ISP INVESTIGATE BREAK-IN AT ALBION CANNABIS CULTIVATION PLANT

Carmi, IL – On August 3, 2020, Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) – Zone 8 Agents were called to the Ataraxia Cultivation Plant, off Illinois Route 130 on the south end of Albion, IL to investigate a break-in and theft. 

The theft occurred in the early morning hours of August 2nd in which cannabis plants were taken after the suspect entered through an exterior door. 

This case is open and on-going with a cooperative investigation being conducted by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Southern Illinois Drug Taskforce, ISP Crime Scene Services, and ISP DCI Zone 8.  No additional information is being released at this time.  Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact ISP DCI Zone 8 at (618) 382-4606 extension 235.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Threats At WCHD Prompt Installation Of Security System

A new security system is being installed at the Wabash County Health Department as a reaction to recent threats aimed at the staff as they try to conduct contact tracing and other COVID-related matters. Administrator Judy Wissel gave an update to county commissioners on Monday, though she did not provide specific details about the threats.

Southern Illinois COVID-19 Surge Concerns WCHD Administrator

Wabash County is very close to sliding back into stronger coronavirus mitigation. Health Department Administrator Judy Wissel reported on Monday that the 11-county region Wabash is a part of has a positivity rate that has risen to 7.4%. Under the latest state COVID guidelines, if a region hits the 8-percent mark for three consecutive days, the entire region could enter Tier One mitigation, which would impose more limitations for restaurants and other businesses.

Bicyclist Ticketed After Being Hit By Vehicle

On 07/31/2020, Mt. Carmel Police and Wabash General EMS were notified of a vehicle accident involving a bicyclist at 3rd and Walnut Street.  Upon arrival, a witness stated that Jennifer L. Swift was riding a bicycle westbound in the 200 block of W. 3rd Street when she struck a 2018 Jeep Wrangler being driven by John D. Burton.  A camera system provided by a witness showed Swift disobey the traffic control device.  Swift was injured in the accident and was transported to Wabash General Hospital.  Police cited Swift for disobeying a traffic control device.  The driver of the Jeep was not injured.  

Pritzker Loses Another Court Battle

A Logan County Circuit Court judge handed Gov. J.B. Pritzker his latest loss in a challenge to the governor's executive authority.

Judge Jonathan C. Wright ruled Monday morning that Pritzker’s order that temporarily halted county jails from moving prisoners to state-run facilities ran afoul of state law.

The Illinois Department of Corrections must accept an inmate within 14 days of a transfer, but Pritzker’s order struck that language for the duration of his emergency orders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There are about 36,000 inmates housed in IDOC facilities.

“The governor, nor the director of the [Department of Corrections], has independent discretion to determine what inmates they’re going to take or if they’re not going to take any,” said Jim Kaitschuck, director of the Illinois Sheriffs Association. “They just can’t have that unilateral ability to suspend or stop accepting inmates or parameters for who they would accept moving forward.”

He estimated there are about 2,000 inmates awaiting transfer to state facilities.

The ISA filed a lawsuit in late May, naming Pritzker, Illinois Department of Corrections Acting Director Rob Jeffreys, and wardens from four state prisons. The association sought not only to force the state prisons to accept transfers but also to compensate the counties for housing the inmates.

Attorneys representing the state requested a stay of the ruling while they ready an appeal. Another hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Pritzker’s executive order says the transfers pose a threat of spreading COVID-19 through the congregate settings of a state prison.

“[T]o ensure that the Director of the IDOC may take all necessary steps, consistent with public health guidance, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the IDOC facilities and provide necessary healthcare to those impacted by COVID-19, it is critical to provide the Director with discretion to use medical furloughs to allow medically vulnerable inmates to temporarily leave IDOC facilities, when necessary and appropriate and taking into account the health and safety of the inmate, as well as the health and safety of other inmates and staff in IDOC facilities and the community,” the order said.

MCPD Locate Missing 14 Year Old Boy

UPDATE: River Perry was located at 11:45am on 8/3/2020.  He was located at 6th & Mulberry on a bike safe and sound.

The Mt. Carmel Police Department is requesting the public's help in locating a missing 14 year old identified as River L. Perry. Perry was last seen on 8/02/2020 around 7:30pm in the 100 block of Chestnut Street. Perry's last known clothing was a tie-dye shirt and white gym shorts. Anyone with information is asked to call the Mt. Carmel Police Department at 618-262-4114 or call 911.

