Jury selection in the Brody Murbarger case concluded yesterday with the selection of the final two jurors and two alternates, prior to the murder trial, which started at 1:30pm and ran through 4:00pm. Murbarger is accused of the disappearance and murder of Megan Nichols on July 3, 2014. Murbarger was arrested on October 8th of 2020 in Evansville, IN after being indicted by a Wayne County Grand Jury. Nichols body was found Southern Wayne County in December of 2017 and taken to Bloomington for autopsy, before being taken to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia to confirm the identity of the remains. The trial continues today in Wayne County Circuit Court. The case is being presided over by Wayne County Circuit Judge Michael J. Molt. The Defense is being represented by Christian Baril. Prosecuting the case are Assistant Attorneys General Michael Falagario, Myra Yelle-Clark, and Wayne County States Attorney Kevin Kakac.
The City of Fairfield, in cooperation with the Wayne County Health Department, will be holding an Adult Flu Shot Clinic today from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at City Hall. Out of pocket cost for the shot will be $30 dollars. The following insurance will be accepted: AETNA, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, Coventry, Harmony, Healthlink, Health Alliance, Humana, Illinicare, Medicaid, Medicare Part B & D, Meridian, Molina, Multiplan & United Healthcare. Everyone is welcome. The Flu Ends with You! The Wayne County Health Dept. is located at 405 N. Basin Road. For more information call 842-5166 Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
On 10/4 at approximately 9:50pm Wayne County responded to a traffic crash on IL Rt.45 near Barnhill Township. 17-year-old Chloe A Cuff of Fairfield was traveling south at US45 and CH8 in a 2000 Chevy Cavelier when for unknown reasons she left the roadway, causing the vehicle to overturn. Cuff and her passengers, Norman W. Overturf and Liam J. Cuff were transported to Fairfield Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
There were four sentencings reported at the courthouse today.
Rachel R. Trotter, age 45, entered a Plea of Guilty on a Class 3 Felony count of Unlawful Possesion of Methamphetamine less than 5 Grams. Trotter was given 24 months of Probation, 30 hours of Community Service, and ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $6,365. Trotter was also granted permission from the court to seek Substance Abuse Counselling in Ky in coordination with her Probation Officer.
Robert L. Kochler, 52, entered a guilty plea to a Class A Midemeanor charge of Leaving the Scene of an Accident. He was sentenced to 1 year of Conditional Discharge, and ordered to pay fines and costs in the amount of $1,125. A review hearing has been set for 8/31/2023 at 9:00am.
Donovan R. Cobb, 28, entered a guilty plea on a Class A Misdemeanor charge of Unloawful Violation of an Order of Protection. Cobb was sentenced to 1 year of Conditional Discharge, credited with 20 days served, and ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $509. Cobb was also ordered to have no contact with Destinee Cobb, holder of the Order of Protection. a review hearing in this case is set for 8/31/2023 at 9:00am.
William M. Weccele, 34, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections. Weccele was convicted of Violation of Probation stemming from a February 2016 charge of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine less than 5 grams, a Class 3 Felony. Weccele was sentenced to a total of 3 years in I.D.O.C., credited with 2 days served in the county jail, and ordered to pay $1,531.27 in fines and court costs.
Fairfield Water Dept employees will be flushing hydrants throughout the city through Friday, October 7. This is done each spring and fall to test the hydrants and help keep your water supply clean and pure. The City of Fairfield is required by ILL EPA to inform residents of the possible lead content in the water supply during hydrant flushing. While flushing the hydrants, you may notice that your water may be temporarily discolored. While flushing occurs, you may also experience a dip in water pressure, and it might affect the lead plumbing in and outside your home, if your home is equipped with lead plumbing. If your water is discolored, it does not mean it is unsafe to drink. It just means there is a temporary increase in the concentration of iron within the water. While lines are being flushed, residents are urged to check for discoloration of your water before doing laundry or similar activities. It is also encouraged you flush your line at the kitchen tap for 1-5 minutes as recommended by the EPA. The city will have Lead Information Sheets available at City Hall and the Water Dept. upon request. for questions or to obtain more information call the Water Department during regular business hours, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. The schedule of flushing will be as follows: Today – 3rd Ward every hydrant South of Elm between 1st and 7th. Tomorrow – 4th Ward every hydrant West of 7th stopping at Airport Rd. Friday – Outlying Areas, being Walmart, Petroleum Blvd., Brach Oaks, Highway 45 South, Highway 15 East to City’s Old Filter Plant.
The Center Street Beta Club will be selling freezer pops the rest of this week at school! They are raising money for the FCHS Make a Difference Day fundraiser for the splash pad at the park!!!
Another reminder to taxpayers: The first installment of Wayne County Real Estate Taxes come due this Friday, October 7th. Taxes can be paid at the office of Wayne County Treasurer Donna Masterson weekdays between the hours of 8a.m. and 4p.m. After business hours taxes can be paid utilizing the drop box located on the west side of the Courthouse. Taxes can also be paid at the following banking locations: First Financial, Cisne Trust, Mt. Erie Banking Center, People’s National Bank, and FNB’s Fairfield & Wayne City Branches. For more information contact the Treasurer’s Office at 842-5087.
