Missouri Man Sentenced For Sexually Abusing Mt. Carmel Girl

Kelli Storckman, Wabash County State’s Attorney, reports that Kristopher R. Litton, a 23-year old Independence, Missouri man, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections by the Honorable Circuit Judge William C. Hudson in Wabash County Circuit Court.

State’s Attorney Storckman advises that the Defendant was charged September 10, 2020 with Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, a Class 2 Felony. On December 13, 2021, Mr. Litton was sentenced to 5 years in the Department of Corrections, to be followed by 3 years to natural life of mandatory supervised release (parole).

Here’s our original story from 9/10/20 when Litton was arrested by MCPD.

On Wednesday, Mt. Carmel Police initiated an investigation into a sexual abuse allegation that alleged a 21-year-old male, identified as Kristofer R. Litton, of Independence, Missouri, was having sexual relations with a 13-year-old female from Mt. Carmel, having started in the summer of 2020. Police were able to locate Litton at a local motel leading to the discovery of further information and evidence about the allegation, resulting in Litton’s arrest for Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse. Litton was transported to the Wabash County Jail and held on a $50,000 cash bond.

COVID Spike Continues In Wabash County

Through the first three weeks of this month, there have been 65 more COVID cases in Wabash County than the first three weeks of November. Wabash County Health Department administrator Judy Wissel reported 103 positive cases so far this month compared to 38 for the same time period last month. 13 of those cases were reported yesterday alone according to Wissel. She said there are 38 positive cases currently in isolation and 57 close contacts of positive cases are in quarantine. The county’s positivity rate is at 8.3%. Wissel told us most of the cases are from the Delta variant as no official Omicron cases have been seen locally. That may be because those tests have to be sent to a lab to detect the specific variant and the majority of the COVID tests done locally are the rapid tests. Speaking of which, Wissel said testing is done by the health department every day from 11 to 3 and she encouraged individuals to get tested before attending holiday events. The full weekly COVID report from the health department will be released tomorrow.

$9.4 Million In Wabash County Property Taxes Collected So Far

Paying your real estate taxes probably isn’t your favorite thing to think about ever…especially during Christmas Week. But, Wabash County treasurer Beverly McBride reported to the county board last night that $9.4 million in Wabash County real estate taxes had been collected out of the $12.2 million that had been extended. The deadline to pay your second installment is coming up on January 14th. For those who missed the first installment deadline of December 3rd are now being assessed a 1.5% penalty.

 

Candidate Petitions Available Soon For 2022 Election

Wabash County Clerk Janet Will said her office is preparing for next year’s election. Filing petitions for local offices can be picked up starting January 13th with the filing dates set for March. The primary in Illinois has been pushed back from March 15th to June 28th because of the delay in this year’s census data that was needed to redraw legislative districts around the state.

Local offices on next year’s ballot will be for Wabash County Sheriff, county treasurer, county clerk, and a seat on the Wabash County board of commissioners.

Time Running Out To Ring Bells For Operation Share

There are still plenty of slots available to ring the bells in Mt. Carmel for Operation Share. Reverend Kevin McGinnis is the president of the local ministerial association and organizes the bell ringing campaign…. 

For Thanksgiving, Operation Share provided meals to 272 Wabash County families.

If you want to ring today just call Larry Letson @ 618.262.4209

If you want to ring on Wednesday or Thursday, just call Marge Dallas at 618.599.1400

And if you want to ring on Friday, just call Kevin McGinnis at 618.240.6243

Bellringing takes place at Buy Low, Fastbreak Marathon, and Jumpin' Jimmy’s in Mount Carmel.

If no answer right away, just leave a message and they will be glad to call you back and sign you up!

Cherry Street Intersection To Get New Bricks

The efforts to preserve one of Mt. Carmel oldest streets is continuing according to the person in charge of the campaign. J. Roy Dee III was at last week’s city council meeting outlining the next step in the effort to replace bricks along Cherry Street to make it a smoother driving surface for motorists while improving the aesthetics.

According to Dee, the worst intersection on Cherry Street at the present time is at 7th Street He explained that after the intersection is excavated and new concrete is poured, 6,000 replacement bricks will be laid. Dee said the estimated cost of the project isn’t as high as he first anticipated… 

Dee said the Cherry Street Project fund has a balance of $6,800 and he pledged to raise the remaining $17,000. The city council green lighted the project as city equipment and manpower will be used to excavate the existing bricks and concrete at the intersection. 

7th & Cherry Street intersection in Mt. Carmel

COUNTRY Financial® Supports “Shop with a Cop/Fireman”

COUNTRY Financial Representatives Tia Morgan, Billy Stinson & Jody Smith are pleased to support the Mt. Carmel Fire & Police Departments and Wabash County Sheriff’s Department as a 2021 recipient of a COUNTRY Financial Operation Helping Heroes donation.  The Reps presented $1,500 to the departments on Dec 16, 2021.  The donation will be used for the “Shop with a Cop/Fireman” program.

 “I’m so pleased to be able to help take care of those who help care for us and enrich our lives every day within our community – our first responders,” said Morgan. “It’s a small token of our appreciation that I hope will help our Fire & Local Law Enforcement Departments positively impact our community.”

. The donation to “Program Shop with a Fireman/Cop” is an event that focuses on underprivileged children and families within a local community. Firemen and Police officers spend time with the children and shop with them in a local store. During the event, the children are given a gift certificate to purchase any items they want in the store. The firemen and law enforcement officers act as a chaperone and companion to the children throughout the day as they shop for items.   

 COUNTRY Financial donated $3 million in 2020 to organizations and programs that support first responders and active-duty service members, supporting the company’s vision to “enrich lives in the communities we serve.” COUNTRY Financial is continuing the program in 2021 and expanding the opportunity to educators, to help financial representatives further support their local community. The Operation Helping Heroes program was created in 2015 to support non-profit events and programs that benefit active-duty service members, veterans and their families. 

Mt. Carmel Man Jailed On Domestic Battery Charge

On 12.15.21 the Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to 5952 N. 1400 Blvd, Mt. Carmel reference a domestic in progress. When the deputy arrived on scene it was found that a domestic battery had taken place at the residence. 23-year-old John "Alex" Slunder was taken into custody and transported to the Wabash County Jail. Slunder has posted bond and has been released from the jail. 

"Christmas Shopping" Leads To Burglary Arrest Of Flora Man

On 12.13.21 at 12:55 p.m the Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to the Cowling area on Highway 1 reference a Burglary in progress. When the deputy entered the home, he found 50-year-old Karey "Scott" Harms, of Flora laying among a pile of debris in the residence. Harms was taken into custody at that time. Harms advised he had walked to the location from Grayville and claimed to have acted alone. Harms advised he was Christmas shopping when asked why he was in the residence and if he was supposed to be there. Harms was transported to the Wabash County Jail where his bond has been set at $3000 cash. Harms also had outstanding warrants in Wabash and Richland Counties. If anyone has any information additional information on the burglary in the Cowling area please call the Sheriff's Office as we do not believe he acted alone