Indiana State Police Increasing Patrols during Thanksgiving Travel

Indiana State Police will be joining law enforcement agencies from across the state to make sure everyone gets to their holiday destination safely.

“This holiday season, we expect to see a lot of traffic on the roads. Please make smart decisions by not mixing drinking and driving,” said Devon McDonald, Executive Director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. “Be proactive and plan for a sober driver.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), impaired driving and fatal crashes spike during the Thanksgiving holiday. In 2021, 190 people throughout the nation died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the holiday travel period ranging from the day before thanksgiving to the Monday following Thanksgiving. 

NHTSA data shows there are more motor vehicle traffic crash fatalities during holiday periods due to increased travel time, more alcohol usage, and excessive driving speed. 

Troopers will be on the roads on high alert for impaired drivers. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead to get home safely by designating a sober driver or by using public transportation or a ride service like Uber or Lyft. Never drive impaired or let friends get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. 

By working together, we can save lives and make sure there are no empty places at the Thanksgiving table this year.  

For more information on impaired driving, please visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving. 

Traffic Stop Ends With Drug Charge For Mt. Carmel Man

On 11/19/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Michael L. Hammond, age 51, of Mt. Carmel for Possession of Methamphetamine (More Than 5 grams but Less Than 15 grams) and Obstructing Justice.  Prior to the stop, the arresting officer observed a blue Dodge truck operating with expired registration in the 600 block of N Walnut Street.  The officer conducted a traffic stop and found Hammond to be the driver.  During the stop, Officer Hopper and his K-9 Eleven arrived on scene and conducted a free air narcotics sniff around the exterior of the vehicle.  Eleven alerted to the presence of narcotics coming from the vehicle resulting in a search.  When Hammond was searched, the officer discovered a suspicious item concealed underneath Hammond’s pants. Hammond refused to remove the item so he was detained and transported to the jail for further investigation.  Upon arrival, Hammond admitted he had a bag of methamphetamine hidden in his underwear.  The officer removed the item and located approximately 9 grams of suspected methamphetamine, which later field tested positive.  Hammond was turned over to jail staff where he was charged with the above offenses.  Hammond is being held pending a pre-trial detention determination by the court. 

Friday Morning Incident Earns Mt. Carmel Man A Trip To Jail

On 11/17/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Gavin M. Roberts, age 40, of Mt. Carmel for Disorderly Conduct, Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, and Threatening a Public Official.  The arrest was a result of two separate public complaints regarding Roberts’ behavior.  First, police were notified of a male subject, later identified as Roberts, beating on the door of a residence in the 300 block of East 9th Street.  This caller later signed a complaint against Roberts for Disorderly Conduct.  Another caller reported Roberts yelling and behaving erratically at Jumpin Jimmy’s Gas Station.  Officers arrived to the area and located Roberts near the Wagon Wheel Liquor Store, where police made contact.  During this time, Roberts continued to yell excessively and incoherently.  During police contact, Roberts became confrontational and threatened to attack the two officers.  Roberts then bent down in a football stance and counted as if he was going to attack them.  Suddenly, Roberts raised up and lunged at an officer at which time a taser was deployed on him.  This deployment prevented Roberts from hitting the officer.  With the assistance of a responding Wabash County Deputy, Roberts continued to resist but was placed under arrest at this time.  Roberts was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he continued to kick the interior of the back seat of the squad car.  Roberts was placed inside the Wabash County Jail where he was held pending a pre-trial detention determination by the court. 

Traffic Stop Results In Various Charges For Mt. Carmel Man

On 11/16/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Gary J. Reeves, age 47, of Mt. Carmel for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicating Compounds, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While License Suspended or Revoked.  The arrest stemmed from a traffic stop on a green Chevrolet truck in the 500 block of North Walnut Street for multiple violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code.  In speaking to the driver, identified as Gary Reeves, they found his license was revoked and that he exhibited signs of impairment.  Reeves initially refused to submit to field sobriety testing and was placed under arrest at this time, based on the officer’s observations.  A search of the vehicle resulted in officer’s finding a glass smoking device containing suspected methamphetamine inside of it.  Upon arriving at the Wabash County Jail, Reeves elected to submit to field sobriety testing.  During this testing, the officer observed several clues to indicate impairment.  Reeves was processed for the above offenses and later turned over to jail staff for further processing.  Reeves was later released on a Notice to Appear.

