Elizabeth F. Lane, 89, of Cisne, IL died at 12:20PM, Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at Cisne Rehab and Health Care Center. She was a factory worker at Airtex and a homemaker.

Survivors include two sons – Junior (Treva) Lane and Dennis (Doris) Lane all of Cisne, IL; two sisters Wanda (Robert) Leveque of Napa, CA and Wilma (Bob) Hall of Altoona, IA and one brother Bud (Virginia) Bashore of Fairfield, IL. Five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services for Elizabeth Lane will be 2PM Sunday, April 27, 2014 at Hosselton Funeral Home. Burial will be in Cisne Cemetery.

Visitation will be 7-9PM Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to Cisne Rehab & Health Care Center Activity Fund and will be accepted at Hosselton Funeral Home.

The arrest of a California man by Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputies this week has taken a strange twist. Thomas G. Lilley, 35 of Fontana, CA was arrested earlier this week for violating an order of protection for allegedly sending text messages to his estranged wife in violation of an active order of protection. As officers prepared to have Lilley’s 2004 Chevy Impala towed away as part of their investigation, they were informed by the suspect’s estranged wife that he may have a handgun in the vehicle. Deputies obtained a search warrant and investigated the case further.  Under the hood, in the air intake box, police recovered a Walther 7.65 handgun and 6 rounds of ammo.   Deputy Chris Otey’s K-9 Bolo was run around the vehicle and alerted on the driver’s side fender for the presence of drugs.  Police recovered approximately 15.1 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a set of scales. Officers also recovered suspected smoking pipes and other drug paraphernalia during their search.

The Fairfield Rotary Club has awarded four $750 one-time scholarships to Fairfield Community High School graduating seniors who intend to enroll in a post-secondary educational program. Those receiving the awards are Leah Carter, daughter of Dr. Harry and Kim Carter; Kyle Ellis, son of Randy and Cindy Ellis; Katie Liston, daughter of Steve and Kim Liston; and, Cody Simpson, son of Clay and Lisa Simpson. Richard Mason serves as Chairman of the club’s Scholarship committee. Pictured left to right:  Richard Mason, Katie Liston, Leah Carter, Kyle Ellis, Cody Simpson.

Illinois agriculture officials say there have been hundreds of cases of a deadly pig virus in Illinois. There were 360 cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea in Illinois through March. Hog farmers weren’t required to start reporting the illness until last week. PED has killed millions of pigs in 27 states since the illness started showing up in the U.S. last May.

Edwards County native Doug Hortin has been named head football at Edwards County High School.  He replaces Logan Crum.  Russ Gerlack of Wayne City is the new head basketball coach.

Republican leaders in Illinois have introduced a proposal that would force statewide officers to serve no more than two terms in office. If approved, the law would limit state constitutional officers to two four-year terms.

The Wayne County Coalition against Drug Abuse is hosting a Drug Take Back day on Saturday.  Area residents are encouraged to drop off unused or outdated prescription drugs at Fairfield Memorial Hospital anytime from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  The drop-off site will be on Dr. Scranton Drive in front of the hospital.

89-year-old Jasper, IN resident, formerly of West Salem, Charles Henry Litherland, died Friday, April 25 at his home.  He was a dairy farmer and a member of the Pleasant Grove Methodist Church in rural West Salem.

Surviving are a son, Pastor J. (Rita) Litherland of Peru, IN; three grandchildren, Trevis (Sunchin) Litherland of Atlanta, GA, Sara (Tim) Harris of Jasper, IN and Jenny (Dan) Newman of Appleton, WI; one sister, Dorothy A. Trimble of Allendale; three great-grandchildren, Katherine, Bethany and Hannah and Caleb Newman; and three step-great-grandchildren, Joshua, Jacob and Alyssa Harris; and one great-great-grandson, Gage Foss.

