Covalt Pleads Not Guilty To Seven Class X Felonies

32 year old Chad Covalt of Mt. Carmel has entered a not guilty plea on three charges of predatory criminal sexual assault and four counts of possession of child pornography. Appearing in Wabash County Circuit Court Tuesday, Covalt waived his preliminary hearing and formal arraignment before entering the not guilty plea.

It’s alleged Covalt committed predatory criminal sexual assault of a child in connection to incidents between January of 2017 and last month with a girl under the age of 13. The four child pornography charges allege Covalt filmed and/or photographed the unclothed young girl between January of 2017 and January of 2020.

All 7 counts are Class X felonies. A Class X felony in Illinois carries a possible prison sentence of 6 to 30 years on each count. Covalt remains in the Wabash County Jail on a half million dollar bond.

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Secretary of State Offices to Close for Juneteenth on Friday, June 18

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that all offices and facilities will be closed Friday, June 18 in observance of Juneteenth, as declared by Governor JB Pritzker following President Biden’s signing of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

 All Tuesday through Saturday Driver Services facilities will be open for business on Saturday, June 19.

 Monday through Friday Driver Services facilities and offices will be open for business on Monday, June 21.

 Individuals can visit the Secretary of State’s website, www.cyberdriveillinois.com, to locate the nearest Driver Services facility and the hours of operation.

 As a reminder, White has extended all expiration dates to August 1, 2021, for driver’s licenses/ID cards. White encourages people to conduct business online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com for services such as renewing license plate stickers, obtaining replacement driver’s licenses/ID cards and if eligible renewing driver’s licenses.

Charges Brought in Wabash County Poaching Case

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Conservation Police, working in cooperation with Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman, today announced multiple felony and misdemeanor charges have been filed against three juveniles as well as Richard Stringfellow, 46, as a result of search warrants executed Jan. 8 near Mount Carmel.

“Charges in this case really run the gambit. They include everything from felony resource theft, unlawful taking of whitetail deer, unlawful use of tag of another person, and unlawful use of a spotlight to felony animal torture, reckless driving, criminal trespass to real property, and unlawful discharge of a firearm from a public right of way,” said Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman. “Those are just the tip of the iceberg and, unfortunately, most of the charges were brought against juveniles.”

“On. Jan. 7, our officers received information regarding alleged poaching near Mount Carmel, Illinois, and across the Wabash River in Indiana,” said Timothy Tyler, director, IDNR Office of Law Enforcement. “Our officers worked quickly, notifying Indiana Department of Conservation Police Officers and the local state’s attorney to obtain the necessary search warrants. Upon execution of those warrants, our officers recovered evidence of multiple felony and misdemeanor acts, both in Illinois and in Indiana.”

Warrants executed at the initial residence of a juvenile subject the morning of Jan. 8 uncovered evidence of poaching related to two other juvenile subjects. Additional search warrants were obtained and executed; Stringfellow, as well as the other juveniles, were interviewed with IDNR CPOs collecting hundreds of pieces of evidence.

“At the conclusion of the interviews, the investigating officers found evidence that the three juvenile subjects allegedly killed more than 20 deer in Illinois and Indiana during the 2019, 2020 and 2021 deer seasons,” Tyler said. “Further, many of the deer were shot from pickup trucks using spotlights and rifles while others were intentionally run over. Perhaps the most disappointing information our officers discovered is that no meat from any of the deer illegally taken was used.”

IDNR CPOs confiscated eight deer, two rifles, one muzzleloader, one bow and a string of hawk talons. Additionally, the two pickup trucks used in the alleged poaching incidents were seized. More than 55 charges were filed in this case, including felony resource theft, felony animal abuse, falsification of records, unlawful take of deer, hunting by use/aid of a vehicle, spotlighting, hunting deer with a rifle, wanton waste of game meat, shooting from a roadway and transportation of loaded and uncased firearms.

“A case of this size and magnitude requires expertise and cooperation between state and local agencies,” Storckman said. “We work – and work well – with our local conservation officers often. I’m pleased to work with them once again to bring charges in this case.”

