Las Vegas Man Injured In I-70 Crash

ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12

WHAT:                      Single Vehicle Personal Injury Traffic Crash

WHERE:                   Interstate 70 eastbound at milepost 100, Effingham County

WHEN:                      June 29, 2022 at approximately 6:59 a.m.

VEHICLE:                Unit 1- 2016 Blue Nissan Sentra

           

DRIVER:                    Unit 1- Ezekiel L. Thompkins, 20-year-old male from Las Vegas, NM – Transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

                                   

PRELIMINARY:      A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling westbound on Interstate 70 near milepost 100 in Effingham County. For unknown reasons, Unit 1 driver left the roadway, crossed the center median, crossed the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70, and came to final rest against a tree line along the interstate.

 

CHARGES:               The driver of Unit 1 was issued a citation for Improper Lane Usage and Suspended Registration.

Removal of bridge to close Illinois 1 in Mount Carmel Delayed Again

EFFINGHAM – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that Illinois 1 between 11th and 12th streets in Mount Carmel will close for the removal of the bridge over an abandoned railroad on Thursday, July 7th.

The existing bridge has concluded its life cycle. Rather than building a new bridge, it is more cost-efficient to replace the existing bridge with a road. Benefits include a long-term cost savings and less time for Illinois 1 to be closed. A detour will be posted utilizing North Market Street/College Drive and 1550th Boulevard. Work is expected to be complete by mid-August.

Only local traffic will be permitted on Illinois 1 between North Market Street and 1550th Boulevard during the road closure. Motorists are encouraged to follow the posted detour and should allow for extra travel time. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.

Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,500 miles of highway and 9 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Two included approximately $5.2 billion of improvements statewide on 3,020 miles of highway, 270 bridges and 428 additional safety improvements.

April File Photo

Treasurer Candidate Withdraws Meaning No Wabash County Contested Races In November

There will not be any locally contested races in Wabash County this November after all. Wabash County treasurer Beverly McBride is retiring, and two candidates had filed to run in today’s primary, but one of the candidates withdrew before voters went to the polls. Amy Conrad had filed to run for county treasurer, but recently withdrew her candidacy meaning Republican Angela Broster has a clear path to succeed McBride as treasurer.

Other takeaways from yesterday’s primary in Wabash County, local Republican voters went overwhelmingly for State Senator Darren Bailey with almost 92% of the Wabash County ballots cast.

Voter turnout in Wabash County was 23.3% with the vast majority of the ballots cast being Republican. Almost 87% of the voters today in Wabash County chose a Republican ballot. There are a total of 7,484 registered voters in Wabash County, with 1,747 voting in today’s primary.

So come November, these Wabash County officeholders will be unopposed…Sheriff Derek Morgan, county commissioner Rob Dean, and the lone democrat Janet Will as county clerk. Broster flips the treasurer’s office from the democratic side to the Republican side.

After his opponents conceded last night, a confident Bailey told supporters he will win in November….

Corn Day Set For Sunday In Mt. Carmel

The first Rotary Corn Day was held in 1965 and this fund raising event has been held every year since, making it one of the longest continuous community events in Wabash County.

This year Rotary Corn Day will be held on Sunday, July 3. Serving begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 1:00 p.m. at the Mabel Courter Youth Center. This year we'll have a combination drive through and take out. Cars will enter at the main gate, be given their meal in a take out container as we've done the past 2 years because of Covid. However, this year people will have options to go the Anderson Building to eat their meals or to take their meals home. Tables will be set up in the Anderson Building and drinks available, as well as more corn.

Advance tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for children under 7 years of age. On the day of the event tickets will be $15 for adults and $7 for children under 7 years old. Corn Day tickets may be purchased from any Rotarian or at the First Mid Bank or the First National Bank. Proceeds from Rotary Corn Day are used to fund community projects and select international humanitarian Rotary efforts such as abolishing Polio in the world.

2021: John Evans serves up hot corn at last year’s Corn Day.

Final Class A Liquor License Issued In Mt. Carmel

Acting as the city’s liquor control commissioner, Mayor Joe Judge approved two requests on Monday. The first request was from the Eagles to host a beer garden at Merchants Park during this Friday and Saturday night’s Fantastic Fourth concerts at Merchants Park.

 The second approval was for a Class A liquor license for Rockstar Ventures, LLC which is based in Lawrenceville where they currently operate a video gaming business. Judge said Rockstar Ventures has bought the building at 516 Market Street that formerly housed the Southeastern Illinois Area Agency On Aging. City officials pointed out that the new license for Rockstar is the final Class A license available in Mt. Carmel. Class A licensees are able to serve all types of liquor.

Rockstar Gaming’s Lawrenceville location is located a mile west of Walmart on Cherry Blvd.

516 Market Street

IDEM issues Air Quality Action Day tomorrow for three Indiana regions

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 29, 2022, in the following regions:

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

  • Southeast Indiana – Clark, Floyd

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

Note: The counties referenced in the region(s) above are equipped with ozone air quality monitors. However, all counties within an AQAD region should heed the forecast. Air quality information for all Indiana counties can be found at SmogWatch.IN.gov. 

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

Air Quality Action Days 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. Air Quality Action Days 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.

Mt. Carmel Woman Faces Retail Theft Charge

On 6/24/2022, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Ashley N. Goodrich, age 38, of Mt. Carmel, for Retail Theft, after police were called to the Dollar General Store on W 9th Steet.  Officers reviewed available video surveillance and found that Goodrich utilized the self-checkout, made a few small purchases, and then exited the store without paying for the numerous other items still in the shopping cart.  Goodrich was located at her residence in the 800 block of Chestnut and charged with the above offense.  DG staff estimated approximately $50 worth of unpurchased items left the store.  Goodrich was released on a Notice to Appear in court. 

Mt. Carmel Man Jailed On Animal Cruelty Charge

On 6/25/2022, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Tyler C. Roosevelt, age 19, for Cruel Treatment of an Animal, following an investigation into an incident in the 400 block of W 5th Street.  Police were called to the scene regarding a complaint about Roosevelt striking a black and tan bloodhound type dog in the head while pulling its back neck skin to escort it back to his apartment.  Once the officer reviewed the available video footage Roosevelt was located and placed under arrest.  Roosevelt was taken to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending the posting of bond. 

2021 File Photo