05/18/2018-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 34 year old Charles Banks of Mt. Carmel after he was observed operating a motor vehicle in the 300 block of Market Street. The arresting officer knew Banks was driving on a suspendeddriver's license. Banks was stopped, cited for the infraction, and placed under arrest. Banks was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was held pending the posting of bond.
Expired Registration Leads To Various Charges
05/20/2018- A registration violation resulted in a Mt. Carmel woman being arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Police observed 37 year old Elizabeth M. Fortner operating a vehicle in the 300 block of N.Walnut. The vehicle's registration was showing expired. When police conducted a traffic stop, they discovered that the registration plates belonged on different vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of prescription pills and cannabis. Fortner was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was cited for unlawful display of registration, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and she was cited for possession of cannabis.
Mt. Carmel Man Cited For Traffic Infractions
05/21/2018-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 64 year old David L. Jones of Mt. Carmel after he was found operating a 1999 Buick in the area of 3rd and Poplar Street without proper registration. Jones is accused of placingregistration plates from one vehicle onto another without transferring the registration. Jones was unable to provide insurance on the 1999 Buick and was subsequently arrested. Jones was cited for both infractions and his vehicle was towed from the scene. Jones was released after posting $150.00 cash.
Reckless Driver Report Leads To DUI Arrest
05/23/2018-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 49 year old John L. Acree of Mt. Carmel after police were notified of a reckless driver coming into Mt. Carmel from Indiana. The arresting officer reported that he located the vehicle and observed multiple traffic violations. The arresting officer stopped the suspect vehicle in the area of 11th and Mulberry Steet. The arresting officer reported while talking to him, he detected an alcoholic beverage smell coming from Acree. It is reported that Acree submitted to and failed field sobriety testing. Acree was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was cited for DUI and illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver. Acree was released after posting bond.
City Pool Fees Increase For 2018 Season
THE MT. CARMEL MUNICIPAL POOL WILL OPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS MONDAY, MEMORIAL DAY WITH A FREE SWIM FROM 1 PM TO 4 PM. BUT, WHEN IT OPENS FOR BUSINESS OFFICIALLY ON JUNE FIRST, THERE WILL BE SOME INCREASES IN ADMISSION PRICES DUE TO UNEXPECTED MAINTENANCE. CITY CLERK RUDY WITSMAN EXPLAINS:
GENERAL ADMISSION IS UP 50 CENTS TO $3.50; THE PUNCH PASS IS NOW $36; AND PARTY RENTALS ARE UP $25 TO $175.
POOL HOURS ARE MONDAY WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY 12:30 UNTIL 5 PM; TUESDAY AND THURSDAY 12:30 TILL 8; SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 1 TILL 5. THE CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING INCREASING THE SATURDAY HOURS
Funkhouser Sentenced To 5 Years For Failure to Register as a Violent Offender Against Youth
Cassandra A. Goldman, Wabash County State's Attorney, reports that Scott A. Funkhouser, a 54-year old Mt. Carmel, Illinois man, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections by the Honorable Circuit Judge Michael J. Valentine in Wabash County Circuit Court.
Wabash County State's Attorney Goldman advises that the Defendant was charged January 3, 2018, with Failure to Register as a Violent Offender Against Youth; a Class 3 Felony. Mr. Funkhouser was sentenced to 5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, to be followed by one year of mandatory supervised release (parole).
FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF OFFENSE:
Between June 13, 2017 and January 1, 2018, in Wabash County, Illinois, the Defendant, SCOTT A. FUNKHOUSER, committed the offense of FAILURE TO REGISTER AS VIOLENT OFFENDER AGAINST YOUTH, in that said Defendant knowingly failed to report, in accordance with the provisions of the Violent Offender Against Youth Act, with the Sheriff of Wabash County, Illinois, within one year from the date of the Defendants most recent registration, in violation of 730 ILCS 154/30. A CLASS 3 FELONY
Annual Youth Fishing Derby
Calling all anglers ages 6 to 16! Find your favorite fishing pole and lucky bait. You are invited to Beall Woods State Park’s annual youth fishing derby,sponsored by The Hanging Rock Bass Club. The event will be held on Saturday, June 9th. Please register upon arrival between 8am-8:30am at the south shelter. Participants will have two hours to fish and must be accompanied by an adult. Prizes will be presentedat approximately 10:45am.
