North Wayne Schools will conduct Child Find/Preschool Screenings at Johnsonville School on May 19th and 20th from 8:30 to 2:30. The screenings are for children up to five years old who are not yet enrolled in public schools and who will not be eligible for kindergarten in the fall. The screening procedure takes about 45 minutes, and appointments must be made so children do not have a long wait period. Parents should call 673-3044 to make an appointment or to get more information.
The Cisne FFA team of Kadence Smith, Allie Brach, Ella Krupp, Macy Tannahill, Joshua Biggs, Alex Paul, and Kaileigh Smallwood took first place in the District V Conduct of Chapter Meetings Leadership Development Event Tuesday at SIU Carbondale. The team will now advance to state competition, which will take place in May at Illinois Central College in Peoria.
Front, from left: Smith, Brach, Krupp, and Tannahill. Back: Biggs, Paul, and Smallwood
28-year-old Fairfield resident Rebecca J. Gollner was booked in the Wayne County Jail yesterday on a Wayne County failure to appear warrant for two counts of operating an uninsured vehicle, driving with an expired license, and driving with an expired registration. She was released after posting $345 bond.
The Wayne County Jail is accepting applications for full- and part-time Correctional Officers to establish a hiring list. The list will be valid for two years or until all applicants have been exhausted. Applicants must be at least 21 years old to be hired but can apply if they will turn 21 with the two years of list eligibility. A high school diploma or equivalency is also required. Applications may be picked up at the Sheriff’s Office and will be accepted until the close of business on April 1st.
Hamilton Memorial Hospital says it is still requiring face masks to be worn in all facilities, per COVID-19 guidelines. IDPH masking guidance has changed for most public settings, but healthcare facilities are still classified as high-risk. As such, all healthcare facilities are required to mandate mask-wearing for employees, patients, and visitors.
More than 100 people attended the Second Amendment Town Hall Meeting in Carmi Monday. State Senator Darren Bailey spoke on several issues, including the FOID Card, which he continues to call unconstitutional. He called on people to be active in calling lawmakers and filling witness slips in support or opposition of bills in committee.
Wayne County Clerk Liz Ann Woodrow says there will be six contested races in the upcoming June primary election, all on the Republican side. She held a lottery yesterday morning to determine their placement on the ballot; in order, Crystal Ellis and Yvette Anderson have filed for Treasurer; Andy Glover and Randy Hedrick for District 2 on the County Board; Roy Estheimer, Eddie Barbre, and Brandon Bittles for District 3; Joshua Isle, Matt Shreve, and Jeremy Witter for District 5; Bill Bruce and Vern Hutson for District 6; and Gene Kollak, Steven Troyer, and Shane Neuman in District 7. Estheimer, Hutson, Kollak, and Neuman are incumbents. The primary election this year will be June 28th. Residents will be able to seek vote-by-mail ballots between March 30th and June 23rd, and in-person early voting will begin May 19th.
The Fairfield Community of Christ Church will host a Blood Drive with the American Red Cross today from 11:30 to 5:30. People can make an appointment online at redcrossblood.org. The Red Cross also says it has resumed testing all donations for COVID-19 antibodies for a limited time, and plasma from such donations may be used as convalescent plasma. All who donate in March will receive a $10 e-gift card from Fanatics, per the Red Cross, and they will also be entered to win a trip for two to the 2022 MLB All Star Game in Los Angeles. Fairfield Memorial Hospital will hold a blood drive on April 22nd from 11:30 to 4:30 as blood inventories remain at critical levels across the country. The drive will be held at the Educational Annex Building at 203 Northwest 10th Street in the Red Cross Bus. In addition to online scheduling, people can call Shauna Williams at 847-8242 for appointments.
Edwards County Repbulicans will hold a Meet and Greet with State Senator Darren Bailey’s running mate today. Lt. Governor-hopeful Stephanie Trussell will be at Spare Times Bowling Alley in Albion from 5:30 to 7, and the public is welcome to visit and meet the former Chicago radio host.
The North Wayne Education Association will hold a Trivia Night April 8th at the Fairfield Elks Club. Registration will begin at 6, and trivia will start at 6:30. Teams consist of up to eight members, and the entry fee is $100. The night will consist of 10 rounds of 10 questions, and all proceeds will be used to help fund scholarships for Cisne High School seniors. A 50/50 drawing and other activities are also planned. To pre-register a team, people should contact Kelsey Fetherling at 673-2156 or Christal Lewis at 839-2474. Anyone unable to attend but who wishes to contribute may sponsor a ghost team and will receive recognition at the event.
The IDPH reported one new case of COVID-19 in Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Jefferson, and Marion counties yesterday. White County added two on the state website, and Hamilton, Clay, Richland, and Lawrence counties held steady. As a state, Illinois announced 1,574 new cases and 32 additional deaths. Statewide totals sat at 3,049,616 cases and 33,139 deaths. The Southern Region had a seven-day positivity rate of 1.9 percent on the 12th, down from 2.1 percent on the 11th.
This is Flood Safety Week, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has some important reminders. One of the biggest tips is to avoid flooded areas altogether, no matter how shallow one thinks they may be. IEMA says six inches of moving water can take a person down, and 12 inches can move a car. It’s also advisable to stay off bridges over fast-moving flood waters.
Avian influenza has been confirmed in Illinois in a non-commercial backyard flock in McLean County, per a report from the USDA. State Veterinarian Dr. Mark Ernst says the state department of ag has been keeping an eye on the threat. State officials quarantined the affected area, and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent spread.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 24.17 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.65 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 8.92 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 4.32 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 25.66 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 23.07 feet.
Today’s crude oil price is $89.50, down $6.50 from yesterday. The April crude oil price is $99.01, up $2.13 from yesterday morning.