Cody Simpson has been named this year’s Fairfield Lions Club Star Student.  Cody is a senior at FCHS, and is active in the school’s math team, student council and has played basketball, baseball and football all four years.  Simpson named math instructor Tammy Austin as his Star High School Teacher.  He named Sharon Maguire as his Grade School Star Teacher. The Lions also announced that Mary Sprague has been named Educator of the Year. She has been involved in education for 37 years.

Each month, Fairfield Memorial Hospital honors an employee who has exemplified outstanding patient care and customer service internally and externally. In April, Emily Rush, RN, was named Fairfield Memorial Hospital’s Employee of the Month. As a Registered Nurse on FMH’s Medical/Surgical unit, Emily continually strives to ensure her patients receive the best care during their stay.

Area residents are being urged to be aware of another scam going around that involves driveway resurfacing.  The scam involves an out-of-town contractor. They tell the unsuspecting homeowner that they have some leftover paving materials from a previous job and will resurface their driveway at a cut-rate price.  The price turns out to be much higher than the original quote. Three victims have been reported in Edwards County.

A scheduled trial for a Fairfield man was avoided this week when the defendant entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.  21-year-old Christopher Conover had originally been charged with two felony counts of being in possession of a controlled substance. The felony charges were dropped in return for the guilty plea on the pot charge. Conover was placed on 6 months of court supervision.

County Highway 9 just south of Berry School will be closed this morning as workers replace a culvert.  The Wayne County Highway Department is doing the work.

84-year-old Fairfield resident, Glen Ewing died at 2:25 p.m. Tuesday, May 6 at his home.

Services for Glen Ewing are pending at the Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield

89-year-old Rt. 1 Broughton resident, Marion Breeden died at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 7 at Fountain View Nursing Home in Eldorado.

Services for Marion Breeden are pending at the Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro.

Wilburn Duane Smock, 76 of Carmi died late Monday May 5, 2014 at Deaconess Hospital.   He was born March 20, 1938, in Carmi, IL, the son of Raymond T. and Mabel W. (Rankin) Smock. Duane retired after 43 years from Terminal Operation at Marathon Ashland Oil Company. He and his family operated the Pizza Haven in Carmi and Mt. Carmel.  Duane served as a U.S.Army paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, KY.   He served on the pastor’s council and was a member of the Carmi New Beginnings Church of God.

He is survived by his wife, Delores;  a daughter, Kendra (Jason) Williams of Carmi; three sons, Monty (Jessie) Smock, of Mt. Vernon IN, Doug (Kim) Smock of Carmi, and Ted (Donna) Smock of Springville, IN; ten grandchildren, Chris (Charity) Smock, Alex (Kayla) Smock, Meredith (Brent) Shelby, Adam Watkins, Justin and Kayla Smock, Ryan (Emily) Williams, Travis Williams, and Jake and Jon Smock; six great-grandchildren, Hayden and Kylee Smock, Ezra Shelby, Avery and Colt Smock and Hadley Williams; two  sisters, Ruth (Ronnie) Hastings of Abingdon, IL and Carolyn June Steed of Carmi; two brothers, Arthur  Marian (Jay)  Smock of Chicago and Stephen Smock of  Coweta, OK.

Funeral services for Wilburn Duane Smock will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday May 10, 2014 at the Carmi New Beginnings Church of God with burial will be in Kuykendall Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, May 9 at the church. Memorials may be made to the Carmi New Beginnings Church of God Building Fund.

The Stendeback Family Funeral Home in Carmi is in charge of arrangements.

75-year-old Cisne resident, Larry J. Lamb died at 8:33 a.m. Wednesday, May 7 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville. He was a retired maintenance employee at NAL in Flora.

Survivors include his wife, Kay; two daughters, Debby Lamb and Jane (Robert) Blanchette, all of Flora; a grandson, Sam Blanchette; a sister, Connie Johnson of Flora and a brother, Mike (Debbie) Lamb of Olney.

A Celebration of Life service for Larry J. Lamb will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10 at the Hosselton Funeral Home in Cisne with burial in Cisne Cemetery.

Visitation will be 6 – 8 Friday evening, May 9 at he Hosselton Funeral Home in Cisne.

Memorials may be made to the Cisne Summer Sports Program and will be accepted at the Hosselton Funeral Home in Cisne.

