City officials are trying to decide whether a portable storage container should be placed at 7th and Walnut Street. Mike Hocking asked the city council’s permission to place the storage container there saying he would attempt to keep it from being an eyesore by placing a roof on the container and decorating it. Currently, there’s an ordinance preventing Mt. Carmel residents from having storage containers on their property. No decision on the request has been made yet by commissioners.
WGH Board Approves Purchase Of Two New Ambulances
Even though they won’t receive them for quite some time, the Wabash General Hospital board of directors has approved buying two new ambulances. WGH Chief Operating Office Tamara Gould said WGH’s ambulances are heavily utilized….
And, Gould said the current ambulance fleet is well traveled…
The first ambulance is an all-wheel drive Ford Transit at a cost of almost $122,000. It is due to arrive next Spring. The second ambulance won’t arrive for two years because of production delays. It’s a Ford F-450 four-wheel drive diesel unit coming in at a cost of almost $240,000. Gould said none of the ambulances in the current fleet are four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Investigation Continues Into Sunday Night Crash
From Sheriff Derek Morgan:
On Sunday the 25th of September at approximately 7:23 p.m. Wabash County 911 received a call of a two vehicle, head on collision with entrapment. The Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to the area of Wabash 17 which was about a half mile east of Wabash 13 Ave. Wabash General Ambulance Service arrived as well as Mt. Carmel Fire and began assessing the injured.
As the investigation continued it was found that a westbound 2013 Chevrolet van driven by 52-year-old Jesse Kasinger, of Mt. Carmel, had struck a 2009 Ford Expedition that was sitting in the eastbound lane with its flashers on, driven by 38-year-old Shana Gillihan of Mt. Carmel.
Further investigation revealed the 2013 van had struck a trailer that had pulled into a farm lot on the north side of the road, driven by 37-year-old, Stephanie VanWormer, of Mt. Carmel. The deputy working the crash, stopped and requested a trooper from the Illinois State Police to work the crash due to his wife being involved in the incident. That request was denied due to a trooper not being available.
Mr. Kasinger was airlifted from the scene to an Indiana Trauma Center. Gillihan was evaluated on scene and refused medical treatment. VanWormer was uninjured.
The crash investigation is ongoing.
Mt. Carmel Man Picked Up On FTA Warrant
On 9/23/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Andrew M. Lagow, age 35, of Mt. Carmel, on a Wabash County Warrant for Failure to Appear on Domestic Battery charge. Police observed Lagow at College and Oak Street and knew him to have the arrest warrant. Lagow was taken into custody and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was issued the warrant and later released on a $200 cash bond.
Judge Says Cherry Street Could Reopen Next Week
From Mayor Joe Judge:
Cherry Street Update!!!
So the center section has been poured and is being saw cut. They are forming up the sides to be poured on Thursday. They might possibly open the roadway up late next week, but will have orange barrels as the curbside has to be poured still. So flaggers will be present when that happens. So they are getting closer!!!
Photo Cred: Joe Judge
WGH Open House Planned For November 4th
The public can get their first look at the new medical office building and the expanded orthopedics clinic during an open house in November. Executive vice president Danielle Stevens told the hospital board last night that an open house is planned for November 4th from 4 to 7pm. She said the new Remedies cafeteria will have food to sample and the gift shop will be open for visitors as well. A Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting will also be held to officially open the $14 million project.
April 2022 WSJD File Photo
WGH Still Adapting To New EPIC System
Wabash General Hospital’s implementation of the EPIC electronic medical records system continues. At last night’s WGH Board of Directors meeting, President/CEO Karissa Turner said the billing aspect of the software is beginning to take shape….
As the new system is being implemented, revenue at Wabash General was hampered according to chief financial officer Lynn Leek. EPIC representatives continue to assist the hospital in training employees to maximize the new system.
School Board Approves $20 million Budget
The Wabash District #348 school board has adopted a $20.7 million budget for fiscal year 2023. Of the $20.7 million in revenues, over 47% comes from local sources including 30% in real estate taxes. The district projects to receive 38% from state sources and the other 15% from the feds. Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said of the $20 million in expenditures, the district will spend more than half in salaries and another 15% in benefits amounting to $13 million in salaries and benefits. Overall though, the budget projects the district to be have a $672,000…..
The board’s approval came after a public hearing on the budget was held with no questions or comments being offered by the public.
City Preps For Leaf Season
Now that fall is here, leaves will start falling soon. Mt. Carmel city workers are already ahead of the situation as they’ve been preparing the leaf truck for operation. Details on when the leaf routes begin will be released closer to that date.
New Officer Hired By MCPD
The Mt. Carmel Police Department has hired a new officer, who isn’t really that new. Kyle McCleave is returning to the MCPD after a six year absence. Police Chief Mike McWilliams said the police and fire commission had recommended McCleave’s hiring. He said McCleave’s certifications are still current and after completion of necessary requirements, he’ll be back on the road soon. According to McWilliams, the hiring will alleviate issues caused by departures in the department.