At the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting held in Chicago, two local county Farm Bureaus were recognized with the prestigious Pinnacle Award for excellence in programming and services to their members. The Edwards County Farm Bureau was recognized with the award for Membership Group 1 and the Wayne County Farm Bureau was recognized in Membership Group 2. The Pinnacle Award is presented to the top county Farm Bureau in each membership group for their outstanding programming activities. It is the highest-level award given by the organization and recognizes overall program excellence, planning, and implementation, as they relate to the county Farm Bureau's goals and priorities. The Wayne County Farm Bureau was also recognized with the Liberty Bell Award for exceptional advocacy at the local, state, and national legislative levels. In addition, the White County Farm Bureau was awarded the Liberty Bell for Membership Group 1. The Illinois Farm Bureau has five membership groups based on county Farm Bureau membership size. The Albion City Council met Monday night...with the report, here's Mark Curtis The number of counties in Illinois with elevated levels of COVID-19 cases is on the rise. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported Friday that there were 63 counties in the state at an elevated Community Level for the virus as of November 18th. That is up from 46 counties the previous week. State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) has issued a stinging rebuke of Illinois Democrats' latest attempt to take away law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment rights. Niemerg says he believes the bill is a direct affront to the rights afforded citizens of the United States to protect themselves, their families, and their property. He says this is a straight up gun and ammunition grab. The bill contains several provisions that would make law-abiding citizens currently in possession of semi-automatic hand guns, rifles, and shotguns and magazines that hold more than ten rounds into criminals. Niemerg says a hearing of the House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee had previously been scheduled and canceled. Illinois lawmakers last week passed significant legislation dealing with electric vehicle manufacturing incentives and the availability of hygiene products for prisoners in the state's correctional system. But some weightier issues, including a possible assault weapons ban, will wait until a lame duck session scheduled for early January. Last week, lawmakers wrapped up a five-day fall veto session that focused mainly on changes to the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform package first adopted in 2021 and a $1.8 billion infusion of cash into the state's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. But several other bills passed as well, including an expansion of tax credits and other incentives aimed at promoting electric vehicle manufacturing in Illinois. Last year, lawmakers passed the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act, or REV Illinois, that provided tax incentives for electric vehicle manufacturers, or companies that manufacture certain component parts for electric vehicles, to locate or expand in Illinois. Under that program, companies receiving the breaks could receive a state income tax credit of 75-100 percent of payroll taxes withheld from each new employee and 25-50 percent for retained employees. Lake Land Community college has a new volleyball player from Fairfield. Lexi Cline from the Mules volleyball team has singed with the Lakers. The signing had the whole volleyball team there, her parents and her closest friends! The Mules volleyball team was one for the ages setting a bunch of school records. The team went 33-6 (2nd most wins in Mules volleyball history) BDC champs for the 5th straight time, and regional champions. All of us here at WFIW are wishing Lexi good luck next year at Lake Land! Illinois football is set to face Mississippi State in the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl. The game will be played January 2nd at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Illini is playing in its 20th bowl game in program history. Illinois finished 8-and-4 overall and 5-and-4 in the Big Ten. Taking a look at US Geological Survey River Stages from the area: The Little Wabash at Golden Gate sat at 5.79 feet Tuesday morning. The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 4.61 feet. The Skillet Fork at Wayne City had a reading of 5.01 feet. The Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 1.43 feet. The Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi is at 3.63 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 3.08 feet.