Lane Restrictions Scheduled for SR 64 For Paving Near Oakland City

GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane restrictions for State Road 64 for paving operations.

Beginning on or around Tuesday, April 26, contractors will restrict S.R. 64 to one lane while crews mill and pave from the east side of Francisco to the intersection of S.R. 57 in Oakland City. This operation is included in the reconstruction of S.R. 64 already under way in Francisco. Workers will mill down the top layer of pavement and replace it with new asphalt.

During this project traffic will be controlled by flagging operations. The restriction will include a lane width of 12-feet. Wider loads should seek an alternate route using the nearest numbered state, U.S. or Interstate Routes.

This phase of the project is expected to last until the end of June, depending upon weather conditions.

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

Allendale School Board Notes

At the April 2022 Allendale School Board meeting held in the Library of Allendale School, the board:

Authorized Superintendent Bowser to prepare a tentative 2022-2023 School Budget.

Set school fees for the 2022-2023 school year.

Approved the following end of year dates: 8th Grade Promotion on Monday, May 23; Teacher Institute on Tuesday, May 24; Awards Day on Wednesday, May 25; Last School Day on Wednesday, May 25.

Approved the hiring of Carly Jester as Cheer Coach for 2022-2023

Mt. Carmel Man Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison On Vehicle Burglary Charges

Kelli Storckman, Wabash County State’s Attorney, reports that David R. Harms, a 34-year old Mt. Carmel, Illinois 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 July 24, 2021, with 2 counts of Burglary, A Class 3 Felony. Mr. Harms was sentenced to 4 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, to be followed by 12 months of mandatory supervised release (parole) on each count. Sentence to run consecutively.

FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF OFFENSE:

COUNT I BURGLARY

That on or about July 24, 2021 or July 25, 2021, in Wabash County, Illinois, the Defendant, DAVID RYAN HARMS, committed the offense of BURGLARY, in that said Defendant, without authority, knowingly entered a vehicle owned by XXXXXXXX, being a Red Dodge Journey, with the intent to commit therein a theft, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/19-1(a). A CLASS 3 FELONY

COUNT II BURGLARY

That on or about July 24, 2021 or July 25, 2021, in Wabash County, Illinois, the Defendant, DAVID RYAN HARMS, committed the offense of BURGLARY, in that said Defendant, without authority, knowingly entered a vehicle owned by XXXXXXX and XXXXXXXX, being a Silver Chevrolet Blazer with the intent to commit therein a theft, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/19-1(a). A CLASS 3 FELONY

Original Release From Mt. Carmel Police Department posted on wsjd.fm 7/26/21:

On 7/25/21, Mt. Carmel Police arrested David Ryan Harms, age 33, of Mt. Carmel, for Burglary to Motor Vehicle, following police reports of over 50 vehicles being burglarized throughout 7/24-7/25/2021 in various locations around Mt. Carmel. During the investigation, officers learned of information implicating Harms in the crimes. Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman and officers from the Mt. Carmel Police Department completed a search warrant for a residence in the 400 block of Cedar Street. The search warrant was granted by Wabash County Circuit Judge William Hudson. Officers served the search warrant at this time, where numerous items that had been reported stolen were located. Mr. Harms was also located at the home. Harms was taken into custody and transported to the Wabash County Jail, where he is held pending a bond setting by a judge. Harms is also on parole status with the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Wabash County Jail mug shot from 2019

IECC Board Approves Resurfacing WVC Gym

The Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting on Tuesday night, April 19th at Frontier Community College, Fairfield, Illinois.  All trustees were in attendance, including John Brooks, Roger Browning, Gary Carter, Brenda Culver, Jan Ridgely, Barbara Shimer, Brady Waldrop, and student trustee Raechel Hnetkovsky.

Raechel Hnetkovsky was seated as the student trustee.    Ms. Hnetkovsky is a student at Frontier Community College.  She thanked the Board for the opportunity to represent the students of the Illinois Eastern District.

Trustees approved a new policy concerning COVID 19 leave and made revisions to the policy that addresses students who repeat courses at IECC.

Affiliation agreements were approved with Robinson Rehab & Nursing, Horizon Health Community Hospital, and Horizon Health at Fox River.

An increase in the truck driving program fee was approved to reflect the current cost of operating a semi-truck.  Changes were also approved to the list of specific programs that are assessed a Student Professional Liability Fee.  

In other action Tuesday evening, the board awarded a bid to D & R Bennett, Incorporated for resurfacing of the Wabash Valley College gymnasium. 

The Board approved employment for Ken Anderson as CETL Instructional Designer for the District Office, effective April 25, 2022;  Alexandre Morais as Men & Women’s Soccer Coach at  LTC, effective June 1, 2022;  James Glash as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at OCC, effective April 25, 2022; Curtis Miller as College Admission Representative located at OCC,  effective May 11, 2022;  Jandi Cravens as Office Assistant at LTC, effective April 25, 2022; Billy Fornwalt as Truck Driving Instructor for WVC, effective May 16, 2022.

