On 9/23/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Porfirio Leal-Zavala, age 46, of Princeton, Indiana for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol following a traffic stop in the 200 block of West 2nd Street. The arresting officer observed a white GMC SUV stopped at the stop sign at 2nd & Chestnut for an extended period of time before finally pulling into the intersection. When doing so, the white GMC began swerving so a traffic stop was conducted. As the officer spoke to driver, Leal-Zavala, he observed signs to indicate impairment from alcohol. Leal-Zavala submitted to a roadside sobriety check which offered several clues to indicate impairment. Leal-Zavala was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail. Leal-Zavala was processed for DUI and turned over to corrections staff for further processing.
Domestic Dispute Lands Fairfield Man In Jail
On 9/23/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Robert S. Murphree, age 43, of Fairfield for domestic battery following a domestic dispute at an apartment located at 1230 N Walnut Street. Police were called to the scene by the resident who reported their brother, Murphree, had caused bodily harm to them when he was asked to leave. The victim had signs of injury to both their neck and arm. Murphree, who was located outside of the apartment, was placed under arrest without incident. Murphree was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending a pre-trial detention determination by the court.
Evansville Man Arrested after Resisting and Battering Trooper during Traffic Stop
Gibson County: Sunday night, September 24, at approximately 10:35 p.m., Trooper Hurley stopped the driver of a 1995 Buick on US 41 near CR 350 North for having a defective taillight and expired registration. The driver was identified as Austin Ricks, 25, of Evansville. Trooper Hurley detected signs of impairment and detected an odor of cannabis inside the vehicle. During field sobriety tests, Ricks resisted, and a physical confrontation ensued. Ricks was taken into custody after being tased by Trooper Hurley. Ricks was treated at the scene and transported to Gibson General Hospital in Princeton where he was treated, released, and then transported to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.
Trooper Hurley received minor injuries during the confrontation and did not require medical treatment.
Toxicology results are pending.
Arrested and Charges:
Austin Ricks, 25, Evansville, IN
Battery on a Police Officer, Level 6 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony
Driving While Intoxicated, Class C Misdemeanor
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Patoka Man Picked Up On Wabash County FTA Warrant
On 9/20/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Kalob S. Thomas, 24, of Patoka, Indiana on a Wabash County Warrant for Failure to Appear. Thomas had been stopped for a registration issue while operating a white Ford at 13th & Walnut Street. Thomas was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and later released on a $250 cash bond.
MCPD Arrests Mt. Carmel Man On Multiple Charges
On 9/21/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Gage A. Price, age 19, of Mt. Carmel for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Unlawful Use of Weapon following a traffic stop for speeding and expired registration on his black Ford in the 200 block of East 9th Street. As the arresting officer spoke to Price, he noticed behaviors indicative of impairment. Price agreed to submit to a roadside sobriety check resulting in the officer noting several clues to indicate impairment. Price was placed under arrest at this time. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in officers locating brass knuckles. Price was processed for driving under the influence and taken to the Wabash County Jail where he was issued the above charges and later released on a Notice to Appear to a responsible adult.
#348 School Board Schedules Special Meeting
WABASH CUSD #348 BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING
DISTRICT OFFICE
218 W. 13th Street Mt. Carmel, Il 62863
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 3:00 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
Allendale School Board Notes
At the September 2023 Allendale School Board meeting held in the library of Allendale School, the board:
Accepted the resignation of Cindy Brogan, Assistant Principal and Cheer Coach, effective September 29, 2023.
Adopted the 2023-2024 Budget as presented at the board meeting.
Reviewed and approved the serious safety hazard areas on each bus route.
Approved the 2023-2024 Textbook List.
Authorized Superintendent Bowser to hold the Annual Emergency and Crisis Response Plan meeting in the month of October.
Approved a 3-year contract with Kemper CPA Group of Vincennes, Indiana to prepare and complete the annual Financial Audit for FY23, FY24, and FY25.
Evansville Man Arrested after Morning Chase
Pike County – Wednesday morning, September 20, at approximately 8:51 a.m., Trooper Manning was patrolling SR 64 near Meridian Road when he observed the driver of a 1996 Ford Ranger traveling east at 94 mph. Trooper Manning attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused and continued east on SR 64 at a high rate of speed before turning onto CR 550 South and then north on CR 100 East. The driver disregarded the stop sign at CR 475 South and continued traveling west toward Meridian Road. The driver attempted to turn south onto Meridian Road but struck a guy wire for a utility pole causing the vehicle to roll over. The driver, identified as Henry DeWeese, 57, of Evansville, was taken into custody without further incident. DeWeese did receive minor injuries in the crash and was transported to Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville where he was treated and released. DeWeese is currently being held on bond in the Pike County Jail.
