ISP SEEK PUBLIC’S ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING HUMAN REMAINS - UPDATE

Centralia, IL – On August 28, 2020, Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 8 officials were requested by the Trenton Police Department to investigate the discovery of female human remains in an advanced state of decomposition located in the ditch of the Illinois Route 160 on-ramp to New United States Route 50 westbound near Trenton, IL. 

An autopsy was completed on Saturday, August 29, 2020 with results still pending.  ISP DCI Zone 8 is leading the death investigation and is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the body as they continue pursuing all available leads.  The remains are described as a white female, approximately 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighing approximately 127 pounds.  The female was wearing jean shorts with an American Indian style pattern and a t-shirt described as a Good Luck Unlimited Trolls T-Shirt like the example depicted below.  Identifying tattoos include:

• The word “Charity” tattooed in fancy script on the right forearm

• A multi-colored mermaid-like figure tattooed on the upper left arm

• A tattoo depicting a flower with a bumblebee and the word “Charity” in fancy script on the left forearm

• The word “Dallas” tattooed in fancy script on the lower middle back

Although there is no additional information available for release at this time in this ongoing death investigation, anyone with information is asked to contact ISP DCI Zone 8 at (217)-342-7879 or William.sandusky@illinois.gov.

Good Luck Unlimited Trolls T-Shirt Example

School Kids Eating Breakfast/Lunch Free Through End Of The Year

There will be no charge to ALL Wabash District #348 students for breakfast and/or lunch through first semester ending December 18, 2020. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would allow schools to continue serving free meals to all kids through the end of 2020.

ACREE & MERRITT AWARDED HAL R. JOHNSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Mt. Carmel Elks Lodge #715 is pleased to present this year’s Hal R. Johnson Memorial Scholarship to Evan Acree and Madison (Madi) Merritt. This scholarship was created to assist graduating senior children of Elks members in furthering their education and job skills. The scholarship’s namesake, Hal R. Johnson, exemplified the virtues that shape the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity.

These students possess those same virtues and should be commended for their fine academic, extra-curricular, and community service achievements. The scholarship for each recipient is in the amount of $1,000.

Evan is the son of Kim Acree and the late John Acree, of Mt. Carmel. Evan is attending Wabash Valley College prior to a four-year university to study Chiropractic Medicine.

Madison (Madi) is the daughter of Mike and Julie Merritt, of Mt. Carmel. Madison is attending Anderson University to major in Elementary Education.

Photo Caption:

Charles Acree, Exalted Ruler of the Mt. Carmel Elks, was pleased to present this year’s Hal R. Johnson Memorial Scholarship to Evan Acree and Madison (Madi) Merritt.

UPDATED: Crimestoppers Offering Reward For Stolen Political Signs

From MCPD: UPDATE: This weekend the Mt. Carmel Police Department received reports that a number of Trump and Biden signs were taken from properties located on Cherry Street. We are requesting that if the public has any video of those stealing signs, please contact the Mt. Carmel Police Department at 262-HALT. Crimestoppers will pay $100.00 for information leading to the arrest of a person's stealing political signs.

MCPD Looking For Info On Market Street Hit And Run

The Mt. Carmel Police Department is requesting information on a hit and run accident that occurred Saturday afternoon at approximately 5:00 pm. An unknown vehicle struck the stop sign in front of Little Egypt's Art Gallery located at 5th and Market Street. The vehicle failed to stop and caused damage in excess of $1,000. If you have information pertaining to the accident please contact the Mt. Carmel Police Department. Wabash County Crime Stoppers is offering $100.00 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. Please call 262-HALT if you have any information.

New Mask Mandate Not Changing Much In Illinois Restaurants

Restaurant patrons and workers in Illinois are adjusting to new mask rules Governor J.B. Pritzker recently announced.

A mask is now required anytime a person interacts with an employee in a bar or restaurant, even outdoors. In other words, when the server comes back to the table to take the order or deliver food, the customer is required to put their mask back on.

Pritzker said his administration worked with the Illinois Restaurant Association to develop the new rules.

“This new requirement asks a little bit more of our residents dining out in order to protect their health and safety and that of our front line hospitality workers,” said Pritzker during a press conference.

Already restaurants in the state require workers to wear a face covering while on the job, and had previously required patrons to wear masks while on the premises, unless they were eating and drinking at their table or bar. Health officials say the new guidelines “ensure that while seated, interactions between business staff and patrons can happen safely to prevent possible spread of the virus.”

