The Wayne County Retired Teachers' Association will award one $500 scholarship for the 2022-2023 school year. The award is available to a graduate of a Wayne County high school who has declared a major in education and has accumulated at least 80 semester hours toward that degree at an accredited college or university. Applicants must also have at least a 2.8 college GPA on a 4.0 scale and have full intentions to teach upon graduation. Applications are due June 15th to Michael Simpson at 304 Whiteside Lane in Fairfield, or they can be emailed to mandmsimp46@gmail.com. The USDA has announced commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving about $6 billion in emergency relief payments through the Emergency Relief Program. Eligible crops include all crops for which crop insurance or NAP coverage was available, except grazing crops. Qualifying natural disasters include excessive heat, floods, and related conditions. Illinois State Police District 19 Commander Captain Nathan Douglas has announced the results of an Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrol held in Wabash and Edwards counties in May. Troopers reported 23 total citations, including 13 for safety belt violations, and nine total written warnings. The patrols provided extra coverage for ISP so officers could focus on saving lives by ensuring people were buckled up. The Illinois Department of Transportation says Illinois Route 142 will be closed just north of Main Street in Broughton at 6 tonight. The road is anticipated to be open by 6 a.m. on Monday. IDOT says the closure is necessary to facility the replacement of a drainage structure, and motorists should seek an alternate route. Message boards and signs will be in place to alert traffic. Meteorological summer begins June 1st, and Illinoisans are likely to experience hotter and drier conditions from June through August, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick. He says the conditions, especially in the western portion of the state, could cause some concern for corn and soybeans. Astronomical summer begins June 21st. Schools will have to provide students with plant-based meal options under a new state law. It says vegan and vegetarian meals must be available to kids who submit a request ahead of time, and it was supported by Senator Mattie Hunter. Senator Dave Koehler says the change shouldn't be too costly for schools because of the request-nature of the meals. The law takes effect in August. The National Weather Service has reported a tornado struck Mt. Carmel last night at 9:36, following a tornado warning issued for Wabash County at 9:32. Initial reports mentioned damage to the Mt. Carmel High School, but no reports were able to confirm that damage overnight. Law enforcement reported the tornado tracked across the southern side of Mt. Carmel; several tree limbs and debris were thrown by strong winds, per local media. Thunderstorms came through the Fairfield area last night at around 9, prompting severe thunderstorm warnings. We recorded about 58 hundredths of an inch of rain overnight here at the radio station. The Fairfield Community High School Board of Education met last night and presented the amended 2021-2022 Budget. It will be available for viewing in the District Office for 30 days; the next meeting was moved to June 23rd to allow for the 30-day window, and approval is anticipated at the next meeting. Members also accepted the retirement of teacher Brent Sutton, effective at the end of the 2024-2025 year. The Edwards County School District has announced registration times for Albion and West Salem grade schools and Edwards County High School. K-12 and West Salem online registration begins July 15th, and in-person registration will be August 1st from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 7 in each school office. The Fairfield Memorial Hospital Foundation plans to hold its 17th Annual Golf Scramble on August 5th at the Wayne County Golf Course. Tee times will be 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the entry fee for a four-person team is $200, to include a participant gift, continental breakfast, and lunch. People can secure a team registration or sponsorship donation by calling FMH Foundation Executive Director Amy Marsh at 847-8260. Wayne County Supervisor of Assessments Jodi Poole has publicized equalized assessed valuations for real property in the county. Equalization factors of 1.0 have been applied to farm and non-farm land and farm and non-farm improvements to bring assessments to the required three-year median levels of 33.33 percent. Farm Land assessments for the 2021 assessment year will increase by 10 percent of the preceding year's median cropped soil productivity index, resulting in a $35.21 per acre increase for each index. Anyone who believes their assessed valuation is incorrect or not uniform should contact Pool's office or file a complaint with the Board of Review. The final filing deadline for a township is 30 days from the publication date, or this coming Wednesday. The IDPH reported one new case of COVID-19 in Wayne, Edwards, and Lawrence counties yesterday. Jefferson County added six cases, Clay and Richland counties added four, and Marion and Hamilton counties added three. Wabash and White counties held steady on the state website. As a state, Illinois announced 7,555 new cases and 15 additional deaths. Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a new law banning "ghost guns" in Illinois. Criminals are increasingly turning to homemade "ghost guns," per the governor, as they are easier to get and don't require a background check. Illinois State Police say at least two teens have been charged with possessing a ghost gun this month, including one case where a loaded weapon was brought to a high school. KJ Johnson with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association has shared his thoughts on fertilizer production following President Biden's stop in Kankakee County last week. He says USDA released $250 million for increased production on fertilizer several weeks ago, and the President doubled that total last week. He says the money will help, but regulatory issues need to be addressed, as well. River stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 9.83 feet, below the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 5.33 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 9.06 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 8.95 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 9.45 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 11.41 feet. Today's crude oil price is $105.25, up $2.75 from yesterday. The June crude oil price is $111.65, up $2.10 from yesterday morning.