On 12/27/17 at 5:02pm Mt. Carmel Police arrested 24 year old Mt. Carmel resident Billy J. Dill along with 18 year old Mt. Carmel Hannah E. Rutledge following a traffic stop in the 900 block of N Mulberry Street. Both subjects were passengers in a white Chevy truck that had committed a traffic violation. During this time K-9 Officer Hopper with his dog “Ace” was called to the stop. Officer Hopper then conducted a free air narcotics sniff around the exterior of the Chevy truck with “Ace”. “Ace” alerted to the presence of drugs during the sniff. The arresting officer also found that one of the passengers, Billy J. Dill, had two warrants for his arrest out of Wabash County (both Failure to Appear Warrants). Dill was placed under arrest at this time. The other passenger, Hannah Rutledge, was found to be in possession of Methamphetamine and was arrested as well. Both were transported to the Wabash County Jail. Rutledge was charged and is being held on a $1000 cash bond. Dill is being held on a total of $1300 cash bond.
Mt. Carmel Man Arrested On FTA Warrant
On 12/26/17 at 4:38pm Mt. Carmel Police arrested 28 year old Mt. Carmel resident Danny T. Huffstetler for a Wabash County Warrant for Failure to Appear. Huffstetler was observed as a passenger in a red Saturn at 3rd & Walnut Street. The vehicle was stopped and Huffstetler was placed under arrest. Huffstetler was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was issued his warrant and held pending the posting of a $300 cash bond.
WSJD's Top 10 Local News Stories Of The Year
Everyone has a top 10 list this time of the year, so we've put together our own Top 10 Wabash County News Stories Of 2017. Our list is in no particular order and may be missing some things we might have overlooked. If you have anything we left out, let us know. Since local sports is so big locally, a couple of the bigger sports stories moved into the news category this year.
Aces basketball finish 2nd at state.
District #348 begins search for new superintendent
State money woes continue to plague local governments
South School closes. District #348 down to 3 schools. South sold to Norris City church.
Mayor Bill Hudson announced Villas of Holly Brook to build facility in Mt. Carmel and add jobs.
Darren Peach retires at MCHS football coach and is succeeded by Michael Brewer. Aces miss playoffs.
School facility sales tax goes into effect as District #348 and Allendale begins to reap benefits.
Wabash County financial turnaround from years of struggling to back in the black.
Local police continue to combat drug epidemic as heroin joins meth as major problem drugs.
Pediatric services return to Mt. Carmel after a multi-year absence as Dr. Lauren Croft begins practice for WGH.
Gospel Kingdom Welcomes 650 Youth To Mt. Carmel This Week
More than 600 youth from around the United States and other countries are in Mt. Carmel this week for the 29th annual youth convention being hosted by Gospel Kingdom Church. Brother John Peach said many churches cater to younger people during the summer with church camps and other gatherings, but very few offer anything at other times of the year such as Christmas break….
Peach said the youth convention began when Gospel Kingdom was located at 5th and Cherry Streets and the event caused a lot of traffic headaches in that part of town. He said this year marks the 20th year the convention has been held at the outer West 3rd Street location. Peach said the convention is geared toward 13 to 30 year olds and has been going on so long that some past attendees now bring their grandchildren to Mt. Carmel. The convention meets on the same schedule every year starting at noon on the 27th and ending at 2pm on the 29th to allow everyone to make it home in time to celebrate the new year.
Motorist Collides with Trooper near Intersection
This morning at 9:40, Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Chuck Murphy was operating his unmarked ISP commission, a 2013 Dodge Charger, with emergency lighting and siren activated, northbound on County Road 350 East near East 4th Street. S/Trooper Murphy was responding to a reportedly serious motor vehicle crash in the northern part of Vermillion County.
Near the 4th Street intersection, a northbound gray 2006 Cadillac Escalade moved to the right and Senior Trooper Murphy attempted to pass on the left. As the ISP vehicle was passing, the Escalade turned left into the side of the police charger, forcing the ISP charger off the west side of the roadway and into a utility pole.
Senior Trooper Chuck Murphy, age 44 of Clinton, was taken to Union Hospital of Clinton for treatment of neck and back pain.
Kathleen B. Holvey, age 63, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, driver of Escalade, was transported to Union Hospital of Clinton for treatment of pain.
No citations issued at this time.
The crash was investigated by ISP Master Trooper Chip McKee. Assisting were ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Master Trooper Matt Ames, Master Trooper Ty Lightle, Sergeants Joe Rutledge and Joe Watts, Clinton Police Department, Vermillion County Sheriff’s Office, Vermillion County EMS, Clinton City Fire/Rescue, Clinton Ford Towing, and Absolute Towing and Recovery.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Deputy nets two drug arrests while attempting to serve civil process paper
On December 27, 2017, at 5:51 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Jennifer Loesch was attempting to serve a civil process paper for the courts of Gibson County in the 300 block of West Vine Street in Patoka, Indiana. Upon approaching the residence she spoke with 27 year old Amit Patel of Patoka who was sitting outside the residence in a vehicle. While speaking with Mr. Patel Deputy Loesch detected the odor of burnt Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. At that point she began a drug investigation that resulted in Mr. Patel and 23 year old Tyler Mays of Patoka being placed into custody. Deputy Loesch also obtained a search warrant for the residence and with the assistance of Deputy Tim Speedy a search of the residence was conducted.
