City Offering Free Month Of Water As Incentive For Online Survey

Mt. Carmel City officials are hoping the offer of one month’s free water will entice residents to go online and fill out the lead water line survey. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge said if you fill out the survey on the city’s website, you’ll be eligible to win one month’s free water. But Judge warned not to take the easy way out when you complete the survey… 

 Judge said the city is about to enter into a contract with a company to complete the IEPA mandated survey. He hoped residents would take it upon themselves to do the survey without having the outside company become involved. To date, only about 10% of the city’s residents have completed the online survey.  The deadline to submit the survey and be eligible to win the free month of water is Friday, September 15th.

Survey can be completed here:

https://www.cityofmtcarmel.com/publicworks/page/identifying-service-line-material

City Collects $14,000 Mowing Bill From Building Owners

The city of Mt. Carmel’s brush department will be the recipient of $14,000 the city has collected from the owners of the former Long John Silver’s and A T & T buildings. The owners failed to mow the property in violation of the city ordinance against tall grass. That left it up to city crews to mow it racking thousands and thousands of unpaid bills. After pressure from Mayor Joe Judge and city clerk Ryan Turner, the property owners ponied up $14,000 to the city. Judge said the brush department was responsible for mowing the properties and will be receive the money. After having spent thousands on the mowing, both property owner have now secured local contractors to mow and avoid the costly bills. On Friday’s Ask the Mayor segment, Judge said there is nothing to report on either building being sold and or occupied any time soon.

Francisco man arrested on DUI charge

On September 9, 2023, at 1:36 a.m. Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted a traffic stop on a Grey Pontiac G8 for failing to maintain its lane of travel on Morton Street in Oakland City.  Deputy Hunt stopped the vehicle on Mulberry Street, and upon approaching the vehicle 48 year old Chad Keeker of Francisco was identified as the driver.  While speaking with Mr. Keeker Deputy Hunt detected signs of impairment coming from the driver, and at that point he began a roadside DUI investigation.  At the conclusion of his investigation Mr. Keeker was placed into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.  He has since posted a $650 bond. 
 
Assisting Deputy Hunt in his investigation was Oakland City Officer Mike McGregor. 
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Knox County Saturation Patrol Nets Five Impaired Driving Arrests

Knox County – Last night and early this morning, Indiana State Police conducted a saturation patrol targeting dangerous and impaired drivers in Knox County. Between 7:00 p.m. last night, and 5:00 a.m. this morning, troopers conducted 128 traffic stops, made three drug related arrests, and arrested five motorists for driving while intoxicated. All five motorists arrested for driving while intoxicated were taken to the Knox County Jail.

The following were arrested for Driving While Intoxicated:

• Danny Pritchard, 53, Vincennes, IN

• Arsenio Smith, 32, Princeton, IN

• Ronald Ragon, 63, Lawrenceville, IL

• Tambra Lewis, 66, Vincennes, IN

• Brandon Armstrong, 24, Loogootee, IN

Indiana State Police will continue to conduct saturation patrols throughout the Evansville District to locate and arrest dangerous and impaired drivers and to deter others from driving while intoxicated.

911 report of a battery leads to arrest of Francisco man

On September 9, 2023, at 4:08 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a battery in the 1200 block of South 450 East near Francisco.  Upon arriving on scene Deputy Quinten Might opened an investigation into the incident and spoke to all parties involved.  At the end of his investigation he placed 67 year old Clyde Viers into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Battery.  He has since posted a $650 bond. 
 
Assisting Deputy Might in his investigation was Sgt. Loren Barchett.
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Weekend Saturation Patrol Nets Six Impaired Drivers

Jasper – Friday and Saturday, Indiana State Police conducted saturation patrols targeting dangerous and impaired drivers in the Jasper District.

On these days, Troopers issued 74 traffic tickets, 281 traffic warnings, arrested six motorists for driving while intoxicated, and made six drug-related arrests. Troopers also responded to personal injury accidents, burglaries, downed powerlines, domestic disputes, stranded motorists, a suicidal subject, traffic hazards, made welfare checks, assisted with a trespassing complaint, and recovered a stolen vehicle.

