Headlines for Monday, August 25, 2014

Record forecast yields were noted during the annual Wayne County corn and soybean yield tour conducted today.  Corn Growers President Gregg Barnard says the average corn yield has been pegged at 167 bushels per acre, beating the old record of 164 set in 2004.  The forecast soybean yield was pegged at 44 bushels per acre – nearly three bushels higher than the actual yield of 41.4 bushels per acre in 2004.  The highest corn yield was noted in the southeast corner of the county at 190 bushels per acre.

Members of United Auto Workers Local 543 have approved a new three-year contract with Airtex Products in Fairfield.  The new agreement was approved by a margin of 60% to 40%. The vote was taken Sunday afternoon at the Center Street Gym.  The union rejected the company’s first contract offer last week, but agreed to remain on the job as talks continued. There are currently about 240 rank and file members represented by Local 543.

48-year-old Michael Owen of Fairfield was arrested early this morning after he allegedly brandished a knife during an altercation on Johnson Street.  Owen allegedly pulled the knife on 38-year-old Bryan Lynch.  After Owen allegedly tried to head butt a police officer, he was taken to Fairfield Memorial Hospital for a mental evaluation. He was eventually taken to the Touchette Regional Hospital near East St. Louis for treatment of a mental illness.

Friends and family members of a missing Evansville woman searched an area of southern White County over the weekend for the missing 30-year-old woman. Joelle Lockwood has been missing since July 9.  The area searched is owned by a relative of an individual that Evansville City Police have identified as a person of interest in Lockwood’s disappearance. The search turned up no evidence.

The 32^nd annual Wayne County Corn and Soybean Yield Tour will be conducted today.  Because of timely rains and a relatively cool summer, area crop yields are expected to be excellent.

The 18^th annual White County Crop Tour is also set for today. The survey was rescheduled from last Wednesday due to heavy rainfall.

This Labor Day Weekend, Wayne County Golf Course will host Patriot Golf Day and will collect donations for Folds of Honor, a non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships to the families of service men and women who have been disabled or killed in service to their country. The Golf Course will collect a minimum of $1 donation from each player from Aug. 29 – Sept. 1 for Folds of Honor.

75-year-old former Fairfield resident, Gladys Pope died at 12:45 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21 at Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include a daughter, Betty Lou Pope of Centralia, Mike and wife Debbie Pope of Fairfield and Doug Pope of Champaign; a sister, Opal Smith of Mt. Carmel; brothers, David Deisher of St. Francisville, IL and Irvin Paul Deisher of Mt. Carmel and one grandchild.

Services for Gladys Pope will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield with burial in Buckeye Cemetery.

Visitation will be 11 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield.

Memorials may be made to help with funeral expenses.

Results are in from both the Wayne and White County crop tours. The projected corn yield for Wayne County is a record-setting 167 bushels per acre. The projected soybean yield has been pegged at 44 bushels per acre.  The corn yield in White County has been estimated to be 161.3 bushels per acre.  Both tours were conducted Monday through the efforts of local Farm Bureau volunteers.

Two people were injured Monday afternoon when the semi they were in ran off of Interstate 64 in western Wayne County and overturned. The driver, 48-year-old Lisa Gail Franklin of Evansville told police she swerved her truck to miss a deer in the roadway. A passenger, 53-year-old Claimale D. Franklin of Chicago was also injured. Both were taken to a hospital in Mt. Vernon following the 2:25 p.m. accident.

Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel says the latest long-range forecast shows that a repeat of last winter’s snowy conditions is unlikely.  Angel says there is nothing in the forecast to indicate unusual temperatures or precipitation patterns. He says there is an increased risk of a dryer than average winter.

A $500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of thieves in White County that have been cutting down utility poles to steal the copper wires from meter loops.  Sheriff Doug Maier says four cases of utility poles being cut down with chain saws have been reported in the past few days. In each case, the poles were property of Wayne-White Electric.

Wayne County Mobile Home Tax Bills will be mailed out by next Tuesday, Sept. 2.  The single due date has been set for Friday, Nov. 7.  This year’s Mobile Home Tax extension amounts to $170,247.  There were 1,505 mobile homes located in Wayne County last year.