A Celebration of Life Service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 29 at the Ingram Funeral Home in West Salem.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, April 28 at the Ingram Funeral Home in West Salem.  Burial will be at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Celebration Lutheran School-Appleton, WI.

32-year-old Christopher S. Brown of Xenia has been indicted by a federal Grand Jury on charges related to the manufacture of methamphetamine.  Brown faces charges of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture meth.  Investigators allege the offenses took place between August 2012 and November of last year in Clay County.  If convicted, Brown faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

30-year-old Luke Burnett of Crossville has been indicted by a federal Grand Jury on a charge of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.  Burnett took delivery of a package of suspected methamphetamine last month at his home.  An Illinois State Police SWAT team surrounded Burnett’s home on March 7th with one of the officers posing as a delivery person.  Burnett was arrested as he signed for the package.  If convicted of the charge in the federal case, he faces up to 20 years in prison.  In White County Circuit Court, Burnett still faces two class-X felony charges of possession and delivery of a controlled substance.

The Wayne County Coalition Against Drug Abuse will be participating in a nationwide Drug Enforcement Administration National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day today.  Individuals can bring unused or expired medications to Fairfield Memorial Hospital between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for proper disposal.  A pharmacist and police officer will be on hand to accept the prescription medications.  The drop off site will be along Dr. Scranton Memorial Drive in front of the hospital.

The arrest of 35-year-old Thomas G. Lilley of Fontana, CA earlier this week by Wayne County Sheriff’s deputies has taken a strange twist.  Lilley was arrested for violating an order of protection for allegedly sending text messages to his estranged wife in violation of an active order of protection.  As officers were preparing to have Lilley’s 2004 Chevy Impala towed away as part of an investigation, his estranged wife told police he may have a handgun in the vehicle.  A further investigation revealed a handgun and six rounds of ammo in the air intake box under the hood.  A further search of the vehicle revealed around 15 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a set of scales, smoking pipes and other drug paraphernalia.  Lilley faces additional drug charges along with the charge of violating an order of protection.

The National Weather Service says the region could see several rounds of strong and possibly severe thunderstorms beginning Sunday and continuing through Tuesday.  Forecasters say a large outbreak of severe weather is possible later in the day Sunday, with large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes all a possibility.  Heavy rain may also become a problem by Tuesday, resulting in some flash flooding.

The Fairfield Community High School Teachers won the annual Fairfield Community High School Varsity Scholastic Team Mind Bowl.  Team members included Jason Musgrave, Sarah McVaigh, Julia Brewer, Katie White and Donnie Lyons.  The Oldies and Goody took second place, and included team members Sally Dye, Bonnie Loftus, Taylor Wilson, Deb Pope and Gayla Templeman.  Teams competed in ten rounds of trivia questions in the preliminary rounds, with the top two teams facing off in the championship answering 20 scholastic bowl tossup questions.  Proceeds from the event will help the FCHS scholastic team raise money for their trip to the national tournament in Washington D.C.

Wayne County’s unemployment rate for March was at 8.7 percent, down slightly from 8.8 percent a year ago, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.  Edwards County’s rate for March was 9.5 percent, down slightly from 9.6 percent in March of last year.  The IDES said unemployment numbers continued to trend lower, with the numbers for March under ten percent in all but three south-central Illinois counties, and somewhat higher rates in far-southern Illinois.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky say the region could see several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms later today and continuing through Tuesday.  Large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are all possible with the rounds of storms.  Heavy rainfall is also a possiblity, with most areas expected to receive between one and three inches of rain with locally higher amounts possible.

35-year-old Nathan D. Archer of Albion was hurt Saturday night in an accident on Illinois Route 130 just north of Edwards County Road 700E.  State police said Archer was northbound on Illinois Route 130 and for unknown reasons left the roadway on the east side, overcorrected, and eventually went off the left side of the roadway, causing the vehicle he was driving to overturn in a field.  Police said Archer was not wearing his seat belt and was thrown from the wreckage.  He was taken to an Evansville, IN hospital for treatment of his injuries.  Charges are pending.