At the conclusion of her investigation Deputy Loesch transported Mr. Patel and Mr. Mays to the Gibson County Jail where they were each charged with Possession of Paraphernalia. Mr. Mays has since posted a $550 bond, but Mr. Patel is being held o n an outside agency’s hold.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
School Board Continues Superintendent Search Next Week
The search to find the next Wabash District #348 superintendent will take another step forward next week when the school board meets in special session. The special meeting will be held on January 4th at 6pm at the district offices as the board reviews the final 6 candidates to replace Tim Buss who is retiring effective June 30th. Last week, the board interviewed the 6 candidates during two separate session on the 18th and 20th. Previously, consultant Jim Helton of the Illinois Association of School Boards said the board will cut the 6 finalists down to two or three candidates who would be invited back for a second round of interviews on January 23rd. The new superintendent is expected to be named at the board’s February meeting.
Suspect Sought in Sullivan County Bank Robbery
Sullivan County—Tuesday afternoon at 4:02, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the First Financial Bank at 819 West Main Street in Farmersburg. Bank employees reported a robbery and the suspect fled from the bank on foot. No injuries were reported.
Within minutes, Farmersburg Town Marshal Cody Strain arrived at the bank, followed a short time later by Sullivan County Sheriff’s deputy Jeff Kinnett and ISP Trooper Justin Bell. The officers checked on the bank employees and immediately canvassed the area, but did not find the perpetrator.
The suspect is believed to be a white male, in his 20’s or early 30’s, 5-06, 150lbs, wearing a blue hooded type sweatshirt, blue jeans, and red athletic style shoes. He is believed to have fled on foot north from the bank to a possible waiting vehicle. There is no vehicle description at this time.
The male allegedly entered the bank, approached a teller, and handed a note demanding money. No weapon was displayed, but threats were allegedly inferred. The man left the bank with an undisclosed amount of US currency.
Vigo County Sheriff’s Deputy Kris Morris and K-9 “Blitz” attempted a “track” of the suspect which led them to the north of the bank where the track ended at a possible waiting vehicle.
Anyone with information about the robbery or possible suspect is urged to call lead investigators ISP Detective Sergeant Sam Stearley or ISP Detective Angie Hahn at the Putnamville Post at 765.653.4114 or Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom at 812.268.3408.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
SPACE HEATER SAFETY
As the weather gets colder, people often turn to space heaters to help warm up their homes. Although they’re convenient, space heaters also pose a major risk if they aren’t used appropriately.
Space heaters come in all shapes and sizes – some for small rooms, and some for large – that’s why the owner of Fusek’s True Hardware Store, Steve Fusek, says it’s important that you make sure you’re choosing the right one for the area you’re heating.
Fusek says space heaters today are cheaper and less durable – but many are also a lot safer than the older versions.
“There’s the tip over technology here as well as the auto-safety shut-off,” said Fusek. “If it gets too hot, it’ll shut down and hopefully prevent a problem.”
But even the space heater with the best safety rating can be dangerous if not used properly, that’s why the Indianapolis Fire Department says it’s important to make sure you’re taking every precaution when setting them up in your home.
“Make sure that you’re being vigilant about safety in your home,” said Rita Reith, IFD Battalion Chief. “Don’t put it next to your drapes hanging down or right under your Christmas tree – that sort of thing – You have to be smart where you put it.”
The fire department also says there are three things to remember when buying a space heater:
-Never leave them on when you’re leaving home
-Turn them off when you’re asleep
-Keep them away from combustibles
Not Too Late To Get A Flu Shot
The flu season is here in Illinois. More and more people are getting sick, but the state of Illinois says there's still time to get a flu shot.
Illinois is among the states that the CDC says is seeing "widespread" flu activity.
Melaney Arnold with the Illinois Department of Public Health says the state doesn't track all flu cases, just hospitalizations and deaths. But Arnold says every indicator points to the fact that flu season has begun in Illinois.
"We're starting to see flu cases increase here in Illinois just like every state across the nation," Arnold said. "We are typically seeing a strain, the H3N2 strain, that can be more severe than other strains.
Arnold says the IDPH is still recommending a flu shot, even though it may not be as effective as in years past.
"A flu shot can still be effective," Arnold said. "It can still help prevent some of the illness. And even if you do get the flu, a shot can hopefully make it a bit more mild. And it won't last as long."
The state's other tips to stay healthy are common sense: Wash your hands, stay away from sick people and, if you do get sick, don't go around and spread the virus.