Frontier Community College will hold its 36^th annual commencement ceremony this Friday at 7 p.m. at Fairfield Community High School. FCC President, Dr. Tim Taylor will preside over the ceremony.  Dr. Taylor will present the Jerry R. Hefley Academic Achievement Award and the Richard L. Mason President’s Award. The student speaker for the ceremony will be Rebecca Dixon.

Officials with Marathon Oil have announced plans for a $158 million expansion of the Patoka tank farm in rural Marion County. Phase one will involve the construction of four new tanks that will increase the crude oil storage capacity of 1.25 million barrels. Construction is set to begin this summer.

Favorable weather the past week has helped Illinois corn growers catch up on spring planting after a soggy, slow start.  Over 43% of Illinois’ corn crop is now in the ground. That’s 2% above the five year average.  Nationwide, corn planting continues to lag with around 30% planted.

The number of mumps cases in Illinois continues to rise.  Through the end of April, 82 cases had been reported in the state.  The figure is triple of what was reported in all of last year and is the highest number since 2008 when 91 cases were reported.

Illinois State Police troopers issued 568 citations in District 19 during the month of April.  193 of those tickets were for speeding, 112 for seat belts and another 11 for child restraint violations.  There were no fatal traffic accidents handled by State Police troopers during the month of April.

Area education and community leaders gathered at Foundation Hall in Fairfield Thursday to meet one of the two finalists for the job of Frontier Community College President. Leaders met Thursday with Dr. Jay Edgren, Jr. of Seattle, WA.  (pictured) The other finalist is Dr. Jeffrey Cutchin of Olney.  The successful candidate will be replacing Dr. Tim Taylor who is leaving the district at the end of the current fiscal year. Community leaders will meet with Dr. Cutchin on Monday.

A federal judge has thrown out a civil rights lawsuit filed against two Illinois State Police detectives by former Wayne County Sheriff and retired State Police detective Jimmy L. Hinkle. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court at Benton in 2012, claimed that Hinkle has been unable to find a job in law enforcement after Detective White of Fairfield discussed details of an investigation of sex abuse allegations against Hinkle outside the law enforcement community.  Detective White’s supervisor, now retired Detective Thomas Oliverio was also named in the suit.  In issuing the summary judgment in favor of Detectives White and Oliverio, Judge Michael J. Reagan cancelled all pending case settings and ruled all pending motions are moot.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations has revoked the medical license of a Southern Illinois physician accused of having unlawful sexual contact with patients.  Dr. Jogendra S. Chhabra, 58 of Marion, Ill. can no longer practice medicine in Illinois. Dr. Chhabra’s license was revoked for “engaging in inappropriate conduct with multiple patients of his private practice.” Dr. Chhabra operated a clinic in Norris City, Ill.  Chhabra’s license to practice medicine in Illinois has been suspended since March of 2012.

Frontier Community College’s 36^th annual commencement ceremony is tonight at 7 at Fairfield Community High School.  246 degrees and certificates will be conferred during this evening’s graduation ceremony.

Today is Senior Awards Day at Fairfield Community High School and Wayne City High School.  The Senior Slide Show at FCHS – originally scheduled for 12:30 has been moved back to 12 noon.

Joshua and Katherine  are proud to announce the birth of their
daughter  Willow Linn.

Willow was born March 5, 2014 at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh,
IN., at 5:36 pm, weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces, and measuring 19 1/2 inches
long.

Proud  grandparents are Phil and Linda Keepes of Grayville and Linda
Gayer,
and the late David Gayer of Bone Gap.

Maternal great-grandparents are Viola Kieffer and the late Eugene Kieffer,
and Norman and Helen Keepes of Mt. Carmel.

Paternal great-grandparents are Lenord and Bernadine Smith and the late
Darol and Betty King.

Illinois State Police have arrested Fairfield Community High School math instructor and track coach Timothy Going.  Going is accused of unlawful videotaping of students.  Going was arrested at the high school Friday following a brief investigation by state police, and was lodged in the Wayne County Jail without bond pending the filing of formal charges and setting of bond on Monday.  The charge of unlawful videotaping is a class-3 felony because the alleged victims were under the age of 18.  If convicted, Going faces up to five years in prison on each count. Below is a statement issued this morning from officials at Fairfield Community High School about the situation.

 Fairfield Community High School media statement

Fairfield High School math teacher and track coach Timothy Going has been suspended with pay pending completion of a state police investigation following the arrest Friday of Mr. Going for allegedly unlawfully videotaping students.

