At Monday’s City Council meeting, various departments reported a quiet, safe, and successful Fantastic 4th weekend in Mt. Carmel. Mayor Joe Judge said the surprise finale at the fireworks was a thrill for those in attendance. He thanked Gary Arnold, Jr. and his family for organizing the 4th of July parade that was postponed by rain until Saturday. He said the Rotary Club served approximately 1,700 meals during Sunday’s Corn Day. Leftover corn was taken to the senior center where it was prepared to be served there at a later time. Fire commissioner Susan Zimmerman said fire chief Francis Speth reported no problems or injuries from fireworks and police chief Mike McWilliams also reported it was a quiet holiday weekend for his officers.
City Hires Outside Firm To Place Pool Question On November Ballot
The Mt. Carmel City Council is moving forward with plans to ask voters in November whether the city should build a new aquatic center. At Monday’s meeting, commissioners approved the recommendation of Mayor Joe Judge to spend $2,600 with Burbach Aquatics to put the question on the November 5th ballot…
Judge said since it’s been quite some time since the city put a referendum on the ballot, no one in the current administration has any experience or knowledge of what’s required. August 19th is the deadline for the city to file the paperwork to get on the November 5th ballot.
Proposed Mt. Carmel aquatic center.
Mt. Carmel 2024 Chip & Seal Map
The highlighted areas will be chipped and sealed next week in Mt. Carmel. The work will take place Wednesday and Thursday, July 17th & 18th. Vehicles should be off of the affected roads.
Road closure planned for State Road 64 in Gibson County
GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure for State Road 64 in Gibson County.
Beginning on or around Monday, July 15, crews will close State Road 64 in Princeton. This closure will occur between North Center Street (just East of Domino's Pizza) and the nearby railroad tracks.
This closure will allow for sewer repairs in the area. This project is expected to take two weeks to complete, depending on the weather.
The detour for this project is U.S. 41 to State Road 168 to I-69. Local traffic will have access up to the point of closure.
Weather Pushes Back Mt. Carmel Road Work
The uncertainty of the weather the next couple of days has caused a delay in Mt. Carmel’s summer paving program. At yesterday’s city council meeting, city engineer Dave Dallas said milling of the affected streets and alleys will now be done tomorrow with the paving to take place on Thursday. Dallas also said there’s been a delay in next week’s chip and sealing work on city streets that was to have begun on Monday. Instead, Dallas said that work will take place next Wednesday and Thursday.
Saturday Incident On River Road Results In Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Man
On 7/06/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Breck G. Garrett, age 58, of Mt. Carmel for Aggravated Intimidation of a Peace Officer, Aggravated Assault, and Resisting/Obstructing a Peace Officer following a dispute in the 800 block of Hydraulic Ave (River Road). Police were called to the scene by a subject at a river camp who reported Garrett came across the road to his camp, armed with a shovel, threatening him with bodily harm. The alleged victim called the police and, upon arrival, the officer attempted to detain Garrett. Garrett resisted and attempted to pull away from the officer. Garrett then began making verbal threats to the officer about wanting to kill him. Garrett was eventually secured in handcuffs, with the shovel being recovered as evidence nearby. Garrett was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged accordingly and held pending a pre-trial detention determination by the court.
Morgan Wins Ruritan Scholarship
On Wednesday, July 3rd, the Allendale Ruritan Club met and had several District and National Club members in attendance. During the meeting, the 2024 Allendale Ruritan Scholarship winner Clay Morgan was in attendance and received his award from Allendale Ruritan President Bob Bowser. In attendance with Clay was his dad, Derek Morgan, and his girlfriend, Emily Gottman. As mentioned, several Ruritan dignitaries were in attendance at the meeting. In particular, Ruritan National President Robin Davenport addressed those in attendance.
Nelson New MCPD K9 Officer
Mt. Carmel’s new K-9 officer will start six weeks of training later this month. Police Chief Mike McWilliams has announced that Hunter Nelson will be taking over for Daniel Hopper who left as MCPD’s K-9 officer to take a job in Wayne County. McWilliams said Nelson and K-9 Eleven will begin the training on July 29th in Charleston.
