City Receives $150,000 Grant To Retain & Attract Police Officers

A state grant will give the city of Mt. Carmel the ability to retain police officers as well as attract officers from other departments. Mayor Joe Judge announced at yesterday’s city council meeting the city was receiving a $150,000 recruitment and retention grant from the Illinois Law Enforcement and Training Standards Board….

JOE JUDGE ON POLICE GRANT

Judge said the highly competitive grant was made possible with assistance from the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission, State Senator Terri Bryant, and State Representative Dave Severin.

Photo: MCPD Facebook page.

MCPD Issues Advisory On Drug Overdoses

On 3/18/24, Mt. Carmel Fire Department, Wabash General Ambulance Service, and the Mt. Carmel Police Department responded to an unresponsive individual at a fuel pump at a gas station in the 200 block of N Walnut Street. Officers arrived on scene and found another individual performing CPR. Officers took over CPR while utilizing an AED. Responders and EMS arrived on scene and took over treatment. Due to suspicion of a possible overdose, EMS and MCPD staff administered Narcan to the individual and were able to revive them. Narcan, otherwise known as naloxone, is a medicine that is an antidote to opioid drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications. The subject was transported to the Wabash General Hospital and then air transported to an Evansville area hospital by AirEvac.

MCPD would like to commend the teamwork of these departments along with the assistance of a private citizen who called 911 for help.

Here are some warning signs of an opioid overdose:

• Loss of consciousness, limp body

• Slowed breathing, choking

• Small, "pinpoint" pupils

• Pale, blue, or cold skin

• Slowed heart rate

Of particular concern is fentanyl which is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin or morphine.

Everyone must remember that any drug could contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. That includes illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin, or, methamphetamine as well as prescription medications like Xanax, Oxycodone, etc.…Furthermore,

It may be hard to tell whether a person is high or experiencing an overdose. If you aren’t sure, treat it like an overdose—you could save a life. The Center for Disease Control recommends the following:

1. Call 911 immediately

2. Administer Narcan, if available

3. Try to keep the person awake and breathing

4. Lay the person on their side to prevent choking

5. Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives

Daily lane closure planned for State Road 61 in Knox County

KNOX COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces daily lane closure on State Road 61 in Knox County.

Beginning on or around Monday, March 18, crews will restrict traffic on State Road 61 near South Knox High School in Knox County. The eastbound lane of State Road 61 will be closed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Traffic will be controlled utilizing a flagger. This lane closure will allow crews to replace the paved side of a ditch across from South Knox High School.

This project is expected to take a week to complete, depending on the weather. INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

Lane closure planned on U.S. 50 in Montgomery

DAVIESS COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a lane closure on U.S. 50 in Montgomery.

Beginning on or around Thursday, March 21, crews will begin a lane closure on U.S. 50 in Montgomery. This closure will occur in the westbound lane between Graber Drive and First street. Westbound traffic will be moved to the center lane during this project.

This lane closure will allow crews to install sidewalks, curb ramps, and a catch basin. This work is expected to last through mid-April, depending on the weather. INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

911 call leads to arrest of Evansville man for trespassing and OWI

On March 15, 2024, at 6:02 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a subject refusing to leave a residence in the 400 block of South Mill Street in Owensville.  Deputy Quinten Might and Owensville Officer Pedro Ferreira arrived on scene and began an investigation into the incident.  While investigating the scene Officer Ferreira learned that 37 year old Justin Eckert of Evansville was trespassed from the property.  At that point Officer Ferreira placed Mr. Eckert into custody.  While speaking with Mr. Eckert Deputy Might detected the odor of alcohol coming from the individual and had probable cause to believe that Mr. Eckert had driven to the residence.  Deputy Might began a DUI investigation and at the conclusion of his investigation he transported Mr. Eckert to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated/ Refusal and Criminal Trespassing. 

Assisting Deputy Might and Officer Ferreira in their investigation was Deputy Michael Owens and Haubstadt Officer Bryan Munnier.

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

Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, March 18th 2024 at 4:00 pm

· Call to Order

o Pledge of Allegiance

o Roll Call

· Approve Minutes

o Minutes of meeting held 03/04/2024.

o Minutes of executive session held on 03/04/2024.

