The democratic candidate for Illinois lieutenant governor made a campaign stop this afternoon before a big crowd at WVC’s Red Café. Juliana Stratton is the running mate of J. B Pritzker who currently owns a 16 point lead over Bruce Rauner in the latest poll released this week. As you might expect with the favorable poll numbers, Stratton said the campaign is going well….
In addition to local democrats, party chairmen from neighboring counties also attended today’s event.
Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018
VFW Bingo Hall, 101 S. Market St., Mount Carmel, IL
Serving time: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Menu: Fish, pulled pork barbeque, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, and dessert
Adults: $8.00
Children 5-12: $4.00
Children under 5: Free
Connie and Kyle are the owners/operators of Corwin Printing here in Mount Carmel. They have been serving our community for many years. A few weeks ago, Connie suffered a brain aneurysm that almost took her life. Thankfully, she survived and is now in rehab. Being self-employed, Connie and Kyle are responsible for their own health insurance and medical costs. Also, since they are partners in operating their printing business, they have been losing a lot of income since Connie's illness. Therefore, some of their friends are putting on this benefit to help with their expenses and lost income.
Parke County—On Monday afternoon August 20 at approximately 4:35, Indiana State Police Lieutenant Dan Jones and Detective Deanna Jones came across a black 2002 GMC Sonoma pickup with a female passenger, partially in the roadway on Martin Road in southeastern Parke County. A quick check of the truck revealed it was reported stolen from Boone County Indiana.
The elusive talking female was finally identified as 38-year-old Ashley M. Albertson of Indianapolis, IN. She was found to be wanted on warrants from Marion and Hendricks County.
Lt. Jones searched the immediate area and found a male elevated approximately 60 feet in a tree supposedly actively trimming branches. Minutes later, Master Trooper Jeremy Lewis and Parke County Sheriff’s Deputy Cory Hutchins arrived to assist.
As the male finally agreed to come down, he became entangled still substantially elevated in the tree. The male was rescued by members of a private tree trimming business requested by ISP, along with Bellmore Fire/Rescue members. The man was identified as 44-year-old Christopher S. Harsin of Indianapolis, IN. He was found to be wanted on warrants from both Montgomery and Hendricks Counties in Indiana.
A search of the stolen truck and Harsin’s personal items, yielded approximately one gram of suspected Heroin, approximately six grams of suspected Methamphetamine, approximately nineteen grams of suspected Marijuana, sixteen suspected controlled substance pills, numerous syringes, various items of drug paraphernalia, and two handguns.
M/Trooper Jeremy Lewis incarcerated Harsin on the two warrants and additional charges of Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Syringe, and Possession of Marijuana.
Detective Jones incarcerated Albertson on the two warrants. No local charges were added.
Also assisting were ISP Sergeant Jared Nicoson and Senior Trooper Tim Rader and Parke County EMS.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Wabash County Democratic Central Committee is pleased to announce that Juliana Stratton, the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, will be in Mt. Carmel at the Red Cafe on the campus of Wabash Valley College this Saturday, August 25, at 12:30 p.m. to meet Wabash County and Southeastern IL residents. Lunch will be served and the public is invited.
Stratton has served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives since January 2017 and has been the director for the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to that, she was the executive director at Cook County Justice for Children and president of a mediation services company. Stratton is a graduate of the DePaul University College of Law and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She is also the mother to three children.
Stratton was announced as J. B. Pritzker's running mate in the 2018 gubernatorial election on August 9, 2017. Rena Bever, Wabash County Democratic Chairwoman, states this is a great opportunity for Wabash County and Southeastern IL voters to meet a state candidate.
Brandon L. Atwood, 33, of Olney, Illinois, was recently sentenced to 97 months in federal prison on methamphetamine related charges, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Atwood had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of a federal indictment.
During court proceedings, Atwood admitted that from 2015 to 2017, he conspired with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute methamphetamine in violation of federal law. The total amount of methamphetamine involved in the conspiracy was five (5) grams or more of crystal methamphetamine, commonly referred to as “Ice.” Atwood further admitted that he had distributed methamphetamine on two occasions in November 2017. All of Atwood’s crimes were committed in Richland County, Illinois.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office
The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges approved a tentative budget and schedule for approval of the final 2019 Fiscal Year Budget, Tuesday, August 21, at the regular meeting, held at Frontier Community College.
