Lest We Forget... Our Duty to Remember

For over ninety years, the men and women of the Indiana State Police have committed to the values of duty, honor, and sacrifice in their service to the citizens of Indiana.  It is in that value of sacrifice that we as law enforcement professionals place the safety of others ahead our own.  All too often that steadfast commitment results in a loss of life, our own.  To date there have been forty-nine Indiana State Police personnel that have lost their lives in the line of duty. 

As an agency, the Indiana State Police embraces a solemn duty to remember, honor, and celebrate the lives of our personnel that have made the ultimate sacrifice.  We perform that duty in a number of ways, whether it be the Annual Memorial Service(s) held at each District during the month of May;  the Memorial headstones and Memorial boards that are displayed at each District facility; our In Memoriam web page; the ‘Lest We Forget’ memorials sent out annually on each heroes date of death; roadside memorials shrines; and Memorial flags placed at the headstone where each of our fallen now forever rests in peace.  Along with the tangible practices of remembering, it is also expected that all ISP personnel perform their duties in a manner that reflects favorably and in honor of those that have gone before us.

Presently the Indiana State Police has an entourage of troopers that have traveled to Washington D.C. for National Police Week. with the families of fallen Master Trooper James Bailey (Fort Wayne Post) and Trooper Aaron Smith (Indianapolis Post).  National Police Week is held each year in the nation’s capital during the month of May (May 12th-18th, 2024) and offers honor, remembrance, and peer support, while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to gather and pay homage to those who gave their lives in the line of duty.  

 The names of Master Trooper James Bailey and Trooper Aaron Smith, along with the seven other officers from Indiana that were killed in the line of duty during 2023, have been forever etched in the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall .

 We will always remember, forever honor, and respect those that serve in their memory!

IDOT 5-Year Plan Includes Route 1 From 9th Street To Lawrence Co. Line

BENTON, IL – State Representative Dave Severin says his 116th district will be the recipient of more than $680 million in highway and bridge construction and repair projects over the next 5 years. Severin recently met with Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Omar Osman in Springfield to review IDOT’s Multi-Year Plan (MYP).

“Projects ranging from adding additional lanes to I-64 and I-57 to local highway and bridge repair will be happening throughout my district to the tune of more than $680 million over the next five years,” Severin said. “These are critical investments in our infrastructure that help keep our citizens safe on the roadway and help attract and retain companies to Illinois.”

Severin says Southern Illinois needs safe highways and bridges just like everyone throughout the State of Illinois.

“I’m fighting to ensure that the hard-working taxpaying citizens of my district get their fair share,” Severin said. “We need the good-paying jobs and improved safety and mobility for our citizens that will come as a result of these critical infrastructure projects.”

The funding for 123 construction projects happening from 2024-2029 comes from Illinois’ “Rebuild Illinois” Highway Improvement Program. A full listing of the projects is available on Severin’s website at RepSeverin.com/highway-improvements-planned-for-the-116th.

Some of the construction projects include:

-           $75 million for additional lanes on I-57 south of Bonnie from IL 154 to Atchison Creek

-           $20 million for bridge replacement at Gun Creek north of IL 154

-           $18 million for bridge replacement on I-64 .2 miles east of IL 37

-           $48 million for additional lanes on I-57 from Bonnie to I-64 South

-           $45 million for interchange reconstruction and bridge replacement at the I – 57/1-64 interchange at the IL 15 interchange in Mt. Vernon

-           $15 million for bridge replacement south of the I-57/I-64 N tri-level interchange

-           $10.8 million for bridge replacement over the abandoned railroad .5 miles west of US 45 and over US 45 north of Mill Shoals in Wayne County

-           $51 million for bridge repair on I-64 in Washington County west of County Highway 11 to the Jefferson County line

-           $160 million for bridge replacement over the Wabash River on I-64

-           $8.6 million for overlay and ADA improvements from the Lawrence County line on IL 1 to 9th street in Mt. Carmel

-           $16.5 million for overlay and new shoulders on IL 37 from the Franklin County line to IL 14 in Benton

-           $17 million for bridge replacement and addition of a bikeway from Larry Foster Parkway to Fitzgerrell Park Drive at Rend Lake on IL 154

-           $12 million for overlay and new shoulders on IL 37 from Campground Road in Bonnie to the Franklin County line

Mt. Carmel City Pool Opens May 25th

The Mt. Carmel City Pool is on schedule for its’ traditional Memorial Day weekend opening. At yesterday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge said the pool is slated to open for the 2024 season on May 25th. Judge also said he is looking forward to bringing back night swims to the pool this summer. Those would be on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The return of night swims would be aided by an abundance of lifeguards this summer. He said as many as 15 lifeguards could be working this year if all pass the necessary certification. Nine of those lifeguards would be returning from last year. Judge also asked the council to move forward with the plans for a new aquatic center in Mt. Carmel…

The council unanimously passed Judge’s request on the plans for the new aquatic center.

