Liquor License Renewed At Special Meeting

A brief liquor control meeting Tuesday morning resulted in a local restaurant’s liquor license being renewed for 2024. El Bernal Mexican Restaurant at 2nd and Walnut had not paid their liquor license fee before last week’s city council when Mayor Joe Judge, acting as liquor control commissioner, renewed all other licenses. Once the fee was paid last week, the special liquor control meeting was called for Tuesday morning in order for El Bernal to serve alcohol.

Indiana State Police Partnering in Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative

The Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) is partnering with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) for CVSA’s Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative January 8 -12, 2024.  During this annual human trafficking initiative, ISP’s CVED personnel will raise awareness about human trafficking by distributing outreach materials to commercial motor vehicle drivers while conducting commercial motor vehicle inspections. 

CMV drivers, crisscrossing America, are in a unique position to identify potential incidents of human trafficking and raising their awareness and providing drivers the tools to identify and report signs of human trafficking is the goal of this campaign.  CVSA’s Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative will be conducted across North America: US January 8 -12, 2024, Canada February 19-23, 2024, and Mexico March 11-15, 2024. 

According to the United Nations, human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of people through force, fraud, or deception with the aim of exploiting them for profit. Men, women, and children of all ages and from all backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world, including North America. Human traffickers often use violence, fraudulent employment agencies, and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick and coerce their victims.

The Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative is part of CVSA’s Human Trafficking Prevention Program. The program seeks to reduce human trafficking throughout North America through coordinated enforcement and investigative and educational awareness measures within the commercial motor vehicle industry.

CVSA and the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division collaborate with Truckers Against Trafficking (www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org) to engage and equip the commercial vehicle industry in the fight against human trafficking. 

To report suspected human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text INFO to 233733.

Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday January 8th at 4:00 pm

 

·         Call to Order

o   Pledge of Allegiance

o   Roll Call

·         Approve Minutes

o   Minutes of meeting held 12/27/2023.

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

o   Wabash General Hospital-Donation

·         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   Consent Agenda

§  Pay all bills providing proper signatures.

o   Removal of items from the Consent Agenda

o   Old Business

o   Executive Session

o   Discuss contract negotiations with union employees

o   Motion to Adjourn

o   Liquor Control Meeting-

 

Plainville man arrested for driving on suspended license

On January 5, 2024, at 1:26 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Bart Wagner conducted a traffic stop on a Grey 2002 Ford Focus after observing an equipment violation on the vehicle while it was traveling on US 41.  Upon conducting the traffic stop at the VFW Parking lot in Fort Branch Deputy Wagner identified the driver as 60 year old Kevin Lawyer of Plainville, Indiana.  During a roadside investigation it was determined that Mr. Lawyer’s drivers license was suspended on a prior driving while suspended conviction.  At that point Deputy Wagner placed Mr. Lawyer into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Driving While Suspended Prior.  He remains in custody on a $650 bond. 
 
Deputy Wagner was assisted in his investigation by Fort Branch Officer Louis Jerrell. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Putnamville State Police Post Request Public’s Assistance

Clay County -  The Indiana State Police Putnamville Post is requesting assistance from the public and asking for information in reference to a pedestrian being struck.  This occurred on December 25, 2023, on Interstate 70 westbound near the 22 mile marker at approximately 8:15 p.m.  

The investigation indicates that the victim had stopped at a fueling station located on State Road 59 near Interstate 70.  The victim is seen inside of the fueling station with two other males. The victim then gets into a red passenger vehicle (photo below) with the two males and a female, leaving the fueling station.  Approximately 20 minutes later the victim is observed walking on Interstate 70 and was struck by a passenger vehicle.  

Trooper Rondell Shelton is requesting individuals with any information or who may have observed something in regard to this incident on the night of December 25th, to please contact him at the Putnamville State Police Post at 1-800-225-8576.

* Original Release Below*

Indiana State Police Investigate Pedestrian Struck on Interstate 70 

Clay County -  On December 25, 2023, at approximately 8:15 p.m., Indiana State Police Putnamville Post and Clay County Sheriff’s Department responded to a pedestrian being struck on Interstate 70 westbound near the 22 mile marker.

