Tax Bills Mailed Today

Wabash County Treasurer, Angela Broster, would like to announce that 2023 Payable 2024 Real Estate Tax Bills were mailed out Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

First installment is due Friday, March 7, 2025 and second installment is due Monday, April 7, 2025.

Payments may be made in person at the Treasurer’s office or you may use the drop box in front of the Courthouse. Credit Card payments can be made online at www.govtechtaxpro.com.

You may also make payments on the first installment or both installments at the First Mid Bank, First Bank and First National Bank Allendale & Mt. Carmel branches.

If you have any questions, please call the Treasurer’s office at 262-5262.

WCHD Stays Busy With Immunizations

More than 1,800 immunizations have been administered by the Wabash County Health Department over the last few months. From September through December, the health department administered 918 flu shots…with 390 coming during the October drive-thru clinic. In addition, 341 COVID shots were given. During that same time frame, 57 people were seen during the health department’s foot clinics, there were 85 lab draws, and 47 taking advantage of the family planning services offered.

Commissioners Offer Explanation For Tax Bill Delay

The long-awaited Wabash County property tax bills are getting closer to being mailed out. At last week’s county board meeting, county clerk Janet Will said she has been proofing sample bills that have been printed in advance of the actual bills being printed and mailed. Commissioners Tim Hocking, Rob Dean, and Scott West said they had received complaints about the delay in getting 2023 property taxes ready for distribution…

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Dean acknowledged that Wabash County’s tax bills had gotten later and later, but he said those delays have nothing to do with the current situation.

Henderson man arrested on OWI charge after involvement in three vehicle injury accident

On January 26, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of three vehicle accident on State Road 165 near County Road 100 West.  Upon arriving on scene Deputies began an investigation into the accident.  During the investigation Deputies detected the odor of alcohol coming from 26 year old Yoaris Lopez of Henderson who was the driver of a Black 2007 Chevy Silverado.  At that point Deputy Wyatt Hunt began a DUI investigation with Mr. Lopez while Deputy Bart Wagner conducted an investigation into the accident. 
 
Deputy Wagner was able to determine that Mr. Lopez was Northbound on State Road 165 when he crossed the center of the roadway and struck a Blue 2011 Hyundai Sonata in a head on collision.  The vehicles separated with the Chevy truck continued northbound, and the Hyundai left the roadway and came to rest in a nearby field.  A third vehicle, a White 2024 Rav4 was also on the roadway and was struck by a tire that was in the roadway. 
 
The driver of the Hyundai Sonata was extricated from their vehicle and transported to an area hospital by a medical transport hospital for extensive serious injuries.  Mr. Lopez was transported to Deaconess Gibson for treatment of a fractured kneecap.  Ultimately Mr. Lopez was transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated involving a Serious Bodily Injury Accident.
 
As is protocol all three driver’s had blood drawn during the investigation of this accident.
 
Investigating Officers: 
Deputy Wyatt Hunt – OWI investigation
Deputy Bart Wagner- Accident investigation
 
Assisting Officers were Deputies Bryan Small and Sgt. Roger Ballard.  Also assisting in the investigation was Owensville Town Marshal Rodger Leister and the Indiana State Police.
 
Owensville Montgomery Township and the Gibson County Ambulance Service extricated the driver of the Hyundai Sonata.
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Princeton man arrested for OWI

On January 25, 2025, at 3:25 a.m.  Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a vehicle parked in the middle of US 41 near CR 925 S.  Multiple officers were dispatched to the area due to the vehicle being stopped without lights in an area locally called Dead Man’s Curve.  Upon arriving Officers found the driver 34 year old Cameron Martin of Princeton passed out behind the wheel.  At that point Deputy Michael Bates approached the Silver 2014 Kia Sportage and began to speak with Mr. Martin.  Immediately upon speaking with the driver Deputy Bates detected the odor of alcohol.  At that point Deputy Bates began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in Mr. Martin being placed into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail.  Upon arriving at the Jail Mr. Martin was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
 
Assisting Deputy Bates in his investigation were Deputy Levi Sims and Fort Branch Officer Louis Jerrell.
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Mt. Carmel Man Sentenced To 5 Years On 2022 Charge

A 24 year old Mt. Carmel man has been sentenced to five years in prison on a Class 1 felony count of criminal sexual assault. Michael Haase was arrested in July 2022 by Mt. Carmel Police after a warrant was issued for his arrest. The warrant was the result of a two and half month investigation that began when Wabash County Sheriff Derek Morgan’s office received a report alleging Haase committed criminal sexual assault.

