Reckless Driving Leads to a Deadly Accident In Terre Haute

Vigo County -  April 28, 2020, at approximately 6:15 p.m., Trooper Colton Maynor was sitting stationary at the entrance of the Vigo County Fairgrounds when he observed a motorcycle traveling southbound on US 41 at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of traffic.  Trooper Maynor then activated his emergency lights and siren on his fully marked State Police commission, pursuing the motorcycle in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop. The motorcycle continued traveling southbound on US 41 at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of traffic. 

To ensure the safety of the public due to the high rate of speed, Trooper Maynor stopped pursuing the motorcycle near 56th Drive.  The motorcycle continued traveling south on US 41, driving recklessly, eventually striking a fully marked Vigo County Sheriff's Department vehicle in the rear.  The Sheriff’s Department vehicle had all emergency lights activated and was traveling at a reduced rate of speed in the passing lane of US 41 south.  Upon impact, both the driver and passenger of the motorcycle were thrown from the motorcycle.  The driver, Jack D. Beegle, age 27, of Terre Haute, Indiana, was transported to Regional Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The passenger, Brittany Marie Rose Waggoner, age 28, of Terre Haute, Indiana, was also transported to Regional Hospital, and was later airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

The Vigo County Deputy involved in the accident has been identified as David G. McAdams, a three year merit Deputy with the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department.  Deputy McAdams was transported to Regional Hospital for a medical check and has been released.

An autopsy of the deceased will be performed Wednesday morning by the Vigo County Coroner’s Office, at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute.   

Families have been notified.  

The Indiana State Police will be conducting a full accident reconstruction of this accident.

Investigating Officer:  Trooper Brad Fyfe, Indiana State Police.

Assisting: Troopers of the Putnamville State Police Post, Vigo County Sheriff’s Department, Honey Creek Fire Department, Trans Care, and Eddington’s Wrecker Service.

St. Francisville Woman Killed In Tuesday Crash

ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police

District 12

WHAT: Single Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash

WHERE:   County Road 800 East, one half mile North of Sand Barrens Lane, Lawrence County

WHEN: April 28, 2020 at 9:46 a.m.

VEHICLES: Unit 1- 1988 Brown Dodge Utility

DRIVERS:   Unit 1- Jacqueline A. Rainey, 64 year old female from St. Francisville, IL - Fatal

PRELIMINARY:   A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred:  Unit 1 was traveling north on county road 800 East, one half mile north of Sand Barrens Lane in Lawrence County. For unknown reasons, the driver of Unit 1 ran off the right side of the roadway, overcorrected, and drove back onto the roadway before running off the right side of the roadway again and striking a utility pole. The driver of Unit 1 was transported to an area hospital with life threatening injuries and later succumbed to her injuries.  

New Business Set To Open This Fall In Mt. Carmel

Information & Photos From Tiffany Case: So we are at a point in time where it's time to announce our new arcade in Mt Carmel, Illinois. It is in the refurbishment stages right now (needed tons of work) and will be complete and ready to open in September sometime. This is the initial layout idea and is subject to change, but for now this is the floor plan. We will be serving drinks and snack foods. This is a family friendly arcade so no alcohol and no adult drama. We will have some adult nights on occasion. All of the games and activities will be free to play so the only thing you pay is an entry fee of $5 which gets you in all day open to close. We are working on the numbers for weekly monthly and family passes and will post those as soon as we figure it all out. There are a few secret plans and ideas that we'll be letting people know in the future. Working on a Facebook page now and will let everyone know when it's ready. We will be located at 120 W 5th Street next to the Catholic Church.

80's and 90's movies will be playing all day. Black lights over head and old school arcade carpeting throughout.

After school drop off allowed and encouraged. No license through DCFS needed, already confirmed with them.

Disabled veteran owned and operated.

Birthday parties will be $100 for the entire building for 3 hours all year long! Unlimited guests.

Local active duty police, firemen, and first responders will be free always. Military and retired will be 20% off.

Phone number will be 867-5309.

https://www.facebook.com/TheStarcadeMtCarmel

ISP FORENSIC SERVICES PERSONNEL ASSIST WITH COVID-19 TESTING

Springfield, IL – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Forensic Services (DFS) is assisting the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ten forensic scientists and one DNA research coordinator, have volunteered to lend their expertise to assist the IDPH at the Chicago, Springfield and Carbondale laboratories. DFS is also evaluating the potential for 14 additional forensics scientists who volunteered their assistance.

DFS personnel completed required training by IDPH before they began assisting with COVID-19 testing. Their duties include preparing samples and conducting testing, as well as assisting with the related paperwork. One volunteer is specifically tasked with assisting the IDPH research and development team with testing enhancement and reducing turn-around times.

IDPH Director Dr Ngozi Ezike said, “One of the keys to ending this pandemic sooner is testing, which will tell us how much virus is circulating and where. This pandemic requires all hands on-deck and I want to thank the Illinois State Police laboratorians for helping in our response.”

