Spring Clean Up Week Monday In Mt. Carmel

Spring Fix-Up/Clean-Up week begins Monday in Mt. Carmel. It’s one of two weeks this year that Republic Services will pick up your extra large items.

There are some exceptions though. Republic Services will not pick up refrigerators, electronics, televisions, paint unless it is dried up with cat litter or sand, construction lumber, microwaves or other appliances, mattresses and box springs unless they are completely wrapped in plastic. Also, do not cut the plastic on mattresses or box springs that have been set out for pickup just to look at them as then the resident has to rewrap them. Also, when individuals are looking through items that are sitting out for pick up, do not throw items around in the yard of that residence. Any items set out for pick up that Republic doesn’t pick up, is the responsibility of the property to dispose of.

In advance of Clean Up Week, Saturday is city wide yard sale day in Mt. Carmel. 

Finish Line In Sight For WGH Construction Projects

Anticipation continues to build for the completion of the $14.5 million major construction and renovation project at Wabash General Hospital. Inside the hospital, work to renovate the main entrance and lobby is now complete and an overhaul of the kitchen and cafeteria is also done waiting to reopen according to WGH President/CEO Karissa Turner…

Turner said the cafeteria will initially reopen to hospital staff and employees before the public is welcomed back. The crown jewel of the construction project is the two-story, 32,000 square foot medical office building. Turner said some minute punch list items are being finished while awaiting for required inspections and certifications to take place…

The new medical office building consolidates several physician offices into one building located adjacent to the hospital and provides the setting for a comfortable, modern delivery of oncology services. The medical office building also provides space for staff offices, conference and training rooms, and a staff lounge. The overall project also included additional expansion of the orthopedic and sports medicine clinic.

Wabash County Board of Commissioners Agenda

Wabash County Board of Commissioners

REGULAR MEETING Monday, April 4, 2022

AGENDA

1) Call to order:

2) Approve minutes of previous meeting:

3) Commissioner’s reports:

4) Officer’s reports:

5) Old Business:

a. Special Event Approval by the Local Liquor Licensing Authority for the Guardian Center.

6) New Business:

a. Representatives from the U of I Extension Service to update the County on their programs and to discuss their budget agreement.

b. Discuss changing mileage rate reimbursement.

c, Accept survey of property resulting from the Management and Maintenance Services Agreement with the Wabash County Animal Shelter Buddies, Inc.

d. Authorize the Chairman to sign an Easement to the Animal Shelter Buddies.

e. Consider (re)appointments.to various boards.

7) Executive Session:

8) Correspondence:

9) Approval of payment of claims presented:

10) Adjournment:

This agenda is subject to change prior to the time of the meeting if necessary.

Dated this 31st day of March, 2022.

______________________________________

Janet L. Will

The meeting will be held upstairs in the Courtroom

Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday April 4, 2022 at 5:00 pm

· Call to Order

o Pledge of Allegiance

o Roll Call

· Approve Minutes

o Minutes of meeting held 3/21/2022

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

· 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 Brady Waldrop

o Michael McWilliams Francis Speth Mike Gidcumb

New Business

o Ordinance 2073-1st Reading of 2022-2023 budget

o Consent Agenda

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

Resolution Designates Interstate 64 in Wayne County in Honor of Fallen Deputy Sean Riley

SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) welcomed the family of fallen Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley to the Capitol in Springfield on Wednesday to honor Deputy Riley’s service and sacrifice. Rep. Niemerg’s HJR 66 renames a stretch of highway on Illinois Interstate 64 in Wayne County as the Deputy Sean Riley Memorial Highway.

“Deputy Riley gave his life responding to a distress call, a call for help. That’s the definition of a hero,” Niemerg said. “Deputy Riley put himself above others, responding to a call not knowing the situation or how it will unfold, but knowing someone is asking for help.”

Niemerg said the outpouring of support for Deputy Riley’s family was tremendous, from local businesses to regular people that wanted to help.