Arrested and Charges:
Henry G. DeWeese, 57, Evansville, IN
Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony
Habitual Traffic Violator, Level 6 Felony
Reckless Driving, Class B Misdemeanor
Arresting Officer: Trooper Hunter Manning, Indiana State Police
Assisting Agency: Pike County Sheriff’s Office
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
IECC Board Of Trustees Meeting Summary
The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday night, September 19th at Olney Central College, Olney, Illinois.
The Board approved the 2024 Fiscal Year Budget which projected $34,481,671 in total operating funds. The budget was approved following a public budget hearing.
The Board accepted the FY2023 Student Complaint Annual Review and the 2023 Annual Security Report. Board approval was given for revisions to the following policies:
• Information Technology (IT) Change Management Policy 200.3 to ensure a consistent and systematic approach to modifying IT resources.
• Campus Safety and Security Policy 500.17 which reaffirms IECC’s commitment to complying with the Clery Act.
The Board approved First-Year Housing Policy 500.40 which is a new policy that requires first-time, full-time students whose primary residence falls more than 60 miles outside District 529 boundaries to reside in college-affiliated housing during their initial academic year at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. The policy also contains circumstances in which exemptions would be granted.
A 5-year tax abatement resolution to incentivize residential and commercial development in the Robinson Crawford County Enterprise Zone was approved by the Board.
The bid committee recommendation was approved for acceptance of the bid received from Grunloh Building, Inc., Effingham, IL in the amount of $2,400,330 for the Athletic Training Facility at Lincoln Trail College.
The following personnel were employed: Denise Givens, TRIO Upward Bound Counselor, OCC effective September 25, 2023.
Changes in employment status effective September 25, 2023 were approved for Cassandra Goldman from Program Director of International Students to Dean of Students; Michael Conn from Dean of Instruction, OCC to Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning; Julie Auteberry from Adult Education Professional Development to TRIO Upward Bound Coordinator, WVC; Amanda Kotch from Coordinator, International Students, Athletics, & Student 2 Activities, FCC to Distance Learning Specialist, FCC; Reilly Baumgart from Director of Business, WVC to Payroll Coordinator; and Paula Peach from Part-time to Full-time Library Assistant, WVC.
Change in employment status was also approved for Amanda Nelson from TRIO Upward Bound Counselor, OCC to Academic Advisor, OCC effective October 9, 2023.
Under Personnel actions the Board approved Special Assignments for Andrea Loll as Temporary College Admissions Representative for LTC, Kaitlyn Weger as CARLI Library, Amy Tarr as Interim Dean of Instruction, OCC, and Chad Groves as Approver for LRC/ASC purchasing.
Approval of proposed non-college employment was given for Kristina Isaac at St. Vincent Ascension, Evansville, IN and Allendale School CCSD 17, Allendale, IL and Megan Bunnage at St. Vincent Evansville Women’s & Children’s Hospital. Educational level changes were approved for Steve Hnetkovsky and Sarah Bergbower.
Resignation ratifications were approved for Michael Patilla as Music Instructor, LTC effective December 31, 2023; Krista Barber as Nursing Instructor, OCC effective September 5, 2023; and Caleb Dunn as Operations & Maintenance, FCC effective September 15, 2023.
An honorable dismissal was approved for Ashley Bigard as Title III Project Director, OCC effective September 29, 2023 as the grant she administered for IECC came to its natural closure.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, October 17, at 6:15 p.m. at Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel.
Washington Man Arrested Twice In One Day
On 9/19/23 at 2:56 a.m., Mt. Carmel Police arrested Andrew S. Ellis, age 34, of Washington, Indiana following an incident at the apartments located at 1230 N Walnut Street. Police were called to the scene when the victim reported Ellis repeatedly beating on their door off and on for the last two nights. The victim had a past relationship with Ellis and wanted these actions to stop. The victim signed a complaint against Ellis for Disorderly Conduct resulting in his arrest. Ellis was charged and later released on a Notice to Appear. Later that day, at 11:34 a.m. officers responded to the Mt. Carmel City Park to handle a two-vehicle crash. Upon arrival, officers learned that Ellis had caused the collision by slamming on his brakes causing the earlier complainant to strike his vehicle. According to an uninvolved witness, the Ellis vehicle aggressively drove around the other driver to get in front of them before quickly stopping to cause the crash. Ellis was placed under arrest for Reckless Driving and taken to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged. Ellis was later released on a Notice to Appear.