Students Give IECC High Marks

IECC students continue to be satisfied with services provided by the colleges, according to the latest student satisfaction survey, with survey questions inquiring about the student’s level of satisfaction in specific areas including Student Services, Instruction, Learning Resource Centers, and Technology. Additionally, the survey asked how likely students would recommend the college to others.  Even following an academic year disrupted by a pandemic; results show that:

Services

97% were satisfied with Advisement services.

94% were satisfied with Financial Aid services.

96% were satisfied with Entrata.

95% were satisfied with Help Desk services.

 

Other

91% were satisfied with the quality of instruction.

98% were satisfied with classroom size.

95% were satisfied with courses available at the times they want or needed them.

Lease agreements were renewed for off campus locations where IECC programs are offered.

In an on-going effort to ensure District policies are up to date to serve students and meet requirements of Federal and Illinois State Statutes, the Board approved revisions to a policy on Nondiscrimination.  The Board also approved revisions to the Tuition Waiver policy.   

            The Board approved a one year renewal of the District’s Property, Casualty, and Liability Insurance coverage. 

Trustees approved the recommendation of the bid committee to accept a bid  from Brightspark Travel, Inc. in total for $35,250.00 for A TRIO Student Support Services Educational Trip. 

            Board approval was given for agreements that will enable the District to accept responsibility for the local share of funds necessary to accept funding from the Illinois Capital Development Board.  The Capital Development Board announced that a release of funds had been authorized to the District.  The District will be working with the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) to get these projects completed.  The total project will be $918,392 and will be applied towards the paving of the Workforce Development Center parking lot at Frontier Community College and updating the gymnasium and fitness center parking lot at Olney Central College. 

            Affiliation clinical agreements were approved with R & T Physical Therapy, Wabash General Hospital, Fairfield Memorial Hospital, Clay County Hospital, Rehab for Life, Joyner Therapy Services, Renewal Rehab, Deaconess Gibson General Hospital, and Progressive Health of Indiana.

            A resolution was adopted authorizing the permanent transfer of approximately $150,000 in interest earned in the Working Cash Fund to the General Fund.

            A resolution was adopted authorizing inter-fund loans during the 2022 fiscal year, with the loans to be repaid to the original fund within one year.

            Trustees approved a Resolution that sets forth the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, dates for publication of the notice of a public hearing on the budget, established a date by which a tentative budget will be available for public inspection, established a public hearing on the budget for July 20 at Olney Central College, and states that the budget will be adopted by the Board on July 20, 2021, following the hearing.   The tentative budget will be available for public inspection at the District Business Office, 233 East Chestnut Street, Olney, on or after  June 16, 2021.

Trustees reviewed and approved the tentative budget which is based on information available at the time of publication.  The District administration will continue to monitor activity, discuss plans, and refine the budget over the next month.  Any changes made to the tentative budget will be reviewed with the Board at the July 20th public hearing prior to final adoption.

              A resolution was adopted to authorize certain expenditures from the Operations and Maintenance Fund, such as custodial salaries and utility bills.  

              Trustees conducted a semi-annual review of closed session minutes.  Under the Open Meetings Act, the board is required to examine closed session minutes at least twice a year. 

              Under Personnel actions the Board approved Special Assignments for fiscal year 2022 for all four colleges, including lead instructors, advisors, coordinators, managers, directors and some athletic personnel.    

              Dustin Wiggins was employed as Electrical Distribution Systems Instructor at FCC, effective August 10, 2021; Connor York was employed as English Instructor at LTC, effective August 10, 2021; and Andrea Loll was employed as Director of Enrollment Management at the District Office, effective June 18, 2021. 

              A change in status was approved for IECC employees.  Sharmila Kakac from Program Director, Adult Education at FCC to Dean of Business & Industry at FCC, effective July 1, 2021; Tona Ambrose as Director of College Access at LTC to Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) at the District Office, effective July 1, 2021; Sheri Gray, from Advisor and Recruiter at OCC to Director of Instructional Services at OCC, effective June 16, 2021; and for Julie Courtney from Clerk Receptionist at LTC to Student Services Specialist at LTC, effective June 16, 2021. 

              A resignation ratification was approved for Kendra Barnard, as Student Services Specialist at FCC, effective May 25, 2021. 

