Mount Carmel Chapter DAR Presents DAR ROTC BRONZE MEDAL.

Veteran Mount Carmel Chapter  DAR member Mary Susan Wood presented Award to Angel Englert, graduating student from Richland County High School,  Olney, Illinois.

Senior Army Instructor, Major(Retired )Roy Waldhoff, Richland County High School.

The National Society of the Daughter of the American Revolution National Defense Committee has the honor to award to student cadets of outstanding ability and achievement in secondary school, junior college, college or university ROTC programs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps Units as well as Naval Sea Cadet Corps.  The DAR has awarded ROTC medals

Since 1967 because the ROTC is such an important source of trained officers for our Armed forces.  Selection of the student to receive the DAR ROTC award is made by Instructors of military science and the principal or head of schools, Junior colleges, colleges or universities.  Recipients must demonstrate loyalty and Patriotism, and have earned a record of military and scholastic achievement during their Participation in an ROTC program.  The Student must be in the upper 25% of their classes in ROTC And in academic subjects.  This year’s award winner has demonstrated academic excellence, dependability, good character, adherence to military discipline, leadership and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of the Reserve Officers Training Corp.  Only one student of a graduating class in a secondary school Junior ROTC program can be the recipient of the DAR ROTC BRONZE MEDAL.

This year’s NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION’S NATIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEE ROTC AWARD was presented to Angel Englert.

Veteran DAR Mt. Carmel Chapter  member Mary Susan Wood,Presenter DAR ROTC BRONZE MEDAL. To ANGEL Englet

Illinois State Police Announces May Activity and Enforcement

Illinois State Police District 19 Commander, Captain Cory Ristvedt, announced today activity and enforcement figures for the month of May.  Troopers in District 19, which includes Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, White, Hamilton, Saline, and Gallatin Counties, recorded 1,458 incidents during the month.

Enforcement activity consisted of 704 citations and 977 written warnings, including 380 speeding citations, 5 DUIs, 141 occupant restraint citations, 10 criminal citations, and 333 written warnings for speeding. Troopers also assisted 50 motorists, conducted 192 Motor Carrier Safety Inspections, and investigated 28 traffic crashes.  There were 2 fatal traffic crashes investigated by District 19, resulting in 2 fatalities during May.

Moreover, 538 citations and 414 written warnings were issued for “Fatal Four” violations.  These violations are most associated with fatal traffic crashes and include DUI, Speeding, Failure to Wear a Seatbelt, and Distracted Driving.

Regional Water Commission Not Dead Yet

Not so fast on the Wabash Valley Regional Water Commission disbanding just yet. Last night was expected to be the final meeting for the commission which was formed to explore the possibility of building a regional water plant for Mt. Carmel, Albion, Grayville, and Keensburg.

But, those plans were blown up last month when Albion’s City Council voted to pull out of the commission, effectively ending any hopes of the regional plan moving forward.

At last night’s meeting, commission member Quentin Speir of Albion made a motion to disband the commission, but the motion died for a lack of a second after other members questioned whether disbanding at this point could cause problems with outstanding bills left to be paid.

One of those bills is for a $5,000 preliminary engineering report from LAMAC Engineering. Grayville Mayor Joe Bisch who oversaw last night’s meeting in the absence of chairman Justin Dulgar, said he would talk with LAMAC representatives to see what the status of the charge is. So far, LAMAC has been paid $35,000 for work on the regional proposal. Bisch said after that determination is made and legal counsel is sought to properly shut down the commission, a special meeting will be called to do exactly that.

Albion Representative Quentin Speir looks on as Grayville Mayor Joe Bisch speaks at Thursday's Wabash Valley Regional Water Commission meeting. 

Newburgh Man Busted By MCPD On Various Charges

06/07/2018-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 40 year old Ryan T. Hauck of Newburgh, Indiana after police responded to a reckless driving complaint.  Police located the vehicle on N. Rt. 1 at Crawfish Creek.  During the traffic stop police located drug paraphernalia and a hypodermic syringe.  Hauck was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with possession of a hypodermic needle and drug paraphernalia.  Hauck was issued citations for improper lane usage, driving while suspended, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.  Hauck released with a notice to appear.  

