Crash Sends One To Hospital

ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12

WHAT: Personal Injury Crash

WHERE: Route 40 quarter mile east of Fayette County Road 1550 North 1 mile West of Vandalia

WHEN: 01/09/2018, 4:39 PM

VEHICLES: Unit one – 2008 Chevrolet Unit two - 2001 Pontiac

DRIVER: Unit one - Jonathan F. Sandifer Age 45 from Greenville

Unit two - Norma E. Poore Age 67 from Smithboro

PASSENGERS: Unit two – Jennifer K. Ulmer Age 43 from Smithboro

CHARGES: Unit one - Failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash/No insurance

TRANSPORTS: Jennifer Ulmer transported to Fayette County Hospital.

PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate unit one was traveling behind unit two on Route 40 one mile west of Vandalia. Unit one and unit two were both traveling east. Unit one struck the rear of unit two in the roadway. 

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

Evansville Man Arrested for DUI and Possessing a Handgun without a Permit

Vanderburgh County – Last night at approximately 8:00, Trooper Brent Gramig stopped the driver of a Ford Mustang on Washington Avenue east of U.S. 41 for improper registration.  The driver was identified as Joshua Hernandez, 21, of Evansville.  Trooper Gramig immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana inside the vehicle. Gramig searched the vehicle and discovered a small amount of marijuana, digital scales and a 9 mm Smith and Wesson pistol. Further investigation revealed Hernandez did not have a permit to possess the firearm and he has never received a driver’s license. He also refused to submit to a chemical test.  Hernandez was arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

Arrested and Charges:

• Joshua Hernandez, 21, of Evansville, IN

1. Driving While Intoxicated, Class C Misdemeanor
2. Possession of Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor
3. Possession of Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor
4. Possessing a handgun without a Permit, Class A Misdemeanor
5. Operating a Vehicle without ever Receiving a Driver’s License, Class A Misdemeanor 

Arresting Officer: Trooper Brent Gramig, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officer: Trooper Ross Rafferty, Indiana State Police 

Assisting Agency: Evansville Police

                                                                    All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

The Guardian Center's 20th Anniversary Celebration Banquet

The Guardian Center, Inc. is pleased to bring Midwest Dueling Pianos to our 20th Year Celebration on Friday, March 2nd.  Sponsorships are available for this event to support our programs for abused children and their families.

Twenty Years!  It’s hard to believe, but true.  A long time to be providing services to children and families, but so rewarding!  We hope to fill the banquet hall with guests to enjoy this evening of fun entertainment while helping us raise funds to fulfill our mission!

Midwest Dueling Pianos offers a wildly entertaining music and comedy dueling piano show that our guests will love. The one-of-a-kind entertainment experience that is Midwest Dueling Pianos will have guests singing, dancing, and laughing, along with their friends and family.

The event will be held at the Castle at the Windsor Oaks in Grayville, with the doors opening at 5:15.  A buffet dinner will be served at 6 pm (with a meatless option for those observing Lent). There will be auction items and a raffle as well as a cash bar (beer & wine only).

For those interested in volunteering to help or donate items for the auction, please call 618-382-8247 or email nbradfield@theguardiancenter.org or swoodham@theguardiancenter.org  .
 

The Guardian Center, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID# 37-1377173.

Saline Satellite
2 Locust St, Suite B
Harrisburg, IL  62946
(618) 294-8422  

Wabash Satellite
909 W. 3rd Street

Mt. Carmel, IL 62863

Healing Harbor Satellite
1108 Allen St

Robinson, IL  62454

The Guardian Center is

Seeking Nominations for “Friend of the Children Award”

The Guardian Center, Inc. is seeking nominations for its Annual “Friend of the Children” Award. 

The Guardian Center wishes to honor an individual who contributes in a special way to meet the needs of children in its service area.  We would like to reward an individual committed to serving children in their community.  We are asking that members of the public submit a letter of nomination for a person they believe has shown exemplary commitment to the needs of children and whose efforts should be acknowledged. 

