The Illinois House adopted a resolution Wednesday afternoon sponsored by State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dietrich) which designates Interstate 64 in Wayne County from Mile Post 112 to 116 as the "Deputy Sean Riley Memorial Highway". Deputy Sheriff Sean Riley was shot and killed December 29, 2021, after responding to assist a motorist near mile marker 115 on I-64. Another officer responding to back him up found him suffering from fatal gunshot wounds, and his patrol car was missing. The subject later abandoned the patrol car on I-64 before fleeing to St. Peters, Missouri, where he carjacked and shot a citizen. The man then abandoned the vehicle before stealing another vehicle and returning to Illinois. He was taken into custody in the early afternoon. Deputy Riley had served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office for three years. ISP responded to a single vehicle crash with personal injury yesterday. Preliminary investigative details indicate that at approximately 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, March 30, Michael R. Smith, 32 of Wayne City, was traveling northbound on IL Route 242, just south of County Road 1650 North, in a Black 2002 Chevrolet Trail Blazer. For an unknown reason, he veered off the roadway to the left, struck a culvert, and became airborne before striking a tree. Smith was transported by helicopter to a regional hospital for treatment of serious injuries. He was issued citations for improper lane usage, unlawful possession of cannabis and failure to wear a seatbelt. This is an open and on-going investigation and no-other details are available at this time. As the rate of COVID-19 infection decreases in our community, SSM Health is adjusting its visitor policy in the southern Illinois region. Beginning Thursday, March 31, all SSM Health facilities in southern Illinois will no longer restrict visitors for non-COVID positive patients. COVID positive patients are still under a strict, no visitor policy. Visiting hours will be extended at both hospitals, allowing visitors between the hours of 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. daily. Visiting hours do not apply to outpatient surgical cases and Emergency Department guests. An overnight visitor may be allowed in certain situations and must be approved by nursing leadership. The age restriction on visitors has also been lifted. The infusion center at SSM Health Cancer Care – Oza Cancer Center will not allow visitors at this time in order to protect immunocompromised patients. The masking policy has not changed inside the health ministries. All visitors, ages 2 and up, are still required to wear a mask inside our health ministries. It is strongly recommended surgical/droplet masks are worn. FCHS Student Council are holding an "Egg My House" Fundraiser. Let the FCHS Student Council "Egg Your House" with festive, colorful candy and treat-filled eggs to be delivered and hidden in your yard for the Easter Holiday. Eggs will be filled with candy and small treats. There are a limited number of open slots for each night. Be sure to let them know if your child has an allergy. Updates will be delivered via SMS text messaging on the night of delivery. Delivery nights are April 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16. Local delivery only, payments accepted are cash or check to FCHS. For more information call Donna Reever at 842-2649. The most recent Clemence Elizabeth Cox Scholarships have been awarded to five deserving young women enrolled in their second year of the nursing program at Frontier Community College. Students were recognized on Wednesday, March 30th in the newly rededicated Cox Hall on the campus of Frontier Community College. Over the last decade, Jerry's dedication to the education of nurses in our community has resulted in awarding over 60 scholarships to nursing students in their second year at Frontier. Having served in Vietnam, Jerry holds nurses in very high regard. It is his hope that local students will attend Frontier and find employment in our community in the health care field. This spring Jerry honored these students in memory of his classmate and friend, Craig Cunningham. Pictured left to right: Julie Bullard Program Advisor Allied Health, Madeline Stence, Kayla Owen, Sarah Rush FCC Foundation President, Jerry Cox, Wanda Douglas FCC Director of Nursing, Miranda Murray, Carla Valleroy, Melissa Coggin-Proser and Justn Young, Coordinator of Financial Aid Pictured from left to right: Madeline Stence, Kayla Owen, Jerry Cox, Miranda Murray, Carla Valleroy, Melissa Coggin-Prosse. Two first-level Nursing students were each recently awarded $500 as recipients of the Vicky Lemons Memorial Scholarship. Vicky Lemons was well-known and loved at FCC and in the community. Serving as a member of FCC's nursing faculty from 2006 until her passing in March 2015, Vicky played an important part not only in the education of her students, but also in their everyday lives. The Vicky Lemons Memorial Scholarship was established by Vicky's family and friends in an effort to give back to the students she loved helping so much. Even in passing, Vicky continues to help students achieve their nursing goals through this scholarship award. Pictured below from right to left are: Full-time Faculty Beth Wilson, FCC Head of Nursing Department Wanda Douglas, Tiarra Sharp, Kelly Iverson, Instructor Juliana Fleming, Coordinator of Financial Aid Justn Young, Nursing Instructor Karen Marks. The Nursing Program is offered through Olney Central College/Illinois Eastern Colleges. To learn more about the Nursing Program, visit iecc.edu or call 618-842-3711. Flora Public Library has received an Expanding Digital Inclusion grant to fund a new project called Tech Take-Out. With this grant, the library will be able to provide state-of-the-art Lenovo ThinkPad laptop computers and T-Mobile hot spots. The library's adult cardholders will have access to a total of eight Lenovo ThinkPad laptops in sturdy cases that are available for checkout. These devices will allow our patrons to file job applications, social security or unemployment forms, and other online documents, attend virtual meetings, visit with loved ones, transact business remotely, and assist adult/mature students with remote learning, just to name a few. All of the laptops will have OPENDNS content filtering for CIPA compliance. Also included is Security Suite software. When laptops are returned, the staff will use this program to delete all information added, plus any changes to configuration. Rebooting the Lenovo ThinkPad laptop computers will reset them to ensure the privacy of our users. The library's eleven T-Mobile hot spots are also available for checkout. Both laptops and hotspots check out is for 28 days. Funding for this grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the US Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The Carmi Rifle Club, a not-for-profit organization in Carmi, IL will be hosting its annual NRA Women On Target instructional shooting clinic on Saturday, May 7th. The day will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. followed with firearm safety orientation and instructional sessions for shotgun, .22 caliber handgun in the morning. Attendees will have the added opportunity to shoot rifles and centerfire handguns in the afternoon. Participants will be treated to a picnic lunch. The purpose of the clinic is to provide training in the safe handling of firearms in a safe, relaxing, non-competitive, and fun-filled environment. The clinic will conclude at approximately 3 p.m. Firearms, ammunition, targets and lunch will be provided by the club. The event is made possible in part by the Friends of the NRA Foundation. The event will be supervised by NRA certified instructors and range safety officers as well as experienced club members. The club is located north of Carmi at 1576 Co. Rd. 1250 E, Carmi, IL, just off Illinois Highway 1. Registration for the clinic costs $30 per participant. Pre-registration is required. To register, contact Valinda Rowe at 618-963-2788, or send an email t