WGH Board Updated On Weekend Phone Scam Attempts

Wabash General Hospital officials scrambled over the weekend assessing what, if any, fallout may have occurred from scammers calling people in the community representing to be Wabash General Hospital. The callers were demanding payment and requesting bank or credit card information. At Monday’s hospital board meeting, WGH President/CEO Karissa Turner offered an update on the situation…

Turner said that was not the case as hospital officials contacted Mt. Carmel Police to apprise them of the situation.

She offered some advice if you happen to receive one of the calls..

Turner said they haven’t been able to track down the exact source of the calls, but they may have originated somewhere in Asia.

Illinois Man Arrested after Chase from Vincennes to Oaktown

Knox County – Last night, September 26, at approximately 7:51 p.m., Trooper Marsee stopped the driver of a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 2nd Street and Executive Blvd. in Vincennes for driving without headlights after sunset. During the traffic stop, the driver gave Trooper Marsee false information about his identity and then drove away from the traffic stop before it was completed. Trooper Marsee attempted to stop the driver again, but he refused and continued north on US 41 and then north on Old 41 to Oaktown. The driver eventually stopped at a friend’s residence in Oaktown and was taken into custody without further incident. Trooper Marsee was able to identify the driver as Robert Biehl, 59, of Bridgeport, IL. Further investigation revealed Biehl had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear out of Lawrence County, IL.  Biehl was arrested and taken to the Knox County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

Arrested and Charges:

• Robert Biehl, 59, Bridgeport, IL

1. Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Level 6 Felony

2. Failure to Identify, Class C Misdemeanor

3. Failure to Appear – Lawrence County, IL

Arresting Officer: Trooper Blake Marsee, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officer: Master Trooper Gary Goodman, Indiana State Police

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

911 report of accident with injury nets impaired driver

On September 26, 2023, at 9:14 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of an accident with injuries in the 4400 block of East 50 North.  Upon arriving on scene Deputy Jennifer Robb observed a Black 2009 Ford F150 and a John Deere side by side had collided.  At that point Deputy Robb began an investigation into the incident.  During the investigation it was determined that the Ford F150 failed to yield the right of way to the John Deere side by side and struck it injuring the driver and the passenger of the side by side.  Upon following the standard operating procedures and policies for a serious bodily injury accident the driver of the F150, 25 year old Joshua Dill was read his implied consent warning after a brief DUI investigation.  Upon receiving the results of the blood drawl Mr. Dill was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing a Serious Bodily Injury.  He remains in custody on a $450 bond.
 
Princeton Officer Dan Goedde performed a crash reconstruction investigation.
Trooper Fox conducted a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation.
Also assisting in this investigation were Deputies Bryan Small and Jennifer Loesch.
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Road closure planned for State Road 68 in Gibson County

GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure for State Road 68 in Gibson County.

Beginning on or around Wednesday, October 13, crews will close State Road 68 in Gibson County near Haubstadt. This closure will allow crews to perform a pipe replacement. This closure will take a week to complete, depending on the weather.

The official detour for this project is U.S. 41 to I-64 to I-69. Local traffic will have access up to the point of closure.

WGH Board Greenlights Albion & Lawrenceville Projects

The Wabash General Hospital board of directors on Monday approved two major expenditures for projects outside of Wabash County. The first project was spending up to $490,000 for a parking lot project at WGH’s Albion Clinic. Kieffer Brothers Construction was the lone bidder for the project that will include the demolition of the former gas station at the junction of Routes 15 and 130 in Albion. Part of the project also includes relocating an ATM and constructing a monument sign.

The second project was for work on the orthopedic clinic in Lawrenceville which is expected to be open next week. The price tag on the work was not to exceed $250,000. When the clinic opens, a mobile radiology unit will initially be utilized before a full time radiology room can be completed.

Illinois Woman Arrested For DUI While Speeding Through a Construction Zone

Vermillion County - September 22, 2023, at approximately 1:10 p.m., Trooper Chuck Murphy of the Putnamville State Police Post was patrolling on State Road 63 at State Road 234 near a construction zone.  This is when Trooper Murphy observed a red passenger vehicle approaching him, traveling northbound at a high rate of speed.  Trooper Murphy then activated his lidar and received a speed of 72 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour posted construction zone.  The vehicle continued at a high rate of speed through the construction zone.  Trooper Murphy was able to stop the vehicle and the driver was identified as Claudia A. Scoggins, age 72, of Eldorado, Illinois.  Scoggins displayed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. Scoggins was transported to Union Hospital in Clinton, where she submitted to a certified chemical test.  The test results indicated a blood alcohol content of .15%.  Scoggins was arrested and turned over to the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department jail staff without incident.  

Assisting:  Deputy Brian Fagg of the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department.  

Arrested and Charges:  Claudia A. Scoggins, 72, Eldorado, IL

• Reckless Driving in a Worksite, Felony 6

• Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangerment, Class A Misdemeanor 

Road closure planned for State Road 64 in Pike County

PIKE COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure for State Road 64 in Pike County.

Beginning on or around Monday, October 2, crews will close State Road 64 in Pike County near Winslow. This closure will allow crews to perform a pipe replacement. This closure will take a month to complete, depending on the weather.

The official detour for this project is State Road 61 to I-64 to I-69. Local traffic will have access up to the point of closure.

City Officials: Quit Flushing Wipes

City officials are again addressing of non-flushable wipes being flushed into Mt. Carmel’s sewer system. The latest plea comes from sewer commissioner Tom Meeks who says despite the fact the wipes may be labeled as flushable, they’re not….

Mayor Joe Judge said the wipes clog lift stations costing the city overtime clearing them out along with equipment wear and tear ultimately resulting in residents paying more….

City officials stress that no matter what the packaging says, wipes cannot be flushed.

Two fires within a week investigated in Knox County

Indiana Fire Marshal fire investigators are seeking the public's help finding any information about two fires reported at the same address in Vincennes, Ind.

The first fire was reported in a garage on the 400 block of N. 6th St. on Sept. 18. A second fire in the garage was reported on Sept. 21. 

Investigators encourage anyone with information about these incidents to call the Indiana Arson Hotline at 800-382-4628 or email TIPS1@dhs.in.gov

Haubstadt man arrested for reckless driving

On September 22, 2023, at 6:52 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Logan Lashbrook conducted a traffic stop on a Blue 2022 Nissan passenger vehicle for traveling 84 mph in a 25 mph zone on Main Street in Patoka.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Lashbrook placed the driver 20 year old Tariq Lewis of Haubstadt into custody.  At the end of a brief investigation Mr. Lewis was transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Reckless Driving and Minor Consumption.  He has since posted a $450 bond.   
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.