Arrested and Charges:

• Joshua Barrett, 45, Williams, IN (Investigation Pending from Crash)                          1.  Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (Controlled Substance), Class C                        Misdemeanor

• Michael Lowe, 54, Indianapolis, IN (Investigation Pending from Serious Bodily Injury Crash)                                                                                                                         1.  Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 5 Felony                                                         2.  Vehicle Theft, Level 6 Felony                                                                                             3.  OWI - Prior, Level 6 Felony                                                                                               4.  HTV (Habitual Traffic Violator), Level 6 Felony                                                           5.  Possession of a Hypodermic Needle, Level 6 Felony

• Ward Hessig, 47, Santa Claus, IN (Transported to the Spencer County Jail)               1.  OWI, Class A Misdemeanor

• Zacharain Masden, 40, French Lick, IN (Transported to the Orange County Jail)      1.  OWI (Controlled Substance), Class C Misdemeanor                                                  2.  Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor                                                          3.  Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

• Ron Johnson, Coffeeville, AL (Transported to the Crawford County Jail                     1.  OWI (Controlled Substance), Class A Misdemeanor                                                 2.  Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor

• Thomas Rauscher, 62, Jasper, IN (Transported to the Dubois County Jail)                 1.  OWI Endangerment, Class A Misdemeanor                                                               2.  OWI (Refusal), Class C Misdemeanor

• Brandy Bruno, 45, Montgomery, IN (Transported to the Daviess County Jail)           1.  OWI Endangerment, Class A Misdemeanor                                                               2.  OWI (Refusal), Class C Misdemeanor

The Indiana State Police will continue to conduct saturation patrols throughout the Jasper District to locate and arrest dangerous and impaired drivers and to deter others from driving while intoxicated.

All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Terre Haute Woman Arrested For Criminal Trespass

On 9/10/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Virginia D. Luben, age 54, Terre Haute, Indiana for Criminal Trespass to Property.  Police were called to the T.P. Trailer Park when Luben was located on the property after ownership had barred her.  Police found that Luben had been given notice, in writing, of this demand.  Luben was located on scene and placed under arrest.  Luben was transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was charged and later released on a Notice to Appear in court.    

Traffic Stop Sends Mt. Carmel Man To Jail

On 9/9/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Donald Scott Baird, age 53, of Mt. Carmel for DUI Drugs, Possession of Cannabis in a Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Lost/Mislaid Credit/Debit Card.  The arrest stemmed from a traffic stop at 3rd & Walnut Street.  During the stop, the officer noticed erratic behaviors from Baird that are commonly associated with narcotic use.  A roadside sobriety check was conducted on Baird in which several clues to indicate impairment were observed.  Baird was placed under arrest when officers located a clear bag of cannabis on his person.  Furthermore, officers located a debit card belonging to another individual on Baird.  Baird claimed to have found it recently and was trying to find the owner.  When officers contacted the owner, she claimed her purse was lost or stolen 6 months ago while in a gaming establishment.  The victim wished to pursue charges against Baird and was allowed to do so.  Baird was taken to the Wabash County Jail where he was processed for DUI, issued his charges, and held pending a bond setting by a judge.   Mt. Carmel Police were assisted by the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office.

Homeless Man Arrested For Public Indecency

On 9/06/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Kevin E. Linson, age 63, of Mt. Carmel for Public Indecency in the 700 block of North Market Street. At approximately 8pm, a passing motorist, along with their two children, observed Linson urinating into one of the planters in front of the old American Legion now owned by Parkview Christian Church. The complainant noted Linson made no attempt to hide his actions. The officer arrived and found evidence corroborating the claim. Linson was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was processed and released on a Notice to Appear.

Police Chief Mike McWilliams said, “As a side note, Mr. Linson is homeless and numerous resources have been exhausted in an attempt at helping him obtain housing, among other things. Mr. Linson has declined those efforts and continues to reside on Market Street. Mt. Carmel Police maintain the difficult position of trying to help those in need while enforcing laws, when appropriate. Even after this arrest, we have continued to other assistance to Mr. Linson along with Mayor Judge, as have countless other concerned citizens”.

WCHD Readies For Flu Shot Season

Wabash County Health Department administrator Judy Wissel reported to county commissioners Tuesday that the health department is preparing for the upcoming flu season. She said the drive thru flu clinic will be held on October 4th at the Public Utility fleet garage and appointments are currently being made with local businesses for on-site flu shots for the last two weeks of September. In addition, the health department will be administering flu shots at the Wabash General Hospital health extravaganza on September 28th.