The Cisne FFA Livestock Judging Team finished in second place yesterday in Section 23 Competition in Newton. Individual awards included Emma Hedrick in third place and Lexi Weber in sixth. Other team members were Kori Kessel, RaeAnn Harris, Myles Levi, Abigail Biggs, Colton Bass, Ty Mix, Andrew Milligan, and Gavin Fetherling. The Fairfield team took third place, with Camden Robbins placing seventh individually and Logan Kreiter ninth. Other team members included Cale Milner, Lauren Wolfe, Alex Bond, Ava Kreiter, Sophia Wolfe, Jaxon Combs, Trenton Jones, and Chris Henry.
Cisne FFA Livestock Judging Team
Fairfield FFA Livestock Judging Team
The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for tomorrow morning from 3 to 8 for some portions of the listening area. Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and could damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. People should take steps to protect tender plants from the cold and should wrap, drain, or allow outdoor water pipes to drip slowly. Those with in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
43-year-old Michael Ferris, of Mill Shoals, has been indicted in Jackson County, Oregon, for sexually victimizing 29 minors. According to a grand jury indictment, he is accused of forcefully coercing minor females to send sexually explicit images on Facebook and its Messenger. He was jailed on two counts of sexual exploitation of a child under 18, six counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a child under 18, distribution of child pornography, nine counts of interstate extortion, and nine counts of cyberstalking.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has released its 2021 statistics. The Center received more than 847,000 complaints, a seven percent increase from 2020, and potential losses topped $6.9 billion. The age group most affected by Internet crime, both in number of victims and dollar loss, was people 60 and older.
Illinois lawmakers have passed nursing home reform legislation in hopes of residents receiving better care. The bill changes the way nursing homes are reimbursed for Medicaid patients, focusing not on the number of beds filled but on staffing levels. It also includes money to fund raises for nurses based on their years of experience.
Governor J.B. Pritzker and Democratic leaders have announced a state budget deal that includes $1.8 billion in tax relief. The agreement makes an extra pension payment and puts $200 million toward new public safety initiatives. The governor says it puts one billion dollars into the state’s Rainy Day Fund and helps with rising inflation. The House and Senate must vote on the plan and are anticipated to do so today. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have offered a plan with permanent tax relief, including $2.2 billion in relief and a $14 million surplus, per Senator Don Dewitte.
The Fairfield Community High School Varsity Scholastic Bowl Team has qualified for a national competition in New Orleans May 26th through June 1st, and the team will sponsor its annual Mind Bowl Trivia Night to raise money for the event. The Mind Bowl will be held in the FCHS Multipurpose Room on April 28th at 6:30. Teams of five members can enter for a $50 fee, and prizes will be awarded to first and second place teams. Ghost teams are welcome from any organization not wishing to compete.
The Illinois Supreme Court has again been asked to decide whether a state law requiring gun owners to have a firearm permit is unconstitutional. The court previously declined to answer the question. The case involves White County resident Vivian Brown, who was charged in 2017 with possession of a weapon without a FOID card after firing a gun in her home. Supporters of the law say it helps keep firearms out of the hands of felons and mentally-ill individuals. Opponents say it is a significant burden because other state and federal laws prohibit some people from owning a gun. The court has taken the case under advisement but did not indicate how long it may take to issue a decision.
The Village of Wayne City has scheduled its spring town-wide rummage sale for April 29th and 30th. People should call Village Hall at 895-2241 by April 26th to be put on the sale list and map. Lists and maps will then be available at Village Hall and at various businesses on the 27th. In addition, the town-wide clean-up will be held on May 3rd. A list of items that can and cannot be picked up will be available at Village Hall. All items must be put curbside.
The IDPH reported no new cases of COVID-19 in Wayne, Wabash, Richland, Hamilton, White, and Marion counties yesterday. Jefferson County added two cases, and Edwards, Clay, and Lawrence counties had their totals decrease on the state website. As a state, Illinois announced 1,496 new cases and 11 additional deaths. Statewide totals sat at 3,078,124 cases and 33,454 deaths. The Southern Region had a seven-day positivity rate of 1.1 percent on the 4th, up from one percent on the 3rd.
April is Safe Digging Month, and Roger Watwood, a damage prevention manager for JULIE, says people should contact the Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators by dialing 811. People can also call 800-892-0123 or go to JulieBeforeYouDig.com. He says any project should begin with a call, even for pre-existing structures.
More than $150 million in utility assistance is available to Illinois families in need. The money is to help pay utility bills, including natural gas, propane, and electricity, and other offers include home weatherization and furnace assistance for those eligible. More information can be found at helpillinoisfamilies.com.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 24.62 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 6.81 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 14.90 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 6.44 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 25.03 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 14.72 feet.
Today’s crude oil price is $89.00, down $0.25 from yesterday. The May crude oil price is $97.47, up $1.41 from yesterday morning.