Masons Look To Relocate To Former Girl Scout Cabin

The Mt. Carmel City Council is looking to work with the local Masonic Lodge to move into the former Girl Scout Cabin at the top of the hill on Walnut Street.

Mason Yale Epler was at this evening’s city council meeting to report the long-time Masonic home in the 200 block of Market Street has become obsolete for the group. He said the enormous size of the building is much more space than is needed and utility costs also provide a burden.

The council agreed to begin drafting paperwork to allow the Masons to occupy the former Girl Scout Cabin that is currently vacant. The Bridges of Hope food ministry had previously been located there.

The Masons will pay for renovations to the interior of the building while the city will take care of exterior repairs. The agreement would be a long term deal with the city maintaining ownership of the building.

Epler said the Masons will look to sell their Market Street location.

2020 WSJD File Photo of Girl Scout Cabin. The city has since placed a new roof on the building.

Plans Unveiled For New 9th & Market Street Drive-Thru Coffee House

A new drive-thru coffee house is expected to open this summer on the northwest corner of 9th and Market Streets in Mt. Carmel. Rachel Wallace, who already owns and operates the Mt. Carmel Subway, was at this evening’s city council meeting to announce plans to open a Scooter’s Coffee hopefully sometime in mid-July. Wallace explained she is spending close to $1 million in acquiring the land and constructing the 660 square foot building that will house the drive-thru only business…

The city approved providing Wallace with $50,000 in TIF funds to aid in the opening of the new business.

Scooter’s is a chain coffee house with its’ first location opening in Nebraska in 1998. Now there are more than 450 Scooter’s locations around the U. S. In addition to the Mt. Carmel Subway, Wallace owns several other restaurants and businesses across southern Illinois.

Rachel Wallace shows City Commissioners Tom Meeks and Eric Ikremire plans for the new Scooter’s Coffee slated to open this summer at 9th and Market Streets.

City Attorney Warns Residents To Keep Grass Mowed

Mt. Carmel City Attorney Brady Waldroup is reminding residents to keep their yards mowed. He said he had already sent out letters for violations of the ordinance that calls for grass to be no more than 7 inches high. In the past, city officials said they are not patrolling looking for high grass violations but instead rely on the public to report the violations at which point a city representative will visit to confirm.

Commissioners Appropriate Spending For Street Maintenance Program

With road construction work beginning to ramp up, the Mt. Carmel City Council has appropriated just over $300,000 for the city’ motor fuel street maintenance program. City engineer Dave Dallas said the money will be used primarily in seven areas including oiling and chipping streets, paying for the electricity of traffic lights, and asphalting streets. Dallas said he has been driving city streets and alleys to determine which ones will be included in this year’s work. A list of the streets see work has not been released yet by the city.

City Council Poised To Approve FY 22-23 Budget

The Mt. Carmel City Council meets today at 5 at City Hall and the council is expected to approve the new budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23 that starts May 1st. Finance Commissioner Eric Ikemire reports that revenues during the current fiscal year have been very favorable for the city with 20 of 27 budget items coming in over what had been projected.

One of the biggest areas of growth has been the city’s share of video gaming. The city had budgeted to receive $60,000 from the gaming tax but as of April 4th, the city had already gotten well more than double that with over $142,000 coming in. In addition, the city’s share of the cannabis tax has come in more than 33% more than anticipated. Other budget over-achievers on the revenue side was the city’s income from the sales tax, state income tax, and the replacement tax which has already been more than double what was budgeted.

But while the revenue picture now is good, Mayor Joe Judge warned that the state has been considering almost 130 unfunded mandates to pass along to Illinois municipalities.

Locals Do Well At Joliet Livestock Judging

A great day Thursday at the Joliet Junior College Livestock Judging Contest! The team placed 2nd overall! With Gage Kennard coming in as 2nd overall high individual placing 5th in sheep and goats, 4th in swine, and 2nd in questions.

Our team got high team in sheep and goats, 3rd in swine, and 2nd in questions.

Great day for the team and we are super proud of them!

Pedestrian Killed In Clark County Crash

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT  

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by

Illinois State Police District 12 

  WHAT:                      Pedestrian Fatal Traffic Crash           

  WHERE:                   North Cline Orchard Road just south of East 1400th Road, Martinsville, Clark County

 WHEN:                      April 12, 2022 at approximately 8:17 p.m.

 VEHICLE:                Unit 2 – 2018 White Ford Explorer

 DRIVER:                   Unit 2 – Megan R. Bennett, a 28-year-old female from Marshall, IL.

 PASSENGER:           A 2-year-old female from Marshall, IL.

 PEDESTRIAN:         A 49-year-old female from Indiana – Deceased                

PRELIMINARY:      A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 2 was traveling north on North Cline Orchard Road, just south of East 1400th Road, near Martinsville, IL., Clark County. Unit 2 struck a pedestrian that was walking in the roadway.  The pedestrian was pronounced deceased on scene by the Clark County Coroner. The name is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.  The driver and passenger of Unit 2 reported no injuries.  The crash is still under investigation and no further information is available. 

Mt. Carmel Woman Arrested After Chestnut Street Incident

On 4/12/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Heather M. Hall, age 36, of Mt. Carmel, for Criminal Trespass to Residence following a complaint from a homeowner in the 500 block of Chestnut Street. The homeowner reported Hall entering his home just after 4:30am on this date without permission. One of the other residents in the home observed Hall leading to Hall exiting the home prior to police arrival. After further investigation, officers learned Hall believed she was entering the home of a friend. Hall was transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was charged and held pending a bond setting by a judge.

File Photo

Two Mt. Carmel Women Arrested For Domestic Battery

On 4/12/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Brittny M. Byrns, age 34, and Alissa D. Wheeler, age 22, both of Mt. Carmel, for Domestic Battery.  Officers were called to a residence in the 400 block of West 2nd Steet to a report of the two females verbally arguing.  Upon arrival, officers found evidence to indicate both individuals were in a relationship and that both had battered each other during their argument.  Byrns was transported to the Wabash County Jail while Wheeler was later transported to a local hospital for treatment of a facial injury leading to her release on a Notice to Appear in court.  Byrns is on Mandatory Supervised Release from the Illinois Dept. of Corrections who later placed a hold on Byrns’ release.   

Brittny M. Byrns, age 34

Incident Leads To Drug Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Man

On 4/13/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Johnathan L. Schrodt, age 36, of Mt. Carmel, for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia following an incident in the 1100 block of North Market St.  Officers were called to the area due to a residential homeowner finding Schrodt in his garage.  Officers detained Schrodt pending an investigation into the complaint at which time they located suspected methamphetamine and assorted drug paraphernalia.  Schrodt was placed under arrest for the drug offenses.  The homeowner noticed several items in the garage moved around but nothing stolen so he declined to pursue charges.  Schrodt was taken to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending a bond setting by a judge.  MCPD was assisted by the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office.