With Spring here, you’ll no doubt be cleaning up your yards. If that’s the case, Mt. Carmel fire chief Francis Speth has issued a reminder that city ordinances prohibit leaf and brush burning within city limits. Items set out for the brush pickup crew shouldn’t be placed in the street.
Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge and city manager Ryan Turner are in Washington, D. C. this week to meet with legislative leaders looking for funding for local projects…
Judge is one of 36 mayors from across the state that will meet with US Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Congressman Mike Bost, and others. Judge said he hoped the meetings will generate traction for local projects to be funded by the feds.
The consolidated election in Illinois is just one week away and Wabash County Clerk Janet Will is reminding voters that if you’ll be out of town next week during Spring Break, you can cast a ballot this week in her office. Early voting is available this week between 8am and 4pm and also on Saturday from 9 to 12 noon. You can also vote early next Monday on Election Eve in the county clerk’s office from 8 to 4. Highlighting the local ballot are races for Mt. Carmel City Council and District #348 school board. We have a sample ballot available on our Facebook page. If you plan on voting in person next Tuesday, polls will be open from 6am to 7pm.
Mt. Carmel Public Works director Mike Gidcumb reported at last week’s city council meeting that the city’s street sweeper is currently operating Monday’s, Wednesday’s, and Friday's. He said the sweeper begins a couple of hours earlier in the day to avoid traffic congestion. Gidcumb also said upgrades to Lincoln Park are 90% complete and more projects for Market, Oak, and Division Streets are in the works.
A self-described activist issued a warning last week to the Wabash District #348 school board that bullying primarily at the junior and senior high schools could have drastic consequences. Mike Chappell (as in church chapel) said he has been a member of the local community for three years and in that time has seen alarming issues…
Chappell said the consequences of inaction could prove to be dire….
Chappell told the school board that the unthinkable could happen here if something isn’t done…
Chappell said attempts to discuss the bullying issue with administrators failed and that was the reason for his appearance at the school board meeting. There was no reaction or response by the board or administrators following Chappell’s remarks.
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE
FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH
WHAT: Fatal Crash
WHERE: Interstate 57 northbound at milepost 15, near Ullin, Pulaski County
WHEN: March 23, 2023 at 4:41 p.m.
VEHICLES: Unit 1 – 2014 White Peterbilt – Truck-Tractor Semi-Trailer Combination
Unit 2 – 1998 Blue Peterbilt – Truck-Tractor Semi-Trailer Combination
Unit 3 – 2021 White Freightliner – Truck-Tractor Semi-Trailer Combination
Unit 4 – 2008 White Kenworth – Truck-Tractor Semi-Trailer Combination
DRIVERS: Unit 1 – Richard A. Collins, 68-year-old male from Troy, MI – Deceased
Unit 2 – Nicholas L. Bowling, 44-year-old male from Rush, KY – Transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
Unit 3 – Dexter D. Dantzler, 58-year-old male from Chicago, IL – Treated on scene for minor injuries by Pulaski County Ambulance Personnel.
Unit 4 – Luis N. Chacon Quintana, 30-year-old male from Fort Lupton, CO – Reported no injuries on scene.
PASSENGER: Unit 4 – Christina M. Rios, 29-year-old female from Albuquerque, NM -Reported no injuries on scene.
PRELIMINARY: The preliminary investigation indicates the following: Units 2, 3, and 4 were stopped for traffic on Interstate 57 northbound at milepost 15. For unknown reasons, Unit 1 failed to stop and struck the rear of Unit 2. Unit 2 then struck the rear of Unit 3. Unit 3 then struck the rear of Unit 4. The driver of Unit 1 was pronounced deceased on scene by the Pulaski County Coroner. All northbound lanes of I-57 were reopened at approximately at 6:12 a.m. No further information is available.
On Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 3:53 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Logan Lashbrook conducted a traffic stop on a White 2016 Chevy Cruz on Broadway near White Church in Princeton Indiana. Deputy Lashbrook initiated the stop after identifying the driver as 31-year-old Alexandria Lanning of St. Francisville, Illinois. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Lashbrook advised Ms. Lanning that she had an outstanding warrant out of Knox County. While speaking with Ms Lanning Deputy Lashbrook detected the odor of burnt Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. At that point Deputy Lashbrook placed Ms. Lanning into custody and began a roadside drug investigation. At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Lashbrook transported Ms. Lanning to the Gibson County Jail where she was charged with Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia. Ms. Lanning remains in custody due to a hold on the outstanding warrant through Knox County.
Assisting Deputy Lashbrook in his investigation was Deputy Zach Lienemann.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On 3/22/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Sabra B. Garrett, age 31, of Mt. Carmel, for Residential Burglary and Theft following an investigation into packages being stolen from residents in the W 6th Street area. A concerned citizen observed Garrett remove the package from a residence in the 600 block of W 6th at which time they called the police. The arresting officer located Garrett in the 700 block of W 6th Street where they recovered part of the stolen content from the box. The remaining contents were later found hidden in a nearby empty lot. The victim signed a complaint against Garrett resulting in her arrest for the above-mentioned charges. Garrett was transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was charged and held pending a bond setting by a judge. Garrett is currently out on bond for a 2022 charge for Delivery of Methamphetamine out of Wabash County.
On 3/22/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Jay A. Parrish, age 39, of Mt. Carmel, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Theft. Parrish was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for an unrelated offense in the 1300 block of W 9th Street. During the stop, Officer Hopper and his K-9 Eleven conducted a free air narcotics sniff around the exterior of the vehicle resulting in the K-9 alerting to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle was conducted leading to officers finding a set of scales containing suspected narcotics residue on it. As the search continued, officers located Tramadol and codeine tablets, both of which are controlled substances. Parrish admitted to ownership of each of the pills but only claimed a prescription for the Tramadol. Further investigation found evidence that Parrish had stolen the codeine tablet from a residence he visits. The lawful owner signed charges against Parrish for the theft of his medication at that time. Parrish was taken to the Wabash County Jail where he has been charged and held pending a bond setting by a judge.
The end of school countdown is on for seniors at Mt. Carmel High School. At Monday’s District #348 school board meeting, principal Andrew Shelby announced that the last day of classes for seniors will be May 5th. Awards night is set for May 11th and graduation will be held Saturday, May 13th at 10am at Riverview Stadium. Rain will move the ceremony inside to the gym.
