Hunters weren’t the only ones bagging bucks over the last week. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office fielded four collisions dating back to November 22nd, three of them occurring then with the other happening Sunday. Last Tuesday, Claire Bushur of Teutoplis hit a deer in her Toytal Corolla just before 5:30pm in the Mt. Erie area. Not half an hour later, Syanne Schnepper of Louisville clocked a coyote in Bedford Township near County Road 2050 North. Later Tuesday evening, Sheila Mattot of Geff made impact with a deer on Highway 45 near County Road 1150 North. That accident happened just before 10pm. Sunday night at 6pm, Sheriff’s authorities were called about a deer collision in Jasper Township from Nicholas Easton. At least $500 damage was reported in all of the accidents and all the deer collisions resulted in estimated repairs that will run north of $1,500. No human injuries were reported.
State Police have arrested 18 year old Anthony Vasoli and booked him in the Wayne County Jail. The teenager, now with an address of Newburgh, Indiana, has been arrested multiple times and on a laundry list of charges this year. Most recently, he was arrested on August 5th with 8 counts ranging from Aggravated DUI to Reckless Driving and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle. He’ll be due in court again on December 22nd. Bond has been set at $750 plus booking fees. The warrant specifically names the charges of Driving while License Revoked, Reckless Driving, Operating and Uninsured Motor Vehicle, and Operating a Motor Vehicle while Using an Electronic Communication Device.
Four have been sentenced in Wayne County court. 26-year-old Jordan Cottrill of Olney will serve 2 years probation along with community service, a fine, and restitution to his victim after agreeing to a plea deal for a Class 2 felony of Burglary. Cottrill was originally charged back in August of 2021 after burglarizing Kathy Black of rural Fairfield. As per his plea deal, 9 counts, eight of them traffic violations and also a charge of possession of meth were all dismissed. Along with his 2 years on probation, Cottrill will be expected to pay Black $500 and a fine of $1,000 plus court costs.
25-year-old Jonathan E. Collins will also spend the next 24 months on probation following a plea deal in Wayne County court. Collins, of Cisne, pled guilty to a charge of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis in return for counts I and II for possession production/manufacturing equipment and manufacturing with the intent to deliver being dismissed. Collins also has a fine of $2,000 plus court costs he’ll be responsible for paying.
In a case that dates back to January of 2020, Brandon Taylor of Fairfield has been sentenced to 2 years of probation. He was facing 8 counts including charges of possession of a firearm with a revoked FOID card, possession of wild game not taken legally. All of those charges were dismissed as per his plea; the only charge that ended up sticking was a possession of controlled substance in the form of cocaine. As per the plea deal, Taylor will serve 2 years probation, a fine of $1,000 plus court costs. He’ll also be expected to pay $5,000 to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and additionally, had his 12 gauge Benelli shotgun as well as Remington ammunition seized and forfeited.
19-year-old Kreed Bumpus of Fairfield will also serve 2 years probation following his plea deal in Wayne County court. As per his plea deal, Bumpus will also serve community service and be expected to pay a $1,500 fine. Of the 3 charges, Bumpus will only have the Unlawful Possession with intent to deliver cannabis ticket stick to his record. Charges for Possession of Cannabis, Possession of a Firearm without a valid FOID card, and Illegal Possession of Ammunition were all dropped per the agreement.
The most recent Clemence Elizabeth Cox Scholarships have been awarded to six deserving young women enrolled in their second year of the nursing program at Frontier Community College. Applicants must show achievement in academics, but also a qualifying financial need. Students were recognized on Monday, November 14th in the newly rededicated Cox Hall on the campus of Frontier Community College. Since 2009, through Jerry’s generosity his dedication to the education of nurses in our community has resulted in awarding over 70 scholarships to nursing students in their second year at Frontier. His gifts to the Foundation ensure that students will benefit from his generosity for many years to come. It is his hope that local students will attend Frontier and find employment in our community in the health care field. If you would like more information on the Frontier Community College and the establishment of endowments, please contact Sarah Rush or Kent Reeves.
