Texas Man Killed In US 45 Saline County Crash

ISP FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT 

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by the Illinois State Police District 19

WHAT:                      Four Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash

WHERE:                   US Route 45 southbound at Feazel Road, Harrisburg, Saline County

WHEN:                      September 1, 2022 at approximately 4:45 p.m.

VEHICLES:              Unit 1 – 2016 White Ram 2-axle bucket truck

                                    Unit 2 – 2001 Purple Kenworth in 5-axle trailer combination

                                    Unit 3 – 2020 Gray Nissan Sentra

                                    Unit 4 – 1999 Burgundy Kenworth in 5-axle trailer combination

DRIVERS:                 Unit 1 – Michael J. Woolley, 50-year-old male from Forney, TX – Deceased

                                    Unit 2 – Christopher L. Price, 71-year-old male from Jonesboro, AR – Uninjured

                                    Unit 3 – Elizabeth J. Cooley-Questelle, 44-year-old female from Harrisburg, IL – Uninjured

                                    Unit 4 – Tony W. King, 35-year-old male from Franklin, IN – Life-Threatening Injuries – flown to a regional hospital

PRELIMINARY:      A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling southbound on US Rt. 45 near Feazel Road.    Units 2, 3, and 4 were traveling northbound in the same location.  For an unknown reason, Unit 1 swerved into the northbound lane, sideswiped Units 2 and 3, and struck Unit 4 head-on.   The driver of Unit 1 was pronounced deceased at a local hospital.  This crash remains under investigation with no additional information available at this time.

Rosche Trial Delayed Until Next Month

The jury trial scheduled to start Tuesday in Wabash County Circuit Court has been delayed until next month.

40 year old Thomas Rosche was scheduled to go on trial next week on two Class X felony charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child less than 13 years old. But, a defense motion was granted this week to delay the trial until October 3rd. A final pre-trial conference in the case is set for September 13th.

In April, Rosche was extradited to Wabash County from Sarasota, Florida where he was picked up there by the sheriff’s department on the Wabash County warrants.

The charges stem from a Mt. Carmel Police Department investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of two victims under the age of 13.

Rosche’s arrest was the second in this investigation with 32 year old Lona McKee of Robinson being arrested in December of 2021 for Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault less than 13 years of age and Permitting the Sexual Abuse of a Child. McKee’s trial date on August 1st was vacated and a new trial has not been set. The next court date in the case is September 12th.

2022 MCHS Homecoming Court Introduced

The 2022 Mt. Carmel High School Homecoming Court was introduced today.

The queen will be crowned during halftime of the September 16th football game against Lawrenceville.

More homecoming info:

Mt. Carmel High is announcing plans for Homecoming, September 16, 2022.

There will be a parade at 3:30 p.m. which will go uptown from the High School and will include the Fall Sports and Cheerleaders and also include the Homecoming court. If any one wants to be in the parade wish to participate please contact Mike Mandrell immediately at mmandrell@wabash348.com T

he Homecoming Queen will be crowned at halftime of the Homecoming Football game against Lawrenceville at 7:00.

A Homecoming Dance will be held at the Anderson Building on Saturday from 8:00 to 10:00. It is open to current MCHS students. Admission is $5 If a current student wants to take a guest, pick a form in the High School Office and return by Friday, September 9, 2022.

Homecoming Dress up days: September 12 - 16

Monday Jersey Day

Tuesday Movie/Disney Characters

Wednesday Anything But a Backpack

Thursday Decade Day (Dress like the Decade you are doing your Float Seniors 1980's, Juniors 1970's Soph 1950's Fresh 1920s

Friday Maroon and Gold Day

Since we have never had "Anything But a Backpack" Day here are some rules:

Nothing too big, no wheelbarrows, large rolling items that could hurt the floor or take up too much room

Make it reasonable to get up the stairs

If a teacher asks you not to bring it into classroom, leave out in Hall

Front Row: Jayla Johnson, Ava Harrington, Madelyn Young, Eden Wankel, Kami McWilliams, Audrey Broster, Kathryn Blake

Back row are escorts. Jason Miller, Anthony Bleyer, Owen Dougherty, Cohen Peter, Konner Kelsey, Jimmy Linn, Wade Cropper

Queen Candidates. Ava Harrington, Madelyn Young, Eden Wankel, Kami McWilliams

Freshman Attendant Jayla Johnson, Sophomore Attendant Audrey Broster, Junior Attendant. Kathryn Blake

Indiana Trooper Delivers Baby

Orange County-On 08-31-2022, at approximately 5:20 p.m., Indiana State Police Dispatch received a call that there was a female who was in active labor at her residence  in French Lick, and did not think she could make it to the hospital. While the call was being dispatched, Trooper Mackenzi Alexander heard the location of the residence, recognized it to be only a few minutes away, and responded to assist.

