The Fairfield City Council met last night with all members present. The "hot button" item for the night was the understaffed Fairfield Police Department. The department is down to 6 officers and the Chief, with one of the officers leaving for a military assignment very soon. Mayor Gary Moore proposed an Intergovernmental Agreement with Wayne County which would have Wayne County Sheriff's Deputies cover law enforcement for the city of Fairfield when necessary. In the agreement, the city would pay the county $50.00 per hour for the coverage but only the hours actually providing city coverage. Mayor Moore stated that he had met with Chief and Sheriff regarding devising a plan to maintain coverage for the city. Alderman Cody Atteberry stated that he hadn't been made aware of the proposal until he received his meeting documents. He further stated that he thought the matter was being rushed and deserved more study. The annual tax levy was unanimously approved. The levy 4.99%, with all the money going towards police and fire pensions. Currently, the city is $10 million behind in funding its pensions. In early December, the Edwards County FFA competed in the Agronomy contest. Members identify crop and weed seeds and plants, equipment, and take a general knowledge test as well as a test about soils. This year, the team included Sam Bailey, Campbell Biggs, Jimmy Downs, Cheyenne Duncan, Chloe Iles, Owen Lynch, Cage Metcalf, Kassidi Metcalf, JW Simms Reisner, Jake Wiseman, and Gabe Wyatt. The team participated in two different contests: our section contest and the state contest. At the section contest, the team placed 2nd with Kassidi placing 3rd and Cage placing 12th. The team received 28th place at the state level. On Monday at approximately 11:07 a.m. Wayne County Deputies arrested Corey J. Rinebold of Fairfield on a charge of Methamphetamine Possession. He is currently being lodged in the Wayne County Jail pending setting of bond. A Carmi woman says she's never taking off again a pair of rings she lost after inadvertently leaving them at a local fitness center Saturday night. Elizabeth Coe of Carmi says she laid down her wedding ring and a mothers ring with her children's birthstones while working out. She then reports she forgot them and left the center. When she went back, they were missing and not left in the lost and found. Luckily Carmi Police were able to reunite the owner with her valuables Monday night. A theft report had already been lodged with the Carmi PD and the investigation into who might've taken them is ongoing. FBI Springfield in coordination with the United States Attorney's Office–Central District of Illinois is seeking to identify potential victims in a child pornography investigation. Central Illinois resident Trent Lilly has been charged with production, receipt, and possession of sexually explicit photos and videos of underage individuals. It is believed Lilly contacted victims in person, engaging in the illegal activity for years. Although Lilly resided in Central Illinois, he may have traveled to other locations. Lilly was arrested in Chicago, Illinois on November 15, 2022, and is being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. FBI Springfield is seeking the public's help to identify victims who were under the age of 18 and were asked or used by Lilly to produce or view sexually graphic videos or photographs or engage in sexual conduct.