The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory running through Wednesday, July 27th. This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Southern Illinois, Southwest Indiana, Western Kentucky, and Southern Missouri. This includes the counties of Jefferson, Wayne IL, Edwards, Wabash, Perry, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, and Hardin in Southern Illinois. Afternoon heat index values will climb above 100 over most of the area Friday, and then over 105 throughout the region Saturday and Sunday. Portions of the region may continue to experience heat index readings above 100 early to mid-next week. On and off chances of thunderstorms are forecast Sunday through Wednesday. Locally heavy rainfall and lightning will be the primary concerns.
Edwards County Fair is hosting a Veterans Night at the Whippoorwill Rodeo on Tuesday Night July 26th at 7pm, Sponsored by Wabash General Hospital. Wabash General Hospital is sponsoring 100 tickets for Veterans to receive a free pass into the Rodeo. Tickets can be picked up on Monday July 25th and Tuesday July 26th at the Edward County Fair Office beginning at 8am. Handicap Parking and Seating is available.In the Dog Care portion of the Edwards County 4-H Dog Show held on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Keira Willett was named the Dog Care Champion. She was awarded a trophy donated by Albion Moose Family Center. Elaina Kearbey was the Reserve Dog Care Champion. In the Obedience portion, Alyssa Smith was named Beginning Novice I Champion and received a trophy donated by Prairie Farm Dairy, Inc. Elaina Kearbey received the Beginning Novice I Reserve Champion ribbon. In the Beginning Novice 2 class, Kwade Sawyer won the Champion trophy donated by Meredith/Ingram Funeral Home. Kylar VanMatre received the Beginning Novice 2 Reserve Champion ribbon. Kwade Sawyer was named Preferred Novice Champion and received a trophy donated by Judge Jerry Crisel. Keira Willett received the Reserve Champion ribbon for Preferred Novice. Thank you to our judges Hallie Clagg and Amanda Fearn for judging our show.
On 07/20/2022, at approximately 7:40a.m., David Medler reported to police that a black, 2007 L & D trailer had been stolen from property located at 604 West Main Street. The trailer was loaded with a 2017 Scag mower. Medler last saw the trailer on 7/19/2022, at approximately 4:30p.m. If you have any information about this theft, or any other crime, contact the Wayne County Crime Stoppers by phone or text at 842-9777.
On 7/20 at approximately 6:30p.m.Wayne County Sheriff’s Office responded to an accident on US Hwy 15 near Leech Township. 66-year-old Steven Marsh was westbound on Hwy 15 in a 2015 Dodge Journey, when he stopped to turn left, with turn signal activated. 42-year-old Mark J. Rogers was eastbound in his 2013 Chevy Equinox, when he drifted into the on-coming lane of traffic, crossing the center line, and colliding with Marsh. The vehicle sustained over $1500 in damages. Rogers was cited for Operating an Uninsured Vehicle, and Improper Lane Usage. Rogers will appear in Wayne County Court on August 25, 2022.
On 7/20/2022, at approximately 10:38p.m. 36-year-old Cody E. Tipton was arrested on warrants for Failure to Appear for three counts of DUI Drugs, Failure to Appear Aggravated DUI, and Failure to Appear for Unlawful Adult Use and Possession of Cannabis. Tipton is being held in the Wayne County Jail with bond set at $2,000.
Attorneys confirmed a jury trial date Tuesday in Jefferson County Court for a 27-year-old Mt. Vernon man charged with multiple child pornography offenses. Jacob Higgins is currently facing 10 counts of possessing child pornography – all Class 2 felonies – dating back to alleged incidents in August 2020, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. A final pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for August 9, with a jury trial the following week on August 16. Detective Bobby Wallace with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported his office received a tip through the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force of suspected child pornography activity in the Jefferson County area. Wallace says the initial investigation confirmed criminal activity, a suspect, and the involved internet accounts. Search warrants were obtained to access suspected accounts, which led to additional evidence and an additional search warrant for the residence at 813 S. 25th Street in Mt. Vernon. The warrant was served on May 23rd and evidence was collected at the residence. Det. Wallace says 10 separate files of child pornography were discovered in a dropbox account associated with Higgins’ cell phone. Deputies ultimately arrested Higgins who has remained in the Jefferson County Jail since that arrest with bail set at $200,000. The defense on Tuesday withdrew a motion requesting a bond reduction for Higgins.
A 56-year-old Mt. Vernon man was found mentally fit to stand trial for an alleged armed robbery and shooting at a Mt. Vernon police officer in 2021. Fredrick Goss is charged with two Class X felonies for armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer stemming from a June 2021 armed robbery of the Mt Vernon Huck’s Store, which resulted in the exchange of gunfire with a Mt Vernon police officer. Goss was struck in the exchange and remained in a St. Louis area hospital for several weeks while he was treated for the gunshot wound that required him to use a wheelchair during his recovery. A jury trial in the case was underway in October 2021 when a Jefferson County corrections officer was returning Goss to the courthouse from lunch recess. As the corrections officer was assisting Goss from the back of the squad car into his wheelchair, Goss allegedly pulled the deputy’s gun from its holster following a brief struggle. A deputy inside the courthouse witnessed the attack on surveillance cameras and rushed downstairs where he shot Goss who had reportedly attempted to shoot the corrections officer with his own gun but missed. Goss was again sent to a St. Louis area hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound suffered just months after the first incident and the jury in the case was dismissed. A mental fitness examination was subsequently ordered for Goss and on Thursday the court ruled he’s mentally fit based upon the results of the report and testimony of Dr. Angeline Stanislaus. Goss is next scheduled to appear in court on September 29 on the 2021 case.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,805 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease in Illinois, including 10 additional deaths. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,511,067 cases, including 34,281 deaths, in Illinois. As of Monday night, 1,412 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 152 patients were in the ICU and 48 patients were on ventilators. A total of 22,850,163 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of Monday night. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 12,806 doses. Monday 13,523 doses were reportedly administered in Illinois.
The State Department of Public Health says monkeypox cases continue to increase in Illinois, with all the cases so far in the upstate region. While Chicago reported 105 new cases Monday, up to a total of 173, the remaining 27 cases are in Cook, Kane, Lake, & DuPage Counties. Health officials are asking Chicago to address the spread by instituting contact tracing and increased public awareness and education.
Fall registration is ongoing at Olney Central College. Programs accepting new students include Accounting, Automotive Service, Collision Repair, Cosmetology, Health Information Technology, Human Resource Assistant, Industrial Maintenance, Information Systems, Massage Therapy, Nail Technology, and Unmanned Aerial Technology. Apply for free at www.iecc.edu/apply or schedule a visit at www.iecc.edu/occ/visit to learn more about all the transfer and technical degrees available at Olney Central College. The IECC Fall Semester classes begin August 18th.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 20.14 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 8.59 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 20.89 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 2.75 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 13.95 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 5.01 feet.
Today’s crude oil price is $95.26, down $1.96 from yesterday. The August crude oil price is $102.61, down $0.52 from yesterday morning.