Headlines for Wednesday, July 27th

***BOLO***

Please be aware that the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching for a white male wearing a muddy Carhartt style jacket and jeans. Subject appeared to be in his late 20’s to early 30’s and is approximately 5’10” tall. Subject was last seen on foot in the 1800 block of County Highway 7. Subject is wanted for questioning in regards to a stolen vehicle and loader tractor out of Clay County. If spotted do not approach subject, but call the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office at 842-6631 or 911.

 

The Fairfield City Council met in regular session Tuesday evening with all alderman present. The annual Appropriations Ordinance was unanimously approved after a public hearing prior to the council meeting. The appropriation stands at $28,720,000. This does not include any grants that may be accessed and is not considered a budget. The appropriation process only places dollars in each department for possible spending during the year and doesn’t mean they will spend all the dollars appropriated. Water and Sewer rates will be going up slightly after the council unanimously passed an increase in the water and sewer rates. Alderman Tyler Lampley stated that the city’s water and sewer utilities lost $330,000 last year and he indicated that the sewer plant is requiring some significant maintenance involving some very expensive items. He also indicated the cost of chemicals had risen 100% over 2 years along with other maintenance items feeling the inflation pinch as well. Water rates will increase .25 annually over the next 5 years. This is per 1000 gallons. Also, water meter rates will raise $1.00 annually for 5 years. Sewer rates will increase .50 the first year and .25 each year for the 5 years. This is also per 1000 gallons. Gas and electric rates will not be increased. Both the Mayor and Lampley indicated that they hated to increase any cost to Fairfield residents given the current economic climate, but some of the increased operational costs have to be passed on. A Memo of Understanding was approved with the IBEW regarding residency requirements. The city recently negotiated residency for the FOP to 45 minutes from Fairfield. The Memo of Understanding extends the same 45-minute residency to other city workers. Alderman Dewey Eckleberry voted no on the memo. The old Electric Power Plant was sold to Shannon Withrow, who had the only bid. The sale includes the building, tanks, and fuel contained in the tanks. Withrows winning bid was $38,000. A $15,000 revolving loan was approved for Mindy’s Sew Shop in downtown Fairfield. The loan will be used to purchase specialized equipment and will result in the addition of an employee. The council approved the $2,500 annual dues from the Greater Wabash Planning Commission for grant writing services. 3 street closing requests were granted: Fairfield Fall Fun Fest, 1st Baptist Church VBS, Car Show on Industrial Drive. The expenditure of $3,100 from the Recreation Fund was approved. The funds will be used to order Solar Eclipse Glasses for the upcoming eclipse. It was noted that the glasses are going to be in short supply so an early order should ensure availability. Sponsorships will offset much of the costs for the eclipse celebration, which as one alderman indicated was “going to be a big deal”. Interim Mayor Gary Moore announced the next City of Fairfield Town Hall will be held on August 16 at 6:00 pm at City Hall.

 

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is seeking sealed bids for a used 2013 Dodge Ram 4×4 truck, a used 2012 Dodge 3500 pickup and a used 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL Convertible. Proposal forms are available at the Sheriff’s Office. These vehicles may be viewed and inspected at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office at 305 E. Court Street Fairfield, IL 62837. Proposals are to be placed in a sealed envelope marked “Vehicle 1, Vehicle 2 or Vehicle 3” and submitted no later than 12:00pm on August 9, 2022 to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office at 305 E. Court Street Fairfield, IL 62837. At this time all bids will be opened and read aloud publicly. If you wish to bid on multiple vehicles a separate bid sheet will need to be filled out and submitted for each vehicle. Equipment is to be sold as is and where is. Successful bidder shall furnish a bank draft or cashier’s check in the full amount of the bid upon taking possession of equipment no later than August 16, 2022. The County reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to select and award to the bidder whose bid it is felt is in the best interest of the County.

 

Wayne County Sheriff’s arrested 40-year-old Ely J Taylor on Tuesday stemming from a Warrant for Failure to appear on charges of Driving while License Suspended/Revoked. He was transported to the Wayne County Jail and held pending posting of $595 bond. A court date has been set in this case for September 15, 2022, at 1 pm in Wayne County Court.

 

In-person registration for FCHS continues today from 10am until 2pm in the school study hall/library. The fees for this year are: Textbook rental and computer disk fee – $50 per student; Drivers Education Fee (if enrolled) – $50; Student Parking Paved Lot – $25; Student Parking Gravel Lot – $15. The Technology Fee of $55 has been waived for the 2022-2023 school year. Financial aid forms will be available at registration for fee waivers. The first day of classes for the 2022-2023 school year will be Monday, August 15 with buses running a normal schedule. Classes will be in session from 8:10 to 3pm. Every Tuesday will be a 9am late start for the purpose of curriculum development and teacher training. Classes will begin at 9 and dismiss at 3pm. Buses will run at their normal time and student who arrive early will report to study hall until the first period begins. There will be no half day or early dismissals.

