New MCHS Parking Pass Distribution Announced

A change is being made to the way parking passes will be distributed this year to Mt. Carmel High School students. At last night’s Wabash District #348 school board meeting, Junior High assistant principal Logan Crum, speaking in the place of high school assistant principal Amy Duckworth, laid out the details of the changes to the parking passes at MCHS…

Crum said the top 10 seniors will get first dibs on the parking passes as they’ll be allowed to go online today and purchase theirs. Then on July 23rd, the rest of the senior class will be allowed to go online and purchase parking passes followed by the juniors and licensed sophomore drivers. Crum stressed that only sophomores with a driver’s license now will be allowed to purchase a pass. He said once they get their license, they’ll be allowed to purchase a parking pass. The change comes in the wake of complaints for a parent of a high school student who said last year’s policy of going by GPA to distribute parking passes was demeaning and humiliating to students with lower grade point averages who had to wait to get their pass.

Judge: City Pool Losing 30,000 Gallons Of Water A Day

On Friday’s monthly “Ask The Mayor” segment on WSJD, Joe Judge offered some eye-popping figures as to just how bad of shape Mt. Carmel’s City Pool is…

Judge said the leaks are impossible to repairs in that the entire concrete pool bowl would have to be ripped out to get to them….

In November, city voters will be asked to approve a referendum to build a new aquatics center, something Judge said is essential for the continued viability of Mt. Carmel.

WSJD File Photo

Body of Evansville man recovered from Patoka Lake (Dubois County)

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating after recovering the body of a man from Patoka Lake yesterday. 

At approximately 1:43 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of the overlook dam for a person going under water and not resurfacing.  

Conservation officer divers arrived on scene and recovered the body of Edgar Osbaldo Garcia Herrera, 19, of Evansville, at approximately 4:31 p.m.

Other assisting agencies included the Dubois Volunteer Fire Department, Jasper Memorial EMS, and Dubois County Sheriff’s Department.

Indiana Conservation Officers remind the public to always wear your life jacket when on or around the water. 

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE MAKES ARREST FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY

HERRIN – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 7 arrested 38-year-old Tyler Mezo of Herrin, IL, for First-Degree Murder (Class M Felony).

 On July 13, 2024, ISP was requested by the Herrin Police Department to conduct a death investigation at a residence in the 3100 block of Weaver Road in Herrin. A deceased female victim was located at the residence with multiple gunshot wounds. Mezo was identified as the shooter and subsequently taken into custody.

 On July 14, 2024, after a thorough investigation, ISP presented the case to the Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office for official charges to be filed. Mezo is being held at the Williamson County Jail pending his first court appearance.

 ISP DCI agents were assisted by the Herrin Police Department, ISP Troop 10 patrol officers, and ISP Crime Scene Services. No further information is available.

Motor vehicle accident leads to arrest of Princeton woman

On July 12, 2024, at 7:22 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of an automobile accident in the 1300 block of East 150 South.  Deputies Chad Craney and U.B. Smith were dispatched to the area, and upon arriving they located a black 2008 Jeep Liberty in a cornfield next to the roadway.  Deputy Craney identified the driver as 31 year old Hayley Williams of Princeton.  While speaking with Ms. Williams Deputy Craney detected clues that Ms. Williams may be under the influence of an unknown intoxicant.  At that point he began a roadside OWI investigation.  At the conclusion of his investigation Ms. Williams was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail.  Upon arriving at the Jail Ms. Williams was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Refusal. 

Assisting Deputies Craney and Smith in their investigation were Special Deputy Chuck Frederick and Deputy Jennifer Loesch.  Also assisting in this investigation was Princeton Officer Brandt George.

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

Wabash County K-9 Kiki Passes Away

From Wabash County Sheriff J. Derek Morgan:

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the untimely death of our K9 Deputy KiKi. On 07.14.24 Deputy KiKi was found by her handler, unresponsive. Deputy KiKi has served with the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office since September of 2022.  KiKi was an invaluable asset and partner to Wabash County.  There will be further investigation into determining the cause of death.  Her death is a significant loss to the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office.

Photo Credit: Wabash County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page

Gibson County Sheriff's Report

On July 11, 2024, at 8:43 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a subject laying outside of their vehicle at the Trade Mart located at 502 West Grave Street in Patoka.  Deputy Quinten Might arrived on scene and observed74 year old John Flaningam laying on the ground outside of his White 2013 Cadillac.  Upon speaking with Mr. Flaningam Deputy Might immediately detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him.  At that point Deputy Might began a DUI investigation where he observed that Mr. Flaningam’s vehicle was still running and in plain view there was an open alcoholic beverage in the cup holder.  At the conclusion of his investigation and after having Mr. Flaningam medically cleared by a Deaconess Gibson Emergency Room physician Mr. Flaningam was transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. 
 
Assisting Deputy Might in his investigation were Sgt. Loren Barchett and Deputy Shawn Holmes. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Centralia Man Sentenced to 30 Years on Drug and Gun Charges

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal judge in southern Illinois sentenced a man from Centralia to 30 years’ imprisonment for selling drugs, unlawfully possessing a firearm and tampering with a witness.

In February 2024, a jury convicted De’Andre Owens, 37, on one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of tampering with a witness, victim or informant. In February 2022, Owens pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

“Felons who continue to sell drugs, possess firearms illegally and attempt to pay off witnesses to further conceal their crimes are a true threat to public safety, and I commend the law enforcement officers who worked this investigation that ultimately placed De’Andre Owens behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a jury found Owens guilty of selling 18 grams of meth in March 2022. The jury also found Owens guilty of trying to pay off an individual to prevent their testimony in his case.

“This substantial sentence underscores De’Andre Owens’ criminal history as a career offender,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jermaine Deans. “The successful outcome of the investigation is a testament to the collaborative efforts and teamwork of multiple law enforcement agencies working shoulder-to shoulder with the FBI to make safer communities.”

Owens was prohibited from possessing a firearm as an individual with a prior felony drug conviction from 2016. In December 2019, police conducted a search warrant on Owens’s vehicle and found a 9mm pistol.

Following imprisonment, Owens will serve eight years of supervised release.

The FBI Springfield Field Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, the Centralia Police Department and the Carlyle Police Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Hudson and David Dean prosecuted the case.