Keegan Brockwell Musgrave was born to Aaron and Amanda Musgrave of Fairfield, IL on June 29th at 4:10 a.m. He weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces and was 21 inches long. Keegan is welcomed home by big sister Kaylee.  Maternal grandparents are Robert and Sarah Mathews and maternal great-grandparent Art Mathews all of Southern Pines, NC. Paternal grandparents are Jim (Jibber) and Sherial Musgrave and paternal great-grandparents are Jim and Vera Musgrave all of Fairfield, IL. and Tim Rupp of O’Fallon, MO. 

63-year-old Dundas, IL resident, Bobby D. Clark died at 2:55 p.m. Saturday, August 23 at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville.

Survivors include daughters, Barbara Boles of Olney and Linda Long of Fairfield; a sister, Louella Talbert of Fairfield; a brother, Melvin Clark of Fairfield and several nieces and nephews.

The body will be cremated and there will be no services.

The Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home of Fairfield is in charge of all the arrangements.

More than 20 Wayne-White Electric power poles have been cut down by thieves recently. The thieves are primarily targeting meter loops that serve grain bins on area farms.  Wayne-White is now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved.  White County Sheriff Doug Maier says the local Crimestoppers organization is offering a $500 cash reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. The Illinois Farm Bureau has added another $1,000 reward for information in the case. Thieves are using a chain saw to cut down the poles.  Area farmers are being urged to watch their property closely.

The Fairfield City Council has approved selling two lots in the Fairfield Industrial Park to Elastec American/Marine.  Elastec paid $31,950 for the property.  The Council also approved the sale of 10.3 acres of Industrial Park land to Jeremy and Nikki Carter of Carter Trucking of Fairfield. The cost was $51,500.

The Fairfield City Council has approved the purchase of furniture and other amenities for the Fairfield Municipal Airport. The upgrades will be paid for out of funds budgeted for the airport and will be for improvements in the office and pilot’s lounge.

The Bedford Township Fire Department in Cisne is among eight departments in Illinois being honored for their fire prevention efforts. The Office of the State Fire Marshal made the announcement on Tuesday.

Fairfield Fall Fun Fest Buttons are now on sale at many participating merchants.  The buttons sell for $2 each, with the money going to support the activities of the Fun Fest.  Button holders will be eligible for two drawings worth $25 each day of the Fun Fest. A number drawn Saturday night of the Fun Fest will be worth $100.

98-year-old Murphysboro resident, Ina Mae Williams died at 9:28 a.m. Sunday, August 24 in Murphysboro.  She had operated the D. C. Williams Jewelry Store. A member of the First Presbyterian Church and Eastern Star, she was an avid golfer, winning the ladies championship in Mount Carmel.

Survivors include a son, Robert (Mary Jane) Williams of Murphysboro; a grandchild, Kevin (Diane) Williams of Murphysboro and two great-grandchildren, Jordan and Maggie Williams of Murphysboro.

Graveside services for Ina Mae Williams will be 12 noon Saturday, August 30 at Graceland Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Celtic Hospice and will be accepted at Nale’s Funeral Home in Albion, which is in charge of all the arrangements.

Rena Joy Talbert, 63 of Barnhill, died at 11:10 PM, Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.     She had earned Bachelor’s, Master’s and Specialist degrees from Eastern Illinois University and was a longtime educational administrator, former Fairfield Community High School Principal, former Superintendent of Fairfield Grade School and former Assistant Superintendent of the Regional Office of Education.  Rena was also a member of the First United Methodist Church of Fairfield, a former board member of the Fairfield Memorial Hospital and a director on the Wayne County Housing Authority Board.

She is survived by her husband Allen Talbert of Barnhill, sons Matthew (Ann) Talbert of Monticello, IL and Andrew (Audrey) Talbert of Montgomery, IN, 4 granddaughters, 1 grandson, and a sister Janice Schroeder of Refugio, TX.  She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services for Rena Talbert will be held at 1 PM, Friday, August 29, 2014 at the Johnson and Vaughn Funeral Home with burial in the Shrewsbury Cemetery in Mill Shoals.

Visitation from 11 AM until the time of service at the Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Mill Shoals Ruritan Club or the First United Methodist Church of Fairfield.

Together with their parents, Chad Heindselman and Jamie Summers are pleased to announce their engagement and upcoming wedding.

Jamie is the daughter of David and Glenna Summers of Bone Gap.  She is the granddaughter of Glen and Marilyn Clodfelter of West Salem, and the late Vernon and Lola Summers of Albion.  Jamie is a 2007 graduate of Edwards County High School, and a 2011 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Chad is the son of Jim and Chris Heindselman of Albion.  He is the grandson of Johnny and Sharon Gill of Albion, and the late Virgil and Peggy Sue Heindselman of Olney.  Chad is a 2008 graduate of Edwards County High School, and a 2012 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

The couple will marry on September 20, 2014 at the West Salem Moravian Church, with a reception that evening at Little Prairie Christian Church in Albion.  Formal invitations have been sent.

