Shelter House Project Set To Start Later This Month

The project to build a new shelter house at the City Park will begin later this month according to Mayor Joe Judge… 

The Rotary Club is helping to raise money for the project that also includes building new restrooms at the park. Judge said that portion of the project will begin in the Spring and hopefully open by late Spring or early summer. The new shelter house and restrooms are the latest in a near complete overhaul of the City Park that has included new pickleball courts and resurfacing and improvements to the basketball courts.

City Revenues Holding Steady Despite Challenges of Pandemic

The city of Mt. Carmel is halfway through its’ fiscal year and finance commissioner Eric Ikemire said revenues continue to be steady despite the pandemic. Through the first six months, the city has brought in 47% of the year’s revenue.

Ikemire said one surprising area that has more than held its’ own is gaming revenues. Even though video gaming establishments were shut down for two months this Spring, Ikemire said the city’s share of those are actually ahead of budget, with $9,000 coming in last month alone.

But, Ikemire cautioned that with more shutdowns being reimplemented, the city needs to keep spending tight. Mayor Joe Judge agreed saying the freeze on city spending remains in place.

JUNIOR HIGH ACES SELECTED FOR 2020 ILMEA

Congratulations to the chosen Mt. Carmel Junior High school students who were selected for the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) District 5 Festival:

Abigail May, band (trumpet), Natalie Roberts, band (alto sax), Lathan Beal, choir (baritone), Abbigail Boyd, choir (soprano II), Kyndall Boze, choir (alto), Ava Giese, choir (soprano I), Kelsey Miller, choir (alto), Maycee Randall, choir (alto), Jersey Smith, choir (soprano I), Abigail May, jazz band I (trumpet), and Natalie Roberts, jazz band I (alto sax).

During these unusual times, the students worked hard to prepare and submit a video audition that was judged and resulted in their selection.  The Junior Level District Festival Masterclass Day (Band, Chorus, Jazz & Orchestra) Festival will be virtual this year on Saturday, November 14.

HIGH SCHOOL ACES SELECTED FOR 2020 ILMEA

Congratulations to the following students who were selected for 2020 Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) District 5 Festival!

Seniors: Riley Allen (Senior Chorus), Maggee Bleyer (Senior Chorus and Senior Vocal Jazz), Elijah Gill (Senior Chorus and Senior Vocal Jazz), and Brady Kolb (Senior Chorus and Senior Vocal Jazz).

Juniors: Jonathon Bader (Senior Chorus and Senior Vocal Jazz), Timothy Rosignol (Senior Chorus and Senior Vocal Jazz), and Hannah Shular (Senior Chorus and Senior Jazz Band I). 

Sophomores: Chase Dowdy (Senior Chorus and Senior Vocal Jazz), James Martin (Senior Chorus), Elijah Sherman (Senior Band and Senior Jazz Band I), and Jacob Wall (Senior Band).

Freshmen: Macy Mandrell (Senior Chorus).

Students auditioned virtually for ILMEA this year. For Senior Chorus, a division that focuses on choral music, auditionees sang excerpts from two selected pieces and performed tonal skills. For Senior Vocal Jazz, a division that focuses on the elements of jazz, auditionees sang excerpts from two selected pieces, performed tonal skills, and showcased improvisation. For Senior Jazz Band, a band division that performs jazz, auditionees played an excerpt from a selected piece and showcased improvisation. For Senior Band, a band division that performs concert band repertoire, auditionees played an excerpt from a selected piece and performed scales. 

The Festival will be a virtual festival this year, held on Saturday, November 21 for High School students featuring Masterclasses for the students in their specific performance area. 

Congratulations to the musically talented students who will be representing Mount Carmel High School during the 2020-2021 school year.

