Operation Share Distributing Christmas Toys Today

The Christmas spirit will be alive and well today at the First Christian Church as volunteers help distribute toys to Wabash County families during Wabash County’s Operation Share program. WADI’s Debbie Meyer said today’s toy distribution is a very smooth process…

Sign-ups for the toy distribution ended last Thursday.

Sign-ups to receive a Christmas dinner through Operation Share continue through this Thursday by stopping by the WADI office on West 12th Street. The meals will be distributed next Tuesday at Heartland Worship Center.

Last month, Meyer said 242 Wabash County families received Thanksgiving meals through Operation Share. Volunteers are needed through December 23rd for Operation Share’s bell ringing campaign. You can schedule a time by going to Wabash operation share dot com.

Pennsylvania man arrested for public intoxication

On December 6, 2023, at 12:56 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a disturbance in the 1600 block of West Tulip Blossom Lane in Princeton.  Upon arriving officers could hear screaming in the area and upon locating the caller they stated that they were home alone and discovered someone on their property.  After a brief search 30 year old Jean Ca Vazquez Millian was found asleep on another property.  Upon waking Mr. Millian he became agitated and verbally abusive towards officers.  While speaking with the subject Deputy Wyatt Hunt detected an overwhelming odor of alcohol coming from Mr. Millian.  While attempting to speak with Mr. Millian he continued to be verbally abusive towards officers and threatened to physically harm them.  At that point Mr. Millian was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Public Intoxication and Intimidation.  He remains in custody on a $1500 bond. 

Assisting Deputy Hunt in his investigation was Sgt. John Fischer and Princeton Officers Ben Kiesel and Nicholas Rainey.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Owensville man arrested on battery charge

On December 9, 2023, at 7:03 p.m. Deputy U.B. Smith was dispatched to a residence in the 6900 block of West 450 South for a welfare check.  Upon arriving on scene Deputy Smith conducted a check on multiple persons at the residence and upon speaking with the persons there it became apparent that a battery had just occurred.  At that point Deputy Smith questioned each person that was involved in the incident, and at the end he placed 50 year old Trent Selby into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail.  Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Selby was charged with battery.  He remains in custody on a $1250 bond.
 
Assisting Deputy Smith in his investigation was Deputy Quinten Might. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Cemetery Mowing Contract Up For Bids

Even though it’s December, the Mt. Carmel City Council is already looking ahead to the 2024 mowing of the city’s cemeteries. The contract is currently held by K & K Small Jobs. City Clerk Ryan Turner said the city should consider clarifying how often the cemeteries are mowed…

Bids for the cemetery mowing will be opened at the council’s meeting on January 8th.

City Offers Update On Oak Meadow Work

If they haven’t received one already, residents in the Oak Meadow subdivision should receive a letter soon as the city moved forward with Phase 2 of that work….

That’s City Clerk Ryan Turner who says bids will be sought by the city council at their meeting Monday.

Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, December 11, 2023 at 4:00 pm

· Call to Order

o Pledge of Allegiance

o Roll Call

· Approve Minutes

o Minutes of meeting held 11/27/2023.

· Visitors (topic discussed by visitor(s) is limited to 5 minutes)

· Reports and Communications

o Mayor Judge

o Commissioner Meador Streets, Cemeteries and Parks

o Commissioner Ikemire Finance and Senior Citizens

o Commissioner Meeks Water and Sewer

o Commissioner Zimmerman Fire, Health & Safety, City Hall and Garbage

· Staff Reports

o Ryan Turner Derek McCullough Luis Garcia

o Michael McWilliams Francis Speth Mike Gidcumb

New Business

o 1st Reading of Ordinance 2099-Dedicating Easy Street, second reading waived.

o 1st reading of Ordinance 2100-Tax Levy

o 1St reading of Ordinance 2101-Paid Personal Leave

o Consent Agenda

§ Pay all bills providing proper signatures.

