County Commissioners Approve ARPA Expenditures

Wabash County Commissioners have approved ordinances on spending almost $50,000 in American Rescue Plan funds for the health department and sheriff’s department new smart phone apps. The ordinances allocated almost $26,000 to the sheriff’s department and nearly $24,000 to the health department to cover the costs of the new apps for three years. Commissioners also approved $2,500 in hazard pay to each full time sheriff’s deputy and correctional officer. Other qualifying employees will get $1,500 each. The $2,500 payouts were negotiated in the recently ratified FOP contract. ARPA funds will be used for the hazard pay.

City Looking For State Help To Fix Market Street Sidewalks

The city of Mt. Carmel has submitted an application looking to secure almost $1.5 million through the state’s rebuild downtown and main street capital grant program. Mayor Joe Judge has said that rebuilding the city’s crumbling sidewalks is a main priority and this grant would be a big first step…

The grant is being administered through the state’s department of commerce and economic development. Judge also recently said that there’s still been no word from the state on the status of a city application for funding that would help to renovate and improve the city pool. Last year, the city had to close the pool early because of a major equipment malfunction. No updates have been offered on the timetable for those extensive repairs and if the pool will be able to open on time this summer.

ISP RELEASE UPDATED STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY OF BRADLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER TYLER BAILEY

Twenty-three days ago, our community lost Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic. It feels like months have passed since that night in December, but it has been just twenty-three days. Over that time, we have watched an immense outpouring of love and kindness during her procession, the services, and when she was laid to rest. She was a true hero, and we miss her dearly. The entire community rallied together to show their unconditional support for her, and we could not have been more proud of the legacy she left for us.

Twenty-three days ago, we also got the heart-wrenching call that Tyler was involved in this senseless shooting and poised ourselves to hear that we may never see him again. In the short period since that night, we have given one release regarding Tyler’s condition, delivered by Deputy Chief Anderson during an emotional press conference. At that time, we thanked everyone who was involved in saving Tyler’s life that night, and we continue to be grateful to all of those officers, first responders, doctors, nurses and medical personnel that make it possible for our family to release a second update on Tyler and his progress over this short period. We continue to be thankful for the respect and privacy everyone has allowed us to have during this time. It has made the journey much easier on Tyler’s family, and we appreciate everyone’s continued display of kindness in that respect.

These past few weeks, we have witnessed firsthand a community come together in support of their police officers by flying flags, tying blue ribbons on their trees, and turning their front porches blue each night to show their support. We pray that the community continues to show the same level of compassion to all of our police officers. Despite experiencing firsthand, the dangers they face simply doing their job, our local police officers continue to serve us every day, risking their lives for ours every time they put on the badge.

We are humbled by the number of events that have occurred already and those that are scheduled to happen over the next few months to support not only Tyler, but his wife Sydney as well. She has been able to stay at Tyler’s side this entire time, holding his hand so that he always feels her touch, talking to him so that he hears a voice he knows and loves. This would not be possible without the support and generosity of everyone involved.

In the days following the incident, we stood by simply praying Tyler would survive. During the following three weeks, we have watched Tyler give everything he has to fight for his life. We thank God every day that Tyler is strong and is able to push back against these injuries. He has displayed small improvements on almost a daily basis and has reached real milestones in his recovery over this short time. Earlier this week, after almost three weeks in the intensive care unit, Tyler was strong enough to be released from the ICU to standard hospital care. He is no longer in critical condition, he is stable, and he is getting ready to start the next chapter of his recovery. It appears likely that Tyler will soon be released from the hospital to begin his next phase of treatment. While there remains a long road ahead for Tyler in his recovery, it’s an incredible feeling to be able to share this information with the community that has been with us every step of the way.

We will do our best to keep the community updated with Tyler’s future progress as he heals. We are eternally grateful for the support Tyler and Sydney have received in these short twenty-three days. We are so proud of Tyler and his courageous fight. We wish Marlene was here to see it as well, but we know she is watching out for Tyler from above.

Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday January 24th, 2022 at 5:00 pm

· Call to Order

o Pledge of Allegiance

o Roll Call

· Approve Minutes

o Minutes of meeting held 1/10/2022

· Visitors (topic discussed by visitor(s) is limited to 5 minutes)

o Josh Evans, St. Mary’s Mardi Gras

· Reports and Communications

o Mayor Judge

o Commissioner Meeks Streets, Cemeteries and Parks

o Commissioner Ikemire Finance and Senior Citizens

o Commissioner Dulgar Water and Sewer

o Commissioner Zimmerman Fire, Health & Safety, City Hall and Garbage

· Staff Reports

o Ryan Turner

o Brady Waldrop

o Michael McWilliams

o Francis Speth

o Mike Gidcumb

· New Business

o Consent Agenda

§ Ordinance 2065-1st reading-Regulation of vacant properties

§ Ordinance 2066-Placement of Mobile Home in R-3 Residential Area

§ Ordinance 2067-Approving the subdivision of a Tract of Land/Erin Drive

§ Ordinance 2068-1st Reading-Amend Chapter 4-number of alcohol license allowed in the City

§ Ordinance 2069-Approving the Subdivision of a Tract of Land-Erin Drive

§ Ordinance 2070-Approving the Subdivision of a tract of Land-Bainum

o Removal of items from the Consent Agenda

o Consideration of Consent Agenda

§ Pay all bills bearing proper signature

o Consideration of items removed from the Consent Agenda

· Executive Session

· Motion to Adjourn

Redistricting Causes Wabash County To Lose Bailey & Niemerg As Legislators

Legislative representation in Wabash County will change dramatically when new district boundaries become effective next year. Wabash County is currently represented in the Illinois General Assembly by 55th district state senator Darren Bailey and 109th district state rep Adam Niemerg.

Under the new redistricting map, neither Bailey nor Niemerg will represent Wabash County beginning January 11th of 2023. Instead, Wabash County will be moved to the 58th state senate district that will stretch from the Wabash River west to the Mississippi River. In the state House, Wabash County will go to the 116th district which goes west to Jefferson and Williamson counties.

Wabash County will also move to a new Congressional district moving from the 15th where the seat is held by Mary Miller to the 12th district where the congressman is Mike Bost . Both are Republicans.

Wabash County clerk Janet Will reported at Tuesday’s county board meeting the filing window for this year’s election is March 7th through the 14th. She said new voting ID cards will be mailed soon reflecting the new legislative districts.  

Louisville Man Dead In Clay County Crash

ISP INVESTIGATES FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12

WHAT:                      Single Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash

WHERE:                   Sailor Springs Road westbound near Coral Drive, Clay County.

WHEN:                      Jan. 20, 2022 at approximately 12:15 a.m.

VEHICLE:                Unit 1 – Blue 2019 Ford Ranger

                                               

DRIVER:                   Unit 1 – David C. Beccue, a 72-year-old male from Louisville, IL - Deceased

 

PRELIMINARY:      Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling westbound on Sailor Springs Road, just east of Coral Drive in Clay County. For an unknown reason, Unit 1 left the roadway to the left and overturned. The driver of Unit 1 was ejected from the vehicle and was fatally injured in the crash. No further information will be disseminated at this time.

 

 

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

Mt. Carmel Man Picked Up Drug Paraphernalia Charge

On 1/16/2022, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Russell D. Singer, age 42, of Mt. Carmel, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia following a traffic stop near 8th & Market Street. Police stopped Singer for expired registration, at which time Ofc. Hopper and K-9 Eleven arrived on the scene. Ofc. Hopper conducted a free air sniff to the exterior of Singer’s truck, at which time Eleven alerted to the presence of narcotics. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in officers locating a clear glass smoking device containing a burnt white residue inside it. Smoking devices of this nature are commonly used to ingest narcotics. Afterward, Singer was charged as listed above, along with a citation for expired registration. Singer was released on a Notice to Appear in court.

WSJD 2019 File Photo: Russell D. Singer