Rehab work on the city’s water tower near Wabash Valley College is continuing. Water Commissioner Justin Dulgar says the work to paint and update the tower is expected to take another 4 to 6 weeks.
Apply Now For Summer Jobs At City Pool
Anyone interested in working this summer at the Mt. Carmel Swimming Pool can now pick up applications at City Hall. Mayor Bill Hudson said the application deadline is April 30th. City Hall is open weekdays from 8 to 4:30pm.
Mt. Carmel Swimming Pool Circa 1945
City Council Approves Spending MFT Funds
The Mt. Carmel City Council has approved a resolution for the annual expenditure of motor fuel tax funds this year. Engineer Dave Dallas presented the figures for this year’s spending that amounts to just under $217,000 and includes money for such things as the city’s chip and seal program, street sweeper, and traffic lights. Dallas said this year’s chip and seal program will be about double what it was last year as 75,000 square yards will be used. Motor fuel tax monies can only be used for expenses associated to roadways in Illinois.
City Officials Warn: Stay Off The Levee!!
With the Wabash River almost hitting 30 feet twice already this year, city officials want to make sure you know…trespassing on the city’s levee system is not acceptable. City Clerk Rudy Witsman..
Witsman's remarks came after a similar admonition from city commissioner Rod Rodriguez.
MCES Field Day
Click the Photos for Slideshow
Bill Introduced To Bump Minimum Teacher Salary To $40,000
SPRINGFIELD – Ensuring teachers earn a livable minimum salary is one significant step Illinois can take to recruit more educators into rural and downstate classrooms and address the ongoing shortage, State Senator Andy Manar said today.
The Senate Education Committee approved his measure raising Illinois’ minimum mandated salary for full-time teachers for the first time since 1980.
“Fewer talented young people are going into the teaching profession for numerous reasons, one of which is pay. Would-be teachers can get a higher salary right out of college in other areas of the workforce, which his opposite of our priorities and our needs in this state,” he said.
Senate Bill 2892 updates Illinois statute by increasing the minimum mandated annual salary for full-time teachers to $40,000.
The statute has not been updated in 38 years. Currently, minimum mandated salaries are set at $11,000 for a teacher with a master’s degree, $10,000 for those with bachelor’s degrees and $9,000 for teachers with less than a bachelor’s degree.
Manar said there are teachers in his Senate district who have master’s degrees but live under the federal poverty level.
“To me, this is an issue of respect – for the teaching profession and for the credentials we ask teachers to bring to the table,” Manar said.
“Today, Illinois is investing record amounts of money in schools that tend to have the least competitive salary schedules. There are hundreds of empty classrooms all over the state in communities with enormous challenges and the highest rates of poverty because they can’t recruit teachers,” he said. “Updating Illinois’ minimum mandated teacher salary is a good place to begin addressing the problem.”
Mt. Carmel Man Faces Several Charges Following West 3rd Street Incident
04/10/2018-Mt. Carmel Police arrested Mathew L. Majors, age 41, of Mt. Carmel after police were called to the 1000 block of W. 3rd Street reference an unwanted person. Police arrived on scene and were told that Majors drove to the residence and parked in their drive. The complainants advised he parked in their drive and began honking his car horn and refusing to leave. Police arrested Majors for DUI, disorderly conduct, aggravated battery to a police officer, and possession of a hypodermic needle. Majors was transported to the Wabash County Jail and held pending the posting of bond.
Hall Jailed On Domestic Battery Charge
Mt. Carmel Police were called to the 200 block of Beauchamp Street in Mt. Carmel reference a domestic. Police located the couple walking down the road. A witness told police that Branson R. Hall, age 19, of Mt. Carmel, was chasing a pregnant female from a residence. The witness said Hall caught the female and began jerking on her arm. Officers arrested Hall and transported him to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with domestic battery. Hall was held pending the posting of bond.
FTA Warrant Lands Mt. Carmel Man In Jail
04/11/2018-Mt. Carmel Police responded to the 200 block of W. 7th Street reference a fight. Police located Shawn Swift, age 37, of Mt. Carmel. During the course of the investigation it was discovered that Swift was wanted on a Lawrence County failure to appear warrant. Swift was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was held pending the posting of bond.
Traffic Violation Leads To Charges For Mt. Carmel Man
Mt. Carmel Police arrested 32 year old Hugh B. Beath of Mt. Carmel after he was stopped for a traffic violation. Police knew Beath was driving on a suspended driver’s license and observed him operating a motor vehicle in the 100 block of E. 4th Street. Beath was stopped and arrested. Beath was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was cited for driving while suspended and held pending the posting of bond.
