Two men received sentences in Wayne County Circuit Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty in separate cases. Christopher Prather of Clay City pled guilty to Driving Under the Influence (DUI). He was sentenced to one year of Conditional Discharge and ordered to pay court costs. Prather was also sentenced to serve 5 days...

During Monday night's Grayville City Council meeting, a new season at the Grayville City Pool will begin May 23rd with several upgrades and improvements already completed. Sharon Walden said city crews have repainted the inside of the pool facility, relocated the concession stand, added new furniture and continue prepa...

Former South Central High School teacher Shane Lother of Edgewood Road in Salem was ordered held without bond after being formally charged in Marion County Court Monday with grooming a 15-year-old female student. According to court documents, Lother, who held a position of trust and authority over the victim, is accuse...

John "Jake" Wakey, a former Carterville High School teacher and football coach, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to nine counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving minors during a hearing in Williamson County court. The charges stem from alleged incidents connected to the Carterville football program betw...

IDOT Launches Student Loan Repayment Program For Engineers (Springfield, IL) -- The Illinois Department of Transportation is taking action to address a shortage of engineering talent. IDOT is launching a hiring initiative that will pay 15-thousand-dollars of eligible student loan debt annually for up to 50 new civil en...

Communities across the country are recognizing National Police Week during the month of May, honoring the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of law enforcement officers. Originally established by presidential proclamation from John F. Kennedy in 1962, National Police Week includes Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15 ...

A rural Mt. Vernon mobile home sustained heavy damage after a fire broke out early Tuesday night, but the residents managed to escape unharmed. According to Jefferson Fire officials, the blaze occurred at a home on Vonna Lane in the 15,000 block of East Nolan. The fire was initially reported as smoke coming from a stov...

The Fairfield City Council met Tuesday night and approved a number of resolutions, appointments, funding requests and personnel matters during its regular meeting. Council members approved minutes from the April 14th meeting along with executive session minutes from January 13th. The council also approved payment of bi...

Young wrestlers from grades K-12 will have the chance to learn from top collegiate athletes at the Fairfield Wrestling 2-Day Camp, scheduled for June 25-26 at Fairfield Community High School. Hosted by the Fairfield Mules Wrestling program, the camp promises expert training, skill development, and hands-on instruction ...

The Wayne County Retired Teachers Association is encouraging local youth to pursue careers in education by awarding a $500 scholarship for the 2026-2027 school year. This scholarship is open to graduates of Wayne County high schools who have declared a major in education and have completed at least 80 semester hours to...

All vehicles, especially motorcycles, are invited to join the Southern Illinois Scavenger Hunt Ride, a unique charity event scheduled for May 29th and 30th. Riders and drivers across Southern Illinois will travel from Casey, IL to Elizabethtown (E-Town), solving clues and collecting items to support two local causes: C...

The Flora Masonic Lodge is gearing up for its 5th Annual Auction, scheduled for Saturday, May 30th at 10:00 am. This year's event will take place at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Charley Brown Park and promises another exciting lineup of useful and intriguing items up for bid. Donations are being accepted within a 50-...

Organizers of the Wayne County Fair are currently preparing the 2026 fairbook and are inviting local businesses to participate by purchasing advertising space. Fair officials say any business not currently included in the fairbook is encouraged to reach out to be added. Interested businesses can contact organizers thro...

Illinois Extension invites community members to attend "Rethink and Recall: Understanding Memory and Embracing Change," a seminar focused on brain health, memory, and navigating change as we age. The event will take place Wednesday, May 20th with morning and afternoon sessions in Olney and Lawrenceville. Robi...

The Flora High School Music Department is inviting the community to support its students during a unique one-day fundraising event next month. The fundraiser will take place at Flora High School on Saturday, May 16th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., when the school will be transformed into a full mattress showroom for the day. ...

Wabash Valley College will honor the achievements of its graduating students at the 64th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 15th at 7:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Spencer Sports Center, 2200 College Drive in Mount Carmel. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The ceremony will celebrate academic success and stude...

The Fairfield Grade School Board of Education met Monday night to discuss a range of financial, operational, and staffing matters. Superintendent Kristina Gardner delivered her report, noting that the district has received 89% of its revenue and has expended 83% of its budget for fiscal year 2026. The current food serv...

The Wayne County Sheriff's Department arrested 22-year-old Andrew A. Parker of Fairfield Monday night on a Wayne County warrant for domestic battery. Parker was transported and lodged in the Wayne County Jail pending a court appearance.

Illinois State Police Zone 8 Commander Holly Finney has announced the results of a recent Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement (ACE) detail conducted at various establishments in Wayne County last week. The enforcement effort was aimed at identifying businesses that may be selling alcoholic beverages to minors, with the ...

The City of Albion Water Department reminds residents that it will be flushing water lines throughout the community through Thursday. Officials say this routine maintenance is necessary to ensure the continued quality and safety of the city's water supply. During the flushing period, residents may notice discolored wat...