MT. CARMEL WELCOMED A NEW POLICE OFFICER MONDAY.
SEAN SAGER WORKED HIS FIRST SHIFT FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
POLICE CHIEF MIKE MCWILLIAMS SAID SINGER IS A TEN YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN WITH SPECIALIZED TRAINING.,
SAGER ADVANCED TO MT. CARMEL FROM EDWARDS COUNTY.
WABASH VALLEY COLLEGE WILL HAVE AN UPTOWN EVENT TO BENEFIT F.R.E.S.H. WVC INSTRUCTOR KYLE PEACH ASKED MT. CARMEL CITY COUNCIL FOR A DATE IN NOVEMBER TO USE THE UPTOWN AREA, TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR THE PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS FEED STUDENTS WITH FOOD INCECURITY. PEACH WILL WORK WITH CITY MANAGER RYAN TURNER TO SELECT A DATE FOR THE EVENT. SOME 500 STUDENTS AT WABASH VALLEY BENEFITTED FROM THE PROGRAM LAST YEAR.
A nice crowd attended the Edwards County 4-H Achievement Night held Monday at COUNTRY Financial Hall in Albion. Area youth, leaders, and clubs were honored for their accomplishments over the 2022-2023 4-H year.
The “Club of the Year” Award went to the Ellery Panthers 4-H Club the donor for the award was Wayne-White Electric Cooperative.
Aly Williams was recognized as the 4-H’er of the year, Farm Credit Illinois donated the award.
Lucas Troyer was awarded the Novice Member of the Year and Hayley Perry received the Jr. Member of the Year. Both trophies were donated by Edwards County Farm Bureau.
Three members were recognized for being, “Cream of the Crop”. The award is focused on attitude and willingness to help others. The members had to be noticed, helping out, on their own and was not based on 4-H records. The ones who received the award were: Chloe Iles, Alyssa Smith and Davina Witte. They received a 4-H hoodie sweatshirt. Edwards County Soil and Water District sponsored these awards.
The Best Club Secretary Award trophy went to Ellery Panthers – Addison Anderson.
The “I Dare You Award” was presented to Addison Anderson, with the University of Illinois Extension donating the award. The award is presented to members who “achieve their highest potential and live lives of leadership and service.”
Two members received an Alumni Pin: Tori Thompson and Davina Witte.
Trophy winners included: Claire Doelling, Best Constructed Garment for Clothing, Lillian Bare for Fashion Review. Alyssa Smith 4-H Speech Contest, Formal Speech, 8-13 Years Old. Emersyn McVaigh 4-H Speech Contest, Illustrated Speech, 8-13 Years Old.
All trophies were donated by Edwards County Extension.
Among other awards presented were: Clean Sheep Pen Award, Davina Witte, donor George Fewkes. Clean Beef Stall Award, Cheyenne and Josie Duncan; Clean Swine Pen Award, Zoie Ankenbrand, and Clean Goat Pen Award, Emersyn McVaigh, donor Farm Credit Illinois. Conservation Award, Hannah Perry, donor Edwards County Soil and Water. Electricity Award, Kylar VanMatre, Leadership Awards, Chloe Iles and Skylar Greathouse, and Community Service Awards, Aleya Bare, Brayden Childers and Kylar VanMatre.
Norma Hamilton leader of the Bone Gap Cardinals 4-H Club was presented a pin and certificate for her 15 years as a leader. Lise Summerfield, John Summerfield and Allen Shilling was recognized for 10 years of co-leading the Shooting Sports Club and Drake and Haley Kelsey for 1 year of co-leading the Blue Ribbon 4-H Club.
Davina Witte received the Jan Schuh Scholarship.
Experience awards was presented to 36 members. To receive this award each participant must submit an application to be eligible and mark the experiences that they have achieved for the year. There are 4 dimensions of experience: Participation, Community Service, Leadership and Project Learning.
Congratulations to all the winners! Thank you to all the parents, leaders and donors of awards to make this evening special for our youth.
