News

Fairfield school board has narrowed down the superintendent candidates to two, said Interim Superintendent Tony Price Tuesday morning. 

"We had 47 candidates of which four had first interviews," said Price.

<a href="http://www.etypeservices.com/Fairfield%20RecorderID278/"><span style="font-size:110%; font-family: calibri, arial, sans, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">To read the entire story, please log in or subscribe to the digital edition.</span></a></div>

After 293 students were reported absent Wednesday morning, Jan. 30, school officials decided to close each campus for cleaning at Fairfield ISD. Interim Superintendent Tony Price said he has "determined it is in the best interest of students, staff, and community to cancel Fairfield ISD classes for Thursday, Jan. 31 and Friday, Feb. 1."

"Our cleaning service has been doing extra cleaning, but with the staff and students out of the buildings on those days they will be able to do even more," said Price Wednesday morning. "It is my hope and prayer that four days of separation will help break the cycle and allow our students and staff to reunite on Monday, Feb. 4, as a much healthier unit."

Price said all extracurricular activities are canceled with the exception of varsity.

Several Fairfield citizens – including former mayor Roy Hill – voiced their opinions at Tuesday night’s council meeting regarding the possibility of a $4 million bond. All four speakers are concerned about the bond amount, as well as payments and the length of the bond. Don Thornton compared the bond to a suffocating person and asked the city to reconsider before “burying Fairfield in debt.”

“Is it morally or ethically right for Fairfield citizens to be strapped with that kind of debt?” asked Barry Capps, owner of Capps True Value. “In my opinion, the council should walk away from this bond.”

Community National Bank of Fairfield donated $500 to the upcoming FISD Education Foundation Gala event. Pictured are (from left) Tammy Moore, CNB; Demar Hill; Chifawn Johnson; Teresa Duke, CNB; Pam Chavers; Shari Dickens, CNB; Muriel Morton, CNB; and Jason Hullum, CNB.

Photo by April Walker

Calvary Baptist Church of Fairfield honored four staff members Sunday evening with a crock pot dinner in recognition of their service to the local organization. Congregation members prepared 34 different dishes, along with desserts, which certainly gave everyone plenty to choose from. Those honored during the evening were Devin DiGuilio, Director of Student Ministries, four years of service; Charlotte Mullen, secretary, 42 years of service; Shelby Race, music and education minister, 34 years of service; and Donald Mullen, maintenance superintendent, one year of service.

Photo by Billy Patterson

Fairfield High School staff is welcoming a new principal after news of Von Wade’s retirement after 42 years with the district was made public. Sonya Gibson officially takes the position July 1 and she says she is overwhelmed for the opportunity.

“I cannot express the gratitude I have,” said Gibson. “I have huge shoes to fill.”

Although Gibson graduated from Longview High School in 1993, she is originally from Fairfield and attended the schools until sixth grade when her family moved. Gibson began her career with FISD in 2005 after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in mathematics from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Peace and love abounded at last Thursday night’s annual Chamber of Commerce banquet where local businesses, teachers, and residents were awarded for various achievements. Taking home the well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award was Fairfield weatherman Barney Leach.

Leach’s life is filled with amazing feats. He worked for NASA on the Apollo 11 moon landing and was selected as a team member to receive America’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, for his role in the Apollo 13 rescue. Leach also writes a monthly weather column for the local newspapers.

Freestone County’s jail administrator has been placed on leave after an HR assessment found she is not licensed as a jailer, Sheriff Jeremy Shipley announced at last week’s commissioner’s meeting. Sheena Wimberly has been the jail administrator since Dec. 3, 2017. She is the third administrator since Shipley took office.

“It was an oversight on my part because TCOLE said I could designate anybody as a jail administrator,” Shipley explained.

“She didn’t work in the jail so I didn’t realize she had to have a jailer license.”

*EDITORS NOTE: The headline in this week's edition states the event is Feb. 9. This is incorrect.*

Veteran Dallas performers Karl Berkebile and Arch Hooks will face off during TSAC’s Alley Cats Dueling Pianos on Friday, Feb. 8, at Depot X. Singing and playing all your favorite music (rock and roll, classic rock, top 40, R&B and country) on two grand pianos, the Alley Cats performance includes singalongs, comedy and interaction with the crowd; a great time to get together with friends for a casual night out.  Tickets are available at Armadillo Emporium or online at www.TrinityStarArtsCouncil.org. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.; the show begins at 7:30 p.m. A buffet dinner and cash bar is slated for 6:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by the City of Fairfield.

The Fairfield girls’ powerlifting team won the Darrell Piske Memorial Powerlifting Meet at Fairfield High School on Thursday, Jan. 17, with 60 points. The Lady Eagles outdistanced runner-up Corsicana, which had 31 points.

Fairfield had four weight-class champions at the meet and had multiple scorers in a number of divisions.

Bailey Jones led a 1-2-3 sweep by Fairfield in the 165-pound weight class. She finished first with a total of 685 pounds lifted. That included a 255-pound squat, a bench press of 145 pounds and a 285-pound dead lift.