The Wabash County treasurer’s office is busy with tax collections with the deadline for the first installment quickly approaching on January 8th. In her most recent to county commissioners, treasurer Beverly McBride said just over $4 million had been collected out of the $11.1 million that was levied. 36% of the taxes had been collected as of December 21st. McBride thanked local banks for helping collect the taxes to cut down on taxpayers coming into the courthouse. She encouraged taxpayers to make their payments at the drop box outside of the courthouse, by mail, or at the local banks. The second installment will be due on February 5th.
Republic Threatens To Close Mt. Carmel's Recycling Center
Republic Service is warning Mt. Carmel residents…quit abusing the recycling bins or they’ll be taken away. Commissioner Tom Meeks said Republic is tired of residents putting garbage in the recycling bins instead of recyclables. Meeks said Republic has indicated if that continues, the recycling bins will be taken away and Mt. Carmel residents will be left without a location to take their recyclables.
New Hours Set For Mt. Carmel City Hall
The new year brings new hours to Mt. Carmel City Hall. Mayor Joe Judge has announced that City Hall will be closed from noon to 1 for lunch. Judge said the noon-hour closure mirrors what is being done at the Mt. Carmel Public Utility offices. Currently, Mt. Carmel City Hall’s lobby is closed to the public because of COVID-19 precautions and no reopen date has been announced.
Madigan On The Ropes As General Assembly Prepares To Convene This Month
Michael Madigan’s decades-long tenure as Illinois Speaker of the House is in question because he doesn’t appear to have majority support, and it’s setting up what is likely to be a tumultuous start for the new legislature.
Because Madigan, D-Chicago, is without the majority support needed to secure another term as speaker, the first vote the new Illinois House will take could take some time.
At least 19 or 20 House Democrats have now said they won’t support Madigan for another term. He’s been in that position for all but two years since 1983.
State Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, said Madigan is the only man to get the job done and the Democrats that oppose him should fall back in line.
“You want me to acquiesce to 19 when I have 50-some-more odd people out there that haven’t said anything or whatever, and surely only one is a Black Caucus member,” Flowers said. “So, we’re still ahead of the game. [Black Caucus] has 21 that’s for [Madigan].”
State Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, said Madigan has his support because he is focused on increasing tax revenue to fund programs Ford said are important to his constituents.
“Definitely only one candidate that felt they had a plan to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations of the state and that was Micahel Madigan,” Ford said.
But the cloud of the ComEd bribery scheme and other behavior over the years has others in the Democratic Caucus opposing the speaker. Madigan has been tied to a nearly decade long bribery scheme that ComEd officials have admitted to in order to curry favor with the speaker in exchange for favorable legislation.
State Rep. Kathleen Willis, who’s in House leadership, said she won’t be supporting Madigan.
“After a lot of thought and discussion with my family, I have come to the decision to let it be known that I will not be voting for Michael J. Madigan as Speaker for the 102nd General Assembly,” Willis, D-Addison, said in a letter published to a political blog.
Politics professor Kent Redfield said the loggerheads is likely to lead to multiple ballots before a speaker is chosen, even if it’s Madigan.
“The Democrats [could] coalesce around either a caretaker or someone who is perceived as, that everybody can agree on, that’s gonna be a strong leader but not the kind of consolidation of power that you had under Madigan,” Redfield said. “It’s just one more fascinating turn in a year that’s been beyond crazy.”
The House convenes Jan. 13 in Springfield.
Justice Reform To Be Big 2021 Topic In Illinois
After a tumultuous 2020 that forced issues of race, criminal justice and policing to the forefront, justice reforms in Illinois will no doubt be at the center of discussion in 2021.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed seven principles that he said will reform and modernize Illinois’ criminal justice system. The proposals include ending cash bail, reducing prison sentences, and increasing police accountability. Khadine Bennett, with the ACLU, applauded the proposals.
"It is really important that policing reform and criminal justice reform happen together because if you think about the prison pipeline system starts when people interact with law enforcement,” Bennett said.
Jim Kaitschuk, executive director of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, said law enforcement groups have been left out of the discussion.
“Quite honestly, it is pretty disturbing to see the seven principles for an equitable criminal justice system being outlined with no conversation with those folks that are directly involved in the criminal justice process,” Kaitschuk said.
Police reforms most likely will be addressed in 2021. During a hearing of the Senate Legislative Black Caucus, Cook County board president Toni Preckwinkle said officers should be required to intervene when they witness another officer using excessive force. Preckwinkle also addressed funding for police departments.