The school board acted on these personnel matters at their meeting Monday night.
More delays have pushed back tomorrow’s planned dedication and ribbon cutting on the new Riverview Stadium construction and renovation project. District #348 Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer delivered the disappointing news at last night’s school board meeting….
Photo taken Oct. 12th of project.
THE CITY OF MT. CARMEL WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS FEDERAL SURPLUS PROGRAM. THE COUNCIL PASSED A REQUIRED MOTION MONDAY AFTERNOON, WHICH WILL ENABLE THE CITY TO PURCHASE EXCESS FEDERAL VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT WHICH BECOME AVAILABLE. SEVERAL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED THRU THIS PROGRAM, INCLUDING PLOW TRUCKS.
Effingham – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 9 Commander, Captain Nathan Douglas, announces the ISP will conduct Distracted Driving Enforcement Program patrols in Wabash, Effingham, Richland, and White County during November. This program allows ISP to focus on distracted driving laws to prevent traffic deaths and serious injury crashes.
Distractions can increase a driver’s risk of being in an accident:
• Eating or drinking (non-alcoholic beverages) increases the risk by three times.
• Sending a text message increases the risk by four times.
• Reaching for an object increases the risk by eight times.
• Reading a text message can take a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. ;
Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who disobey Illinois’ distracted driving laws, especially the following:
• All drivers are prohibited from reading, sending, or receiving text messages or communication, and from browsing the internet.
• All drivers are prohibited from using handheld electronic communication devices.
• Drivers under the age of 19 are prohibited from using any cellphone, even hands-free.
• All drivers are prohibited from using any cellphone, even hands-free, while in school speed zones and work zones.
• School bus drivers are not permitted to use any type of cellphone, even hands-free.
• It is illegal to use a cellphone or take photos or videos on wireless devices when driving within 500 feet of an emergency scene.
This distracted driving enforcement campaign is made possible by traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
On October 14, 2023, at 12:54 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt was dispatch to a single vehicle accident in the 1200 block of South 25 West near Haubstadt. Upon arriving Deputy Hunt with the assistance of Fort Branch Deputy Marshal Jeff Beck located a Wesley Klueg of Evansville with a 2007 Chevy Silverado that was on its side in a ditch. Upon speaking with Mr. Klueg there were clues that indicated that he was under the influence of alcohol. At that point Deputy Hunt began a roadside DUI investigation. At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Hunt placed Mr. Klueg into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Klueg was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Minor Consumption. He has since posted a $650 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On October 15, 2023, at 1:52 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted a traffic stop on US 41 near County Road 350 South after observing a Black 2012 Mazda SUV speeding. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Hunt identified the driver as 23 year old Steve St Cois of Evansville. During a roadside investigation Mr. St Cois was run through the National Crime Information Center and Indiana Data And Communications System and it was determined that Mr. St Cois was operating his vehicle without ever receiving a valid operator’s license. At that point Mr. St. Cois was placed into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle Whiles Suspended on a Prior Conviction and Operator Never Licensed. He has since posted a $650 bond.
Assisting Deputy Hunt in his investigation was Deputy Bart Wagner and Princeton Officer Nicholas Rainey.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On October 15, 2023, at 6:05 p.m. Gibson County Sergeant Loren Barchett conducted a traffic stop on a Red 2016 Chevrolet passenger car for speeding on Interstate 69 near Oakland City. Upon approaching the vehicle Sgt. Barchett immediately detected the odor of alcohol coming from 43 year old Rodriguez Molleda Leoncio of Indianapolis. At that point Sgt. Barchett began a roadside DUI investigation with Mr. Leoncio who was the driver of the vehicle. At the conclusion of his investigation Sgt. Barchett placed Mr. Leoncio into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated and Operator Never Licensed. He remains in custody on an outside agency hold.
Assisting Sgt. Barchett in his investigation was Deputies Logan Lashbrook and Quinten Might. Other assisting officers were Owensville Officer Pedro Ferreira and Oakland City Officers Tim Gaines and Michael McGregor.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