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE PREPARE FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
State Troopers to Strictly Enforce DUI, Speeding, Seatbelt, and Distracted Driving
Carmi – Illinois State Police (ISP) District 19 Commander, Captain Cory Ristvedt, is reminding motorists
to take the necessary safety precautions to prevent senseless tragedies during the upcoming Memorial Day
holiday weekend. Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest periods for travelers, and millions of
motorists are expected to hit the roadways and interstates across the country.
The ISP will be doing our part in keeping the roadways safe for those traveling through the state. The ISP
will be strictly enforcing the most common traffic violations that result in fatal crashes: DUI, Speeding,
Seat Belts, and Distracted Driving.
There are many safe driving initiatives the ISP is participating in over the holiday weekend.
On Monday, May 21, the ISP collaborated with surrounding states with the Border to Border (B2B)
initiative. The B2B initiative kicked off the 2018 Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement
campaign. The Click It or Ticket campaign runs through June 3, 2018.
On Friday, May 25, the ISP will kick off the holiday weekend with a Line to Line (L2L) patrol.
The L2L patrol aims to have a trooper every 25 miles on I-55 through Mississippi, Louisiana and
Missouri. The ISP is taking this one step further by having a trooper every 20 miles and will
include I-57 and I-80 too.
Friday, May 25, also kicks off a nationwide, four-day Combined Accident Reduction Effort
(CARE). Operation CARE aims to reduce the number of crashes by strict traffic enforcement to
obtain voluntary compliance in the area of: alcohol and drug-related offenses; maximum speed
limit laws; and occupant restraint laws.
You can do your part to make travel safer this holiday weekend. If you are going to be at an event with
alcohol, please make sure you designate a driver. Keep your eyes on the road and off of the cell phone.
Unless it’s hands-free, Illinois law prohibits the use of any electronic devices while operating a motor
vehicle. Please be sure to watch your speed and make sure you buckle up.
Mt. Carmel To Officially Opt Out Of Water Commission
NOW AN UPDATE ON A STORY WE FIRST REPORTED ON EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE CITY OF MT. CARMEL WILL NOT BE A PART OF A REGIONAL WATER COMMISSION,IF THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES NEXT MEETING TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF WATER COMMISSIONER JUSTIN DULGAR. DULGAR, CHAIRMAN OF THE WATER COMMISSION, WAS ABSENT FROM MONDAY’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING BUT IN A LETTER ,SAID WITH ALBION’S WITHDRAWAL, HE RECOMMENDS THE CITY PULL OUT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR OWN PLAN.MT. CARMEL’S MEMBERSHIP IN THE PROPOSED REGIONAL WATER COMMISSION WILL HOWEVER MAKE THE CITY ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR PART OF THE $100 MILLION DOLLARS IN U.S.D.A. LOANS AND 16 MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANTS FOR WATER SYSTEM UPGRADES. THE MT. CARMEL CITY COUNCILWILL HAVE A SECOND READING AND A VOTE TO WITHDRAW AT THEIR NEXT MEETING IN TWO WEEKS.
Princeton Man Arrested On Drug Charges By MCPD
On 5/13/18 Mt. Carmel Police arrested Dale W. Downs Jr., age 47, of Princeton, Indiana for Possession of a Controlled Substance following a traffic stop in the 800 block of Poplar Street. K-9 Officer Daniel Hopper and his K-9 Ace arrived on scene and performed a free air narcotics sniff of the exterior of Downs’ Ford Mustang. Ace alerted on the vehicle and a search was conducted which resulted in officers locating Hydrocodone pills in his vehicle. Hydrocodone is a Schedule II controlled substance which requires a prescription to the drug. Downs was placed into custody and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was held pending a bond setting by a judge.
