The Wayne County Board met for their regular monthly meeting Thursday evening at the Wayne County Courthouse. Fairfield Park Board President Jay Fyie and Park Board member Linda Monge addressed the board seeking funding for a portion of the cost of the proposed Splash Pad at Leo French Park. Estimated cost of the project is $750,000. The Park Board had originally filed a grant request with the County Board seeking $100,000, but at last nights meeting, both Park Board representatives stated they would certainly take whatever the board saw fit to appropriate. Board member Ronnie Windland stated that the Splash Pad would be used by 95% "City" kids, with rural families not choosing to use it. It was obvious that several board members did not agree with his assumption. In the end, the board is tabling the request for ARPA funds until it becomes clearer as to what repairs have to be made to the courthouse. the request will be addressed at a future meeting. Wayne County Farm Bureau
93 year old Lillian Woods Hilgeman departed this life on April 11, 2022 at Oakview Heights in Mt. Carmel, Illinois Lillian was born on February 2, 1929, Southeast of Ellery, Illinois the second daughter of Charlie and Genevieve (Smith) Woods. She grew up in the Mitchell community and attended Mitchell School. She was a graduate of Albion Community High School. Lillian married her high school sweetheart Charles W. "Skee" Hilgeman on July 22, 1950 and to this union was born one son, Charles W. "Chuck" Hilgeman Jr. Skee preceded her in death at the early age of 55 in 1985. Lillian is survived by her son Charles "Chuck" (Terri) Hilgeman, 2 grandchildren; Kyle (Stacey) and Kate (Sam) and 4 great grandchildren; Kenley, Ava, Banks and Matalynn. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a sister and brother in law, Lugene and Kenneth Millar and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends as well. Lillian then moved to Albion and continued working at the Burge
Wilma L. Waters, age 86 of Ellery, IL passed from this life to the next on March 8, 2021 at Rest Haven Manor in Albion, IL.
Wilma was born on December 7, 1934 in Lawrenceville, IL to Wendell A. and Olive L. (Shaw) Warren. She married Lloyd Waters on September 22, 1954 in Tacoma, WA.
Wilma was a farm wife who worked right alongside Lloyd; she drove tractors and trucks and helped with livestock. She was also a 4-H leader of the Little Prairie Pardners. She was the last surviving member of the Progressive Women’s Club. Once her children were raised, Wilma also worked as a cook in the nursing home and worked in a daycare. Raising a big garden for canning and flowers was an annual event in her life, and Wilma enjoyed taking her entries to the Edwards County Fair. She was a member of the Ellery Christian Church.