Proclamations Signed For Constitution Week

Members of the Mt. Carmel Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution attended Monday’s Wabash County Commissioner and Mt. Carmel City Council meetings as proclamations were signed commemorating the week of September 17th as Constitution Week.

From dar.org: Constitution Week is celebrated annually during the week of September 17-23 to commemorate its history, importance, and bring attention to how it serves still today.

This celebration of the Constitution was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1955, DAR petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into public law on August 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The DAR has also erected a structure that is built in tribute to the Constitution of the United States. DAR Constitution Hall, which is a performing arts center, opened in 1929.

Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge signs the Constitution Week proclamation. Behind the mayor are (L-R) Barbara Easter (DAR representative), Robin Dean (DAR representative), Susan Zimmerman (City Commissioner/DAR representative).

Back row (L-R) City commissioners Tom Meeks, Eric Ikemire, & Justin Dulgar

Wabash County Board Chairman Tim Hocking signs the Constitution Week proclamation.

(L-R) County Commissioners Scott West & Rob Dean; DAR representatives Susan Zimmerman, Barbara Easter, Judy Coleman, & Robin Dean.

3rd Street Reopened After Major Sewer Line Collapse

Finally some good news when it comes to the various traffic headaches that have faced Mt. Carmel motorists most of this summer. At yesterday’s city council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge said 3rd Street near Division has reopened to traffic…

The closure of 3rd Street was caused by a major collapse of a sewer main. Water and sewer commissioner Justin Dulgar said he appreciates everyone stepping up and getting the road reopened as quickly as possible…

The city is now looking to borrow up to $800,000 to pay for the work. All three local banks submitted bids to finance the project. Those bids will be reviewed, and the council will decide the best path forward paying for the work at their next meeting in two weeks. Dulgar said funding from the EPA, which would carry a lower interest rate, isn’t available for this project as the EPA doesn’t offer any contingencies for funding emergency work such as this one.

Photo Credit: Joe Judge

Fall Clean Up Date Set In Mt. Carmel

Get ready to do some fall cleaning. The city’s fall clean up week is set for October 3rd through the 7th. It’s one of two weeks a year that Republic Services picks up your larger items.

Since the city’s trash pick up day is now just one day, you should have your larger items curbside on Monday, October 3rd. And because there’s so much trash to pick up that week, it may be Tuesday or Wednesday before Republic gets to your larger items. But city officials stress you need to have them out ready for pickup on that Monday or you may be missed.

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE DISTRICT 19 SQUAD CAR STRUCK IN SCOTT’S LAW RELATED CRASH

CARMI – On September 5, 2022, at approximately 7:49 p.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash involving an ISP District 19 Trooper on Interstate 64 westbound at milepost 101 in Wayne County.

 On the above date and time, an ISP District 19 Trooper was stationary on the right shoulder with emergency lights activated.  The Trooper was standing outside of the vehicle assisting another Trooper with enforcement duties, when the Trooper’s squad car was sideswiped. A gray Dodge half ton pickup truck, traveling westbound on Interstate 64, failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle and struck the left rear quarter panel area of the ISP squad car. The Trooper was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.  The uninjured driver of the Dodge, 72-year-old Elvie J. Cagle of Chesterfield, IL was issued a citation for a violation of Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of an Emergency Vehicle and Improper Lane Usage.

 So far this year, there have been 18 ISP squad cars struck in relation to the Move Over Law and seven Troopers have sustained injuries from Move Over Law-related crashes. ISP is reminding the public of the requirements of the Move Over Law, otherwise known as the “Scott’s Law.” When approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their emergency or hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down AND move over.  A person who violates Scott’s Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years.  Additional information can be found at the following link:

 https://isp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=21430274bef64fc5a19d8dcc191ff3f8

