Ground work has started on the new multi-million dollar Villas of Holly Brook facility on Mt. Carmel's westside. Mayor Mayor Bill Hudson announced just before Christmas that 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. Crews have begun the dirt work on the property. No timetable has been announced as to actual construction will begin and the facility will open.
Fairfield Man Killed In Wreck With Semi
ISP DISTRICT 19 TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT
The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 19:
WHAT:Fatal Traffic Crash
WHERE: Enterprise Road at Illinois Route 161 (Wayne County)
WHEN:05/11/2018, at approximately 1:17 pm
VEHICLES:Red, 2014, Freightliner Truck, towing a White, 2017, Wabash Semi-Trailer
White, 2015, Dodge Ram Truck
DRIVERS:Steven S.F. Vanarkel, age 35, of Holt, Missouri (Freightliner Truck)
Brian P. Cotton, age 31, of Fairfield, Illinois (Dodge Ram Truck / Deceased)
PASSENGERS:Jessica N. Vanarkel, age 29, of Holt, Missouri (Freightliner Truck)
Juvenile Male, age 10, of Holt, Missouri (Freightliner Truck)
Emery Stutzman, Jr., age 32, of Cisne, Illinois (Dodge Ram Truck)
CAUSE:Disobeying Stop Sign.
TRANSPORTS:Stutzman was transported by Air Evac to a regional hospital.
ROAD CONDITIONS:Open
PRELIMINARY:According to the preliminary traffic crash investigation, the driver of the 2014 Freightliner truck/semi-trailer combination, Steven S.F. Vanarkel, was northbound on Enterprise Road in rural Wayne County, when for unknown reasons he failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Enterprise Road and Illinois Route 161. The driver of the 2015 Dodge Ram truck, Brian P. Cotton, was westbound on Illinois Route 161 when he struck the semi-trailer as it crossed Illinois Route 161.
Cotton was pronounced deceased at the scene of the traffic crash by the Wayne County Coroner’s Office. A passenger in Cotton’s vehicle, Emery Stutzman, Jr., was transported from the crash scene by Air Evac to a regional hospital.
An ISP Traffic Crash Reconstruction Officer and an ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer were assigned to the crash investigation. ISP District 19 was assisted at the crash scene by ISP Crime Scene Services, Illinois Secretary of State Police, Wayne County Coroner’s Office, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, Wayne County Ambulance Service, North Wayne Ambulance Service, Air Evac, Wayne County Highway Department, and Rick’s Towing Service.
CHARGES:Steven S.F. Vanarkel was issued a citation for Disobeying a Stop Sign.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mt. Carmel Public Library Foundation Shows Off Improvements
Prior to their meeting Thursday evening, members of the Mt. Carmel Public Library Foundation showed off recent improvements to the kitchen area in the community room at the library. The Foundation used proceeds from last year's Library 5K Run/Walk for the improvements.
The community room is available for use by the public. Contact the library for more details.
The 2018 Library Foundation Run/Walk is set for Saturday, June 9th. Entry forms are available at the Library.
Scenes From 2018 YAB Color Run
Click photos for gallery from Saturday's Youth Advisory Board Color Run.
Scenes From WVC's 56th Commencement
Click the photos for a gallery from Friday night's Commencement at Wabash Valley College.
Mt. Carmel Register Fraud Investigation Turned Over To Feds
The investigation into an allegedly former rogue employee of the Mt. Carmel Register is being turned over to federal authorities. Last month, the Register reported that former ad sales representative Neely Held of Vincennes had resigned after advertisers complained they hadn’t authorized ad space they were billed for.
At Tuesday’s Wabash County Retail Merchants Committee meeting, The Register’s Suzy Ernst told the group that the amount of fraudulent billing approached $150,000 and the investigation had been turned over to federal authorities. No charges against Held have been filed at this point.
Probation Violation Leads To Mt. Carmel Woman's Arrest
On 5/7/18 Mt. Carmel Police arrested Jessica K. Perry, age 31, of Mt. Carmel, on a Gibson County Indiana Probation Violation Warrant. Perry was observed in the 800 block of West 6th Street and taken into custody. Perry was held pending extradition back to Gibson County.
Walker Picked Up On FTA Warrant
On 5/7/18 Mt. Carmel Police arrested Cory J. Walker, age 24, of Mt. Carmel, on a Wabash County Failure to Appear Warrant. Walker was observed in the 500 block of West 5th Street and taken into custody. Walker was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was held on a $200 cash bond.
Teen Arrested At MCHS After Prom For Illegal Consumption
On 5/6/18 Mt. Carmel Police arrested Samuel E. Ewald, age 18, of Mt. Carmel, at the Mt. Carmel High School after prom. Police were notified of a possible impaired subject attending the event and made contact with Ewald. Police investigated further which led to Ewald for being arrested for Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by Minor. Minor was charged and later released with a court date.
Puerto Rican Man Arrested For DUI By MCPD
On 5/5/18 Mt. Carmel Police arrested Abner A. Maldonado, age 33, of Puerto Rico, for DUI, No Valid Driver’s License and Illegal Transportation of Alcohol following a traffic stop at 9th & Enterprise Lane. Maldonado was taken into custody following sobriety testing where several clues to indicate impairment were observed. Maldonado was taken to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and later released on a $300 cash bond.
