Petitions for the Consolidated Election to be held on April 4, 2023, are now available in the office of City Clerk Tina Hutchcraft. A Mayor will be elected for a two-year term to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Mike Dreith, and one alderman from each of the city’s four wards will be elected for a four-year term. Petition circulation began on September 20th. Filing period for petitions is December 12th through December 19th. The City Clerk’s Office hours are 7am to noon and 1pm to 4pm Monday through Friday.
The Wayne County Historical Society monthly meeting will be tonight at 6 in the Fairfield Library meeting room. A short business meeting will be followed by a discussion with Judith Puckett of the Local Landmarks Project and Country Churches Project. Members and guest are welcome.
Wayne City Bean Days Continues through Saturday. Today’s event is the Wayne City Methodist Church at 6pm. Tomorrow will be the 5K at the WCHS parking lot at 6pm. Saturday will feature events such as a Tractor Show at the ag building parking lot at 7am, the Car Cruis at the West School parking lot from 9am until noon, and a quilt show at the Baptist Church from 9am to 3pm. The parade will start at 10am on Saturday on Main Street.
The Tax Increment Financing Committee for the City of Fairfield will be holding a TIF Committee meeting on Monday, September 26 at 5pm in City Hall. Items on the agenda include Building Renovations for B-Way Design at 1000 E. Main, and discussion of repayment from TIF to General Fund for Municipal work completed.
On 9/21 at approximately 10pm FPD arrested 22-year-old Hunter Wayne White of Bluford on a Failure to Appear Warrant on a charge of DUI Alcohol (2 Counts). White was transported to the Wayne County Jail pending the posting of $595 bond. A court date for this case has been set for October 2nd at 1pm.
On 9/21 at approximately 12:41pm FPD arrested Shannon Lee Cone of Fairfield on a charge of Criminal Trespass to Residence. Cone was transported to the county jail with a bond of $120. First Appearance in this case is set for September 24th.
The IECC Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Tuesday, September 20 on the campus of Lincoln Trail College. Trustees approved the schedule of dates for the Trustee Election to be held April 4, 2023. The terms of Gary Carter, Brenda Culver, and Roger Browning expire in 2023. All three trustees holding office are expected to seek reelection. Sheryl Childers was appointed Election Official, and Nickie Daniel Assistant Election Official. The Board appointed Alex Cline as Ethics Officer, following the retirement of Board Secretary Renee Smith. As a part of IECC’s commitment to provide a safe and crime free college environment, and in accordance with the Campus Security Enhancement Act of 2008, the Board approved the Violence Prevention Plan and Emergency Response Plans for each college. These plans outline violence prevention strategies and outlines the protocol for response should a violent act occur. Trustees also approved revisions to the Threat Assessment and Violence Prevention policy. The Security Report was approved and is an annual report that meets requirements under The Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The report contains crime information for the past three years, relevant policy statements, and training and educational programming related to campus safety and security, crime prevention, alcohol and drug use, and sexual misconduct. Trustees agreed to provide the City of Robinson with a letter of support as they seek to extend the termination dates of the West Robinson Industrial Tax Increment District and the Downtown Robinson TIF District. A new policy detailing IECC graduation requirements was adopted, and the removal of temporary Covid-19 revisions were approved for Vacation and Leave & Benefit policies. Trustees approved a bid from Homes by Schuetz for installation of a new student sidewalk at Olney Central College at a cost of $42,350 inclusive of 2 alternates. A bid from Bobcat of Effingham for a mini excavator at Frontier Community College at a cost of $52,350 was approved. A bid from Steve Faulkner’s Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for pick-up trucks at Olney Central and Wabash Valley colleges at a cost of $80, 940 was approved. An Affiliation Agreement was approved with The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis, LLC. The Board approved the employment of Elaine Hasty, Spanish Instructor, IECC, effective September 26, 2022, Morris Nead, Project Director, Title III, FCC, effective September 26, 2022, Brittany Biddle, Retention Coordinator, WVC, effective September 26, 2022, Dennis Stroughmatt, Music & Theatre Specialist, WVC, effective September 26, 2022, Shanna Bradford, Data Analyst, DO, effective September 26, 2022, Brian Stevens, Groundskeeper, OCC, effective September 26, 2022, Hunter Meritt, TRIO Upward Bound Counselor, DO/LTC, effective September 26, 2022, Megan Hildebrand, TRIO Upward Bound Counselor, DO/OCC, effective September 26, 2022. The Board gave administration approval to hire a Head Baseball Coach, FCC prior to the October 18, 2022 Board of Trustee meeting. Resignations were accepted from Logan Marshall, Industrial Maintenance Instructor, OCC, effective December 31, 2022, Whitney McCullough, TRIO Upward Bound Counselor, DO, effective August 22, 2022. Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 6:15 p.m. at Olney Central College, Olney, Illinois.