30-year-old Luke L. Burnett of Crossville has been indicted by a federal Grand Jury on a charge of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.  Agents of the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force had been alerted by Indiana State Police on March 5th that two packages containing suspected meth were located at a postal delivery service in Evansville, IN and addressed to Burnett’s 1009 West Main Street home.  An Illinois State Police SWAT team surrounded Burnett’s home two days later and took him into custody when he signed for the packages.  Authorities said the packages contained 227 grams of methamphetamine.

32-year-old Christopher S. Brown of Xenia has been indicted by a federal Grand Jury on charges of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture meth.  The alleged offenses took place in Clay County between August 2012 and November of last year.  Brown faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.  Agents of the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force and the Clay County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.

Wayne County’s unemployment rate for March was 8.7 percent, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.  Edwards County’s rate was 9.5 percent.  Both were down slightly compared to a year ago.  The IDES said labor market conditions generally improved in southern Illinois in March as the harsh winter weather subsided, with construction and leisure-hospitality activities increasing and several firms hiring or calling back workers.

Frontier Community College’s annual Family Literacy Fest “Reading Is Awarding” is set for this Saturday, May 3rd, from 9 a.m. til noon in the college’s Workforce Development Center.  The event is free and is for children from preschool to the 3rd grade and their families.  Prizes will be given away during the morning, including grand prizes of a boys and girls’ bicycle.  More information is available by calling 842-3711 extension 4316.

Light brown lab with a green collar no tags on collar looks kinda worn she is very friendly and her name is Sheena. Lost from the south side of Merriam crossroads if found please call 618-237-1318 or 618-516-4120

After years of litigation, the Fairfield Grade School Board has approved a settlement with former teacher Leslie Robison.  One NO vote came from board president Gene Kollack.  Now that the board has accepted the out-of-court agreement, details of the lawsuit settlement are expected to be filed in Wayne County Circuit Court soon.

The Fairfield Grade School Board voted Monday night to extend the contract of Superintendent Dianna Zurliene through the 2017-2018 school year. Zurliene plans to retire at the end of her contract.

52-year-old Bradley K. Haggard of Albion has been charged with drug and weapons offenses.  Haggard faces charges of being in possession of the controlled substance MDPV – which is sold commonly as “bath salts”, possession of a set of brass knuckles and possession of a hypodermic syringe.

22-year-old Telisha D. Ridgley of Mt. Carmel was arrested Monday morning for driving under the influence of drugs.  A passenger in Ridgley’s car, Gavin M. Roberts, 30 of Mt. Carmel has been jailed on charges of being in possession of meth, a hypodermic syringe and drug paraphernalia. Mt. Carmel City Police made the arrest.

A Harrisburg fire truck was heavily damaged when it crashed in Central Illinois Monday.  A front tire blew out on the truck on Interstate 55 near Springfield, causing the vehicle to run off the road and overturn. Workers were taking the truck to Washington, IL for repairs to its ladders.

74-year-old Sims resident, Karen Gail Garner died at 3:15 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at St. Louis University Hospital. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include sons, Rodney Garner and Bradley Garner of Canton, OH, Rick Garner of Olney, Gordon Garner of Sims and Lance Garner of Ohio; daughters, Dana Bailey of Fairfield and Barbara Garner of Sims; brothers, David Thomason of Wayne City, Jerry Thomason of Michigan and Larry Thomason; sisters, Imogene Michail of Michigan, Betty Boyd of Sims and Linda Rayburn of Wayne City; along with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Services for Karen Gail Garner will be 1 p.m. Thursday, May 1 at the Richardson Funeral Home in Wayne City with burial in Baltimore Cemetery.

Visitation will be 11 a.m. until the time of service at the Richardson Funeral Home in Wayne City.

