On 12/17/17 at 8:31pm Mt. Carmel Police arrested 55 year old Carmi resident Gregory A. Williams for Possession of Methamphetamine and a White County Warrant. The arresting officer observed Williams operating a bicycle at 6th & Walnut Street and made contact due to the warrant. Williams was placed under arrest at this time. During the search of Williams suspected Methamphetamine was found on his person by the arresting officer. Williams was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending the posting of $2000 cash bond on the Methamphetamine charge and another $500 cash for the White County Warrant.
Bone Gap Man Charged With DUI
On 12/13/17 at 6:04pm Mt. Carmel Police arrested 40 year old Bone Gap resident Austin N. Speir for Driving Under the Influence following a traffic stop on a red GMC truck at on outer West 9th Street. Speir’s vehicle had been called in from a concerned citizen after observing it swerve all over the roadway. Once contact was made with Speir signs of impairment were observed by the officer. Speir was placed under arrest for DUI following sobriety testing. Speir was taken to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and later released after posting $100 cash bond along with his valid Illinois license.
Bellmont Woman Arrested For Driving While Suspended
On 12/13/17 at 11:59am Mt. Carmel Police arrested 29 year old Bellmont resident Leanna D. McClanahan following a traffic stop at 2nd & Cherry Street. An officer observed a blue Dodge Dakota commit a traffic violation near the high school which resulted in the traffic stop. McClanahan was found to have a suspended Illinois Driver’s License and was placed under arrest. McClanahan was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail. McClanahan was later released after posting a $200 cash bond.
Kinze Cusick Wins Allendale Spelling Bee
On Friday, December 15th, Kinze Cusick won the Allendale School Spelling Bee. Kinze won by spelling the word "mandible" correctly. Ms. Cusick will next compete in the Tri-state Spelling Bee in Evansville on March 3rd at Ivy Tech Community College.
In the picture: Kinze Cusick - Champion and Katie Jackson - First Alternate
The Villas of Holly Brook To Locate In Mt. Carmel
Mt. Carmel Mayor Bill Hudson delivered an early Christmas gift to local residents at tonight’s city council meeting as he announced Unique Homes based in Charleston, Illinois will build a multi-million dollar facility west of the Super 8 hotel on outer West 9th Street. The company has purchased property from Haase Farms for the facility that will employ 45 full time and 25 part time employees…
According to their website, there are 8 Villas of Holly Brook and 6 Reflections Memory Care facilities in downstate Illlinois. To help with the development, Hudson said the city will consider a new TIF district. Once the proposed TIF is finalized, the city council will consider its’ adoption. The mayor said it’s hoped construction will begin once all agreements are in place and weather is no longer a factor.
Out Of Town For Holidays? MCPD Offers Security Checks
As millions leave their homes over the holidays, there’s nothing more tempting for thieves than a house full of Christmas gifts. To help give residents a little piece of mind while they’re gone, Mt. Carmel Police Chief John Lockhart has issued a reminder that MCPD offers security checks…
Lockhart said the security checks are free and all you have to do is stop by MCPD to fill out the short paperwork.
District #348 Superintendent Interviews Begin Today
The first round of candidates looking to become the new Wabash District #348 superintendent will be interviewed today at the district offices at 2:45pm. The school board will interview a total of 6 candidates today and Wednesday. A second round of interviews will take place next month with the new superintendent being named in February. The search is being coordinated by the Illinois Association of School Board and consultant Jim Helton.
And if you’re wondering how much input current superintendent Tim Buss will have on choosing his successor….the answer is not much.
To illustrate Buss’s lack of involvement in the hiring process, he was excluded from the executive session at last week’s school board meeting when Helton updated the board on the search. Buss is retiring as superintendent effective next June 30th.
Princeton man arrested on multiple charges
On December 11, 2017, at 2:06 a.m. Gibson County Sheriff's Sergeant John Fischer was enroute to a burglary call on Hudson Road in Patoka, Indiana. While approaching the residence Sergeant Fischer observed a Silver 2005 Pontiac Vibe driving in the area and got behind it to get the plate number off the vehicle. While following the vehicle Sergeant Fischer observed the vehicle stop multiple times in the roadway. At that point Deputy Fischer conducted a traffic stop to check the welfare of the driver. Upon approaching the vehicle the driver 32 year old Devin Cook of Princeton gave Sergeant Fischer a false name in an effort to conceal from officers that his driver’s license status was listed as suspended prior. During the investigation Sergeant Fischer with the assistance of Princeton Officers Daniel Goedde and Chelsea Jones learned Mr. Cook’s real identity and placed him into custody.
