Commissioners Approve County Budget

Meeting at noon today, Wabash County Commissioners formally approved the county’s budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year that begins on December 1st. The budget totals $6,148,299 and is up from the estimated current budget of $5,760,649. The majority of the budgeted money is allocated to the general fund at $2,051,139. Commissioners today also approved the tax levy for 2017 collectible in 2018 in the amount of $2,362,050. Today’s meeting was a continuation of the county board’s regular meeting this past Monday.

Also today, board chairman Tim Hocking signed a proclamation designating December 4th as Illinois Bicentennial Day in Wabash County. A bicentennial flag raising ceremony and program are scheduled for noon on the 4th to kick off the state’s 20th birthday.

Wabash County Commissioners Rob Dean, Robie Thompson, and Tim Hocking discuss the 217-18 County budget before formally approving it today.

Two Arrested By WCSO

On 11/20/17 while on patrol a Wabash County deputy observed activity at a residence in Bellmont whom he knew the occupant to have 2 active warrants.  The deputy made contact with the subject, Lloyd E. Gunzel, 48 of Bellmont and took him into custody on warrants out of Wabash and Lawrence Counties.  Gunzel asked to retrieve some items from the residence , in doing so it was discovered that a female within the residence, 26 year old Charlene Read  of Mt. Carmel, also had a warrant out of Wabash County.  Both were transported to the Wabash County Jail and held pending the posting of bond. 

Lloyd Gunzel

Charlene Read

WCSO Arrests Pair

On 11/15/17 at 6:31 p.m. a Wabash County sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on Highway 3 outside of Keensburg for a traffic infraction. Following the roadside investigation and physical condition of the driver, Coleton E.D. Seibert, 23, of West Salem, the deputy requested assistance from MCPD officers D. Hopper and K-9 Ace. A free air narcotics sniff was conducted of the vehicle. K-9 Ace alerted on the vehicle and a search was conducted. Seibert was taken into custody charged with DUI-Drugs, and a passenger, 24 year old Beau D. Price of Mt. Carmel was taken into custody as well for a charge of Delivery of a look-a-like substance. (suspected synthetic cannabis) Both were transported to the Wabash County Jail.

Coleton Seibert

Beau Price

Kirkman Arrested On Stolen Vehicle Charge

On 11/15/17 at 6:12 A.M. the Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to the intersection of E 1200 Rd. and N 2100 Blvd. reference a report of a male subject passed out drunk or deceased on a side by side (UTV).

The deputy attempted to wake the driver of the UTV but did not get a response from the individual. WGH ambulance service was asked to respond to the scene for medical treatment. The male was transported to Wabash General Hospital for treatment. The UTV was towed from the scene and held pending further investigation. The driver was later identified as Clayton S. Kirkman 31, of Mt. Carmel. The UTV a 2016 Polaris Ranger 900 XP was found to have been stolen out of Jasper Co. Illinois in May of 2017.

Upon release from WGH Kirkman was taken into custody and transported to the Wabash County Jail and charged with Possession of a converted vehicle.

IECC Board Of Trustees Meeting Summary

The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District No. 529 met Tuesday night, November 21st at Olney Central College, Olney, Illinois and certified the district’s levies for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018. 

            Dates, times and meeting location were set for regular monthly meetings of the Board of Trustees for the 2018 calendar year.  The Board will meet on the third Tuesday of each month, except December, when it will meet on the second Tuesday of the month.  The dates were approved as follows:

            Tuesday, January 16, 2018, 7 p.m., Lincoln Trail College

            Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 7 p.m., Olney Central College

            Tuesday, March 20, 2018, 7 p.m., Wabash Valley College

            Tuesday, April 17, 2018, 7 p.m., Frontier Community College        

            Tuesday, May 15, 2018, 7 p.m., Lincoln Trail College

            Tuesday, June 19, 2018, 7 p.m., Olney Central College

            Tuesday, July 17, 2018, 7 p.m., Wabash Valley College

            Tuesday, August 21, 2018, 7 p.m., Frontier Community College

            Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 7 p.m., Lincoln Trail College

            Tuesday, October 16, 2018, 7 p.m., Olney Central College

            Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 7 p.m., Wabash Valley College

            Tuesday, December 11, 2018, 7 p.m., Frontier Community College

       The Board also approved two easements on District property located at Frontier Community College.  An easement was approved for buried cable with Wabash Communications Cooperative.  An easement was also approved for Kieffer Development for vehicle parking. 

The Board approved changes in student fees for the Apprenticeship Program and for the CPR Course.  Both revised fees will reflect actual cost rather than a stated dollar amount. 

A revision was made to the requirements for applicant test scores for the Allied Health Program. 

A cooperative agreement for services was approved between Wabash Area Development’s Head Start Program and Wabash Valley College’s Small World Child Care Center.

The holiday calendar for administrative, technical, professional non-faculty, clerical and maintenance personnel was approved for calendar year 2018.  The schedule is the same as in previous years.

Affiliation agreements were approved for the Phlebotomy Program with Fairfield Memorial Hospital, Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation and Deaconess Hospital. 

Trustees approved an emergency repair for a heat exchanger at Olney Central College. 

A salary increase of 2.5% was approved for all non-bargaining unit full-time employees.

