It has been announced that the Fairfield Public School District will be implementing a program available to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). All enrolled students of Fairfield PSD #112 are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no cost to your household each day of the school year. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application. For questions or to obtain more information call 842-6501.
On Thursday, August 25th, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Michael Molt granted the defense motion to sever two sex crime charges in the Brodey Murbarger case. Judge Molt granted the motion to sever the two counts of home invasion to commit criminal sexual abuse from the murder charges Murbarger is facing. Murbarger has been formally charged with three counts of murder and one count of concealment of a homicidal death, the murder charges and two sex cases will now be tried separately. In pretrial hearing, Judge Molt confirmed the final pretrial and trial dates, ordering that all pending motions in the case be filed on or before September 6th, with final pretrial hearing set for September 13th. The jury trial is set for September 16th in Wayne County Circuit Court. The 26-year-old faces multiple charges in connection with the 2014 death of 15-year-old Megan Nichols, both Fairfield natives. Murbarger was indicted by a Wayne County jury on a total of six counts, including three counts of first-degree murder, concealment of a homicidal death and two counts of home invasion to commit the offense of criminal sexual abuse. Nichols went missing July 3, 2014, her remains were discovered on December 26, 2017, by a Wayne County man in a remote site south of Boyleston. Murbarger has been held in the Wayne County jail with a bond of $3 million since October 5, 2020. A Wayne County Jury recently denied a defense motion seeking to move the location of the trial against 26-year-old Brodey Murbarger.
The Tax Increment Financing Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 31 at 5:15 p.m. in City Hall. Items on the agenda will include Building Rehabilitation at 1410 West Main owned by Andrew Gifford and Building Renovation at 506 West Main owned by Jessica McCleary.
Fairfield Memorial Hospital is offering CPR Certification to the public free of charge. The class will be held on tomorrow from 9:00am – 1:00pm in the FMH Medical Arts Complex Education Rooms located at 213 NW 10th Street in Fairfield. For more information or to pre-register call 618-847-8243. Pre-registration is required as class size is limited. Attendees will be required to go thru the entrance screening and wear masks at all times unless otherwise instructed by the instructor.
Jasper Residents living along 1120 North between Enterprise and 7th Street and Andrews Acres should boil their water.
The West Salem Village Board met in regular session Monday night to review the recent citations from the State Office of OSHA concerning the Village Fire Department. The Deputy Director of teh State OSHA Office Eric Kambarian was in attendance at the meeting and told the village that he basically would work with the village board and fire dept. to resolve the issues which resulted in the citations being issued. Kambarian gave the village and West Salem Fire until September 30 to resolve the citations.
Crimestoppers is offering a reward for the person or persons who stole jewelry and power tools from the Mike Deffendall residence. If you have any information on this or any other crime, call or text crimestoppers at 842-9777
Crimestopppers is offering a reward for the person or persons who damaged a front door and entered the business of Citgo in Cisne. If you have information on this or any other crime, call or text crimestoppers at 842-9777.
On 08/20/22, at 3:09 AM, Craig S Stein, 22 of Fairfield, was cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license following a traffic stop for faulty equipment at 805 N Laurel Street, Fairfield.
On 08/21/22, at 11:11 AM, Jackie D Thomason, 54 of Fairfield, was cited and released for operating an unregistered side-by-side in the 100 block of NW 7th Street, Fairfield in violation of the Fairfield Golf Cart/UTV ordinance. The side-by-side was removed from the roadway.
On 08/23/22, at 1:36 AM, Fairfield Police stopped a vehicle being driven by Shalaunda K McCulley, 40 of Fairfield, near the intersection of Mt Vernon Road and Frontier Drive, Fairfield. McCulley was cited for Operating a Vehicle with Suspended Registration and the vehicle was towed.
On 08/24/22, at 8:29 AM, Fairfield Police were called to investigate a burglary at 200 W Main Street, Fairfield, the Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen. The rear door of the facility had been forced sometime overnight or in the early morning. The investigation is continuing. Anyone having any information on this incident is encouraged to contact Wayne County Crime Stoppers.
On 08/24/22, at 8:53 AM, Fairfield Police cited Branden L Cline, 39 of Fairfield, for violating Fairfield’s UTV/Golf cart ordinance by operating an unregistered side-by-side in the 100 block of NW 3rd Street. He was cited and released. The side-by-side was towed away.
On 08/27/2022, at approximately 8:05 PM, Fairfield Police located Gage L. Devers, 25 of Fairfield in the 800 block of West Main Street. Devers was wanted on a Wayne County failure to appear warrant for driving on a suspended license (Cash Bond $595) and a Hamilton County failure to appear warrant for driving on a suspended license (Cash bond $595). Devers was transported to the Wayne County Jail and lodged pending the posting of bond.
On 08/27/2022, at approximately 8:20 PM, Fairfield Police located Xavier J. Miller, 36 of Fairfield in the 800 block of West Main Street. Miller was a suspect in a previous domestic disturbance and was also wanted on a Kane County warrant for domestic battery (Cash Bond $7500) and a Cook County warrant for possession of Schedule I & II narcotic (No bond warrant). Miller was transported to the Wayne County Jail and lodged.
A 21-year-old female immigrant was rescued Wednesday from an apparent human trafficking situation discovered during a traffic stop in Jefferson County. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department a 41-year-old California man is being held following an investigation into human trafficking that followed a traffic stop on I-57 near the Mt. Vernon exit. Jefferson County Sheriff’s officials say Jose Antonio Navarro-Laguna was taken into custody for immigration-related offenses. An Illinois State Police Officer made the initial traffic stop and saw evidence of what he believed was human trafficking. Agents with the Homeland Security Investigations Task Force responded to assist Illinois State Police. Evidence was reportedly seized at the scene and a 21-year-old female illegal immigrant was detained and turned over to the Homeland Security agents. The investigation into human trafficking is continuing as the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office works with the state police and Homeland Security Investigations.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 13.38 feet, below the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 6.40 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 5.27 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 14.77 feet. The Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 5.13 feet, and the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 3.44 feet.
Today’s Crude Oil price is $90.01 up $3.95 from yesterday. The October Crude Oil price is $95.12 up $1.47 from yesterday morning.