Nominations are open to all persons in White, Gallatin, Saline, Edwards, Wabash, Richland, Lawrence, and Crawford County except for paid staff of The Guardian Center, Inc.

The primary criteria for the Friend of the Children Award are:

Ø The individual has an established record of working with children

in some mentoring/treatment/character building activity.

Ø The individual has gone “above and beyond” the call of duty in

their service to children.

Please write a letter outlining the accomplishments or activities of the individual. 

It is recommended that submissions include one or two letters of support, but this is not necessary to make a nomination.  Nominations will be received until Friday, February 9 at 5 p.m. 

The Award Recipient will be recognized at our 2018 20th Year Celebration Banquet on March 2nd, 2018 at the Castle at Windsor Oaks in Grayville, Illinois.  Notice will be provided to the nominating party between February 12-16th so that arrangements can be made to have the recipient present for the award.

Please send your nominations to Friend of the Children Award in C/O The Guardian Center, 1124 Oak Street, Carmi, IL 62821 or email them to: swoodham@theguardiancenter.org . 

If you have any questions or if you would like to purchase tickets to attend the 2018 Banquet on February 4th, please call the Center at 618-382-8247.

3 Hour Early Dismissal Friday & No School Monday

Another long weekend coming up for Wabash County school kids. There’ll be a three hour early dismissal  of students in District #348, Allendale, and St. Mary’s for school improvement activities. On Monday, there’s no school in observance of Martin Luther King’s birthday.

THREE RICHLAND COUNTY MEN INDICTED ON METHAMPHETAMINE RELATED CHARGES

Three Richland County, Illinois men were indicted on January 4, 2018, on
methamphetamine related charges in separate indictments returned by a federal grand jury, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.

  Brian E. Adkins, age 35, of Olney, IL was charged in a two-count indictment.  Count 1 charged that from February 2015, until on or about December 11, 2017, in Richland County, and elsewhere, Adkins conspired to knowingly and intentionally distribute methamphetamine.  It is further alleged that the total amount of methamphetamine involved in the conspiracy was 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (Ice), or 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.  Count 2 charges that on August 30, 2015, in Richland County, Adkins distributed methamphetamine.

With respect to Count 1, Adkins faces ten years to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than five years. 

With respect to Count 2, Adkins faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000
fine, and supervised release not less than three years. 
 
Brandon L. Atwood, age 33, of Olney, Illinois, was charged in a four-count indictment.  Count 1 charges that from 2015, until on or about December 29, 2017, in Richland County, and elsewhere, Atwood conspired to distribute methamphetamine.  It is further alleged that the total amount of methamphetamine involved in the conspiracy was five grams or more of methamphetamine (Ice), or fifty 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Count 2 charges that on November 4, 2017, in Richland County, Atwood distributed methamphetamine.  Count 3 charges that on November 5, 2017, in Richland County, Atwood distributed methamphetamine.  Count 4 charges that on December 29, 2017, Atwood possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine. With respect to Count 1, Atwood faces 5-40 years of imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than four years. 

With respect to Counts 2-4, Atwood faces on each count up to 20 years of imprisonment, 
up to a $1,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than three years. 

Robert A. Harden, age 44, of Calhoun, Illinois, was charged in a two-count indictment.  Count 1 charges that from 2016, until on or about August 2017, in Richland County, and elsewhere, Harden conspired to distribute methamphetamine.  It is further alleged that the total amount of methamphetamine involved in the conspiracy was five grams or more of methamphetamine (Ice), or 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.  Count 2 charges that on January 20, 2017, in Effingham County, Harden possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.  With respect to Count 1, Harden faces 5-40 years of imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than four years. 

With respect to Count 2, Harden faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, up to a
$1,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than three years. 

 An Indictment is a formal charge against a defendant.  Under the law, a defendant is
presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the
satisfaction of a jury.  

The investigations in this case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office,  with assistance from the Flora Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois State Police.   
 
 
 

Wabash County Project Success Town Hall Meeting Wednesday

Mark your calendar for the Wabash County Project Success Coalition Meeting Wednesday, January 10th, 11:45a-1:00p.