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

o David James-River Ramble

o Zed Moore-Improvements to park

o Terry Beckerman-Donation for Christmas Uptown

· 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

o WEMA Representative

New Business

o Consent Agenda

§ Pay all bills providing proper signatures.

o Removal of items from the Consent Agenda

o Ordinance 2103-Approving a variance and setback for 502 N. Market Street

§ Waive second reading

o MFT Summer Maintenance Resolution

o Open bids for Mt. Carmel roofing

o Old Business

o Jeff Thompson, vacating cul-de-sac at Industrial Park

o Executive Session

o Consider compensation, discipline, and performance of specific employees to include union and non-union employees

o Motion to Adjourn

o Liquor Control Meeting-Immediately after council hearing

Consideration for Family Dollar to sell packaged liquor

A Total Solar Eclipse: An Introduction Into a Journey of Totality Comes To Beall Woods

A Total Solar Eclipse: An Introduction Into a Journey of Totality

Where: Beall Woods State Park's Visitor Center

When: Wednesday, March 27th, 7pm

Get ready to immerse yourself in a captivating experience filled with history, culture, science, and entertainment. The Evansville Astronomical Society (EAS) will be providing a free presentation where you will learn the basics about eclipses, why a total solar eclipse is so special, what you can expect to see from your location, and how to safely view a solar eclipse.  

The program will be presented by Tony Bryan. Bryan is an amateur astronomer, currently the President of the Evansville Astronomical Society, and a volunteer NASA Solar System Ambassador. He has been interested in astronomy and space exploration since childhood, inspired by television and print coverage of Project Gemini and Project Apollo. He has earned the Astronomical League Outreach Award, Stellar Level, and has been a contributing writer for an astronomy technology magazine. Bryan also experienced the 2017 total solar eclipse first hand, and captured several stunning photographs of the eclipse that day.

Lick Prairie Church To Have Services Sunday Despite Storm Damage

Despite extensive storm damage to the roof over its’ sanctuary, Lick Prairie Christian Church will hold services as scheduled on Sunday. Pastor Steve Williamson and his wife Vicki were at the church Friday morning along with dozens of congregation members and other members of the community cleaning up from Thursday night’s severe storm. We visited with Steve about the damage…

STEVE WILLIAMSON ON STORM DAMAGE…

A view of the sanctuary where pews were removed Thursday night. Despite no roof over a large part of the sanctuary, there was no interior water damage. Lights and ceiling fans were being taken down Friday morning.

Princeton man arrested on drug charges

On March 14, 2024, at 5:16 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report suspicious vehicle in the 8000 block of West 425 North.  The caller advised Communications Officer James Griswold that two individuals in a Red SUV were shining flashlights into people’s windows.  Upon arriving in the area Deputy Wyatt Hunt located the vehicle and the subjects.  At that point he began an investigation into the incident during which he located Methamphetamines on 63 year old Jeffrey Burkhart of Princeton, Indiana.  At the conclusion of the roadside DUI investigation Mr. Burkhart was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Possession of Methamphetamines and Possession of Paraphernalia.  The second subject was released from the scene, but charges could be filed as this is still an active an open case.

Assisting Deputy Hunt in his investigation was Sgt. John Fischer. 

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

Wabash County Commissioner Agenda

REGULAR MEETING Monday, March 18, 2024

AGENDA

1) Call to order:

2) Approve minutes of previous meeting:

3) Commissioner’s reports:

4) Officer’s reports:

5) Old Business:

a. ARPA Ordinance.

b. County Highway Building.

c. Lawnmower for Froman Park.

6) New Business:

a. Sign Cannabis Retailer’s Occupation Tax Ordinance No. 31-A.

b. Resolution No. 2024-03, a resolution authorizing the chairman to sign a deed for the County’s interest on property acquired through the Tax Sale Process.

c. Resolution No. 2024-04, a resolution in support of Wabash County Agriculture.

7) Executive Session:

8) Correspondence:

9) Approval of payment of claims presented:

10) Adjournment:

This agenda is subject to change prior to the time of the meeting if necessary.