2023 File Photo

ISP ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF ALCOHOL COUNTERMEASURE SURVEILLANCE PATROLS

Carmi – Illinois State Police (ISP) Zone 8 Commander, Captain Ryan Shoemaker, announces the results of Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement (ACE) surveillance at various establishments in White and Crawford Counties during May.  These details were conducted to determine which businesses may be selling alcoholic beverages to minors (persons under 21 years of age).  The ultimate goals are to enforce underage drinking laws and save lives by preventing impaired driving crashes and fatalities.

 Thirty-three total locations were surveilled in Norris City, Carmi and Robinson. Eight establishments were involved in the sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor.

 Business Name / Address / City

Name of Employee

Doug’s Food Mart / 201 S. Division St / Norris City: Skylar J. Morss, 21, of Enfield, IL

Walmart #833 / 1344 IL Hwy 1 / Carmi: Justin M. Jones, 37, of Carmi, IL

Cilantro’s Grill and Cantina / 1308 W. Main St. / Robinson: Samuel B. Salen, 36, of Robinson, IL

DJ’s Party Supply / 409 E. Main St. / Robinson: Catherine J. Patterson, 42, of Oblong, IL

JB’s Steakhouse / 111 W. Walnut St. / Robinson: Gracie A. Lemon, 18, of Oblong, IL

Lacey’s Place / 302 E. Main St. / Robinson: Carolyn J. Duplessis, 75, of Robinson, IL

Los Gardines / 24 E. Main St. / Robinson: Torres G. Genaro, 32, of Robinson

Spotlight Video and Gaming / 107 N. Lincoln St. / Robinson: Tonya J. Helmholtz, 53, of Hutsonville, IL

 The employees were cited for Unlawful Delivery of Alcoholic Liquor to a Minor, a Class A misdemeanor.  The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.  The ISP commends establishments and their employees which do not sell alcohol to minors.  This project is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation

Former Basketball Coach Enters Offender Initiative Program

Four felony charges filed against former Mt. Carmel High School basketball coach Tyler Buss will be dismissed if he completes an 18-month offender initiative program.

Buss was in Wabash County Circuit Court this morning for his first appearance on the three Class 3 felony theft charges and a Class 3 felony forgery charge filed on April 1st by State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman.

During today’s court appearance, Storckman presented the plan that would place Buss into the offender initiative program. During the next 18 months, Buss will be prohibited from violating any criminal statute or ordinance; possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon; engaging in any gambling/betting activities either in person or online. That includes sports betting, fantasy league-based betting, card, or slot machine gambling, or any activities that involve playing games of chance for personal gain or wagering currency on the performance of others in any activity. Buss was also ordered to immediately participate in an assessment related to gambling addiction and shall complete any treatment recommended as a result of that assessment including any inpatient, intensive outpatient, or group treatment that is recommended.

In addition, Buss was fined $1,000 and must pay restitution to Wabash District #348 in the amount of $2,666.29*. The fine must be paid within the next 18 months and the restitution must be paid within the next 12 months. The 38 year old Buss is allowed to leave the state but must inform the probation department of any extended out of state stays.

Judge William C. Hudson accepted the terms of the agreement and told Buss that violating even just one of the points of the program could result in the case going forward to arraignment. If Buss is successful in completing the program, the four felony charges will be dismissed and not appear on his record.

On April 1st, Storckman filed three Class 3 felony theft charges and one Class 3 felony forgery charge against the Keensburg man who also served as assistant principal at Mt. Carmel Grade School. He resigned both positions last July citing health concerns and a desire to spend more time with family as the reasons for stepping down.

In September 2024, Mt. Carmel Police said an investigation was underway into financial issues into the Golden Aces basketball program. In the three theft counts, Storckman alleged Buss took unauthorized control of between $500 and $10,000 in monies belonging to District #348 on July 23rd, 2021, December 31st, 2021, and August 18th, 2022. The forgery charge alleges Buss delivered to First National Bank a document purported to be an outstanding invoice from HUDL for $950 that Buss knew was altered.

Buss is being represented by attorney Troy Parrish of Mt. Vernon.

*Typo has been corrected in original post. $2,666.29 is the correct restitution amount.

Gibson County Central Dispatch rolls out Prepared Assist program

Princeton, IN – The Gibson County Sheriff’s Office is excited to announce the launch of Prepared Assist in our dispatch center. Built by the company Prepared, the platform enables our 9-1-1 dispatch center to livestream, receive multimedia, and receive location from mobile callers in real-time. This addition to our technology suite will significantly improve our ability to effectively and efficiently respond to emergencies in the community.

