Another Big Honor For WGH

The National Rural Rating System is proud to announce a new ratings program for rural and critical access hospitals, called the 5-Star National Rural Rating System. The program celebrates the extraordinary patient experiences provided by rural and critical access hospitals across the United States.

The 5-Star Rating System ranks rural and critical access hospitals — with five stars being the top ranking and one star being the lowest. The Star Ratings are similar to the CMS Stars, which allow hospitals/clinics to promote their success and are used as high-quality recognitions. Most small and rural hospitals (60%) do not qualify because of low number of qualifying inpatients for the CMS Rankings, but are held to the same high patient satisfaction criteria. This new program recognizes the hard work and dedication rural and critical access hospitals provide across the country. The rankings will include overnight hospital stays (HCAHPS) and are based on data collected by certified CMS patient satisfaction vendors.

We proudly announce and recognize our 4-Star Hospitals and 5-Star Hospitals that are part of our inaugural National Rural Honor Roll.

5 Star Hospitals — National Rural Honor Roll

Artesian Valley Health System -

Meade District Hospital, Meade KS

Decatur County Hospital, Leon IA

Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City IL

Hopedale Medical Center, Hopedale IL

Memorial Hospital, Carthage IL

Memorial Hospital, Chester IL

Wabash General Hospital, Mt Carmel IL


4 Star Hospitals

Allen Parish Community Healthcare, Kinder LA

Franklin General Hospital, Hampton IA

Lawrence County Memorial Hospital, Lawrenceville IL

Mason District Hospital, Havana IL

Osceola Regional Health Center, Sibley IA

Pinckneyville Community Hospital, Pinckneyville IL

Providence Medical Center, Wayne NE

Unity Medical Center, Grafton ND

The National Rural Ratings System was created in collaboration with the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN), Survey Solutions by ICAHN, Custom Learning Systems, Wyoming Department of Health, New Mexico Department of Health, Louisiana Hospital Association and AdCo Advertising Agency.

Visit fivestarratings.org for current information and awardees.

 

Holiday Season Arrives This Weekend In Mt. Carmel

The Christmas season officially arrives tonight in Mt. Carmel kicking off a full weekend of holiday festivities.

The Christmas Uptown festival will run from 4 to 9 this evening as Market Street will be filled with a variety of Christmas activities and of course lots of great food choices.

Then tomorrow, the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce’s 56th annual lighted Christmas parade will step off from 3rd and Market Streets. The theme of this year’s parade is “Christmas Characters”.

The Wabash County Retail Merchants Committee is hosting “Pups With Santa” between 1 and 3pm in Merchants Park. You can bring your pets up for a photo with St. Nick as donations will be used for a new Santa House.

Two big musical events are also part of the festive weekend. The Mt. Carmel High School music department’s annual madrigal dinner is tomorrow and Sunday nights at 6pm at the Community Church of God. The madrigal will feature a pork loin dinner plus holiday performances from MCHS students. A few tickets remain by going to the District #348 website.

Then Sunday, local singers will present a Christmas Cantata, “Child of Peace” at 1:30 at Wabash Valley College. Tickets are $6 each and patron passes will be honored.

Discipline charges filed against Gibson County judge

The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications has filed disciplinary charges against Gibson Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey F. Meade. The Commission alleges four counts of misconduct related to the handling of specific paternity and Child in Need of Services (CHINS) cases. Judge Meade is permitted (but not required) to file an answer to the charges within 20 days.

The 11-page "Notice of the Institution of Formal Proceedings and Statement of Charges" (Case No. 22S-JD390) is public record and has been filed with the Appellate Clerk’s Office. The charges are brought by the seven-member Commission, which investigates alleged ethical misconduct by judges.

The Commission charges that Judge Meade violated judicial canons, which require judges to respect the law, avoid impropriety, and promote confidence in the judiciary. Of the four counts, one is related to Judge Meade’s demeanor in proceedings of a juvenile paternity case. The remaining three charges are associated with his actions during an off-the-record hearing in CHINS cases.

The Supreme Court has final authority to determine what, if any, judicial misconduct occurred. The Court can dismiss the charges, accept or reject a disciplinary agreement between the Commission and Judge Meade, appoint a panel of judges to conduct a public hearing, impose a fine, or impose sanctions ranging from a reprimand to a suspension to a permanent ban on holding judicial office in Indiana. More information about the Commission can be found at courts.in.gov/jqc. Judge Meade is represented by attorney James Bell who can be reached at jbell@hooverhullturner.com.

Downtown Princeton Annual Lighted Snowflake Christmas Parade

“Christmas At the Movies” will be the theme for the 2022 Snowflake Christmas parade to be held in downtown Princeton, Indiana on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. 

