Oak Street Work Continues

Here’s a traffic alert for the ongoing Oak Street project, Howell Paving started milling the road today causing the College Drive and Oak Street intersection to be closed until noon. The milling will work its’ way south and lead up to the asphalting portion of the project according to city engineer Dave Dallas…

Dallas’s report came at Monday’s City Council meeting.

 

Animal Cruelty Charge Dismissed Against Mt. Carmel Man

A Mt. Carmel man facing a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals has had the charge dismissed in Wabash County Circuit Court.

84 year old Harold Merris was arrested September 20th after shooting and killing a cat in the 300 block of South Drive with a high powered BB gun.

Appearing in court this week, state’s attorney Kelli Storckman asked Circuit Judge William C. Hudson to dismiss the charge with the blessing of the victims in the case. Under terms of a deferral agreement, Merris was ordered to make a $500 donation to the Wabash County Shelter Buddies, pay $120 restitution to the victims, forfeit ownership of the Daisy Power Line BB gun, and not violate any criminal statutes, or have any intoxicating substances for a period of 6 months. If he fails to comply with the terms of the deferral agreement, Storckman may refile and prosecute the Class 3 felony. Hudson agreed to the move to dismiss the charge.

On a related note, a city ordinance violation of permitting a cat to run at large against the cat owner was dismissed by the city.

Pritzker "Hopeful" Mask Mandate Can Be Lifted In Time For Holidays

GOVERNOR J-B PRITZKER SAYS HE’S HOPEFUL THE STATE’S INDOOR MASK MANDATE CAN BE LIFTED IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. WITH THE COVID SITUATION IMPROVING IN ILLINOIS…THE GOVERNOR IS ONCE AGAIN ASKED WHEN PEOPLE CAN DITCH THE MASKS.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DAILY DATA, THERE ARE 2,071 NEW CASES AND 21 ADDITIONAL DEATHS. AS OF MONDAY NIGHT, THERE WERE ABOUT 14-HUNDRED ILLINOIS COVID PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL.

"Fatal Flaw" On Bid Application Costs East Peoria Firm Mt. Carmel Water Plant Project

A mistake on the bid form has cost an East Peoria firm the multi-million dollar Mt. Carmel water plant construction project. Bids for the project were opened on September 15th and officials have been reviewing the bids since then. At Monday’s City Council meeting, Terry Boyer of Donahue and Associates, the engineering firm overseeing the project, said the bid from River City Construction for $9.66 million was the lowest, but had to be rejected….

Mayor Joe Judge said the owner River City Construction reached out to him on different occasions trying to remedy the oversight…

Instead, the project was conditionally awarded to the next lowest bidder which was Kieffer Brothers Construction for just under $10 million. The bid award was made conditional since it has to now go to the I-E-P-A for approval. The new water plant will be constructed on the site of the current facility on South Cherry Street.

WSJD File Photo

School District Officials Crossing Fingers They Have Weathered COVID "Storm"

Wabash District #348 officials are hoping they’ve weathered the COVID storm that enveloped many school districts to varying degrees. Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer updated the school board on COVID numbers at Monday night’s monthly meeting saying at one time, the district had as many as 80 students and staff in quarantine. That forced classes to move to different locations and even principals to cover classes because of absent teachers.

But this week, Bleyer said in the entire district, there are just two students at the high school currently in quarantine. He said officials are hoping the worst of the COVID situation is behind them…. 

In their weekly update yesterday, the Wabash County Health Department also reported declining COVID numbers. Over the past week, there have been just 14 positive cases in Wabash County, compared to 35 the prior week, and 56 two weeks ago. There are currently 10 positive cases in isolation and 18 contacts of current cases in quarantine. The county’s positivity rate this week is 9.4% and there have been 2 hospitalizations of COVID positive patients and no deaths. This week, Wabash County’s vaccination rate is 43%. 

Allendale School Board Notes

At the October 2021 Allendale School Board meeting held at the cafeteria of Allendale School, the board:

Approved the Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits report to be placed on the school website for 2021-2022.

Approved to abate $10,000 from the Capital Projects Fund to the Debt Service Fund.

Approved the Superintendent, Assistant Principal, and any Board Member interested in going to the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago in November.

Motorcyclist Airlifted Following Crash

ISP INVESTIGATES TRAFFIC CRASH WITH INJURIES

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 19

WHAT:                      Two Vehicle Traffic Crash with Injuries

WHERE:                   US 45 and Illinois Route 141, Gallatin County

WHEN:                      Oct. 20, 2021, at approximately 6:45 p.m.