 “I strongly believe in embracing technology when it leads to public safety, and the apprehension of criminals.  For these reasons I am proud to provide this to the citizens of Gibson County.  Further I am extremely proud of our Communications Officers who are constantly looking for ways to better help those who call in for assistance.” – Sheriff Bruce Vanoven

Participation in video during a call is completely voluntary and consent of the caller is required. If the caller consents, they will receive a livestream link via text from the dispatcher, enabling them to activate live video upon click. It’s important to note that the video call function also does not provide Gibson County Sheriff’s Office with access to the contents or settings of a caller’s phone. This launch follows about 3 months of preparation and training to ensure that our Dispatchers and our team are able to properly utilize the software. Working side by side with Prepared’s customer success team, we have created and adopted policies to ensure that Prepared Assist is used effectively in various scenarios. Prepared, led by co-founders Mike, Dylan, and Neal, is a mission-driven organization with a passion for improving public safety. In creating an app to help mitigate school emergencies, the team discovered that valuable data is lost in existing 9-1-1 processes and set out to address the problem by inventing Prepared. Since public launch October of 2021, the product has helped protect over 80 million people in 48 states. To learn more about Prepared and Prepared Assist, visit Prepared911.com

Owensville man arrested for operating vehicle while intoxicated

On May 12, 2024, at 3:23 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted a welfare check of a person who had been sitting in an idling car for approximately an hour at the Powerhouse bar located at 217 N. Main Street in Princeton.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Hunt identified 29 year old Levi Owen of Owensville as the operator of the vehicle.  While speaking with Mr. Owen Deputy Hunt immediately detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage.  At that point Deputy Hunt began a roadside DUI investigation.  At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Hunt placed Mr. Owen into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a Prior Conviction. 

 Assisting Deputy Hunt in his investigation were Princeton Officers Bryce Jutzi and Ben Kiesel.  Also assisting in the investigation was Deputy Bart Wagner.

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

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO BOMB THREAT AT TWO STATE BUILDINGS RESULTS IN ARREST

SPRINGFIELD – After an extensive Illinois State Police (ISP) investigation into a bomb threat at two state facilities in Springfield last month, 23-year-old Gabrielle Williams was taken into custody May 9, 2024.

 On April 22, 2024, the Illinois Department of Human services received a call from an individual saying a bomb had been installed at a public aid office building and the Illinois State Capitol. ​ This threat was relayed to the ISP Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center, which implemented the State Agency Facility and Employee (SAFE) Threat Protocol. ​ The Secretary of State (SOS) Capitol Police and its Hazardous Device Unit quickly cleared the grounds of the Capitol, while ISP and the Springfield Police Department secured the other state facility until the SOS Hazardous Device Unit could clear that building. ​ The SAFE Threat Protocol also triggered an investigation by ISP special agents. ​ Using cellular information and conducting interviews, ISP special agents were able to identify and locate the suspect.

 “ISP took immediate action upon receiving information about this bomb threat and implemented our SAFE Threat Protocol,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.  “Deploying ISP resources as quickly as possible allows our special agents to track down crucial information, identify suspects, and make arrests. ​ ISP and our law enforcement partners in Springfield take every threat seriously and will track down and arrest those responsible for this criminal conduct.”

 The SAFE Threat Protocol has three main objectives:

 capture, assess, and route threat information

investigate threats towards state employees, offices, and executives

maintain a comprehensive understanding of the material reported and outcomes

 “I want to thank our Secretary of State Police, Illinois State Police, and Springfield Police for collaborating on this investigation and making an arrest,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. ​ “We take the security of the Capitol Complex and the safety of its employees, public officials, and visitors extremely seriously. ​ We will never tolerate threats of violence and will do everything within our power to hold those responsible and accountable for their actions.”

 Williams is being held in the Sangamon County Jail pending a pre-trial detention hearing. ​ A Clear and Present Danger report has been submitted to the ISP Office of Firearm Safety. ​ A Clear and Present Danger report is filed when a person poses a threat to themselves or others. ​ When ISP affirms a clear and present danger determination, if a person has a Firearms Owner Identification Card or an application for one, it will be revoked or denied. ​ ​

 ISP thanks the various local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, including the U.S. Marshals Service, who assisted during the investigation and arrest of Williams. 

Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda

AGENDA

CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, 13th, 2024 at 4:00 pm

· Call to Order

o Pledge of Allegiance

o Roll Call

· Approve Minutes

o Minutes of meeting held 04/30/2024.

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

· 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 by providing proper signatures.

o Removal of items from the Consent Agenda

o Subdivision of parcel-Dersch

o Purchase of new mini-excavator

o Old Business

o Sewer plant solar project

o Executive Session

o Consider compensation, discipline, and performance of specific employees, including union and non-union employees.

o Motion to Adjourn

o Liquor Control Meeting-Immediately after council hearing

Patoka woman arrested after striking juvenile with their vehicle

On May 10, 2024, at approximately 1:15 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a juvenile who had been run over by a vehicle at a residence on Bald Hill Lane near Princeton.  Deputies with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Princeton Police Department were dispatched to the scene.  Upon arriving Officers began an investigation into the incident where the juvenile had been run over by a White 2016 Land Cruiser.  Detective Jennifer Loesch with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident and during the investigation she found probable cause to place 47 year old Brittany Burkett of Patoka into custody and have her transported to the Gibson County Jail.  Ms. Burkett was charged with a level 3 Felony Neglect charge.
 
Assisting Detective Loesch in her investigation were Sgt. Roger Ballard, Deputy Logan Lashbrook and Deputy Bryan Small.  Also assisting in the investigation were Princeton Officer Brandt George, Jason Swan, and Dan Goedde
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.