City Council Approval Paves Way For New Dollar General

As expected, the Mt. Carmel City Council has greenlighted the construction of a second Dollar General store in the city. The council approved an ordinance that reduces the number of parking spots required for the new retail location at 3rd and Walnut Streets on the site of the former Patriot Motors. The city council’s approval came after the board of zoning appeals last week recommended the variance. No timetable was offered last night on when work on the new Dollar General would start. Mayor Joe Judge again stated last night that the Dollar General on the city’s west side would remain open for the “foreseeable future”.

Site of proposed Dollar General at 3rd and Walnut Streets.

COVID Isolation Cases Drop In Wabash County

The number of positive COVID cases in isolation has dipped this week in Wabash County. Health Department administrator Judy Wissel told the county board yesterday that there are 15 individuals in isolation this week compared to 50 last week. Those in quarantine because they’ve been in contact with a positive case is up slightly though. Last week, 29 were in quarantine while this week the number is 32. Wabash County’s positivity rate nudged up to 9.8% this week, compared to 9.1% last week.

Wissel told county commissioners that COVID testing continues at the health department every day between 11 and 3. She said the wait continues for final FDA approval on the Moderna booster. Once that approval is given, Wissel said a mass vaccination will likely be held to administer the Moderna booster. She expects approval sometime next month for kids 5 to 11 to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Ramp Restrictions Scheduled for US 41/I-69 Interchange In Evansville

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane restrictions for the interchange at U.S. 41 and I-69/Veterans Memorial Parkway.

Beginning on or around Monday, Oct. 25, contractors will begin installing foundations for high-mast lights. During this operation workers will restrict one ramp at a time and the work will be performed on each of the ramps at the interchange.

Work is expected to last for about three weeks on each ramp, with completion of the entire project expected by the end of the year. During the operation, the ramps will be restricted to a width of 12-feet. Wider loads should seek an alternate route using the nearest numbered state, U.S. or Interstate routes. Following the installation of the foundations, high mast lighting will be installed at the interchange.

INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

S.R. 164 Intersection in Jasper To Close for Drainage Structure Replacements

DUBOIS COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a complete closure of the intersection of Newton Street and 3rd Avenue In Jasper.

Beginning on or around Wednesday, Oct. 20, contractors, will close the intersection of Newton Street and 3rd Ave. for replacement of drainage structures as part of the ongoing project at this location. This will require full pavement cuts, excavation and installation of the new structures.

Depending upon weather conditions, work is expected to last for about two days. During the project traffic should use the official detour following U.S. 231, State Road 162 and 3rd Ave.

INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

Ramp Closure Scheduled for U.S. 41 in Princeton

GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a complete closure of the ramp from U.S. 41 northbound to County Road 550 South in Princeton.

Beginning on or around Thursday, Oct. 21, contractors will close the ramp for pavement repairs. Earlier this summer, a section of concrete on the ramp was noticed to be heaving. A temporary speed limit was placed on the ramp as INDOT worked to schedule repairs. During this project, several sections of concrete will be replaced as well as the asphalt approach to the ramp.

Work is expected to take about a week depending upon weather conditions. The ramp will be closed around the clock during this project.

INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

Rotary To Celebrate 100th With Big Bash Saturday At City Park

Mt. Carmel’s city park will be in the spotlight this Saturday as the Rotary Club holds its’ 100th anniversary celebration. The day begins at 11am according to Rotarian Toni Brines who is helping to organize the event…

In addition to the new shelter house, other recent improvements at the city park include new rest rooms, the pickleball courts, resurfacing of the basketball courts, and upgrades at the golf course…

Mayor Joe Judge says future upgrades to the city park include new picnic tables for the shelter house, new playground equipment for Kiddie-land.

Remote Meetings Focus Of Bill Up For Consideration This Week In Springfield

Illinois lawmakers plan to take up a measure allowing municipalities to hold remote meetings at any time – pandemic or not – during the fall veto session this week.

Currently, the governor or the state health department must issue an emergency proclamation before a city can conduct any business remotely.

The Illinois Municipal League (IML) wants to change that through Senate Bill 482 and allow cities and towns to conduct business remotely whenever they choose.

“We would like to have the elected officials locally to be able to have that authority going forward if the disaster proclamations end at some point which I’m sure they will,” said IML Executive Director Brad Cole.

Cole said the remote meetings allow more people to become involved with local government.

“A lot of communities are seeing more public engagement,” Cole said. “More people are on the Zoom calls than were attending in person.”

The bill includes a provision that a city’s presiding officer must state why an in-person meeting is not practical.

There are opponents to the measure. Don Craven, president and CEO of the Illinois Press Association, wrote an editorial in the Galesburg Register-Mail calling for lawmakers to reject the measure.

