Bicknell Soldier is being Escorted back Home on Wednesday

Wednesday morning, January 31, a Bicknell, IN, soldier killed in a U.S. Army helicopter crash earlier this month is being escorted from Indianapolis Airport to Fredrick & Son McClure-Utt Funeral Home in Bicknell for visitation on Friday and his funeral on Saturday.

First Lieutenant Clayton R. Cullen, 25, of Bicknell, and Chief Warrant Officer 2, Kevin F. Burke, of California, were killed when their Apache helicopter crashed January 20 during training at Fort Irwin, CA. Both soldiers were assigned to the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

Cullen is a native of Bicknell and a 2011 graduate of North Knox High School in Bicknell.  Cullen joined the U.S. Army in 2015 after graduating from Indiana University ROTC program. He was stationed at Fort Carson, CO.

Cullen’s body is scheduled to arrive at the Indianapolis Airport at approximately 5:30 a.m. He will be escorted back to Bicknell by Indiana State Police, Bicknell Police and Patriot Guard Riders. The escort is scheduled to leave the airport at approximately 6:00 a.m. and will travel the following route:

• West on I-70
• South on U.S. 641
• South on U.S. 41
• East on S.R. 550
• North on S.R. 67 to Main Street in Bicknell
• South onto Main Street to 6th Street
• Arrive at the funeral home.

Visitation is Friday, February 2, between 2-7 p.m. at North Knox High School.  The funeral is Saturday, February 3, at 10:00 a.m. at the high school.  Cullen will be laid to rest at Bicknell Memorial Cemetery with full Military Honors.

Anyone interested in showing their support for Cullen and his family are is encouraged to line the escort route in a safe and legal manner. Parking along I-70 is prohibited.

City Holds Republic To Contract On Toters

Mt. Carmel City Clerk Rudy Witsman is holding Republic Services to the letter of their contract with the city and the services they provide. Part of that service is that every Mt. Carmel trash customer is entitled to two of the blue toters at no additional cost. But, Republic Services has been refusing to provide the second toter to residents who requested them for no charge. Witsman said he had contacted Republic and convinced them of the importance of providing the services promised in their contract. Witsman said you can get a second toter at no additional cost by contacting Republic. Any toters after the initial two will cost the customer.

Grant Submitted For MCFD Equipment Upgrades

Mt. Carmel firefighters are hoping to get some help from a grant to replace lifesaving equipment. City finance commissioner Joe Judge said he has submitted an American Firefighter grant through the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission. The grant would be for just over $200,000 and would purchase 8 air tanks and air masks for the local fire department….

Judge said the city’s application has the backing of Congressman John Shimkus.

WGH Exploring Future Building Needs

The continued success and expansion of services at Wabash General Hospital have caused a space issue at the facility. At last night's hospital board of directors meeting, CEO Jay Purvis said WGH is out of space and options are being considered to solve the issue in a timely manner….

Purvis said with another surgeon starting this summer, the hospital’s four operating rooms will likely be busy on a full-time basis causing doctors to utilize block scheduling for their surgeries. In addition to the new services being offered, Wabash General now has a record 375 employees. According to Purvis, further details on the next step should be available to the board in the next 30 to 60 days

Coal Jobs Coming To Spencer County?

Thousand of jobs could be coming to Spencer County, and it's all thanks to coal. Lincoln Land Economic Development says a new coal conversion facility will be built on huge pot of land near Dale in a 2-and-a-half-billion dollar investment by Riverview Energy Corporation. The facility itself will employ about 225 workers when it's complete, but it will take over 2,000 construction workers to build it.

MCHS Snow King To Be Crowned Thursday

Mt. Carmel Snow King Crowning will be this Thursday at half time of the girls varsity basketball game.

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ROLLOUT ENFORCEMENT PLANS FOR SUPER BOWL WEEKEND

Carmi, Illinois - Illinois State Police (ISP) District 19 Commander, Captain Cory Ristvedt, announces additional enforcement plans for the upcoming Super Bowl Weekend. ISP Troopers will strictly enforce FATAL 4 moving violations, which include: DUI, Speeding, Distracted Driving, and Seat Belt compliance. Additional emphasis will be placed on impaired driving.

During the 51 st Super Bowl Weekend, ISP Troopers issued 1,744 FATAL 4 citations statewide, 195 of which were alcohol related arrests. Two alcohol related crashes occurred during the 2017 Super Bowl weekend and resulted in two fatalities.

District 19 will conduct roving patrols throughout the weekend identifying impaired and unsafe drivers. If you drive impaired, expect to be pulled over. Also, please be sure to watch for vehicles parked or sitting on the side of the road with flashing lights. If you see them, move over if possible, and slow down.

“Enjoy the upcoming Super Bowl Weekend’s festivities; however, be mindful to make responsible decisions prior to getting behind the wheel,” said Captain Ristvedt. “We all win this weekend if we don’t experience any serious personal injury or fatal traffic crashes,” he added.

Alcohol is a leading factor in fatal traffic crashes, especially during celebratory weekends. The ISP is reminding motorists to help keep the roadways safe by planning ahead and designating a driver, calling a cab, or making other responsible arrangements. Remember, everyone wins if the weekend’s fatal crash score is zero.

Mt. Carmel City Hall To Get New Roof

After a long battle against leaks, the roof at Mt. Carmel City Hall will soon be replaced. At Monday’s City Council meeting, commissioners approved a proposal for $30,168 from Linson Roofing to replace the roof that has been causing a lot of problems according to city clerk Rudy Witsman…

The city will pay for the new roof with capital improvement funds.

Flu Not Backing Down, Worst Is Yet To Come

When it comes to this flu season, the worst is yet to come. That’s what Wabash General Hospital CEO Jay Purvis reported to the board of directors at their monthly meeting last night. Purvis said WGH has seen over 175 cases of Type A influenza and that number is probably higher since there’s a 35% false negative being reported on this year’s flu tests. Purvis said this year’s flu strain is especially alarming…

Hawaii is currently the only state in the country not reporting a case of the flu.

No Updates On Senior Center Funding

The precarious situation of the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center hasn’t seen any improvement in the last couple of weeks.  At last night’s city council meeting, senior citizens commissioner Joe Judge said there have been no additional payments from the state and there are none on the foreseeable horizon. In addition, with another federal government shutdown looming next month, Judge said they have been informed that if there is another shutdown, the local center could see delays in money it receives through title grants.  Judge also announced that senior citizens employee Terry Dardeen is retiring after 9 and a half years effective February 9th…..

Previously, Judge said the local senior center may have to curtail services or even close late next month if the state doesn’t get caught up on missed payments. To help make ends meet, a chili supper fundraiser is planned from 5:30 to 7 on February 20th at the senior center.