On 09/19/18 Mt. Carmel Police arrested Thomas E. Fugate, age 29, of Mount Carmel, on a Wabash County Failure to Appear Warrant. Fugate was observed in the 400 block of Walnut Street where he was taken into custody and transported to the Wabash County Jail. Fugate was held on a $300 cash bond.
Peoria Man Jailed On Wabash County FTA
On 9/18/18 Mt. Carmel Police arrested Benny L. Lamar, age 60, of Peoria, IL, on a Wabash County Failure to Appear Warrant. Lamar was observed as a passenger in a vehicle leaving the area of 4th & Market Street. Lamar was known to have the warrant by the arresting officer and a traffic stop was conducted. Lamar was taken into custody and transported to the Wabash County Jail. Lamar was issued the warrant and held on a $1000 cash bond.
Mt. Carmel Man Picked Up On Lawrence County Warrant
On 9/17/18 Mt. Carmel Police arrested Blake J. Falls, age 25, of Mount Carmel, on a Lawrence County Warrant for his arrest. Falls was observed in the 100 block of East 9th Street and the officer knew him to have the warrant. Falls was transported to the Wabash County Jail where the warrant was served. He was later released after posting a $150 cash bond.
Two Charged Following Early Morning Rollover Wreck
This morning at 5:50 a.m. the Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to a one vehicle crash at 10259 Wabash 10 Ave. Once on scene Deputy Keagan Bogard determined a 2011 Chevrolet was south bound on Wabash 10 Ave. when the driver reached for a cell phone and lost control of the vehicle. The Chevrolet struck a utility pole causing it to split in half while the vehicle came to rest on its’ roof. 20 year old Emily I. Dill, of Mt. Carmel was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident as well as illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor and obstruction of justice. A passenger 23 year old Ryce Carey of Princeton was treated and released at WGH for her injuries and later taken into custody and charged with obstruction of justice as well.
The Sheriff's Office was assisted by Mt. Carmel Police Department, Mt. Carmel Fire Department and Wabash General Ambulance Service.
Car/Combine Crash Sends One To Evansville Hospital
This morning at 7:01 a.m. the Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to a two vehicle crash on Highway 11 just just east of Lancaster. Upon arriving on scene Sheriff's Office personnel discovered a 2014 John Deere S680 Combine was west bound on Highway 11 when the driver, 24 year old Logan Loudermilk of Albion advised he experienced a mechanical issue with the combine. Loudermilk then turned southbound into a field/yard entrance. The combine's rear was partially in the eastbound lane. Loudermilk advised he felt the combine move and exited to see what had happened. That was when he discovered 61 year old Alicia Yates was east bound on Highway 11 in a 2009 Chevrolet Impala and had struck the rear of the combine.
A resident that lived across the road advised he saw one vehicle go around the combine and then heard a loud crash and saw a car rolling down the highway and into a yard just across the road. Yates was transported to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville due to her injuries.
The investigation continues and the sunlight is thought to be a contributing factor in this crash.
The Sheriff's Office were assisted at the scene by the Allendale Fire Department and the Wabash General Ambulance Service
IECC Board Approves $31.68 Million Budget
The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 adopted an operating fund budget of $31,686,388 for fiscal year July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, at the regular meeting Tuesday, September 18th at Lincoln Trail College. The budget was adopted following a public hearing. The budget includes $28,539,048 in the Education Fund and $3,147,340 in the Operations and Maintenance Fund. These are the two principal operating funds of the IECC district.
The annual financial audit of community college district accounts for the past fiscal year, as prepared by independent auditors CliftonLarsonAllen, was reviewed. The District complied with generally accepted accounting principles and there were no material weaknesses identified on the District’s internal controls and compliance with Federal regulations. There were no findings or questioned costs. The audit was accepted for submission to the Illinois Community College Board.
The 2018 IECC Fact Book containing basic information about the community college district was adopted. The book gathers information from various sources into one central document regarding students, enrollment history, degrees and certificates granted, financial aid received and distributed, and the district’s annual budgets and operation.
Employee health and dental insurance rates were approved for the 2019 calendar year.
