On 12/24/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Daniel Coy Short, age 45, of Mt. Carmel, for Possession of a Controlled Substance (2 Counts) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia following a domestic dispute in the 100 block of N Market Street. During the officer’s investigation, Short was detained but requested a coat due to the low temperatures. Officers provided Short with his coat but requested consent to search before providing Short with the coat. Short consented to the search when the officer felt a bulb shaped object inside the coat. This object was found to be a glass smoking device, containing suspected methamphetamine residue inside of it. Also, inside the coat, officers found (4) pills identified as amphetamines and (2) pills identified as alprazolam, which are both controlled substances inside a plastic bag that require a doctor’s prescription for possession. Short acknowledged the ownership of the items and was transported to the Wabash County Jail. Short was charged accordingly then turned over to jail staff for processing.
Mt. Carmel Man Arrested On Christmas Day For Domestic Battery
On 12/25/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Jarrod W. Marriott, age 29, of Mt. Carmel, for Domestic Battery, following a complaint at a residence in the 1100 block of Hillcrest Dr. Officers were called to the home to a report of a family dispute between Marriott and his girlfriend. Following their investigation, officers found probable cause to believe that Marriott had caused bodily harm to the girlfriend during the incident. Marriott was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending a pre-trial detention determination by the court.
Traffic Stop Leads To Multiple Charges For Mt. Carmel Man
On 12/26/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Mark A. Vanfleet aka Mark A. VanVleet, age 52, of Mt. Carmel, for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving While License Revoked, and Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer following a traffic stop. Police first attempted to stop VanVleet when they observed him operating a white Dodge truck with registration that returned to a green Dodge. The officer also knew VanVleet had a revoked Illinois Driver’s License as well. VanVleet refused to stop leading the officer on a pursuit from the 1000 block of W 3rd Street to the alley in the 1000 block of W 5th Street. VanVleet claimed he did not stop as he wanted to make it to his home. VanVleet was taken into custody at this time and transported to the Wabash County Jail. During their interaction, the officer noted that VanVleet exhibited signs of impairment from alcohol consumption leading to field sobriety testing where several clues to indicate impairment were observed. VanVleet was charged with the above offenses and turned over to jail staff for further processing.
WGH Board Approves 2023 Officers
The Wabash General Hospital board of directors has approved its’ slate of 2023 officers. Toni Brines will take over from Rob Coleman as chair, Doug McPherson will be vice-chair, while Janet Storey will continue in her role as treasurer and Kevin Raber will be board secretary. Coleman said he was proud of the accomplishments at the hospital during his time as chairman…..
On the medical side, Dr. Siddharth Jani will be chief of staff next year while Dr. Donald Bisby will be vice chief, and Dr. Julko Fullop will be second vice chief of staff. Dr. Lauren Croft served as chief of staff in 2022. As far as the hospital foundation, Kate Ackerman will serve as chair next year while Reese Metcalf will be vice chair, and Tyson Meador will be the secretary/treasurer.
Wabash County Has Lowest Jobless Rate In Southern Illinois
The November unemployment rate in Wabash County remained level with the October rate according to the latest figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The rate in both October and November stood at 3.3% which is a tick lower than the 3.5% level in November of last year.
In the Olney-Mt. Carmel IDES area, employment gains were posted in government, natural resources and mining, trade, transportation, and utilities, and leisure and hospitality. Payrolls decreased in manufacturing, construction, and education and health services.
Wabash County’s 3.3% jobless rate last month was the lowest in southern Illinois while the 7.8% rate in Pulaski County was the highest.
Advisory Committee Looking Forward To Future Of City Pool
While temperatures are expected to plummet in the coming days, Mt. Carmel’s pool advisory committee is already looking ahead to next summer. The committee is looking at possible improvements to the city pool as a Wisconsin firm is handling the design phase of the process. Mayor Joe Judge…
The pool advisory committee is also adding members with a younger perspective. Judge said Tobias Fullop, Bailey Andrews, Talon Rafferty, and Emery Turner are being added to the committee for a teen viewpoint on the future of the pool.
Domestic Dispute Results In Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Man
On Dec. 17th, 2022, at approximately 10:56 a.m. the Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to 8393 N 900 Blvd. reference a welfare check. A text message had been sent from the residence that read "he is going to kill us". When the deputy arrived on scene, he found that there had been a domestic dispute at the residence and the male had left the residence with his children. The female was still at the residence with her children.
Upon further investigation it was found that the male had threatened the female within the residence with a running chainsaw as well as ransacking a room.
Deputies made contact with the male, 27-year-old Aaron "Hunter" Merriel at Dollar General in Mt. Carmel. Upon speaking with Mr. Merriel, he was taken into custody without incident.
Merriel was transported to the Wabash County Jail where a cash bond was set and posted on the 19th of December.
The Wabash County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Mt. Carmel Police Department.
ISP Offers Advice For Winter Storm
THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE IS URGING THE PUBLIC TO STAY OFF THE ROADS DURING THE INCOMING WINTER STORM. COMBINE SNOW AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND IT’S GOING TO PRETTY UGLY OUT THERE SAYS TROOPER HAYLIE POLISTINA.
IF YOU DO SLIDE OFF THE ROAD OR GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, POLISTINA SAYS YOU SHOULD STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE, KEEP YOUR SEATBELT ON AND CALL 9-1-1.
IDOT Readies For Major Winter Blast
THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS READY TO TACKLE THE ROADS AS A WINTER STORM MOVES IN TO THE STATE.
SNOWPLOWS WILL BE OUT DOING ALL THEY CAN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE CHALLENGING SAYS I-DOT SPOKESPERSON PAUL WAPPEL.
WAPPEL SAYS IT’S BEST TO STAY HOME IF YOU CAN DURING THE STORM AND IF YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL, MAKE SURE YOU PACK AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR YOUR CAR.
Treasurer Updates County Board On Property Tax Collections
Wabash County treasurer Angie Broster has announced that Thursday, December 29th is the last day local taxpayers can pay their real estate taxes in her office for income tax purposes. Broster told county commissioners Monday that taxpayers will still be able to pay their property taxes on Friday the 30th at local banks to get credit for paying them in 2022. Also, any payments left in the drop box in front of the courthouse before 8am on January 3rd will be credited for December 30th.
Broster said as of Monday, 14% of the levied taxes had already been collected totaling almost $1.8 million. She expected that number to be above 20% by the end of the week.