Earlier this week, custodial staff discovered what appeared to be a video recording device in a girls’ locker room at the high school. School officials immediately secured the area, contacted the State Police and have been cooperating fully with the law enforcement investigation.  

Mr. Going’s suspension pending completion of the investigation is according to school district policy. A substitute teacher will take over his teaching duties for the remainder of the school year. Counselors also will be available to meet with students.

We cannot discuss any further details because of the ongoing investigation. Anyone having information pertinent to this situation should contact the Fairfield Police Department or the Wayne County Sherriff’s Department.

The safety and welfare of our students is the top priority at Fairfield Community High School and we appreciate the quick action taken by staff to report this situation and by the law enforcement agencies involved for their immediate response to resolve the situation.

_______________________________________________________________

Wayne City High School held its annual Awards Day Ceremony Friday, with several scholarships worth several thousands of dollars presented to Wayne City High School seniors.  The Frontier Community College Dean’s waiver for two years tuition was awarded to Kasey Sexton.  The Elks National Foundation scholarship for $1000 was awarded to Brendan Haile.  Wayne City FFA Alumni Scholarship winners included Hannah Draper, Billy Irwin, Tara Shreve, Michaela Smith, Ethan Spicer, Kelci White and Tristan Withrow.  Morgan White and Michaela Smith won $10,000 scholarships by an anonymous donor.  Tabitha Rice was named the Wayne City High School Senior of the Year.

The Fairfield City Council meets Tuesday night with a full agenda listed.  Among the items is an appointment of a City Alderman to replace the late Harry Morlan.  Formal appointments of a new police chief and assistant are expected to replace Brad Winter and Cam Simpson, along with a new fire chief to replace Mike Pottorff.  Mayor Chuck Griswold is expected to seek council approval to advertise for bids for the sale of property the city owns, including the old Red & White building on West Main, and property at 510 West King, 206 NW 7th and 208 NW 7th Street.

36-year-old Jeremy Kohn of Flora was hurt Thursday afternoon when the vehicle he was driving crossed the center line of U.S. Route 50 at Clay City and hit an eastbound semi, driven by 58-year-old Joseph Logue of Farina, IL.  A third vehicle, a semi driven by 47-year-old Carl Bunting of Albion was damaged when it struck debris from the crash, however Bunting was not hurt.  Kohn was airlifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville following the crash.

Baccalaureate service for Fairfield Community High School seniors will be held Sunday night at 6 in the FCHS gym, prior to the FCHS 2014 graduation ceremony, set for Sunday, May 18th at 2 p.m. in the FCHS gym.  During the graduation ceremony, Senior Class President Daniel Altizer will address the class, with Principal Jill Fulkerson recognizing the honor graduates who maintained a 3.5 or higher grade point average, as well as announce the Valedictorian and Salutatorian.  School board president Larry Vest will present diplomas.

The Illinois State Police, along with the Illinois Department of Transportation and over 500 local law enforcement agencies in the state will be cracking down on seat belt violators and those driving impaired during a two-week mobilization effort that started Friday and will run through Memorial Day, May 26th.  Police will be enforcing seat belt, impaired driving and other traffic laws around the clock, with a large number of patrols conducted at night, when police say the most unbuckled fatalities occur on Illinois roadways.

92-year-old Carmi resident, Anna Elizabeth (Ruhl) Whitsitt, died Friday, May 9 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro.  She was a homemaker and a World War II Veteran, serving in the United States Coast Guard.

Surviving are a son, Randy (Sharon) Whitsitt of Carmi; one daughter, Sue (Ron) Sturm of Carmi; one sister, Mary Ellen Von Neida of Miffinburg, PA; four grandchildren, Laura Whitsitt, Meredith Whitsitt, Tyler (Sara) Sturm and Kayla Sturm; and three great-grandchildren, Caleb Sturm, Leah Sturm and Joel Sturm.

Funeral services for Anna Elizabeth (Ruhl) Whitsitt will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at the Cook Funeral Chapel in Carmi.  Burial will be in White County Memorial Garden with military rites.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 13 until the time of service at the Cook Funeral Chapel in Carmi.

Memorials may be made to Wabash Christian Retirement Center or the Carmi Lutheran Church.