Troopers were originally dispatched to the area of the 22 mile marker westbound of Interstate 70 in reference to a pedestrian walking on the Interstate for an unknown reason.  However, before troopers arrived on scene there was a second 911 call reference to a pedestrian being struck.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Athan Lamson revealed that an individual was walking in the passing lane on Interstate 70 westbound near the 22 mile marker when he/she was struck by a passenger vehicle.  The driver of the vehicle immediately pulled over and called 911, fully cooperating with the investigation.  There were no other injuries to report.

The Clay County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene to assist with the investigation and recover the remains of the deceased. The name of the deceased will be released at a later time by the Clay County Coroner’s Office once positive identification and family notification has been made.  The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information to release at this time.

Assisting Agencies:  Troopers of the Putnamville State Police Post, Clay County Sheriff's Department, Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department, Posey Volunteer Fire Department, and the Clay County Coroner's Office.   

-30-

* Original Release Below*

Name Release of Pedestrian Struck on Interstate 70 

Positive Identification - Clay County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased individual that was involved in the fatal pedestrian accident on Interstate 70 at the 22 mile marker westbound.  The individual has been positively identified as:

Fredy Ramos Escobar

Kansas City, Kansas

Family has been notified.

Deadline For 1st Property Tax Payments Quickly Approaching

A heads up for Wabash County property owners, the first installment of real estate taxes is coming up quickly. County treasurer Angela Broster offered an update at this week’s county board meeting…

Taxes can be paid in person in the treasurer’s office at the courthouse, in the drop box in front of the courthouse, at local banks, and online.

County Commissioners Decline Tourism Bureau's Request

Wabash County Commissioners have chosen to further distance themselves from the Discover Downstate Illinois Tourism Bureau. Last year, commissioners decided to cut sending $6,000 a year to the group which is based in Swansea in the metro east area saying they saw no benefits from remaining in the group. While financial support was cut, Wabash County was able to remain a member of Discover Downstate. But at this Wednesday’s county board meeting, board chairman Scott West shot down a request from Discover Downstate to send a letter recognizing that the tourism group is Wabash County’s state certified tourism bureau. The letter did not come with any financial request on Wabash County’s behalf, but West said that didn’t matter…

When funding was cut last year, commissioners said the $6,000 could be better spent locally instead of with the regional bureau. Discover Downstate’s website indicates that the group represents 21 counties stretching from east of St. Louis to the Wabash County west of Vincennes.

The full discussion of the request among commissioners Tim Hocking, Scott West, and Rob Dean is on this clip….

Saturation Patrol Scheduled for Friday Targeting Move-Over Law

Jasper - On Friday, January 5, 2024, Indiana State Police troopers will conduct a saturation patrol designed to target violators of Indiana’s move-over or slow-down law.

Upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, when the authorized emergency vehicle is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing red, red and white, or red and blue lights, a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall:

  • Proceed with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four (4) lanes with not less than two (2) lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or

  • Proceed with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle to a speed at least ten (10) miles per hour less than the posted speed limit, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.

A person who violates this subsection commits a Class A infraction. However, the violation is a Level 6 felony if the person's failure to comply with this subsection results in serious bodily injury, catastrophic injury, or death to any person operating, occupying, or affiliated with an authorized emergency vehicle described in this subsection.

Wabash County Health Board Agenda

Wabash County Health Department

130 W. 7th St.

Mt. Carmel, IL 62863

 

The Wabash County Board of Health will meet at the Wabash County Health Department Conference Room on Wednesday January 10,2024

 The agenda will be as follows:

 1.     Call to Order 12:00 pm

2.     Approval of previous Meeting Minutes

3.     Claims Review/ Approval

4.     Financial Report(s)/ Approval

5.     County Commissioner’s Issues

6.     Personnel Policy Change

7.     Building Update

8.     Division Reports

9.     Executive Session- Board of Health By-Laws

10. Adjournment