The theft of wiring from utility poles has now spread into three counties.  Thieves have been using a chain saw to cut down power poles to steal the wiring contained within meter loops that serve grain bins. As many as 20 poles have been targeted in White County. Another six have been reported in Edwards County, and one pole was cut down in Wayne County. $6,500 in reward money has been established for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the thefts. Wayne-White officials say their losses are somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000.

Highly anticipated rules to regulate high pressure, high volume, hydraulic fracturing are set to be unveiled on Friday.  Once those rules go into effect, Illinois hopes to become the center of a long-anticipated oil boom.  Thousands of acres of Southern Illinois are under lease for the development of oil-rich shale formations using horizontal drilling and fracking technology.

54-year-old Timothy Coleman of Louisville, a registered sex offender, has been arrested after he was spotted in a public park.  Coleman was spotted at Forbes State Park in Marion County – a violation of his sex offender registration status.

In honor of the Volley for the Cure game, Fairfield Community High School will be hosting a “Pink Out” day next Tuesday, Sept. 2. Spirit beads and ribbons are also being sold to help raise funds for Volley for the Cure.  Those attending should wear pink to support the cause.

Seniors and people with disabilities will be eligible to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program beginning next Tuesday, Sept. 2.  More information is available from your local WADI office.

Fairfield Fall Fun Fest Buttons are on sale now at many participating local merchants. The cost of $2 and puts you in the drawing for daily cash prizes during the Fun Fest.

Tommy Kent has been hired as Athletic Director at Frontier Community College. He will oversee the athletic program that started this fall semester and includes Men’s and Women’s golf and cross country teams. Prior to coming to Fairfield, Kent was the Assistant Fitness Coordinator at Shawnee Community College in Ullin. He holds a master’s degree in Sports Management from SIU Carbondale. He is a 1997 graduate of Fairfield Community High School.

Special Prosecutor Michael Valentine has decided to re-try a former White County jailer accused of sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl. The aggravated criminal sexual abuse trial of 40-year-old Phillip Lowery ended in a mistrial last April after the jury was deadlocked with a 6-6 vote. A pretrial hearing in the case has been set for Sept. 25 in White County Circuit Court at Carmi.

Danny Coston is appealing his conviction in the August, 2012 slaying of a young White County couple. Coston, now 38 is serving a 53 year prison sentence for the shooting deaths of Jacob Wheeler, 22 of Centerville and his girlfriend, Jessi Evans, 17 of Norris City.  Oral arguments in the appeal were completed on Tuesday in the Fifth District Illinois Court of Appeals in Mt. Vernon.  A ruling is not expected for at least 90 days.

Frontier Community College recently recognized staff and faculty for Years of Service to the College and the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) District.  Pictured left to right: Mary Morris, English Faculty – 5 years; FCC President Dr. Jay Edgren; Tara Farleigh, Administrative Assistant to the President – 15 years;  Jan Wiles, Assistant Dean of Student Services – 15 years; Tina Nation, Accounts Receivable Clerk – 5 years; Veronica Cox, Custodian – 5 years; Linda Monge, Interim Dean of Instruction – 5 years; Jervaise McDaniel, Associate Dean of Adult and Continuing Education – 30 years with IECC.

19-year-old Levi D. Sork of Norris City has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to a Class-2 felony charge of burglary. He broke into a number of vehicles in the Norris City area earlier this year. The state has recommended Sork serve his time in the Department of Corrections’ Boot Camp program.

$9.4 million has been released for several airport improvement projects around the state. The runways at Fairfield’s airport will be re-marked at a cost of $57,465.  Hi-Lite Markings, Inc. of Adams Center, N.Y. will do the work.