When Trooper Alexander arrived on scene, she was met by a female who was very distraught, thinking there might be something wrong with the baby. Trooper Alexander was the first on scene and she was able to get the female into a comfortable position while waiting for EMS to arrive. Trooper Alexander, who has prior EMS training and is a certified EMT, was able to time the contractions and found them to be a minute apart. The trooper quickly gathered towels and blankets for the delivery of the baby, as local fire department personnel arrived on scene. A few minutes later, Trooper Alexander delivered the baby and a fireman assisted while she unwrapped the umbilical cord from around the baby’s neck and arm. Local EMS arrived on scene a few minutes later to clamp and cut the umbilical cord. Mother and baby were transported to IU Health – Paoli and are doing great. 

Trailer Causing A Stink At 5th Street Boat Ramp

A semi trailer parked near the 5th Street boat ramp has drawn quite a bit of attention the last few days. The attention stems from the odor emitting from the trailer along with blood leaking from the trailer onto the parking lot at the boat ramp.

Oh and there are the flies. Lot of flies.

But, the trailer doesn’t contain anything nefarious. It contains Asian Carp. City Clerk Ryan Turner says fishermen with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have been on the Wabash River this week trying to control the Asian Carp population. And, the fishermen are putting their abundant catch into the trailer.

Turner said, “We are receiving complaints about a semi-trailer at the 5th boat ramp that is stinking and has some blood coming out of it. I promise it is not decomposing bodies”.

According to Turner, the trailer will remain in the 5th Street boat ramp parking lot until the end of the week when the fish will be transported to a processing plant.

This is the trailer causing a stink at the 5th Street boat ramp parking lot.

This is the trailer causing a stink at the 5th Street boat ramp parking lot.

City Accepting Bids For Airport Car

The city of Mt. Carmel is currently accepting bids on a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu that had been used at the airport. The car has only 69,000 so the question is, why would the city sell the car and not use it in some other department? Mayor Joe Judge has the answer to that question…

Sealed bids for the car are being accepted at City Hall until 3pm on September 6th.

Domestic Dispute Leads To Arrest Of Boonville Man

On 8/20/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Joshua K. Peerman, age 36, of Boonville, Indiana, for Violation of an Order of Protection following a third-party complaint of a domestic dispute between Peerman and his ex-girlfriend.  Officers arrived at the residence located in the 300 block of W 5th Street where they learned of a valid protective order against Peerman from Indiana that protected the alleged victim.  Peerman was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending a bond setting by a judge.   

Mt. Carmel Woman Arrested For Domestic Battery

On 8/21/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Rosella C. Lee, age 37, of Mt. Carmel, for Domestic Battery following a domestic abuse allegation from her boyfriend at their home in the 1000 block of N Cherry Street.  The alleged victim reported that Lee became upset with him over issues within their relationship leading to Lee shoving the victim, grabbing him by the throat, striking him in the groin, and scratching him on his chest and back area.  Police arrived, investigated the allegations, and found evidence that corroborated the report, which led to her arrest.  Lee was arrested and charged with above offense.  Lee was later released on a Notice to Appear due to Covid restrictions at the jail that were in place on that date.   

Domestic Battery Charge Lands Mt. Carmel Woman In Jail

On 8/31/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Heather L. Dudley, age 38, of Mt. Carmel, for Domestic Battery following a domestic abuse allegation from her boyfriend.  The alleged victim, working in the 100 block of E 3rd Street, reported Dudley arrived and began arguing about relationship issues.  Dudley then struck the victim multiple times in the face.  The victim walked to the police department and reported the incident.  After further investigation corroborated the report, the investigating officer placed Dudley under arrest and transported her to the Wabash County Jail where she is being held pending a bond setting by a judge. 

Mt. Carmel Man Arrested On Domestic Battery Charge

On 8/30/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Charles C. Brown III, age 43, of Mt. Carmel, for Domestic Battery following an investigation into an alleged domestic dispute.  The alleged victim walked to the police department to report her boyfriend, Charles Brown, had struck her in the head and broken the front window of her vehicle.  The victim reported that earlier in the day, Brown became upset over relationship issues and punched the front windshield which shattered the window.  Later in the evening, while at their home in the 1900 block of N Cherry, the argument reignited, leading to Brown striking the victim in the left side of the head with his hand.  The victim then left the home to come to the police department when Brown entered the vehicle as well.  Upon arriving at 4th & Market Street, the victim informed Brown she was going to the bank, and instead responded to the police department.  After investigating the allegations further and finding supporting evidence, Brown was taken into custody for the above offense; however, the victim declined to pursue charges for the damage to her vehicle.  Brown is being held at the Wabash County Jail pending a bond setting by a judge.