“Members of the General Assembly should try to avoid implementing policies or initiatives that include investing additional dollars into police departments above and beyond what is already allocated to these departments,” she said.
Kaitschuk said Illinois has seen many police reforms and it never seems to be enough for some parties.
"We have led the country in a lot of police reform efforts and modernizing police tactics over the years, and we just continue to get demonized, and quite honestly I am just sick of it,” Kaitschuk said.
Enacted in 1998, the controversial “Truth in Sentencing” law could be targeted for changes in the upcoming year.
Kathy Saltmarsh, the executive director for the Sentencing Policy Advisory Council, said the law keeps prisoners locked up for years, making them a burden for Illinois taxpayers.
"The costs are high,” she said. “It’s about a $42,000 to $45,000 cost per year for a year of incarceration.”
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said people want to feel safe in their homes.
“People for the first time in the community telling me ‘We are afraid. What are you doing to protect us?'” he said.
Single vehicle accident nets arrest of Hazleton man
On December 23, 2020, at 6:33 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a single vehicle accident near the intersection of South and Brown Street in Hazleton, Indiana. Upon arriving on scene Deputy Brian Naas observed a Red 2000 Jeep Cherokee in a ditch with 65-year-old Steve Renner in the driver seat. While investigating the accident Deputy Naas detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver and began a roadside DUI investigation. At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Naas placed Mr. Renner into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Renner was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. He has since posted a $650 bond.
Assisting Deputy Naas in his investigation was Deputy Bryce Jutzi.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Evansville woman arrested on False Informing charge
On December 24, 2020, at 12:58 a.m. Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith conducted a traffic stop on a Gray Ford Focus on Old US Highway 41 near County Road 150 South. During a roadside investigation 35-year-old Meghan Wahl of Evansville who was a passenger in the vehicle provided a false name to Deputy Smith in an attempt to elude an outstanding Felony arrest warrant out of Vanderburgh County. Upon learning Ms. Wahl’s true identity Deputy Smith placed Ms. Wahl into custody and transported her to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail Ms. Wahl was charged with False Informing. She is being held without bond on this charge and the outstanding Felony Warrant out of Vanderburgh County.
Assisting Deputy Smith in his investigation was Princeton Officers Ben Kiesel and Craig Zurliene.
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 DUI charge
On December 27, 2020, at 1:47 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a possible impaired driver driving a Silver Chevy Silverado with Kentucky plates on South Main Street in Princeton, Indiana. Deputy Smith located the vehicle in the 1000 block of South Main Street and observed 58-year-old James Mattingly of Evansville slumped over the steering wheel. Upon speaking with Mr. Mattingly Deputy Smith detected the overwhelming odor of an alcoholic beverage. At that point Deputy Smith began a roadside DUI investigation. During Deputy Smith’s investigation Mr. Mattingly was transported to Gibson General Hospital for a certified blood test. Mr. Mattingly tested .34 and upon being medically cleared by Deaconess Gibson Hospital he was transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Mr. Mattingly was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. He has since posted bond.
Assisting Deputy Smith in his investigation was Deputy Jennifer Robb.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Princeton woman arrested on drug charges
On January 1, 2021, at 11:13 a.m. Officers from the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office and Princeton Police Department went to the 700 block of South Hart Street to serve a court order to detain a juvenile. Upon arriving at the residence officers were invited in the residence where they observed drug paraphernalia laying in plain view. At that point Deputy Jennifer Loesch placed 34-year-old Arieal Whitfield of Princeton into custody. Upon transporting Ms. Whitfield to the Gibson County Jail Ms. Whitfield was charged with Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Resisting Law Enforcement. She remains in custody on a $650 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
City Council Approves Annual Fee For Tree Trimming Contractors To Dump Brush
The city of Mt. Carmel is offering area tree trimming contractors the opportunity to dump their brush at the city’s brush harbor for a yearly fee. At Monday’s City Council meeting, Commissioner Chandler Madden said an agreement with a Lawrenceville-based contractor hasn’t been fulfilled. Wayne’s Tree Service was allowed to dump brush at the city’s site in exchange for grinding stumps for the city.
Mayor Joe Judge said it’s been at least a year since Wayne’s has upheld their end of the agreement. Now, any tree trimming contractor will be able to dump their brush for a yearly fee of $3,000. Judge said Mt. Carmel is one of the few municipalities that has EPA approval to burn its’ brush pile.