Formal charges are expected to be filed Monday against Fairfield Community High School math teacher and track coach Timothy C. Going.  Going was jailed Friday after allegations surfaced that he had been videotaping students in a girls’ locker room.  The charge of unlawful videotaping is a class-3 felony because the alleged victims were under the age of 18.  If convicted, Going faces up to five years in prison on each count.  FCHS Superintendent David Savage said Going has been suspended with pay pending completion of a state police investigation, and that a substitute teacher will take over his teaching duties for the remainder of the school year.

Education and community leaders will meet Monday with one of the two finalists for the position of Frontier Community College President, Dr. Jeffery Cutchin of Olney.  Dr. Cutchin has served as Dean of Instruction at Olney Central College since September of 2011.  Last week, the other finalist, Dr. Jay Edgren of Seattle, WA met with the leaders.  Dr. Edgren has served as Director of Education at Sanford-Brown College in Seattle, WA since October of 2012.  The successful candidate will replace Dr. Tim Taylor who is leaving the district at the end of the current fiscal year.

Fairfield Community High School’s Baccalaureate Service will be held tonight at 6 in the FCHS gym, prior to the 2014 FCHS Graduation, which is set for next Sunday at 2 p.m. in the FCHS gym.   Principal Jill Fulkerson will recognize the honor graduates and announce this year’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian.  Board President Larry Vest will present the diplomas.  The public is invited to attend.

The city of Fairfield’s hydrant flushing begins Monday and will continue through Friday.  The process is done each spring and fall to test the hydrants and keep the city’s water supply clean and pure.  The 1st Ward hydrants will be flushed Monday, all hydrants east of 1st Street.  Those with questions about the flushing process can call 842-7015 or 842-5016.  Residents are reminded to check for any discolored water before doing laundry or similar activities.

The Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Transportation and over 500 local law enforcement agencies have begun a two-week mobilization effort to crack down on drivers not wearing their seat belts and those driving drunk and violating other traffic laws.  The effort began Friday and will continue through Memorial Day, May 26th.  Police have promised several nighttime patrols and roadside safety checks to help prevent fatal crashes.  State police did report one fatal crash in Crawford County Saturday morning.  37-year-old David Pulliam of Robinson, IL was killed when the vehicle he was driving ran off Illinois Route 33 and hit several trees.  He was pronounced dead at the scene, and police said he was not wearing his seat belt.

66-year-old Mt. Carmel, IL resident, Kitty Lea (Brines) Brackett, died Thursday, May 8 at her daughter’s home in Henderson, KY.

Surviving are two daughters, Jennifer Brackett (Tommy Carlisle) of Henderson, KY and Nikki (Justin) Hancock of Morganfield, KY; five grandchildren, Aaron and Kyle Peaugh, Jonathan Petrie, and Mason and Maddie Hancock; two sisters, Bev (Richard) Knapp of Albion and Donna (Carl) Grashof of Howard, CO; and dear friends, Lynette Lustfeldt, Darlene Hale and Diana Hall.

Funeral services for Kitty Lea (Brines) Brackett will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at the Short Funeral Home in Mt. Carmel, IL.  Burial will be in Lick Prairie Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 until the time of service at the Short Funeral Home in Mt. Carmel, IL.

Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Association.

88-year-old McLeansboro resident, Dane Nation died at 11:15 p.m. Saturday, May 10 at Nature Trail Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Mount Vernon.  A U.S. Navy veteran of WW II, he served on the USS Tripoli. He was a truck driver.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Nation of McLeansboro; two sons, Mike Nation of McLeansboro and Mark Nation of Harrisonburg, VA; one step-daughter, Sherry Douthett and husband Jeff of McLeansboro; 5 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.

Services for Dane Nation will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 15 at the Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro with burial in the IOOF Cemetery at McLeansboro with military honors provided by the American Legion Post 106 of McLeansboro and a Military Honors Team from Marion, IL.

Visitation will be 6 – 8 Wednesday evening, May 14 at the Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro.

