquito sample of the 2026 season. The latest positive sample was collected Thursday in Xenia during routine testing. Health officials say the result confirms the virus is circulating in the community and residents should take ...
8h ago
FEED MY SHEEP SOUP KITCHEN CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY
Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen in Fairfield will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day. The soup kitchen, located at 200 West Main Street, will reopen Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. for regular business hours.
8h ago
WAYNE COUNTY ANTIQUE TRACTOR DRIVE SET FOR LABOR DAY
The 18th Annual Wayne County Antique Tractor Drive will take place on Labor Day, Monday, September 7th with antique tractor enthusiasts from across the region invited to participate. The drive is open to all tractors model year 1996 or earlier, making them at least 30 years old. Participants will begin and end the rout...
8h ago
STATE, FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS PROBE CAUSE OF DU QUOIN FIRE
State and federal investigators are working to determine the cause of Wednesday's massive fire in downtown Du Quoin. Investigators from the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are examining the scene. Officials say one person was injured and is recovering. During...
8h ago
ILLINOIS HOSPITALS COULD LOSE BILLIONS UNDER MEDICAID CHANGES
Illinois hospitals could lose billions of dollars in federal funding over the next several years because of changes to Medicaid reimbursement rules. Estimates from the Illinois Health and Hospital Association and health policy organization KFF put potential losses at $3 billion to $4 billion, with the reductions beginn...
8h ago
IDOT TO REOPEN SOME LANES FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND
The Illinois Department of Transportation will suspend many non-emergency road closures over the Labor Day weekend to help reduce travel disruptions. Closures will be suspended where possible from 3 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday, although several area work zones will remain in place. In Wayne County, lane reduc...
8h ago
FIRST RESPONDERS OFFERED FREE RANDY HOUSER TICKETS AT DU QUOIN STATE FAIR
Southern Illinois first responders who helped battle Wednesday's major fire in downtown Du Quoin are being offered free tickets to an upcoming Du Quoin State Fair concert. The Illinois Department of Agriculture and State Fair announced that participating firefighters, police officers, EMTs and other emergency personnel...
9h ago
FAIRFIELD MULES HOST ELDORADO TONIGHT AT THE TRAINYARD
The Fairfield Mules will be at The Trainyard tonight (Friday) as they host the Eldorado Eagles in Black Diamond Conference football action. It's also the Shrine Game with the Wayne County Shrine Club in attendance to honor players at the end of the game for the Mules and Eagles. Fans should note that kickoff has been m...
14h ago
Obituaries

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 ...
8h ago

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

Paul Von Corbett, 88, of Norris City
Paul Von Corbett, 88, of Norris City, passed away at his residence on Monday, August 31, 2026. He was born November 16, 1937, in Rostraver, Pennsylvania, to James K. and Mildred Elizabeth (Hepple) Corbett. On October 19, 1966, Paul married Donna June (Lambert) Corbett, and they shared more than 39 years of marriage bef...
Sep 01, 2026

John Travis "J.T." Berg, 47 of Fairfield
47 year old Fairfield resident, John Travis "J.T." Berg passed away Sunday, August 30, 2026. J.T. was born on February 7, 1979, in Evansville Indiana to John and Yvonne "Punky" (Shehorn) Berg. He graduated from FCHS with the class of 1997. J.T. had previously owned and operated the Midway Package St...
Sep 01, 2026

Helen Julia Haywood, 76, of Carmi
Helen Julia Haywood, 76, of Carmi, passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. She was born January 15, 1950, in Centerville, Illinois, the daughter of William "Bill" and Cecelia (Mattson) Barbre. Helen graduated from Carmi Township High School in 1967. She w...
Sep 01, 2026

Jody W. Abell, 65, of Carmi
Jody W. Abell, 65, of Carmi, passed away at his residence on August 23, 2026. He was born January 29, 1961, to Billy Joe and Garnet Eloise (Davis) Abell. Jody worked in construction, lawn and garden section at Walmart, and in the Galatia and Pattiki coal mines. He enjoyed riding horses, repairing mowers, doing yard wor...
Sep 01, 2026

Dr. Fred L. Smith, 78, of Carmi
Dr. Fred L. Smith, 78, of Carmi, passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born on Saturday, November 1, 1947, in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, the son of Silas Junior and Leola Jean (Richardson) Smith. Fred married Brenda Kay York on September 1, 1968, at the Free Methodist Church in Mt. Carm...
Aug 27, 2026

Rhonda F. Helms, 72, of Fairfield
Rhonda F. Helms, 72, of Fairfield, passed away at 5:40pm on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at her home. Rhonda was born on May 11, 1954, in Fairfield, IL, to Glen and Lyndall (Hodge) Ewing. She was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Okinawa, Japan and Pirmasens, Germany, where she met and married the love of ...
Aug 27, 2026

Marilyn Kuykendall, 94 of Grayville
Marilyn Kuykendall, 94 of Grayville, Illinois, passed away on Monday, August 24, 2026, at Wabash Senior Living and Rehabilitation in Carmi, Illinois. She was born on Friday, April 29, 1932, in Carmi, Illinois, a daughter of Harold and Dana (Allison) Campbell. On July 27, 1957, Marilyn married Ronald Kuykendall at First...
Aug 26, 2026
Sports
SPORTS FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Mules Football vs. Eldorado at the Trainyard Kickoff has been pushed back to 7:30 p.m. due to the heat. The LeMond's Chevrolet Chrysler Pre-Game Show can be heard on WFIW-FM 104.9 and wfiwradio.com starting at 7:00 p.m. The Fairfield National Bank Tailgate will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the F...
15h ago
SPORTS FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Mules Freshman Football at Harrisburg 7:00 p.m. Lady Mules Volleyball at Wayne City 5:00 p.m. Mules and Lady Mules Golf vs. Woodlawn and Waltonville at Indian Hills Golf Course 4:00 p.m. Lady Mules Tennis at Newton - RESCHEDULED for Thursday, September 17th OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR TODAY: HI...
Sep 03, 2026
SPORTS FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: NO EVENTS SCHEDULED OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR TODAY: JR HIGH BOYS BASEBALL: Geff vs. Grayville JR HIGH GIRLS SOFTBALL: Fairfield at Lawrenceville-Parkview New Hope at Cisne JR HIGH CROSS COUNTRY: Fairfield, New Hope, Jasper, and Cisne at the Hamilton County Invitational COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL: Fr...
Sep 02, 2026
SPORTS FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Mules and Lady Mules Golf vs. Gallatin County, Mt. Carmel. Waltonville, and North Clay at Fairfield Public Golf Course 4:00 pm Lady Mules Tennis vs. Carbondale at the Lakeside Tennis Courts 4:00 p.m. OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR TODAY: HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Cisne vs. South Central Wayne City v...
Sep 01, 2026
SPORTS FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 31ST
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: Mules JV Football vs. Red Hill at the FCHS Trainyard 6:00 p.m. Mules and Lady Mules Golf vs. Hamilton County at the McLeansboro Golf Club 4:00 pm OTHER AREA SPORTS FOR TODAY: HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Cisne at Olney Wayne City at Carmi JR HIGH BOYS BASEBALL: Cisne at St. Joe JR HIGH GIRLS S...
Aug 31, 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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