The Wabash County sample ballot for the April 6th election:
IN CUSTODY FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER
Carmi, IL – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) - Zone 8 confirms Alexander McWilliam (a.k.a. McWilliams) is in custody in connection to the March 13, 2021 shooting death of Mishealia M. Meredith.
On March 23, 2021 at approximately 12:45 p.m., officers from the Kentucky State Police, U.S. Marshals Service - Fugitive Task Force, Union County, KY Sheriff’s Department, and Morganfield, KY Police Department located McWilliam at the Hometown Inn, located in the 500 block of U.S. Highway 60E, Morganfield, KY. McWilliam barricaded himself in the motel room for approximately 2.5 hours after which authorities safely took him into custody. McWilliam is being held in the Webster County, KY Jail awaiting extradition to Saline County, IL where he is charged with First Degree Murder in the death of Meredith.
The investigation is being led by the ISP DCI – Zone 8 and is still open and ongoing. No further information will be disseminated from ISP.
District #348 Preschool Screenings Planned Next Month
District #348 Preschool for All is conducting Child Find/Preschool Screenings for Birth to 5-year-old children not yet enrolled in public schools and who will not be kindergarten eligible in the fall. The screening checks each child’s progress in hearing, vision, speech, language, and coordination skills. This will give parents a better idea of how their child is progressing at this very young age before he/she begins school. This screening program is free and parents will receive immediate feedback on how their child is developing. Head Start personnel will also be present to explain their program and services.
Screenings will be held on April 13th, 14th and 15th. The screening procedure takes about 45 minutes, and appointments must be made so that children do not have a long wait period. Parents should call 618-262-4623 to make an appointment or to get more information.
BBQ Fundraiser Set For New Sr. Citizens Delivery Truck
A bbq lunch is planned for April 1st at the Wabash County Senior Citizens Center to help raise money for an additional delivery vehicle for the center.
Senior Citizens commissioner Eric Ikemire announced at Monday’s meeting that the meal will consist of world famous smoked shredded pork, buttered potatoes, bar-be-que beans, roll, and dessert. Serving will be from 10:30 to 12:30 on the 1st.
Commissioner Chandler Madden volunteered to pay for the food for the fundraiser so all money brought in that day will go to the delivery vehicle fund.
City Council Gives Okay For Public Works Department
The Mt. Carmel City Council has approved the first steps in transitioning from having separate operational departments to a singular public works department.
Presently, the street, water, and sewer departments operate independently with its’ own workers, own equipment, and own projects. Under a public works department, those groups would be combined into one department sharing manpower and equipment with employees cross-trained to help in various areas.
Street Commissioner Tom Meeks, who had previously introduced the idea of a public works program when he served as mayor, says the reorganization is good for the city….
The three other commissioners agreed with Meeks in supporting the public works program which Mayor Joe Judge said would be slowly phased in starting in May.
The new public works department will be housed in the former Southeastern Illinois Counseling Center building at 602 East 5th Street. The building has been vacant and owned by the USDA who put it on the auction block. City manager Rudy Witsman purchased the building for $1 and promptly donated it to the city.
Mayor Joe Judge said when the city was looking for a new home a couple of years ago when the former City Hall was flooded, the asking price on the building was $180,000.
The council last night approved spending $7,100 on a new roof and repairs to the facade.
City Council Approves 4th of July Fireworks
There will be fireworks in Mt. Carmel this 4th of July. At their regular meeting yesterday, the city council voted to spend $15,000 on this year’s display, up from the $12,600 price tag of 2020.
Stock Photo
State Lawmakers Considering 1% Ammo Tax
Illinois gun owners would pay a 1% tax on ammunition under a bill that was added to a General Assembly committee list.
Under House Bill 238, any ammunition sold in Illinois would have an additional 1% surcharge tacked onto the sale price after adding on existing taxes and fees.
The money would be directed to a Trauma Response Fund, an account that would be distributed to public school districts to help pay for a new state-mandated program to prepare for mass trauma events. The program is also created by the legislation.
It was filed on Jan. 22 by Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, but sat idle until earlier this month when it was assigned to be heard by a subcommittee scheduled to meet Thursday. As is common in the Illinois Legislature, there’s no guarantee the legislation will be voted on Thursday.
Harper didn’t respond to a request for comment about her legislation. Freeport Republican Rep. Andrew Chesney, who also sits on the House Sales, Amusement, & Other Taxes Subcommittee, supports the idea of better preparing local officials to deal with any kind of trauma. However, he said paying for it with an infringement on residents’ Second Amendment rights is a non-starter for him.
“There is not a Republican or Democrat in the General Assembly that is opposed to helping people in an emergency or trauma response,” he said. “The question is how to pay for it, how it’s implemented, the size of that safety net, and the size of the program. But, that is not what this bill does, which is regressively zeroes in on 2nd Amendment supporters.”
Excise taxes like these, Chesney said, disproportionately affect low-income gun owners.
“These types of taxes disproportionately impact the poor and working poor,” he said, adding that he lives ten minutes from the Wisconsin border and cheaper ammunition.
Firearms safety instructors often tell gun owners to continually train with their firearm, something that becomes more expensive with higher taxes on ammunition. Other studies failed to show a correlation between safer gun use and continual training.
The bill also raises a number of questions about whether the tax would be applied to online purchases. Local units of government would not be required to pay the additional tax when purchasing ammunition for their police forces to train and carry.
