HOMICIDE –53-year-old William D. Johnson of Fairfield (pictured) has been jailed in connection with the shooting death of another Fairfield man Saturday night. The victim’s name is being withheld at this time pending notification of relatives. According to Wayne County Coroner Jimmy Taylor, the victim, a 50-year-old Fairfield man, was shot in the chest with a small caliber gun. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting incident happened in a small mobile home at 104 Warren Drive in Fairfield, which is just east of the Fairfield Municipal Airport. The suspect, William D. “Bill” Johnson fled the scene of the shooting shortly after 7:30 p.m. in a Chevy Colorado pickup truck. Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies and State Troopers spotted Johnson on Interstate 57 at the 39 mile marker and took him into custody at about 9 p.m. He is currently being held in the Williamson County jail pending transport back to Wayne County to stand trial.
FIRE – Fire destroyed the home of a rural White County, Ill. man Sunday morning. Shortly before 10 a.m., the Fairfield Rural Fire Department was called to the home of Chris Bartley. Bartley had been out deer hunting, saw the smoke and called for help. The home was located southeast of the Mills Prairie Grade School, north of the Ashland Church in a very rural section of northern White County. By the time firemen arrived, Bartley’s mobile home was fully engulfed in flames. “The home was nearly gone by the time we arrived,” said Fairfield Rural Fire Department Chief David Vaughan. “We were able to protect a nearby garage.” No one was home when the fire broke out and no injuries were reported. The cause is not known at this time.
The 2015 Kiwanis Christmas Parade was held Saturday evening through downtown Fairfield with Grand Marshals Bob and Thelma Johnson. The Fairfield Rural Fire Department received the Grand Marshal’s Choice Award. Best Use of Lights went to Canaan Bridge Church. In the Individual – Animal – Antique Category, The Phelps Family took 1st. Fairfield Rural Fire Department was 2nd. Fairfield Banking Company took 1st in the Business Category. McDonalds was 2nd. In the Church Category, Cumberland Presbyterian Church was 1st and Ever Found Church 2nd. Wayne City High School FFA was 1st in the Youth – School – Adult Organizations Category. Girl Scout Troop 8776 was 2nd. The Fairfield High School, Center Street Grade School, and Wayne City High School Bands participated in the parade.
A Southern Illinois Roman Catholic Church destroyed by a Leap Day tornado in 2012 has reopened after a $6 million rebuilding effort. Following the twister, the only thing left standing of the historic St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ridgway was the altar, originally put into the church in the late 1800’s. The church, now known as St. Kateri after consolidating with other area churches held a dedication for its reopening last Sunday, November 29th.
Four suspects have been jailed in connection with the alleged distribution of the synthetic marijuana known as K-2 in Fairfield. At least six individuals have been treated in the emergency room of Fairfield Memorial Hospital after overdosing on the drug. The suspects have been identified as Daltin J. Spicer, 25, of Cisne, Tyler E. Hutcheson, 22, of Fairfield, Jacob A. Chrrt, 18, of Fairfield and David T. Asher, 18, of Fairfield. Two other juveniles also stand accused of involvement in distribution of the drug.