Mt. Carmel Man Arrested On DUI & Other Charges Following Traffic Stop

On 2/19/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Stephen M. Sharum, age 62, of Mt. Carmel, for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and several other traffic-related offenses following a traffic stop in the 1600 block of West 9th Street. During the stop, the officer noticed signs to indicate impairment so a roadside sobriety check was conducted. Sharum illustrated several clues to indicate impairment and was placed under arrest. Sharum was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and later released following jail processing.

Trial Testimony Leading To More Charges For Mt. Carmel Man

At his trial earlier this month for selling methamphetamine, 61 year old John Dardeen told jurors he was innocent of the charge because he sold cannabis and not meth. After Dardeen was convicted of the meth dealing charge on February 8th, local authorities used Dardeen’s testimony against and obtained a search warrant for his residence in the 300 block of Walnut Street. The search resulted in several items being located that are associated with the manufacture and delivery of methamphetamine, a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun with ammunition, and many other cannabis related items. Dardeen is currently awaiting sentencing on March 20th following the guilty verdict on the methamphetamine delivery charge.  The Class 2 felony carries a possible term of 3 to 7 years in the department of corrections. Authorities say new charges will be forthcoming as a result of the search warrant.

John Dardeen is led to the Wabash County on February 8th after being guilty of a meth possession charge by a Wabash County Jury.

City Council Gets First Look At Pool Evaluation

The Mt. Carmel City Council got their first look at an eye-opening evaluation of the City Pool. The 66-page evaluation by Burbach Aquatics of Platteville, Wisconsin outlined a litany of issues with the facility built in 1937 as a WPA era project.

Among the deficiencies pointed out in the evaluation were the pool losing 5,000 to 6,000 gallons of water a day when it’s full; the existing main pool is in poor condition requiring patching and painting the main pool floor every year; the zero depth entry slope does not meet code requirement; and the concrete around the pool was deemed to be in poor condition as well. Several aspects of the pool also fail to meet ADA requirements including two points of ADA accessibility needed into and out of the pool; sidewalks leading up to the bathhouse from the parking lot are non-ADA compliant; and the service counter height is too tall.

Mechanically, the pool facility is also in poor condition with the piping and filtration system needing replaced. In conclusion,

Burbach reported that given the condition of the pool vessels, pool mechanical system, and the bathhouse, the city should consider repairing or replacing with the estimated price tag set at $11,388,000 to replace the facility.

Mayor Joe Judge stressed that the report from Burbach is simply a feasibility study and the city remains a long way from making a decision about the future of the Mt. Carmel City Pool, which he stressed would be open this summer. He said the estimate for a new concept pool is based on the current pool’s size of almost 1 million gallons.

The city’s pool committee will continue to consider the report from Burbach and look into options and how those might be financed.

Allendale Masonic Lodge Makes Donations As Last Act Before Merger

In the final act of the Allendale Masonic Lodge on Tuesday, February 21st, Master Charlie Emsminger presented a donation to the Allendale Fire Department, Allendale Ruritan Club, and Allendale CCSD 17. Representing these three groups was Cale Johnson (Allendale Fire Department), Jim Barger (Allendale Ruritan Club), and Bob Bowser (Allendale CCSD 17). This was done on the final evening the Masonic Lodge will be open in Allendale, as they will merge with the Mt. Carmel Masonic Lodge. Master Emsminger, in the presentation, stated it was important to provide the community of Allendale with one parting gift. 

Cale Johnson (Allendale Fire Department), Jim Barger (Allendale Ruritan Club), and Bob Bowser (Allendale CCSD 17) received a donation from the Allendale Masonic Lodge in their final act before merging with the Mt. Carmel Masonic Lodge. 

Cale Johnson, representing the Allendale Fire Department, with Master Charlie Emsminger. 

Jim Barger, representing the Allendale Ruritan Club, with Master Charlie Emsminger. 

Bob Bowser, Superintendent of Allendale CCSD 17, with Master Charlie Emsminger. 

Patoka Man Arrested after Fleeing from Trooper

Gibson County – Tuesday afternoon, February 21, at approximately 5:02 p.m., Trooper Hurley observed a four-wheeler traveling at a high rate of speed east on River Road approaching Main Street in Patoka. The rider of the four-wheeler disregarded the stop sign at the intersection and continued south on Main Street. Trooper Hurley recognized the rider as Riley Hill, 23, of Patoka. Trooper Hurley activated his emergency lights and attempted to stop the four-wheeler, but Hill failed to stop and continued south at a high rate of speed. Hill eventually left the roadway on the west side and rode through a field toward Hudson Road. Trooper Hurley eventually found Hill hiding in a nearby junkyard. Hill was arrested without further incident and taken to the Gibson County Jail. He was later released after posting bond. The four-wheeler was also located and towed.