Illinois lawmakers have sought to increase taxes on firearms and ammunition on multiple occasions. Legislation that died in the previous General Assembly would have imposed one cent-per-cartridge tax on ammunition to pay for mental health services. Another piece of legislation that failed last year was a proposed 2% tax on ammunition meant to pay for a safe school program.
The City of Chicago imposes a $25 tax on firearm sales in the city.
Chesney noted that Illinois was the last state in the nation to allow for concealed carry of firearms after a federal appellate court ruled they were violating the Second Amendment rights of residents by not allowing for any type of carry provision.
Governor Says State Nearing "Bridge Phase" Of Reopening Plan
Illinois is nearing another phase in the state’s reopening plan, but things won't open up all at once.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week unveiled what he called his “Bridge Phase,” announcing new guidelines that will allow for higher capacity limits at public places such as spectator events. The guidelines also involved fewer restrictions on businesses during the transition between the current Phase 4 and a full reopening in Phase 5.
“So far nearly one in three adult residents already has been vaccinated, including more than 64% of our seniors 65 and over,” said Pritzker Monday at a mass vaccination site opening in Forest Park.
In order to reach the Bridge phase, 70% of people 65 and older must have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Despite a cry by many to speed up the country’s vaccination drive to end the pandemic, the first few months of the rollout suggest faster may not be necessarily better.
An recent analysis by Surgo Ventures found that states such as Missouri and Florida that raced ahead of other states to offer the vaccine to a larger demographic of people have vaccinated smaller shares of their population than states that moved more slowly, such as Connecticut and Hawaii.
Experts believe the rapid expansion of eligibility caused a surge in demand to enormous for some states to handle which led to disarray.
Since vaccine distribution began, Illinois has consistently hovered near the bottom compared with other states in getting people fully vaccinated, but has steadily improved in recent weeks.
As of Monday, higher education staff, government workers and members of the media are eligible to sign up to be vaccinated. On March 29, restaurant staff, construction workers and religious leaders will be able to get a shot.
Every Illinoisan is expected to be eligible for a vaccine by April 12.
Mount Carmel 5th - 8th Grade Solo & Ensemble Contest Results
Mt. Carmel 5th-8th Grade Students participated in their own private solo & ensemble contest on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at the Mt. Carmel Grade School. Receiving a “First Superior” rating on their ensemble was The Varsity show choir made up of Lathan Beal, Kyndall Boze, Ava Giese, Kelsey Miller, Alexa Norrick, Miley Peach, Maycee Randall, and Natalie Roberts.
Receiving a “First Superior” rating, which is a perfect score on a Class A, B, or C solo was Kyndall Boze (voice solo), Ava Giese (voice solo), Lilly Majors (voice solo), Natalie Roberts (voice solo), and Natalie Roberts (alto sax solo).
Receiving a Division I (first) rating was Eli Baker (trumpet solo), Lathan Beal (trombone solo), Jaylynn Biegel (clarinet solo), Brodie Bogard (alto sax solo), Tessa Dewitt (voice solo), Taylor Dudley (voice solo), Annica Ellis (voice solo), Emma Etheridge (flute solo), Deandra Fisher (voice solo), Jayla Griggs (snare drum solo), Ryan Groah (trombone solo), Megan Hagerty (flute solo), Anna Hall (clarinet solo), Riyah Hall (flute solo), Mackenzie Hipsher (flute solo), Mackenzie Hipsher (voice solo), Jackson James (snare drum solo), Chandler Kleinschmidt (xylophone solo), Lilly Majors (trumpet solo), Karly Mandrell (piano solo), Kelsey Miller (voice solo), Alexa Norrick (voice solo), Zoie Randall (trumpet solo), Talon Rafferty (alto sax solo), Julianna Sanders (trombone solo), Ailee Seals (clarinet solo), Ailee Seals (voice solo) and Gage Wright (trumpet solo),
Receiving the honor of “Best of the Day” for instrumental was Natalie Roberts on her alto saxophone solo and “Best of the Day” for voice was Kyndall Boze.
Congratulations to all of these students for their hard work!
Judges for the day were Cori Copeland and Chris Jansen. Accompanists were Marcia Hall and Alisa Gidcumb.
Varsity Choir
Natalie Roberts, “Best of the Day,” instrumental
Kyndall Boze, “Best of the Day,” vocal
St. Francisville Man Seriously Injured In Sunday Night ATV Crash
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT
The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by
Illinois State Police District 12
WHAT: Two Vehicle Personal Injury Traffic Crash
WHERE: 150 North at 1350 East, Lawrence County
WHEN: Mar. 21, 2021 at approximately 9:15 p.m.
VEHICLES: Unit 1- 2003 Red Honda TRX 350
Unit 2- 2017 Purple Buick Enclave
DRIVERS: Unit 1- Richard Baxley, 24-year-old male from Saint Francisville, IL – Flown to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Unit 2- Kyle Boughan, 18-year-old male from Sumner, IL
PRELIMINARY: A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling east on 150 north approaching 1350 east in Lawrence County. Unit 2 was traveling west on 150 north. The driver of Unit 1 crossed the center line in an attempt to turn north on 1350 east and struck Unit 2 head on. The driver of Unit 1 was flown to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of Unit 2 reported no injuries.
CHARGES: Unit 1 driver was cited for Driving While License Suspended, Improper Lane Usage and Operating a Non-Highway Vehicle on a Roadway.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.