Mt. Carmel Woman Gets 4 Years In DOC On Meth Charge

Kelli Storckman, Wabash County State’s Attorney, reports that Terri M.
Brown, a 55-year old Mt. Carmel, Illinois woman, 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 August
14, 2017 with Use of Property, a Class 2 Felony. Ms. Brown was placed
on Probation on November 14, 2017. After admitting to a violation of
Probation on March 15, 2022, Ms. Brown was sentenced to 4 years in the
Department of Corrections, to be followed by 1 year of mandatory
supervised release (parole).

FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF OFFENSE:

That on the 11th day of August, 2017, in Wabash County, Illinois, the
Defendant, TERRI M. BROWN, committed the offense of USE OF PROPERTY, in
that said Defendant knowingly used a real property, that being a
residence, located at 2XX West 4th Street Apt. X, Mt. Carmel, Illinois,
which was within the Defendant control, to help bring about a violation
of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, to wit,
said defendant used residence to possess methamphetamine, in violation
720 ILCS 646/35(a). A CLASS 2 FELONY

Sullivan Man Arrest for Possession of Child Pornography

Sullivan County - On March 17, 2022, Troopers with the Indiana State Police Putnamville District and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) arrested a 24-year-old Sullivan man on charges of Possession of Child Pornography. 

The investigation began when a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was received by the ICAC Task Force.  As a result of the investigation, a search warrant was obtained through the Sullivan Superior Court and served this morning at a residence located on St. Clair Street in Sullivan, IN.  Based on preliminary findings as a result of the search warrant, Nathaniel A. Privette, age 24, of Sullivan was interviewed and subsequently incarcerated at the Sullivan County Jail. 

Anyone having any information related to crimes against children are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or visit the NCMEC website at http://www.missingkids.com/home and find the link to make a CyberTipline report.

Arrested and Charges:  Nathaniel A. Privette, 24, Sullivan, Indiana 

• Possession of child pornography, Level 5 Felony

All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Photo:  Nathaniel A. Privette

Allendale School Board Recap

At the March 2022 Allendale School Board meeting held in the cafeteria of Allendale School,

the board:

Approved a tentative School Calendar for the 2022-2023 school year.

Approved to not release the closed session verbatim minutes of September 22, 2021; October 20,

2021; December 15, 2021; January 11, 2022; January 19, 2022; February 16, 2022.

Approved the ARP/ESSER 3 Use of Funds Plan

Re-employed the following tenured certified staff for the 2022-2023 school year:

Mrs. Diana Morgan Mrs. Nick Waldroup

Mrs. Darlene Smith Mr. Brittany Weiss

Mrs. Dena Tarpley

Re-employed and granted tenure to the following 4-year certified staff for the 2022-2023 school

year:

Ms. Elizabeth Irelan Mrs. Audrey McGee

Re-employed the following non-tenured certified staff for the 2022-2023 school year:

Mrs. Elizabeth Perry Mr. Ryan Dougherty

Mr. Bill Hudson Mrs. Mackenzie Thread

Mrs. Kelsey Margelin

Re-employed the following support staff for the 2022-2023 school year:

Paraprofessionals: Mychelle Blythe, Malynn McGee, Brooklyn Ritchey,

Alecia Winkles

Bus Driver: Tom Jefferson, Doug Hawf

Head Cook: Karla McCowen

Assistant Cook: Shelly Deisher

Head Custodian: Jason Seaton

Assistant Custodian Kent Deisher

Health Aide: Kristi Isaac

Administrative Assistant: Sarah Courter

Treasurer: Debbie Hipsher

Yearbook Sponsor: Brittany Weiss

Complaint Manager: Nick Waldroup

Tech Support: Nick Waldroup

Meth Delivery Charges Filed Against Mt. Carmel Pair

On 3/16/2022, Mt. Carmel Police conducted a search warrant at a residence occupied by Roger K. Burns, age 66, and Pamela S. Weiss, age 62, at their home address of 1128 Poplar Street. The search warrant stemmed from an investigation into the illegal sales of methamphetamine in Mt. Carmel. The warrant, prepared by Wabash County States Attorney Kelli Storckman and signed by Wabash Circuit Judge William Hudson, was served by MPCD and resulted in the arrest of both individuals for Delivery of Methamphetamine. Roger Byrns received an additional charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance as well. Both were taken to the Wabash County Jail and are being held pending a bond setting by a judge.

