55-year-old Fairfield resident, Carolyn R. Jordan died Sunday, August 31 at Fairfield Memorial Hospital. She had worked in child care.

Survivors include her husband, Doug Jordan of Fairfield; two sons, David (Heather) Jordan of St. Paul, MN and Christopher (Hope) Jordan of Edwardsville; her mother, Roberta “Bobbie” Derus of Fairfield; a sister, Barbara (Rick) Peterson of Herrin; two brothers, Harold “Jr” (Mary Ellen) Mayes of Hot Springs, AR and Darrell “Buddy” (Bonnie) Mayes of McHenry, IL and six grandchildren.

The body has been cremated and a Celebration of Life Service for Carolyn R. Jordan will be 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4 at the Fairfield Christian Church.

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

Faye Ailene Willmore, 83, of Mt. Vernon, formerly of Sesser, died Monday, September 1, 2014 at Countryside Manor in Mt Vernon, IL. A native of Wayne County, she had operated Faye’s Beauty Shop in rural Sesser for over 20 years.

Survivors include four sons, Jerry and wife Lisa Willmore of Hockley, TX; William (Tom) and Joann Willmore of Mt Vernon, IL; David and Bonnie Willmore of Valier, IL; and Jeffrey and Jennifer Willmore of Tempe, AZ; two sisters Joyce (Bob) Caudle and Norma Lee Koontz, both of Fairfield, IL; ten grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Faye Ailene Willmore will be 10 a.m. Friday September 5, 2014 at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser, IL, with burial in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

Visitation will be Thursday September 4, 2014 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the donor’s choice and will be accepted at the funeral home.

78-year-old Fairfield resident, Una Faye Musgrave died at 10:35 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1 at Way-Fair in Fairfield. She had worked as a custodian.

Survivors include daughters, Karla Lee of Fairfield and Wanda (Noel) Madding of Mt. Erie; sons, Ransom and Marvin Musgrave of McLeansboro and Perry (Gena) Musgrave of Creal Springs, IL; a sister, Barbara Pulliam of Tye, TX; 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Services for Una Faye Musgrave will be 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5 at the Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield with burial in Koontz Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 – 8 Thursday evening, Sept. 4 at the Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield.

85-year-old Clay City resident, Loretta P. Wilder died Sunday, Aug. 31 at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

Survivors include sons, Danny E. Wilder and Larry D. Wilder, Paul F. Wilder and daughter, Lynn Wilder; a daughter, Phyllis K. Cox and husband Gary; 11 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren; cousins, Karen Marlow, Carol Raley, Rena Thomas, Donna Given, Cheryl Hampton and Terry Lentz.

Services for Loretta P. Wilder will be 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5 at the Summers-Kistler Funeral Home in Clay City with burial in Clay City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 – 8 Thursday evening, Sept. 4 at the Summers-Kistler Funeral Home in Clay City.

Memorials may be made to the Clay City Christian Church.

A formal charge of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm has been filed against a Golden Gate man accused of stabbing a Grayville man Sunday night during the Grayville Days Celebration.  25-year-old Donald H. Currier (pictured)  is accused of stabbing Dustin “Stitch” Robson of Grayville during an altercation Sunday night in downtown Grayville.

A Texas man has been jailed on charges he was preparing to hold up the Fifth Third Bank in Mount Vernon last Friday.  Detectives arrested 71-year-old Clark Wayne Kirkman of Big Springs Texas as he was sitting in his car in front of the bank writing a holdup note. Kirkman was on federal parole from two previous bank robberies in Missouri at the time of his arrest. He is also a suspect in a bank robbery last week in Chandler, AZ.

Bob O’Daniel of Fairfield was presented the Earl Smith Memorial Award during the Labor Day Antique Tractor Drive. At 84, Mr. O’Daniel was the oldest driver in the event.  Money raised during the Tractor Drive will support the Wayne County Ag in the Classroom program.

Sarah Pickens and Madeline Richards have been selected as the Student Ambassadors for the 2014-2015 academic year at Frontier Community College.  They are responsible for promoting unity and engagement among the FCC student body, recruiting prospective students and promoting campus-wide events. Sarah Pickens is in her second year at Frontier and is working on degrees in Health Informatics and Medical Receptionist and Physician Assistant.  Madeline Richards is a freshman this fall, working on an Associate in Science Degree with plans to transfer to Murray State University.

