On 11/10/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Susan E Monceaux, age 41, of Princeton Indiana for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Driving While License Suspended. The arrest stemmed from a public complaint about a possible impaired or reckless driver coming into Mt. Carmel from Indiana. The officer located the suspect vehicle, a yellow Chevrolet, traveling on Walnut Street. The driver, later identified as Monceaux, committed a traffic violation and then pulled into the Mt. Carmel Super-Mart in the 300 block of N Walnut Street. The officer conducted a stop and found Monceaux had a suspended driver’s license. Additionally, the officer detected signs of impairment and requested Monceaux submit to a roadside sobriety check. The driver agreed, and submitted to testing. The officer observed several clues to indicate impairment during testing resulting in Monceaux’s arrest. Monceaux was transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was processed for DUI and turned over to jail staff. Monceaux was later released on a Notice to Appear.
Palestine Woman Faces Several Charges Following Traffic Stop
On 11/09/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Kelsie M. Willson, age 29, of Palestine, Illinois for Driving Under the Influence-Combination of Alcohol & other Drugs or Intoxicating Compounds, Driving While License Suspended, No Valid Registration and Operating Uninsured Vehicle following a traffic stop at 9th & Cherry. While on patrol, the arresting officer observed a silver Kia Spectra operating without registration. In stopping the vehicle, the officer learned that Willson’s license was suspended and that she was also wanted on a Crawford County Illinois Possession of Methamphetamine Warrant, resulting in Willson’s arrest. During this time, officers detected and odor of alcoholic beverage coming from her along with smoking devices in both her vehicle and purse that are used to ingest cannabis. Upon arrival to the Wabash County Jail, field sobriety testing was conducted which offered several clues to indicate impairment. Subsequently, Willson was also charged with the above DUI offense. After being processed, Willson was turned over to jail staff while being held pending extradition back to Crawford County.
St. Nick's New Digs Paid Off By Tourism Funds
The Christmas season in Mt. Carmel received a financial boost from Wabash County Commissioners on Monday. The board approved contributing $1,750 from the county’s hotel-motel tax to the Chamber of Commerce for the December 2nd Christmas parade. Chamber executive director Lesley Hipsher said the money will be used to help bring the Boom Squad back to town for the parade as well as other expenses. In addition, commissioners also approved donating $1,000 to the Retail Merchants Committee for the new Santa House. The RMC had raised money for the new house through this year’s Guns ‘n Hoses and Duck Race, but was still $1,000 short. But thanks to the county board, St. Nick will have new digs to greet youngsters this holiday season.
New Courthouse HVAC May Be Done In Phases
A new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system at the Wabash County Courthouse may be done in phases. At Monday’s county board meeting, chairman Tim Hocking said the price tag to replace the HVAC in the entire courthouse came in at $900,000, a price the county can’t afford in one chunk. So now, Hocking said they’re looking at replacing units that serve the first floor first and then do the rest of the courthouse when funding allows. The reasoning for starting with the first floor is that’s where the most courthouse employees are located, according to Hocking.
Wabash District #348 School Board Agenda
Meeting is Monday night at 7pm at MCGS.
Patoka man arrested on Battery charge
On November 9, 2023, at 12:39 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch advised Deputy Bryan Small and Sheriff Bruce Vanoven of a possible battery in progress on Town Hall Street in Patoka, Indiana. Upon arriving on scene Deputy Small located all parties involved and conducted an investigation into the incident. At the conclusion of his investigation 31 year old Jesse Bullington of Patoka was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Bullington was charged with Battery with a Prior Unrelated Conviction. He remains in custody on a $750 bond.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Disturbance call leads to arrest of Princeton woman for DUI
On November 9, 2023, at 10:29 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a disturbance on East Old Petersburg Road near Princeton. While officers were enroute to the scene Communications Officer Chase Haake spoke with persons on scene and determined that this was an active event. Once Deputy Logan Lashbrook arrived on scene he was notified that the suspect 36 year old Ashlee McGrew had fled the scene. After a brief search the vehicle was located at Sevren’s Bridge and when Ms. McGrew was located. While speaking with Ms. McGrew Deputy Lashbrook detected obvious signs of impairment and began a DUI investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation Ms. McGrew was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where she was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Disorderly Conduct. She remains in custody on a $650 bond. No photo available.
Assisting Deputy Lashbrook in his investigation was Deputy Quinten Might and Princeton Officers Bryce Jutzi and Jeremy Robb.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Vincennes man arrested for reckless driving
On November 10, 2023, at 5:27 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch released a Be On the Look Out (BOLO) for a motorcycle that was traveling at an extremely high rate of speed from Knox County into Gibson County. Princeton Officer Zach Strickland observed the vehicle and attempted to stop the vehicle as it was traveling in excess of 105 mph. Ultimately the motorcycle was stopped on County Road 350 South near US 41 by Deputy Wyatt Hunt. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Hunt identified the driver as 20 year old Ethan Abel of Vincennes. Mr. Abel was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Reckless Driving. He remains in custody on 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.
Bellmont Man Gets 5 Years On Sexual Abuse Charge
A Bellmont man arrested more than 2 ½ years ago has been sentenced to five years in prison on a charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Roger Schmittler was arrested in February of 2021 by the Wabash County Sheriff’s office on an outstanding warrant for aggravated criminal sexual assault in Wabash County. The warrant was issued following an investigation due to an incident involving a juvenile on November 11th, 2020. Appearing in Wabash County Circuit Court yesterday, Schmittler was sentenced to the five-year prison term on a reduced Class 2 felony charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The prison term will be followed by one year of mandatory supervised release.
2021 File Photo
Commissioners May Have County Employees Pony Up More To Close Budget Shortfall
Wabash County Commissioners have placed the proposed FY 2024 budget on public display before it is adopted by the end of the month. At Monday’s county board meeting, chairman Tim Hocking said a variety of factors have combined to place the new proposed budget in the red….
To help close the $49,432 budget deficit, commissioners are considering shifting part of the health care costs onto county employees. Presently, it costs the county $972 a month for each employee with employees kicking in $500 a month. But, employees at the health department and highway department only pay $300 a month for health insurance. Hocking said they’re looking at moving that monthly contribution to $600 a month for all employees. That would mean health department and highway department employees would see their monthly health insurance contribution double. No action was taken by commissioners at Monday’s meeting. The county’s new fiscal year starts December 1st.
