Tickborne Heartland Virus is Reported in Jackson County in Southern Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – An older person who resides in a rural area of Jackson County recently tested positive for Heartland Virus, the third reported case in Illinois since 2018, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced today. The first two Heartland virus cases in Illinois were reported in 2018 in Kankakee County and Williamson County. Likely spread by the Lone Star tick, more than 50 cases of Heartland virus disease have been reported in the Midwest and southern United States since 2009.

“As people continue to enjoy summer activities like hiking and camping, it is important to take precautions against ticks,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Remember to wear insect repellent when in tick habitats and check for ticks immediately afterwards.”

Heartland virus was first identified in 2009 when two Missouri farmers who had been bitten by ticks were admitted to a hospital. Almost all individuals with Heartland virus have been hospitalized.

Although most people infected have fully recovered, a few older individuals with medical comorbidities have died. There are no vaccines to prevent Heartland virus infections.

Signs and symptoms of infection are like those of other tickborne diseases and can include fever, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and diarrhea. Most people have reported becoming sick about two weeks after being bit by a tick. And while there is no treatment, doctors can treat some of the symptoms. If you have been bitten by a tick and think you may have Heartland virus or another tickborne illness, visit a health care provider. Other tickborne illnesses Illinois residents have been diagnosed with include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, and tularemia.

Ticks are commonly found on the tips of grasses and shrubs. Ticks crawl―they cannot fly or jump. The tick will wait in the grass or shrub for a person or animal to walk by and then quickly climb aboard. Some ticks will attach quickly, and others will wander, looking for places like the ear, or other areas where the skin is thinner.

The best way to prevent infection with Heartland virus or other tick-borne illnesses is to prevent tick bites. Simple tips to avoid tick bites include:

• Wear light-colored, protective clothing—long-sleeved shirts, pants, boots or sturdy shoes, and a head covering. Treat clothing with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin.

• Apply insect repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours.

• Walk in the center of trails so grass, shrubs, and weeds do not brush against you.

• Check yourself, children, other family members, and pets for ticks every two to three hours.

• Remove any tick promptly by grasping it with tweezers, as close to the skin as possible and gently, but firmly, pulling it straight out. Wash your hands and the tick bite site with soap and water.

Additional information about ticks can be found on IDPH’s Tick Surveillance Map. A map of the location of Heartland virus cases is also available on the CDC website.

Alley Trash Pickup May End For Some

After announcing plans to chip and seal 10 alleys, Mt. Carmel street commissioner Tom Meeks said Molnday something needs to be done about trash trucks causing damage to alleys…. 

City officials will meet with Republic to see what solutions might be available in moving trash pickup from alleys to the front of homes. Some areas of the city won’t be able to transition trash pickup from the alleys, but Meeks said any stress the city can take off of the alleys will be worth the effort. 

School Board Approves Funding For Phase 2 Of Stadium Renovation

At a special meeting yesterday morning, the Wabash District #348 school board formally adopted a resolution to issue almost $4 million in general obligation school bonds. The bonds are an alternate revenue source type of bond which means they’ll be paid back with something other than property tax. In this case, money from the 1% school facilities sales tax will be used to pay off the bonds. The bulk of the money will be used to pay for Phase Two of the renovation project at Riverview Stadium that will include the construction of a new concession stand, press box, and locker rooms. Any remaining money from the bonds could be used for other facilities’ projects according to board president Tim Schuler. The interest rate on the bonds is 3.54% with a closing date set for September 21st. The call date of the bonds will be December 1st, 2029. The vote to issue the bonds was unanimous with board members Neil Earnest and Susan Wood abstaining.

WSJD File Photo

Princeton Man Arrested After Altercation With Mt. Carmel Police

On 8/24/2022 at approximately 1:45pm, Mt. Carmel Police received a complaint of a suspicious blue Chrysler van with Kentucky registration parked on 3rd & Cherry Street, near Mt. Carmel High School and occupied by a white male. The complainant asked the individual if he needed assistance, but the driver denied assistance and claimed his vehicle was overheated. The complainant then reported the individual to the Mt Carmel Police Department. An officer arrived in the area to investigate further when the van drove away upon seeing the police approach by vehicle.

Shortly after that, an officer conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of W 5th Street due to a traffic violation and to further investigate the complaint. The driver would not provide any information about his identity and was verbally aggressive with the officer. At one point, the driver opened the driver’s door aggressively and struck the officer before eventually fleeing towards Walnut Street in his van.

A pursuit ensued into Indiana but ended near the East Mt. Carmel area due to the van running out of gas. Officers attempted to gain compliance by ordering the driver away from the vehicle; however, he refused to obey the officer’s commands, standing next to his vehicle with the door open and one hand still inside the van. The male then released a pit bull dog from his van that aggressively charged toward the officer resulting in the officer discharging his firearm when the dog came within a few feet.