Marion County leads the State of Illinois in the number of sex offenders per capita.  Marion County has just over 36 sex offenders per 10,000 residents.  Wayne County has just over 21 sex offenders per 10,000 residents.

Teresa Brown age 50, a resident of McLeansboro, Illinois passed away at 5:40 A.M. Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014 in the Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro.

Funeral Arrangements for Teresa Brown are pending at the Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro.

63-year-old Fairfield resident, Betty Jo Cox died at 11:20 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1 at Way-Fair Nursing and Rehab in Fairfield.

Survivors include caregivers Yvonne Hallam and Charlotte Everett of Fairfield and two sisters, Marie Ellis of Malta, IL and Lorrie Artist of Rochester, IN.

Graveside services for Betty Jo Cox will be 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5 at Shrewsbury Cemetery at Mill Shoals. There will be no visitation. Friends and family are asked to go directly to the cemetery.

Nale’s Funeral Home in Fairfield is in charge of all the arrangements.

93-year-old West Salem native, Howard Melvin Gaede of Argenta, IL. died Sunday, Aug. 31 at the Heartland Healthcare Center in Decatur. A U.S. Army veteran of WW II, he was the recipient of two Bronze Stars. He worked as a machinist at Caterpillar in Decatur.

Survivors include a son, Rick (Rebecca) Gaede of Oreana, IL; grandchildren, Christopher and wife Stephanie Gaede of Decatur, Tisha and husband Jaime Zavala of LeClaire, IA and one great-grandchild, Cecilia Zavala.

His body has been cremated and an inurnment of cremains will take place during a graveside service at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Moravian Church in West Salem with military honors by the Albion VFW.

Memorials may be made to the VFW Avenue of Flags on the Albion Square and will be accepted at the Ingram Funeral Home in Albion, which is in charge of all the arrangements.

89-year-old Albion resident, Marjorie M. Mix died Tuesday, April 22 at Rest Haven Manor in Albion.

Survivors include a daughter, Susan (John) Roberts of Cedartown, GA; a son, Lowell “Pat” Mix of Fairfield; a brother, James (Carol) Prater; three grandchildren, Stephanie Crisp, Matthew (Brandie) Kelsey, and Chuck Mix and four great-grandchildren, Dallas Kramer, Micah Crisp, Robbie Crisp and Benjamin Kelsey.

Her body has been cremated and burial will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Bunker Cemetery at Rinard.

In lieu of flowers,  memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. The Ingram Funeral Home of Albion is in charge of all the arrangements.

A tip from a neighboring Sheriff’s Department led authorities to the arrest of two Wayne County, Ill. men on charges they were operating a suspected meth lab.  Gary S. Taylor, 44 of Geff, Ill. (pictured right) and Albert A. Parker, 38 of Fairfield (pictured left) were arrested Wednesday afternoon at Taylor’s home west of Geff.  Both men face a felony charge of unlawful participation of methamphetamine manufacturing. When Wayne County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at Taylor’s house to investigate, Parker ran out of a garage and into a nearby corn field. After a brief foot chase, he was arrested.  A few hours later, after police secured a search warrant for the house, Gary Taylor returned home and was arrested.  Officials said they seized a “shake and bake” meth lab from behind Taylor’s home.

The WFIW/WOKZ Radio Auction has been set for this Saturday, starting at 8 a.m.   Over 260 items will be sold from area businesses.  You may bid on items by phone or in advance at wfiwradio.com. The numbers to call to place a bid are 842-2159 or 842-3715.

A West Salem woman was injured Wednesday morning when the kitchen stove she was lighting exploded. The victim’s name has not been released. She was taken to Fairfield Memorial Hospital following the 10:20 a.m. accident. The scene of the accident was a home in the 400 block of Pinhook Street in West Salem.

Frontier Community College is hosting a Meet the Bobcats event from 5:30 – 7:30 this evening on campus.  Frontier athletes and the college’s new president, Dr. Jay Edgren will be there.  Entertainment will be provided by Tom Baker’s Mardi Gras Band, featuring local musician Dean Mounts. The event will be on the lawn next to Foundation Hall.

