Trailer With No Registration Results In Multiple Charges For Pair

7/18/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Cloice R. McMahel, age 71, of Grayville and Nathan K Wheatley, age 41, of Plainfield, Indiana on several charges following a traffic stop in the 800 block of N Mulberry Street.  The arrest was a result of a stop on a black Ford pulling a trailer with no registration.  During the stop, the officer requested Ofc. Hopper and his K-9 Eleven for assistance.  Upon their arrival, a free air narcotics sniff was conducted around the exterior of the Ford.  Eleven alerted positively leading to a search of the vehicle.  During the search officers located approximately 27 grams of crystal methamphetamine found behind a center console panel, digital scales, and a large capacity shotgun magazine containing 9 rounds of 12 gauge ammunition. 

McMahel was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Wheatley was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Firearm Ammunition by Felon, and Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Device. 

Both individuals are being held at the Wabash County Jail pending a bond setting by a judge.

Cloice R. McMahel, age 71, of Grayville

Nathan K Wheatley, age 41, of Plainfield, Indiana

Thrown Cup Of Soda Leads To Battery Charge For Mt. Carmel Man

On 7/20/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Tracy Curtis Wilson, age 34, of Mt. Carmel for Battery following an incident at a residence in the 400 block of W 3rd Street.  Police were called to the scene regarding allegations that Wilson had thrown a cup of soda on the female resident during a dispute.  After speaking with other witnesses, police allowed the female to sign a complaint against Wilson for Battery.  Wilson was located at a residence in the 700 block of W 6th Street where he was taken into custody.  Wilson was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was processed and later released on a Notice to Appear in court.

Road closure planned for State Road 168

GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure for State Road 168 in Fort Branch.


Beginning on or around Wednesday, July 26, crews will close State Road 168 in Fort Branch. This closure will occur between North Railroad Street and North Polk Street. During this closure crews will perform a pipe replacement. Work is expected to take a day to complete, depending on the weather.


The official detour for this project is U.S. 41 to State Road 64 to State Road 65. Local traffic will have access up to the point of closure.

#348 School Board Sets Special Meeting

WABASH CUSD #348 BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING

DISTRICT OFFICE 218 W. 13th Street Mt. Carmel, Il 62863

Monday, August 7, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Call to order / Roll call

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

3. Personnel Matters

4. Adjourn

Single vehicle accident leads to arrest of Poseyville man

On July 18, 2023, at 7:24 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a single vehicle accident in the area of 4664 North 200 West near Patoka.  Deputy Logan Lashbrook arrived on scene and located a Red 2008 Chevy Impala in a ditch with no one around it.  Deputy Quinten Might located 55 year old Richard Rickard of Poseyville in the area, and he admitted to being the driver of the vehicle.  While speaking with Mr. Rickard Deputy Might detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver and began a roadside DUI investigation.  At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Might placed Mr. Rickard into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail.  Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Mr. Rickard was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.  He has since posted a $400 bond. 
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Owensville man arrested on Felony warrant after multi hour standoff

On July 19, 2023, the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office was given information that 23 year old Colton Linxwiler of Owensville had a Felony arrest warrant through Gibson County Circuit Court.  Deputies with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office as well as multiple outside agencies came together to attempt to locate and apprehend Mr. Linxwiler.  After checking multiple residences in the Patoka, Indiana area officers descended on a residence in the 200 block of West Vine Street in Patoka.  Upon setting up a perimeter an officer knocked on the door and spoke with the owner of the residence.   While speaking with the owner of the residence Deputy U.B. Smith heard someone running through the residence and alerted officers on scene.  A short time later officers visually saw Mr. Linxwiler inside the residence and began the process of having him come out of the residence and be placed in custody.  After several hours on scene Mr. Linxwiler walked out of the residence and was placed into custody.  Upon being transported to the Gibson County Jail he was booked in on the Felony Probation Violation Warrant through Circuit Court and a new Resisting Law Enforcement Charge.  He remains in custody on a $5,750 bond. 
 
Assisting Deputy U.B. Smith in his investigation were:
Sgt. Roger Ballard GCSO
Quinten Might GCSO
Dan Goedde Princeton PD
Jason Swan Princeton PD
Joshua Hoover Haubstadt Police
Trooper Vennekotter
Trooper Roberts

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

County Board Chairman Says Hotel Project Still A Possibility

Wabash County Commissioners have backtracked and will give the Ag Days Committee $3,500 to advertise their upcoming festival. At their meeting two weeks ago, commissioners rejected the committee’s request for the $3,500, instead giving them $2,500 out of the county’s hotel motel tax. Commissioner Rob Dean said the closing of the Uptown Motel and no viable prospects for a new hotel would  deplete the tourism tax funds. But at their meeting Monday, commissioners reversed course and voted to fund the $3,500 request. As for Dean’s comments about the bleak outlook for a new local hotel, board chairman Tim Hocking said that’s not necessarily the case… 

 hocking the potential developer hired his own consultant the feasibility study… 

 Plans for a new hotel were scrapped last year when the developer unexpectedly died just as the project was about to be finalized. 

Pay To Play To Go Away

The Wabash District #348 school board appears poised to do away with the pay to play program for athletes and cheerleaders. The concept was adopted in March of 2015 as a way to help close a multi-million-dollar budget deficit. But, at Monday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said the time has come for pay to play to go away…. 

 Since 2018, the pay to play fee has been $100 per sport with a cap of $200 per athlete and a $500 family cap. Bleyer said with the elimination of pay to play, it may encourage more participation on teams. Since the elimination of pay to play wasn’t on Monday’s agenda, the school board is expected to formally vote to end the fee at their August meeting.

Bleyer said again this year the registration fee is being waived for all students. The breakfast price for students was set at $1 while lunch was set at $2.85 per student in line with federal guidelines.   

Allendale School Board Notes

At the July 2023 Allendale School Board meeting held in the library of Allendale School, the board:

● Accepted the bid from Prairie Farms to be the school’s milk product supplier for the 2023-2024 school year.

● Approved to discard obsolete/excess equipment.

● Approved to abate $25,000 from Working Cash Fund to the Tort Fund.

● Approved Elizabeth Irelan as After-School Tutor for 2023-2024 school year.

● Approved Talley Wyat as After-School Tutor for 2023-2024 school year