76-year-old Gary R. Warren of Wayne City was cited for failure to yield the right of way at a stop intersection following a two-vehicle accident Friday morning north of Sims.  Wayne County Sheriff’s police said Warren was stopped at the intersection of Wayne County Road 1100N at County Highway 9 when he pulled away from a stop sign and into the path of a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Stephanie M. Smith of Flora.  Smith was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, IL for treatment of her injuries, while Warren was taken to Fairfield Memorial Hospital.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released its set of proposed rules for the process of oil and gas drilling known as fracking on Friday.  Previous draft versions of the rules have been criticized as being too lenient, while industry groups have criticized the delay of rules that has resulted in no drilling permits being issued for sites in southern Illinois.  The practice of fracking is expected to bring an oil boom to the area once rules are in place and permits are issued.  The IDNR report has been delivered to the Joint Committee on Administration Rules, which has 45 days to act on the rules, or let them take effect as they are presented.

Illinois State Police will be stepping up their patrols on area roadways this Labor Day Weekend.  Through this Tuesday, troopers will be enforcing the four most common traffic violations, which include speeding, DUI, not wearing seat belts and distracted driving.  State police say they will also be on heightened alert monitoring intelligence from the Statewide Terrorism Intelligence Center for suspicious vehicles, special alerts, and any criminal activity crossing state lines.

The annual Elm River Chowder is set for today at the Elm River Chowder Grounds.  Serving of the chowder will begin around 12:30 this afternoon with the cost by donation.  The Elm River Chowder Grounds is located four miles east of Rinard off U.S. Route 45.  Along with the chowder, pulled pork, porkburgers, hot dogs and pies will be available during the event, which has been held for over 100 years.

The Wayne County Golf Course will be hosting Patriot Golf Day this Labor Day weekend, and will be collecting donations for the Folds of Honor, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to the families of service men and women who have been disabled or killed in service to their country.  WCGC is collecting a minimum $1 donation from each player through Monday, September 1st.

95-year-old Carmi resident, Marguerite Dungy, died Friday, August 29 at Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi.  She was a homemaker and member of the First United Methodist Church in Carmi.

Surviving are a son, Charles Dungy and wife Gwendolyn of Columbia, MD; one daughter, Florence Dungy of Washington, D.C.; one grandson, Dr. Danton Dungy and wife Adrienne of Scottsdale, AZ; and one great-grandson, Nathaniel Dungy.

Funeral services for Marguerite Dungy will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, September 2 at the Cook Funeral Chapel in Carmi.  Burial will be in Maple Ridge Cemetery in Carmi.

Visitation will be from noon Tuesday, September 2 until the time of service at the Cook Funeral Chapel in Carmi.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Carmi.

Area motorists can expect continued stepped-up enforcements from state police on roadways through the remainder of the holiday weekend.  Through Tuesday, troopers are focusing their enforcement efforts on the four most common traffic violations that contribute to accidents, including speeding, DUI, not wearing a seat belt and distracted driving.  State police in District 13, which is headquartered at DuQuoin and includes Jefferson County, will be conducting Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement patrols and roadside safety checks.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service say the region should stay fairly dry for the remainder of the holiday weekend, with only slight chances of rain through Monday night before more rain is expected late Monday night and Tuesday.  Areas to our west, including the St. Louis region, has a slight chance of some strong or severe thunderstorms today and especially Monday.  Warm and muggy conditions are expected to continue this week, with daily highs in the mid 80s to near 90.

The 6th annual Wayne County Antique Tractor Drive is set for Monday.  Tractors that are 30 years old or older are welcome to participate.  This year’s route is around 35 miles in length, and will begin and end at the Crop Production Services plant  in Johnsonville.  Check-in will begin at 9 a.m. with a planned departure time of 10 a.m.  The participants will have lunch at the Skillet Fork Grill in Orchardville, and later take a tour of Frey Produce before returning to CPS in Johnsonville.  Several awards will be given during Monday’s tractor drive.

The Geff Ruritan Frontier Days will be held this Friday and Saturday, September 5th and 6th at the park in Geff.  Activites Friday include the crowning of the Little Miss Frontier Days at 7 p.m.  Saturday will feature a Car & Truck Show, serving of the famous ham and bean dinner at noon, and a performance by the Toby Daskem Band, featuring modern country music and classic rock starting at 6 p.m.

The 38th annual Cedarhurst Art and Craft Fair is set for Saturday and Sunday, September 6th and 7th in Mt. Vernon, IL.  Organizers are expecting a good turnout for this year’s event, which is a nationally recognized festival and brings in artists from the Midwest and as far away as Georgia, Kansas, and Oregon.  Entertainment will be provided by several local music groups.  Admission is $5.  Hours of operation are 10 a.m. til 5 p.m. both days.  For more information you can call (618) 242-1236.

