The Jefferson Fire Protection District announced a burn ban in effect from 10 a.m. Friday thru Tuesday, October 11. In accordance with the ordinance, the ban prohibits open burning within the fire district boundaries and includes the villages of Belle Rive, Bonnie, Dix, Ina, and all other areas within the boundaries of the fire district. Fire Chief Conan King says the district will continue to monitor weather conditions and may extend the burn ban as it feels necessary.
The four Illinois Eastern Community Colleges are urging high school seniors to apply now for the next round of Student Success Scholarships, before the October 28th Priority Deadline, to ensure they are first in line for scholarship dollars. Initiated in 2020, the tuition awards are available to students within the IECC District who have committed to attend either of the four colleges by completing the admissions application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by the Priority Deadline date. Students can go to iecc.edu/priority to begin the application process now and file their FAFSA as soon as possible. Last year, the IECC awarded more than $272,000 in Success Scholarships to 408 area students. The award recipients will be announced prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. Students or parents with questions should contact the Financial Aid offices at any of the four colleges or logon at iecc.edu/financial.
Earlier this week Judge Mark Stedelin lowered the bond for 29-year-old Christina Bartley of Salem. Bartley is charged with the April 2021 first-degree murder of her boyfriend Wesley Bivens at their home southwest of Salem. During a bond reduction hearing, Stedelin agreed to cut the $1-million bond to $250,000. If released on bond, Bartley was ordered to have no contact with the victim’s family, their residents, or their places of employment. Bartley’s attorney Matt Wilzbach sought to lower the bond to $100,000. He said Bartley and her family were lifelong residents and had no criminal record, not even a speeding ticket. Wilzbach added Bartley had made no attempt to leave the area knowing the possibility existed for her to be charged since the incident occurred in April 2021. Assistant State’s Attorney Tara Steele argued for the bond to remain at $ 1 million. The January 10th trial date was confirmed, with Bartley due back in court for a pretrial hearing on November 16th.
Deaconess is poised to purchase four hospitals in southern Illinois including one in Mt. Vernon. According to a Wednesday press release, Deaconess Health System, Inc. and Deaconess Regional Healthcare Services Illinois, Inc. have signed an agreement to purchase Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Red Bud Regional Hospital, and Union County Hospital in Anna. Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois is a 47-bed facility offering inpatient and outpatient care, diagnostic imaging, emergency services, and surgical care. Deaconess Health System provides health care services to 48 Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois counties. The system consists of 12 hospitals, a fully-integrated multispecialty group featuring primary care and specialty physicians; a freestanding cancer center, urgent care facilities, a network of preferred hospitals and doctors, more than 70 care sites, and multiple partnerships with other regional healthcare providers. The purchase, subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions, is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 4.97 feet, below the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.04 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 4.14 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 1.18 feet. The Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 3.32 feet, and the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 2.53 feet.
Lets take a look at what is on the Community Calendar page for today. You can take a look at our community calendar page anytime by visiting our website wfiwradio.com, click the community tab drop down menu and click on the community calendar page. Blue Point Church west and north of Cisne will have a 125th Homecoming Celebration on October 7th-9th. On Sunday, October 9th, Jason Taylor, pastor of the Vertical Church in Yuma, AZ will be preaching in the 10:30am service. A pot-luck dinner will be served at noon on Sunday, October 9th in the gym. Everyone is invited to come and celebrate God’s faithfulness! The 68th Annual Piopolis Shooting Match and Raffle will be held Sunday October 9th beginning at 12 noon, sponsored by the St. John the Baptist Holy Name Society. Piopolis is located six miles north of McLeansboro IL on Route 242 or ten miles south of Wayne City on Route 242. Food and refreshments will be available. For more information call 736-2341 or 599-1735. The Fairfield Coin Club is holding its 52nd annual Coin Show and Auction at the North Side Grade School. The doors open to the public at 9:00 am. Hourly door prizes begin at 10:00 am and auction lots will be on display starting at this time. At 1:00 pm there will be special awards and presentations, with the penny stacking contest at 1:30 and the junior auction at 2:00 pm. The regular auction begins at 2:30 pm and raffle winners will be drawn at 3:00 pm. For more information check out the Fairfield Coin Club on Facebook at Fairfield Coin Club Fairfield Illinois. Sunday, October 9th is the last day for The Mount Erie Fall Festival. The day’s events include 9:00am Vendor Markets, 10:00am Community Church Service, Noon will be the Community Dinner at the Ruritan Building, Inflatables & Rides at 1:00pm, Gospel Entertainment by the Judah First Band at 2:00pm. The events will wrap up at 4:00pm. The full schedule of events can be viewed here … Mt-Erie-Fall-Festival