IDEM issues statewide Air Quality Action Day for Tuesday

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) and is forecasting high ozone levels for tomorrow, June 14, 2022 in the following regions:

• Central Indiana – Marion, Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Delaware, Hamilton, Hendricks, Howard, Madison, Shelby

• North Central Indiana – St. Joseph, Elkhart

• Northeast Indiana – Allen, Huntington, Wabash

• Northwest Indiana – Lake, Porter, LaPorte

• Southeast Indiana – Clark, Floyd

• Southwest Indiana – Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Warrick

• West Central Indiana – Vigo, Carroll, Tippecanoe

IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone by making changes to daily habits. You can:

• Drive less: carpool, use public transportation, walk, bike, or work from home when possible

• Combine errands into one trip

• Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.

• Keep your engine tuned, and don’t let your engine idle (e.g., at a bank or restaurant drive-thru)

• Conserve energy by turning off lights and setting the thermostat to 75 degrees or above

AQADs are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on the specified date. Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.

Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather combine with vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties for sensitive populations. 

IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. AQADs generally occur when weather conditions, such as light winds, hot and dry air, stagnant conditions, and lower atmospheric inversions, trap pollutants close to the ground.

INDOT to hold public hearing for US 41 pedestrian bridge

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing for a proposed pedestrian bridge over US 41 in Evansville on June 29th at Bosse High School.

What: Public Hearing

Where: Benjamin Bosse High School, 1300 Washington Avenue, Evansville, In 47714

When: Doors open at 4:30 pm (CDT) and formal presentations begin at 6:00 pm (CDT)

The public will have a chance to view project displays and speak with project representatives before formal presentations begin. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide comments on the project.

An open house on a proposed intersection improvement at US 41 and Washington avenue will be held in conjunction at the school. Attendees will have the chance to view project displays and talk with representatives for this project. However, no formal presentation is planned.

This public hearing will include appropriate COVID-19 safety measures. Masks and sanitation stations will be made available for attendees.

To accommodate those unable to attend in person, the public hearing presentation and comment session will also be broadcast live on the INDOT Southwest Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/INDOTVincennesDistrict/.

Excessive Heat Warning Until 8pm Wednesday; Sr Center Open As Cooling Center

At 10;30am Monday, the temperature in Mt. Carmel stood at 87 with a heat index of 99.

This week could see our hottest stretch of weather in the last 10 years. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory through 8:00 Wednesday night as actual temperatures are expected to be right around 100 the next three days. It’s been since July of 2012 that the Tri-State has hit the century mark. Combined with the humidity, heat indices will be 110 today and tomorrow and 105 on Wednesday. Forecasters say there will be little relief from the heat at night with low temperatures forecast to stay around 80 degrees. The effects of heat stress can increase with prolonged exposure can increase with prolonged exposure over consecutive days.

Mayor Joe Judge said the WC Senior Center will be open this week between 9 and 3 acting as a cooling center. Officials advise you to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. You need to take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.

Council To Decide Future Direction Of City Pool After State Rejects Grant App

One place to cool off this week is the Mt. Carmel City Pool and the city council may decide this evening to move forward with renovations to the aging facility. On Friday’s “Ask The Mayor” segment on WSJD, Joe Judge said the state has rejected the city’s attempt to acquire a grant to cover the majority of the costs of the renovations. According to Judge, the city’s application was in the top 50 of the proposed projects, but the state approved only 36 of the applications. Now, the city council will be asked this evening to approve a full renovation of the pool, including a splash park. Judge said the time is now for the council to quit kicking the can down the road and putting off long overdue upgrades to the city pool. The city council meeting starts at 5 at City Hall.

County Commissioners Make Various Appointments

At their regular meeting this past Monday, Wabash County Commissioners made a variety of appointments and reappointments to local boards. Among them, Dr. Bryce Miller and Theresa Marcotte were reappointed to three-year terms on the Wabash County Board of Health; Colleen White was reappointed to a three year term on the 377 Board for the care and treatment of the developmentally disabled. D’Ella Majors and Tim Majors were appointed to three-year terms on the Hallock Cemetery Board; and Cory Nolan was appointed to a 5 year term on the Wabash County Museum District. All new terms begin on July 1st. 

Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday June 13, 2022 at 5:00 pm

·         Call to Order

o   Pledge of Allegiance

o   Roll Call

·         Approve Minutes

o   Minutes of meeting held 5/31/2022

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

o   Special Liquor request by Eagles

·         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   Consent Agenda

o   Removal of items from the Consent Agenda

o   Consideration of Consent Agenda

§  Pay all bills bearing proper signature

§  Rescind Ordinance 439-Vacate Emergency Services and Disaster Agency

o   Consideration of items removed from the Consent Agenda

·         Executive Session  

·         Motion to Adjourn

State Officials Remind Residents to Use Caution When Recreating in Illinois Waters and Be Aware of Harmful Algal Blooms

SPRINGFIELD – As temperatures begin to rise, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) and Illinois Department of Public Health (Illinois DPH) are reminding recreators to use caution in Illinois waterways this summer when harmful algal (cyanobacteria) blooms are possible. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are microscopic organisms that naturally occur in lakes, streams, and ponds. Rapid and expansive growth of cyanobacteria is referred to as a “bloom.” While most blooms are harmless, some produce toxic chemicals that can cause sickness or other health effects in exposed people and pets.