Bond has been set at $250,000 for a Fairfield Community High School teacher accused of installing a motion-activated video camera in the girls locker room of the high school.  Timothy Going, 43 has been formally charged with two felony counts. Count one is a class-1 felony charge of burglary. In the criminal information filed by State’s Attorney David Williams, Going is accused of “without authority, knowingly entering a building of the Fairfield Community High School with the intent to commit the offense of Unauthorized Video Recording and Live Video Transmission, a felony. Count two is a class-3 felony charge of unauthorized video recording and live video transmission, in that Going “knowingly made a video record of a person under the age of 18 without that person’s consent.” Going made his first appearance in the case this morning before Circuit Judge Tom Dinn.  In addition to reading Going the charges and possible penalties, Judge Dinn attached special conditions to the suspect’s bond. Under provisions of Going’s bond, he cannot go onto Fairfield Community High School Property and he can have no contact with any FCHS student.

Officials with the Illinois Department of Transportation say it would be too difficult and expensive to reopen the hiring process for jobs contested in a federal lawsuit.  A suit has been filed claiming IDOT filled hundreds of jobs without following hiring rules that ban considering politics or loyalty.

The Fairfield City Council meets Tuesday night.  Aldermen are expected to approve seeking bids for the sale of four pieces of city-owned property.  The properties up for sale include the old John’s Red and White building on W. Main Street and property at 510 W. King, 206 N.W. 7^th and 208 N.W. 7^th.

Tryouts for the Fairfield American Legion Post 176 baseball team will be held on Friday, May 23 from 6 – 7:30 at Lakeside Park.  Players age 14-19 are eligible to play, but the player cannot turn 20 during the 2014 calendar year.

The Fairfield Community High School graduation ceremony will be held this Sunday at 2 p.m. in the FCHS Gymnasium.  Principal Jill Fulkerson will give the welcome and Senior Class President Daniel Altizer will address the class of 2014. FCHS Board President Larry Vest will present diplomas to the graduating seniors.

Phillip Stallings, 85, of Fairfield died Sunday, May 11, 2014 at 6:50 AM at Fairfield Memorial Hospital. He was a long-time oilfield worker and retired from Airtex.

Survivors include his daughter Susie Sessions of Fairfield, son Danny (Debbie) Stallings of Parkersburg, IL; four grandchildren, Todd (Nita) Beck of Albion, Jennifer Beck of Smyrna, GA, Amy (Kevin) Hohlbaugh of Cisne, and Heath (Shannon) Stallings of Billet, IL, five great-grandchildren,  three sisters, Gloria (Ronnie) Musgrave of Fairfield, Brenda (Dean) Gowin of Mattoon, IL, and Barbara (Dick) Feather of Fairfield, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Phillip Stallings will be held at Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 2:00 PM with burial following in Maple Hill Cemetery.  Friends and family may visit from  12:00 PM to 2:00 PM prior to the services.

Memorials may be made to Clay County Health Department Hospice or Fairfield Memorial Hospital Comfort Room and will be accepted at Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home.

85-year-old Gibson Harris, Jr. died at 3:15 a.m. Sunday, May 11 at Way-Fair Nursing Home in Fairfield.  He had been an oilfield pumper.

Survivors include two sons, Gene and Dean Harris, both of Ellery; 3 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services for Gibson Harris, Jr.l will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at Bethel Cemetery at Ellery.

There will be no visitation. Those attending the service should go directly to the cemetery.  Nale’s Funeral Home of Albion is in charge of all the arrangements.

79 year old Roland Robert “Bob” Loehr of Salem died Saturday, May 10th at his home.  He graduated from Mt. Vernon High School.  He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy 1950-55 during the Korean War.  He belonged to the American Legion Post #1078 in Salem.  He retired from American Brake Shoe in Chicago and moved to Salem in 1975.  He and his wife owned and operated Loehr Heating and Air Conditioning and Commercial Refrigeration for 35 years.  His favorite pasttime was spending time with his family and going to car shows with his 1984 El Camino.

Bob is survived by his wife Alleta (Horton) Karcher of Salem; a daughter Linda Hill and her husband Billy of Salem; a son Michael Todd Karcher and his wife Karen of Dahlgren; Three brothers Billy Loehr of Fairfield, Ralph Loehr and wife Judy of Elgin, and Larry Loehr and wife Bernice of St. Charles; Two sisters Geraldine Moore of Dahlgren and Ruthaleen Hart and husband Dave of Dahlgren; Seven granchildren Billy Hill of Marion, Brian Hill of Salem, Bobby Hill and wife April of Nashville, Taylor Hill and fiance David Villalobos of Salem, Zachary Lemmon of Mcleansboro, Jessica Stover and fiance Danny Chapman of Mcleansboro, and Joshua Karcher and wife Brandi of Dahlgren; 14 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; an aunt Stella Ewald of Dahlgren; and special friends Michael Host and family of New Lenox and the Hart family of Worth.

