Illinois lawmakers have finally signed off on long-awaited rules that will govern the practice of high pressure, high volume hydraulic fracturing. Literally thousands of acres of Southern Illinois farmland remain under lease for the development of the oil-rich New Albany Shale formation. The approval of the rules comes two days after the November 4 General Election and weeks after several Wayne County landowners sued the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Governor over their failure to approve the rules. The actual practice of “fracking” was approved by Illinois lawmakers more than a year and a half ago.
The Wayne County Crimestoppers board has approved a $150 cash reward information that led to the arrest of 40-year-old David L. Owen of Fairfield. Owen was wanted on multiple warrants out of Wayne, White and Hamilton Counties. The board also paid out a $100 reward for information that led to the seizure of growing pot plants in the eastern part of the county. If you have information about any criminal activity in the county, call the Crimestoppers Hotline at 842-9777.
White County native and former Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard has been named to Governor-elect Bruce Rauner’s transition team. Rauner defeated incumbent Democratic Governor Pat Quinn in Tuesday’s General Election.
The annual Fairfield Veterans Day Parade is set for 2 p.m. this Saturday. At 1 p.m., a flag raising ceremony will be held at Freedom Park in downtown Fairfield. Lineup for the parade will be in front of the High Rise. For more information about the parade, contact Clifford Reever at 516-3111.
A power outage has been scheduled for this Sunday in Fairfield. The outage, starting at 7:30 a.m. will only affect the West Port Plaza Shopping Center area and could last up to three hours. Crews will be replacing a damaged utility pole and lines.