New Hope Grade School was crowned champion of the Wayne County Scholastic Bowl Friday night at Frontier Community College. The team went undefeated on the day, topping Jasper and Wayne City in the morning before defeating second-place Cisne in the championship match. Team members include Grady Simpson, Allison Breuer, Logan Hodges, Aiden Dunn, Alivia Rice, Karoline Book, Wren Braddock, Carly Fleener and Kamden Vaughan. The team is coached by Ardis Barbre. Effective Monday, Fairfield Memorial Hospital has announced changes to its visitation policy. Visitors entering the hospital and its clinics will no longer be required to screen upon entering any of its locations with the exception of the Skilled Care Unit, where it is still required by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The cafeteria and gift shops are fully opened with no restrictions, however visitors are asked to wear masks if they have respiratory symptoms, including COVID-19 or influenza for the protection of staff, patients and visitors unless otherwise indicated. Illinois State Police District 19 Commander, Captain Nathan Douglas, has announced that the ISP will be conducting Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) in White County during April. The patrols allow the ISP to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws. Police say safety belts are still one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles, estimated to save nearly 14,000 lives each year. Jefferson County Coroner Roger Hayse is hoping to have results within a couple of weeks from a forensic anthropologist that may lead to the identity of human remains that were found just southwest of Mt. Vernon, IL March 21st. DNA samples have also been given to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab. Hayes said a large part of the body was still intact when it was originally found by those looking for deer antlers that had been shed. He reports some additional parts of the body were located during a further search of the fields and wooded areas west of Davidson Avenue and Veterans Memorial Drive this past Tuesday. It is estimated 75 percent of the body has been recovered. Area river stages as of this morning: Little Wabash River east of Fairfield is at 22.1 feet, above the 17-foot flood stage. At Clay City the stage is 20.59 feet. Flood stage is 18 feet, with a crest of 21.3 feet expected on Sunday. At Carmi the river is at 23.47 feet, with a crest of 28 feet predicted for Thursday. Flood stage is 27 feet. The Skillet Fork at Wayne City stands at 12.27 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel is at 17.68 feet. Flood stage is 19 feet.