At the October 3, 2023 Allendale School Board special meeting held in the library of Allendale School, the board:
Approved the hiring of Olivia Alka as Cheer Coach for 2023-2024.
Approved the hiring of Darlene Smith as a part-time Dean of Students for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year
On 10/02/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Brayden M. Barber, age 19, of Mt. Carmel for Domestic Battery, Unlawful Restraint, and Interfering with Reporting of Domestic Violence following a domestic dispute at a residence in the 500 block of N Walnut Street. Police were called to the residence by a family member after Barber became upset during a conversation about him leaving the home. When Barber refused to leave, the family member threatened to call the police causing Barber to attack the alleged victim by wrestling them to the ground. From there, Barber pinned them to the floor with his hands. Once the victim was able to break free from Barber, they ran towards the door; however, Barber pulled them away and blocked them from leaving. Eventually, the victim was able to call 911 causing Barber to leave the home. Barber was later located and placed under arrest. Barber is being held at the Wabash County Jail where he was given the above charges and held pending a pre-trial detention hearing.
On 9/29/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Kendall D. Hamilton, age 20, of Cordova Tennessee, for Forgery following an investigation into stolen checks from the Wabash Valley College Student Services Office. During the investigation, police found evidence that Hamilton deposited checks stolen from the office and later deposited them into a bank, written out to him. Hamilton was processed at the Wabash County Jail and later released on a Notice to Appear in court. More arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues.
On 10/02/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Billie J. Dybedahl, age 35, of Keensburg on a Wabash County Failure to Appear Warrant for Assault. Police were called to the First National Bank of Allendale after she entered the location and alarmed staff when she caused a scene over a banking issue. Upon arrival, police made contact with Dybedahl outside of the bank. It was discovered Dybedahl had the above stated warrant, resulting in her arrest. Dybedahl was transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was issued the warrant and held pending a $200 cash bond.
Spencer County – Last night, October 2nd, at approximately 11:20 p.m., Trooper Andrew Recker was patrolling I64 in Spencer County when he stopped the driver of a gray Jeep for driving 97 mph in a 70 mph zone. The driver was identified as David S. Yates, of Louisville, KY. Yates displayed signs of being impaired and failed field sobriety tests. Yates became uncooperative and refused a chemical test. A subsequent search of the vehicle was conducted by other troopers. Troopers located a 9 mm handgun, suspected marijuana, paraphernalia, and open alcoholic beverage containers. Yates was transported to the Spencer County jail where he is being held on bond.
Arrested and Charges-
David S. Yates, 39, Louisville, KY
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon – Level 4 Felony
Obstruction – Level 6 Felony
OWI - Class A Misdemeanor
Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
Reckless Driving – Class C Misdemeanor
Arresting Officer – Trooper Andrew Recker
Assisting Officers – Trooper Jonathan Villanueva and Trooper Andrew Jones
Assisting Agency – Dubois County Sheriff’s Office and Jasper Police Department
All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
TEUTOPOLIS – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a vehicle potentially involved in a crash on September 29, 2023 just outside of Teutopolis that resulted in five fatalities and multiple injuries.
On Friday, September 29, 2023, ISP, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Teutopolis Fire Protection District, and other local law enforcement, fire, and emergency services responded to a crash that occurred at 8:42 p.m. on 19740 East U.S. Highway 40. The crash involved a semi-truck tanker carrying anhydrous ammonia that was punctured and leaked.
The initial investigation shows at approximately 8:35 p.m., a dark colored vehicle (unknown make/model) potentially involved in the incident traveling westbound through the intersection of U.S. Highway 40 and Spring Creek Road in Montrose, Illinois. The investigation determined the vehicle continued traveling Westbound through Teutopolis on U.S. Highway 40 and would have passed the semi-truck tanker.
