The Mt. Carmel Police Department recently put a new squad car into service. Mayor Joe Judge said recently the new car replaced a squad car that the city was throwing too much money into…
District #348 Looking At 3 Possibilities For Start Of School Year
Last week we reported that Wabash District #348 was preparing for the start of the new school year in August with two scenarios…going back to school as normal or returning to remote learning. At Monday night’s District #348 school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer added a third scenario…
Bleyer said the hybrid option is the one wild card scenario…
Bleyer did not go into details on how a hybrid scenario would work as those details are still being formulated.
Near the conclusion of the meeting, board president Tim Schuler said the board is committed to returning to school in August, unless the state doesn’t allow schools to resume as normal.
Mt. Carmel City Pool Not Opening In 2020
Here are more details on the story we first reported on Monday evening:
The Mt. Carmel City Pool will not open in 2020. Mayor Joe Judge says IDPH guidelines are too stringent for pool to be profitable. Some of those guidelines include no more than 50 people being allowed in the pool at one time with only ten at a time in certain areas of the pool and swimmers needing to maintain a 30 foot social distance from other swimmers…
The city council agreed that financially opening the pool for roughly six weeks would result in the pool operating deep in the red. Instead, Judge said money budgeted for the 2020 pool's operation will go into pool improvements.
WSJD File Photo
Amnesty Ending For Mt. Carmel Water Customers
Mt. Carmel water customers, who have gotten a break on their bills during COVID-19, will need to square their accounts with the city before September 7th. Since the pandemic hit in March, the city has waived late fees and stopped disconnections for non-payment.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, Water Commissioner Justin Dulgar announced that the city is instituting a plan to recoup the $75,000 in outstanding water bills. Dulgar said residents with outstanding water bills need to come to City Hall and enroll into a payment plan. City Clerk Rudy Witsman stressed that all outstanding bills have to be paid…
When enrolling in the payment plan, customers will be given a new account number separate from the past due account. The past due account will need to be paid and made current by September 7th when shut-offs will resume.
Mayor Joe Judge said Mt. Carmel was one of the few cities in the area to waive late fees and stop disconnections during COVID-19.
Lucille Batson Memorial scholarship awarded to Ethan Pittman
Ethan Pittman, of Clay City, Ill., was awarded the Lucille Batson Memorial scholarship. The Clay City High School graduate will attend WVC to pursue a degree in Agriculture Technology/Business.
The Lucille Batson Memorial Scholarship was established to assist students pursuing an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Career and Technical Education programs. This scholarship awards $500 to help offset the cost of tuition. This scholarship is awarded to applicants based on high school grade point average and letter of recommendation submitted by a vocational instructor or high school counselor.
Suspicious Activity and Pursuit Results in a Officer-Involved Shooting Incident
Clay County, IN - Detectives from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post have been requested by Clay County Sheriff Paul Harden to investigate an officer-involved shooting incident that took place on June 17, 2020, at approximately 3:08 a.m., near Centerpoint, Indiana.
At approximately 2:27 a.m., deputies of the Clay County Sheriff's Department were requested at a residence near the Clay County and Vigo County line off of State Road 46, reference to a suspicious subject knocking vigorously on a residence door. The subject left the residence before Clay County Deputies could arrive. A short time later, a Clay County Deputy observed a vehicle, meeting the description from the original call, traveling eastbound on State Road 46 near County Road 150 West, at a high rate of speed. The Deputy then attempted to stop the vehicle, and a pursuit ensued, continuing northbound onto State Road 59. The subject in the pursued vehicle began to discard items from the moving vehicle, which would later be discovered as improvised explosive devices.
The pursuit continued onto County Road 100 East and County Road 300 North, in Clay County, where the subject failed to negotiate a turn, traveling off of the roadway. It was at that time that the pursuing Deputy caught up to the vehicle, but the subject had maneuvered the vehicle back onto the roadway and proceeded to drive the vehicle directly at the Deputy. Due to the fact that the Deputy felt his life was in danger, the Deputy then discharged his duty weapon at the subject. The subject continued north on County Road 100 East before stopping and exiting the vehicle, attempting to run on foot. A Clay County K-9 officer was released at that time, and the subject was subdued.