The Board accepted resignations from Sheri Gray as Director of Instructional Services at OCC, effective August 1, 2022; Taylor Held as  TRIO Upward Bound Counselor located at OCC, effective April 5, 2022;  Amy Hohlbaugh as Student Services Specialist located at FCC, effective May 13, 2022; Lucas Harms as Custodian at WVC, effective March 29, 2022; Terry Chrtt as Information Systems Technician at FCC, effective May 14, 2022.

                       The Board accepted a retirement from Sandra Craig as Director of the Learning Resource Center at WVC, effective August 1, 2022.

Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. at Lincoln Trail College, Robinson.

Allendale Students Enjoy Musical Assembly

Allendale School would like to thank Dennis Stroughmatt and Doug Hawf for providing a musical assembly today for our K-8 students and faculty/staff. They did an outstanding job of bringing Creole and Cajun music to Allendale School and enriching our educational knowledge. We would also like to thank the Wabash Valley Arts Council out of Mt. Carmel for sponsoring this assembly. It was an outstanding show!

A Visit To MCPD Earns Mt. Carmel Man A Jail Stay

On 4/19/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Dakota G. Clem, age 20, of Mt. Carmel, on a Madison County Illinois Warrant for Failure to Appear on a charge of Impersonating a Police Officer. Clem came to the Mt. Carmel Police Department on an unrelated matter when it was learned Clem was wanted. Clem was taken to the Wabash County Jail where he is being held with no bond pending extradition back to Madison County.

Wabash Community Health Center Launching New Telepsychiatry Program

Wabash Community Health Center and Array Behavioral Care are pleased to announce a new partnership to increase access to behavioral health care for the residents of southern Illinois. This new program ensures individuals in these communities have access to timely, quality psychiatric care. Through this service, patients can connect with experienced and licensed telepsychiatry clinicians skilled at diagnosing and treating depression, autism, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia. 

“The entire Wabash Community Health Center team works hard to provide the best possible health outcomes for the patients we serve,” said Cathy Ruth, Program Director of Wabash Community Health Center. “Mental health is a vital part of individual health and wellbeing, and we believe that telepsychiatry can help patients get the care that they need. There’s a great need for mental health services in our area, and we’re proud to improve access to care as we meet the health needs of the communities we serve. That’s why we’re excited to offer this new innovative service through our partnership with Array.”

As one of the earliest advocates of telepsychiatry more than 20 years ago, Array has advocated for updated policy and regulations that increase access to telepsychiatry in homes, hospitals, and primary care offices for patients and clinicians. Telepsychiatry is mental and behavioral health care delivered using real-time videoconferencing in a secure, private place. Research shows that the quality of care is maintained through telepsychiatry and has been found to be as effective as in-person care. Array’s telepsychiatry clinicians are licensed specialists and trained in providing quality care through technology. 

Wabash Community Health Center is a federally qualified health center located at The Depot in Mount Carmel, Illinois.  The onsite care team will connect seamlessly with Array’s s on-demand psychiatrist and psychiatric nurse practitioner. This virtual integration will enable Wabash Community Health Center clinicians and staff to work with a remote psychiatric specialist to conduct remote psychiatric consultations, prescribe medication, and deliver peer-to-peer consults resource to support strained and overextended in-person staff.

Telepsychiatry is a safe and effective way to meet the escalating need for behavioral care, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide shortage of mental health professionals. There is a significant scarcity of mental health professionals throughout Illinois, causing many residents to not receive the treatment they need. According to research by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, only 24 percent of the need for mental health services is being met in Illinois. In Wabash County specifically, the ratio of population to mental health providers is 340:1.

“Wabash Community Health Center serves as a critical healthcare provider in southern Illinois and Array is pleased to partner with them to offer telepsychiatry services to the vital portion of the population who seek care with them,” said Jennifer Comerford, Vice President of Scheduled Care at Array. “Telepsychiatry is a great solution, in states and communities across the country where there is significant mental health need and a shortage of trained professionals.” 

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About Array

Array Behavioral Care is the nation’s leading clinician-centric virtual psychiatry and therapy practice with a mission to transform access to quality, timely behavioral health care. Array offers telepsychiatry solutions and services across the continuum of care, from hospital to home, through its OnDemand, Scheduled and AtHome divisions. For more than 20 years, Array has partnered with hundreds of hospitals and health systems, community health care organizations and payers of all sizes to expand access to care and improve outcomes for underserved individuals, facilities and communities. As an industry pioneer and established thought leader, Array has helped shape the field, define the standard of care and advocate for improved telepsychiatry-friendly regulations. To learn more, visit www.arraybc.com.

 

About Wabash Community Health Center

Wabash Community Health Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality, affordable health care to all members of our community - which means we treat patients regardless of their ability to pay for services.

Our health center provides primary care and behavioral health services and is located in Mt. Carmel, Illinois at 1001 N. Market Street. The Wabash Community Health Center received Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) look-alike status by Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). Federally Qualified Health Centers are community-based health care providers that receive funds from the HRSA Health Center Program to provider primary care services in underserved areas.