On February 25, 2024, at 1:17 a.m. Fort Branch Town Marshal Darrell Parker and Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted a traffic stop on a White 2020 Ford F250 for speeding on US 41 near County Road 750 South. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Hunt detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver 19 year old Steven Haase of Mount Carmel. At that point Deputy Hunt began a roadside DUI investigation. At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Hunt placed Mr. Haase into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Minor Consumption. Regan Scraper, Cole Broster, and Vivian Hess all under the age of 21 were given promise to appear summons for minor consumption during this incident.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Homicide Suspect Arrested After Barricading Himself
Jasper, IN – Early Today, February 24, 2024, Indiana State Police Dispatch received a call from Lawrence County Dispatch, that a male suspect was being sought for the investigation of a homicide that had taken place in Lawrence County. Multiple agencies responded in the area to assist in locating the suspect. At approximately 12:33 pm., an officer with the Paoli Police located the suspect vehicle as it pulled into a gas station in Paoli. The suspect refused to exit his vehicle and barricaded himself inside. Multiple agencies along with the Indiana State Police SWAT team responded. After several hours of negotiations, the suspect was taken into custody.
There were no officers or members of the public injured during this incident. Any information into the homicide in Lawrence County should be made to Sheriff Greg Day. The name of the suspect will be released by the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office.
All crimes mentioned above are alleged and all suspects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. The charges listed were used as probable cause for arrest, actual charges will be determined by the Lawrence County Prosecutor's Office upon review of the case.
Altamont Man Accused of Unlawful Gun Possession and Manufacturing
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – An Effingham County man is facing criminal charges in southern Illinois for illegally possessing firearms.
James R. Kraus, II, 42, is facing one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, one count of illegal possession of a machine gun, two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of illegal importation of a firearm.
“Individuals with domestic violence and other abusive convictions cannot lawfully possess firearms due to the increased safety risks to our communities, and offenders will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe.
According to the charging document, Kraus is accused of possessing the firearms in November 2023. Due to a prior domestic violence conviction, Kraus is unable to legally possess firearms. The Government alleges that Kraus illegally possessed dozens of firearms including an automatic weapon, multiple short-barreled rifles and silencers.
“Individuals convicted of Domestic violence cannot possess firearms and will face serious consequences for manufacturing, possessing, or importing these firearms. Privately Made Firearms (PMFs) are commonly referred to as ghost guns and can be difficult to trace. Manufacturing devices to convert firearms to automatic weapons is a tremendous threat to our communities,” stated Kansas City Field Division, Special Agent in Charge, Bernard Hansen. “Identifying and prosecuting persons unlawfully converting and possessing machine guns, as well as unregistered silencers, is a focus of the ATF and persons will face serious consequences for possessing them.”
As outlined in the indictment, the Government is seeking forfeiture of Kraus’ nine commercially manufactured firearms, seven silencers and thousands of rounds of ammunition. In addition, Kraus is accused of manufacturing unregistered ghost guns with a 3D-printer and if convicted, he must forfeit 11 privately made firearms including four pistols and seven rifles.
“ISP is committed to ensuring those who are prohibited from possessing a firearm don't have guns illegally and we will continue to work with our federal partners to protect the public and combat gun trafficking,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.
The Government is also seeking forfeiture of Kraus’ computer, 3D-printer and other firearm manufacturing tools.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
If convicted, Kraus could face up to 15 years’ imprisonment and/or fines up to $250,000.
ATF is leading the investigation with assistance from ISP, HSI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Trippi is prosecuting the case.
Lane restrictions planned for I-69 in Daviess County
DAVIESS COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane restrictions for I-69 in Daviess County.
Beginning on or around Monday, March 4, crews will begin lane restrictions on I-69 in Daviess County. These lane restrictions will allow crews to replace the north and southbound bridge approaches. North and south bound driving lanes will be closed while passing lanes will remain open during phase one of this project.
This phase of work is expected to last through March, depending on the weather. Motorists should slow down, watch for stopped traffic and drive distraction-free through all work zones.
Lane restrictions planned for State Road 67
KNOX COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane restrictions for State Road 67 in Bicknell.