$550 in cash prizes will be offered during ARF’s Outrageous Dog Show coming up during the Fairfield Fall Fun Fest. The event has been set for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 during the Fall Fun Fest.

Participants are being urged to register now for the Fairfield Memorial Hospital and Frontier Community College Run for your life 5-K. The event has been set for Saturday, Oct. 11.  Registration forms can be picked up at Fairfield Memorial Hospital or Frontier Community College or can be printed from either organization’s website.

Lost tan/white shit-zu female. Last seen Wednesday sept 3 near the cemetery in Springerton. Answers to the name of Ming-nah. She is a family pet and loved dearly. She has two girls whom love her so and are devastated. If you have seen or have any info please contact Beth at 618-384-9343! Thank you!!!

Shane Richard Wicinski, infant son of Anthony & Michelle Wicinski of Geff, IL passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2014 at the Good Samaritan Regional Health Center at Mt. Vernon, IL.

Shane is survived by his parents Anthony and Michelle; sister Haley and brother Aden all of Geff, IL; grandparents Michael and Sherry Wicinski of Kenosha, WI; Tim and Leatha West of Cisne, IL; Richard and Anita McNeely of Geff, IL; great grandparents Shirley Harper of Kenosha, WI and Phyllis Brinkley of Fairfield, IL. Several aunts and uncles also survive.

Graveside services for Shane Richard Wicinski will be 1:30PM Sunday, September 7, 2014 at Cisne Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice and will be accepted at Hosselton Funeral Home, which is in charge of all the arrangements.

Harold V. Holmes, 85, of Fairfield, IL passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at Way-Fair Nursing & Rehab Center at Fairfield, IL. He was a retired farmer and oil field pumper.  He was a Marine Corp Veteran having served during the Korean War Era.

He is survived by his wife Mary Holmes of Fairfield, IL; two sons George (Ruth Ann) Holmes of West Salem, IL and David Holmes of Fairfield, IL; two step-sons Brad (Shari) Winters and Richard (Darlene) Winters both of Fairfield, IL.  Six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren also survive.

A graveside service will be 10:30AM Friday, September 12, 2014 at Brown Cemetery.  There will be no visitation.

Memorials may be given to American Diabetes Association or Clay County Hospice and will be accepted at Hosselton Funeral Home.

Fairfield Memorial Hospital and Deaconess Hospital in Evansville have entered into an affiliation agreement. The agreement is designed to enhance services and increase collaboration between the two healthcare providers and the counties they serve. Fairfield Memorial will remain a local, independent hospital.

36-year-old Terry L. Morgan of McLeansboro has been sentenced to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty to a Hamilton County charge of aggravated battery. In pleading guilty, Morgan admitted he used a baseball bat to beat up George Weingartner on August 12, putting the victim in Deaconess Hospital with serious head injuries.

Steven R. Ritchey, 54 of McLeansboro has been sentenced to 4 years in prison on an aggravated battery conviction. He admitted to beating up Howard Ritchey with a rake on July 29.

20-year-old Chelsea M. English of 1402 W. Main St. in Fairfield was arrested Thursday for domestic battery. She is accused of shoving and slapping her roommate, 24-year-old Kristin A. Abel.

Wayne County’s Confederate history will be the focus of a public program next Tuesday at the Fairfield Public Library.  During the Civil War, Fort Shipley was manned by Confederates and Southern sympathizers. The fort was constructed between Mill Shoals and Barnhill in 1864 on a bend of the Skillet Fork River. The program will start at 7 p.m. and will feature historian Rick Moore of Broughton.

Eric and Shelby LeMond are proud to announce the arrival of their first born baby, a little boy, Miller Dean LeMond. Miller Dean was born July 30, 2014 at 3:18 A.M. at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Miller topped the scales at a whopping 5pounds 14ounces and was 19 1/4 inches long with a head full of hair! Not only the first born, but also the first grandbaby and nephew on BOTH sides. Grandparents are Jerry and Kristi Thomason and Steve and Gina LeMond both of Fairfield. Great Grandparents are “Onnie” Sandy Crawford and Joe and Shirley Kasinger both of Fairfield and Robert Crawford of Enfield, Illinois. Aunts to Baby Miller are Whitney Thomason of Fairfield and Sarah LeMond of Bicknell, Indiana. Photo taken by Picture This Photography in Wayne City, IL.