Pictured below from left to right:
Tiarra Sharp, Flora, Madison Beckham, Flora, Alisha Best, Fairfield, Rebecca Owens, Bluford, Maria Farmer, Flora and Aquoya Cantley, Mt.Vernon
The latest numbers out from the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows Wayne County with the lowest unemployment rate the county has had all year. The just released October numbers show Wayne County at 3.7%. Statistics show that of the eligible 7,029 members of the labor force, 6,772 are employed. That 3.7% is pretty flat with 2021 when the rate was at 3.6%. For what the IDES considers the Olney/Mt. Carmel area which includes Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, and Wayne Counties, officials say total non-farm employment increased by 275 people compared to October of 2021. Gains were seen specifically in government, Natural Resources and Mining, Leisure and Hospitality, and Financial sectors. Elsewhere in the region, Wabash County is reported to have a 3.3% unemployment rate; Edwards County is at 4.1%; White County is at 3.9%; Hamilton County is at 3.1%.
A long time Albion chiropractor, Dr. Lawrence Speir will be joining Wabash General Hospital in January. Top brass at the medical facility tells us Dr. Speir will temporarily work at the Wabash General Orthopaedic Department in Mt. Carmel on Mondays and Thursdays as well as every other Friday. Additionally, Speir will work out of the Albion Medical Clinic on Wednesdays and every other Friday. Speir says he’s excited to join Wabash General and continue serving the community as he has for the last 18 years. Dr. Speir resides in Edwards County with wife Holly and son Sam who currently attends USI in Evansville. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Speir, contact 445 – 8170.
Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 52,354 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois firearm deer season Nov. 18-20. That is compared to nearly 49,000 deer during the first firearm weekend in 2021. The top three counties for deer harvest were Randolph, Jackson and Adams counties. Illinois’ seven-day firearm deer season will conclude Dec. 1-4. Other deer hunting opportunities in the weeks ahead include muzzleloader-only deer season Dec. 9-11, and archery deer season, which continues through Jan. 15.
Secretary of State Police will be conducting parking stings at shopping malls statewide throughout the holiday season and ticketing individuals who illegally park in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities. They will be enforcing the provisions of the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities at shopping centers through the end of December. Drivers caught misusing a placard face a six-month driver’s license suspension and a $600 fine.
Farmers borrow short term money up front every year to pay for inputs and operating expenses. At harvest time when they sell their crops, they pay back their operating notes. For the first time in 20 years, fast-rising interest rates have doubled the cost of short term operating notes, an impact a lot of farmers have never seen before.
“Farmers who are 40 or 50 years old have run cash flows and budget numbers for years, but they have never experienced the interest rate shock we have now,” said Brad Zwilling, vice president for data analysis with Illinois Farm Business Farm Management. “Those are the rates that have gone way up. Those are the ones that have a big impact.”
2022 costs were higher than 2021 costs. In 2023, farmers can expect significantly higher price tags for just about everything.
“The big piece is that Increased interest rates have added to the volatility that we have already started seeing in agriculture over the last 3 years,” Zwilling said.
Run a tighter pencil. Pay down debt where it makes sense. And take a hard look at cash flow, Zwilling advised.
“Know if you can make money,” he said.
In 2012 and 2013, a lot of farmers had cash and they needed tax deductions. That drove sales of tractors and big ticket equipment. Ten years later, a lot of that equipment is ready to be replaced. Zwilling advises farmers to look carefully at their cash flow and discuss purchases with trusted advisers.
“Make sure to have a team and go over the numbers with them,” Zwilling said. “Even if the team is just the farmer and the lender and the farmer’s spouse, talk to people.”
With all the expected 2023 price hikes, adding payments on a $100,000 tractor at 7% or 8% interest may not make sense, he said.
“Be proactive, not reactive,” Zwilling advises. “I know I am going to have to replace this tractor in the next two or three years; how am I going to pay for that?”
Meanwhile, when something is available for a lower price, don’t wait, he said.
“Take advantage of that,” Zwilling said. “Whether it is an attractive interest rate or a load of fertilizer at a good price, take advantage of the good deals.”
Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association is a cooperative educational service program designed to assist farmers with management decision-making and record keeping. FBFM has eight locations across the state.
River stages for today show The Little Wabash at Golden Gate at 5.34 ft (flood stage 17 ft). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 4.43 ft. The Skillet Fork at Wayne City had a reading of 5.12 ft. Elsewhere in the region, Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 1.62 ft. The Little Wabash River at Main Street in Carmi is at 3.44 feet and will be rising to 5.3 feet, still well below flood stage there by Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 2.75 ft and will rise to 4.6 ft by Saturday.