The Illinois Department of Employment Security has released their unemployment rates for all Illinois counties for the month of July. Wayne County registered one of the highest in the area at 8.2%, which was also matched by Saline County. Edwards County had the lowest in the area at 5.3%, while Wabash County was at 6.5%. The highest in southern Illinois was in Alexander and Hardin Counties as they registered 9.5%. Statewide, Illinois’ unemployment rate is at 5.6%, which is lower than a year ago at 6.2%.
More information regarding a Friday morning fiery crash on Interstate 57 south, just south of the Route 161 Extension has been released. 30-year-old David Shamley of Marion, was passing a vehicle while in the left lane in his Pepsi semi. As he pulled into the right lane after passing the vehicle, Shamley was unaware of the garbage truck driven by 50-year-old Eric Greear of Centralia in the right lane. The semi struck the rear of the garbage truck which caused the garbage truck to skid to the right side ditch. The semi cab and trailer caught fire and was destroyed. Shamley was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, while Greear was transported to Salem Township Hospital. Shamley was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The accident occurred at 5:25 Friday morning.
A Fairfield, man arrested in December for the shooting death of his friend entered a negotiated guilty plea and has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. 54 year-old William D. “Bill” Johnson, entered a guilty plea Tuesday to a Class-1 felony charge of second degree murder. Charges of first-degree murder were dismissed in return for the guilty plea. The guilty plea came Tuesday afternoon during a pre-trial hearing in Wayne County Circuit Court. The victim in this case, 50 year-old Jeffrey Scott Montgomery, of Fairfield died from a gunshot wound to the chest from a small caliber handgun. Coroner Jimmy Taylor said he died at the scene on the evening of December 5, 2015.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Department has stated a man they were considering armed and dangerous has been located. Deputies were searching for David Thomas, after he fled from police after the car he was riding in crashed on Iron Furnace road on Saturday. Thomas has a history of assault and obstruction. There is no word yet on what charges he will face.
New statistics show Illinois’ graduating seniors this year had a slight increase in their ACT scores. The Illinois State Board of Education said Wednesday that Illinois high school seniors earned a score of 20.8 out of 36. That’s one-tenth of a point higher than last year and is given with the national average. Illinois seniors were also even with or higher than national scores in English, math, and science. They were slightly behind in reading.
Advanced ride tickets for the Fairfield Fall Fun Fest will go on sale on Monday, August 29th at the Chamber of Commerce office and McDowell, Kenshalo & Jesop. Tickets will be a sheet of ten tickets for $15. The cost is one ride ticket per ride. Ticket prices during the festival will be $2 each.