Please help us find our cat….he is a male Bengal cat tan in color with brown markings.  His name is Kian and he lives at Turner Sign Shop in Fairfield.  He was last seen in the area of South First Street in Fairfield.  He is a little skiddish and may be afraid.  If you see Kian, or know his whereabouts, please call Chris at 618-599-0541 or Chuck at 618-599-8161.

Olivia Smith, the 7-year-old daughter of Tim and Emily Smith, was crowned this year’s Little Miss Geff Frontier Days.  1st runner-up is Ashely Anderson, 7-year-old daughter of Brian and Tammy Anderson, and 2nd runner-up is Chesney Young, 6-year-old daughter of Casey Musgrave and Christopher Young. The Geff Frontier Days celebration continues today, with the parade at 2 p.m. and a performance tonight by Toby Daskem starting at 6 p.m.

The Fairfield City Council meets Tuesday night in regular session.  Action expected during the meeting includes approving a street closing request for the Veteran’s Parade and the Retail Merchants, and the awarding of bids for brush clearing for Fairground Creek and Johnson Creek.  The council is also expected to discuss a street name change request, award a bid for a new mower for the cemetery department, and review and award bids for tree planting.

The annual Fairfield Fall Fun Fest opens this Wednesday night in downtown Fairfield and runs through next Saturday, September 13th.  Wednesday night will be Church Night, with gospel music starting at 6:30 in the Entertainment Tent.  The Fall Fun Fest concludes next Saturday night with musical performances by Chuck A Duck, the Fortress Quartet and Egyptian Combo.

The annual Wayne City Bean Days celebration is set for Saturday, September 27th beginning with a Tractor Show from 7-10 a.m.  Other activities include 5K run/walk at 7:30 a.m. and the parade at 10 a.m.  A dance will be held at 6:30 p.m. followed by a rodeo at the Wayne City Saddle Club at 7 p.m.  A Prom/Homecoming/Pageant dress sale will be held from noon til 4 p.m. at the First Christian Church Fellowship Hall in Wayne City.

An Associated Press reports says several top Illinois House lawmakers are considering a plan to overhaul the state’s school funding formula, which, if approved, could direct more state money to rural school districts at the expense of some urban areas.   Members of the group said they have been meeting recently at the request of House Speaker Michael Madigan.  The Illinois Senate declined to take up a measure last spring that called for the first widespread revamping of the school funding formula in nearly 20 years, the report said.

92-year-old Fairfield resident, Maria M. Chalcraft, died at 5:20 p.m. Wednesday, September 3 at Wayfair Nursing  and Rehab.  She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and had attended the Golden Gate United Methodist Church.

Surviving are a daughter, Ingrid Portula of Germany; one granddaughter; three sisters-in-law, Vera (Cecil) Ellis of Fairfield, Vernonda Rogers of Carmi and Joan (Alvin) Carter of Wood River, IL; and one brother-in-law, Dean (Rita) Chalcraft of Carpentersville, IL.

Graveside services for Maria M. Chalcraft will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 9 at Maple Hill Cemetery in Fairfield.  There will be no visitation, friends and family are asked to go directly to the cemetery.

Nale’s Funeral Home in Fairfield is in charge of the arrangements.

71-year-old Cisne resident, Dale “Snake” Henson, died at 1:40 p.m. Friday, September 5 at his home.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Hosselton Funeral Home in Cisne.

93-year-old Ruth Eleanor (Gregory) Beckel died at 10:20 a.m. Friday, September 5 at Fairfield Memorial Hospital.  She retired from Airtex in 1983 after 44 years service.

Surviving are a cousin, Geraldine Johnson; her caregiver, Patty Billington; several cousins and two nephews.

Funeral services for Ruth Eleanor (Gregory) Beckel will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 9 at the Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield.  Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, September 8 at the Johnson & Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield.

Memorials may be made to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Fairfield or to a charity of the donor’s choice.