WCHD Receives $200,000 Vaccination Grant

Wabash County Health Department Administrator Judy Wissel reported on some positive grant funding news at yesterday’s board of health meeting. Wissel said the biggest news is the health department is receiving a $200,000 vaccination grant….

Wissel said the grant money will be used by the health department for such things as flu clinics, the Back to School Bash, and kids vaccines. It’s also hoped part of the grant can be used to help pay for the recently installed generator at the health department. In addition to the vaccination grant, Wissel said the health department received a $5,000 public health emergency program grant. She said that money will go help pay for the generator.

County Board Chairman Says New Hotel Hits "Serious Roadblock"

An effort to locate a new hotel in Wabash County has hit a “serious roadblock”. At Monday’s county commissioner meeting, board chairman Tim Hocking said he had had several discussions with Craig Newman of the Area Economic Alliance about a developer that was looking to locate a hotel near Mt. Carmel. But, Hocking said Monday that the project had hit a “serious roadblock” without elaborating what the roadblock was. Hocking also didn’t disclose who the potential developer is, what type of hotel was being proposed, or its’ location. 

New State Law May Force Changes To Local Solar Ordinance

It looks like a speed bump has been thrown into efforts to bring a solar farm to Wabash County. At Monday’s county commissioner meeting, board chairman Tim Hocking said R-3 Renewables continues to make progress in locating the solar farm near the former Friendsville coal mine. But, Hocking the speed bump is coming from a new state law regulating solar farms in Illinois… 

Hocking said based on that, the county may have to revisit their recently adopted solar farm ordinance. State’s attorney Kelli Storckman said she’s wasn’t yet aware of how Wabash County’s ordinance is more restrictive than the state law, but she would look into the situation and see what changes needed to be made. Hocking said the Illinois Association of Counties’ ordinance was drafted with input from the Illinois Farm Bureau. 

Tennessee Fugitive Arrested after Chase on I-64

Warrick County – Tuesday morning, March 7, at approximately 11:05 a.m., Indiana State Police received information Brandon Freeman, 33, of Nashville, TN, was traveling east on I-64 in a gold Chevrolet Impala from the Illinois state line and was wanted out of Tennessee for a federal weapons charge. At approximately 11:17 a.m., Indiana State Police First Sergeant Helmer spotted the vehicle traveling east on I-64 near SR 65 and attempted to stop it. Freeman failed to stop, continued traveling east at a high rate of speed, exited onto US 41 south for a brief distance before making a U-turn and continuing east again on I-64.  Senior Trooper Finney was able to deploy stop sticks at the 33 mile-marker causing the vehicle to slow down and eventually drive off the roadway on the southside at the 36 mile-marker. As soon as the vehicle came to a final rest, Freeman exited and ran south into a wooded area. Officers set up a perimeter and requested air support and SWAT to respond. At approximately 12:40 p.m., Indiana State Police SWAT entered the wooded area and within an hour found Freeman hiding near a log. Freeman was arrested without further incident and taken to the Warrick County Jail.

Arrested and Charges:

  • Brandon Freeman, 33, Nashville, TN

  1. Federal Warrant for a Weapons Offense

  2. Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony

  3. Resisting Law Enforcement, Class A Misdemeanor

Arresting Agencies: Indiana State Police and US Marshals Task Force

Assisting Agencies: Warrick County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Excise Police, Elberfeld Town Marshal, Warrick County EMA, and Vanderburgh County EMA.

$40,000 Lead Line Grant Secured; Surveys Starts This Summer

The City of Mt. Carmel has landed a $40,000 to help pay for an employee to conduct a survey into the presence of lead water lines of local homes. At yesterday’s city council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge said the survey is required by the state EPA…

 Judge explained what the homeowner will be responsible for if lead lines are found…

 Judge said it could be August before the city finds out if their $400,000 grant application is approved. It’s estimated that most of the lead lines will be located on older homes and not newer ones. When going door to door, the employee will be driving a clearly identifiable city vehicle and have proper identification.

More general information on the requirements can be found via the link to the City of Effingham’s website:

https://www.effinghamil.com/services/public-works/lead-service-line-replacement-program

City Inauguration Set For May 1st

The city election is four weeks from today and Mayor Joe Judge has announced that the inauguration of the four city commissioners and mayor will take place at 4pm on Monday, May 1st. Commissioners Tom Meeks, Eric Ikemire, and Susan Zimmerman are seeking re-election. Also on the ballot are Tyson Meador and Darrell Thompson. Judge is running unopposed for his second term as mayor.

Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, March 6, 2023 at 4:00 pm

· Call to Order

o Pledge of Allegiance

o Roll Call

· Approve Minutes

o Minutes of meeting held 2/20/2023

· Visitors (topic discussed by visitor(s) is limited to 5 minutes)

o Wayne Walden-Mt. Carmel Kiwanis

· Reports and Communications

o Mayor Judge

o Commissioner Meeks Streets, Cemeteries and Parks

o Commissioner Ikemire Finance and Senior Citizens

o Commissioner Dulgar Water and Sewer

o Commissioner Zimmerman Fire, Health & Safety, City Hall and Garbage

· Staff Reports

o Ryan Turner Derek McCullough Paris Pennington

o Michael McWilliams Francis Speth Mike Gidcumb

New Business

o Consent Agenda

§ Pay all bills providing proper signature

§ Donate squad car to WEMA

§ Resolution 695

o Removal of items from the Consent Agenda

· Executive Session

· Motion to Adjourn

· Liquor Control Meeting-