This lighted parade will feature floats and marching bands plus the arrival of Santa Claus.  Princeton Mayor Greg Wright will serve as this year’s parade Grand Marshal.   He will light the lights on the Gibson County Courthouse just prior to the start of the parade at 5:00 p.m.  There will be visits with Santa Claus following the parade at the gazebo on the northwest corner of the courthouse. For more information, contact the Gibson County Visitors & Tourism Bureau at 812-385-0999 or email info@gibsoncountyin.org.

County Officials Sworn In

New terms started today for four Wabash County officeholders. Sheriff Derek Morgan, county clerk Janet Will, and new treasurer Angela Broster will took the oath of office during an 8am swearing-in ceremony. Morgan, Will, and Brewster were elected earlier this month to four-year terms. Also elected was county commissioner Rob Dean to a new six year. Dean was unable to attend today’s ceremony and will instead be sworn in on Monday.

Even though it is an un-elected position, supervisor of assessments Connie Larry was also sworn in this morning to a new 4-year term. She was reappointed last month by the county board.

County treasurer Angela Broster takes the oath of office from Judge William C. Hudson

County treasurer Angela Broster takes the oath of office from Judge William C. Hudson

Supervisor of assessments Connie Larry takes the oath of office from Judge William C. Hudson

Sheriff J. Derek Morgan takes the oath of office from Judge William C. Hudson

County Clerk Janet Will takes the oath of office from Judge William C. Hudson

County Clerk Janet Will takes the oath of office from Judge William C. Hudson

County Officials To Be Sworn In Thursday

Tomorrow begins new terms for four Wabash County officeholders. Sheriff Derek Morgan, county clerk Janet Will, and new treasurer Angela Broster will take the oath of office during an 8am swearing-in ceremony. Morgan, Will, and Broster were elected earlier this month to four-year terms. Also elected was county commissioner Rob Dean to a new six year. Dean will be unable to attend tomorrow’s ceremony and will instead be sworn in on Monday. Today is the last day for long time county treasurer Beverly McBride who is retiring and did not seek reelection.

County Commissioners Adopt FY '22-'23 Budget

Wabash County Commissioners have officially adopted the budget for the new fiscal year that begins tomorrow. During a recessed session Tuesday morning, commissioners heard from county clerk Janet Will who explained a change to the final budget from the proposed spending plan presented earlier this month. Will said since commissioners decided to hire a full-time public defender, some adjustments in a couple of line items had to be made.

The new full-time public defender, who hasn’t been hired yet, will be paid just under $143,000. The salary is set by the state and is 90% of the state’s attorney’s salary. The decision to hire a full-time public defender comes as current public defender James Lane retires from the position effective today.

The budget also contains $2.2 million in American Rescue Plan money that must be spent by 2026. No plans have been announced publicly about how the county intends to spend the ARPA money.

Incident At Rural King Leads To Arrest Of Two

On 11/29/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Tony D. Jackson, age 44 of Benton, Illinois for Obstructing Identification and Possession of an Open Vehicle Title. Also arrested was Addasyn G. Wallbaum, age 27, of Christopher, Illinois for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Police were called to the Mt. Carmel Rural King regarding two suspected shoplifters that were inside the store. Officers from MCPD and the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office responded to investigate further. The presence of law enforcement appears to have thwarted any alleged theft attempt; however, the officers made contact with the above two subjects as they entered into in a Ford F150 parked outside.

When speaking to Jackson, he provided a fictitious name to alter his identity and later presented an open vehicle title to the truck. While on scene, Ofc. Hopper and K-9 Eleven conducted a free air narcotics sniff around the exterior of the vehicle with Eleven alerting to the presence of drugs. A search of the vehicle was conducted which resulted in officers locating a glass smoking pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue inside it and a clear bag of suspected methamphetamine that later field tested positive. Both items were found in the property of Wallbaum’s inside the truck.

Both individuals were placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where they were charged and held pending a pre-trial detention determination.

Wallbaum is currently out on bond from an MCPD arrest for Residential Burglary and was in Mt. Carmel on this date to attend court for said case.

Disturbance Reports Lead To Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Man On FTA Warrant

On 11/27/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Zachary A. Mathis, age 31, of Mt. Carmel, on a Wabash County Failure to Appear Warrant. Police were called to the Mathis’ residence in the 600 block of Vine due to reports of him yelling and causing a disturbance in the roadway. The arresting officer knew Mathis had a warrant for his arrest. Once the officer arrived, they located Mathis at his home and placed him under arrest due to the active warrant. Mathis was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was held pending the posting of bond.