Wayne County Treasurer Donna Masterson reports that over 71% of Wayne County Property Taxes have been now collected. The total amount collected to date is $14,159,379.95. Total taxes due for collection equal $20,055,049.66. The second tax due date is scheduled for December 9th, with Certified Letters to be sent on January 6, 2023. The annual Tax Sale will be held on February 8, 2023, with the Sealed Bid Auction to be held on December 16, 2023. Friends of the Fairfield Public Library will conduct their semi-annual bake sale today from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the library on the corner at 300 SE Second Street. During the bake sale, there will also be hundreds of books available for $1 each, according to Librarian Michelle Conard. Annual dues for Friends of the Library are $12 for an individual, $20 for a family, and $30 for non-profit organizations as well as businesses and professional offices, and they made be paid during the sale. All proceeds from dues and fundraisers the Friends conduct are used by the library for its programs and purchases. Geff Ruritan Frontier Days in the Park will take place today with Car and Truck Show Registration taking place from 8:30am until 10am. Events taking place on Saturday include Frog Races at 9am, the Turtles Races starts at 9:30. Diaper Derby is set for 10, also at 10 is the Antique Tractor Show Judging. 10:30 is the Sawdust Pile, with Sack Races at 11. The Famous Ham and Beans Feed in the Ruritan Building starts at noon, followed by the Car Show Awards at 1, and the Big Parade at 2. There will be a Basketball Shoot at 3, Pedal Pull at 4, 50/50 Drawing at 5, and Crowning of Little Miss Frontier Days will cap the evening off at 6pm. There will be sandwiches and drinks served all day at the Ruritan Building, a Craft Booth in the Park, and Cider, Sodas, & Funnel Cakes sold in the park. A local farmer has won the 2022 Illinois Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Award. It's Jerald "Jay" Tharp Jr. who serves the Wabash Valley Service Company as an Agronomy Research Coordinator, covering ten (10) southeastern Illinois counties from Jasper County south to Gallatin County and all points in between. With 26 years of advising area farmers, Tharp uses his experience in soil fertility and fertilizer to focus on nitrogen-use efficiency, working with research from hybrid and variety plots for corn and soybeans, and how he works together with individual farmers and their product usage. Tharp also shares his knowledge with local 4-H and FFA members, plus volunteers for the Jasper County Fair and helps with Farm Bureau and other community fundraisers. Congratulations to Jay on receiving the statewide award. With the Medicare open enrollment period set to begin today older adults looking to change their existing Medicare plan can receive free assistance through the Illinois Department on Aging's Senior Health Insurance Program. During the open enrollment, which runs through December 7th, people who are already enrolled in Medicare have the opportunity to review their current coverage and switch to a different plan for the following year. For more, go to the IDA website online, at ilaging.illinois.gov. Today is Move Over Day across the country and the Illinois State Police is pleading with the public to obey Scott's Law. The law is simple, when you see flashing lights or a car pulled over on the highway, slow down and switch lanes if possible. But ISP Trooper Josh Korando says too often the law is ignored and others are put in danger. Since 2019, 82 Illinois State Police squad cars have been struck by passing vehicles, leaving two troopers dead, and 43 injured. The law has been in effect for more than two decades now, but some drivers still aren't getting the message according to Trooper Korando. He asks everyone to remember that they are risking the lives of first responders, people with a flat tire or broken-down car, and themselves when they whiz by. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who'll give up his position with the upcoming election, has submitted a rule change, for those with out-of-state commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). While under the proposed change, the Secretary of State would issue Illinois CDLs to out-of-state drivers with current CDLs who submit proof of residency, with no additional testing required. Previously, those with out-of-state CDLs were required to take all Illinois CDL tests, including written, driving, & skills for an Illinois CDL. The legislative JCAR is expected to make a decision by the end of the year or in early 2023. The federal case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan widened Friday after new charges were filed against him and his longtime ally, Michael McClain, alleging they conspired to accept a bribe from AT&T Illinois in exchange for favorable legislation. Prosecutors also announced that the company had admitted to using interstate commerce to facilitate passage of legislation and entered a deferred prosecution agreement while agreeing to pay a $23 million fine. The company's former president, Paul La Schiazza, 65, also faces charges for conspiring to influence Madigan. The latest indictments stem from legislation that AT&T pushed in 2017 known as a "carrier of last resort," or COLR bill. The charges allege that the phone company paid $22,500 to a Madigan ally in exchange for efforts by Madigan and McClain to pass the bill. The payment was allegedly made through an intermediary to conceal its true purpose. A spokesman for the Citizens Utility Board, which opposed the bill, said in an email that the law relieves AT&T from its prior duty to offer land line service to any customer within their service territory, once it receives approval from the Federal Communications Commission. The bill passed the General Assembly twice in different forms. Both were vetoed by then-Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, but in July 2017 the General Assembly overrode the second veto and the bill became law. La Schiazza has been charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of corruptly giving something of value to reward a public official, and three counts of using a facility in interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity, including bribery and legislative misconduct, which are violations of state law. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled. Madigan, 80, reigned over the Illinois House for all but two years between 1983 and 2021 and was considered by many to be the state's most powerful politician. He also chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois from 1998 to 2021 but resigned that position amid the corruption scandal as well. But he lost his leadership role in 2021 after he was implicated in a bribery scheme involving electric utility giant Commonwealth Edison. He was eventually indicted earlier this year on multiple corruption charges related to that scheme and is still awaiting trial. The latest charges come less than four weeks before the 2022 midterm elections in which the entire General Assembly and all statewide elected officials are on the ballot. Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature, but Republicans have campaigned hard on the theme that those majorities are the result of Madigan's corrupt leadership, both in the House and in the party. In light of an additional criminal charge against former House Speaker Madigan, Illinois House Republicans are calling for corruption in Government to be taken more seriously. Representative Tom Demmer of Dixon says this shows that no one person should have so much power in the legislature. House GOP Leader Jim Durkin says his Democratic Colleagues, who hold majorities in both the House and Senate, must realize that these accusations of trying to influence legislation through bribery have major consequences. The 2022 Illinois fall trout fishing season will open today at 59 ponds, lakes and streams across the state. The Illinois Catchable Trout Program is funded through the sale of Inland Trout Stamps. According to a release from the state, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocks more