Two Cisne Men Killed In Richland County Construction Zone Crash

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE

FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH 

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

WHAT:                      Three Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash

WHERE:                   US Route 50 eastbound west of North Cottage Hill Road, Richland County        

 WHEN:                      July 14, 2023 at approximately 6:50 a.m.              

  VEHICLE:                Unit 1 – 2016 Blue Peterbilt Acclaim, pulling semi-trailer                                  

Unit 2 – 1997 Maroon Chevrolet GMT-400                                   

Unit 3 – 2007 White International FL70

DRIVERS:                 Unit 1 – Jonathan J. Wilson., 18-year-old male from Taylorsville, MS                                   

                                    Unit 2 – Justin A. Lynn., 22-year-old male from Cisne, IL (Deceased)                                   

                                    Unit 3 – Cody M. Wolfe, 32-year-old male from Clay City, IL

PASSENGERS:         Unit 2 – Colten H. Stewart, 24-year-old male from Cisne, IL (Deceased)

                                    Unit 3 – Zane R. Farrar, 23-year-old male from Louisville, IL

PRELIMINARY:      The preliminary investigation indicates the following: All 3 units were traveling east on Route 50 entering the construction zone. Unit 3 was stopped at a stop sign being held by a construction worker. Unit 2 was stopped behind Unit 3. Unit 1 failed to reduce its speed, and Unit 1 struck the rear of Unit 2, pushing Unit 2 forward into Unit 3. Unit 2 caught on fire as a result of the crash and the driver and passenger were declared deceased on scene. Unit 1 and 3 drivers and Unit 3 passenger were transported to area hospitals with minor injuries.

 CHARGES:               Unit 1 driver was cited for Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid a Crash.

The public is reminded that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Dardeen Gets 18 Years On Drug Charges

61 year old John Dardeen has been sentenced to 18 years in prison on two Wabash County drug cases.

Appearing in Wabash County Circuit Court this morning, Dardeen was sentenced to the maximum 7 years on a Class 3 felony of delivery of methamphetamine of more than 5 grams. Dardeen was found guilty of that charge in February by a Wabash County Jury.

During the trial, Dardeen denied he sold meth, but instead sold cannabis. That led investigators to search his home at 319 Walnut Street where they found several items associated with the manufacture and delivery of methamphetamine, a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun with ammunition, and many other cannabis related items.

State’s attorney Kelli Storckman then filed additional charges against Dardeen including a Class X felony charge of possession of meth with intent to deliver.

This morning, Judge William C. Hudson accepted a negotiated plea on the new charges and sentenced Dardeen to 11 years in prison on the Class X felony with at least 75% of the term being served. An additional Class X felony and a Class 3 felony were dismissed.

Since the sentences will be served consecutively, Dardeen will have to serve almost 12 years in prison.

Dardeen was also ordered to surrender his home at 319 Walnut Street to the Illinois State Police who will sell it and disperse the proceeds according to state statute.

Weekend Crash Claims Life Of Fairfield Man

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:                   CR 925 N Approx. ¼ Mile West of CR 2035 E, Wayne County

 WHEN:                      July 15, 2023 at approximately 12:46 a.m.

  VEHICLE:                Unit 1 – 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee                            

DRIVER:                   Unit 1 – 19-Year-Old Logan M. Kreiter from Fairfield, IL (Deceased)

 PASSENGER:           None                     

PRELIMINARY:      The preliminary investigation indicates the following:  Unit 1 was traveling eastbound on Wayne County road 925 N, approximately ¼ mile West of Wayne County road 2035 E.  For unknown reasons Unit 1 left the roadway, driving into the North ditch.  Unit 1 overturned multiple times and came to a resting point in a field North of the roadway. The Driver was pronounced deceased on scene by the Wayne County Coroner.

Alexis Bertram Crowned Wabash County Fair Queen

Alexis Bertram

My name is Alexis Bertram and I am the 17 year old daughter of Zach and Jill Hunt and Todd Bertram of Mount Carmel. I am a 2023 graduate of Mt. Carmel High School. I received an academic scholarship and athletic offer from Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana where I will be attending in the fall to play softball, major in Cybersecurity, and Psychology. I have been in 4-H and a member of Town and Country 4Her’s Club for 9 years.

            While attending high school, I played on the Lady Aces softball team for four years, the Lady Aces Soccer Team for two years, was a member of the National Honor Society. I graduated with high honors, and a 4.0 GPA. I have also played softball for the last 15 years for Mt. Carmel Little League, Wabash Mission and Extreme travel softball teams.

            During the 9 years I have been enrolled in 4-H, I have taken on various projects that have taught me a lot of responsibilities throughout my life. I have taken Vegetable Gardening, Cooking 101-401, Poultry, Rabbits, Cat Care, Dog Care, Scrapbooking, and Food Preservation. I have won multiple Best of Show awards at the Wabash County Fair for my projects. I have also attended the Illinois State Fair several times where I have also received awards for my projects.

            In my free time I do a lot of volunteer work throughout the community. I help out with the Mt. Carmel Christmas Parade, Mt. Carmel’s Christmas Uptown, District 348 0-3 program, Pre-K, and kindergarten classes. I also give softball lessons, and I umpire Mt. Carmel Little League softball games.

            I would love to become the 2023 Wabash County Fair Queen because I love being involved with the fair. I have a lot of knowledge about the 4-H fair shows, I am responsible, and I have had prior experience from being the 2019 Wabash County Fair Princess. I feel that I did a great job with the many things that are involved with holding the title and that I will continue to do a great job representing Wabash County. I really enjoyed passing out awards to the winners at the fair shows, being in all of the local parades, and I loved being a two-time judge for Mt. Carmel’s Little Miss Ag Day’s Contest. I would love to be able to have this opportunity in my last years of being involved in 4-H and the fair.

            I would like to thank my sponsors Fischer Family Enterprises, LLC for supporting me!

Addison Tennis Crowned Wabash County Fair Princess

Addison Tennis

            Hello, my name is Addison Tennis. I am the daughter of Jason and Carrie Tennis. I am 13 years old, and I am in the Allendale Twisters Club. This is my 5th year in 4-H. When I was younger, I would help my brother show his dairy cattle. I followed him around and I thought I was the coolest kid ever. I always looked up to the pretty girls with crowns and said I wanted to be like them. Here I am now trying to be one of them. I want to be one of the people that those little kids can look up to and hope they can be like me too.

            At the fair I show dairy cows, meat and novelty goats. I bring in many different types of flowers, art, crops, produce, and schoolwork. I love to go to all the shows during fair week and watch my friends show their animals. Fair week is my favorite time of year because most of my closest friends are there with me and I love being involved with everyone.

            Some of my favorite hobbies are school sports such as volleyball, track, cross country, and basketball. My favorite thing to do is work at our family farm. I take care of the baby calves; I make them bottles every morning and feed them as well as sometimes having to help the mothers give birth. I also keep most of my goats at the farm and make sure they are well fed and have all the hay and water they need. I also breed my own goats at home with our buck. I stay at eh farm most of the day and help my dad whenever he needs it. One of my favorite things to do at the farm is give all of my goat’s special names that have the same topic as their mothers’ names.

            I was nominated and voted vice president of our club. I attend Saint Mary’s catholic school. I recently received the DAR Youth Citizenship Award which they hand pick a seventh grader every year to award with.

            If I am chosen as princess, I will do my best to be a good role model and represent our 4-H and Jr. Fair Program in the best way possible.

            I would like to thank my sponsors Steven’s Farms for supporting me this year!

Dardeen To Be Sentenced Today On Drug Conviction

61 year old John Dardeen will learn his fate today as he’s sentenced on a charge of meth delivery of more than 5 grams. A Wabash County jury found Dardeen guilty of the Clas 2 felony charge and he now faces 3 to 7 years in the Department of Corrections during this morning’s sentencing that is set to start at 9am. During that February trial, Dardeen took the stand in his own defense and denied selling meth and instead he sold marijuana out of his Walnut Street residence. That admission then led to a search warrant and police finding several items associated with the manufacture and delivery of methamphetamine, a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun with ammunition, and many other cannabis related items. State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman then filed two Class X felonies against Dardeen. The first, possession of meth with intent to deliver, carries a possible prison sentence of 10 to 50 years plus a possible $300,000 fine. The second Class X felony was for aggravated participation in methamphetamine manufacturing which carries a possible 12 to 50 years in prison and another potential $300,000 fine. He has pleaded not guilty to those new charges and a hearing on those cases is set after today’s sentencing.

Mt. Carmel Man Arrested After Incident At Market Street Bar

On 7/16/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested John W. Randall, age 39, of Mt. Carmel for Criminal Trespass to Property following an incident at Vick’s Bar aka Buckeye’s Bar & Grill in the 300 block of N Market Street.  Police were called there after Randall became belligerent when an individual with Randall was refused further service due to their current level of intoxication.  Randall refused to leave after several requests by the bartender as well as police.  Randall was placed under arrest transported to the Wabash County Jail where he held pending the posting of bond.  

Punch At Convenience Store Lands Mt. Carmel Man In Jail

On 7/16/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested David A. “Bub” Banks, age 59, of Mt. Carmel, for Aggravated Battery and Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe.  The aggravated battery arrest stemmed from Banks punching in individual while at the Jumpin Jimmy’s Convenience Store at 9th & Market Street on 7/15/23.  Police identified Banks from store video surveillance footage.  Police were unable to locate Banks that night but on 7/16/23 an MCPD officer observed Banks operating his 1997 Chevy truck as it pulled into Comeaux’s Bar in the 300 block of W 9th Street.  Banks was placed under arrest at this time.  Police also located a hypodermic syringe needle, loaded with an unknown substance, under the hood of his vehicle inside a compartment.  Banks was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending a bond setting by a judge.  Banks is currently out on bond for a March 2023 arrest for Possession of Methamphetamine and a May 2023 arrest for Burglary.  

Wabash District #348 School Board Agenda

WABASH COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

MT. CARMEL GRADE SCHOOL CAFETORIUM

Monday, July 17, 2023 Regular Board Meeting- 7:00 P.M.

AGENDA

1. Call to order / Roll call

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Consent Agenda

a. Board Minutes

i. June 16, 2023 Special Meeting

ii. June 19, 2023 Hearing and Regular Meeting

iii. June 26, 2023 Special Meeting

b. Monthly Bills

c. Financial Reports

d. Correspondence

e. Administrative Reports

4. Reports - Laura Taylor

5. Superintendent’s Comments

6. Public Comments

7. Executive Session pursuant to Section 2(c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act: “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees”.

8. New Business

a. 2023-2024 Food Bids

b. Schedule of Fees

c. Student Handbooks 2023-2024

d. WCTA Contract

e. Employment of Personnel

9. Adjournment

Council Reviews & Updates Storm Cleanup Efforts

Monday’s Mt. Carmel City Council meeting was the first since the July 1st storm that knocked down more than 100 trees across the city and left many without power for days. Mayor Joe Judge said crews continue to clear the downed trees and limbs and the cleanup could take another month. He said officials were able to learn quite a bit from last year’s tornado that hit the city’s south end and implement with the response to this month’s storm…

 During her report, Commissioner Susan Zimmerman commented on the cleanup efforts of city workers…

 Zimmerman said the brush harbor has gone back to its’ normal schedule of being open Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. She pointed out that the burning of brush is allowed only in fire pits and that stand alone brush fires are not allowed.

Judge also took time Monday to admonish onlookers who ventured out during the storm’s aftermath looking at the damage…

 Judge recounted one instance of an ambulance being delayed in getting to its’ destination because of the glut of traffic on 4th Street from people simply out sightseeing.

WSJD Photo of July 1st storm.