Fort Wayne Mother Arrested for Impaired Driving while Transporting Children

Warrick County – Friday night, September 2, at approximately 6:33 p.m., Indiana State Police responded to a crash involving injuries on I-64 near the 42-mile marker, east of Lynnville. When troopers arrived, they located a white 2008 Subaru Impreza off the roadway and on its top. The driver, Justa Shinn, 33, of Fort Wayne, and her two children were still inside the vehicle. The two children were removed, but the driver was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated by Lynnville and Pigeon Twp. Fire Departments. The driver and two children were properly restrained at the time of the crash. An odor of marijuana was detected inside the vehicle. Preliminary investigation revealed Shinn was traveling west on I-64 and for unknown reasons left the roadway, struck the wooded tree line on the north side of the interstate and overturned. Shinn and her two children received minor injuries and were transported to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Boonville where they were treated and released. Troopers detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Shinn, and she displayed signs of impairment. Shinn submitted to a blood test and the results are pending. Troopers searched Shinn’s vehicle and found alcohol, two clear baggies containing marijuana, and marijuana gummies. Shinn’s two children were taken into protective custody by the Indiana Department of Child Services. Shinn was arrested and taken to the Warrick County Jail where she is currently being held on bond.

Arrested and Charges:

• Justa Shinn, 33, Fort Wayne, IN

1. Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Class C Misdemeanor

2. Neglect of a Dependent, Level 6 Felony

3. Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor

Arresting Officer: Trooper Trey Stewart, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officers: Sergeant Brown and Trooper Eaton, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Warrick County Sheriff’s Office

Sullivan Man Arrested for Child Molesting

Sullivan County -  Indiana State Police initiated a criminal investigation after receiving information that a female, under the age of 14, had been molested.

The investigation revealed that Bryce Robison, age 25, of Sullivan, Indiana, allegedly molested a female under the age of 14.

After reviewing the investigation, Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Mischler, requested an arrest warrant for Robison.  Sullivan County Circuit Court granted an arrest warrant on September 2, 2022.  Robison was arrested yesterday by Trooper Austin Robertson of the Putnamville State Police Post without incident. He is currently being held in the Sullivan County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Investigating Officer:  Indiana State Police Master Trooper Detective Angie Hahn of the Putnamville Post.

Assisting Agency:  Susie’s Place.

Arrested and Charges:  Bryce M. Robison, 25, Sullivan, IN

• Child Molesting where defendant is at least 21 years of age, Class 1 Felony

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.  

Evansville Man Arrested after Overnight Chase on Motorcycle

Vanderburgh County – Friday night, September 2, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Trooper Vennekotter was patrolling First Avenue south of Diamond Avenue when he spotted a black 2019 Yamaha motorcycle traveling south at a high rate of speed and passing another vehicle. The motorcycle was clocked by radar at 60 in the 45 mile per hour zone. Trooper Vennekotter attempted to stop the motorcycle, but the rider accelerated and turned east on Columbia and reached speeds of approximately 80 mph before turning north onto Main Street. The rider disregarded multiple stop signs and eventually turned east on Bob Griese Pass, and then north on Heidelbach Avenue. The rider then turned west on Diamond Avenue, north on First Avenue, west on West Buena Vista Road, and north on Fulton Avenue before crashing in the 7800 block of Darmstadt Road. The rider was identified as Charles A. Fairbanks, 23, of Evansville. Troopers treated Fairbanks for his injuries until EMS arrived. Fairbanks was transported to Deaconess Midtown for minor injuries. After Fairbanks was treated, he was released and transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

Arrested and Charges:

• Charles Fairbanks, 23, Evansville, IN

1. Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony

2. Reckless Driving, Class C Misdemeanor

Arresting Officer: Trooper Vennekotter, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officer: Trooper Aaron Hadley, Indiana State Police

Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 5:00 pm

·         Call to Order

o   Pledge of Allegiance

o   Roll Call

·         Approve Minutes

o   Minutes of meeting held 08/22/2022

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

·         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

§  Approval of New Policy and Procedure

§  Vacating Alley/900 block

o   Removal of items from the Consent Agenda

o   Consideration of Consent Agenda

o   Consideration of items removed from the Consent Agenda

·         Executive Session  

·         Motion to Adjourn

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.