Joseph Brown was employed as Truck Driving Instructor at Wabash Valley College, effective November 27.      Brittany Harris was employed as Nursing Instructor at Frontier Community College, effective January 3, 2018.  Julie Auteberry was employed as TRIO Upward Bound Counselor at Wabash Valley College, effective December 4.  Carrie Thomas was employed as Administrative Assistant at the Workforce Education Program, effective November 22.

            A retirement ratification was approved for Roger Browning, Chief Finance Officer at

District Office, effective May 1, 2018 and for William Rogers, Workforce Education

Instructor, effective December 1.

            A resignation ratification was approved for Amy Scamman, Nursing Instructor at Wabash Valley College, effective December 15.

            Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 7p.m. at Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel.  

MCPD MAKES DUI ARREST

On 11/20/17 at 11:13pm, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 32 year old Mt. Carmel resident Jacob N. McKendry for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Driving While License Suspended following a traffic stop for a traffic violation in the 200 block of North Walnut Street. The Officer suspected McKendry may be under the influence of alcohol so field sobriety testing was conducted. The tests confirmed those suspicions and McKendry was placed under arrest at this time. McKendry was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was processed and held on a $300.00 cash bond.

Mt. Carmel Woman Arrested On Meth Charge

On 11/20/17 at 2:27pm, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 46 year old Mt. Carmel resident Melinda R. Biehl on a Wabash County Warrant for Methamphetamine Possession. Biehl was stopped in the 400 block of East 10th Street and placed under arrest. Biehl was transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was held pending the posting of a $2000.00 cash bond. This warrant was the result of a traffic stop by Mt. Carmel Police on 11/06/17 where suspected methamphetamine was located after K-9 Officer Hopper and his K-9 “Ace” conducted a free air narcotic’s sniff of the exterior of Biehl’s vehicle. The suspected methamphetamine was later tested and found positive for methamphetamine. This information was forwarded to the Wabash County State’s Attorney’s Office for a warrant request on Biehl which was later issued out of Wabash County Circuit Court.

Windle Arrested On Warrant

On 11/19/17 at 1:40pm, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 36 year old Mt. Carmel resident Patricia L. Windle on an Edwards County Warrant for her arrest regarding a Violation of Probation. Windle was observed in the 400 block of West 2nd Street where she was stopped and placed under arrest. Windle was transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was held pending extradition back to Edwards County Illinois.

Former School Treasurer Charged with Official Misconduct

Sullivan County—Following a lengthy investigation by Indiana State Police Special Investigations, the former treasurer of the Southwest School Corporation in Sullivan County, Amy Kinnett, has been charged with one count of Official Misconduct, a level 6 felony. Kinnett surrendered to Indiana State Police around 9:00 this morning and was booked into the Sullivan County Jail. 

The ISP investigation began on August 18, 2017 when ISP Special Investigations Detective Sergeant Troy Stanton met with representatives from a private forensic audit unit, hired by the Southwest School Corporation to review financial records, after allegations of possible wrongdoing were levied against Kinnett. During both the ISP and forensic audit investigations, evidence arose indicating Kinnett utilized the SSC (Southwest School Corporation) credit card during years 2015 through 2017, for personal use, including purchases for bridal, hotel, grocery, telephone, and clothing, totaling over $6,000. Kinnett is also alleged to have one, removed cash from various envelopes in the custody of the treasurer’s office totaling over $1000 and two, possessed several checks payable to SSC that were not deposited within one business day of receipt, as required by Indiana law. During this investigation, Kinnett made substantial restitution efforts to the SSC. 

No other information will be released at this time. No additional charges or information is anticipated. 

The case was investigated by ISP Special Investigations Detective Sergeant Troy Stanton. Assisting were Senior Prosecutor David Thomas (Appointed as Special Prosecutor).

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

ISP Eye in the Sky Returns over Putnamville District

Putnamville—For the third time in nearly two-weeks, Indiana State Police troopers from the Putnamville Post again received aircraft assistance with speed enforcement efforts. 

Indiana State Police Sergeant Lee Wright, from the ISP Aviation Section, again piloted his Cessna 172 Skyhawk to the Putnamville District, and joined forces with Putnamville District officers, Sergeant Jared Nicoson, and Troopers Jason Owen, Hans Nowak, Chuck Murphy, Brian Thomas, and Ian Portteus with K-9 “Czar”. 

Patrolling high above State Road 63 in southern Vermillion County, Sgt. Wright would detect speeding vehicles below, utilizing his VASCAR (Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder), then radio the units below and guide them to the target vehicle to ensure the correct vehicle was stopped for enforcement action. 

During the three hour period, 8a to 11a, troopers issued (14) traffic citations (11 for speeding), (12) warnings, (4) Commercial Vehicle Inspections, and (1) vehicle search. The highest speed of the morning was 81mph in a 60mph zone.  

Trooper Chuck Murphy arrested one driver, 32-year-old, Clarid Mutchler of Kingman, IN., for no valid license (misdemeanor violation) and incarcerated Mutchler in the Vermillion County Jail. 

As a reminder, Operation Pull Over “Safe Family Travel” is ongoing and runs from November 10, 2017 through December 4, 2017. . Motorists are strongly encouraged to obey traffic laws and drive safe and sober.  

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.