§ Approve Holiday Schedule along with Counsel Meeting Dates

o Removal of items from the Consent Agenda

o Old Business

o Open sealed bids for demolition of 230 Hinde Street.

o Open sealed bids for 923 & 925 W. 3rd

o Open sealed bids for 131 W. 2nd Street

o Executive Session

o Motion to Adjourn

o Liquor Control Meeting-

Wilkinson To Be Listed First On Primary Ballot

Gregory Wilkinson’s name will appear first on the March Republican primary ballot for Wabash County Coroner.

Both Wilkinson and Shaun Keepes were at the Wabash County Courthouse at 8am on the first day to file petitions, November 27th.

That necessitated a simultaneous filing lottery this afternoon in the Wabash County Clerk’s office. Under the watchful eye of elections representative Theresa Etzkorn, Connie Larry drew Wilkinson’s name from the basket.

The primary election will be held March 19th.

The winner of the Republican nomination will not face any opposition in next November’s general election as local democrats did not field a candidate for coroner.

Connie Larry shows County Clerk office representative Theresa Etzkorn the envelope she selected during Thursday’s lottery drawing for ballot placement in next March’s primary election. Incumbent Shaun Keepes will be listed second.

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE REMINDS PUBLIC TO STAY VIGILANT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is reminding the public to stay vigilant during the holiday season as the Israel-Hamas war continues.  With rising tensions in the Middle East and the escalating Israel-Hamas war, there is the potential for violence to be carried out by terrorist groups and supporters pushing their agendas.  Historically, foreign terrorist media has called for violence during the winter holiday season, but this year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigations expect the call for violence to be heightened.  Terrorists may look to holiday events, particularly those of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths, as potential targets to instigate violence.

“We all must remain on guard against both terrorism and hate crimes during this holiday season,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.  “While the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center reviews intelligence for potential threats around the clock, having reliable and timely information from the public is critical to keeping people safe.  If you see something that seems out of place or someone acting in a manner that doesn’t seem right, report it to your local law enforcement.”

In the United States, individuals acting independently may be inspired by foreign terrorist organizations and likely pose the most credible threat of violence.  These lone actors tend to use simple tactics with little or no warning of an attack, which is why it is so important to remain alert. 

The Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC) shares any and all relevant threat information with its partners for their full investigation.  STIC works with FBI Springfield and FBI Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force to ensure the continuous flow of information for investigative follow-up.  However, it is also important for the public to report suspicious behavior to their local law enforcement agency or call 911 depending on the level of the threat.

ISP continues to reach out to faith communities in Illinois to communicate with and support faith leaders.  ISP is also communicating and sharing information with local and federal partners and all ISP assets are at a heightened state of readiness. 

During the holiday season, be aware of your surroundings and be prepared.  More information about personal and family planning can be found online at https://ready.illinois.gov/.

Clancy to Star in Acclaimed Play

Local playwright, theater director and actor John Clancy will star in a production of the stage version of Judgment at Nuremberg, the 1961 Academy-award winning film starring Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark and Marlene Dietrich this January at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre in Kansas City, MO. 

Clancy is slated to play Judge Dan Haywood, the Spencer Tracy role in the film.

The Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre (MET) has created and maintained a reputation for presenting both ambitious and high-quality productions over the last twenty years including The Kentucky Cycle, The Iceman Cometh and the American premiere of The Shawshank Redemption. Judgment at Nuremberg continues this tradition and will be directed by MET's Producing Artistic Director Karen Paisley.

Clancy is an OBIE-award winning director and an internationally produced playwright and the President of Little Pharaoh Enterprises, a Mount Carmel based arts consultancy firm. He was last seen on the MET stage in the role of Larry Slade in January 2023's production of Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh".

Judgment at Nuremberg plays January 11th-21st, 2024 at the Warwick Theater, 3927 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. For tickets go to www.warwickkc.org or call (816)569-3226.

West Named County Board Chairman

Scott West is the new chairman of the Wabash County Board of Commissioners. Monday was the county board’s first of the new fiscal year that started December 1st. West was unanimously approved to take over the chairman’s seat previously held by Tim Hocking. As chairman, West will be the county’s representative to the Area Economic Alliance and the county’s workforce harassment committee. All other commissioner appointments remained unchanged.