At their monthly meeting Monday night, the Wabash District #348 school board approved raises for substitutes in the district. Starting January 1st, substitute teacher pay will go from $120 a day to $130; pay for aide substitutes will increase from $100 to $110; substitute pay for cooks will increase from $91 to $98; while custodian subs will see an $8 a day increase from $104 to $112; and bus driver subs will go from $68 to $75. Finding subs has been a problem for the district and administrators hope the pay increases will make the district more competitive with surrounding schools and attract more employees. Information on required qualifications and openings can be found on the district website.
Allendale School Board Notes-December 2023
At the December 2023 Allendale School Board meeting held in the library of Allendale School, the board:
Adopted the 2023 Payable 2024 Tax Levy with an aggregate increase of 4.99%.
Each board member received a document to begin the Superintendent Evaluation process, which will be gathered and presented next month.
Approved the transfer of Talley Wyatt from Title 1 Paraprofessional to Head Cook, effective January 2, 2024.
Approved the hiring of Emily Wilson as the full-time 3rd grade teacher for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year
Cloverdale Woman Arrested for Child Seduction
Putnam County - Indiana State Police initiated a criminal investigation on March 15, 2023, after receiving information from the Putnam County Department of Child Services concerning allegations of dissemination of sexual matters and child seduction with minors, from an employee of Cloverdale Community School Corporation.
The investigation revealed that Mandy L. Evans, age 46, Cloverdale, Indiana, had allegedly engaged in disseminating sexual photos and communications with minors that would be in her care as an employee of the Cloverdale Community School Corporation. These allegations took place in Putnam County.
After a lengthy criminal investigation and conducting digital forensics, the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office issued an arrest warrant on December 20, 2023, for Evans. Trooper Kevin Fowler of the Putnamville State Police Post arrested Evans on the active warrant this evening. Evans was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held in the Putnam County Jail with no bond allowed.
Investigating Officer: Indiana State Police Master Trooper Ryan Winters.
Assisting Agencies: Child Services and Putnam County Sheriff’s Department.
Arrested and Charges: Mandy L. Evans, 46, Cloverdale, IN
Attempt to Commit: Child Seduction-Child Care Worker in Sexual Intercourse or other Sexual Conduct, Felony 5 (3 counts)
Dissemination of Matter Harmful to Minors, Level 6 Felony, (3 counts)
Under the law, criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Fort Branch Woman Arrested On Drug Charges
On 12/17/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Daisha N. Cardinal, age 33, of Fort Branch, Indiana for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Hypodermic Syringe/Needle following a traffic stop on a 1991 white GMC truck in the 200 block of W 9th Street for multiple violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code. During the stop, Officer Hopper and his K-9 Eleven arrived on scene to conduct an open-air sniff around the exterior the vehicle. K-9 Eleven alerted to an odor of illegal narcotics coming from the vehicle resulting in officers locating four used hypodermic needles and cotton balls under the driver’s seat. These items are commonly used to inject methamphetamine. The driver, Daisha Cardinal, was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail. Upon arrival to the jail, Cardinal removed a plastic container containing suspected methamphetamine and another hypodermic needle from her bra prior to a search by a female correctional officer. The suspected methamphetamine field tested positive for methamphetamine. Cardinal was issued the above stated charges and later released on a Notice to Appear.
Circuit Clerk Rolls Out New App
Wabash County Circuit Clerk Angela Crum is excited to announce the release of a custom smartphone application. The app will serve as a new way for the clerk’s office to connect with Wabash County residents, providing information quickly and efficiently to anyone with a smartphone.
The Wabash County Circuit Clerk app was developed by TheGovApp.com, a brand of OCV, LLC which specializes in mobile app development for clerk’s offices and government agencies across the country. The app offers quick access to items of public interest and is easy to use. In just a few clicks, users can access features such as:
● Circuit Clerk’s Message
● Search Court Cases
● Make a Payment
● Court Forms
● Jury Duty Info
● eFile
● Contact Us
● More!
The app is available for download for free in the App Store and Google Play. Search “Wabash County Clerk, IL” or click here to download.
Two Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice a Minor
BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced two men to each spend ten years in federal prison after both were charged in a law enforcement sting to detect online child predators.
Timmy Wayne Smith, 59, of McLeansboro, Illinois, and Joseph Randall Edmaiston, 37, of Clinton, Kentucky, each pleaded guilty to one count of attempted enticement of a minor.
“Although both men fully intended to sexually abuse a child, they were apprehended by law enforcement after interacting online with a purported 15-year-old girl who was actually an undercover agent,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “This proactive operation successfully detected child predators lurking online, and I appreciate the actions of the officers to put these offenders in federal prison.”
In August 2020, law enforcement agents conducted an undercover investigation to detect child predators where an agent created an online profile of a purported 15-year-old girl. According to court documents, Smith and Edmaiston both interacted with the undercover profile and discussed plans to engage in sexual conduct with the purported child.
“The ease of online interaction increases the likelihood that a predator will engage your child with the intent to harm them,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Shannon Fontenot.” It is imperative that parents and caregivers establish safety guidelines for children and monitor who they talk to online. The FBI’s proactive efforts help to thwart the attempts of those looking to do harm, but prevention can go a long way in avoiding a tragedy all together.”
Smith and Edmaiston were each arrested by police after both men traveled to a home in Marion, Illinois, for the sexual encounter. Following the federal prison sentence, both men will each serve five years of supervised release.
FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Illinois State Police, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, the Herrin Police Department, and the Marion Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Bloodworth and David Sanders prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims
Fort Branch man arrested for trespassing and mischief
On December 18, 2023, at 6:38 p.m. Gibson County Sgt. Loren Barchett was dispatched to the 600 block of South Center Street in Fort Branch to investigate a disturbance. Upon arriving Sgt. Barchett spoke with the owner of the property and it was revealed that 76 year old Victor Sokeland had come onto the property after being trespassed from the property on a prior documented occasion. While on the property Mr. Sokeland vandalized the reporting party’s vehicle. Mr. Sokeland was located next door to the property and taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Criminal Trespass and Criminal Mischief. He remains in custody on a $650 bond.
Assisting Sgt. Barchett in his investigation was Sgt. Roger Ballard and Indiana State Trooper Tanner Hurley.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Wabash District #348 Personnel Matters-December 2023
The District #348 school board approved these personnel matters at their monthly meeting Monday night at MCGS.
Football District Proposal Fails
Illinois High School Association (IHSA) member schools approved 12 of 14 amendment proposals that appeared on the all-school ballot during the annual by-law referendum process that ended on December 19, 2023. Full text of the initial 23 proposals, including the 14 that advanced to the all-school ballot, can be found by clicking here. https://www.ihsa.org/documents/2023-2024By-LawAmendmentProposals.pdf
A proposal that would have significantly changed football scheduling in the state failed to pass (272-379-76). The only other proposal that did not pass sought to decrease the number of allowable summer contact days between coaches and student-athletes.
"The IHSA Board of Directors has already had discussions about the potential of forming a Football Ad Hoc Committee in 2024 in the event that this district proposal failed to pass," said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. "They want to be proactive in trying to address the issues that are at the root of different football proposals seemingly being brought forth each year. They recognize the myriad issues in IHSA football are unique and can be based on geography, school size, conference affiliation, and the traditional success of a program, which is why no recent proposals have garnered enough support to pass. There is likely no singular answer to these issues, but the Board wants to explore the idea that a large and diverse group from around the state might be able to find some solutions that the high school football community in the state would support."
The 2023 legislative process brought out the highest voting total in over a decade, as 89.2% of the membership participated in the vote. Below is a summary of the proposals and the vote totals. (The numbers in parentheses indicate the total of yes, no, and no opinion votes. For an amendment to pass, yes votes must outnumber no votes.).
Proposal 4 (Passes 578-124-24) Allows coaches to conduct out of season strength and conditioning workouts with limits of no more than 4 days per week and no more than 90 minutes per session outside the season. No coaching of the skills of a sport during any session.
Proposal 5 (Passes 449-233-45): Allows students to meet the residence by-law when their parent/guardian is a full-time staff member at a public school whose attendance boundary they do not reside in if the district has a Board Policy permitting students of employees to attend tuition free.
Proposal 9 (Passes 547-136-43): Modifies the All-Star games participation limit to include all sports as opposed to just basketball, football, soccer and volleyball.
Proposal 11 (Fails 302-407-18): Modifies the number of summer contact days restriction from 25 to 18 days.
Proposal 12 (Passes 566-132-23): Allows coaches to conduct strength and conditioning workouts with limits of no more than 4 days per week and no more than 90 minutes per session during the summer contact days. Conditioning training does not count against the summer contact day count. No coaching of the skills of a sport during any session in order for the session not to count as a summer contact day.
Proposal 14 (Passes 422-136-166): Restricts a Pre-Contest Physical Examination from determining a student’s eligibility for a contest other than in sports that require weigh-ins or sports-specific nail or skin checks.
Proposal 15 (Passes 564-36-118): Modifies the participation under an assumed name to match the language passed two years ago in By-law 3.090.
Proposal 16 (Passes 540-126-54): Eliminates the IHSA Tournament Limitations By-law (5.004).
Proposal 17 (Passes 410-232-85): Creates the opportunity for football teams to conduct a pre-season scrimmage with another school. Specific scrimmage limitations include the following: Use of IHSA Officials, 4 separate 12 play segments, no special teams, 48 total play limits per player, no live contact or thud in practice the day before or after the scrimmage. Scrimmage to be held on Friday or Saturday of IHSA Week 7. Players are eligible to participate in the scrimmage after participating in 8 different days of practice.
Proposal 18 (Fails 272-379-76): Establishes districts in the sport of football to be determined by the IHSA using geography and classification. Eight districts in each class with eight schools in each district. District games in weeks 3 – 9 of the regular season. Top 4 schools in each district qualify for the IHSA Play-offs. Seeding procedures will be similar to current seeding procedures with teams from the same district not to play in the first round.
Proposal 19 (Passes 352-48-321): Eliminates the Boys Gymnastics season and contest limitation by-law.
Proposal 20 (Passes 541-134-48): Eliminate the match limit per tournament language in girls and boys volleyball.
Proposal 22 (Passes 594-18-111): Increase the number of girls’ wrestling team contests from 18 to 25.
Proposal 23 (Passes 464-82-181): Establishes a Girls Flag Football fall season limitation (Monday of Wk. 6 to Saturday of Wk. 21), a pre-season practice requirement of 9 practices before a contest and a regular season contests limitation of 25 games exclusive of the IHSA State Series.
City Council Approves Levy During Special Meeting
Meeting in special session over the noon hour Monday, the Mt. Carmel City Council formally adopted the tax levy for 2023 real estate taxes payable in 2024. Mayor Joe Judge said the levy is going up slightly….
Judge previously said the increase comes after the city adopted a negative increased tax levy two years ago and a flat tax levy last year. He said this year’s increase will amount to just a total of $14,000, when split among all city taxpayers represents a very minimal increase.