At Thursday night’s meeting of the Wayne County Board, members voted NOT to raise county’s tax levy. The vote followed about 45 minutes of public comment about the issue. Members admitted that tough financial times are ahead for the county, as sales tax revenues are down and operating expenses are up. Also at Thursday night’s meeting, members approved a loan of $150,000 from the county’s Revolving Loan fund to the Frontier Community College Foundation. The money will be used for the completion of the Bobcats Baseball Field project. Interest on the loan is ½ percent.
At the next meeting of the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Trustees, members are expected to discuss the purchase of lighting for the new FNB Baseball field on the campus of Frontier Community College. The project is expected to be funded by Fairfield National Bank which was granted exclusive naming rights last month. Also to be discussed is the construction of a concession stand at FNB Field. The IECC trustees will meet Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson.
A Chester man was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a Chester police officer last month. The Belleville News-Democrat reports 34-year-old Jason M. Stoker was charged in the death of Chester police officer James Brockmeyer, who died from injuries he suffered in a crash after he was pursuing Stoker on Oct. 28. Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker wrote that Stoker drove his vehicle at a high speed while failing to comply with Brockmeyer and while knowing such acts could cause Brockmeyer death or bodily harm.
Hunters in Illinois are being reminded to make safety a top priority this fall and winter. So far this hunting season, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has investigated 10 hunting incidents, 8 of which have involved hunters falling from elevated tree stands or falling while climbing into or out of tree stands. Illinois’ most popular hunting season, firearm deer season begins Friday November 18th.
In the USDA’s recent Illinois Crop Production Report based on November 1st conditions, the Illinois corn yield is forecast at a record 202 bushels per acre, up 27 bushels from a year ago. The state’s corn production is forecast at 2.32 billion bushels, a 15% increase from last year; if realized, this would be the second highest production on record behind 2014. For Soybeans based on November 1st conditions, the state’s yield is forecast at 62 bushels per acre, a 6 bushel per acre increase from last year; if realized, this would be the highest yield on record for Illinois.