IL Dept. Of Ag: Don't Open Or Plant Mystery Seeds

As if 2020 couldn’t get any stranger, Illinois residents are receiving unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have been sent from China. 

Some of the mystery seeds were shipped in white packages that are sometimes labeled “jewelry.”

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is asking residents not to open the packages, not to plant the seeds, and not to throw them out. Further instruction will be provided in the future.

Richard Hentschel, a University of Illinois horticulturist in St. Charles, said he was alarmed when he heard stories of the seeds from across the country.

“My immediate mantra in all of this is: 'Don’t open, don’t plant,' ” Hentschel said. “It would be silly to get that stuff in the ground not knowing anything about it.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating the mystery seed shipments along with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, other federal agencies, and State departments of agriculture.

"At this time, we don’t have any evidence indicating this is something other than a 'brushing scam' where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales," the department said in a statement. "USDA is currently collecting seed packages from recipients and will test their contents and determine if they contain anything that could be of concern to U.S. agriculture or the environment."

Osama El-Lissy, with the Plant Protection program of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said investigators have so far identified 14 different types of seeds including mustard, cabbage, morning glory and some herbs, such as mint, sage and rosemary.

Ken Johnson, U of I Extension horticulturist in Jacksonville, said it would be dangerous to plant the seeds.

“We don’t know what they are, so there is a potential that the plants these seeds are coming from could be invasive,” he said. 

Johnson said the timing is bad because the extension is currently sending out wildflower seeds to remind residents to fill out Census forms, but those packets will be clearly marked by the extension.

Anyone who receives unordered seeds in the mail is being asked to contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture via email at agr.seeds@illinois.gov and include their name, phone number and the number of packages received. 

An official reported the department has received 500 emails so far.

Sullivan County Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest

Sullivan County -  July 29, 2020, at approximately 11:10 p.m., Trooper William Clark of the Putnamville State Police Post was patrolling and initiated a traffic stop on a Pontiac Grand Prix at Judy Lane and Main Street, in Sullivan, IN,  for failure to stop at a stop sign.  Further investigation by Trooper Clark revealed that the driver was a female juvenile and that she displayed signs of impairment.  The juvenile agreed to submit to a certified test, and failed.  She was cited, and released to her parents.   

A passenger in the vehicle was identified as James H. Hightshoe, age 51, of Vevay, Indiana.  The Pontiac Grand Prix belonged to Hightshoe.  Criminal activity was detected and a search was conducted.  During the search it was discovered that Hightshoe had methamphetamine, 4 hypodermic syringes, marijuana, and paraphernalia in his possession.  Hightshoe was arrested and taken to the Sullivan County Jail where he is currently being held.

Arrested and Charges:  James H. Hightshoe, 51, Vevay, IN

• Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony 4

• Possession of Hypodermic Syringe, Felony 6 

• Contributing to delinquency of a minor, Class A Misdemeanor

• Possession of Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor  

Assisting:  Trooper Justin Bell of the Putnamville State Police Post and Officer Eberhardt of the Sullivan City Police Department.   

All criminal defendants are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

Evidence collected.

Judge: Decision On Pool Grant Application Not Expected Until September

Mayor Joe Judge had expected to hear something this month on whether a million dollar grant to rehabilitate the City Pool was successful. But now, Judge says he’s been told by the state that a decision on the grant application won’t be announced until mid to late September. Judge’s report came at Monday’s City Council meeting.

MCHS Class Of 2020 Set To Graduate Saturday

After waiting two and a half months, the Mt. Carmel High School Class of 2020 is set to graduate tomorrow morning at Riverview Stadium. The ceremony is planned for 9:30 weather permitting. Principal Jake Newkirk says the early start was an attempt to beat the summer heat before the sun rises above the stadium and beats down on the graduates. Newkirk said organizers have been striving to make sure social distancing protocols are observed tomorrow… 

Graduates are being limited to 4 invitees apiece who will sit socially distanced in the stadium. If it rains tomorrow morning, the graduation will be pushed back to 6:30 Saturday night and if it’s still raining then, the ceremony will be postponed until 6:30 Sunday night.  MCHS graduation was originally planned for May 15th.