Nations Best Community College TV Station

Wabash Valley College’s TV station, News Channel 15, has been named the 2023 winner of the Nation’s Best Community College TV Station Award by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System. This is the third time in the past four years the station has won the award. 

In addition, Radio/TV major Maggee Bleyer was a national finalist for the Best Radio Commercial and Best TV Commercial/Production award categories.

“The nominations are a direct reflection of the effort these students put in,” Broadcast Services Specialist Eli Grimes remarked. “It’s so impressive that the work submitted is worthy of achievement, but not specifically intended to win awards. The work they do every day is quality and to be nominated for an award is further proof of that. As for the program, it’s further evidence that this department time and time again brings out the creative aspects of students while also helping prepare for a successful future in this industry.”

In the past, the Radio/TV Program received several nominations and awards including Best Sports Report, Best Sports Program, Best News Report, Best Graphics, Best TV Promo, and other categories. News Channel 15 has won the Nation’s Best Community College TV Station award multiple times. Two of those times were in 2020 and 2022. “Every year, it seems someone in the program is nominated for a different award which speaks to all the different avenues one can take [in the Radio/TV Program],” Grimes stated.

College and university students across the country submit content to the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System every year. Out of the massive amounts of students that submit work to the awards program, only around five students are nationally nominated as a finalist for each awarded category.

“I often say I will put the amount and quality of the work our students are asked to produce up against any college in the country,” Lead Instructor and Director of Broadcasting Kyle Peach said, praising the program’s students and their work. “Receiving these nominations from a reputable national organization like the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System confirms that our students and the training we provide are among the best in the country. It's equally impressive that our students aren't just competing with other community college students, but with students at quality university programs, yet their work is deemed to be equally as impressive.”

The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System announced WVC as the winner, and Maggee as a finalist, this past weekend in New York. “To me, WVC is a special place,” Peach expressed. “I am a former WVC student, now a teacher and employee. To be able to see our program nationally recognized warms my heart. It is further proof of the excellence we provide for our students and community.”

WGH Employees Excelling In New Program

Early results from a new program for Wabash General Hospital employees have been positive. At yesterday’s WGH Board of Directors meeting, President/CEO Karissa Turner said the program is called Always Behaviors and asks employees to focus on 5 specific areas…

Turner said the fifth element is to make sure all patients have a great experience while at the hospital and asking the patient if there’s anything else the employee can do for them. A secret shopper recently visited the hospital to check on the progress employees were making with the new program and Turner said all factors of the five-point plan were achieved.

12 Year OId Girl Killed In I-70 Crash Near Altamont

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE

FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH 

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police Troop 9

WHAT:                      Single Vehicle Fatal Crash

WHERE:                   Interstate 70 eastbound at milepost 86, near Altamont, Effingham County

WHEN:                      February 24, 2023 at approximately 9:13 a.m.

VEHICLE:                Unit 1 – 2004 Maroon Dodge Durango

DRIVER:                   Unit 1 – Troy Slagle, 59-year-old male from Connersville, IN – flown to an area hospital with serious injuries.

PASSENGERS:         Unit 1 – May Lou Simmons, 62-year-old female from Azle, TX – flown to an area hospital with serious injuries.

                                    Unit 1 – 10-year-old female from Azle, TX – flown to a regional hospital with serious injuries.

                                    Unit 1 – 12-year-old female from Azle, TX – deceased

PRELIMINARY:      Preliminary information indicates the following occurred: ISP Troop 9 units and emergency personnel are on scene of a single vehicle fatal crash at the above date and location. For unknown reasons, the driver of Unit 1 left the roadway and overturned in the median. The driver and one adult passenger were flown to an area hospital with serious injuries. One juvenile passenger was flown to a regional hospital with serious injuries. Another juvenile passenger was pronounced deceased on scene. All lanes of Interstate 70 were reopened at approximately 1:41 p.m. This crash is still under investigation and no further information is available.

Oakland City Man Arrested after Brief Foot Chase

Gibson County – Friday morning, February 24, at approximately 9:46 a.m., Senior Trooper John Davis was obtaining gas at the Chuckles gas station on Morton Street in Oakland City when he spotted Homer Dersch, 50, of Oakland City, sitting in another vehicle on the lot.  Dersch was wanted out of Gibson County on two outstanding felony warrants for failure to appear. Dersch exited the vehicle and fled on foot from the gas station. Trooper Davis ordered Dersch to stop, but he continued to flee. After a brief chase, Dersch was apprehended without further incident. He was taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

Arrested and Charges:

• Homer W. Dersch, 50, Oakland City, IN

1. Resisting Law Enforcement, Class A Misdemeanor

2. Warrant - Failure to Appear for Possession of Meth, Level 6 Felony

3. Warrant - Failure to Appear for Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, Level 6 Felony

Arresting Officer: Senior Trooper John Davis, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Oakland City Police

Wabash County Still At High COVID Transmission Level

Wabash County Health Department administrator Judy Wissel reported at Tuesday’s county commissioner meeting that Wabash County is currently at a high transmission level for COVID. She reminded everyone to stay home if they’re sick. COVID testing continues weekdays at the health department which also still has the flu vaccine and COVID vaccine. 

