Petitions for the Consolidated Election to be held April 4, 2023 are available in the office of City Clerk Tina Hutchcraft from 7 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Offices to be elected include a Mayor (two-year term), and an alderman in each of the city’s four wards. A Mayor will be elected to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Mike Dreith. Petition circulations began September 20th, and the filing period for those petitions is December 12th through 19th.
The dry and clear weather the region has been experiencing the past several days is likely to continue the next several days, with no big changes to the current weather forecast pattern expected through most of this week. Weather statistics at WFIW/WOKZ indicate the last significant rainfall in our area was on September 20th, when about two-thirds of an inch of rain fell, and about three quarters of an inch on September 6th. The National Weather Service in Paducah, KY says the area has a high fire danger the next several days as the result of the dry conditions. A cold front is expected to move through the region by Friday, dropping high temperatures to around 60 degrees, however no rainfall is expected with the frontal passage.
An Associated Press report says that parts of the Mississippi River near St. Louis are so low from weeks of drought that barge traffic is being limited during the height of harvest season. Some river communities between St. Louis and New Orleans may see record low water levels in the coming days. Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said that normally, tows are able to move 36 barges at a time, but with the low water levels, shippers have voluntarily agreed to cut that to 25 barges. A National Weather Service meteorologist in St. Louis said nearly all of the river basin has seen below-normal rainfall over the past 30 days, and the forecast calls for the drought to continue along with warmer-than-normal temperatures.
Media reports from Marion County say a Salem, IL man has been formally charged with a Class X felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. 31-year-old Jerry Summers is charged with improperly touching an eight-year-old girl who was under his foster care in 2020, the report said. Summers was arrested at his home this past Thursday following an investigation. A public defender was appointed to represent Summers.
The city of Fairfield’s Fall Cleanup Day is set for this Saturday, October 8th from 8 a.m. til noon. Containers will be available for metals, tires, and general household waste. Electronic items will not be accepted, and residents should be prepared to unload their items, although personnel will be available to assist with heavy items as needed. The cleanup is for Fairfield residents only, and residents may be asked to show a utility bill or driver’s license. More information is available by calling (618) 842-2294.
Area river stages as of this morning: Little Wabash River east of Fairfield is at 5.16 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet. At Clay City the stage is 4.32 feet. Flood stage is 18 feet. At Carmi the stage is 3.49 feet. Flood stage is 27 feet. The Skillet Fork at Wayne City is at 5.07 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel is at 2.65 feet. Flood stage is 19 feet.