On 10/26/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Carly A. Kirkman, age 33, and Billy J. Dill, age 30, both of Mt. Carmel for Retail Theft. Police were called to the 3rd Street Dollar General Store to the report of Kirkman and Dill stealing food items and were last seen running from the store. Police arrived to the area and were able to view store video footage which confirmed the allegation and their identity. Police later located the couple near Burger King and made contact. At first, both subjects denied the allegation but eventually admitted to taking food from the store and consuming it. Both subjects were placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail. Upon arrival, police recovered pills identified as Buprenorphine Hydrochloride in Kirkman’s purse. These pills are a Schedule III Controlled Substance and require a prescription, which was not present. Kirkman was given an additional charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance as well. Both were processed and released on a Notice to Appear. MCPD was assisted by the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office.
UPDATE ON SHOOTING OF ILLINOIS STATE POLICE OFFICER
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) today provided an update on the condition of Trooper Dakotah Chapman-Green and the investigation into his shooting. On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 10:47 p.m., ISP Trooper Chapman-Green stopped 37-year-old Cristobal Santana from Chicago in the 1600 block of Toronto Road in Springfield. During the traffic stop, the suspect fired at least 10 gunshots hitting Trooper Chapman-Green several times, and struck him repeatedly causing facial fractures, a skull fracture, and a brain bleed. The suspect fled the scene, but was taken into custody at 1:58 a.m. on October 25, 2023. Trooper Chapman-Green remains hospitalized. The suspect was taken to the hospital for injuries sustained during the apprehension and remains in the hospital.
“By the Grace of God, Trooper Chapman-Green survived this brutal attack,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Police officers across the state take an oath to protect the lives of Illinois citizens and too often that means facing diabolical, hateful, vicious evil that no innocent human being should ever have to face. We live in a free country, but there is no freedom without the law, there is no law without law enforcement, and there is no law enforcement without brave souls like Trooper Chapman-Green and those standing here with me today willing to do this noble, but dangerous work.”
On Friday, the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office filed two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm to a Police Officer, one count of Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer, and one count Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon against Santana.
ISP continues to investigate this shooting and will work with the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office to provide more information as it becomes available.
Video of the traffic stop can be found here: https://youtu.be/LSvCYf0_WkM. Video of the news conference will be available on the Illinois State Police Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/ILStatePolice
Donations may be made to the Chapman-Green family by visiting the Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation website at https://www.isphf.org/isphf-donate-online-to-isphf/, or via U.S. mail to Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 2210, Springfield, Illinois 62705-2210. On the website, please ensure to note in the comments section, “Trooper Chapman-Green Fund.”
Confirmed: 9th Street Project To Start Next Spring
A little bit of good news for the much delayed project to resurface much of 9th Street in Mt. Carmel. At yesterday's City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge said the state’s department of transportation has told him the bid letting for the project was moved back to a January bid letting….
On June’s “Ask The Mayor” show, Judge said then the state was planning for a January bid letting. But since then, the state delayed the date again, only to tell city leaders last week they were going back to the January letting. Judge said that the project should start in April and be finished sometime late next year. Of that nearly $4.5 million project price tag, Judge said the city’s share will be just over $88,000 with the bulk of the money coming from state and federal sources.
Leaf Pickup Starts Wednesday In Mt. Carmel
If you’re tired of bagging your falling leaves, there’s good news because the city leaf vac program starts tomorrow. Public Works Director Mike Gidcumb told the city council yesterday that crews ran trials on the equipment last week and they’re prepared to start on the leaves tomorrow around the city.
MCHS Illinois State Scholars Announced
Congratulations to our 2024 Illinois State Scholars! This year, eight students from MCHS were selected as Illinois State Scholars. Those students are: Eric Acree, Wyatt Alka, Chandler Cusick, Lauren Fisher, Marissa Goldman, Maria Kennard, Shade Loudermilk, and Carleigh Wright.
The State Scholar Program recognizes students attending approved high schools for outstanding academic achievement based upon standardized test scores and performance-based academic data. State scholar designation provides honorary recognition with no monetary award. Congratulations again to our scholars, and keep up the good work!
WGH Approves Additional Funding For New Lawrenceville Ortho Clinic
An additional $200,000 has been allocated by the Wabash General Hospital Board of Directors to finish work on the new WGH orthopedic clinic in Lawrenceville. At their monthly meeting on Monday, hospital president President/CEO Karissa Turner said the new facility is impressive….
