Mother Arrested for Neglect after Drugs found during Traffic Stop

Vanderburgh County – Early Tuesday morning at approximately 12:30, Trooper Widner was patrolling in the area of US 41 near St. George when he stopped the driver of a 1996 Toyota Camry for making an improper lane change. The driver was identified as Heather Mayes, 33, of Evansville. Mayes’ six-month-old daughter was restrained in a child safety seat in the back seat. A front seat passenger was identified as Michael Fitzgerald, 34, of Evansville. Trooper Widner found nearly 10 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of marijuana, a syringe and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Mayes and Fitzgerald were arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where they are currently being held on bond. The child was released to her grandmother.

Arrested and Charges:

• Heather Mayes, 33, Evansville, IN

1. Neglect of a Dependent, Class 6 Felony

2. Possession of a Syringe, Class 6 Felony

3. Possession of Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor

4. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

• Michael Fitzgerald, 34, Evansville, IN

1. Possession of Meth, Class 5 Felony

Arresting Officer: Trooper Tyler Widner, Indiana State Police

Heather Mayes, 33, Evansville, IN

Neglect of a Dependent, Class 6 Felony

Possession of a Syringe, Class 6 Felony

Possession of Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Michael Fitzgerald, 34, Evansville, IN

Possession of Meth, Class 5 Felony

Third Street Water Tower Work May Cause Decrease In Water Pressure

Mt. Carmel water customers may notice a drop in water pressure this week as the 3rd Street water tower is drained. The project is part of the maintenance agreement the city entered into three years ago with Suez to rehabilitate the 3rd Street and WVC water towers at a cost of $1.725 million over a ten-year period.

Coinciding with the water tower maintenance, fire chief Francis Speth said fire hydrants on South Mulberry Street near the ballpark, in Southgate Industrial Park, and across from the former South School will be opened to alleviate pressure on the water lines. 

WSJD photo of 3rd Street water tower as extensive rehabilitation work was taking place in August of 2018.. 

Demolition Next Month To Kick Off WGH Expansion Project

Visible signs of Wabash General Hospital’s multi-million-dollar expansion project will become apparent early next month. In a report to Wabash County Commissioners on Monday, WGH President/CEO Karissa Turner said the demolition of two houses along 13th Street will begin on October 5th. While the demolition work is being done, 13th Street will be closed to traffic. The demolition is the first step in the construction project that Turner said is still on track to start in January after USDA financing is finalized. 

WSJD File Photo

TRIO Student Support Services grant renewed through 2025

The grant that funds the TRIO Student Support Services program at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, including Wabash Valley College, has been renewed through 2025.

TRIO SSS is a 100-percent federally funded program from the U.S. Department of Education that is designed to provide academic development and assist students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education.

“The purpose of TRIO Student Support Services is to help high school graduates in the transition from high school to college or for non-traditional students from life to college,” said WVC TRIO SSS Academic Counselor Tayna Smith. “One of our major objectives is for students to transfer to four-year universities once they graduate from community college.”

IECC Director of TRIO Student Support Services Wain Davis explained what is needed to be considered eligible for the SSS program.

“Students that are the first in their family to pursue a Bachelor’s degree, meet the income guidelines for the program, or have a documented disability are invited to apply for this amazing program.”

TRIO SSS has been a part of IECC for more than 25 years and has helped countless participants in reaching their academic goals. TRIO SSS uses a variety of activities to help students including intensive academic advising, workshops and trainings, cultural and college trips, student mentor programs and tutoring.

“I love my students and providing them opportunities they have never had before,” said Smith. “We have taken students to Chicago where they attend a National College Fair. We have taken them to St. Louis and visited universities there and then taken them to the Fox Theater. Seeing the looks on their faces when they are experiencing new things and places is priceless.”

TRIO SSS also helps students with budgeting, supplies, career counseling and provides students with information about financial aid assistance.

“The program is designed to empower students to achieve their goals and dreams. We want students to be prepared not only for college but for life,” said Smith.

Over the next five years, Smith has the opportunity to make a major impact on the educational trajectories of many incoming freshman and non-traditional students.

“TRIO SSS at WVC serves a minimum of 50 students per academic year,” said Smith. “Over the course of the next five years, I have the opportunity to enable at least 250 students to be successful in college and beyond.”

The renewed TRIO SSS grant starts Sept. 1, 2020 and will end Aug. 31, 2025. Current WVC students who meet the eligibility requirements that want to learn more about TRIO SSS should contact Tayna Smith at Wabash Valley College by phone at 618-263-5041 or by email at smithta@iecc.edu. Information about the program is also posted online at www.iecc.edu/trio.

IL SOS Office Announces Expired Driver’s Licenses and ID Cards Extended Until Feb. 1, 2021

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended an additional three months – from Nov. 1, 2020, until Feb. 1, 2021. This new Feb. 1 extension also includes those who have October, November, December and January expiration dates. As a result, expired driver’s licenses and ID cards will remain valid until Feb. 1, 2021, so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities during the pandemic.

“Extending expiration dates until February 1 means people with an expired driver’s license and ID card do not need to visit a Driver Services facility immediately,” said White. “During this pandemic, we continue to think creatively to serve the public as efficiently as possible, while making public health and safety our top priority.”  

License plates stickers remain extended until Nov. 1, 2020, as they can easily be renewed online.