MCPD PHOTO: Hunter Nelson (center) with Detective Eddie Johnson and Police Chief Mike McWilliams after Nelson’s graduation from the Southwestern Illinois Police Academy in 2023.
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE IMPROVES CRASH INVESTIGATION AND SAFETY TECHNIQUES DURING TESTING AND RESEARCH EVENT
JOLIET – To help with traffic crash investigations, as well as identify best practices to keep officers safe, the Illinois State Police (ISP) participated in the Illinois Association of Technical Accident Investigators crash testing event on June 26-28, 2024. The event took place at the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL. ISP officers from the Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit, Crime Scene Services, Division of Patrol, and representatives from the ISP Forensic Laboratory joined law enforcement officers and crash scene investigators from other agencies for the three-day event. Attendees witnessed live crash testing and participated in forensic mapping and digital evidence recovery.
“Opportunities for ISP to participate in events like this are instrumental to our continued success in crash scene reconstruction and digital evidence analysis,” said Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Experiences gained in these controlled environments and this level of in-depth training deepens our understanding of crash scene intricacies and allow us to further develop crime solving techniques. It also helps us determine the best practices to keep our troopers safe when they’re at a crash scene or on a traffic stop.”
A large focus of the testing was aimed at developing best practices for scene safety management as it pertains to the positioning of responding officer’s squad cars upon arrival to a scene. ISP donated multiple older squad cars to the event to evaluate the forces the retired squads received during crash events. This allowed personnel to evaluate how differences in vehicle placement at a scene could lower the amount of force incurred by the squads and how to minimize damage to the vehicle and potentially an officer inside. High-tech, biomechanical crash test dummies were brought in to measure the force a human body would sustain while seated inside a squad car while being struck from behind. The dummies were also tested standing on the side of vehicles, to replicate a trooper’s position while outside their vehicle on a traffic stop. Analysis of this data will help ISP and other law enforcement agencies develop ever-evolving best safety practices and improve training for officers.
Officers also had the opportunity to practice and hone their skills of controlling an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), also known as drones. ISP routinely uses UAS’s when responding to serious injury and fatal crashes to accurately map the scenes and document evidence.
Already in 2024, ISP has suffered 15 Move Over Law-related crashes with seven troopers injured. In 2023, ISP had 21 Move Over Law-related crashes with seven troopers injured, and suffered 25 crashes in 2022, leaving 13 troopers injured.
Enjoy family, friends and fireworks this Independence Day: Don’t drive drunk and don’t drive high
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is teaming up with the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement throughout the state to increase safety enforcement efforts during July Fourth holiday travel. Motorists will see the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, with zero tolerance for those driving impaired by alcohol, marijuana or other drugs.
“Make plans to give your car keys to a designated driver or use a rideshare service before you start to celebrate July Fourth, so you and everyone else can make it home safely,” said IDOT’s Director of Highways and Chief Engineer Steve Travia. “Driving drunk or high could cost you or someone else their life. Make the only right choice: don’t drive impaired.”
According to IDOT data, last year in Illinois during the Independence Day holiday from July 1-4, there were 15 fatal crashes resulting in 16 fatalities, an average of more than four people killed each day of the holiday period. Four of the 15 fatal crashes were alcohol-related, resulting in four of the 16 fatalities.
Police throughout the state will work to put an end to impaired driving and strongly enforce seat belt, speeding and other traffic laws. Wearing a seat belt is the law in Illinois and your best defense against impaired drivers. Buckle up, and make sure your passengers do, too.
“Your freedom to drive could be revoked if you drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said ISP Division of Patrol Col. Chris Owen. “Celebrate the freedoms afforded by the Declaration of Independence this Fourth of July responsibly – drive sober, wear your seatbelt and stay safe.”
Remember these important safety tips:
If you’re planning to use drugs or alcohol, give your keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home or call a taxi, rideshare service or, if available, use your community’s sober ride program.
If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement.
Remind your friends to never get in a vehicle with an impaired driver. If you have a friend who is about to drive impaired, take their keys away and help them get home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone – you might be saving their life or someone else’s.
The Independence Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is funded with federal highway safety tax dollars administered by IDOT and runs through July 8. The effort is administered by IDOT with federal funds and coincides with the comprehensive multimedia campaign “It's Not a Game.