State Senator Darren Bailey and State Representative Adam Niemerg are calling on state lawmakers to return to Springfield for a special session to address rising gas prices. Bailey held a press conference Wednesday at a station in Effingham where gas prices were $5.19 cents a gallon, slightly cheaper than in Fairfield. He said the current expenses are devastating for working families and people on a fixed income, and he continued to say the state should have removed or suspended its gas tax instead of simply freezing the cost-of-living adjustment for six months.
Wayne County deputies arrested 36-year-old Iuka resident Renea M. Henson early this morning on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, possession of methamphetamine, and driving with a suspended license. She was taken to the Wayne County Jail and held, pending the setting and posting of bond.
The family of 26-year-old Clay City resident Shadie Thomas continues to ask for the public’s help in locating her. A family member says Thomas lived with her mother and is believed to have left the home without being seen the evening of May 6th, and there has been no confirmed sighting since. She is said to have the mental capacity of a 12- to 14-year-old and has never been on her own. The family believes she is in serious danger. A missing person case has been filed with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, and anyone with information can also contact the Missing Persons Awareness Network at 312-620-0788. Thomas is described as a white female, 5’10” tall and weighing 300 pounds, with straight, brown, shoulder-length hair. She has blue eyes and prescription glasses and was last seen in Baby Yoda pajama bottoms and a sky blue Columbia jacket.
Illinois State Police District 19 Commander Captain Nathan Douglas has announced the results of a Nighttime Enforcement Patrol conducted in Wayne County this month. Troopers reported seven total citations or arrests and 40 total written warnings, with 12 coming for registration offenses, four license offenses, and two occupant restraint and insurance violations.
The Massac County Sheriff’s Office says a three-year-old boy was found safe and uninjured after leaving his home Wednesday morning and getting lost while following his dog into a wooded area. Sheriff Chad Kaylor says his office responded at about 11:40 to a report of a missing juvenile, and a volunteer located the missing child two hours later approximately one quarter-mile from home.
The Wayne County Shrine Club will hold a cook-out benefit tomorrow with proceeds going to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department in the name of Deputy Sean Riley. Service will begin at 10:30 on the Wayne County Courthouse Square in Fairfield, and service will continue until sold out. The menu will include porkchops, porkburgers, and brats.
Grayville Senior Citizens will hold a fundraiser tomorrow with a new menu item. This will be the first time the group will serve chicken pot pie, along with salad or coleslaw, roll, dessert, and a drink. Service will begin at 5, and carry-outs are available by calling 375-7777 in advance. The cost is by donation, and everyone is welcome to attend.
The Wayne County Board met last night and approved a new contract with the Wayne County Humane Society. The updated language calls for the society to handle after-hour bite calls. County Highway Engineer Dennis Seidel reported bid letting will take place next Friday for proposed work at the Enterprise Road/161 intersection north of Fairfield, and Jill Short, representing the Wayne County Housing Authority, made a request to reduce that organization’s payment. The matter was tabled, pending further board study.
The Fairfield Park Board met last night and authorized the formation of a separate, small checking account for electronic payments at the pool via PayPal or Venmo. Electronic payments do have transaction fees, and the board discussed adding a small park transaction to set fees to recoup those losses. Members agreed electronic payment is quickly becoming the norm across the country, and they felt it was best to follow the trend. In reports, Superintendent Chris Jenkins said Lakeside Playground equipment should arrive on Thursday, though it will take some time to place.
The Fairfield Community High School Board of Education held a special meeting last night. It approved a resolution to purchase real estate at 301 West King Street from Donnie Pollard at a cost of $28,000, and it approved the purchase of shades from B-Way Design & Decorating at a cost of $10,588. The shades will be used to create an additional classroom on the third floor in the former Computer Lab.
42-year-old McLeansboro resident Joshua A. Bell was sentenced to prison in Wayne County Circuit Court this week by Judge Michael Molt. He pleaded guilty to a Class 3 felony count of possession of methamphetamine and a Class 4 felony count of driving with a revoked license. Bell was sentenced to six years in prison for each count, to be served concurrently, and the sentence will also run concurrently with one from Hamilton County. He was credited with 213 days served in jail and ordered to pay $90 in fines and court costs.
The IDPH reported 10 new cases of COVID-19 in Wayne County yesterday. Lawrence County added 12 cases, Marion County 11, White County seven, Clay County six, Jefferson County five, Wabash County four, Richland County three, and Hamilton County one. Edwards County held steady on the state website. As a state, Illinois announced 4,294 new cases and 10 additional deaths.
Schools will be able to teach students about proper gun storage under a new state law. The offering is not a mandate, but districts can offer a course on how to correctly and legally store a firearm. Supporters say this will help prevent gun accidents at home, and they say school can already teach kids about hunting safety, so this is a natural extension. The law takes effect in January.
The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a new public safety campaign called “It’s Not a Game.” Spokesperson Paul Wappel says people may have already seen the TV ads, which are designed to look like an old-school video game. The public can view safety videos and take a quiz online at itsnotagameillinois.com.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 6.37 feet, below the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.14 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 5.26 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 1.97 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 4.60 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 7.37 feet.
Today’s crude oil price is $114.50, down $0.50 from yesterday. The July crude oil price is $121.27, down $0.17 from yesterday morning.