Wabash District #348 Agenda

Wabash Community Unit Schools 348 Board of Education Meeting

Mt. Carmel Grade School Cafetorium

Monday, March 21, 2022

Regular Board Meeting - 7:00 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Consent Agenda

a. Board Minutes

i. 2022 02 14 Regular Board Meeting

ii. 2022 02 23 Special Board Meeting

b. Monthly Bills

c. Financial Reports

d. Correspondence

e. Administrative Reports

f. IHSA Membership Renewal

4. Visitor - Sam Hodges WGH Sports Medicines

5. Public Comments

6. Executive Session pursuant to Section 2(c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act: “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees”.

7. New Business

a. 2022-2023 School Calendar

b. Last Day for Seniors

c. Set Administrative Salaries for 2022-2023

d. Employment of Personnel

8. Adjournment

Grayville Native/DEA Agent Honored By General Assembly

SPRINGFIELD - State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) sponsored legislation to honor Grayville native Michael G. Garbo who died October 4, 2021 in Arizona while serving as a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Supervisory Special Agent. Special Agent Garbo died as a result of injuries sustained during a shooting while on the job and House Joint Resolution (HJR) 67 designates the section of Interstate 64 between mile marker 128 and 132 as the “DEA Special Agent Michael Garbo Memorial Highway.”

“We can never really know the full extent of the positive impact Michael Garbo had as a DEA Agent fighting the scourge of illegal drugs on our families in our country, but everything I have learned about his work and life tells me it is extensive,” said Rep. Adam Niemerg. “The naming of a section of I-64 is a way to honor Agent Garbo’s courage and sacrifice and celebrate his life as a loving husband, father, brother, and exemplary federal narcotics agent.”

Special Agent Michael Garbo was born in Grayville to Carol Ann (Young) Garbo and Larry Garbo on February 10, 1970. Michael Garbo graduated from Grayville High School in 1988 and then Eastern Illinois University. Garbo served with the U.S. Army National Guard and he resided in Sahuarita, Arizona at the time of his passing.

Special Agent Garbo was inspired by his late father, an Illinois State Police captain, and pursued a career in law enforcement including as a former police officer for the Metro Nashville Police Department. He was currently serving as a special agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) based in Tucson, Arizona, a position he held since 2005.

With unmatched talent, knowledge, dignity, and bravery, Special Agent Garbo dedicated his life's work to combating drug traffickers, spanning from Kabul, Afghanistan to various locations across the United States. Special Agent Garbo was a dedicated father and husband who devoted his life to serving and caring for others he enjoyed practicing Jiu Jitsu and martial arts, spending time with his family, and watching his daughter succeed in every aspect of her life.

Special Agent Garbo was preceded in death by his parents and his special grandmother, Betty Garbo. Garbo is survived by his wife, Vida Mary Garbo, his daughter, Alexis Garbo; his niece and goddaughter, Kennedy Valinevicius, and his brother, Terry Garbo.

“My hope is that everyone who sees the signs along I-64 near Grayville with Mike Garbo’s name will remember him for all of the good he did in his life and the positive legacy he leaves behind,” added Rep. Niemerg

WCHD Issues Final Weekly COVID Update

WCHD has tirelessly worked to keep the Wabash County community informed with weekly testing numbers, hospital and death data. With the numbers at a low, we think now is the time to to refocus our efforts to our many services and supports we offer as a health department. Many factors have weighed on our decision including the availability of at home testing which limits the accuracy of our data. So we encourage you to visit to covid.cdc.gov to keep informed. If there is an increase in the future, we may revisit reporting weekly. As a reminder, we will continue to offer daily testing as a support.