Beginning on or around Monday, March 4, crews will begin lane restrictions on State Road 67 in Bicknell. These restrictions are part of Phase 1B of a project to reconstruct the roadway through Bicknell. Lanes will narrow between Miami Street to Mary Street. A 12’ foot restriction for both directions of travel will be in place. Mason Street on the north side of S.R. 67 will also close during this phase of work.
This phase of work is expected to last through mid-April, depending on the weather. Motorists should slow down, watch for stopped traffic and drive distraction-free through all work zones.
Name Chosen For New Building; To Be Unveiled At Ribbon Cutting
Phase two of the Riverview Stadium project is just about complete. At Monday’s District #348 school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said the district has successfully jumped through all of the hoops in order for the multi-purpose building to finally be put into use…
Bleyer also said the naming committee has chosen a name for the building which will be unveiled during the ribbon cutting ceremony. One complaint about the new facility is the inaccessibility of the track for walkers and runners who wish to park on the lower level of the stadium. Bleyer said that issue is being solved.
Bleyer said it’s hoped the new gate will be installed sometime this week.
Effingham Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempted Sex Crimes Against a Minor
BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced an Effingham man to spend 10 years in federal prison after he admitted to soliciting sex online from a purported minor in exchange for money.
John S. Harmon, 65, pleaded guilty to attempted commercial sex trafficking of a minor and solicitation of child pornography.
“Thanks to the FBI’s proactive efforts in an undercover online investigation, another child predator was sentenced to spend a decade behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “We will continue to work together to apprehend these manipulative and dangerous offenders.”
The charges stemmed from an undercover investigation by an FBI agent who claimed to be a 15-year-old minor in an online discussion forum. According to court documents, Harmon began speaking to the undercover agent posing as a purported minor from May through June 2021. During conversations, he solicited the 15-year-old purported minor and an 11-year-old purported minor for sex in exchange for money. In addition, Harmon solicited nude images of both the purported minors.
“Our proactive efforts to protect children resulted in another offender being stripped of his ability to harm a member of our most vulnerable population,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “This sentence underscores the FBI’s unwavering dedication to investigate and arrest those who seek to harm our children.”
FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Bloodworth and David Sanders prosecuted the case on behalf of the Government.
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.
Nirvana Coming Soon To Mt. Carmel
Perhaps the worst kept secret in Mt. Carmel has now apparently been made official. A new cannabis dispensary is coming to the former A T & T building at 9th and Chestnut Streets. Workers have been busy the last several weeks gutting the interior of the building preparing for a new business. While there has been no confirmation of the rumors that a cannabis dispensary was going to open there, those rumors have now been confirmed as signage has gone up on the building stating that Nirvana was coming soon there. Nirvana currently has dispensaries in Arizona, Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio. Their website states Nirvana is committed to providing high-quality and innovative Cannabis products to customers & patients, with an experience that is catered to their individualized needs. There’s no word as to when the Mt. Carmel location will open.
School Board Approves Facility Usage Agreement For District Buildings
The Wabash District #348 school board Monday night adopted a facility usage policy.
The policy was adopted following a statement from former District #348 administrator Rick Johnston. His statement plus the explanation of the policy can be heard in their entirety by clicking the links below. . The usage policy is also below,
Former District #348 administrator Rick Johnston makes his point during his presentation to the school board Monday night.
Bryant reacts to Governor’s Budget and State of the State Address
Springfield, IL – State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) released the following statement in response to the Governor’s budget and state of the state address:
“Once again, the Governor has shown that he will continue to prioritize his radical noncitizen welfare agenda over the needs of Illinois families. He’s spent two billion dollars of taxpayer money on programs for noncitizens over the last two years, money that should have been spent on lowering costs for Illinoisans and aiding our state’s most vulnerable citizens.
“To add insult to injury, he now wants to use Illinoisans as the piggy bank for this noncitizen spending by raising taxes by more than a billion dollars. It is utterly outrageous for the Governor to demand the people of our state fund this migrant crisis he actively sought to create. It is time for lawmakers to prioritize Illinois families and urge Governor Pritzker to end his noncitizen welfare agenda.”