Funeral services for Bob Loehr will be at 10 a. m. Wednesday, May 14th at St. John’s Catholic Church in Dahlgren.  Burial will follow in the Belle Rive Cemetery with military honors accorded at the graveside by the Mt. Vernon American Legion Post #141 Honor Guard.  Visitation will be from 6-8 p. m. Tuesday at the Rankin Funeral Home in Salem.  Memorials may be made to the Belle Rive Cemetery and will be accepted by the Rankin Funeral Home who is in charge of arrangements.

79-year-old Salem resident, Roland Robert “Bob” Loehr died Saturday, May 10 at his home.  A U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War, he retired from American Brake Shoe in Chicago and moved to Salem in 1975. He and his wife owned and operated Loehr Heating and Air Conditioning and Commercial Refrigeration for 35 years.

Survivors include his wife, Alleta Loehr of Salem; two children, Linda Hill and husband Billy of Salem and Michael Todd Karcher and wife Karen of Dahlgren; three brothers, Bill Loehr of Fairfield, Ralph Loehr and wife Judy of Elgin, IL and Larry Loehr and wife Bernice of St. Charles, IL; two sisters, Geraldine Moore of Dahlgren and Ruthaleen Hart and husband Dave of Dahlgren; 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; an aunt, Stella Ewald of Dahlgren and special friends, Michael Host and family of New Lenox and the Hart Family of Worth.

Services for Roland Robert “Bob” Loehr will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 14 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Dahlgren with burial in Belle Rive Cemetery with military honors at the graveside.

Visitation will be 6 – 8 Tuesday evening, May 13 at the Rankin Funeral Home in Salem.

Memorials may be made to the Belle Rive Cemetery and will be accepted at the Rankin Funeral Home in Salem.

FCHS math teacher Tim Going made his first appearance in Wayne County Circuit Court Monday.  Judge Tom Dinn informed Going that he faces a class-1 felony charge of burglary and a class-3 felony charge of unlawful videotaping of a person under the age of 18.  Bond has been set at $250,000.  Going’s bond forbids him from going on to FCHS property or contacting any FCHS student.

27-year-old Anthony C. Bridges of Carmi has been sentenced to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to a class-1 felony charge of burglary.  White County State’s Attorney Denton Aud says Bridges must also pay $818 in various fines and costs, which includes $342 restitution to his victim.

18-year-old Clayton Anderson of Shelbyville, IL has been sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges he stole a McLeansboro woman’s car on May 5.  Hamilton County State’s attorney Justin Hood says that  Anderson has also been ordered to pay $907 in fines and court costs.

22-year-old Daniel K. Poshard of Carmi has been jailed on charges of unlawful restraint and domestic battery.  Poshard is accused of beating his girlfriend, 24-year-old Tiffany Downs of Grayville, and threatening her with a knife.

Haley Woodrow of Fairfield is the recipient of the $500 Community College Healthcare Hero Award.  Haley is the daughter of Kent and Kristie Woodrow of Enfield. She is a 2011 graduate of NCOE High School.

Pictured above are the Fairfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Volunteers who were honored during a special dinner for reaching their hour bars: Front Row- Anita Newcomb, David Land, Robert Morse, Sr., Richard Delsing, Kitty Dunlap, Judy Jelley. Back Row – Imo McGill, Carol Brach, Marie Rutger, Marlene Rogers, Vivian Struble, Dorothy Dickey

Graduation ceremonies for Edwards County High School have been set for 8 p.m. this Friday at the ECHS Gym in Albion.  Senior Class President Karlin Compton will give the welcome.

71-year-old Broughton resident, Judy Ann Rush died Tuesday, May 13 at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado. She had worked at Walmart in Harrisburg for three years.

Survivors include her husband, John Rush; a son, Arthur E. Rush of Matawan, MI; a granddaughter, Lily; a brother, Arthur S. Cummins, Jr. of Holland, MI; four sisters, Carol, Roberta, Rebecca and Barbara.

Services for Judy Ann Rush will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 15 at the Stendeback Family Funeral Home in Enfield with burial in Springerton Cemetery.

Visitation will be 9 a.m. until the time of service Thursday, May 15 at the Stendeback Family Funeral Home in Enfield.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.