Wabash County road district commissioners and clerks are getting a long-awaited pay raise. Currently, road commissioners are paid $60 a day they work while clerks are paid $800 a year. Those are figures that haven’t changed since 2000 when minimum wage of $5.15 an hour. County commissioners have voted to match what Edwards County road district commissioners and clerks are paid which is $120 a day the road commissioner works and $200 a month for the clerks. County commissioner Tim Hocking said it was beyond past time the pay increases were approved and hopefully better pay will attract more candidates to run in next April’s election.
2024 MCHS Homecoming Court Announced
The 2024 Homecoming Court at Mt. Carmel has been named as voted on by their peers. The four Senior Candidates will be voted on by the Student Body at a later date to see who will be crowned queen at the Homecoming Game on September 20th.
Senior Queen Candidates are:
Lydia Duckworth
Megan Hagerty
Elizabeth Hefner
Jersey Smith
Junior Attendant: Karly Mandrell
Sophomore Attendant: Kate Andrews
Freshman Attendant: Gracee Haggard
District #348 School Board Calls Special Meeting
WABASH CUSD #348 BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING
Wabash CUSD #348 District Office
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
AGENDA
1. Call to order / Roll call
2. Executive Session pursuant to Section 2(c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act: “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees.”
3. Adjourn
Evansville man arrested for violating restraining order
On August 25, 2024, at 9:41 a.m. Deputy U.B. Smith was dispatched to the 9500 block of West 650 South near Owensville to investigate a possible restraining order violation. Upon arriving in the area Deputy Smith began an investigation into the incident where he spoke with the protected person in the court order. After speaking with that party Deputy Smith contacted the other party 52 year old Matthew Thorbeck of Evansville and took his statement. At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Smith had probable cause to believe that Mr. Thorbeck had violated a valid restraining order and placed him into custody. Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Mr. Thorbeck was charged with Invasion of Privacy.
Assisting Deputy Smith in his investigation as Owensville Town Marshal Rodger Leister.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bleyer Reports On Proposed District #348 Budget
The proposed Wabash District #348 budget is now on display at the district office. At last week’s school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said a very rough draft of the budget is what’s on display…
A budget hearing will be held prior to the September school board meeting at 6:45pm.
State Official Reports On Strong Wabash County Employment Status
Wabash County’s current economic situation is strong according to one state official. Eric Mankela is a labor market economist with the Illinois Department of Employment Security and was at last week’s Mt. Carmel City Council meeting to report on the services available to workers, employers, and potential employers. He said conditions in Wabash County are positive…
The June unemployment rate in Wabash County stood at 4.5%. Brown and Effingham Counties are the only other two counties in Illinois with a rate lower than Wabash County.
Just Where Does 30,000 Gallons Of Water A Day Go?
The issues with the Mt. Carmel City Pool have been well documented with one of the biggest problems being the loss of over 30,000 gallons of water a day. But where does that lost water go? Mayor Joe Judge says that’s a question he’s heard often…
The pool will be open three days for the upcoming Labor Day weekend and then close for good next Tuesday the 3rd with the shelter buddies dog swim.
Gibson County Sheriff's Office investigates traffic fatality
On August 25, 2024, at 11:28 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a two vehicle personal injury accident at the intersection of County Road 400 South and County Road 350 West. Upon arriving at the intersections emergency service personnel discovered one critically injured patient. Special Deputy Chuck Frederick began an initial investigation into the incident where he determined that a Buick Century was Northbound on County Road 350 West and failed to yield the right of way to a Chevy Malibu that was Eastbound on County Road 400 South. As a result the Chevy Malibu struck the Buick Century in a right angle collision.
The Gibson County Ambulance Service and Owensville Montgomery Township Fire attempted to resuscitate one of the drivers, but ultimately the driver passed away at the scene. The other driver was taken to an Evansville area hospital.
Assisting the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office in their investigation was the Fort Branch Police Department.
Princeton woman arrested on OWI and Meth charges
On August 22, 2024, at 11:39 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted a traffic stop on a 2012 Dodge Journey for speeding on Broadway near US 41 in Princeton. Deputy Hunt conducted the traffic stop in the parking lot of Marathon Fastbreak located at 3010 West Broadway, and upon approaching the vehicle he identified the driver as 44 year old Nicolette Whitfield of Princeton. While speaking with Ms. Whitfield Deputy Hunt detected clues that she was under the influence of an unknown intoxicant. At that point Deputy Hunt began a roadside OWI investigation. Once the investigation was completed Deputy Hunt placed Ms. Whitfield into custody and transported her to the Gibson County Jail where she was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Possession of Methamphetamines.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Oakland City woman arrested for attempting to interfere with drug test
On August 22, 2024, at 4:24 p.m. Deputy Eric Powell was dispatched to the Gibson County Community Corrections Center to assist in a developing investigation. Upon arriving Deputy Powell spoke with Community Corrections employee Brandy Sisk and she informed him that she had observed 40 year old Amanda Pemberton attempting to use a device to interfere with a drug screen. At that point Deputy Powell and Mrs. Sisk began a formal investigation into the incident. At the conclusion of the investigation Ms. Pemberton was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where she was charged with Interfering with a drug screening and possession of a device or substance that is 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.
