MCES Parking Lot Work Complete; New Drop-Off/Pick-Up Procedure Announced

Work was recently completed on a new parking lot at Mt. Carmel Elementary School. The old lot was in disrepair and it was time for a new surface and striping. The new lot's striping and signage should lead to a safer space for all who use it. MCES principal, Jake Newkirk, indicated the new layout will allow for the implementation of new drop off and pick up procedures. "With any change, we understand there will be some hesitation and potential push back. However, we want to emphasize that any change is for the safety of our students. When talking with other school leaders in the area as well as engineers and architects, it was clear that some changes would be beneficial. The new changes will be communicated by the students' teachers on Meet & Greet as well as on the school's website. In short, there will not be parking in the lot from 7:30 - 8:00. The lot will serve exclusively as a drop-off loop. This will eliminate the mix of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the same space. Faculty & staff will be out directing traffic to assist parents and students. The primary change for pick up will require all to find a marked spot to park and not pull up near the school or behind other marked spots on the perimeter. 

 

Newkirk commented, "We are excited to offer the community an improvement to our facility while increasing safety (and hopefully convenience) at the same time. If there are questions in advance of Thursday's first day of school, feel free to contact the office at 618-263-3876."

Developer Plans Big Changes At 3rd & Walnut Corner

A local developer has gotten approval from the Mt. Carmel City Council to make major changes to one corner of the 3rd and Walnut Street intersection. Developer Ed McPherson outlined his plans to the council at their meeting Monday afternoon…. 

McPherson said the retail building will be 3,000 square feet and similar to one he built several years ago at 9th and Chestnut. Mayor Joe Judge applauded McPherson’s plan…. 

After approving another McPherson billboard, the council then gave the go ahead for a new billboard at 915 Walnut Street near the soon to be opened Family Dollar in the former IGA store. Previously, the council had approved a digital billboard at 9th and Market Streets for Robinson Outdoor. But, Robinson representative Wesley Bell said the company had changed its’ mind and wanted to move their request to 915 Walnut Street. The council approved the change with the understanding a new billboard would not be placed at 9th and Market Streets.  

City Still Fielding Complaints About New River Camp Policy

The city of Mt. Carmel’s efforts to keep closer tabs on river camps drew questions from a resident at Monday’s city council meeting, Pat Stansfield said she and her husband had a river camp for 28 years and were surprised at being pushed off the camp by the city while two others were allowed to remain. City Clerk Ryan Turner attempted to clear up the situation… 

Turner told Stansfield said those at river camps who have refused to leave are being taken to court and will end up incurring legal fees for staying on city property. And, the fact the river camps are city property is something not many, including Stansfield, knew until Mayor Joe Judge pointed it out… 

Once the remaining occupants are cleared off the river camps, public works director Mike Gidcumb said lots will be surveyed and then be offered for sale sometime this fall. 

Storm Recovery Nearly Complete; City OT Costs Top $80,000

Last month’s severe storm that caused widespread damage around Mt. Carmel cost the city $80,000. City Clerk Ryan Turner said most of that figure comes from overtime workers incurred from the July 1st storm that knocked down hundreds of trees around town. The good news is that $65,000 of that total will be covered by insurance and reimbursed to the city.

Street commissioner Tyson Meador reported at Monday’s meeting that most of the larger items downed during the storm have been picked up and the brush pickup routes have returned to a normal schedule.

Dugouts at the 4th Street softball field will be replaced after one was totally destroyed and the other was heavily damaged by the storm. Mayor Joe Judge said the estimate to rebuild both dugouts is $13,000 with $10,000 being covered by insurance. The city council voted to give Mt. Carmel Little League the $3,000 difference from ARPA funds.  

City Pool Closes For Season Sunday; More Than 10,000 Visits In 2023

At Monday’s city council meeting, Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge reminded residents that the city pool is closing for the season this Sunday. He said the pool recently received a perfect score during an inspection. And while many may complain the pool doesn’t remain open on at least weekends through Labor Day, Judge pointed out that several area pools closed at the end of July and the Mt. Carmel pool is one of the few still open in southern Illinois. Finance Commissioner Eric Ikemire reported the pool had 8,000 visits this year bringing in $34,000.  But on Friday’s “Ask The Mayor” segment, Judge said that number is now over 10,000 visits.

May 2023 File Photo

Princeton man arrested on multiple charges after report of a disturbance

On August 9, 2023, at 1:32 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a disturbance involving two adults that was occurring in the 3300 block of West Mary Roberts Drive near Princeton.  Deputies with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Princeton Police Department were dispatched to the scene.  Upon arriving Deputy Wyatt Hunt with the assistance of other officer separated all the involved parties so he could begin an investigation into the incident.  Upon receiving statements from all parties involved he placed 41 year old Nathan Simpson into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail.  Deputy Hunt charged Mr. Simpson with Battery with Serious Bodily Injury, Strangulation, Battery in the Presence of a Child, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Operating a Vehicle While a Habitual Traffic Violator.  He remains in custody on a $1,250 bond.
 
Assisting Deputy Hunt in his investigation was Deputy Bart Wagner and Princeton Officer Nick Rainey and Zach Strickland. 
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ISP TO CONDUCT ALCOHOL COUNTERMEASURE ENFORCEMENT PATROLS

Effingham – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 9 Commander, Captain Nathan Douglas, announces the ISP will conduct Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement (ACE) patrols in Wabash and Jasper County during September. ACE patrols allow the ISP to focus on preventing, detecting, and taking enforcement action in response to violations associated with impaired driving and illegal transportation or consumption of alcohol or drugs.

The ISP has zero tolerance for impaired driving in Illinois. Officers working the detail will be watchful for drivers who are operating vehicles in an unsafe manner, driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, transporting open alcoholic beverages, and most importantly:

- Driving Under the Influence (DUI);

- Safety Belt and Child Restraint use;

- Speeding;

- Distracted Driving;

and,

-All Illinois Vehicle Code and Criminal Violations.

Alcohol and drug impairment are factors in more than 30% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. There is one alcohol-related traffic fatality every 53 minutes in the United States. The ACE program allows officers to work even harder at removing dangerous DUI offenders from the road. This project is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation

Herrin Man Arrested After Report Of Shooting

On 8/08/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Travis C. Brewster, age 38, of Herrin, Illinois for Aggravated Battery, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Weapon by Felon and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia following an incident in the 500 block of W 1st Street.  Police were called to the scene after a male subject reported being shot by another male subject during a dispute.  Officers arrived and found that the injured subject had been shot with a paintball style handgun with plastic projectiles being shot from it.  Officers located the suspect nearby where he was detained pending further investigation into the allegation. This investigation resulted in the suspect, Brewster, being placed under arrest for the above-mentioned charges.  Brewster possessed several types of prescription narcotics, psilocybin mushrooms, methamphetamine, hypodermic needles, various types of knifes, billy clubs, and a stun gun.  Brewster was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending a bond setting by a judge.  The injured male required medical treatment at an area hospital.