On June 19 at 5:08 a.m., Fairfield Fire Department firefighters were alerted to a structure fire at 407 NW 5th Street in Fairfield. The first arriving unit arrived three minutes after dispatch observing fire coming from a bedroom on the NE corner of the residence. Fire was quickly knocked down and overhaul was performed. The residence did not have utilities hooked up at the time of the fire with the structure sustaining fire, heat and smoke damage. The fire is under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office. Firefighters cleared the scene at 7:42 a.. FFD was assisted by Fairfield Rural with automatic aid, Wayne County EMS, Wayne White Electric, Fairfield PD and Wayne County 911. There were no injuries reported at the scene.
On June 20, at 1:39 a.m., Fairfield Fire Department firefighters responded to a reported structure fire behind Rent One. Upon arrival three minutes later, a structure located along the alley was fully engulfed in fire. Multiple handlines were utilized to bring the fire under control at 1:57 a.m. This structure did not have any utilities hooked up at the time of the fire. The structure is a total loss. The fire is under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office. Firefighters cleared the scene at around 5 a.m. The FFD was assisted by Fairfield Rural with automatic aid, Wayne County EMS, Wayne White Electric, Fairfield PD, Wayne County SO, and Wayne County 911. There were no reported injuries at the scene.
23-year-old Jesse Lily of Salem was arrested Sunday by Salem police after he was allegedly caught trying to break into a home on Allmon Street. According to police, around 8:11 pm Sunday, a woman called to report someone was in her backyard and trying to break into her home. Officers arrived and took Jesse Lily into custody. Lily was charged with attempted residential burglary and criminal damage to property.
The Wayne County Saddle Club will be hosting a youth horse show as part of its youth series on Saturday, June 25th. Must be a member to ride but can purchase a membership the day of the show. Local riders will compete in both performance and speed classes. The show starts at 10 a.m. The cook shack will have concessions available. Come out and watch or just come grab some food and support the kids of the Wayne County Saddle Club. Follow the Wayne County Saddle Club facebook page for more information.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,722 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease in Illinois on Monday and 10,179 cases since Friday. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,393,519 cases, including 34,005 deaths, in Illinois. As of Monday night, 1,137 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 137 patients were in the ICU and 45 patients were on ventilators. A total of 22,571,341 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of Monday night, 4,585,490 of those have been booster doses. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 8,779 doses. Since Friday 27,626 doses were reportedly administered in Illinois.
The weekly crop report tells us that farmers are just about finished with soybean planting and wheat harvest is underway. There were 5.9 days suitable for field work during the week ending June 19. Statewide, the average temperature was 78.8 degrees, 5.9 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.50 inch, 0.51 of an inch below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 2% very short, 29% short, 68% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 2% very short, 19% short, 78% adequate, and 1% surplus. Corn condition was rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 25% fair, 57% good, and 14% excellent. Soybeans planted reached 98%, compared to the 5-year average of 93%. Soybeans emerged reached 93%, compared to the 5-year average of 85%. Soybean condition was rated 1% very poor, 5% poor, 28% fair, 57% good, 9% excellent. Winter wheat harvested for grain was 18%, compared to the 5-year average of 29%. Winter wheat condition was rated 3% very poor, 8% poor, 20% fair, 54% good, and 15% excellent.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 17.13 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.03 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 16.21 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 1.35 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 9.49 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 6.77 feet.
Today’s crude oil price is $103.65, up $1.09 from yesterday. The July crude oil price is $110.58, down $1.33 from yesterday morning.