Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8 announced the arrest of 52-year-old Flora resident Phillip Blaine Henson yesterday for a Class X felony of drug induced homicide. DCI Zone 8 conducted a death investigation in Flora on November 17th after a female, later identified as 54-year-old Flora resident Stephanie L. Harrell, was found deceased in her vehicle just north of Highway 50 in Clay County. Henson was charged on Tuesday in Clay County Circuit Court and is being detained in the Vanderburgh County Jail in Indiana on $100,000 bond.
62-year-old Fairfield resident Joseph W. Schultz was sentenced in Wayne County Circuit Court Tuesday after pleading guilty to a Class 3 felony count of possession of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to two years probation, plus time served, and he was also ordered to pay $1,537 in fines and court costs.
The Clay County Board met Tuesday night in Louisville and heard State’s Attorney Andrew Koester will step down in a matter of weeks. He thanked everyone for their help in his tenure, which began when he was appointed to replace Joel Powless when he stepped down to become a judge. His resignation is effective April 3rd, and he says he will join the Taylor Law Office in Effingham to work alongside his father.
The Fairfield and Cisne FFA Chapters had a successful night at District V Proficiency Recordbook Awards Wednesday at Mt. Vernon. For Fairfield, Logan Kreiter took first in Beef Placement, and Sara McGehee earned first in Specialty Animal Production; Cisne first-place finishers included Rylee Beckel in Ag Processing, Avery Smith in Ag Sales Entrepreneurship, Kevin Hyder in AgriScience Research Plant Systems, and Emma Hedrick in Veterinary Science Placement; they will advance to the State Finals on March 26th.
Fairfield FFA Proficiency Participants
Cisne FFA Proficiency Participants
The Fairfield Park Board will meet tonight at 6. After financial reports and a report from Park Superintendent Chris Jenkins, the board is set to discuss its splash pad project and playground equipment at Lakeside in old business. The items were on the February agenda, as well, but the board was unable to address either item at that time. In new business, members will discuss maintenance and improvements at Veterans Field as spring sports ramp up.
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has pleaded not guilty to counts of racketeering and bribery in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The former Democratic power is accused of a decade-long bribery scheme involving utility company ComEd, where it handed out subcontracts and no-work jobs to Madigan allies in exchange for favorable legislation.
Illinois State Police say 68-year-old Geff resident Kathy Richardson was killed in a car accident yesterday shortly after noon. Preliminary investigation indicates, at approximately 12:05, 45-year-old Cisne resident Robert Cline was westbound in a 1996 Volvo semi on Route 15 just east of 105 East in Wayne County, and Richardson was eastbound in a 2014 Buick Enclave. For unknown reasons, she crossed the center line, and Cline attempted to avoid a collision but was struck in the front driver’s side. Richardson was pronounced deceased on-scene by the Wayne County Coroner; Cline and a child-passenger with Richardson reported no injuries.
The Fairfield Community High School Band is in Champaign today to play in the IHSA boys state basketball tournament. The band will play the first sessions today, meaning for the 1A and 2A semi finals. Assistant Principal Bobby Wells says this is the first time FCHS has had its band play at state, though some individuals have been chosen to sing the National Anthem in the girls state basketball tournament.
Edwards County Clerk and Recorder Mary Beth Smith was recognized at an Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders Conference in Peoria recently for her work to preserve and protect over 200 years of historical records. Smith has helped make it possible for staff and the public to have secure, remote access to county data and images at all times.
The Wayne County Board will meet tonight at 7 in the upstairs courtroom at the courthouse. The initial agenda for the night is very light, with Orchardville Fire Protection District set to request the re-appointment of Larry McCormick to a three-year term as trustee. The agenda had no old or new business items. After office and committee reports, the board is scheduled to enter executive session to discuss personnel.
No new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Clay, Marion, Richland, or White counties yesterday on the IDPH website. Hamilton County had its case total decrease. Jefferson County added six cases, and Lawrence County added one. As a state, Illinois announced 1,634 new cases and 32 additional deaths. Statewide totals sat at 3,042,495 cases and 33,010 deaths. The Southern Region had a seven-day positivity rate of 2.6 percent on the 6th, unchanged from the 5th.
Members of the Illinois House voted Tuesday to make masks optional in its chamber. The approval puts an end to standoffs with several Republicans who had opposed the mask mandate, especially after the statewide mandate ended. The resolution passed with one dissenting vote from Lakesia Collins of Chicago, who sponsored motions to kick violators of the policy off the floor.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 23.30 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 10.26 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 20.39 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 11.51 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 28.62 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 21.43 feet.
Today’s crude oil price is $101.75, down $15.00 from yesterday. The April crude oil price is $110.99, down $13.19 from yesterday morning.