 

Recently, the Clover Buds (a 4H Youth Group), donated blankets to Fairfield Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.  4-H Cloverbud membership is reserved for kids who are 5 to 7 years old. The focus of Cloverbuds is to introduce kids to all that 4-H has to offer. 4-H Cloverbud programs are developmentally appropriate, activity-focused, and build on cooperative learning. Several Wayne County 4H clubs have Cloverbuds made up of siblings/friends that are just not old enough to be in 4H “club” yet.  Each Cloverbud group has a “group” project for presenting at the fair on general project day. The blankets that were donated to the pediatric patients at FMH was the Cloverbud group project this year. “We started the blankets at one of our earlier meetings and have worked on them at our monthly meetings, after finishing the half a dozen we have the group voted on where they wanted to donate them. It was unanimous that they be given to kids in the hospital.  Who doesn’t feel better with a blanket, right?  And, they wanted them to be colorful to maybe make their visit/stay a little brighter. As their leader, along with the families, we wanted the boys and girls to have an opportunity to see and feel what it was like to do something for others and then make a commitment to the hospital to continue to supply the lap blankets as much as possible.” commented Gayle McGehee, Cloverbud Group Leader.

Pictured left to right is Lincoln Murphy, Dr. Beeler, Corinne Bittles, Kayleigh Mourey, ER Nurse Manager, Rachel Hooper-Moore, and Carson Black.

 

The Edwards County 4-H Goat Show was held Tuesday afternoon, July 26.  In the Dairy Goat division, Kamryn Trowbridge showed the Grand Champion Dairy Female.  She received a banner donated by the Edwards County Ag in the Classroom.  Adalynn Potter showed the Reserve Grand Champion Dairy Female. In the Meat Goat division, JW Simms-Reisner showed the Grand Champion Female and the Reserve Grand Champion Meat Female. JW received the banner donated by the JTK Services Inc. The Grand Champion Market Goat was shown by Kamryn Trowbridge who received a banner donated by Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners. The Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat was shown by Chloe Iles. In the Showmanship division, the Senior Showmanship trophy donated by Terry Mewes and Ashley Craig was awarded to Laney Stephens.  Parker Biggs won the Junior Showmanship trophy donated by Meridith/Ingram Funeral Home.  In the Novice Class, Bristol Duncan won the belt buckle donated by the City of Albion.

 

The Edwards County 4-H Swine show was held Tuesday, July 26th. Grand Champion Swine Female went to Tori Thompson, Stumpy Hill Farm, donated the banner. Zoie Ankenbrand had the Reserve Champion Swine Female. Ryleigh Moore showed the Grand Champion Crossbred Gilt, Citizens National Bank of Albion, donated the Grand Champion banner.  The Reserve Grand Champion, for Crossbred Gilts was shown by Tori Thompson. In the Crossbred Gilt division, the following exhibitors showed the Champion and Reserve by weight classes: Tori Thompson, Champion Heavy Weight and Reserve Champion Heavy Weight; Ryleigh Moore Champion Middle Weight and Reserve Champion Middle Weight; Kayleigh Sanford Champion Light Weight and Justin Bunting Reserve Light Weight. In the market barrow division, the following exhibitors showed the Champion and Reserve by weight classes:  Kendal Loudermilk, Champion Heavy Weight and  Skylar Greathouse, Reserve Champion Heavy Weight; Alyson Williams, Champion Middle Heavy Weight; Riley Delancy, Reserve Champion Middle Heavy Weight; Ryleigh Moore, Champion Middle Weight; Tori Thompson, Reserve Champion Middle Weight; Zoie Ankenbrand, Champion Light Weight and Tori Thompson, Reserve Light Weight. The Grand Champion Market barrow banner, donated by Edwards County Farm Bureau Foundation, was presented to Ryleigh Moore. The Reserve Grand Champion barrow went to Alli Williams. In the showmanship division, Tori Thompson earned the Senior Showmanship trophy donated by the Thompson family, in Memory of Ed Thompson, Addison Anderson won the Junior Showmanship trophy donated by Edward Jones Investments – Brian T. Mewes, Investment Representative, and Ryleigh Moore won the Novice belt buckle donated by Sheila Schnepper, Edwards County Supervisor of Assessments.

 

There were 5.6 days suitable for field work during the week ending July 24.  Statewide, the average temperature was 78.8 degrees, 2.3 degrees above normal.  Precipitation averaged 0.94 inches, 0.09 inches below normal.  Topsoil moisture supply was rated 16% very short, 19% short, 60% adequate, and 5% surplus.  Subsoil moisture supply was rated 17% very short, 15% short, 64% adequate and 4% surplus. Corn silking reached 81%, compared to the 5-year average of 80%.  Corn dough reached 17%, compared to the 5-year average of 19%.  Corn condition was rated 3% very poor, 9% poor, 17% fair, 53% good, and 18% excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 55%, compared to the 5-year average of 69%.  Soybeans setting pods reached 20%, compared to the 5-year average of 36%.  Soybean condition was rated 3% very poor, 6% poor, 30% fair, 46% good, 15% excellent.

 

Flooding in the Metro East was so intense that multiple neighborhoods in St. Clair County had to be temporarily evacuated, but some areas saw even more damage. There were some unconfirmed reports Tuesday morning that a levee outside of Caseyville may have breached, but according to St. Clair County Emergency Manager Herb Simmons, it’s common for water to wash over the top of that levee when there is this much rain. A secondary dam on the Nashville, Illinois, reservoir failed flooding low-lying portions of that community and closing parts of Illinois Route 15.

 

River stages as of this morning:  the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 24.77 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 9.60 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 19.18 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 11.04 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 19.59 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 14.22 feet.

 

Today’s crude oil price is $87.98, down $1.72 from yesterday. The September crude oil price is $95.91 down $2.49 from yesterday morning.