Cost Of Senior Center Meals Going Up June 1st

Starting June 1st, it’ll cost more to eat lunch at the WC Cafeteria and Senior Center. At this week’s Mt. Carmel City Council meeting, commissioner over the senior center Eric Ikemire said the time was now for an increase… 

Beginning next month, meals for those 60 and older will go up a dollar to $5.25; those under 60 will pay $8, an increase of $1.75. Home delivery meals will go up to $6 each. City Clerk Ryan Turner said an average of 78 people a day eat at the senior center while 200 more receive home delivered meals. And that number looks to be going down as officials said deliveries are meant for home bound residents, but has turned into a straight meal delivery service. Delivery will return to be only for home bound individuals. 

Illinois State Police Announces April Activity and Enforcement

Illinois State Police District 19 Commander, Captain Nathan Douglas, announced today activity and enforcement figures for the month of April. Troopers in District 19, which includes Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, White, Hamilton, Saline, and Gallatin Counties, recorded 1,265 incidents during the month.

Enforcement activity consisted of 470 citations and 1,144 written warnings, including 175 speeding citations, 61 occupant restraint citations, 27 distracted driving citations, 26 criminal arrests, and 405 written warnings for speeding. Troopers also assisted 53 motorists, conducted 96 Motor Carrier Safety Inspections, and investigated 25 traffic crashes. There was one fatal traffic crash investigated by District 19 during April, resulting in one fatality.

Moreover, District 19 issued 266 citations and 558 written warnings for “Fatal Four” violations. These violations are most associated with fatal traffic crashes and include DUI, Speeding, Failure to Wear a Seatbelt, and Distracted Driving.

Farm Bureau Pushes For Solar Farm Ordinance

Before details of a 5,000 acre solar farm in rural Wabash County were unveiled Monday, Wabash County Farm Bureau manager Carol Jo Beadles asked county commissioners to consider an ordinance that would place regulations on solar farm development. She said an ordinance would place safeguards in many areas…

R3 Renewables CEO John Jones told commissioners his company was open to the ordinance and planned to be good community partners as they look to reclaim property at the former Friendsville mine. Commissioners said they will work with State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman in drafting and possibly adopting a solar farm ordinance. Jones said it’s hoped the solar farm would be operational sometime in 2024.

Mt. Carmel Woman Going To Prison On 2018 Meth Charge

Kelli Storckman, Wabash County State’s Attorney, reports that Shannon N. Fisher, a 30-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 April 20, 2018 with Possession of Methamphetamine, a Class 3 Felony. After being Unsuccessfully Discharged from Drug Court on March 15, 2022, Ms. Fisher was sentenced on May 3, 2022, to 3 years in the Department of Corrections, to be followed by 12 months of mandatory supervised release (parole).

FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF OFFENSE:

That on the 17th day of October, 2017, in Wabash County, Illinois the Defendant, SHANNON N. FISHER, committed the offense of POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE, in that said Defendant knowingly and unlawfully had in her possession less than 5 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine, other than as authorized in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, in violation of 720 ILCS 646/60(a). A CLASS 3 FELONY

This Statement of Facts is respectfully submitted in accordance with 730 ILCS 5/5-4-1(d), this 4th day of May, 2022.

Firm Looking To Build 5,000 Acre Solar Farm In Wabash County

Plans to build a 5,000-acre solar farm in Wabash County were unveiled at Monday’s County Commissioner meeting. John Jones, CEO of R3 Renewables, briefed the board the R3 Renewables is locating solar farm on previously mined coal properties such as the Friendsville Mine. According to Jones, R3 representatives have already been reaching out to landowners seeking leases for the solar farm. He said the project will be a first-class operation… 

Jones said the Wabash County solar farm is one of two R3 is developing in Illinois with the other being in the Metro East area. There are four projects currently being developed on former coal mining property in Indiana. Jones said the goal of the development is simple.. 

And, Jones said in addition to new jobs, the financial benefits to Wabash County can be massive… 

Mt. Carmel Man Arrested For Aggravated Assault After Calling Police For Assistance

On 5/2/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Louis M. Edlund, age 38, of Mt. Carmel, for Aggravated Assault following an incident in the 700 block of Chestnut Street. Officers were called to the area to assist a male subject who requested police assistance. Upon arrival, police found a highly intoxicated Louis Edlund seated on the pavement drinking a beer. Edlund stated he needed assistance dealing with a personal issue but immediately became aggressive toward officers when they attempted to help. Edlund finally elected to go to the Wabash General Hospital in an attempt to offer him treatment, but he immediately began threatening officers and emergency room staff. Edlund was placed under arrest at this time for Aggravated Assault and transported to the Wabash County Jail. Edlund continued to threaten law enforcement during transport but was eventually secured inside the jail with the assistance of the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office. Edlund was held pending a bond setting by a judge.

WSJD File Photo May 2021

City Purchasing Arts Center Buildings For $15,000

The Mt. Carmel City Council has approved buying the Little Egypt Arts Center at 500 and 502 Market Street from John Clancy for $15,000. The move at the council’s regular meeting this evening brings an end to a sometimes contentious battle with Clancy over the state of the buildings portions of which have been deemed unsafe. In addition to the $15,000 purchase price, the city will pay all closing costs, property taxes and associated fee. Mayor Joe Judge said the city plans to demolish the 502 Market Street portion of the Arts Center. As for the 500 Market Street building, Judge said the city will work to renovate the structure into a retail location. He said the city will be working with a local developer to accomplish the renovation. Clancy was in attendance at the meeting and accepted the proposal thanking the council for working with him on the property.

WSJD 2020 File Photo

Keensburg Woman Arrested After Impeding Traffic Three Times

On 04/29/22 the Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to the area of 6430 1st. in Keensburg, to a reported pedestrian impeding traffic. The deputy made contact with 37 year old April L. Swanson of Keensburg and asked her and her dog not to block traffic. Swanson advised she understood and left the roadway and went back to her residence. The deputy received a similar call a little later and once again made contact with Swanson, giving her a final warning of the consequences of blocking traffic. Once again Swanson removed herself from the roadway. 

 The Sheriff's Office received a third call about Swanson being in the roadway again and was taken into custody without incident. April L. Swanson was charged with disorderly conduct and taken to the Wabash County Jail where she is being held pending the posting of bond. 

Food Crew Heads To Dawson Springs This Week

Volunteers from Wabash County and Wabash Valley Service Company are in Dawson Springs, Kentucky this week serving lunch to residents of the tornado ravaged town. The effort is being headed up by Wabash Valley Service’s Mike Wilson…

Wilson said this week’s menu will be varied…

Wilson said the volunteers will make the two hour commute to Dawson Springs each  day. Dawson Springs was the hardest hit from the December 10th tornado devastation as 13 people lost their lives there and 75% of the town was wiped out. And even though many of the volunteers have left, officials say the need remains great almost 5 months later.

Buckle Up; State Police Conducting Seat Belt Blitz This Month

Illinois State Police (ISP) District 19 Commander, Captain Nathan Douglas, announces the ISP will conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) in Wabash, Edwards, and White Counties during May. OREPs allow the ISP to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws. Illinois law requires all vehicle passengers (front and back) to be buckled up.

Safety belts are still one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles, estimated to save nearly 14,000 lives each year. Half of vehicle occupants killed in a traffic crash were not properly buckled up. The objective of this program is to increase occupant restraint compliance through education, child seat inspections, and enforcement.