FNB has announced the 2022 winners of its annual FNB/Community Bankers Association of Illinois Essay Scholarship Program. Jace Bankston, a senior at Fairfield Community High School, was awarded $500 from FNB for his essay, and Camden Robbins, also an FCHS senior, took second place and was awarded $250. Bankston, Robbins, and runners up Callie Neely, Alexis Thomason, and Kenna Davis will have their essays forwarded to the statewide CBAI Foundation for Community Banking contest.
23-year-old Salem resident Hailey M. Budde was killed after being hit by a vehicle north of Salem Saturday night. Illinois State Police say she was walking north in the middle of a southbound stretch of Route 37 when a van driven by 28-year-old Kinmundy resident Courtney Gunnels approached. Gunnels attempted to swerve to miss Budde but was unable to avoid a collision. Budde was taken to Salem Township Hospital but succumbed to her injuries Sunday afternoon.
Wayne County deputies arrested 37-year-old Fairfield resident Carrie L. Cullins and 43-year-old Mt. Vernon resident Shelly S. Dixon recently. Cullins was wanted on a Wayne County warrant for possession of methamphetamine, and she was held in the Wayne County Jail, pending the posting of $1,520 bond. Dixon was wanted on a charge of driving without a valid license and was held, pending the posting of $270 bond.
Fifth District Appellate Court Justice Barry Vaughan has submitted petitions with more than 2,500 signatures to the Illinois State Board of Elections to maintain his position on the court serving central and southern Illinois. The district spans 48 counties, and voters from every one signed the petitions. Vaughan was unanimously appointed to serve on the Appellate Court in 2020, and he has been a member of the legal community for over 30 years.
The Edwards County Young Leaders held their annual trap shoot Saturday. 16 teams competed, and the event raised about $1,500 for the Young Leader Scholarship Fund. The first-place team consisted of Duane Thomann, Rodney Foster, JR Jackson, Larry Jones, and Brad Davis. 100 percent of the money raised at the shoot will go into the scholarship fund, per Young Leaders Chairman Chad Heindselman, and he said the group is extremely grateful to event sponsor, shooters, and the county sportsman’s club for making the day successful.
With carbon markets and soil health gaining publicity in the past several years, the University of Illinois Extension in Carmi will hold a cover crop and carbon market program on March 22nd from 8:30 to 11:30. The program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Light breakfast will be served. Anyone wanting more information can visit go.illinois.edu/carbonmarkets or call 252-8391.
The Fairfield City Council will meet tonight at City Hall. The night will begin with a public hearing at 5:30 to discuss the proposed business district in the city, but no action will be taken on the matter tonight by the council. Mayor Mike Dreith says he will likely begin the hearing with a brief explanation of the district before allowing any attendees to briefly speak their minds. Appearing on the Community Connection, he also spoke on the second big item on the agenda in the potential naming of a replacement for Brett Coale, who stepped away from the council last month. The mayor has nominated Cody Attebery to replace him, citing, in part, the fact he lost in a very close race to Dewey Eckleberry in the last election.
In other action at tonight’s Fairfield council meeting, aldermen are anticipated to vote on beginning the process to change utility collection dates. With Wayne-White Electric taking over the electric grid, the city has two separate pay dates, and action tonight could be the first step in consolidating the dates, per Mayor Dreith. Other items on the agenda include appointing a water distribution department leadman, authorizing the board of fire and police commissioners to proceed with hiring and testing, approving the seeking of bids for equipment at wastewater treatment, and potential action on fireworks and the City Band.
The Albion City Council met last night. It voted not to include soft water filtration in its water filtration plant plans after a community survey, with Mayor Wes Harris casting a deciding “No” vote to break a tie on the council. The state IEPA will be contacted in the near future for funding to help with proposed water filtration plant. In other action, the council voted to offer online bill pay and offer direct deposit to city employees at a cost of $301 per month. City Hall will be closed March 15th and April 19th for software training for the new offerings.
The Fairfield Community High School Scholastic Bowl team had its season end last night in a Regional Championship match at FCHS. The Mules defeated Wayne City and Edwards County before falling to eventual champion Webber Township, who also defeated Cisne and Lawrenceville on the night. The Mules were led by Trenton Jones with 17 answered toss-ups; Hunter Biggs added nine, Cale Simpson eight, Aiden Whitfield four, and Cody Wick one. Also participating were Konnor Dagg, Haley Dozier, Tyler Koker, Kian August, Avery Stence, and Josh Basnett. FCHS is coached by Tammy Austin, and the Mules will participate in a National competition in New Orleans at the end of May.
The IDPH reported seven new cases of COVID-19 in Wayne County since Friday afternoon. Edwards County added three cases on the state website, and Wabash County added four. Hamilton County increased by two cases, White County by three, and Lawrence County by five. Richland and Clay counties held steady, and Marion and Jefferson counties increased by four and 11, respectively. As a state, Illinois announced 2,607 new cases and 30 additional deaths. Statewide totals sat at 3,039,806 cases and 32,956 deaths. The Southern Region had a seven-day positivity rate of 2.5 percent on the 4th, unchanged from the 3rd. Its seven-day average availability for ICU beds was 24 percent.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 22.60 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 11.05 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 20.35 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 12.78 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 29.87 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 20.42 feet.
Today’s crude oil price is $112.50, up $3.75 from yesterday. The April crude oil price is $121.72, down $1.95 from yesterday morning.