Fairfield Mayor Mike Dreith has announced his nomination for the city's Police Chief. He says he intends to nominate former Fairfield police officer and mayor Brent Maguire at tomorrow's city council meeting. The 48-year-old Maguire served as mayor from 2017 to 2020 and was a police officer from 1997 to 2011. He defeated four people to become mayor by a wide margin but resigned his seat in August 2020 to accept a lecturer position in criminal justice at Oakland City University. The Fairfield City Council will meet tomorrow at 6 at City Hall. Outside of appointments, aldermen are anticipated to award a bid for the new water tower; they are also scheduled to discuss an ordinance setting fees for the new Class Q Liquor License established earlier this month. Other agenda items include approving the FOP Contract, seeking bids for a salt storage shed, and an ordinance authorizing the sale of property. Edwards County Schools held their graduations on Saturday. For ECHS, Rylan Robb
Fairfield Community High School is readying for its spring production of "Mamma Mia!" late next week. Shows are scheduled for April 1st and 2nd in the FCHS gymnasium; gates will open at 6:15, and the shows will begin at 7. Tickets are available at the door and will cost $5, the cheapest tickets have been for an FCHS play or musical in years. The Edwards County High School Academic Challenge Engineering Science Team took fourth place out of 21 teams at the Eastern Illinois University Sectionals conducted virtually earlier this month. The team will advance to the State Finals to be held in April. Molly Swardstrom took first place in Engineering Graphics in the contest. The Fairfield Public School District Board of Education will meet tonight at 6. The board is scheduled to act on the employment of a Superintendent after executive session, along with several other personnel matters. Other action items on the agenda include a gym floor project at Center Street, parking lot paving
The Greater Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is supporting the establishment of a Business District in Fairfield. At a meeting yesterday morning, the board heard a presentation from Mayor Mike Dreith and unanimously voted to support the idea. A public hearing has been set for March 8th at 5:30 at City Hall before a City Council meeting, and the majority of the council will have to support the idea for it to become a reality. All council meetings are streamed on the City's Facebook page. The Edwards County High School ACES team earned second place in the Regional Academic Challenge in Engineering and Science competition, which was hosted by Olney Central College last Wednesday. The team will advance to compete in Sectionals in March in a virtual competition via Eastern Illinois University. First-place individual finishers included Emma Wiseman in English, Lauren Luker in Biology, Tobias Reineke in Physics, and Molly Swardstrom in Engineering Graphics. Fairfield
41-year-old Jessica Simpson, a 16-year-old, and 54-year-old Bradley Richards were involved in an accident at the intersection of South First Street and Highland Avenue in Fairfield Friday afternoon. Police say the teen rear-ended Simpson, causing her to enter the path of Richards. A semi attempted to pass on the shoulder of the road as police investigated the crash, and it had to be stabilized by a tow truck to prevent it from overturning in a ditch.
45-year-old Terry G. Werner, Jr., and 24-year-old Nelson L. Greenman were sentenced in Wayne County Circuit Court Thursday. Werner pleaded guilty to a count of driving with a revoked license, and Greenman pleaded guilty to a count of possession of a stolen vehicle. Both were sentenced to two years probation and were ordered to pay fines and court costs.
COVID-19 vaccinations are currently available for Fairfield residents, and will be distributed on Tuesday, March 16
th. Anyone interested in making an appointment to receive the vaccine should contact the Wabash County Health Department at 263-3873.
The much-anticipated decision on the fate of the Wayne County Courthouse will not be known for at least some time. The board failed to take any action during the meeting concerning the building, but an Executive Session at the conclusion of the meeting concerned the possible purchase, lease or acquisition of property. No action was taken by the board at the conclusion of the Executive Session. David Harl addressed the board in support of keeping the courthouse, citing its architectural and historic value to the community. Jail Committee Chairman Nathan Jones stated that the board was investigating its options if the Qualified Immunity for Police Bill passes in the Illinois Legislature. Jones stated that the board fully supports the Wayn