Upon being transported to the Gibson County Jail Mr. Cook was charged with False Informing, Identity Deception, and Driving While Suspended Prior. He remains in custody on a $750 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Gov. Rauner visits small manufacturers in Fairfield, Ridgway; notes reform goals
FAIRFIELD- Gov. Bruce Rauner stopped by two southern Illinois manufacturing facilities today, noting the singular achievements of an oil spill equipment maker in Fairfield and a group of Ridgway artisans crafting baseball bats swung by major-leaguers.
“Yours is a great story,” Rauner said before his tour of Elastec, which employs roughly 20 people at a 46,000-square-foot facility on Market Street in Fairfield, and 110 companywide. “Thank you for your products, your expertise and your help in keeping our waterways clean.”
Elastec has its main offices in Carmi, a second manufacturing site in Florida, and has been in business for more than 25 years. Its team of welders and fabricators build oil skimmers, dispersant application systems, portable incinerators, vacuum systems, pumps, power packs, specialized vehicles and work boats. They also produce floating booms and barriers, debris containment systems and aquatic weed control devices. The company has gained an international reputation for its aquatic environmental products, now sold in more than 155 countries.
“We owe it to companies like yours that are bringing manufacturing in Illinois into the modern era to step up the business-friendliness of Illinois,” Rauner said. “This state has so many desirable assets in transportation, distribution, technology — and a tremendous workforce. But we must roll back the Madigan tax, bring property taxes down and do more to reduce regulatory burdens on our manufacturing sector.”
“It’s obvious and apparent that the governor is doing his best to try to strengthen the state, especially in the jobs area,” said Jeff Bohleber, who is Elastec’s chief financial officer and a board member. “We’re local people who started a business in the community where we were raised. We obviously want to grow and stay in our area and allow our children and their children to have a future here.”
At Dinger Bats in Ridgway this afternoon, the governor could not help but smile at the stacks of baseball bats lining walls, stacked in tubes and piled on pallets in various stages of production.
“This place is every boy’s dream,” he said. “How could you not love working here?”
An Illinois artisan stop on the Illinois Makers/Enjoy Illinois tourism promotion, Dinger Bats makes hand-crafted bats for sluggers ranging from college players to MLB World Series winners.
“You guys made the bat Kyle Schwarber used in the Chicago Cubs’ World Series-winning season,” Rauner said. “It doesn’t get much cooler than that.”
The company employs 16 and was founded by Kyle Drone and his father, Randy. Rauner was joined by state Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, at the Ridgway stop.
“It’s an honor to have Governor Rauner and Senator Fowler visit the factory and really take the time to listen to the needs of small businesses in all parts of the state,” Kyle Drone said.
“Dinger Bats is an incredible small business success story from southern Illinois where a company took a passion for creating a quality product and worked hard to grow into a nationally recognized manufacturing company that produces bats used in the major leagues,” Fowler said. “I’m happy to see a southern-based manufacturer receive some well-deserved attention for their growth, contributions and success.”
Rauner said it’s his game plan to help the company hit even more home runs.
“You’ve managed to remain a family-owned business manufacturing high-quality, American-made maple baseball bats that are now sold in Mexico, Europe, Korea, Taiwan and Australia,” the governor said. “By cutting taxes and getting government out of the way, Dinger Bats and companies all over Illinois can grow faster and create more good, high-paying jobs.”
Medical Episode Causes Driver to Crash
Putnam County—Just before 10:00 Friday morning, Indiana State Police responded to a one-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the 34 mile marker.
Preliminary investigation revealed a westbound silver 2013 Chevrolet Impala, driven by 52-year-old Robin Blansett of Farmersburg, IN., left the roadway and struck the center median barrier cables. After striking the cables, the Impala reentered the roadway and struck a westbound 2003 Kenworth tractor pulling a semi-trailer and driven by 58-year-old Daniel Foster of Joplin, Missouri.
Robin Blansett was transported to St. Vincent Clay Hospital in Brazil for treatment of a medical episode. She was belted and was the recipient of airbag deployment, thus receiving no injuries from the crash.
Daniel Foster was not injured nor cited.
INDOT workers in the area had notified ISP about the silver Impala operating erratically. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Trooper Yan Dravigne was in the area and attempting to locate the vehicle. A few minutes later, and before Dravigne could locate the Impala, ISP Region V Dispatch Center was notified of the crash.
Assisting Trooper Yan Dravigne were ISP Senior Trooper John Myers, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and Putnam County Operation Life.
