The Fairfield Fall Fun fest continues through Sunday. Today is the Fairfield National Bank 5k run/walk. Registration is at 4:30 on the corner of Court and 4th streets, the race will start at 6pm, also at the corner of Court and 4th street; at 7pm the awards will be presented. Also going on today are the Fun Fest Prince and Princess Contest at 5:30 on the main stage, sponsored by Fairfield Banking Company, and Miss Fall Fun Fest starting at 8pm on the main stage, co-sponsored by The Chop Shop and Fry’s Excavating. Tomorrow’s events are the Gruen Vocal Studio at 5:30 on the main stage, sponsored by Carter Turf and Tractor, and 7 Bridges – Eagles Ultimate Experience from 7:30 to 10pm on the main stage, sponsored by Fairfield Memorial Hospital. Saturday is loaded with a lot of fun events as well. See the full list of events at Fairfield’s Annual Fall Fun Fest Facebook page.
A reminder to the public that Main Street (IL HWY 15) will be closed through Sunday morning (9/18). The closed portion of Main Street is from First Street, east to NE 4th Street, including the 100 blocks of NE/SE 2nd Streets and NE/SE 3rd Streets. The Illinois Department of Transportation has designated the detour route to be south on SE 4th Street, west on Center Street, then returning to Main Street by traveling north on South First Street. There will be no on street parking on any part of the detour route. The public is asked to please be aware of increased pedestrian traffic in these areas.
FNB would like to remind the public that the drive-thru and lobby will remain open during regular hours throughout the Fall Fun Fest. You can access the drive-thru by turning north on 3rd Street and following the signs. 3rd Street will be barricaded after banking hours, but the ATM can be accessed on foot. Other FNB ATM locations in Fairfield include Fairfield Memorial Hospital and the Bobcat Den. Member FDIC.
Wayne County authorities are reminding drivers that the Enterprise Road, the Big Four Road extension from near Clay City to Fairfield, is now closed, just south of the 161 intersection. Work crews are shaving down the approach to the intersection to make the stop signs more visible, mostly due to several traffic crashes over the years. A successful petition drive to make the intersection a 4 way stop began after a 14-year-old was killed at the intersection on April 2nd of last year. The road closure is expected to last until the first week of November. Enterprise Road north of 161 and 161 are scheduled to remain open during these times. All motorists should seek alternate routes of travel in the area.
The Fairfield Public School District 112 along with Jasper, New Hope, and Geff School Districts are continuing their Child Find/Preschool Screenings today and tomorrow at North Side School. These screenings are for children ages 3 to 5-years-old children not yet enrolled in public schools and who will not be kindergarten eligible for the 2022-2023 school year. The process takes about 45 minutes, and checks your child’s progress in hearing, vision, speech, language, and coordination skills in order to give parents a better idea of how their child is progressing. The screening is free, but appointments are required. To make an appointment, or for more information, call 842-6501.
There were three arrests reported at the jail this morning. Wayne County Sheriffs arrested 49-year-old Ralph A McCarthy of Mt. Vernon, IL on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a charge of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. Bond is set at $595, a court date has been set in this cast for October 20th at 1pm. Wayne County Sheriffs arrested 32-year-old Levi E Eads of Rinard on a warrant for a charge of Aggravated Assault. Bond was set at $525. Fairfield Police arrested 60-year-old Gene R Barton of Fairfield on a charge of Disorderly Conduct. Bond is $120.
A reminder The Wabash Area Development, Inc., as administrator of the Home Energy Assistance Program in Edwards, Hamilton, Gallatin, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, and White Counties are currently taking applications for the LIHEAP energy assistance program to assist income-eligible households with their natural gas, propane, and electric bills, as well as furnace assistance. Various requirements apply, including proof of documentation and more. Applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis through May 31, 2023. There will be no priority groups this program year. Households in need are encouraged to apply. Prior year recipients are eligible to re-apply. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides one-time benefits to income eligible homeowners and renters to help with energy bills and for reconnection of energy service. Propane customers are encouraged to apply when the program opens in September to take greater advantage of lower propane prices. Propane prices typically increase during the winter months so by applying early propane customers will see their LIHEAP benefit go further. Applications are being accepted at the county outreach offices in Edwards, Hamilton, Gallatin/Saline, Wabash, Wayne, and White. Call Wabash Area Development, Inc. at 963-2387 for outreach locations and schedules, and for information on what documents are needed to apply and different ways to submit your application.
Wayne City Bean Days will begin on Saturday, September 17th and run through Saturday, September 24th. On Saturday, September 17th the Bean Queen Pageant will be held at the performance gym at 6 p.m.
September is National Preparedness Month with a focus on building an emergency kit. The basics for putting together a kit include water, at least one gallon per person, per day for three days. A three-day supply of non-perishable food and a first aid kit. According to Illinois Emergency Management Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau, other items to include are a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery powered weather radio, and supplies for your pets, cash, and a waterproof bag with copies of important documents like your social security card and insurance policies.
The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging college students to consider fire safety while they’re away at school this year. September is Campus Fire Safety Month, and Fire Marshal Spokesperson J.C. Fultz says the threat is very real. Tips for students include having an escape plan should a fire break out in their dorm or apartment, making sure smoke detectors are working, not to overload electric outlets and to follow dorm rules about what appliances are allowed. Nationally, September and October are the peak months for dorm fires, with the most occurring between 5-9pm. In Illinois, seven students have died in college related fires since 2000.
Business and government officials are bracing for the possibility of a nationwide rail strike at the end of this week while talks carry on between the largest U.S. freight railroads and their unions. The railroads have already started to curtail shipments of hazardous materials and refrigerated products ahead of Friday’s strike deadline. Businesses that rely on railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products have started planning for the worst. Meanwhile, Biden administration officials are scrambling to develop a plan to use trucks, ships and planes to try to get the most crucial shipments delivered, while the White House continues to keep the pressure on both sides to settle their differences.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 6.20 feet, below the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.00 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 5.24 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 1.53 feet. The Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 3.90 feet, and the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 3.35 feet.
Today’s Crude Oil price $81.48 up $1.17 from yesterday. The October Crude Oil price $87.93 up $0.62 from yesterday morning.