Fort Branch man arrested on multiple charges

On November 5, 2020, at 12:17 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Loren Barchett conducted a traffic stop on US 41 near County Road 900 South after observing an equipment violation on a 2011 Toyota Camry. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Barchett recognized a back seat passenger as 41 year old James R. Short of Fort Branch. Deputy Barchett had Mr. Short step out of the vehicle and placed him into custody for an outstanding warrant out of Gibson County for Criminal Confinement. During a pat down of Mr. Short Marijuana and other controlled substances were found in Mr. Short’s possession. While handcuffed and being placed in a deputy’s vehicle Mr. Short attempted to flee the area. Deputy Barchett, Deputy Bryce Jutzi, and Fort Branch Officer Jeff Beck pursued Mr. Short and placed him in a police vehicle. At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Barchett transported Mr. Short to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Escape, Possession of Methamphetamines, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of a Legend Drug, Possession of Marijuana, Identity Deception, Resisting Law Enforcement Fleeing, and Resisting Law Enforcement Fighting. He remains in custody on a $3,750 bond and holds out of Vanderburgh and Warrick County for other outstanding warrants.


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

MAXWELL ZIMMERMAN CHOSEN AS MCHS 2020/2021 DAR GOOD CITIZEN

NATIONAL SOCIETY DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

DAR GOOD CITIZENS PROGRAM AND SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST

CONGRATULATIONS to MCHS Senior, Maxwell Zimmerman who has been chosen as Mt. Carmel High School’s DAR Good Citizen for exhibiting dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism.  Maxwell will continue to Part II of the Scholarship Contest.  MCHS would like to thank Barb Easter and the DAR for recognizing our students.

MCES 1st Graders Going To Remote Learning

From District #348 Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer: Due to multiple first grade faculty and staff members being in either isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19, the first grade students will enter into remote learning tomorrow November 5th until November 16th. The first grade will resume in-person instruction on November 17th. The first grade students finished in-person instruction today. If you have any questions, please call the Mt. Carmel Elementary School.

MCGS 1st Graders Going To Remote Learning

From District #348 Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer: Due to multiple first grade faculty and staff members being in either isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19, the first grade students will enter into remote learning tomorrow November 5th until November 16th. The first grade will resume in-person instruction on November 17th. The first grade students finished in-person instruction today. If you have any questions, please call the Mt. Carmel Elementary School.

Voters Bounce Justice From State Supreme Court For First Time In State History

Illinoisans voted not to retain a state Supreme Court Justice Tuesday, something that’s never happened in Illinois history.

Here’s what’s going to happen next.

As of Wednesday afternoon, voters in the 3rd Judicial District rejected Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride for retention, giving him only 55% of the vote when he needed 60% to retain his seat on the state’s highest court. Proponents and opponents spending more than $10.7 million on the contest, making it one of the most expensive races in the cycle.

While Illinois voters have never rejected a justice like they did Tuesday, the state has replaced many, whether due to retirement or death.

“The court is going to appoint somebody for a two-year term,” said Dr. Kent Redfield, emeritus professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “Then, it will be an open seat. There will be a Democrat and a Republican primary within the district in the spring of 2022 and you’ll have a Democrat and Republican running against each other in the fall.”

The Illinois Constitution states that “A person appointed to fill a vacancy 60 or more days prior to the next primary election to nominate Judges shall serve until the vacancy is filled for a term at the next general or judicial election.”

Illinois is an outlier in its process and stands alone in its interim replacement method.

“Illinois is the only state in the Midwest that uses a pure partisan selection method, where the justices just run as partisan members for election,” said Samuel Postell, political writer at Ballotpedia’s State Supreme Courts Project. “Illinois is, I believe, the only state in the country that allows the state Supreme Court to fill a vacancy.”

Redfield said retiring justices would sometimes recuse themselves from the selection of their replacement to avoid any questions about the process, but lamented that Illinois’ judicial selection process has become as politicized as it is.

“If this were just normal Illinois politics, they’d be appointing whoever they thought would be their best candidate to win in 2022, which is why we shouldn’t elect Supreme Court judges,” he said.

Democrats hold a 4-3 majority on the Illinois Supreme Court.

2020 Wabash County Election Results

16 of 16 precincts reporting.

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