71-year-old Norris City resident, Janice Wooten, died at 10:22 a.m. Saturday, August 30 at her home.  She was a CNA and worked at Wilmar Restoriam and Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi, and was a sitter/companion in home healthcare.

Surviving are a daughter, Julie Ann (Larry) Ellison of Norris City; one son, Charles Lavern Wooten, Jr. of Carmi; one brother, Billy Gene (Shirley) Renshaw of McLeansboro; her step-mother Helen Renshaw of Enfield; a half-sister, Marion Kay; a half-brother, Donnie Ray Smith; six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, September 1 at Enfield Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 1 at the Campbell Funeral Home in Norris City.

John Mitchell age 79, a resident of Route 2 McLeansboro, Illinois died at 5:32 A.M. Sunday, August 31st, 2014 in the Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, Indiana.

Funeral arrangements for John Mitchell are pending at Gholson Funeral Home of McLeansboro, Illinois.

It could be another 90 days before the rules governing the practice of high volume, high pressure hydraulic fracturing go into effect. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released the new set of rules on Friday.  However, the legislative committee assigned the task of reviewing the rules before they go into effect has 45 days to sign off on the documents. They can also ask for another 45 day extension as well. Officials with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources say they still believe they can meet a Nov. 15 deadline to implement the rules.

47-year-old Bill R. Dobbs of Geff was arrested late Saturday night for disorderly conduct.  Dobbs is accused of urinating on an ice machine at the Hucks Convenience Store at First and Main Street in Fairfield.  He was arrested at about 11:30 Saturday night.

35-year-old Robert Allison of Fairfield was arrested Saturday night for burglary.  Allison is accused of entering the home of April Gibson in Fairfield where a blanket, pillow and some intimate ladies apparel were taken. The items were recovered at Allison’s home on W. Main Street.

39-year-old Amy Chitwood of Carmi was rescued Sunday after she became stuck in thick mud near the old dam in Carmi.  Police responded to a report of a body near the Little Wabash River and found Chitwood stuck in the mud. She was rescued and airlifted to an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

University of Illinois crop specialists are investigating reports of a soybean crop infection in some parts of west-central Illinois.  The soil-based organism causes sudden death syndrome in soybeans.  Farmers are urged to scout their fields for the infection.

102-year-old Albion resident, Harold E. Roosevelt died at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 30 in Albion.  He was a farmer, member of the Farm Bureau and First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Harold Robert Roosevelt of Tennessee, Gary Roosevelt of Clearwater, FL and Larry Roosevelt of Albion; 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Services for Harold E. Roosevelt will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2 at Nale’s Funeral Home in Albion with burial in Graceland Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 12:30 Tuesday, Sept. 2 until the time of service at Nale’s Funeral Home in Albion.

25-year-old Donald Currier of Golden Gate (pictured left) was arrested overnight in connection with a stabbing incident Sunday night in Grayville.  Currier is accused of stabbing 27-year-old Dustin Robson of Grayville (pictured right) in the abdomen during an altercation around 9 o’clock Sunday night during the Grayville Days celebration.  Robson was taken to the hospital in Mount Carmel.  Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputies nabbed Currier.  Currier was found hiding in a vacant mobile home in rural Wayne County. He has been taken to the White County jail at Carmi where he will remain pending the filing of formal charges and setting of bond.

Heavy rain was reported overnight as a cluster of strong thunderstorms moved across Southern Illinois.  Scattered power outages were reported from the lightning associated with the storms.

22-year-old Seth A. Schmittler of Grayville was injured Monday morning when the GMC Yukon he was driving ran into a guardrail on Ill. Rt. 1 at Interstate 64.  Schmittler was taken to a hospital in Evansville following the 1:10 a.m. crash. State Police cited him for texting while driving and improper lane usage.

Wayne County property tax bills will be mailed out on Friday, Sept. 19. The first installment will be due on Oct. 24. The second installment date is Nov. 24.  Treasurer Donna Vaughan says the total amount to be collected this year is $13.6 million. The amount is $1.2 million more than last year.

Wayne County mobile home tax bills will be mailed out today.  The single due date has been set for Nov. 7.  The total amount to be collected is $170,247.

Edwards County High School is hosting the annual volley for the Cure game against Fairfield this evening.  In honor of the Volley for the Cure game, FCHS students will be selling spirit beads and ribbons to help raise money for the event.

Our 5 month old female black lab went missing from residence near Enterprise off of 161.  Please contact us by calling 618-843-7635.