Topic- Town Hall Meeting (see attached)

Lunch - Variety of Soups and Sandwiches ($3 donation appreciated)

Location- First Baptist Church (130 W 6th St.)

All welcome!

Elberfeld man arrested on DUI charge

On January 6, 2018, at 6:04 p.m. Deputy U.B. Smith conducted a traffic stop on a Black 1995 Lincoln Continental for speeding on State Road 64. Upon conducting a traffic stop near County Road 750 East Deputy Smith identified the driver as 34 year old Brian Thomas of Elberfeld. While speaking with Mr. Thomas Deputy Smith detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the driver’s breath. At that point Deputy Smith began a roadside investigation that resulted in Mr. Thomas being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. 

At the Gibson County Jail Mr. Thomas was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (DUI). He has since posted a $650 bond. 

All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Failure to Signal leads officers to arrest Elberfeld man on DUI charge

On January 6, 2018, at 11:17 p.m. Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith conducted a traffic stop on a Red 1989 Chevy Pickup after the driver failed to signal turn onto Brummitt Street from Church Street in Owensville, Indiana. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Smith identified the driver as 51year old Jeffrey Lochmueller of Elberfeld. During a roadside investigation Deputy Smith located drug paraphernalia and methamphetamines on the driver. 

Deputy Ben Kiesel arrived on scene and assisted Deputy Smith in his investigation, and ultimately placed Mr. Lochmueller into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail. At the Gibson County Jail Mr. Lochmueller was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (DUI), Possession of Paraphernalia, and Possession of Methamphetamines. 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.

Anniversary of Allendale Tornado

January 7th marks the anniversary of the Allendale tornado. 

55 people were injured by the F4 tornado.

Here is radio coverage of the tornado aftermath  on WYER with Kevin Madden & Scott Allen.

Allendale AR Award Winners

This past Friday, Allendale School rewarded any student who had accumulated at least 50 Accelerated Reading points during the first semester with a movie and popcorn party.  There were 57 students in 1st through 8th grade to achieve this goal and 18 of those had more than 100 points.  In fact, the top three totaled the following amount of points:  JD Bowser (254), Braden Weir (248), and Mark Vaupel (193).  Those students accumulating over 100 points were put into a drawing for a chance to win $20.  We had two winners in the elementary grades and two winners in the junior high.  The elementary winners were:  Isabella Monroy and Michael Smith.  The junior high winners were:  Katie Jackson and Holly Lofton.  The following is the list of students who earned at least 50 AR points in the first semester:

1st Grade:  Ryland Houchin, Jackson Cusick, Jaxon Morris.

2nd Grade:  Conner McGinnis, Tiffany Smith Terry, Joel Schneider, Emma Ford, Stetson Potts.

3rd Grade:  Isaiah Courter, Levi Potts, Jason Ford, Ava Bates, Landon Wilford, Lucas Isaac, Michael Medler, Riley Hershey, Kaden Sharp, Jax Gher, Hayden Hendrix, Preston Perry.

4th Grade:  Olivia Smith, Ashleigh McGinnis, Isabella Monroy, Michael Smith, Brendan Bowser, Tristan Bray, Cameron Kolb, Abbey Westlake.

5th Grade:  Mark Vaupel, Avery Swift, Hallie Courter, Roland Foster, Alex McGinnis, Kenadie Homan.

6th Grade:  Matthew Jackson, Cydnie Lawrence, Lauren Fisher, Holly Doerr, Raven Adams, Carlos Monroy, Chandler Cusick, Jordis Riley.

7th Grade:  JD Bowser, Konner Kelsey, Trenton Hulfachor, Sam Medler, Caleb Schneider, Josey McCowen.

8th Grade:  Braden Weir, Holly Lofton, Katie Jackson, Lexi Fisher, Tristian Abell, Alexandria Isaac, Madison Adams, Joleigh Keeling, Kinze Cusick.

Congratulations to all of these students.  We will have another reward party at the end of the year for obtaining 50 points in the Spring semester, so hopefully we keep all of these names on the list and add even more.