Medical assistance was immediately rendered at the scene. The subject was subsequently transported to Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, with non-life threatening injuries and currently remains hospitalized. No Deputies were injured.
The Indiana State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal team (EOD) out of Indianapolis arrived on the scene and used K-9 units and special tools to inspect the items within the subject’s vehicle and that were discarded onto State Road 59. Upon reviewing all the information, the EOD team found the discarded items to be active explosives. The EOD team used a device to neutralize the discarded items, deeming the scene safe.
The subject involved has been positively identified as Marion Tanner Joseph Haywood, age 23, of Owensburg, Indiana. Haywood will be placed into custody once he is released from Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, on an active warrant out of Monroe County for domestic battery with a deadly weapon.
Clay County Deputy Hunter Gambil is the deputy involved in this incident. He has been placed on administrative leave, which is customary in officer-involved shooting incidents. Deputy Gambil has one and half years of service to the department.
The investigation is being conducted by Indiana State Police detectives Mike Featherling, Ryan Winters and Jason Schofstall with the assistance of Lieutenant Jeff Hearon, First Sergeant Jason Fajt, Sergeant Sam Stearley, CSI Sergeant Brandon Mullen and CSI Sergeant Michael Organ of the Putnamville State Police Post.
This is an active and ongoing Indiana State Police investigation. There is no further information to release at this time. Upon completion of their investigation, Indiana State Police detectives will submit a full report of the incident to the Clay County Prosecutor's Office for review and determination of charges filed.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Paige McFarland named recipient of Eliza C. and C.S. Young Memorial scholarship
Paige McFarland was awarded the Eliza C. and C.S. Young Memorial Scholarship by Wabash Valley College. Having graduated from high school, the Allendale resident will attend WVC to purse her Associate in Science.
This scholarship recognizes outstanding academic achievement in high school and is awarded to students who demonstrate a potential to excel in their area of study. It has been established to assist students pursuing an associate degree at WVC. This award provides assistance with tuition costs for fall and spring semesters of 2020–2021 at WVC as long as the student remains enrolled full time. Total value of this award is estimated at $2,000.
Katie Reid awarded WVC Presidential scholarship
Katie Reid, of Albion, Ill., was awarded WVC’s Presidential scholarship. The Edwards County High School graduate will attend WVC to pursue an Associate in Science and Arts degree.
This prestigious award is based on predicted performance which includes high school grade point average, ACT Score, and rank in class. The award of $2000 per year provides assistance with tuition costs for fall and spring semesters at Wabash Valley College for one year as long as the student remains enrolled full time. Selection is made by the Wabash Valley College Foundation Scholarships Committee.
WVC awards Claire Sherwood Spencer scholarship to Brieanna Cline
Brieanna Cline, of Saint Francisville, Ill., was awarded the Claire Sherwood Spencer scholarship by Wabash Valley College. Cline graduated from Lawrenceville High School and will attend WVC to work towards earning an associate degree in General Studies.
The Claire Sherwood Spencer Scholarship was established by the late Dr. James S. Spencer and wife, Claire, as a tribute to the dedication and support Mrs. Spencer provided during the years which Dr. Spencer spent as Chancellor of the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges.
Mrs. Spencer was also active in support of the fine arts in the area. Many have benefitted from her work as a language arts teacher, from her activities as a founder of the Women’s League for Community Progress in Olney, Ill., and from her support of higher education projects for women as a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization.
This scholarship recognizes outstanding academic achievement and leadership in high school and is awarded to students who demonstrate a potential to excel in their area of study. The scholarship provides assistance with tuition costs for one year as long as the student remains enrolled full time. Total value of this award is estimated at $2,400.
Brett Carwile awarded WVC Presidential scholarship
Brett Carwile, of Mount Carmel, Ill., was awarded Wabash Valley College’s Presidential scholarship. The Mount Carmel High School graduate will attend WVC to pursue an Associate in Science and Arts degree.
This prestigious award is based on predicted performance which includes high school grade point average, ACT Score, and rank in class. The award of $2,000 per year provides assistance with tuition costs for fall and spring semesters at Wabash Valley College for one year as long as the student remains enrolled full time. Selection is made by the Wabash Valley College Foundation Scholarships Committee.