Arrested and Charges:

• Riley Hill, 23, Patoka, IN

1. Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony

2. Driving While Suspended, Class A Misdemeanor

Arresting Officer: Trooper Tanner Hurley, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Gibson County Sheriff’s Office

Domestic Dispute Ends in Shots Being Fired

Dugger - On February 20, 2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Mischler contacted the Indiana State Police Post Criminal Investigation Division requesting assistance with an alleged shooting that had occurred at 7681 East Laughlin Street in Dugger Indiana, for a domestic dispute between a husband and wife.  

Detectives arrived at the scene and found probable cause to believe the victim, Jessica Hambrick, age 31, of Dugger, Indiana, had been shot.  Allegedly there was a verbal/physical altercation between Hambrick and her husband, Frank E. Hambrick, Jr., age 35, also of Dugger, which resulted in a struggle over a weapon.  The struggle resulted in the weapon discharging with Jessica Hambrick being struck.  Immediately following the shooting, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department and Dugger Town Marshall responded to the residence and provided medical assistance, securing the scene.

Sullivan County emergency medical personnel attended to Jessica Hambrick, and she was immediately transported to an Indianapolis hospital via air ambulance for treatment of her injuries.  These injuries are non-life threatening.  

Through the course of the investigation, detectives received probable cause for the arrest of Frank E. Hambrick, Jr.  Hambrick was taken into custody and transported to the Sullivan County Jail without incident.  

The investigation is being conducted by Indiana State Police detectives, Angie Hahn, Don Curtis and Jason Schoffstal with the assistance of Lieutenant Jeff Hearon, CSI Sergeant Michael Organ, and CSI Sergeant Tim Rader of the Putnamville State Police Post.  

Assisting Agencies:  Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Dugger Town Marshall, Shelburn Town Marshall, Sullivan County Department of Child Services and Susie’s Place.

This is an active and ongoing Indiana State Police investigation.  There is no further information to release at this time.  Upon completion of their investigation, Indiana State Police detectives will submit a full report of the incident to the Sullivan County Prosecutor’s Office for review.   

Arrested and Preliminary Charges:  Frank E. Hambrick Jr., 35, Dugger

• Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon, Felony 5

• Neglect of Dependent, Felony 6 

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

Get Your 2023 Permit Before Heading Out In Golf Cart/UTV

As the winter weather begins to subside, more golf carts and UTV’s are reappearing on city streets. And police chief Mike McWilliams reported at yesterday’s city council meeting that the message is apparently getting through and those golf carts and UTV’s are legal with the 2023 permit sticker. If you don’t have this year’s sticker yet, they can be purchased for $50 anytime at the police department.

MCPD Cracking Down Again On Motorized Bicycles

Last year, Mt. Carmel Police Chief Mike McWilliams announced that his officers were cracking down on motorized bicycles that were often time disobeying traffic laws and generally being a nuisance and safety hazard to themselves and other motorists. At yesterday’s city council meeting, McWilliams said those efforts last year, for the most part, were successful. But now, the problem is reappearing and McWilliams says his officers will be cracking down on those operating the motorized bicycles in a reckless manner…

McWilliams said the time for warnings is over and tickets will now be issued for violations. And with so many violations possible with each stop, officer Art Kimmel who was at the meeting, says he envisions several tickets being possible.

Judge: Could Be Another Year Before 9th Street Repaving Starts

Drivers in Mt. Carmel will have to wait even longer for the state to repave 9th Street. Mayor Joe Judge had said repaving work would begin when the state’s new fiscal year starts in July. But that timetable has now been revised…

And that “sidewalk stuff” the mayor referred to entails completely redoing 34 sidewalk entrances off of 9th Street between Cherry Street and the First National Bank. Those sidewalks will have to be completed before the state will begin repaving the street according to Judge. The state’s fiscal year starts in July and that’s when Judge says bids for the project will sought from contractors. The work is expected to one of the costliest road projects during the next fiscal year in southern Illinois.

WSJD File Photo-Sept. 2022

WSJD File Photo-Sept. 2022

WSJD File Photo-Sept. 2022

City Workers Continue Rehab Work On Little Egypt Arts Center Building

City workers recently started the process of renovating the former Little Egypt Arts Center at 5th and Market in hopes of enticing a new business to locate there. Last year, the city bought the building from John Clancy and worked started after the first of the year clearing out and cleaning up the structure. Mayor Joe Judge talked about what’s going on at the location….

New windows and doors will be installed on the building and the city is seeking bids for that work. For more information on bidding on the work, contractors can call Ryan Turner at city hall.

WSJD File Photo From June 2022