VEHICLES:              Unit 1 – 2016 Silver Ford Escape

Unit 2 – 2016 Red Harley Davidson Motorcycle

DRIVERS:                 Unit 1 – Jane E. Welborn, 54-year-old female from Galatia, IL

 Unit 2 – Jennifer S. Killion, 51-year-old female from Eldorado, IL – Air lifted to an area hospital with injuries.

 PRELIMINARY:      Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was sitting stationary westbound on Illinois Route 141 waiting to turn southbound onto US 45 at the intersection in Gallatin County. Unit 2 was traveling southbound on US 45. Unit 1 failed to yield the right-of-way to Unit 2 and attempted to turn southbound. Unit 2 swerved off the west side of the roadway to avoid colliding with Unit 1 and came to rest just south of the intersection. 

 CHARGES:               The driver of Unit 1 received a citation for Failure to Yield at an Intersection. The driver of Unit 2 received a citation for No Valid Insurance.

 

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

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN HAMILTON COUNTY

Hamilton County, IL – On Oct. 20, 2021 the Illinois State Police was requested by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and the McLeansboro Police Department to conduct an investigation regarding an officer involved shooting. 

At approximately 12:20 A.M., a Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy and a McLeansboro police officer were booking an individual who had been arrested for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle,  Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Methamphetamine at the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.  The suspect broke free from restraints and assaulted the officers.  The two officers fired their weapons at the suspect.  One of the rounds struck the suspect.  The suspect was transported to the hospital and is in critical condition.

The investigation is ongoing.  For any further information surrounding the event, please contact the Hamilton County State’s Attorney’s Office.

IECC To Spend Over $232,000 To Remodel Former WVC Pool Area

At their regular meeting last night at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, the IECC Board of Trustees approved a bid submitted by John Flach Builders of Teutopolis, Illinois in the amount of  $232,200.00 for cost of a remodeling project in the former swimming pool area at Wabash Valley College.

The Board authorized District Administration to take steps to schedule a Tax Levy Hearing.  The hearing is to be held November 16, 2021, at the hour of 6:15 p.m. local time, at Olney Central College, Olney, Illinois.  Adoption of the proposed tax levy will be considered at the November 16th Board of Trustees meeting following the public hearing. The estimated tax levy resolution was approved

            A settlement agreement between the District and Vistra Energy, owners of the coal-fired power plant located in Newton, Illinois was approved.  Vistra has announced plans to retire the final operating unit in Newton by the year 2025. 

Trustees approved an amendment to the District’s 403(b) Plan to allow qualified participants to withdraw funds from the plan to cover approved expenses related to the birth or adoption of a child.

            A bid by Laerdal Medical Corporation was approved in the amount of $72,527.77 for the purchase of two whole body manikins for instructional use in the Physical Therapy Assistant Program located at Wabash Valley College.

Fourteen affiliation agreements were approved between the District and area health care providers.   

In an on-going effort to ensure district policies remain up to date and in compliance with state and federally approved laws, trustees approved revisions to the current polices on Sex Offender Registration, Student Conduct, Tobacco/Smoke Free Campus and Academic Standing.     

An agreement was approved between the District and Wabash Area Development Incorporated’s Head Start Program for the Small World Child Care Center, located on the campus of Wabash Valley College.  

            Employment was approved for the following individuals.  Joseph Myers, Workforce Education Instructor, effective November 1, 2021; Holly Burns, TRIO Upward Bound Counselor, Wabash Valley College, effective October 25, 2021; Dakoda Hulett, Groundskeeper at Olney Central College, effective October 25, 2021; Whitney McCullough, TRIO Upward Bound Counselor, Lincoln Trail College, effective October 25, 2021; Tiffany Starwalt, Student Services Specialist, Olney Central College, effective October 25, 2021; Robin Zachary, Custodian, Lincoln Trail College, effective October 25, 2021; Cathy Ziegler, Student Services Specialist, Lincoln Trail College, effective October 25, 2021. 

            Temporary employment was approved for the following individuals.  Tyler Akers, Site Facilitator, effective October 1, 2021; Tyler Beehn, Site Facilitator, effective October 1, 2021; Wanda Jones, Site Facilitator, effective October 13, 2021; and Zachary Wingert, Site Facilitator, effective September 28, 2021.

A change in status was approved for Ashley Bigard from Advising Specialist for the Title III Program at Olney Central College to Project Director for the Title III Program at Olney Central College, effective October 25, 2021,

            Resignation ratifications were approved for Brittany Caparas, Nursing Instructor located at Lincoln Trail College effective December 4, 2021; Tyler Burr as Coordinator of Public Information & Marketing at Wabash Valley College effective January 15, 2022; Christina Nation as Office Assistant at Frontier Community College effective October 9, 2021; Kimberly Hambleton as Workforce Education Program Assistant effective October 27, 2021.

              Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, November 16th, at 6:15 p.m. at Olney Central College, Olney.