School Board To See New Faces In 2025

There’ll be two new faces on the Wabash District #348 school board in 2025. The filing period ended at 5pm yesterday for the April 1st Consolidated Election and four people filed for the four open seats. Incumbents Theresa Hocking and Mary Susan Wood filed for re-election along with newcomers Tim Zimmer and Jessica Peter. Long time school members board chairman Tim Schuler and vice chairman Kyle Peach did not seek re-election.

The Allendale School Board will also see new members as Tia Morgan and Richard Gochenour chose not seek another term. Incumbents Beth Etzkorn and Ryan Andrews as did newcomer Melissa Wise. Since only three filed for the four open seats, that means there remains one open seat.

Disturbance call leads to arrest of Oakland City man on drug charges

On November 15, 2024, at 6:52 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a disturbance in the 12000 block of East 100 South.  Multiple officers were sent to the residence and upon arriving Deputy Wyatt Hunt knocked on the door and was invited in by a person within the residence.  Officers entered the residence and observed drug paraphernalia in plain view, and at the point they asked everyone to exit the residence so they could investigate the disturbance and apply for a search warrant.  Once the investigation was completed 42 year old Arron Tooley was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Methamphetamines, and Possession of a Hypodermic Needle. 
 
Assisting Deputy Hunt in his investigation were Sgt. Loren Barchett and Deputy Bart Wagner.  Also assisting was Oakland City Officer Mike McGregor. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Wanted Decker man arrested on new charges

On November 16, 2024, at 11:23 p.m.  Officers with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office and Oakland City Police Department were dispatched to the 300 block of South Dongola Road to serve a Level Four Felony Arson Warrant on 45 year old David Schatz of Decker.  Upon arriving at the residence Deputy U.B. Smith looked in an open window and observed Mr. Schatz inside the residence.   At that point Deputy Smith knocked on the door of the residence and after knocking several times a female came to the door and gave officers access to the residence.  Officers then entered the residence and placed Mr. Schatz into custody after a brief struggle.  Officers conducted a brief investigation at the scene and determined that there was a valid court order restricting contact Mr. Schatz from contacting the female.  Once the investigation was concluded Mr. Schatz was transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with the Level 4 Arson Warrant, Resisting Law Enforcement, and Invasion of Privacy. 
 
Deputy Smith was assisted in his investigation by Deputy Michael Bates and Oakland City Police Officer Michael McGregor.
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Wabash County Commissioner Agenda

November 18, 2024

4:30pm

AGENDA

1) Call to order:

2) Approve minutes of previous meeting:

3) Commissioner’s reports:

4) Officer’s reports:

5) Old Business:

a. ARPA Ordinance.

b. Construction of County Highway Building.

c. HVAC update.

d. FY 2024-2025 Budget and Levy update.

6) New Business:

a. Pam Barbee, Executive Director of the Southern 14 Workforce Investment Board, has asked to speak to the Board;

b. Accept the resignation of Charles Zigler from the Rural Water District Board. Recommended by the Board to replace him is Devin Stoll. Term to expire the first Monday in May, 2025.

c. Consider Retail Merchant Certificates for Christmas.

7) Executive Session:

8) Correspondence:

9) Approval for payment of claims presented:

10) Adjournment/Recess:

Road closure planned for State Road 65 in Gibson County

GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure for State Road 65 in Gibson County.

Beginning on or around Monday, November, 18, crews will close State Road 65 in Owensville. This closure will occur between State Road 168 and State Road 165 near the post office.

This road closure will allow for spot paving operations. Work is expected to take three days to complete, depending on the weather.

The official detour for this project is State Road 168 to U.S. 41 to State Road 64. Local traffic will have access up to the point of closure.

Mackey man arrested for Battery involving Serious Bodily Injury

On November 14, 2024, at 8:34 a.m. Gibson County Dispatch received a 911 report of a battery that had just occurred in the 5700 block of East 250 South near Francisco.  Communications Officer Bethney Anthis immediately notified county units that the suspect 49 year old Travis Siekman of Mackey had fled the scene.  Deputy Quinten Might arrived on scene shortly after being notified and observed obvious injuries to a person at the residence.  At that point Deputy Might located Mr. Siekman at his residence and began an investigation into the incident.  At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Might placed Mr. Siekman into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
 
Assisting Deputy Might in his investigation were Special Deputy Chuck Frederick, Sgt. Roger Ballard, Deputy Jennifer Loesch, and Deputy U.B. Smith.
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Dumpster Incident At 3rd Street Dollar General Injures Officer & End With Arrest Of Indiana Man

On 11/04/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Christopher M. Render, age 51, of Owensville, Indiana for Criminal Trespass to Property, Resisting/Obstructing a Peace Officer, and Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer following an incident at the Dollar General Store on West 3rd Street.  Police responded to the store after the manager requested law enforcement due to the above defendant attempting to remove items from the dumpster.  The manager reported asking Render to stay away from the dumpster, but he refused.  Upon arrival, officers advised Render that the manager did not want him in the area of the dumpster.  Render disagreed and said he would not leave the property.  The manager wished to pursue charges against him for trespassing and was allowed to do so.  The officers returned to Render and advised him he was under arrest.  Render refused to comply and resisted officer’s attempts to arrest him by pulling away from the officer.  Render eventually complied and was secured in handcuffs.  Once they arrived at the squad car, Render refused to enter the vehicle, resulting in officers again struggling to arrest him.  During the struggle, Render injured an officer’s knee when he rolled his body onto it.  Officers finally regained control over Render and transported him to the Wabash County Jail where he was issued the above charges and held pending a pre-trial release determination by the court.

Indiana Meth Possession Warrant Sends Mt. Carmel Woman To Jail

On 11/02/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Terri M. Brown, age 57, of Mt. Carmel on a Vanderburgh County Indiana warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine.  The arresting officer located Brown, among others, going through items at the 3rd Street Dollar General trash dumpster.  Brown was placed under arrest for the warrant and transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was issued the warrant and held pending extradition back to Vanderburgh County.

Texas Man Charged With Violating OP

On 11/01/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Ramon Granado Jr., age 54, of Dallas, Texas for Violation of an Order of Protection.  Prior to the arrest, police received a complaint that Granado had violated the order by going to the protected address.  Granado was located at 13th & Poplar where he was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail.  Granado was charged and held pending a pre-trial release determination by the court.