A special meeting was called by the Grayville Board of Education on Monday evening to discuss a recent incident at the high school. According to our sister station WRUL-WROY in Carmi, the meeting was promptly called to order at six o’clock, and the board called roll and welcomed visitors. After the formalities were through, the board called for public comments specifically about the incident in question, asking if the family would like to speak first. Kyle Bassnet, the father of the student involved in the incident, came forward to speak. Bassnet read from a prepared speech on a sheet of paper, his voice low and wavering. He explained that his daughter was “violated” on Thursday, September 29 by “untrained” employees Rita Rhinehart and Dawn Kleinschmidt at the school performing a strip search of her person. “They had no right,” Bassnet said. “Strip searches in Illinois are not supposed to be legal.” Bassnet met with school administrators Julie Harrelson, Jeff Fetcho, and Levi Johnson on Friday, September 30 about the ordeal. Allegedly, the three representatives agreed that the school was at fault and admitted that none of them know how to properly conduct a strip search. Addressing the claim that the search was consensual, Bassnet explained that he and his wife did not realize it would be more than a pat down. “I wanted to keep this civil,” Bassnet said. “At no point in time did [we] think my daughter was going to be violated.” Despite finding nothing on her person, the student was allegedly declared guilty and threatened with a month of detention after the search. “School is supposed to be here to help protect the students, not violate them,” Bassnet said. Then, regarding principal Levi Johnson: “I am going after his license. I am going after his job.” Bassnet requested that any further correspondence from the school board come to him in writing, then returned to his seat. At this time, the board asked if anyone else would like to come forward with comments about the incident. After a long, deafening silence, they then asked for any general comments from the public. Again, no response. The board announced that they would enter a closed session and immediately adjourn, then left the room. No further public comments were made in the meeting by the board or the public.
Eight people were recently booked into the Wayne County Jail.
On 9/26 W.C.S.O. booked the following people: Joseph C. Cannon on a Failure to Appear Warrant and Methamphetamine Possession; Michael R Gosnell on a charge of Domestic Battery; and Jonathan L Downen on a Failure to Appear Warrant issued by Clay Co.
On 9/27 W.C.S.O. booked William M Weccele on an IDOC Hold for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
On 9/28 W.C.S.O. booked Jason D Head on a Violation of an Order of Protection, and Methamphetamine Possession.
On 9/29 W.C.S.O. booked Chance W Young on charges of Methamphetamine Possession; Petition to Revoke Warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine. Also booked on the 29th was Michael G Deffendall, court ordered.
On 9/30 FPD booked Brylan C Stephenson on charges of Criminal Damage to Property, Interference with Reporting of Domestic Violence, Domestic Battery, and Criminal Trespass to Residence.
U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Wabash General Hospital as a 2022-2023 High Performing hospital for Hip Fractures. This is the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings. The annual Procedures & Conditions ratings are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures. Wabash General Hospital earned a High Performing rating for Hip Fractures, in recognition of care that was significantly better than the national average, as measured by factors such as patient outcomes. U.S. News evaluates how well hospitals perform using data such as patient outcomes, prevention of readmission and more. For the 2022-2023 Best Hospitals rankings and ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. Fewer than half of all hospitals received any High Performing rating, and only four earned this rating in all procedures and conditions. State and metro area rankings reflect the highest performing hospitals in the area across multiple areas of care. The U.S. News Procedures & Conditions methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality such as survival rates, patient experience, and how successfully each hospital helps patients get back home.
In the USDA Illinois Crop Progress Report for the week ending in October 2, the statewide average temperature was 55.3 degrees last week, 6.6 degrees below normal. Illinois’ precipitation averaged 0.01 inches last week, 0.64 inches below normal. As of Sunday, the state’s topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies were rated 11% very short, 38% short, and 51% adequate. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 12% very short, 28% short, 59% adequate and 1% surplus. Corn in the dent stage reached 85% while mature corn hit 63%, both much lower than the 5-year average of 96% and 80% respectively. Corn harvested for grain statewide is at 13%, compared to the 5-year average of 29%. Soybeans dropping leaves is at 80% and beans harvested hit 10%, compared to the 5-year averages of 75% and 26%. The statewide crop conditions are still mostly good to excellent, 69% for corn and 67% for soybeans. Winter wheat planted reached 4%, compared to the 5-year average of 14%. Downstate farmers continue to roll on with the fall harvest, estimating that 40% of the local corn crop and 35% of the local soybean crop has been harvested to date.
Pleasant fall weather conditions continue, still controlled by a high-pressure ridge hanging over the Midwest. With plenty of sunshine, we’ll slightly warm up a little bit each day today and tomorrow before a cold front moves through, bringing us a reinforced shot of cool air for Friday and Saturday, plus our first frost opportunities of the year each morning over the weekend. The coldest temperatures are expected on Saturday morning. Parts of Central and Southern Illinois may experience widespread frost. A hard freeze of temps lower than 28 degrees Fahrenheit can’t be ruled out for our northernmost listeners. Remember bring plants inside or cover any sensitive vegetation.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 5.01 feet, below the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.08 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 4.23 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 1.15 feet. The Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 3.39 feet, and the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 2.58 feet.
Today’s Crude Oil Price is $76.63 unchanged from Tuesday. The November Crude Oil Price is $86.05 up $2.10 from Tuesday morning.