“The public has a right to interact with their elected officials, face-to-face and not on a screen. Let’s not create an environment that further removes governing from the public’s eye. Let’s find ways to create more opportunities for personal interactions with our elected officials. As society returns to normal, so, too, should public meetings. The rule must be for in-person proceedings. Virtual meetings should be an exception, only when participants’ health and safety are at risk. Senate Bill 482 must be rejected.”

Lawmakers will also take up a proposal that amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act to allow cities to provide grants, subsidies or loans to local businesses with Tax Increment Financing districts that have experienced business interruption due to the pandemic.

Another bill would codify an exemption to the state’s parking excise tax for all parking facilities or garages owned and operated by municipalities, counties or townships.

Motorcyclist Seriously Injured In US 50 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:                   US 50 at Selmaville Road, Marion County

WHEN:                      Oct. 17, 2021 at approximately 6:47 p.m.

VEHICLES:              Unit 1- 2007 Tan GMC Yukon

                                    Unit 2- 2008 Blue Harley Davidson Motorcycle

DRIVERS:                 Unit 1- Randall Kline, 68-year-old male from Salem, IL – Transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

                                    Unit 2- Jimmy Gelsinger, 64-year-old male from Brownstown, IL – Flown to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries.

PRELIMINARY:      A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling west on US 50 near Selmaville Road in Marion County. Unit 2 was traveling east at the same location. The driver of Unit 1 attempted to turn left onto Selmaville Road and failed to yield to Unit 2. Unit 2 struck Unit 1 in the passenger side, ejecting the driver of Unit 2 from his motorcycle. The driver of Unit 1 was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of Unit 2 was flown to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries.

CHARGES:               Unit 1 driver was cited for Failure to Yield Turning Left.

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

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Burglary & Weapons Charges Get Mt. Carmel Man 10 Years In DOC

Kelli Storckman, Wabash County State’s Attorney, reports that Jacob Adams, a 24-year old Mt. Carmel, Illinois man, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections by the Honorable Judge William C.
Hudson in Wabash County Circuit Court.

State’s Attorney Storckman advises that the Defendant was charged August 18, 2021, with Burglary, a Class 3 Felony (26 counts); Possession of a Stolen Firearm, a Class 2 Felony; and Possession of Weapon by Felon, a Class 3 Felony. Mr. Adams was sentenced in Counts I, II, III and XXVII to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, to be followed by one year of mandatory supervised release (parole). Counts to run concurrent.

FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF OFFENSE:

COUNT I: That on or about July 24, 2021 or July 25, 2021, in Wabash County, Illinois, the Defendant, JACOB W. ADAMS, committed the offense of BURGLARY in that said Defendant, without authority, knowingly entered a vehicle owned by XXXXXXX, being a Red Dodge Journey, with the intent to commit therein a theft, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/19-1(a). A CLASS 3 FELONY.

COUNT II: That on or about July 24, 2021 or July 25, 2021, in Wabash County, Illinois, the Defendant, JACOB W. ADAMS, committed the offense of BURGLARY in that said Defendant, without authority, knowingly entered a vehicle owned by XXXXXXXX, being a Silver Chevrolet Blazer with the intent to commit therein a theft in violation of 720 ILCS 5/19-1(a). A CLASS 3 FELONY

COUNT III: That on or about July 24, 2021 or July 25, 2021, in Wabash County, Illinois, the Defendant, JACOB W. ADAMS, committed the offense of BURGLARY in that said Defendant, without authority, knowingly entered a vehicle owned by XXXXX, being a White Chevrolet Silverado with the intent to commit therein a theft, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/19-1(a). A CLASS 3 FELONY

COUNT XXVII: That on the 31st day of July, 2021, in Wabash County, Illinois, the Defendant, JACOB W. ADAMS, committed the offense of POSSESSION OF A STOLEN FIREARM, in that said Defendant, not being
entitled to the possession of a firearm, possessed a Springfield XDs 9mm Pistol, knowing that that firearm had been stolen, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/24-3.8. A CLASS 2 FELONY

Fort Branch man arrested on multiple charges

On October 17, 2021, at 2:30 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a possible break in in the 300 block of South Main Street in Fort Branch. Sgt. John Fischer and Garrett Tuley were dispatched to the scene and after brief search Deputy Tuley located 25-year-old Deriece Baker of Fort Branch who was intoxicated. Deputy Tuley took Mr. Baker back to his residence which was nearby and trespassed him from the property that he had just came from. Mr. Baker was further told to go inside multiple times or he could be arrested for public intoxication. Mr. Baker’s erratic behavior continued and a he fled on foot from law enforcement and physically resisted officers to the point that a taser unit and a pepperball launcher were deployed to subdue Mr. Baker and his pitbull. Mr. Baker was taken into custody by Sgt. Fischer, and he was charged with three counts of attempted residential entry, one count of actual residential entry, criminal trespass, resisting law enforcement fleeting and fighting, and public intoxication. He remains in custody on a $750 bond.

Assisting Sgt. Fischer and Deputy Tuley in their investigation was Princeton Officer Chelsea Jones.

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