A public hearing on the budget will be held at the regular meeting, Tuesday, September 18, at Lincoln Trail College. The final budget will be adopted following the public hearing. The budget has been available to the public at the IECC District Office since August 8th.
The District’s current agreement with the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) has been an extremely successful partnership to benefit IECC students. The Board approved an additional component to the current CARLI image license agreement that provides access to expansive digital collections.
An existing athletic training services contract for OCC was approved for renewal with Carle Richland Memorial Hospital for an additional one-year period to cover athletic training services for the college for the academic year 2018-2019. A revision to the athletic training services contract previously approved for the 2018-2019 academic year between WVC and Wabash General Hospital was also adopted.
The Board approved a 24-month contract with Homefield Energy for the time period November 2018 through November 2020 for electric power service.
The Board approved the schedule of dates for the Trustee Election to be held April 2, 2019. The 6-year terms of John Brooks, Al Henager, and James Lane are up for reelection. All three trustees holding office are expected to seek reelection.
Affiliation agreements were approved with area health institutions for the Medical Office Careers Program and the Associate Degree in Nursing Program.
A lease agreement was approved for use of space at Lincoln Trail College for Storybrooke, a Preschool Program conducted by the Regional Office of Education #12.
The following personnel were employed:
Holly Andress-Martin, Chief Academic Officer, at the District Office, effective September 10, 2018, Beth Graham, Custodian, WVC, effective August 27, 2018, Julie Courtney, Clerk/Receptionist, LTC, effective August 23, 2018, Jamie Carman, Retention Coordinator, LTC, effective September 5, 2018, and Taylr Plummer, TRIO Upward Bound Counselor, located at LTC, effective September 4, 2018
The employment status of Courtney Meadows was changed from Interim Program Director of Cosmetology to Program Director of Cosmetology, effective August 22, 2018. The employment status of Candice Young was changed from Office Assistant, LTC to TRIO Upward Bound Counselor located at LTC, effective September 4, 2018.
Resignations were ratified for Mary Morningstar Johnson, Coordinator, College Support Services, DO, effective August 11, 2018 and for Luke Scheidecker, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, WVC, effective August 15, 2018.
The retirement of Chuck Bennett, Information Systems Technician, at LTC, was accepted effective September 8, 2018. The retirement of Galen Dunn, Maintenance/Groundskeeper and Operations and Maintenance Team Leader at FCC, was accepted effective October 1, 2018.
Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held at Lincoln Trail College, Robinson, on Tuesday, September 18, at 7 p.m.
When the US House reconvenes in two weeks, Congressman John Shimkus is hoping information he’s gathering during the August recess helps him have a stronger voice in Washington for those in his 15th district. Yesterday, Shimkus stopped at Champion Labs in Albion to tour the facility and find out what concerns company officials have. Champ employs 1,120 people in Albion, but plant leaders told Shimkus the facility usually has between 50 and 60 full time jobs it can’t fill. It’s a familiar problem Shimkus says he’s heard from other plants in his district he’s toured during the August recess. But, Shimkus says many of these jobs aren't traditional "factory work".
Suggestions to fill the open jobs yesterday centered on better job training and preparation at the high school and junior college levels. After touring the Champ facility, Shimkus traveled to Richland County to attend a legislative dinner hosted by the Wabash, Richland, and Edwards Counties Farm Bureaus.
PHOTOS: Congressman John Shimkus learns about the Champ product lines from company official Zed Moore.
Chowder season kicks off this weekend in Wabash County with the annual Knights of Columbus chowder on Sunday. Spokesman Jim Tennis says crews will begin around 2 Sunday morning to have the first carry outs ready to go by 9am. Serving at the K of C starts at 11am. Click the link to hear Rodger Beard's interview with Jim about this weekend's chowder.
On August 22, 2018, at 4:34 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of persons smoking Marijuana in the parking lot of the Princeton Walmart. Upon arriving Deputy Ben Kiesel and Princeton Officers Chelsea Jones and Sgt. Steve McNeece located a Maroon 1994 Chevy S10 and detected the odor of Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. At that point Deputy Kiesel began an investigation that resulted in 20 year old Ethan Barnes of Allendale, Illinois being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Mr. Barnes was charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Legend Drug, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. Mr. Barnes remains in custody on a $1500 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A ribbon cutting was held this afternoon at the office of new Country Financial representative Dane Schmucker. The office is located at 827 Chestnut Street which is also the same location as Country Financial represenative Tia Morgan.