92-year-old Albion resident, Edward Leroy Woods died at 11:32 a.m. Sunday, April 27 at Rest Haven Manor in Albion. He had worked for the City of Albion, was a farmer, operated a molasses mill and was an artist specializing in portraits.

Survivors include four nephews, Elvis, Leo, George and Don Woods and two nieces, Emily Wick and Mary Ann Ashworth.

Funeral Services for Edward Leroy Woods will be 3 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at Nale’s Funeral Home in Albion with burial in Union Congregational Cemetery.

Visitation will be 2 p.m. until the time of service on Sunday, May 4 at Nale’s Funeral Home in Albion.

Memorials may be made to Union Cemetery.

86-year-old Dahlgren resident, Marian Elizabeth Schuster died at 10:30 p.m. Monday, April 28 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro. A homemaker, she was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Piopolis.

Survivors include two sons, Stephen Schuster and wife Jodi of Dahlgren and Daniel Schuster of McLeansboro; a sister, Doris Smith of McLeansboro; one brother, Bill Rost and wife Sandy of Dahlgren; three grandchildren, Cindy Purcell and husband David of Mt. Vernon, Tony Schuster of Dahlgren and Misty Yoast and husband Edward of Herrin, IL and two great-grandsons, Christian and Easton Yoast of Herrin.

Funeral Services for Marian Elizabeth Schuster will be 10 a.m. Friday, May 2 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Piopolis with burial in St. John’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 – 8 Thursday evening, May 1 at the Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro. A Rosary service will be conducted at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

The Harre Funeral Home of McLeansboro is in charge of all the arrangements.

86-year-old Grayville resident, Lenard Ray Sturm died Monday, April 28 at West River Health Campus in Evansville, IN. He had lived there since suffering a stroke in the summer of 2012. A graduate of Crossville High School and the St. Louis College of Mortuary Science, he was a third generation local farmer and landowner. In addition to farming, he worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Oil and Gas Division for over 33 years, retiring as District Manager in 1999. He held leadership positions in the White County Farm Bureau, Grayville Methodist Church and Grayville Lions Club, which included his support and fundraising for the expansion and maintenance of the Grayville Park.  He was also a member of the Elks, Sheba Masonic Lodge and E. St. Louis Ainad Shriners International.

Survivors include his wife Joan Sturm of Carmi; brothers, Bernard and Willard Sturm of Grayville; a daughter, Georgia Sturm Davis; son-in-law, Tom Davis and granddaughter, Carey Davis, all of Dallas, TX.

Funeral services for Lenard Sturm will be 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10 at the Grayville United Methodist Church with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery at Grayville.

Visitation will be 1 p.m. until the time of service Saturday, May 10 at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grayville Lions Club, Grayville Methodist Church or the American Heart Association for stroke education and research at donate.heart.org.

The Cook Funeral Chapel of Grayville is in charge of all the arrangements.

Toney L. McElroy, 59, of Carmi, Illinois, died Thursday, April 24, 2014, at his home. He was a nurse, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and member of the American Legion.

Survivors include daughter Coral Lising of San Antonio, Texas; brother Danny McElroy of Mt. Carmel, Illinois; grandchildren Analissa Barron, Adrian Barron and Cyrus Lising; several stepchildren; cousins Mike Newcomb, Glen Dale Newcomb and Yvonne Trout.

Visitation and memorial service will be Sunday, May 4, 2014, at Cook Funeral Chapel in Carmi.

Visitation is at 1 pm and memorial service is at 2 pm. Military funeral rites will be conducted following the memorial service.

Mildred Lucille (Painter) Sanders, 94 of Bone Gap, IL died at 5:30PM, Monday, April 28, 2014 at Richland Memorial Hospital, Olney, IL. She moved to Wabash County as a child, lived most of her adult life in Memphis, TN and after retirement came to Bone Gap to be near her daughter. In recent years, she resided at Olney. She was a nurse during WWII at Camp McCoy Army Hospital.