When a bloom producing toxins has been confirmed, local officials are advised to post appropriate signage to warn residents to avoid contact with affected waters. However, not all blooms are reported to state officials. Therefore, residents are advised to avoid contact with water that:

• looks like spilled, green or blue-green paint;

• has surface scums, mats, or films;

• has a blue or green crust at the shoreline;

• is discolored or has green-colored streaks; or

• has greenish globs suspended in the water below the surface.

Residents or local officials who suspect a cyanobacteria bloom may report the bloom to the Illinois EPA, which recently released a new Bloom Report Form Application accessible on computer or phone. The App and other reporting methods are available on the Illinois EPA website at https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/water-quality/monitoring/algalbloom/Pages/reporting.aspx.

Young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk to adverse health effects attributable to algal toxins. Individuals are most often exposed to algal toxins while swimming or participating in other recreational activities in and on the water. The most common routes of exposure are direct skin contact, ingestion of contaminated water, or inhalation of water droplets in the air (e.g., while water skiing or tubing). Symptoms of exposure to algal toxins include rashes, hives, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, or wheezing. More severe symptoms may result from longer or greater amounts of exposure. If you are concerned you have symptoms that are a result of exposure to algal toxins, contact your health care provider or call the Illinois Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Residents are also advised to keep pets out of water that may contain cyanobacteria. Do not allow pets to drink from the water or lick their fur after swimming in water containing a cyanobacteria bloom. Residents and pets that have contact with cyanobacteria should rinse with clean water as soon as possible. If pets experience symptoms that may be the result of exposure, contact a veterinarian immediately.

Activities near, but not in or on, a lake or river such as camping, picnicking, biking, and hiking are not affected. With all activities, wash your hands with soap and water before eating if you have had contact with lake water or shore debris.

Woof - it's Pet Preparedness Month

SPRINGFIELD -June is Pet Preparedness Month, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) wants you to learn about the potential difficulties you and your pets face in an emergency. "A pet is an important part of your family and it's equally important to include your pet in emergency plans," said IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau.

"If you have to evacuate, the single most important thing to you can do to protect your pets is to take them with you," said Tate-Nadeau. "Don't wait until the last minute to get ready. If a disaster is imminent, bring your pets into the home and confine them so you can move quickly."

More pet preparedness tips:

• Have an evacuation plan for your pet

• Create a pet preparedness kit with medications, non-perishable food, water, bowls, cat litter and pan, waste bags, a blanket, bedding for pocket/exotic pets, toys, first aid kit, current photos of you and your pets, and copies of medical records

• Have up-to-date identification on your pet

• Choose a safe place ahead of time if you need to evacuate

• If you must shelter-in-place, identify a safe area of your home where all can stay together - keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers

• Coordinate with a trusted friend, relative, or neighbor to take care of pets and their disaster kits, then meet you a specific location

• Don't allow pets to roam loose in a damaged home or neighborhood

Many shelters or other emergency centers do not allow pets because of health and safety concerns, so it is critical that you plan ahead for your pets' care.

More tips on pet preparedness information can be found here:

https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/plan/Pages/Animals.aspx

WGH Getting Important Feedback From Advisory Council

Wabash General Hospital officials are always looking for ways to improve and one of the ways to make that happen is the 2020 formation of the Patient Family Advisory Council or PFAC. At the recent hospital board of directors meeting, Danielle Stevens outlined the benefits of the quarterly meetings of the council whose members have no prior affiliation with the hospital. WGH President/CEO Karissa Turner said feedback from the PFAC assists the hospital in its’ grant writing process…  

Stevens said the PFAC is a diverse make up of the WGH service area coming from a variety of income, gender, age and other factors.  

Patton Woman Arrested On FTA Warrant

On 06.08.22 the Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to a request for a deputy at 17885 Highway 1 in Patton. Once on scene Thomas Graves explained to the deputy that someone had moved telephone poles on his property from one location to another. Mr. Graves wife came out and said there was no need for the police since she had moved them. Mr. Graves went on to tell the Deputy how much he disliked the police and how they were out to get him. A records check indicated that Mrs. Graves had an active failure to appear warrant out of Wabash County. Mrs. Scherisa K. Graves, 63 years old, of Patton was taken into custody and transported to the Wabash County Jail. As of report time she was being held on a $200 cash bond.