              The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 7:00

p.m. at Olney Central College in Olney.

 IECC Trustees touring the Lincoln Trail College facilities during last evening’s Board meeting. 

 IECC Trustees touring the Lincoln Trail College facilities during last evening’s Board meeting.

 

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE INVESTIGATES SHOOTING IN RURAL GRAYVILLE

Carmi, IL – On June 14, 2021 at approximately 3:12 p.m., the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) - Zone 8 was requested by the White County Sheriff’s Department (SD) to assist in the investigation of a shooting which had occurred in the 1900 block of County Road 2400N, Grayville, IL. 

Later in the evening of June 14, a vehicle that was suspected to have been associated with the shooting was located by local police agencies in the Mt. Carmel, IL area.  A multi-jurisdictional pursuit involving numerous local police agencies and led by the Wabash County (SD) was initiated, ending at approximately 9:10 p.m. in southern Lawrence County when 27-year-old Ashton Harper was taken into custody by ISP Troopers.  The Wabash County SD is leading the investigation into the pursuit and the associated criminal charges.

ISP DCI – Zone 8 is leading the investigation into the shooting that occurred in Grayville, IL and this case remains open and on-going.  No further information will be disseminated by ISP at this time. 

 

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


2021 Edwards County 4-H Food & Clothing Show

The Edwards County 4-H Food and Clothing Show was held Monday, June 14, 2021. Thank you to Sharlee Aaron and Bonita Thomason for judging the food exhibits, and to Barb Root for judging the clothing.

In the clothing show, Hallie Shelton was awarded Best of Show and State Fair delegate in STEAM Clothing I. Ava Anderson and Addison Anderson were named Co-Best of Show and State Fair delegates in Shopping in Style. Two ladies participated in Fashion Revue- Addison and Ava Anderson. The Best Constructed Garment trophy will go to Hallie Shelton. Ava Anderson will receive the Fashion Revue trophy.

In the food show, Best of Show designations were awarded too: Hallie Shelton - Cooking 101; Davina Witte- Cooking 201; Kamryn Trowbridge-Cooking 301; Addison Anderson-Cooking 401; Alyson Williams-Food Preservation and Hayley Perry- Food Science I. Seven exhibitors were chosen as State Fair delegates: Addison Anderson, Hallie Shelton, Alyson Williams, Kamryn Trowbridge, Hayley Perry, Jaycey Buerster and Lillian Bare. State Fair alternates are Brooke Greathouse, Adelyn McCaleb, Davina Witte and Tori Thompson.

City Purchases Former Snap On Property

Calling it the “biggest eyesore in Mt. Carmel”, Mayor Joe Judge has announced the city has purchased the former Snap-On Tools property on Oak Street. In February, the city council approved offering $15,000 for the property and Judge announced on Friday’s Ask the Mayor segment on WSJD that the city closed on the land last Thursday. At yesterday’s city council meeting, commissioners approved seeking bids on leveling the soil and clearing the trees. After which, Judge said the future of the site of unknown… 

Once the land is cleared, Judge said he will return to the council with estimates on how much it will cost for the remediation. The purchase only includes the large Snap On property and not the two nearby parking lots. 

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City Turns To Locking Gate At Recycling Center To Solve Issues

The city of Mt. Carmel is taking steps to solve the recent problems at the recycling center on Railroad Street.

On several occasions, residents dropping off cardboard and plastics have found overflowing bins with items strewn all over the area that have fallen out of the bins.

Now, the city has taken to locking the gate to the recycling center when the bins are full.

Styrofoam has been a big issue at the recycling center since the material isn’t accepted, Republic charges the city $1,000 each time a recycling bin is emptied that has non-recyclable items. Judge also said residents dropping off recyclables need to remove them from plastic bags.

City Clerk Ryan Turner stressed the recycling center is for city residents only as he has fielded complaints from people outside the city who shouldn’t be dropping off recyclables there in the first place. Turner said Republic has pledged to empty the full bins within 24 hours hopefully keeping the locked gates to a minimum. City officials have previously said if the recycling center is abused, it will be shut down permanently.