TIF Funding Assists Two Local Businesses

The Mt. Carmel City Council is dipping into its’ TIF fund to assist two businesses coming to town. The first was a $20,000 grant to Southgate Furniture which is owned by city commissioner Tyson and his wife Morgan Meador. The Meador’s have operated Timberlake Furniture in Keensburg for the last four years and are now bringing the business to the Southgate Industrial Park on South Walnut Street and changing the name. Tyson Meador explained the changes taking place at their new location at 1 Southgate Drive…

Meador abstained from voting on the TIF funding.

The second TIF approval was given to Andrew Risch who is rehabbing the former Little Egypt Arts Center at 5th and Market into a restaurant he is dubbing “Hometown Aces”. Risch said the $50,000 grant will help to offset the $100,000 he is spending just on electrical, plumbing, and H-VAC work. Risch said the first priority is getting the kitchen up and running so he can offer carry-out’s to start with the rest of restaurant and sit down dining be ready sometime next year. In December, Risch bought the building from the city for $2,000.

Work is underway here on the new Hometown Aces restaurant.

Wabash District #348 School Board Agenda

WABASH COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

MT. CARMEL GRADE SCHOOL CAFETORIUM

Monday, July 15, 2024

Regular Board Meeting- 7:00 p.m

AGENDA

1. Call to order / Roll call

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Consent Agenda

a. Board Minutes

i. June 17, 2024 Regular Meeting

ii. June 26 Special Meeting

b. Monthly Bills

c. Financial Reports

d. Correspondence

e. Administrative Reports

f. Press Plus Corrections to Update 114

4. Superintendent’s Comments

5. Reports

a. Logan Crum

6. Visitors

7. Public Comments

8. Executive Session pursuant to Section 2(c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act: “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees”.

9. New Business

a. 2024-2025 Food Bids

b. 2024-2025 Schedule of Fees

c. Employment of Personnel

10. Adjournment

ISP Sellersburg investigating fatal crash on I-64 in Harrison County

Harrison County - Troopers and crash reconstruction investigators from the Indiana State Police Sellersburg Post are investigating a crash that claimed the life of a Daviess County man Wednesday afternoon. 

Around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon, police and emergency personnel responded to the report of a two-vehicle crash on I-64 eastbound near the 99.5 mile marker approximately 5 miles west of the Corydon exit.  Once on the scene, officers discovered the driver of a black 2023 Tesla T3  collided with the rear of a semi-tractor and trailer.  The driver of the Tesla, 50-year-old Suresh Kumar Lohano of Washington, Indiana, was pronounced dead at the scene.  The driver of the semi was not injured.   

Crash scene reconstruction and motor carrier enforcement officers from the Sellersburg Post responded to investigate and assist officers already at the scene.  After the preliminary investigation, officers believe a 2011 Kenworth semi-truck and trailer was eastbound on I-64 near the 99.5 mile marker when the truck experienced a mechanical issue causing the vehicle to lose power.  The driver could not steer the semi into the right lane or shoulder due to traffic in the right lane, and the truck quickly slowed and stopped in the left lane of the interstate.  The driver of the Kenworth immediately called 911 and successfully placed orange safety triangles out behind the truck.  A short time later, the black Tesla T3 approached from the west but failed to merge into the right lane before colliding with the rear of the semi-trailer, killing Mr. Lohano. 

The I-64 eastbound lanes remained partially closed until approximately 6:15 pm.  The Harrison County Sheriff's Department assisted with the investigation. The Harrison County Coroner's Office made notification to the family of the deceased.   

This crash is still under investigation. 

Princeton man arrested after brief investigation

On July 10, 2024, at 4:06 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Michael Owens was contacted by Gibson County Community Corrections and requested to come to their office to conduct an investigation into one of their clients who had attempted to use a device to interfere with a drug test that was being administered.  Upon arriving Deputy Owens spoke with the Community Corrections staff and collected evidence that they had secured by them.  After a brief investigation 37 year old Jeremy Livermore of Princeton was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Fraud-Possession of a Device or Substance Used to Interfere with a Screening Test.
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Evansville man arrested for battery

On July 10, 2024, at 6:40 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a disturbance in the 9800 block of West 650 South near Johnson.  Upon arriving on scene Deputy Michael Owens and Sgt. Loren Barchett conducted an investigation into the incident speaking with all the parties that were involved in the incident.  At the end of their investigation Deputy Owens placed 51 year old Matthew Thorbeck of Evansville into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Battery.  
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
 

Video Gaming Tax To Help Fund New City Pool

The Mt. Carmel City Council Monday formally approved designating 98% of the city’s share of the video gaming tax go into a fund specifically for a new city pool. The new ordinance stipulates that the 98% be set aside for the proposed new aquatic center, while the other 2% will fund the Aces scholarships the city awards to MCHS graduates each Spring. If voters vote against a new city pool in November, the project will be dead and the money set aside from the video gaming tax will go back to the city’s general fund.

Indiana law enforcement agencies are cracking down on speeding

INDIANAPOLIS — Law enforcement agencies across Indiana are working to keep everyone on the road safe by raising awareness about the dangers of speeding, urging drivers to obey speed limits.  

From July 10 through July 31, participating law enforcement agencies will conduct a high-visibility enforcement campaign targeting speeding drivers. The campaign is funded by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

Throughout the campaign, law enforcement officers will issue citations for those driving above the posted speed limit and raise awareness about the deadly consequences of speeding and aggressive driving. 

“Speeding is one of the leading causes of traffic fatalities in Indiana,” said James Bryan, ICJI’s Traffic Safety Director. “Obeying the posted speed limits will reduce the number of deaths and serious bodily injuries that occur on Indiana roads.” 

Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to maneuver safely around another vehicle, hazardous object, or an unexpected curve. As speed increases, so does the likelihood of a crash and the severity of injuries for the driver, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users. 

National statistics show that young people, especially male drivers, represent the largest demographic involved in speeding-related vehicle crashes. ICJI encourages parents to talk to their teens about the dangers of speeding and ignoring the rules of the road. 

Drivers who encounter someone speeding or following too closely should safely steer out of the way, allowing the person to pass. Motorists are encouraged to call the police if they believe a driver is following or harassing them. 

For additional safety information on speeding, click here or visit www.nhtsa.gov. 

Lane closures planned for I-64 in Vanderburgh County

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane closures for I-64 in Vanderburgh County.

Beginning on or around Monday, July 15, crews will begin alternating lane closures in both directions of travel on I-64 in Vanderburgh County at the Owensville Road Bridge. One lane of traffic will be open in both directions during this project.

These alternating lane closures will allow for bridge restoration work to be performed. This work includes the cleaning and painting of the substructure of the Owensville Road Bridge.

Work on this project is expected to last through late August, depending on the weather. INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert in work zones.