Treasurer Announces Key Dates For Delinquent Taxpayers

March 10th is the last day to pay your Wabash County property taxes and keep your name from published in the newspaper. Wabash County treasurer Angie Broster told county commissioners Tuesday that the publication of delinquent taxes will be on March 17th, after which the treasurer’s office will long longer accept personal checks to pay for taxes. March 22nd is the last day credit cards can be used to pay your taxes via the gov tech tax pro dot com website. The tax sale will be held Friday, March 31st  in the courtroom. 

Broster also reported that nearly 96% of the levied taxes has been collected so far totaling nearly $12.5 million. Local taxing bodies received 78% of the tax levy on January 23rd and the treasurer said she hopes to get the second distribution out late next week or early the following week. Certified notices of delinquent taxes will be March 3rd. Currently, there’s a 3% penalty being added to delinquent first installments and 1.5% fee added to the second payment amount.  

Lane restrictions planned for Red Skelton bridges

KNOX COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane restrictions for US 50 over the Wabash River for bridge maintenance.

Beginning on or around Monday, March 6, lane restrictions will begin on US 50 over the Wabash River to allow crews to perform bridge maintenance. During daily restrictions, crews will perform bridge painting operations on both east and west bound lanes of traffic. These restrictions will occur in the passing lane of both Red Skelton bridges. Bridge painting operations are needed to preserve the structure of both bridges.

Lane restrictions are expected from 6 am to 6 pm daily. Restrictions will clear when work completes each day. A 16-foot width lane restriction will be in place during working hours. However, due to being part of the Vincennes Memorial Bridge detour, crews will accommodate large loads when necessary. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by the beginning of May.

INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

Woman dies in residential building fire in Washington, IN

The Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office is assisting in the investigation into a fatal fire in Washington, IN on Feb. 17, 2023. 

The fire occurred in a former tavern known as The Hideaway. It recently had been converted into an apartment. Two adults and a young child were able to escape apartments on the second level after being alerted by smoke alarms and the smell of smoke. Firefighters found a female victim in a main-level apartment and took her to the hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.

The victim has been identified as 45-year-old Brandee Mumma. The preliminary cause of death was determined to be smoke inhalation. 

The fire originated within the apartment on the main level. The cause remains under investigation at this time.

The Washington Fire Department, Washington Township Fire Department, Vincennes Fire Department, Daviess County Coroner's Office, Washington Police Department and the State Fire Marshal's Office were involved in the response. 

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to call the Indiana Arson Hotline at 1-800-382-4628. Callers are not required to provide their name. 

Drug Task Force Agents & ISP SWAT Team Arrest Mt. Carmel Man

MOUNT CARMEL – On February 22, 2023, Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested 47-year-old Matthey L. Majors of Mount Carmel, IL for one count of Aggravated Delivery of Methamphetamine (Class X felony), one count of Armed Violence (Class X felony), one count of Possession of Methamphetamine (Class 1 felony), one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3 felony), and one count of Possession of Ammunition by a Felon (Class 3 felony).

 At approximately 6:00 a.m., ISP DCI Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force (SEIDTF) agents, ISP Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Mount Carmel Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant in the 100 block of North Walnut Street in Mount Carmel.  Majors was taken into custody without incident.

 Majors is currently being held at the Wabash County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.  The investigation remains ongoing.  No further information will be disseminated by the Illinois State Police.

 SEIDTF is comprised of the Salem Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Robinson Police Department, the Mount Carmel Police Department and the Illinois State Police. This investigation was a cooperative effort amongst the member police departments in an effort to curb drug usage and violence in the area.

IECC Board Meets At WVC

The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District No. 529 met Tuesday night, February 21st at Wabash Valley College, Mount Carmel, Illinois.

Board approval was given for minor editorial revisions to Policy 200.1 that addresses Administrative Organization. Editorial changes were made throughout the policy. The Board also approved an affiliation agreement with Wayne City Ambulance Services.

As a part of the strategic engagement planning process, the Board approved the recommendation to establish five meta-majors and 18 departments for the IECC district.

A reorganization of the Learning Resource Center and the Academic Success Center was approved by the Board that addresses gaps in student services and a revised organization chart.

The Board approved a ten percent increase for tuition rates for Fiscal Year 2024 to address increasing operational costs. IECC will remain among the most affordable community college.

The recommendation for an addition to the OCC Theater was approved by the Board. Funding for the project will be split between the District and fundraising efforts.

The Board approved a 30 month contract with the District’s electricity supplier. The new contract will result in $485,000 of savings in the next academic year.

The Board approved a contract with TimelyCare for mental health services on all IECC campuses through 2026.

A bid in the amount of $31,000 from Virtual Paint Products was approved for OCC’s Automotive Collision Repair Program.

Employment was approved for Jordan Higgason as Success Coach at FCC & WVC and Devin Hilfirty as Success Coach at OCC & LTC effective February 27, 2023.

A change in employment status for Lori Barger from Administrative Assistant to Information Specialist effective February 27, 2023 was approved.

Under Personnel actions the Board approved Special Assignments for fiscal year 2024 for all four campuses, including lead instructors, advisors, coordinators, managers, directors, and some athletic personnel.

Resignations were received from Rachel Doan as TRIO Upward Bound Counselor effective January 30, 2023; Trudy Hemrich as Bookkeeper at the District office effective March 1, 2023; Marty Fatheree as Maintenance at West Richland Center effective February 22, 2023; and Fawna Forrest as HR Coordinator at the District office effective February 20, 2023.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, March 21, at 6:15 p.m. at Frontier Community College.