Survivors include a granddaughter Connie Mowrer of Claremont, IL; three grandsons Steven Putt and Jerry Putt of Bone Gap, IL; Bill (Beth) Putt of Oakland City, IN and sister-in-law Betty Painter. Five great grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive.

Graveside services for Mildred Sanders will be 1PM Monday, May 5^th, 2014 at Bone Gap Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the charity of your choice and will be accepted at Hosselton Funeral Home.

37-year-old Ruby Elizabeth Hass of Enfield was seriously injured Tuesday when the van she was driving went out of control and overturned several times on Rt. 14 just west of the Enfield intersection. She was airlifted from the scene to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. State Police cited Hass for DUI, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and improper lane usage following the 10:41 a.m. crash.

Two new staff members have been added to the Jasper School District. Jami Ellis has been hired as a kindergarten teacher. She will replace Ruth Bunnage who is retiring at the end of the current school year after 37 years of service.  Regina Hinkle has been hired as the district’s bookkeeper. She is replacing Beth Meeks who will retire this summer after 40 years of service.

The Illinois Eastern Community College Board of Trustees has called two special meetings to consider candidates for the position of President of Frontier Community College.  The meetings will be held at IECC headquarters in Olney on May 8 and 12.  Current FCC President Dr. Tim Taylor is leaving the district at the end of the current fiscal year.

The City of Centralia is asking the state to become the location of one of 22 medical marijuana growing facilities in the state of Illinois.  The Centralia City Council has approved a lease agreement with Largo Meds, LLC to build a medical marijuana growing facility.  Eventually, there will be one growing facility in each of the state’s 22 State Police districts.

The Fairfield Agriculture Education department will be open this Friday, May 2 from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. for a plant sale.  Plants remaining include tomatoes, dahlia, dianthus, vincas, wave petunias, wandering jew, ferns and marigolds.

Bond has been set at $100,000 for a Geff man accused having unlawful sexual contact with a juvenile female.  Marty L. Smith, 45 was indicted last week by a Wayne County Grand Jury on a single charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.  According to the indictment, Smith is accused of fondling a juvenile female over the age of 13, but under the age of 18.  He was lodged in the Wayne County jail where he remains pending the posting of bond. The case against Smith was investigated by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.

The City of Fairfield is offering utility customers a level pay program to help take the spikes out of their utility bills.  Signup is now through May 15, and is available to utility customers who are current on all of their utilities and have lived at their current residence for at least a year. More information is available at City Hall.

White County native Glenn Poshard has ended his tenure as the seventh president of Southern Illinois University.  Poshard served as SIU’s vice chancellor from 1999 – 2003 and a as a trustee from 2004 until he took office as president in 2006. During Poshard’s tenure, the university has maintained the lowest tuition and fees of any public university in Illinois.

Two Florida truckers died Wednesday when the semi they were in slammed into an Interstate 64 overpass bridge west of Okawville. 27-year-old Alex Delgado of Key West, FL and his passenger, 54-year-old Melvin Lewis of Opa Locka, FL were pronounced dead at the scene. A stretch of westbound I-64 was closed for several hours during the cleanup.

Nine students have been diagnosed with mumps on the campus of the University of Illinois.  Across Illinois, 65 cases of mumps have been recorded this year – more than the state saw in all of 2013.

The Wayne County Golf Course Men’s League begins Monday, May 12 with a 5:30 p.m. shot gun start.  League dues are $20 for members and $25 for guests.  The sign-up sheet is located outside the pro shop.  Chuck Griswold and Kyle Kakac are the defending Men’s League Champions from 2013.

86-year-old Mt. Erie resident, Joseph M. Atwood, died at 11:35 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, IN.  He was a veteran of the Korean War Era.  He worked as a purchasing agent for Fairfield Memorial Hospital for over 25 years and was president of the hospital’s Tri State Purchashing Group.  He helped establish the North Wayne Ambulance and served on the board.  He also worked as a farmer, school bus driver, and was village clerk of Mt. Erie for many years.