Thank you Wabash County for supporting us through this pandemic.

Sincerely,

WCHD Employees

Browning Seated As IECC Trustee

The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday night, March 15th at Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, Illinois.  The oath of office was administered to new trustee Roger Browning.  Mr. Browning was appointed to fill the vacancy created when Al Henager retired from the Board.   

 The trustees gave special recognition to Robert Conn, Lisa Hoipkemier, and Kinsey Whitaker who recently submitted Wabash Valley College’s accreditation application for the Physical Therapy Program.  The trustees also congratulated Prof. Kyle Peach and several Radio/TV students from Wabash Valley College for winning the National Community College TV Station of the Year Award.  The trustees also recognized Maggee Bleyer, Student Trustee, expressing appreciation for her service to the Board of Trustees and the IECC district.  Maggee is a student at Wabash Valley College and filled the remainder of the term left by outgoing student trustee Sania Borom.  Raechel Hnetkovsky (Frontier Community College) will be seated as the next student trustee in the April 2022 meeting.   

 The IECC district’s Identity Theft Prevention Program and the Program Status and Report for 2021 were approved.  Federal regulations require the district to develop and implement a written identity theft prevention program.  

 The academic calendar for 2023-2025 was approved.   

 A bid in the amount of $81,000 from Brightspark Travel was approved for the 2022 TRIO Upward Bound Educational Trip. 

 The college district’s annual financial report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2021 was approved to be filed with the Illinois Community College Board.   

 Trustees accepted the financial statement audit of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges for the year ended June 30, 2021. 

  In an on-going effort to provide clear information to students on course additions, drops, and course withdrawal, revisions were made to the withdrawal policy.   

 Affiliation agreements were approved for medical program students with Crawford County Health Department and the Sullivan County Community Hospital.  

 The Board approved the firm HUB to be employed as the District’s next employee benefits consultant. 

 Increases were approved to the International Students’ Transportation fees.   

Employment was approved for Kenneth Pryor, Jr. as Information Systems Technician at Lincoln Trail College, effective March 21, 2022. 
Resignations were received from Chelsea Gemeinhardt as Chemistry Instructor at Wabash Valley College, effective August 1, 2022; Casey Wyllie as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Olney Central College, effective March 22, 2022; Holden August, Coordinator of Public Information & Marketing at Frontier Community College, effective March 18, 2022; Shayla Miller, Office Assistant at Frontier Community College, effective March 18, 2022; and Zachary Wingert, Covid Site Facilitator at the District Office, effective March 7, 2022.  

 Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, April 19, at 6:15 p.m. at Frontier Community College, Fairfield. 

City Preps Pool for Summer Swimming Season

The Mt. Carmel City Pool will reopen this summer after recent action by the city council. Commissioners voted to spend up to $40,000 for repairs to the pumps that failed last year and caused the pool to close early. The repairs will get the pool open this year and is just one part of many repairs city officials hope to make. But, the funding for those upgrades has been the sticking point with the city waiting word on an application for a state grant that has been pending in Springfield for many months. Mayor Joe Judge said it’s hoped the state will announce grant recipients by the end of this month.

Admission to the city pool will remain the same as last year staying at $2.50 which is the lowest among other area municipal pools in Illinois. Two hour pool parties will also still the same at $175.

Fans Get New Bleachers At 4th Street Fields

Local baseball and softball players will soon be hitting diamonds and the city of Mt. Carmel is taking steps to make sure spectators to the 4th Street fields are safer and more comfortable. Mayor Joe Judge…

Judge said money from the city’s share of video gaming will pay for the new bleachers. He said concrete pads were poured before the bleachers were put in place.