Health Board Discusses WCHD Holiday Closing

The issue of the Wabash County Health Department being closed between Christmas and New Year’s was brought up again at yesterday’s regular meeting of the Wabash County health board. Last week, county commissioner Rob Dean, who has been a frequent critic of the health department, complained that the health department being closed over the holidays was improper and he hoped the health board would look into the issue. Health Department administrator Judy Wissel explained the situation to the members of the board of health….

JUDY WISSEL #1 1 10 24

Wissel said the health department has been closing the public health division since 2011 between Christmas and New Year’s. County board chairman Scott West replaced Dean last year on the health board and he addressed the issue from the county commissioner’s perspective…

SCOTT WEST HEALTH BOARD 1 10 24

Wissel said during COVID, the health department was open for testing because grant funding paid for the staffing. But now that the funding has gone away, the health department is no longer reimbursed for the testing. Moving forward, the health board will review and approve holiday schedules and closures at the health department.

NWS Holding Storm Spotter Training Next Month In Mt. Carmel

Just ahead of spring severe weather season, the Wabash County Emergency Management Agency is co-hosting a storm spotter class on February 1st. WEMA Director Mark Majors says the class begins that evening at 6pm and will be over by 8:30pm…..

MARK MAJORS ON SPOTTER CLASS

The class is being conducted by the National Weather Service and those attending will be an official National Weather Service Skywarn spotter. The class is free, but preregistration is required.

WGH Donation Provides New Kitchen Equipment For Senior Center

The kitchen at the WC Cafeteria and Senior Center will receive a makeover thanks to a generous donation from Wabash General Hospital. At Monday’s city council meeting, WGH President/CEO Karissa Turner said a presentation at a recent Rotary Club meeting brought to light the need for new kitchen equipment at the senior center. The price tag for a new double convection oven, stove, and fryer came in at $23,000. While not covering the entire amount, Wabash General presented the city with a $22,700 check for the new equipment. Turner said the donation is a result of the hospital’s strategic plan we reported on yesterday….

KARISSA TURNER SR CTR DONATION 1 8 24

In exchange for the donation, Wabash General will begin offering wellness checks at the senior center the third Thursday of every month between 10am and 11:30am. Blood pressure and glucose checks will be part of the wellness clinics. The new kitchen equipment is part of an overall renovation of the senior center.

WGH Embarks On Ambitious 2024

The administration at Wabash General Hospital is looking to build upon  a very successful 2023. President/CEO Karissa Turner says there’s one underlying goal to make that happen….

KARISSA TURNER 2024 #1

Breaking it down, Turner said there are specific areas Wabash General administration will focus on….

KARISSA TURNER 2024 #2

Turner said the 2024 strategic plan also calls for helping with economic development and attracting young families to the community; fostering education and a healthier community through the WGH grow your own program; supporting local businesses; and continuing an outstanding standard of quality.

City Hall To Resume Opening Over Lunch Hour

Monday is MLK Day and it is a federal holiday and most government offices will be closed. Among them, Mt. Carmel City Hall. City Clerk Ryan Turner reported at yesterday’s city council meeting that city hall will be closed for the holiday.

He also announced that city hall will now be open over the lunch hour. During the pandemic, city hall was closed because of staffing issues. Turner said lunch hours will now be staggered to allow for city hall to remain open between noon and 1pm. 

City Wraps Up Leaf Season; Transitions to Winter Weather

The threat of winter weather has brought an end to the city’s leaf collection program. At yesterday’s city council meeting, commissioner Susan Zimmerman said the leaf vac is done making its’ rounds and any residents still with leaves need to bag them for pickup by the city’s brush route.

Street commissioner Tyson Meador said crews have been busy prepping equipment should we see frozen precip later this week or over the weekend. 

Bryant relaunches annual Valentines for Seniors program

As Valentine’s Day approaches, State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) is once again working to uplift the spirits of local senior citizens through her annual “Valentines for Seniors” card drive.

 “My Valentines for Seniors card drive is an opportunity for our communities to show local seniors that they are loved and cherished,” said Sen. Bryant. “By sharing our creativity and compassion, we can brighten the day of those residing in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and long-term care homes throughout the 58th Senate District.”

 To help with this goal, Sen. Bryant is asking students, scout groups, churches, and other groups to consider creating homemade cards that will be delivered to nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and other long-term care facilities throughout the 58th Senate District.

 Cards can be mailed or dropped off from now until February 5th to one of Sen. Bryant’s district offices, which are located at 1032 W. Industrial Park Road in Murphysboro and 2929 Broadway Street, Suite 3 in Mt. Vernon. Cards that are being dropped off in-person can be placed in the marked mailbox inside the offices between normal business hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

UPDATE: Nighttime road closures planned for I-64 to allow for bridge removal

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces nighttime road closures for I-64 as part of the State Road 65 bridge project.

Beginning on or around Monday, January 15, crews will begin nighttime road closures of I-64 at the State Road 65 bridge. Closures will occur between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Traffic will utilize the on and off-ramps to bypass the road closure.

Nighttime closures will allow for removal of the State Road 65 bridge. This closure is part of the bridge reconstruction project. During the reconstruction project, the State Road 65 bridge will be replaced. Nighttime closures of I-64 are expected to take two weeks to complete. Work on the reconstruction project. is expected to last through early July of 2024. All work is dependent on the weather.

The ramps at the I-64 and State Road 65 interchange will remain open during this project. The official detour for southbound S.R. 65 traffic is I-64 westbound to State Road 165 to I-64 eastbound. The detour for northbound S.R. 65 traffic is I-64 eastbound to U.S. 41 to I-64 westbound. Local traffic will have access up to the point of closure.

Warrick County woman arrested on DUI charge

On January 7, 2024, at 2:12 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted a traffic stop on a Blue Ford Focus after observing a moving violation and an equipment violation while the vehicle was traveling on Main Street in Princeton.  Deputy Hunt conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on Seminary Street near Ohio Street in Princeton.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Hunt identified the driver as 34 year old Christina Vanhooser of Chandler.  While speaking with Ms. Vanhooser Deputy Hunt detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage.  At that point he began a roadside DUI investigation.  During the traffic stop Gibson County Central Dispatch advised that Ms. Vanhooser had an outstanding warrant through Warrick County for Intimidation.  At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Hunt transported Ms. Vanhooser to the Gibson County Jail where she was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.  Ms. Vanhooser is being held on the Warrick County Warrant. 
 
Assisting Deputy Hunt in his investigation was Deputy Bart Wagner and Princeton Officers Bryce Jutzi and Sgt. Ben Kiesel. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
 

Owensville woman arrested on DUI charge

On January 5, 2024, at 3:12 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of an unconscious female inside a 2018 Chevy Camaro in the 7700 block of West 550 South near Owensville.  Upon arriving in the area Sgt. Loren Barchett and Owensville Officer Rodger Leister located the vehicle and spoke with the driver 64 year old Dee Ann Matsel of Owensville.  While speaking with Ms. Matsel Sgt. Barchett detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage.  At that point Sgt. Barchett began a roadside DUI investigation.  At the conclusion of his investigation Sgt. Barchett transported Ms. Matsel to the Gibson County Jail where she was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.