Altercation Leads To Charges For Mt. Carmel Man

06/05/2018-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 53 year old Darin D. Campbell of Mt. Carmel after police took a report accusing him of striking a Mt. Carmel man at Jim's Cork and Bottle.  Police were told that earlier in the day Campbell and the victim were in a verbal altercation at Marathon Fastbreak.  The victim told police that later in the afternoon he exited Jim's Cork and Bottle and found Campbell standing outside of his truck.  The victim stated that Campbell knocked his beer from his hand and punched him in the face.  Police caught up with Campbell at Wabash General after he was injured in the incident.  Campbell was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with aggravated battery.  Campbell was held pending the posting of bond.  

Divers Find No Serious Issues At Mt. Carmel City Pool

Members of the Mt. Carmel Dive Team donned their gear and went into the City Pool Friday morning searching for clues as to what might be causing cuts to swimmers' feet. There have been numerous social media posts in the last couple of weeks from people claiming injuries suffered from glass and other objects on the bottom of the pool.

During today's search, divers uncovered a few objects including a marble, diamond stud ear-ring, a chicken wing, a few quarters, and paint chips. No glass was found.

Those on hand speculated that the paint chips might be sharp enough to be causing the issues on the tender feet. Mayor Bill Hudson was poolside  during today's search and said the pool wasn't repainted this year as normal. He anticipated the pool being repainted before the 2019 season. 

Some of what was found by divers today at the City Pool. 

MCFD Capt. Mark Seaton holds up part of a chicken wing he found at the bottom of the City Pool today.

After Probation Is Revoked, McKinney Is Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison

Cassandra A. Goldman, Wabash County State's Attorney, reports that Timothy L. McKinney, a 37-year old Mt. Carmel, Illinois man, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections by the Honorable Circuit Judge Christopher L. Weber in Wabash County Circuit Court.

    State's Attorney Goldman advises that the Defendant was charged June 5, 2017, with two counts of Aggravated Battery, both Class 2 Felonies.  Mr. McKinney was placed on probation for 4 years on August 14, 2017.  A Petition to Revoke that probation was filed on May 3, 2018.  On June 5, 2018 the Defendant's probation was revoked and he was sentenced to 3 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, to be followed by two years of mandatory supervised release (parole). 

FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF OFFENSE:

COUNT I: AGGRAVATED BATTERY    
    That on the 2nd day of JUNE, 2017, in Wabash County, Illinois, the Defendant, TIMOTHY L. McKINNEY, committed the offense of AGGRAVATED BATTERY, in that said Defendant, without legal justification caused bodily harm to Detective Sgt. Ryan Turner by punching him in the face, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/12-3(a)(1) and he knew that Ryan Turner was a peace officer performing his official duties, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/12- 3.05(d)(4)(i).  A CLASS 2 FELONY

COUNT II: AGGRAVATED BATTERY    
    That on the 2nd day of JUNE, 2017, in Wabash County, Illinois, the Defendant, TIMOTHY L. McKINNEY, committed the offense of AGGRAVATED BATTERY, in that said Defendant, without legal justification caused bodily harm to Officer Daniel Hopper by grabbing his throat, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/12-3(a)(1) and he knew that Daniel Hopper was a peace officer performing his official duties, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/12-3.05(d)(4)(i).  A CLASS 2 FELONY        

Smoke Testing Reveals Issues

Recent smoke testing in the North Park area of Mt. Carmel uncovered some issues with the sewer lines in that part of the city. At last night’s city council meeting, commissioner Justin Dulgar said the testing was completed to find areas in which water is leaking into the city’s sewer system…

Dulgar said the problems areas are the city’s responsibility and not any of the homeowners where the tests were conducted.

Uptown Benches To Be Rehabbed As Part Of Eagle Scout Project

The benches in the uptown area of Market Street will soon get a makeover. At last night’s city council meeting, commissioners okayed the request of Connor Anderson who is working on his Eagle Scout project for Troop 293. Mayor Bill Hudson outlined the extent of Anderson’s project…

Hudson commended Anderson for the project and said it will benefit the uptown area.

City Council Makes Library Board Appointments

The Mt. Carmel City Council has given its’ approval to a new member on the library board. Mina  Nolen was approved to replace Darlene Weir who resigned because of personal reasons. The city council also approved three year reappointments to the library board including Scott Witsman, Verlin Snow, Rian Waterbury, and Karin Hodgson.