A canvas of bars and restaurants in the Bloomington-Normal area revealed very few patrons putting their masks back on when a server returned to their table.

Bob Groetken, owner of Schooners in Bloomington, said once a customer sits down, the face covering usually comes off.

“I do notice a lot more people putting them on when they go to the restroom, but interaction with the employees, waitresses and bartenders, not so much quite honestly,” Groetken said.

Chamber Accepting Business Of The Year Nominations

The Wabash County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Business of The Year Award. The Chamber will be honoring a local business that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in our community this year.

Nominations for the Business of the Year can be made by anyone. The business being nominated must be a Wabash County Chamber Member. Nominations (business name and why they should be awarded this honor) should be sent to the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce office at 601 N. Market Street Mt. Carmel, IL 62863 or emailed to Ldhipsher@wabashcountychamber.com. Deadline for nominations is Wednesday, September 30th, 2020.

“This job never gets easier! The Chamber is happy to get so many great businesses nominated year after year. Especially this year with so many businesses overcoming such big obstacles.  W

Traffic stop nets arrest of Sullivan, Indiana duo

On August 30, 2020, 2:50 a.m., Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith conducted a traffic stop on a White 2018 Hyundai Sonata for speeding on US 41 near County Road 550 South. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Smith detected clues that may indicated that the driver 55-year-old Jeffery Dudley of Sullivan, Indiana may be under the influence of an unknown intoxicant. At that point Deputy Smith began a roadside investigation. During the investigation illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia were found inside the vehicle. Once his investigation was complete Deputy Smith placed the driver Mr. Dudley and a passenger 53-year-old Penny Shorter also of Sullivan into custody and transported them to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Dudley was charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Refusal. He has since posted a $650 bond. Penny Shorter was charged with Possession of Methamphetamines and Possession of Paraphernalia. She also has posted a $750 bond.

Assisting Deputy Smith in his investigation was Deputy Loren Barchett.

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

Evansville man arrested on OWI charge

On August 30, 2020, at 1:29 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Michael Rose conducted a traffic stop on a Red 2011 Toyota Camry for having expired license plates. Upon stopping the car on US 41 near County Road 650 South Deputy Rose identified the driver as 28-year-old Shawn Wiles of Evansville. While speaking with Mr. Wiles Deputy Rose began to pick up clues that Mr. Wiles may be operating his vehicle while intoxicated. At that point Deputy Rose began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in Mr. Wiles being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Mr. Wiles was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. He has since posted a $450 bond.

Assisting Deputy Rose in his investigation was Deputy U.B. Smith.

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

Report: Illinois Has 2nd Highest Property Taxes In US

Illinois homeowners, and those who pay through rent, paid a higher tax rate than all but one other state in America. 

At 2.05 percent of the average market value of their home, Illinois owners shelled out a higher portion of their home’s value in property taxes than any other state in 2018 with the exception of New Jersey. That’s according to an annual report from the nonprofit Tax Foundation. 

“Property taxes tend to be a really stable source of revenue because it’s a little harder for someone to pack up and move than it is for them to change where they go shopping,” said Janelle Cammenga, tax analyst for the Tax Foundation. “However, you might look at property tax bills before moving somewhere if you’re going to move because that is going to make a big difference in how affordable your house is going to be.” 

When split by county, Illinoisans in suburban Chicago pay much more in annual property taxes than elsewhere in the state. This averaging between the metropolitan area and rural Illinois likely means residents of Chicago area pay a higher average percentage of their home’s value to local government than most of New Jersey.

Property taxes, Cammenga said, are one of the most transparent forms of taxation because it’s a semi-annual payment or a monthly lump sum that’s often split among monthly mortgage payments, not accumulated little-by-little as with sales taxes. 

The majority of Illinois’ property taxes go to fund local school districts. Illinois pays for a smaller percentage of local public education than nearly any other state.

“Because so much of their education funding comes from property taxes and not state transfers, that does make those a bit higher,” Cammenga said. 

Advocates of the progressive income tax ballot initiative has said that the additional revenue from higher income taxes for higher earners could go toward making the state’s portion of local school funding larger, but the proposed amendment contains no language that require the state to do so. 

Illinois overhauled its education funding formula in 2018 and committed to increasing state-based funding annually.