The National Weather Service out of Paducah, Kentucky has issued a severe heat advisory for the following counties in Southern Illinois: Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, White, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, and Massac; as well as parts of Southwest Indiana, Western Kentucky, and Southern Missouri. This heat advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. Saturday through 8 p.m. Sunday. Heat index values could exceed 107 degrees. Our area is already under an extended advisory lasting through Wednesday, with triple digit indices through mid-next week. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
The Fairfield High School Board of Education met in regular session Thursday evening. Several FFA members were present and provided those in attendance with information regarding their activities and plans for the upcoming year. FFA Advisors Curt Robbins and Samantha Smith were also present and provided an impressive summary of achievements and awards the local chapter and individual members had received. In the Superintendents Report, Supt. Jill Fulkerson stated that a school security meeting will be held to review their emergency action plan. She further stated that online registration was open and in person registration begins on Tuesday, July 26. The Superintendent advised the board that several camps, competitions, and various other sports activities have recently been held at FCHS. Summer maintenance is nearing completion, with new carpeting installed in the library and new furniture for other areas. The Superintendent said that they had met with Raylen James Marketing to discuss the possible creation of an FCHS YouTube channel to air FCHS events and activities. Ray’s Backhoe was awarded a bid to demolish a house at 301 W King St. Their bid was $8,910. The board approved the following: 2022-2023 District Employee Manual, 2022-2023 Teacher Staff Handbook, and Loaned $40,000 from the Education Fund to Operations/Maintenance Fund. In Personnel matters: Accepted were the resignation of Math Teacher Jeremy Ellis, the resignation of bus driver Jeff Gruner, hiring Ryan Burkett as an assistant football coach for 2022-2023, volunteer football coach Devon Butler for 2022-2023, and hiring Brey Hall and Rhiannon Bridgeman for Yearbook.
Edwards County Treasurer Debbie Smith is reminding taxpayers that the 2022 Mobile Home Tax due date is Friday, July 29, 2022. At this time, 56% of the taxes have been paid. The 2022 extension for mobile home taxes is $20,729.77. Any taxes not paid by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 29th will have a late fee of $25.00 added with an additional $25.00 added every month the taxes are delinquent. The Courthouse is open between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You may mail your payment to the Edwards County Collector, 50 E. Main Suite 11, Albion, IL. You may also put your payment in the drop box on the northeast corner of the Courthouse, (located in front of the cell tower). Always include a phone number where you can be reached during the day on anything put in the drop box. The 2021 payable 2022 Real Estate Tax information has not been received in the Treasurer’s office at this time but anticipates the real estate tax bills being mailed out late August or early September 2022. If you have any questions, please call the Treasurer’s office at 445-3581.
On July 20th, at approximately 8:28 a.m., ISP responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident at the Intersection of Illinois Route 141 and Shawneetown New Haven Road in White County. Preliminary investigation indicates that 75-year-old Thurman O. Terrell of Ridgeway was traveling northbound on Shawneetown New Haven Road in a Gold 2000 Toyota Sedan. 30-year-old Johnathan M. Campbell of Carmi was traveling eastbound on Illinois Route 141 in a Black 2023 Peterbilt Truck-Tractor Semi-Trailer Combination. For unknown reasons Terrell failed to stop at the intersection and struck the trailer of Campbell. Terrell was flown to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries. Campbell claimed no injuries at the scene. Terrell was cited for Disobeyed Stop Sign and Driver Required to Wear Seatbelt. There is no further information available at this time.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation into the disappearance of 26-year-old Shadie Thomas from her Clay City home on or about May 5th remains a top priority. The department says the investigation has led across state lines, the office has teamed up with numerous law enforcement agencies and utilized every available resource to track down any and all leads. In a Facebook post, the department says they continue to consider all possible scenarios in this investigation. One of those scenarios is that if Shadie left on her own and is safe somewhere, law enforcement only wants to ensure that she is safe and provide any resources that she may need. Thomas is a white female, 5’10”, 300 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes. The initial missing person report indicates she has reduced mental capacity which the family says would keep her from living on her own. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office or if you wish to remain anonymous please submit your information by texting XCRIME to tip411 or by using the XCRIME app on your smartphone.
While the price of some commodities have eased in recent weeks, elevated food costs are expected to persist through the rest of the year and maybe beyond. Food inflation went up for the 13th straight month in June to 10.1 percent, the largest increase since February 1981. Overall, the USDA predicts all food prices could increase by an average of 7.5 to 8.5 percent for 2022.
The Illinois jobless rate for June stood at 4.5%. That’s the lowest rate since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Non-farm payrolls increased by 18,800 in June. The industry sectors with the largest over the month gains in employment included Leisure and Hospitality, Professional and Business Services, Construction, and Educational and Health Services. The industry sectors that reported monthly payroll declines included Financial Activities and Other Services. The state’s unemployment rate was 0.9% higher than the national unemployment rate reported for June, which was 3.6%, unchanged from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was down 2% from a year ago when it was at 6.5%.
The Mega Millions jackpot has now been raised to $660 million for Friday night’s drawing. If won, this would be the third largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won in the history of the game. In the 20-year history of the game, 221 players have scooped the Mega Millions jackpot. Mega Millions is played every Tuesday and Friday night, with the next draw taking place on tonight at 10 p.m. (CT). Mega Millions tickets are $2 each, and players can add the Megaplier for an additional $1 for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 22.12 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 6.59 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 20.61 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 1.90 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 15.26 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 4.25 feet.
Today’s crude oil price is $89.35, down $5.91 from yesterday. The September crude oil price is $95.56, down $7.05 from yesterday morning.