ISP agents are in Casey, Montrose, and Teutopolis communities retrieving surveillance video that could provide more information into this incident. If you have doorbell or security cameras that may have captured video of this suspect vehicle before or after the incident, or any information, please contact Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8 Investigations at 217-342-7881.
Video of the vehicle passing through the intersection can be found here https://youtu.be/b4l68efYq7A.
On 9/30/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Joshua M. Llamas, age 32, of Mt. Carmel on a Warren County Indiana Warrant for Failure to Appear along with a new charge for Resisting/Obstructing a Peace Officer. Llamas, who was located at the Casey’s Gas Station in the 400 block of W 9th Street, elected to run from the officer when advised of the warrant. Another officer arrived to the scene and quickly took Llamas into custody. Llamas was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was issued a Notice to Appear on Resisting/Obstructing A Peace Officer and is being held pending extradition back to Warren County.
On 9/30/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Kevin E. Linson, age 63, of Mt. Carmel for Criminal Trespass to Real Property after Linson trespassed on property he had previously been banned from in the 700 block of N Market Street. The complainant was allowed to sign charges against Linson resulting in his arrest. Linson was taken to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending a pre-trial detention determination by the court. This is Linson’s third arrest in the last two weeks for the same offense.
On 9/29/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Landon S. Harms, age 18, of Mt. Carmel for Aggravated Domestic Battery following a domestic dispute at his residence in the 400 block of N Pear Street. Police were called to the scene after Harms allegedly threw a computer monitor while playing a video game. When another family member told him he would have to leave the home, he became confrontational and aggressive. This angered Harms causing him to try and strike another resident with a steel ball wrapped in paracord. While the victim was able to avoid the strike, the two went to the floor where a struggle ensued. Harms struck the other party in the nose with his elbow followed by repeated punches to the subject’s head with his fist. Harms transitioned to a choke hold on the subject before finally being stopped. Based on this information, police placed Harms under arrest for the above stated offense and transported him to the Wabash County Jail. Harms is being held pending a pre-trial detention determination by the court.
TEUTOPOLIS, IL - State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) thanked all first responders of a Friday night anhydrous ammonia leak in a traffic accident that has led to multiple deaths and portions of Teutopolis being evacuated. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) diverted traffic from Interstate 70 several hours earlier but had not yet resumed normal traffic back to I-70 several hours later. Five people died, with five seriously injured, involving multiple vehicles including a tractor-trailer tanker carrying anhydrous ammonia that overturned on Friday night, leading to a leak of toxic gas and necessitating evacuation of residents within a one-mile radius of the crash site.
“I want to thank all of the first responders and emergency personnel who have stepped up to get this emergency under control and my condolences to all of the families who have suffered loss and injury from this tragic event,” commented Rep. Adam Niemerg. “I have been frustrated this entire year by IDOT’s inability to take action to alleviate the accidents due to construction on Interstate 70. I have had little or no cooperation. Now, we have additional loss of life with my hometown evacuated. I am calling for a full investigation, full accountability from state IDOT officials, and an action plan initiated immediately to avoid any more tragedies such as this,” added Rep. Niemerg.
It is reported that Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes confirmed Saturday afternoon that five people were killed as a result of the crash and anhydrous ammonia leak. The fatalities consisted of an adult and two children from a local family, plus a motorist from Missouri and another from Ohio. The driver of the anhydrous ammonia tanker was among the five other people injured and airlifted out for medical treatment.
According to state police, more traffic than usual was on the roadway at the time because drivers on Interstate 70 had been diverted around the scene of an earlier crash that took place at 4:50 p.m. east of Effingham, state police said. Illinois State Police said in a news release Saturday morning that a multi-vehicle crash had occurred at approximately 9:25 p.m. Friday at 19740 East U.S. Highway 40, about half a mile east of Teutopolis.
Authorities initially evacuated a 2-square-mile area on the east side of town. Two regional hazardous materials teams, 15 emergency response departments and nearly 100 of their crew members responded to the spill Friday night. Representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security were also on the scene Saturday.