White continues to urge the public to consider using online services when possible instead of visiting a facility due to heavy customer volume. Customers who can conduct business online may go to www.cyberdriveillinois.com to take advantage of online services – such as renewing license plate stickers, obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card, obtaining a driving record abstract or renewing a standard driver’s license through the Safe Driver renewal program – from the comfort of their own home. People who conduct online transactions will avoid waiting in line at a facility.

White noted that online transactions continue to rise, with an increase of 84 percent in online license plate sticker renewals when compared to the same period in 2019.

Month/Year                                         Online License Plate Sticker Renewals

June 1 – Sept. 20, 2020                         1,201,659 (84 percent increase)

June 1 – Sept. 20, 2019                         654,596

White recently extended the driver’s license expiration date by one year for qualified drivers age 75 and older. The new expiration date is their birthday in 2021.

For those customers who must visit a facility, face masks are required. In addition, customers are asked to be patient due to heavy volume and to be prepared to wait outside in various types of weather. This is due to social distancing, which limits the number of people inside a facility at one time.

For more information, visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

Foul Play Not Suspected In Shooting Death Of Juvenile

RELEASE FROM THE WABASH COUNTY CORONERS OFFICE FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT ON 09/22/20

Location: 2115 College Drive, Mount Carmel, Illinois

The Wabash County Coroners Office was called to the residence at approximately 1: 35 p.m., where Coroner, Shaun Keepes, pronounced a juvenile male deceased from an apparent gun shot wound.  An autopsy will be conducted at the Wabash County Coroner's office on Thursday 09/24/20.   

No foul play is suspected. This incident is currently under investigation by the Wabash County Coroner's Office, Mount Carmel Police Department and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit.

Please join us in keeping this family in your thoughts and prayers.

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ARREST SUSPECT THAT DROVE INTO TROOPER’S SQUAD CAR

Parkersburg, IL – On September 22, at approximately 8:38 a.m., a District 19 Trooper initiated a traffic stop with a Truck Tractor Semi Trailer (TTST) combination vehicle on Illinois Route 130 near West Street, in Parkersburg IL, Richland County. The location of the stop was near the ISP District 19/12 border and occurred in District 12. The TTST was stopped along the roadway during enforcement action. The Trooper pulled into an empty private lot, with emergency lights activated, to complete enforcement. At approximately 9:45 a.m., the owner of the private lot drove his 2005 White Chevrolet SUV into the front of the Trooper’s police vehicle. The Trooper was seated inside his police vehicle at the time of the crash but was thankfully uninjured. The driver of the SUV, Verlin Cokley 76 year old male from Parkersburg, IL, was uninjured.

Following the incident an investigation ensued and Cokley was charged with Aggravated Assault, Reckless Driving and Criminal Damage to State Supported Property. Cokley was transported to the Richland County Jail pending posting of bond. This investigation is still active and no further information is available at this time.

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

Tax Breaks Proposed For Remote Learning Parents

Proposals at the federal level and in Springfield would net the average Illinois parent of a student learning remotely more than $20,000 in cash and tax breaks.

A dozen Illinois House Republicans are backing legislation filed earlier this month would provide parents with a child enrolled in virtual learning $5,500 in tax credits for the extra costs associated with the change, daycare, tablets, school supplies, etc. 

“There has to be some relief for parents that are spending considerably more than they were in their child’s last year of education,” said Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville. “If parents are forced to pay, in many cases, thousands of dollars more, we certainly need to look at how we can help them from a tax standpoint.”

The bill has no Democratic support, possibly because the tax credits could be spent on a non-public education. Democrats largely opposed the Invest in Kids private school scholarship program, which gave tax credits for donations that went to tuition for an Illinois resident to attend private school. 

U.S. Sen Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, wants a larger aid package.

Hawley has yet to file the legislation but said in an announcement that it would grant parents of virtual learners “$1,200 in direct cash assistance per month every month through June 2021 to help cover lost work shifts or wages.”

"I have been calling for assistance for working families since day one and the return of the school year only makes the issue that much more urgent,” Hawley said. “School closures, disruption of the standard academic calendar, hybrid and distance-learning models, and other changes have forced parents to seek alternative work arrangements or leave the workforce altogether. Since the government has asked them to deal with these realities, it falls on us to help them through it. Working families need relief as soon as possible."

The shift to virtual learning across the country has become a massive economic drain. 

A study from BankRate found 3 out of 5 parents nationwide said remote learning will negatively impact their finances, with more than a third saying they would have to either reduce their hours at work or quit altogether.

A study by Baron’s estimates the number of single-parent or dual-income families forced to either reduce hours or quit a job altogether could sap $700 billion in productivity and lost revenue from the American economy.  

The Illinois bill also provides tax breaks for employers providing education care and teachers of virtual learners.

Lions Candy Drive Set For October 9th and 10th

The Mt. Carmel City Council on Monday approved the request of the Lions Club to have their annual Candy Drive at city intersections on October 9th and 10th.

Chamber Food Drive For WADI Starts Monday

The Wabash County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a FOOD DRIVE Challenge to raise food for the Holidays for WADI. They are running a weekly challenge that will be a collection of shelf stable food that will be given to WADI’s Food Pantry each week leading up to Thanksgiving!

The public can participate too. Just follow where the challenge is at that week on the Chamber’s Facebook page. Then look for blue bins labeled FOOD DRIVE Challenge at the participating business.

The first week starts September 28th and the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce challenges Mt. Carmel First Bank located at 601 N. Market Street in Mt. Carmel. They have accepted the challenge and will be collecting food September 28th – October 2nd.

“Like” their page to see the number of items collected and who will be challenged next!?!

www.facebook.com/WabashCountyChamber