The Fairfield Fall City Wide Yard Sales are scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 24th. Maps are available by contacting the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce at 842-6116.
On September 26th, The Annual Edwards County Paint Out will take place at the COUNTRY Financial Hall with canvas stamping between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. This popular event brings some of the best artists in the country to our small community and the folklore and our treasured history comes to life! Artists are free to explore the county to see what catches their eye. When that special place is found, they can set up their easel and begin painting with any medium they prefer. The artists participating can take a break and enjoy a free lunch from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m back at the COUNTRY Financial Hall. Local and Plein Air (Open Air) artists of all ages are invited to participate regardless of experience. Event organizers hope professional and amateur artists will line the town squares, trade tips and stories, and draw attention to all that Edwards County has to offer. At the end of the evening, all art will be exhibited in an Art Show and Sale from 6:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Country Financial Hall. The Awards for the evening will be presented at 8:00 p.m. and include the following: Professional Plein Air Awards: Best of Show $250 Sponsored by Wabash General Hospital’s Albion Clinic, People’s Choice $250 Sponsored by CNB of Albion, Best of Edward County $250 Sponsored by the Albion Area Chamber of Commerce, Best of West Salem $100 Sponsored by the West Salem Development Association. Local Artist’s Awards: Best of Show $250 Sponsored by CRHPC Albion Community Health Center, Best of Edwards County $250 Sponsored by Doug Raber State Farm, People’s Choice $100 Sponsored by Mitchell Insurance, Best of Albion $100 Sponsored by The Hope Center, Best of Bone Gap $100 Sponsored by Magical Memories by Aubrey. The public is invited to attend and participate throughout the day. Whether it be by purchasing that perfect piece for your home, voting on the People’s Choice Award, visiting with the artists throughout the day, or just browsing the day’s works. New to this year’s Edwards County Paint Out is the opportunity to attend a much sought after “Plein Air Artistry Workshop! The Workshop’s instructor is Plein Air renowned artist, Marty Coulter. It’s scheduled for Sunday, September 25th from 9:00AM to 4:00PM on the Albion Courthouse lawn.
The Small Town USA Paint Out, Hosted by Wayne City Matters, in conjunction with the Fairfield Paint out, will be held on Tuesday, September 27th. There will be up to 30 Professional Artists Present. Come out and see beautiful, original art depicting local scenes, and meet the artists. You’ll even have a chance to buy an original art piece. Judging is at 4pm, with viewing and purchasing opportunity immediately following until 6:30p.m. The event happens by the Mural at Boyd’s Furniture. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Community Building.
Frontier Community College, along with Lincoln Trail, Olney Central, and Wabash Valley colleges, are encouraging high school seniors to apply before the October 28 Priority Deadline to ensure they are first in line for scholarship dollars. Last year I.E.C.C. awarded more than $272,000 in Success Scholarships to 408 local students. Initiated in 2020, the tuition awards are made available to Community College District 529 students who have committed to attend the IECC colleges by completing the admissions application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by the apriority Deadline date. The Success Scholarships are renewable for up to four semesters, not including summer courses. “The awards demonstrate IECC’s ongoing commitment to seeing area students successfully achieve their higher education goals,” said IECC Director of Enrollment Management Andrea Loll. Loll says this year students will receive additional assistance in applying as each college now has a dedicated admissions representative. During September and October, these recruiters will visit IECC District High Schools on a weekly basis. Success Scholarship awards will be announced prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. Students or parents with questions regarding the Success Scholarships or the FAFSA, should contact FCC, LTC, OCC and WVC Financial Aid, or visit www.iecc.edu/financial.
State Senator Emil Jones III has been indicted on federal bribery charges alleging he took money from a red-light camera company executive to kill legislation requiring traffic studies for camera systems. He’s also accused of lying to the FBI. Jones is charged in criminal information — indicating he intends to plead guilty to charges in the three-count federal indictment filed Tuesday. The indictment claims the Democratic lawmaker who is up for reelection in November, solicited, agreed to accept, and accepted things of value from Individual A, namely a $5,000 payment and money for Individual B, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with a business, transaction, and series of transactions of the State of Illinois involving a thing of value of $5,000 or more, namely, legislation in the Illinois General Assembly concerning the operation of red-light cameras
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 7.77 feet, below the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.03 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 9.68 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 2.03 feet. The Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 3.85 feet, and the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 3.09 feet.
Today’s Crude Oil Price is $75.94 down $1.51 from yesterday. The October Crude Oil Price is $83.88 down $0.34 from yesterday.