Haase’s case was scheduled to go to a jury trial on February 3rd, but during a pre-trial hearing on Thursday, Haase changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to the five year term in the Department of Corrections to be followed by three years to life of mandatory supervised release or parole. Haase will have to serve at least 85% of the prison sentence and register as a sex offender upon his release.

Haase, who had been free on a $10,000 cash bond, surrendered to the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department Thursday afternoon to await transport to the DOC.

Another Delay In Case Of Former Deputy

There’s been another continuation in the court case of former Wabash County Sheriff’s Deputy Chase Cheadle. Yesterday, Cheadle was in court for a preliminary hearing but special prosecutor Brian Towne and defense attorney Jonathan Turpin said they had been working on a possible settlement to the case and requested continuance. Cheadle is now due back in court on February 27th for a preliminary hearing. It’s the third straight month, dating back to November 14th that Cheadle’s preliminary hearing has been delayed. Cheadle, who was the sheriff’s department’s canine handler, faces four charges of official misconduct, 1 count of Theft, 1 count of Cruelty to animals, and 2 counts of Animal owner duties. Five of the eight charges are felonies. Cheadle found Kiki unresponsive last July and was arrested following an investigation. He resigned from the sheriff’s department on August 8th.  

Naked Man Tased By Authorities Following Thursday Morning Incident

From Wabash County Sheriff Derek Morgan: On 01.23.25 Wabash County 911 received a call of a disturbance at 229 N. Main St. Bellmont. While the deputy was enroute the male aggressor fled the scene in a blue passenger car north on E 400 Rd. The deputy was able to locate the vehicle which was now east bound on Highway 15 driving erratically and at a high rate of speed. Once the deputy topped the hill, he observed a blue passenger car that had crashed just east of the intersection of Highway 15 and E 700 Rd. (Maud Rd.)  on the south side of the highway. 

As the deputy approached the crashed vehicle the male was actively kicking out the back window of the passenger car. Once he was out of the vehicle, the deputy made contact with the male, who was distraught, confrontational, and out of control, while smoking a cigarette. The deputy tried to speak with the man and he began taking his clothes off, and asked the deputy what branch he was with and threw his cigarette at the deputy. Officer from the Mt. Carmel Police Department arrived for assistance. The male would not comply with directions form law enforcement and began marching naked in the snow. A taser was deployed for the safety of everyone and he was taken into protective custody with no further incidents. 

The male continued to talk about Jesus, Donald Trump and nuclear war while threatening to take the police officers' guns and shoot them. The male was transported to Wabash General Hospital for a mental health evaluation. 

Morgan Wins Allendale Spelling Bee

Allendale School held its annual Spelling Bee on Thursday, January 23rd. Participating in the Spelling Bee were the following students: Abi Hipsher, Haylee Bergman, Sophia Breen, Grasyn Morgan, Abe Medler, Bennett Morris, Braxton Culp, and Jaxon Moore. Bennett Morris, a 5th grader, finished second in the 10th round. Grasyn Morgan, a 7th grader, is the Spelling Bee Champion. Bennett received a $25 cash prize from Allendale School Student Council and Grasyn received a $50 LifeSaver CD from The Allendale First National Bank and a free year subscription to Britannica Online for Kids. 

Spelling Bee Sponsor, Mrs. Dena Tarpley and 1st Place Finisher, Grasyn Morgan.

Spelling Bee Sponsor, Mrs. Dena Tarpley and 2nd Place Finisher, Bennett Morris.

Spelling Bee Elite 8: Sophia Breen, Grasyn Morgan, Abi Hipsher, Haylee Bergman, Jaxon Moore, Braxton Culp, Bennett Morris, and Abe Medler.

Winter Weather Keeping City Crews Busy

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge again praised city workers for their hard work in the wake of two major winter storms and extremely cold temperatures…

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Judge said the key to the city’s stellar response was planning and preparation within the city and other local entities….

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Judge said while they hope it won’t be needed, the city has ordered another 100 tons of road salt.