IECC Board Summary

The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday night, November 19th at Lincoln Trail College, Robinson, Illinois. The Board approved the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting held on October 15, 2024.

The Board approved a resolution setting forth that Trustees will meet on the third Tuesday of every month in 2025 with the exception of the April meeting which shall be on the fourth Tuesday of the month and the December meeting which shall be the second Tuesday of the month. The Board also approved a resolution with the addition of a special meeting on December 10, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. at the Terry L. Bruce West Richland Center, 320 E. North Ave., Noble, Illinois. The special meeting will be a working meeting and no formal action will be taken. A revision of the meeting time for the regular meeting on December 10, 2024 was also approved moving the meeting time from 6:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the regular meeting on that same day at Olney Central College.

The 2025-2027 Academic Calendar with an update to include New Student Orientation on August 19, 2025 and August 17, 2026 was approved.

The Board accepted the Facility Use Agreement with Clay County Hospital for the use of their radiology rooms and equipment.

Affiliation agreements were approved with ATI Holdings, LLC Athletic & Therapeutic Institute of Naperville, LLC and Indiana University Health, Inc.

The Board approved a resolution establishing a 2024 estimated tax levy for taxes due and collectible in 2025. A resolution was also approved to hold a hearing on December 10, 2024 as a result of a greater than 5% increase in the proposed property tax levy over the previous year’s extension.

Chancellor Gower was given authorization by the Board of Trustees to work with the WVC Foundation to execute deeds, formalize ownership of Main Hall, the parking lot, and other areas already in use by WVC.

The bid committee recommendation was approved for acceptance of the bid from Read’s, Inc. in Olney, IL for the purchase of a replacement HVAC unit for the Terry L. Bruce West Richland Center for a total amount of $27,610.

The following was approved as part of the personnel report: Approval of employment for Jody White, JTED Grant Project Manager, Fronter Community College effective December 2, 2024; Chet Snyder, Head Volleyball Coach/Student Life Coordinator, Frontier Community College effective November 30, 2024.

Change in employment status was approved for Derek Dunn from Educational Technology Specialist to Coordinator of Marketing & Public Information, Frontier Community College effective November 25, 2024.

Special assignments were approved for Kelly Payne as Discipline Facilitator for Humanities/Fine Arts, Life & Physical Science, and Social & Behavior Science.

The honorable dismissal for Ken Anderson as CETL Instructional Designer effective November 15, 2024 was approved.

Proposed non-college employment was approved for Doug Robb at Oakland City University.

Resignation ratifications were approved for Morgan McCoy as Student Services Specialist Frontier Community College effective October 25, 2024 and Bart Nation as TRIO Upward Bound Counselor at Wabash Valley College effective October 28, 2024.

Retirement ratifications were approved for Gerald “Jay” Edgren as Frontier Community College President & Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs effective June 30, 2025 and Alex Cline as Chief Information Officer effective April 30, 2025.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. at Olney Central College, Olney, IL.

Mt. Carmel Drug Dealer Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison

Kelli Storckman, Wabash County State’s Attorney, reports that on November 18, 2024, Tara Day Jones, a 46-year-old Mt. Carmel, IL woman, was sentenced to 15 years in the Department of Corrections, to be followed by 12 months of mandatory supervised release by the Honorable Circuit Judge William C. Hudson in Wabash County Circuit Court.

State’s Attorney Storckman advises that the Defendant was arrested on July 17, 2023, following a multi-year investigation conducted by the Mt. Carmel Police Department and Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force into the unlawful delivery of methamphetamine in Mt. Carmel, IL.  During the investigation, it was discovered that the Defendant had been obtaining large quantities of methamphetamine from a source out of state, bringing the methamphetamine to Mt. Carmel, Illinois, and then distributing it from her home within Mt. Carmel, Illinois to many Wabash County residents.  As part of the prosecution of this case, MCPD, the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force, and the State's Attorney's Office were able to seize the defendant's residence, ensuring that that residence would no longer be used in the distribution of narcotics within the community. 

Allendale Family Reading Night

In collaboration with Illinois State Family Reading Night, Allendale School hosted "A Night in the Zoo" on Tuesday, November 19.   Students and families read books, played games, made crafts, and decorated cookies.  Thank you to the Smith Family for making balloon animals and Karla McCowen for making the cookies.  Congratulations to our door prize winners Lane Buchanan and Lucas Wise.  

Traffic Stop Leads To Multiple Charges For Indiana Man

On 11/16/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested William R. Nolting, age 47, of New Albany, Indiana for Possession of Methamphetamine, Driving While License Suspended, Unlawful Use of Vehicle Registration, and Operating an Uninsured Vehicle following a traffic stop.  The stop was a result of multiple violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code.  The arresting officer also located approximately 3 grams of suspected methamphetamine on Nolting’s person.  Nolting was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged, processed, and later released on a Notice to Appear in court. 

Tire Slashing Results In Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Man

On 11/12/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Johnathan M.L. Schrodt, age 39, of Mt. Carmel for Criminal Damage to Property following an incident in the 100 block of Southview Drive.  Officers arrived at the scene and spoke to the alleged victim who reported the rear tire of his Acura had been slashed.  A camera in the area provided officers with evidence to indicate Schrodt had cut the tire in question.  The alleged victim was allowed to sign a complaint against him resulting in Schrodt being issued the above charge.  Schrodt was released on a Notice to Appear in court at a later date.

Mt. Carmel Woman Arrested Following Physical Altercation With Husband

On 11/16/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Mary E.L. Camp, age 46, of Mt. Carmel for Domestic Battery following a physical dispute at a residence in the 700 block of W 6th Street.  Once officers arrived on scene, they investigated a complaint that Camp had battered her spouse during an argument.  It was alleged that Camp had kicked her spouse in the head while he was lying down after the initial dispute.  After speaking to witnesses and viewing the injury to the spouse’s head, officers placed Camp under arrest and transported her to the Wabash County Jail.  Camp was issued the above-mentioned charge and held pending a pre-trial detention determination by the court. 

Mt. Carmel Woman Picked Up Edwards County FTA Warrant

On 11/17/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Mary M. Culiver, age 39, of Mt. Carmel on an Edwards County Failure to Appear Warrant.  Police were called to Culiver’s residence in the 400 block of West 6th Street for an unrelated matter when they learned of her warrant.  Culiver was transported to the Wabash County Jail pending extradition back to Edwards County. 

IECC Nursing Program to Host Information Sessions

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges will host information sessions for students interested in applying for Fall 2025 entry into the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Frontier Community, Lincoln Trail, Olney Central and Wabash Valley colleges.

Virtual sessions will be offered at 9 a.m. on December 16; at 3 p.m. on January 10 and at 5:30 p.m. on January 29. Login information can be accessed at www.iecc.edu/nursinginfosessions.

Wabash Valley College will host an in-person session on Tuesday, January 21st and Monday, February 10th in the Science Building, room 55. Both dates start at 1:30 p.m.

To make application for the nursing program at WVC, please contact Michelle Woods at 618-263-5105, ext. 3431. Appointments to attend the in-person sessions may be scheduled at that time.

For further information about nursing at any of the IECC colleges, please visit www.iecc.edu/nursing.

WVC Photo