“Our forensic scientists are unsung heroes who are often the critical difference in the pursuit of justice,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.  “Even in the midst of a global pandemic, these volunteer scientists are bravely stepping up and serving in ways they could not have imagined to protect public safety. Everyone in Illinois should be proud of them,” he concluded.

In addition to assisting with Covid-19 testing, ISP forensic labs are open and have staffed each forensic discipline with social distancing, there is constant communication with stakeholders, assignments are triaged based on public safety priorities of prosecutors and the courts, and all requests from prosecutors during Covid-19 protocols are completed.  Since COVID-19 protocols were put in place March 17, DFS has completed 3946 forensic assignments.

Many of the DFS volunteers have been assisting IDPH since March 23, 2020. They will continue to offer their services and assistance in order to combat this pandemic as long as necessary.

Confrontation At Fast Break Results In Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Woman

On April 27, 2020, Mt. Carmel Police Department responded to an incident at Marathon Fast Break involving two women.  When police arrived on the scene they were advised that Tina M. Davis, age 55, of Mt. Carmel, confronted a patron at a gas pump.  According to the victim, Davis came up to her and accused her of stealing the t-shirt she was wearing.  The victim advised she told Davis that she recently purchased the shirt new just a few days ago.  Davis is then accused of pushing the victim.  The victim was able to get to a safe location and notify the police.  During the questioning of Davis, she advised she wanted to leave and entered her vehicle.  She ignored the officer's orders and tried to drive from the scene.  The officer was able to get the vehicle stopped and attempted to place Davis in custody.  Davis is then accused of striking the officer in the face.  Davis was able to be detained and transferred to the Wabash County Jail.  Davis was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer, resisting arrest, and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Davis is being held pending the posting of bond.  The officer received minor injuries to his face.  

State Pushes WGH Elective Surgeries Back To May 11th

Not so fast on Wabash General Hospital and other Illinois hospitals resuming elective surgeries May 1st. Last week, we reported that WGH President and CEO Karissa Turner said they had been given the go ahead to re-start elective surgeries this Friday. But….

Turner said she has been unable to find an answer as to why the state pushed the elective surgeries back 11 days. She told the Wabash General Hospital board of directors yesterday that WGH currently has 152 pending surgeries. 

At the beginning of her report yesterday, Turner thanked Wabash General staff and the board for their support during the COVID-19 pandemic keeping the community safe to this point…

Because of social distancing restrictions, the board meeting yesterday was held via teleconference.

COVID-19 Impacting School Districts' Budgets

The COVID-19 pandemic has blown a huge hole in budgets at the state and local levels. And since the state continues to bleed money, District #348 Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer expects that to trickle down to the local level. At the recent school board meeting, Bleyer said the reports right now aren’t real encouraging…

Proration of school funding was the driving force in big budget shortfalls in school districts all over Illinois in the last decade. Bleyer said he is currently planning on a 5% reduction in state funding…

In any case, Bleyer said belt tightening will be necessary for the district’s finances. Along those same lines, Board President Tim Schuler suggested the board hold off making any hiring decisions on new positions until the financial picture becomes clearer.

City Bracing For Downturn In Revenues Caused By COVID-19

City of Mt. Carmel officials are hoping for the best when it comes to the city’s new budget that starts May 1st. At last week’s City Council meeting, Finance Commissioner Eric Ikemire said the ill-effects of COVID-19 on revenues could be offset to a certain degree by the fact city revenues finished ahead of projects in the current fiscal year. A big hit to the city government caused by the lockdown is gambling revenues.

City Clerk Rudy Witsman said the city receives roughly $5,000 to $7,000 a month in gaming revenues. That has gone to zero since the lockdown started on March 20th. Ikemire also said the city will see sales and income taxes critically impacted as well. He did commend all city departments for their work on holding the line on the new budget during these uncertain times.

District #348 Serving 500 Meals A Day During Remote Learning

During the stay at home order and subsequent remote learning, Wabash District #348 has been making sure students are fed. After The Lunch Wagon provided meals for the first part of the lockdown, the district took over providing lunch and breakfasts for pickup. Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said the district is preparing approximately 500 meals each school day. And, he wants to let everyone to know that the meals are free and no money is expected to be paid. In fact, Bleyer said some people have actually left money for the meals, which he said will be donated to The Lunch Wagon for their summer meal program.

Ramp Closure Scheduled for U.S. 41/I-69 Interchange in Evansville

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a complete ramp closure for the U.S. 41/I-69 interchange in the Evansville/Henderson, KY area.

Beginning on or around Monday, May 4, contractors will close the ramp from Northbound U.S. 41 to Northbound I-69 for a bridge rehabilitation project. During this project the ramp will be closed around the clock.

While the ramp is closed, traffic will need to use the remaining loops at the interchange to navigate to the northbound lanes. Work is expected to last until the beginning of June depending upon weather conditions.

INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.