Surviving are his wife Margaret of Mt. Erie; two daughters, Beverly (Gene) Gardner of Wayne City and Kathy (Bill) Shelby of West Salem; two sons, William (Robin) Atwood of Flora and Joseph Jr. (Melanie) Atwood of Evansville, IN; one sister, Joann Simmons of Mt. Erie; one brother Lowell (Ina) Atwood of Olney; grandchildren, Ben (Melissa) Gardner, Sarah (Levi) Draper, Erin (Matt) Bosecker, Bill (Kristina) Shelby, Joe (Rachel) Shelby, Josh Shelby, Matthew (Tracy) Atwood, Nathan (Courtney) Atwood, Laura (James) Beeson, Mychal Atwood, Amanda (Jeremy) Taylor, Ariel Atwood, Adam Atwood, and Shannon (John) Hurliman; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Joseph M. Atwood will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at Maple Grove Congregation at Mt. Erie.  Burial will be in Travers Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at the Hosselton Funeral Home in Cisne.

Memorials may be made to the Mt. Erie Water Tower Fund, and will be accepted at the Hosselton Funeral Home in Cisne.

Police are investigating a theft at the McLeansboro Dairy Queen Thursday night. Around 7:30 Thursday night, McLeansboro City Police received a call from an employee at the Dairy Queen that an individual had entered the store during business hours and stole an undetermined amount of cash. During the investigation, video surveillance was obtained that showed a black male suspect entering the store and taking cash from a safe.   The suspect is described as a black male – 5”11 to 6 ft. tall weighing from 240 – 280 lbs.  He is believed to be in his middle 30’s to early 40’s. If you have any information about this suspect, you are asked to contact the McLeansboro City Police Department at 643-4357.

21-year-old Daniel E. Kirsch of McLeansboro has been sentenced to 4 years in prison after pleading guilty to a class-2 felony charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Kirsch was sentenced to prison for having unlawful sexual contact with a female juvenile between the age of 13-17.

During the annual meeting of the Wabash Telephone Cooperative, Jeff Cox was elected to represent the Louisville exchange.  David Grahn was re-elected to represent the Bible Grove Exchange and Rodney Byars was re-elected to represent the Geff/Crisp exchange.

The attorney for an Effingham man who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the 2013 stabbing death of his 7-year-old niece has filed a motion seeking to overturn the man’s sentence.  Justin DeRyke was sentenced to life in prison for the stabbing death of Willow Long.  In the filing, the attorney alleges that state’s natural life statute is unconstitutional.

Cheerleaders for Fairfield Community High School have been named for the 2014-15 school year. They are Audrey Aman, McKynzi Ash, Savannah Barnhart Jorja Coomer, Sidney Eckelberry, Vanessa Esquivel, Madison Massie, Bailey Owens, Chelsie Smith, McKenna Smith, Jazzmine Thomason and Kate Wright.

Shea and Shela Smith of Albion, Il. are proud to announce the birth of their triplet sons, Ty Doyle, Clay Darrell, and Cole Dwayne.
The triplets were born on February 14, 2014 at St. Vincents Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Ty was born at 8:59 a.m. and weighed 4lbs 11 oz and was 17 1/4 inches long. Clay was born at 9:00 a.m. and weighed 4lbs 4oz and was 17 1/2 inches long. Cole was also born at 9:00 a.m. and weighed 3 lbs 11 oz and was 17 inches
long.
The boys were welcomed home by proud big brother Lane.
Maternal grandparents are Jim and Sue Farrar of Poseyville, Indiana, Paternal grandparents are Sam and Sheila Smith of Albion, Illinois, Great grandparents are Darrell and Edith Farrar of Poseyville, Indiana, ,Kenny and Betty Smith of Albion, Illinois, Gerald and Leatrice Longbons of Albion, Illinois and Bob and Marge Nash of Olney, Illinois.