A partnership agreement was approved between IECC, Lake Land College, Kaskaskia College, C.E.F.S. and the LWIA #23 for an apprenticeship program for the Certified Medical Assistant Program.
The Security Report was approved and is an annual report that meets requirements recently approved under The Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The report contains crime information for the past three years, relevant policy statements, and training and educational programming related to campus safety and security, crime prevention, alcohol and drug use, and sexual misconduct. The report showed that the four colleges have no incidents of violence on campus.
Approval was given for Institutional Learning Goals and Priorities as developed by the IECC faculty and staff.
Three affiliation agreements were approved with area health care facilities for District health related programs.
The Board approved the employment of the following personnel: Jack Trosper as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at WVC effective October 1, 2018, Tristan Caparas as Information Systems Technician at LTC effective October 1, 2018, Amy Ferguson as Office Assistant at LTC effective September 19, 2018, and William Rude as Technology Systems Specialist at the District Office effective October 1, 2018.
A change in status was approved for Luke Harl from Coordinator of Accreditation Compliances & Academic Services at the District Office to Program Director, Grants & Compliance at the District Office effective September 19, 2018. A change in status was also approved for Scott Meserole from Program Director of Emergency Preparedness Management & Industrial Quality Management at FCC to O & M Team Leader/Coordinator of Fire Science at FCC effective October 1, 2018.
Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, October 16, at 7:00 p.m. at the IECC West Richland Center, located at 320 East North Street in Noble.
Wabash County Receives StormReady Status From NWS
Wabash County officially received Storm Ready status Monday when officials from the National Weather Service and Illinois Emergency Management Agency traveled to Mount Carmel to present a certificate and road sign to County Board Chairman Rob Dean. Rick Shanklin of the weather office in Paducah said the designation is an important one….
StormReady is a national program unveiled by the National Weather Service in April 2000. A community must achieve a specific level of hazardous weather operations readiness in order to be accredited as StormReady. Wabash County Emergency Management director Gerald Brooks thanked the agency’s volunteers for the hard work in achieving the designation.
WEMA Director Gerald Brooks
County Board Chairman Rob Dean
NWS’ Rick Shanklin
Mayor Bill Hudson
Wabash County Treasurer's Report
Wabash County Treasurer Beverly McBride reports that 90% of mobile home taxes have been paid. That amounts to $3,304.98. In her report to the county board on Monday, McBride said the state owes Wabash County $22,720.38 in income tax receipts. Springfield did cut a check for $14,760.94 in salary reimbursements.
District #348 School Board Approves $14.8 Million Budget
The Wabash District #348 school board has adopted a $14.8 million 2018-19 budget that doesn’t leave a whole lot of wiggle room. But, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer says recent maneuvers should put the district on a more stable footing financially than its’ seen in several years. Bleyer told board members Monday night that the ambitious undertaking includes using a working cash bond to retire a $1 million debt certificate this month saving the district $60,000 in interest fees….
Bleyer said he expects similar future moves to aid the district even more….
Of the $14.8 million budget, Bleyer said almost $11 million or 73% goes to salary and benefits.
District #348 Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer (Center) outlines the 2018-19 budget as board member Kyle Peach (L) and board president Tim Schuler (R) look on.
INDOT Plans Work At US 41/SR 64 Princeton Interchange
GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a lane restrictions prior to the ramp closure for the U.S. 41 and State Road 64 interchange at Princeton.
Beginning on or around Monday Sept. 24, contractors will begin restricting S.R. 64 to begin building a turn lane in advance of the upcoming paving project for the eastbound S.R. 64 to North Bound U.S. 41 ramp. The turn lane will serve as a part of the detour route for the ramp closure. Motorists will begin to see advance warning signage as early as Sept. 19.
Work on the turn lane is expected to be complete by the beginning of October, with the ramp closure to follow on or around Wednesday Oct. 3. At this time, contractors will activate the temporary traffic signal at this location to begin directing traffic looking to go north on U.S. 41 to the ramp on the north side of the interchange.
Once the ramp is closed, it will remain closed for about two months depending upon weather conditions.
INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.
