New Federal Grant Program Could Result In Mt. Carmel Overpass

Mayor Joe Judge seems to be cautiously optimistic that a new federal program may result in a railroad overpass being built in Mt. Carmel. At this week’s city council meeting, Judge said the US Department of Transportation has opened a railroad crossing elimination grant program which is a part of the bipartisan infrastructure law. The purpose of the grant program is to fund highway-rail grade crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods. Judge said preliminary discussions have already taken place on the city submitting a grant ahead of the October 5th deadline….

One obstacle to Mt. Carmel receiving a grant is that talks are underway to replace the Wabash River Bridge on I-64 near Grayville. That would divert resources to that project and away from a possible overpass here. The need for an overpass here was amplified last month after a train derailment snarled traffic for hours.

Drug Investigation Leads to Five Arrests In Gibson County

Gibson County – A recent drug investigation by Indiana State Police led to the execution of a search warrant for a residence located at 327 West Broadway Street in Princeton. At approximately 12:30 this morning, Indiana State Police, Princeton Police, and Gibson County Sheriff’s Office executed the search warrant and located five people at the residence. During a search, officers found a small amount of meth, marijuana, anti-depressant pills, which is a Schedule IV controlled substance, a digital scale, small baggies, and other drug paraphernalia.  The investigation also revealed Janice Mustain, 62, was selling meth from the residence. All five subjects were arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail where they are facing various drug offenses.  

Arrested and Charges:

• Anthony Hayes, 65, 327 West Broadway, Princeton, IN

1. Possession of Meth, Level 6 Felony

2. Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony

• Janice Mustain, 62, 327 West Broadway, Princeton, IN

1. Dealing Meth between 1-5 grams, Level 4 Felony

2. Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony

3. Possession of Meth, Level 6 Felony

• Shirley Hayes, 67, Francisco, IN

1. Possession of Meth, Level 6 Felony

2. Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor

3. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, C Misdemeanor

4. Visiting a Common Nuisance, Class A Misdemeanor

• Cami Clegg, 55, Princeton, IN

1. Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor

2. Visiting a Common Nuisance, Class A Misdemeanor

• Robert Luttrell, 59, Princeton, IN

1. Possession of Meth, Level 6 Felony

2. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

3. Visiting a Common Nuisance, Class A Misdemeanor

Anthony Hayes, 65, 327 West Broadway, Princeton, IN

Possession of Meth, Level 6 Felony

Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony

Janice Mustain, 62, 327 West Broadway, Princeton, IN

Dealing Meth between 1-5 grams, Level 4 Felony

Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony

Possession of Meth, Level 6 Felony

Shirley Hayes, 67, Francisco, IN

Possession of Meth, Level 6 Felony

Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, C Misdemeanor

Visiting a Common Nuisance, Class A Misdemeanor

Cami Clegg, 55, Princeton, IN

Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor

Visiting a Common Nuisance, Class A Misdemeanor

Robert Luttrell, 59, Princeton, IN

Possession of Meth, Level 6 Felony

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Visiting a Common Nuisance, Class A Misdemeanor

Clancy's Latest Play Premieres This Week In Scotland

Mount Carmel resident and award-winning playwright John Clancy's latest play "Dylan" will premiere this week in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest theater festival.

Performed by Pip Utton and directed by David Calvitto, the one-man show depicts the imagined backstage encounter between the legendary singer and songwriter Bob Dylan and a hand-picked group of journalists, minutes before his final live performance.

"Everyone thinks they know Bob Dylan, he's been part of our lives for six decades, but this play shows another, more personal and surprising side." says Mr. Utton while rehearsing the show in London.

"Dylan" plays the Pleasance Courtyard from August 3rd through the 27th, Tuesdays off.

Mr. Clancy is the president of Little Pharaoh Enterprises, a locally-based arts consultancy firm and is the recipient of six Scotsman Fringe First awards for his previous work at the Festival.

Fingers crossed for lucky number seven.

Operation Share School Supply Program Registration Underway

Sign up for the Operation Share School Supply Program is currently underway for High School students in Wabash County. Families needing help with obtaining school supplies for MCHS students should call the Wabash County WADI office at 618-262-4151 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday to register. The last day to sign up is August 4th. Distribution will be August 10th.

Donations of school supplies, masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, gym shoes, or cash donations are greatly appreciated. They can be dropped off or mailed to WADI at 119 W. 12th Street in Mt. Carmel. Checks should be made out to WADI with “school supplies” on the memo line. 100% of donations go to the school supply program.

Operation Share is a joint effort of Wabash Area Development, Inc. and The Wabash County Ministerial Association.

Incident At McDonald's Lands Indiana Man In Jail

On 7/24/2022, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Kolton M. Galligan, age 23, of Carlisle, Indiana, for Unlawful Possession of Weapon by Felon and Unlawful Use of Registration following an incident at McDonalds. Police were called to the scene regarding Galligan making threats to an employee and that he had arrived on scene. Upon arrival, Galligan was leaving in his 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. Police stopped Galligan at 9th & Mulberry where they made contact. Officers found that the registration returned to a Chevy Impala not the Silverado, so he was placed under arrest. During this time, officers located firearm ammunition inside the vehicle. Galligan had a prior felony conviction thus prohibiting his possession of the ammo. Galligan was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged accordingly and held pending a bond setting by a judge. He made his initial in court this morning where he was advised of the charges and possible penalties. A preliminary hearing was set for August 22nd.

