Starting at 7am today, part of the Fairfield Memorial Hospital's main parking lot, to include the entrance into the main lobby of the hospital will be closed until approximately Noon. Drop offs and picks up will be at the Surgical Pavilion. This closure is due to a crane that will be moving in the new AC equipment as part of the Phase II renovations. There will be periods of time starting at 10am when they will be moving heavy duty equipment overhead and no staff or visitors will be permitted in certain areas of the main part of the hospital due to safety concerns. During these times FMH Security Staff will help guide visitors and staff. The Fairfield City Council met last night with all members present. The council approved 3 TIF Redevelopment Agreements. They include Farmers Daughter for $50,000. The business will be undertaking a complete renovation to the first floor and exterior work as well. Country Roads Realty for $5,500. Roof work and interior renovation are being completed. Gifford Properties LLC for $45,000. A complete renovation of the apartment complex in the 1400 block of West Main St. The complex currently has 6 available apartments with the planned renovations, the total number of available apartments will double to 12. Staffing issues continue to plague the Fairfield Police Department with last night's announcement that Officer Scott Esmon had resigned to accept a position with the Grayville Police Department. It was also announced that 3 applicants had passed both the written and physical agility test and are in the process of undergoing additional testing. In other Police news, the council voted to purchase a new police vehicle from Lemonds at a cost of $39,500. It is unclear when the new vehicle will arrive. The council approved a street closing on November 5 for the Veterans Day Parade at 2:00 pm. Discussion was held regarding substantially increasing the building permit fee for both residential and commercial applicants. Discussion was also held concerning the placement of storage containers on properties in the city. It was agreed that only one container per property and the container must be painted. Current zoning ordinances would also have to be adhered to. The matter will be addressed further at a future council meeting. Wayne County Treasurer, Donna Masterson is reminding Wayne County Taxpayers that the first installment of Real Estate Taxes is due on Friday, October 7th. Taxes can be paid at the Treasurer's Office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After Hours they can be placed in the drop box located on the West Side of the Courthouse, or they can be paid at any of the following banks: First Financial, Cisne Trust, Mt. Erie Banking Center, People's National Bank, or Fairfield National Bank in Fairfield or Wayne City. For more information contact the Treasurer's Office at 842-5087 Edwards County Treasurer Debbie Smith has announced that the 2021 payable 2022 Real Estate Taxes were mailed out yesterday. The Tax extension amounts to $6,490,579.88. The due dates have been set for Friday, October 28th and Monday, November 28, 2022. Payments may be made in person, by mail, or in the outside drop box. The box is located in front of the Cell Tower on the northeast side of the Courthouse (Sheriff's side). Anyone who uses the drop box should include a daytime phone number on their information. Those who wish to pay online using a credit or debit card may go to www.govtechtaxpro.com which will add a 2.5% fee that goes to the credit card company. The instructions are listed on the back of the tax bills on how to pay online. The Mobile Home Tax due date was July 29, 2022. Unlike Real Estate taxes, the late fee is $25.00 per month on each month delinquent effective July 30th. As of September 30th, the late will be $75.00. For additional information call the Treasurer's office at 445-3581. The Fairfield PaintOut is underway. Tuesday, the artists gathered in the Wayne City area to complete several paintings. Those paintings were on display last night at the Wayne City mural at Boyd Mattress. This evening, vintage car owners and enthusiasts will be joined by the artists at Leo French Park for a Cruise In hosted by the Wayne County Misfits Car Club. Brain Freeze food truck will also be at the park. The artists will be completing a Quick Paint, which is a painting completed in one and one-half hours. Cars will gather west of the swimming pool at 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Artists will be painting from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Afterwards, the paintings will be on display at Fusion Coffee in downtown Fairfield. Participants at Leo French Park and others interested in viewing the completed paintings are invited to Fusion to view the paintings, visit with the artists, and enjoy a coffee. The results are in from the 2022 Edwards County Paint-Out, hosted by the Albion Area Chamber of Commerce, held on Monday, September 26th. Professional Plein Air Awards: Best of Show $250, sponsored by Wabash General Hospital's Albion Clinic – Street by Vicki Gifford People's Choice $250, sponsored by Citizens National Bank of Albion – 5th Street by Vicki Gifford Best of Edwards County $250, sponsored by the Albion Area Chamber of Commerce – Corn and Beans by Marty Coulter Best of West Salem $100, sponsored by the West Salem Development Association – Quiet Afternoon by Farley Lewis. Local Artist's Awards: Best of Show $250, sponsored by CRHPC Albion Community Health Center – Cornerstone by Tara Thompson Best of Edwards County $250, sponsored by Doug Raber State Farm – Country Evening by Caleb Shelby People's Choice $100, sponsored by Mitchell Insurance – EC Lion by Kaci McGuire Best of Albion $100, sponsored by The Hope Center – EC Lion by Kaci McGuire Best of Bone Gap $100, sponsored by Magical Memories by Aubrey – Bone Gap Depot by Krista Garrod The Paint-Out was made possible by the generous donation of many local businesses and people. Nine people were recently booked into the Wayne County Jail: On 9/18 W.C.S.O. booked Anthony A. Boyd-Bey on a Failure to Appear Warrant for a charge of No Valid Driver's License. On 9/19 FPD booked Haley Nichole Morgan on a charge of Criminal Trespass to Residence. On 9/20 W.C.S.O. booked Jordan Michael Cottrill on an Unspecified Warrant issued out of Clay, IL. On 9/21 W.C.S.O. booked Charles Edward Newton on a Failure to Appear Warrant for a charge of Operation of an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, a Failure to Appear Warrant on a charge of Operation of Vehicle without Registration, and a Failure to Appear Warrant on a charge of Driving While Driver's License, Permit, or Privilege to Operate Motor Vehicle is Suspended or Revoked 2-Counts. On 9/21 FPD booked Shannon Lee Cone on a charge of Criminal Trespass to Residence; and Hunter Wayne White on a Failure to Appear Warrant for DUI-Alcohol 2-Counts. On 9/22 W.C.S.O. booked Susan Jean Grove on a Petition to Revoke Warrant for a charge of Methamphetamine Possession. On 9/23 W.C.S.O. booked Robert Nicholas Williams on a Failure to Appear Warrant for 2-Counts of Criminal Sexual Assault. On 9/24 W.C.S.O. booked Garrett S. Cosner on an Additional Hold for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. On 9/28 at approximately 12:09 a.m. Wayne County Sheriffs arrested 42-year-old Jason D Head on a charge of Violation of an Order of Protection, and a charge of Methamphetamine Paossession. Head is being held in the Wayne County Jail pending court appearance. Reduced Rate Lab Testing with Fairfield Memorial Hospital's Laboratory Department will take place October 17th – November 5th. There will be six convenient locations to choose from: Fairfield Memorial Hospital Laboratory, Horizon Healthcare Carmi Medical Clinic, Horizon Healthcare Cisne Medical Clinic, Horizon Healthcare Grayville Medical Clinic, Horizon Healthcare Fairfield Medical Clinic and FMH Albion Lab Draw Station at the Edwards County Health Department. To schedule an appointment for the Reduced Rate Labs, call 847-0400. The following tests will be offered at all locations: Hemoglobin A1c (Diabetic Monitor) $20 | Lipid Panel (Cholesterol