Noise Complaints Lead To Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Man

On 11/15/23 at 10:58pm, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Kerry L. Keepes, age 64, of Mt. Carmel for Disorderly Conduct following multiple complaints from neighbors regarding excessive noise coming from his home in the 700 block of W 6th Street.  On this incident, officers found that Keepes had repeatedly and excessively revved the motor up on his vehicle.   One of these neighbors reported calling the police on seven different occasions due to this and similar violations.  Consequently, the neighbor was allowed to sign a complaint against Keepes.  Keepes was cited on scene and released on a Notice to Appear in court.

Stadium Project Continues To Run Behind Schedule

Tomorrow’s Golden Aces’ semifinal playoff game is on the road at Roxana. But even if it was at Riverview Stadium, Aces fans still wouldn’t be able to use the new concession stand and restrooms at the new multi-purpose building. 

The timeline on when Phase Two of the project has shifted several times through the football season. Originally, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said Phase two would be finished before the season started on August 25th. But that was pushed back several times with the last update from Bleyer saying it would be ready for the fourth round of the playoffs, which is tomorrow.

At Monday’s District #348 school board meeting, Bleyer said now the facility will be completed by the end of the year. He said the bathrooms are installed and some of the lockers have arrived. Bleyer said a walk-through inspection with the regional superintendent of education on Wednesday would give the district the go ahead to inhabit the building.

A ribbon cutting that has already been postponed once won’t be rescheduled until the project is finished and the public is able to tour the entire building.

Allendale School Board Notes

At the November 2023 Allendale School Board meeting held in the Library of Allendale School, the board:

Approved the 2023 Tentative Tax Levy. The Board will adopt the levy at the December 2023 meeting.

Reviewed and approved the 2023 Interactive School Report Card, which will be linked on the website.

Approved the membership for 2024 to the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association.

Approved the resignation of Karla McCowen, Head Cook.

Gibson County is now under a burn ban effective 11/15/2023

Gibson County the Board of Commissioners for Gibson County have issued a burn ban effective 11/15/2023.  

Specifically prohibited are these activities.  
- Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or briquettes or propane.
- The burning of debris, such as timber and vegetation, including such debris those resulting from building construction activities.
-Campfires and other recreational Fires.

Former Adminstrator/Coach Brings Concerns To District #348 School Board

Is the Wabash District #348 school board living up to its own policies? That’s what one former Golden Aces coach and administrator is trying to determine when it comes to the policy for community use of school facilities. Rick Johnston spoke at Monday’s school board meeting saying he and others have been denied access to the district’s gyms to practice a 4th and 5th grade basketball team that was organized last year. While there were no issues finding an available gym to practice last year, Johnston said that’s not the case this year as he has gotten the run around from administrators. The board’s own policy outlines how school facilities are available to community organizations during non-school hours when not interfering with any school function or the safety of students or employees and doesn’t affect the property of liability of the school district. Johnston said after many delays, he was told he would have no access to gyms, something he says sets a precedent for other coaches and sports….

Johnston also brought up another topic when it comes to student-athletes using school facilities….

Johnston asked the board to review its’ policy and eliminate areas of inconsistences and develop well defined protocols for the use of school facilities by the community. No comment was offered by administrators or school board members at the conclusion of Johnston’s remarks.

Here is the board policy:

8:20 Community Use of School Facilities

School facilities are available to community organizations during non-school hours when such use does not: (1) interfere with any school function or affect the safety of students or employees, or (2) affect the property or liability of the School District. The use of school facilities for school purposes has precedence over all other uses. The District reserves the right to cancel previously scheduled use of facilities by community organizations and other groups. The use of school facilities requires the prior approval of the Superintendent or designee and is subject to applicable procedures. Persons on school premises must abide by the District's conduct rules at all times.

Student groups, school-related organizations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations are granted the use of school facilities at no costs during regularly staffed hours. Fees and costs shall apply during non-regularly staffed hours and to other organizations granted use of facilities at any time. A fee schedule and other terms of use shall be prepared by the Superintendent and be subject to annual approval by the Board of Education.

Traffic stop leads to arrest of Evansville man on drug charges

On November, 14, 2023, at 7:06 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Logan Lashbrook conducted a traffic stop on a White 2019 Jeep for speeding on US 41 near County Road 550 South.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Lashbrook detected the odor of Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.  At that point Deputy Lashbrook began a roadside drug investigation.  Once the investigation was complete the driver 38 year old Timothy Ray of Evansville was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail.  Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Ray was charged with Possession of a Schedule II drug, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of a Device to Interfere with a Drug Screen.  He has since posted a $650 bond.
 
Assisting Deputy Lashbrook in his investigation was Sgt. Loren Barchett and ISP Trooper Gage Cummings. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.