Rep. Niemerg welcomed fallen Deputy Sean Riley’s family to the Illinois Capitol to witness the passage of HJR 66, a resolution that will rename a stretch of Interstate 64 in Wayne County as the Deputy Sean Riley Memorial Highway.

“Every seat in the Fairfield High School gymnasium was filled prior to Deputy Riley’s memorial service a full hour ahead of its scheduled start,” Niemerg said. “Deputy Riley’s sacrifice will not be forgotten, and his impact will always be felt. Renaming I-64 in Wayne County is a small but important token of our respect and esteem for Deputy Riley’s service and sacrifice. We continue to morn with his family and honor all law enforcement officers that give their lives in the line of duty.”

The Illinois House of Representatives unanimously supported HJR 66, which will name the stretch of highway on Interstate 64 in Wayne County between mile markers 112 and 116 the Deputy Sean Riley Memorial Highway.

Members of Deputy Sean Riley’s family attended a presentation of HJR 66 during a Session of the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Rep. Adam Niemerg’s House Joint Resolution 66 will rename Interstate 64 in Wayne County as Deputy Sean Riley Memorial Highway.

WGH Board Adopts Needs Assessment

The Wabash General Hospital Board of Directors has adopted the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment that looks at all aspects of health care in the hospital service area. The service area consists of 35,000 residents in Wabash, Edwards, White, and Lawrence Counties and WGH President/CEO Karissa Turner says Wabash County fared well in the latest assessment, but more can be done…. 

Turner said needs that were prioritized include substance abuse and mental health services, expansion of specialty services, early intervention and health literacy education, and continue to collaborate and support community-based programs for wellness initiatives.  

Covalt Bench Trial Set To Start April 11th

33-year-old Chad Covalt has changed his mind and will not have a jury of his peers decide his fate. Instead, Covalt has elected to have bench trial next month as he faces three charges of predatory criminal sexual assault and four counts of possession of child pornography.

During a final pretrial hearing Tuesday in Wabash County Circuit Court, Judge William C. Hudson denied a defense motion to dismiss after which Covalt announced his decision to waive his right to a jury trial in favor of a bench trial at which Hudson will decide his guilt or innocence.

It’s alleged Covalt committed predatory criminal sexual assault of a child in connection to incidents between January of 2017 and last month with a girl under the age of 13. The four child pornography charges allege Covalt filmed and/or photographed the unclothed young girl between January of 2017 and January of 2020. All 7 counts are Class X felonies.

A Class X felony in Illinois carries a possible prison sentence of 6 to 30 years on each count. Covalt remains in the Wabash County Jail on a half million-dollar bond. The bench trial is set for April 11th.

Circuit Clerk Angie Crum said prospective jurors called for jury duty on April 11th do not need to appear.   

Ramp Closure Scheduled for Pipe Replacement at New Harmony Road and Diamond Avenue

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a ramp closure for State Road 66 (Diamond Avenue) and New Harmony Road.

Beginning on or around Tuesday, April 5, INDOT maintenance crews will begin the process to extract and replace a culvert pipe across the eastbound ramp to Diamond Avenue from New Harmony Road. This operation requires a full width pavement cut to excavate and replace the pipe. Workers will then fill the pavement cut with gravel, which will be allowed to compact under traffic conditions before repaving at a later date.

The project is expected to take about one day depending upon weather conditions. The road will close following the morning peak hours. Local residents will have access up to the point of closure and will be able to use the traditional intersection at New Harmony Road and Diamond Avenue during the closure for eastbound access.

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

City Officials Issue Warning About Staying Off Levee

Officials at City Hall are warning off-roaders to stay off of the Wabash River levee in Mt. Carmel. City Clerk Ryan Turner made the latest admonishment at last week’s City Council meeting… 

 Should the levee be damaged by off-roaders, the city would be responsible for making the costly repairs. If caught, that cost could be passed along to the offending party.