$250,000 has already been spent on those upgrades as Kieffer Brothers Construction has been handling the project. The hospital board Monday also approved just under $100,000 to put radiological equipment in the new facility. The installation of that equipment is being delayed until Ameren runs three-phase power to the building. Turner said perhaps the most impressive aspect of the project is the speed in which it is being completed as she explained it took about a month from the time the building was acquired to its’ opening. Reviews of the new building have been completely positive from the Lawrenceville community.
Parent Continues Push To Change Parking Pass Policy At MCHS
A local parent is continuing her push to make the distribution of parking passes at Mt. Carmel high School a fairer process. Shelly Harris has spoken during the public comments portion of the last three Wabash District #348 school board meetings. Harris says the current process calls for the passes for the most coveted parking spots to be allocated based on grade point average. That process, Harris contends, is embarrassing for students who might put in the effort in the classroom, but don’t have a high GPA.
At last week’s school board meeting, Harris said despite from what she’s been told by school administrators, the GPA-based distribution is a new one as parking passes had previously been given out on a first-come, first-serve basis…
Harris’s social media posts on the subject have generated more than its’ fair share of comments..many siding with her viewpoint, while others contend the GPA way is a good carrot to offer students to strive for a higher GPA. The school board has yet to respond publicly to Harris’s concerns.
Restaurant Developer Targeting Mt. Carmel
Mt. Carmel appears to be on the radar of a developer looking to site national chain restaurants around southern Illinois. Mayor Joe Judge says he recently met with the developer who represents 15 different restaurants…
Judge didn’t offer any time line as to when the developer may make a decision on whether or not to build in Mt. Carmel or what possible restaurants may be located here. On his Facebook page, Judge recently asked residents what national chain restaurant they’d like to see locate in Mt. Carmel.
Mt. Carmel Man Jailed After Allegedly Biting & Trying To Strangle MCPD Officers
On 10/25/23 at approximately 5am, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Hayden H. Cullison, age 22, of Mt. Carmel for Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer (2 counts), Resisting a Peace Officer and Disorderly Conduct following an incident in the 600 block of N Walnut Street. Prior to the contact, an officer on patrol observed Cullison attempting to tamper with an unoccupied Ford truck parked on the parking lot. The officer knew the owners of the vehicle so he made contact with Cullison. Cullison began to run from the scene but stopped as another officer arrived. Cullison repeatedly claimed ownership of the vehicle and became argumentative when the officer questioned his ownership claim. After some discussion, Cullison was allowed to leave the scene. A short time later the actual vehicle owners arrived to relocate their truck. Cullison became confrontational with the owners. The owners became fearful of Cullison due to his aggressive behavior and called for police to return. When officers arrived, they found the owners were unable to exit their vehicle to take the truck due to Cullison’s demeanor. The owners requested to sign charges against Cullison for his disorderly and alarming behavior. Officers attempted to place Cullison under arrest at which time he became physically combative. During the arrest, Cullison bit one officer on the leg and attempted to strangle another officer with their radio microphone cord by wrapping it around the officer’s neck. Cullison was stopped from doing so and eventually placed under arrest before being transported to the Wabash County Jail. Upon arrival, Cullison continued to be non-compliant and resistive. After a brief struggle, officers and jail staff secured Cullison in the Wabash County Jail. The involved officers then received medical treatment at Wabash General Hospital and were released later in the morning. Cullison is being held pending a pretrial detention determination.
Grayville Woman Arrested On Drug Charge Following Traffic Stop
On 10/24/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Charli J. Sullivan, age 26, of Grayville, for Possession of a Controlled Substance following a traffic stop at 7th & Plum Street. The arresting officer made the stop on a 2007 Buick for a violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code. During the stop, Ofc. Hopper and his K-9 Eleven arrived on scene and conducted a free air narcotics sniff around the exterior of the Buick. Eleven alerted to the presence of narcotics resulting in a search of the vehicle. In doing so, officers located 14 Clonazepam pills inside Sullivan’s purse. Sullivan admitted to the pills, which are a schedule IV controlled substance that requires a prescription. Sullivan did not possess a prescription and was placed under arrest. Sullivan was transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was charged with the above stated offense. Sullivan was later released on a Notice to Appear.