Headlines for Saturday, August 6th

A full day of activities is set for today at the annual Johnsonville Days celebration.  There will be flea markets and craft booths set up.  Activities include a 5K Run/Walk, a Car, Truck and Motorcycle  and Tractor Show, and the parade starting at 10 a.m.  There will also be a Mud Bog, with the presentation of Car & Tractor Show Awards starting at 5 p.m.

Illinois State Police released some details Friday on an accident in Jefferson County Thursday that resulted in one fatality and one injury.  Police said the driver of the car that was killed was identified as 61-year-old Irving Wright of South Holland, IL.  A passenger, 53-year-old Sherice Wright of South Holland, was seriously injured.  The driver of a semi involved in the accident, 40-year-old Michael McKimmons of Van Buren, AR refused medical attention.  An investigation said both vehicles were northbound on I-57 at milepost 105, and for unknown reasons the vehicle driven by Wright left the roadway and traveled into the median, hit an embankment and then hit the trailer of the semi.  Wright was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner.

The U.S. Postal Service has announced that it will start accepting applications tofday for Rural Carrier Associate and City Carrier Associate positions at the Fairfield and Albion post offices.  Those interested can apply online through August 10th at  www.usps.com/careers    The postal service says it will communicate by email concerning the status of applicatons.  Starting pay is around $19 per hour for both positions.

Following a year of service as vice chair of the AVMA Board of Directors, Dr. Ronald E. Gill, a longtime mixed-animal practitioner in West Salem was elected as board chair for 2022-2023.  Dr. Gill has many years of experience in organized veterinary medicine at both the state and national levels, beginning with the Southern Illinois Veterinary Medical Association.  Dr. Gill sold his practice, Gill Veterinary Clinic, in 2019, but continued to work at the practice, now called Three Rivers Veterinary Clinic, until his retirement in 2021.

The Blue Point Free Will Baptist Church will be hosting a blood drive this Tuesday from 1 to 6 p.m. at The Link – Gymnasium, located on the east side of the church.  You can visit  RedCrossBlood.org  to schedule an appointment.  For questions contact Connie McGrew at (618) 839-1981 or Pastor Ernie Lewis at (618) 838-6708.  The church is located eight miles south of Flora or two miles north of the 161 extension on the Blue Mound Road.

Area river stages as of this morning:  Little Wabash River east of Fairfield is at 28.45 feet.  Flood stage is 17 feet.  At Clay City the stage is 22.21 feet.  Flood stage is 18 feet.  At Carmi the stage is 28.95 feet.  Flood stage is 27 feet.  The Skillet Fork at Wayne City is at 9.93 feet.  Flood stage is 15 feet.  The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel is at 9.06 feet.  Flood stage is 19 feet.