County Considers Impacts Of Justice Reform Law

Wabash County officials are starting to grapple with the effects of the Illinois criminal justice reform law that will go into effect January 1st.

At last Monday’s county board meeting, state’s attorney Kelli Storckman presented a request from state officials for Wabash County to provide office space for a pre-trial services officer. Sheriff Derek Morgan said there are many aspects of the reform law that will change the way suspects are handled after being arrested…

 Morgan said the role of the pre-trial services officer is unclear right now…

Storckman said the state told her there were no funds available to pay the county rent for any office space used by the pre-trial service officer. Since space currently in the courthouse isn’t available, she offered space in her office. In addition to the office space, the county would be expected to provide the officer with phone and internet access. Storckman also said, since the officer would be a state employee, she was reluctant to offer a non-county employee unfettered access to the courthouse on a 24/7 basis. County board chairman Tim Hocking told Storckman to gather more information on the request before commissioners would make a decision.

Allendale School Board Notes

At the July 2022 Allendale School Board meeting held in the library of Allendale School, the board:

● Accepted the bid from Prairie Farms to be the school’s milk product supplier for the 2022-2023 school year.

● Approved an increase for Support Staff salaries for the 2022-2023 school year.

● Approved to adopt the updated policies for the School Board Policy Manual. These are policies included in student handbook.

● Approved to discard obsolete/excess equipment.

● Approved to employ Terry Harper as School Auditor for FY22 school year.

● Approved the resignation of Alecia Winkles as Title 1 Paraprofessional.

● Approved Adam Buchanan as Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach for the 2022 season.

● Approved Jeremy Bray as Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach for the 2022 season.

● Approved Sarah Courter as Head Cross Country Coach for the 2022 season.

● Approved Elizabeth Irelan as After-School Tutor for 2022-2023 school year.

● Approved Mackenzie Thread as After-School Tutor for 2022-2023 school year.

● Approved Makayla Wall as Learning Loss/PreK Student Paraprofessional for the 2022-2023 school year.

● Approved the transfer of Talley Wyatt to Title 1 Paraprofessional for the 2022-2023 school year

County Commissioners Approve Ag Days Requests

This week, Wabash County Commissioners two requests to aid the upcoming Ag Days Festival in Mt. Carmel. The first was to approve a recommendation from the tourism committee to allocate $3,000 from the county’s hotel-motel tax fund to pay for advertising and entertainment at Ag Days. The second was to allow a cornhole tournament to be held on county owned lot uptown on the Saturday of  Ag Days which is set for August 3rd through 6th.

Veterans Invited To Edwards County Fair Tuesday Night

Edwards County Fair is hosting a Veterans Night at the Whippoorwill Rodeo on Tuesday Night July 26th at 7pm, Sponsored by Wabash General Hospital. Edwards County would like to extend this honor for their contribution to our Country and should be recognized every day. Thanks to Wabash General Hospital for sponsoring 100 tickets for Veterans to receive a free pass into the Rodeo. Tickets can be picked up on Monday July 25th and Tuesday July 26th at the Edward County Fair Office beginning at 8am. Handicap Parking and Seating is available.

Three Effingham County Residents Charged with Methamphetamine Offense

BENTON, Ill. – Kimberly J. Atkins, 45, of Effingham, Illinois, Tyler R. Schumacher, 36, of Altamont, Illinois, and Jennifer M. Hazlett, 34, of Altamont, Illinois, were each charged in a separate federal Indictment with methamphetamine related offenses on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.

Atkins was charged in a five-count indictment. Counts 1-4 charge that Atkins distributed methamphetamine on January 24, 2022, January 26, 2022 (two times), and March 9, 2022. Count 5 charges that on April 11, 2022, Atkins possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. All the crimes are alleged to have occurred in Effingham County, Illinois.

With respect to Atkins, Counts 1 and 5 each carry penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than 3 years. Counts 2-4 each carry penalties of a minimum of 5 years up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $4,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than 4 years.

Schumacher was charged in a two-count indictment. Count 1 charges that from about 2019, until on or about June 3, 2022, in Effingham County, within the Southern District of Illinois, Kentucky, and elsewhere, Schumacher conspired with others to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Count 2 charges that on February 22, 2022, in Effingham County, Schumacher possessed with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of methamphetamine.

With respect to Schumacher, count 1 carries penalties of a minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than 5 years. Count 2 carries penalties of a minimum of 5 years up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $4,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than 4 years.

Hazlett was charged in a two-count indictment. Count 1 charges that on March 23, 2022, in Effingham County, Hazlett distributed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Count 2 charges that on March 30, 3022, in Effingham County, Hazlett distributed more than 5 grams of methamphetamine.

With respect to Hazlett, count 1 carries penalties of a minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than 5 years. Count 2 carries penalties of a minimum of 5 years up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $4,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than 4 years.

An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, the defendant is presumed to be innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The investigation was conducted by the Effingham County Sheriff's Department, the Effingham City Police Department, and the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force. Assistance was also provided by the Effingham County State’s Attorney’s Office.