Two Seriously Injured After Tree Smashes Car On Route 1

From Sheriff J. Derek Morgan:

On 02.04.21 at 6:57 p.m. the Wabash County Sheriff's Office and Mt. Carmel Police Department responded to Highway 1 south approximately a quarter mile south of the overpass to a vehicle versus tree crash. When the deputy arrived he found that due to high winds a tree had fallen and landed on a 2003 Nissan driven by Anthony M. Pierce, 34 of Keensburg that was south bound on Highway 1. Pierce and his passenger, Wendy Odom, 31 of Mt. Carmel were taken to an Evansville hospital for treatment of their injuries which are reported to be serious. Multiple agencies were on scene to assist with the crash and clearing of the tree.

Photos courtesy of Sheriff Morgan. 

Tip Leads To Arrest Of Raleigh Man

From Sheriff J. Derek Morgan:

On 02.02.21 at approximately 1 A.M. acting on a tip the Wabash County Sheriff's Office stopped a Chevy Camaro on Highway 1 south. As a result of the stop and roadside investigation 36 year old Josh A. Hall of Raleigh, Illinois was taken into custody. Hall was charged with Driving revoked and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hall was processed at the Wabash County Jail and released.  The Sheriff's Office was assisted by MCPD at the scene.

Bellmont Man Arrested On Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault Warrant

From Sheriff J. Derek Morgan:

On 02.01.21 at approximately 9:33 P.M. Roger D. Schmittler, 46 of Bellmont, Illinois was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault in Wabash County. The warrant was issued following an investigation due to an incident involving a juvenile on 11.11.2020.  Schmittler remains in the Wabash County Jail with a cash bond of $40,000.

Aggravated Domestic Battery Charge Filed Against Bellmont Man

From Sheriff J. Derek Morgan:

On 02.01.21 at 9:22 A.M. a 911 call was received with yelling and screaming on the line. 911 mapping led the Deputy to 114 N. Church St. in Bellmont. Once on scene the deputy was directed inside the residence from a male outside that stated you need to get in there he's hurting her.  As the investigation was concluded 42 year old Nathan D. Archer of Bellmont was taken into custody on a charge of Aggravated Domestic battery. Archer remains in the Wabash County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond. Assisting the Sheriff's Office at the scene were the Bellmont Fire Department and Wabash General Ambulance Service.

Mt. Carmel Man Held On Sexual Assault Charge

From Sheriff J. Derek Morgan:

On  01.29.21 the Wabash County Sheriff's Office received information of a possible criminal sexual assault. An investigation was initiated which resulted in the arrest of 23 year old Dakota W. Dent of Mt. Carmel. Dent was taken into custody and charged with Criminal Sexual Assault with a cash bond of $5,000. Dent remains in the Wabash County jail.

Vincennes Man Extradited To Wabash County For Residential Burglary Warrant

From Wabash County Sheriff Derek Morgan:

On 01.26.21, 37 year old Gavin M. Roberts of Vincennes IN was extradited back to Wabash County. Roberts was being held in the Knox County Jail on an outstanding Wabash County warrant for Residential Burglary. The charge stems from a Nov. 22nd, 2020 incident when a homeowner in the rural Allendale area awoke to someone inside their residence. The homeowner observed a male rifling through cabinets, which he chased out of the home with a pair of scissors. Roberts' is currently lodged in the Wabash County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

County Commissioners Urge Governor To Veto HB 3653

At their Monday, Wabash County Commissioners voted unanimously in support of a resolution calling for Governor JB Pritzker to veto HB 3653, known as the criminal justice reform act.

The text of the resolution is below:

Financing Delay May End Up Helping WGH Construction Project

Wabash General Hospital officials are awaiting final word from the USDA on when their financing for the $14.6 million construction project will be approved. Wabash General President/CEO Karissa Turner told the hospital board last week that the state USDA office has approved the financing and passed it along for final approval at the federal level. The wait has caused a delay in when construction of the new medical office building and expansion of the orthopedics and rehab facility will begin. But Turner said the delay isn’t necessarily a bad thing…. 

The hospital board voted last Monday to convey three small parcels of land along 13th Street to the city of Mt. Carmel. The move will enable the city in their plans to widen a portion of 13th Street as the hospital builds a new medical office building there.  

Chicago Area Man Faces Charges After Sunday Water Rescue

Charges have been filed against a Chicago area man who had to be rescued from high water Sunday night with his two children near the Wabash/Edwards County line.

Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman has charged 42 year old Adam Burdette of Roselle with possession of weapon by felon and two counts of endangering the life or health of a child.

The weapons charge is a Class 3 felony and allege Burdette was in possession of a bludgeon after having previously been convicted of a felony.

The endangerment charges are Class A misdemeanors and alleges that Burdette attempted to evade law enforcement contact and drove his 11 year old daughter and 7 year old son into flood water and failed to seek help for the two over more than 18 hours.

Burdette and his two kids were pulled from the high water Sunday night after his vehicle became stuck near the Bon Pas Creek. Burdette is due in Wabash County Circuit Court for his first advisement on the charges on March 1st.

Allendale Students Of The Month

Allendale School is proud to announce its Students of the Month for January:

Oliver Ritchie (Kindergarten), Sam Smith (1st Grade), Hunter Nelson (2nd Grade), Tommy Hughes (3rd Grade), Abigail Hipsher (4th Grade), Emma Ford (Jr. High), Tristan Bray (Jr. High)

Sam Smith (1st Grade)

Hunter Nelson (2nd Grade)

Oliver Ritchie (Kindergarten)

Emma Ford (Jr. High),

Abigail Hipsher (4th Grade)

Tommy Hughes (3rd Grade)

Tristan Bray (Jr. High)