The male subject then began to move across the highway, still disobeying officer commands. The male subject was then tased and taken into custody. Officer’s later realized the male was armed with a 9-inch knife that fell to the ground. Officers were then able to secure the subject in handcuffs.

During this time, Dickerson made a statement that he was going to kill the police officers. It is with sadness to report that the dog could not be saved from the gunshot injury.

The subject’s identity was found to be Lonnie L. Dickerson, age 53, currently from Princeton, Indiana, who was transported to the Wabash County Jail after refusing medical treatment. Dickerson was charged with Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer, Aggravated Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, and Resisting a Peace Officer, along with several traffic citations.

Dickerson provided no reason for his resistive behavior or why he released the dog at the officer when the police stopped him. Another dog in the vehicle was later taken to the animal shelter.

MCPD was assisted by the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office, Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, Owensville Police Department, Wabash County Animal Control, and the Wabash General Ambulance Service.

First Step Cleared In RR Overpass Process

Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge’s effort to have a railroad overpass built on South Walnut Street has cleared a first hurdle. At Monday’s city council meeting, Judge said his request from the state department of transportation’s district office in Effingham was approved and forwarded to the next step at I-DOT’s Springfield headquarters. Judge said a trip to Mt. Carmel this summer by an I-DOT project manager was key in clearing the first step. The project manager was in charge of counting traffic while Norfolk Southern replaced the crossing on Walnut Street… 

According to Judge, if an overpass is built on Walnut Street, property along the east side of the bluff the city already owns would be needed. He also said Railroad Street’s access to Walnut Street would be eliminated. Judge said a decision from Springfield should come next month on whether an overpass in Mt. Carmel remains a possibility.  

Mayor Assisting Cherry Hills Residents In Repairing Entrance

Even though it’s not the city’s responsibility, Mayor Joe Judge says he’s helping residents of Cherry Hills get the brick entrance to their subdivision repaired. Much of the north side entrance was severly damaged after a driver crashed into it earlier this year. At Monday’s city council meeting, Judge said he had been contacted by Cherry Hills residents looking for the city’s assistance in restoring the brick entrance….

Judge said something should be known this week whether the wall can be salvaged or a new one will need to be built.

Washington Man Arrested after Early Morning Chase in Stolen Vehicle

Knox County – Early this morning at approximately 3:05, Trooper Roberts was patrolling in the area of US 41 and 6th Street in Vincennes when he attempted to stop a 2009 Toyota SUV at 6th Street and Old Wheatland Road in Vincennes for no taillights. The driver of the SUV refused to stop and accelerated north on Old Bruceville Road reaching 85 mph. The vehicle eventually left the roadway near Grundman and Red Road and the driver fled on foot into a bean field.  Moments later, several Knox County Sheriff Deputies arrived to assist. Deputy Linenburg and his K-9 partner, Blast, tracked down the suspect and he was arrested after a brief struggle. The driver was identified as David Neidige, 28, of Washington. When officers searched Neidige they found a small amount of suspected methamphetamine. Neidige also displayed signs of impairment. Further investigation revealed the 2009 Toyota SUV had been reported stolen on August 22 from Daviess County, IN. Neidige was transported to the Knox County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

Arrested and Charges:

  • David Neidige, 28, Washington, IN

  1. Resisting Law Enforcement in a Vehicle, Level 6 Felony

  2. Receiving Stolen Property, Level 6 Felony

  3. Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony

  4. Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Class A Misdemeanor

Arresting Officer: Trooper D. Roberts, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officers: Captain Gilmore, Deputy Archer, Deputy Linenburg and his K-9, Blast, Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Banks Sentenced To 7 Years After Violating Probation

Kelli Storckman, Wabash County State's Attorney, reports that Charles Banks, a 38-year-old Mt. Carmel, IL man, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections by the Honorable Circuit Judge William C. Hudson in Wabash County Circuit Court.

The defendant was charged with a probation violation on March 3, 2020 for a Class 2 Aggravated Battery conviction and subsequently charged March 17, 2022 with Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine, a Class 1 Felony.  On August 23, 2022, Banks was sentenced to 7 years in the Department of Corrections, to be followed by 1 year of mandatory supervised release (parole).  

Clarksville man pulled from Christmas Lake Village Beach with life threatening injuries

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a water-related incident that resulted in a Clarksville man suffering life threatening injuries.   

Yesterday at approximately 3 p.m., officers with the Santa Claus Police Department responded to  a call regarding a man missing in the water at the Christmas Lake Village Beach. Upon arrival, officers entered the water and started searching the last known location of the man. 

Officers found the man and removed him from the water. Life-saving efforts including CPR were performed before the man was transported to Memorial Hospital in Jasper. He was later flown to Louisville for treatment. 

This incident is still under investigation, and the identity of the man is being withheld pending family notification.

Responding agencies included Santa Claus PD, Santa Claus Fire Department, Spencer County EMS, Indiana State Police, and Indiana Conservation Officers.