On May 19, 2025, at 1:18 a.m., Gibson County Deputy Levi Sims conducted a traffic stop on a Gray 2021 Nissan Sentra for failing to maintain their lane of travel on US 41 near County Road 440 North. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Sims detected multiple clues that the driver 19-year-old Riley Thompson of Bruceville, Indiana was under the influence of an unknown intoxicant. At that point Deputy Sims began a roadside OWI investigation that resulted in Mr. Thompson being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Thompson was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Assisting Deputy Sims in his investigation were Deputy Michael Bates and Princeton Officers David Jones and Sgt. Ben Kiesel.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Traffic Advisory for Tuesday Afternoon, May 20
Gibson County – Tuesday afternoon, May 20, Indiana State Police will be shutting down portions of US 41 near Warrenton Road and I-64 eastbound at US 41 while several hundred motorcyclists stop at Flying J Travel Center located at US 41 and Warrenton Road. The motorcyclists are traveling from California to Washington D.C. to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The motorcyclists are scheduled for a gas stop and brief break at the Flying J Travel Center before continuing east on I-64 to Corydon, IN. The group is expected to arrive at approximately 2:15 p.m. and depart at approximately 3:00 p.m.
Individuals planning to show their support are encouraged to find a safe place off the roadway. Parking along I-64 is prohibited. For more information concerning this event, visit rftw.us.
Approximate Times of Highway Closings (Times are subject to change).
Approximately 2:15 p.m. (CST) - Highways expected to be closed for no more than 10 minutes.
US 41 northbound will be closed just south of I-64 while motorcyclists exit I-64 east to US 41 north.
US 41 southbound lanes will be closed at Warrenton Road while motorcyclists turn west onto Warrenton Road to Flying J Travel Center.
Approximately 3:00 p.m. (CST) - Highways expected to be closed for no more than 10 minutes.
US 41 southbound lanes at Warrenton Road will be closed while motorcyclists exit Flying J Travel Center.
I-64 east just west of US 41 will be closed while motorcyclists enter I-64 east from US 41S.
Wabash County Tax Sale Is Friday
Tax Sale for 2023 Pay 2024 is Friday, May 23, 2025 at 10am in the Courtroom, if you still need to pay your taxes the last day to pay is Thursday, May 22 with cash or cashier's check only.
District #348 School Board Agenda
Meeting at 5pm Monday at MCES.
Allendale School Board Agenda
Meeting at 6pm Wednesday.
Traffic Stop Leads To DUI Arrest
On May 11, 2025, at approximately 1:10 a.m., Gibson County Deputy Eric Powell observed a vehicle traveling northbound at 95 mph in a 60 mph zone on US 41 near County Road 1025 South. Upon catching up with the vehicle near Deadmans Curve, Deputies Powell and Michael Bates initiated a traffic stop.
While speaking with the driver, 35-year-old Casey Denbo, Deputy Bates detected signs that the driver might be intoxicated. At that point, Deputy Bates began a roadside DUI investigation. Upon concluding the investigation, Mr. Denbo was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail, where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Reckless Driving.
Sgt. John Fischer assisted Deputies Bates and Powell in their investigation.
All criminal defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Hangar Project Greenlit By City Council
The City Council has approved plans to construct a new hangar at the Mt. Carmel Airport. The $1.5 million project which will house between 8 and 9 planes is funded mostly by a federal grant. The city’s cost is estimated to be at $90,000 which the council will look to formally approve at their next meeting.
City Ends Fiscal Year In Positive Position
City Finance Commissioner Eric Ikemire says the city’s financial outlook continues to be bright. Ikemire noted that most of the city’s various revenue streams came in higher that forecast at the close of the last budget year – leaving most city accounts in better shape than expected.
Mayor Offers 9th Street Construction Update
The 9th Street construction project in Mt. Carmel continues to progress. At Monday’s City Council Meeting, Mayor Joe Judge says crews continue to work on the new sidewalk approaches, noting a lot of time will be spent at 9th and Market as new stoplight poles will be added there along with the sidewalk work. Judge says he did talk with IDOT officials who do plan to come and fill potholes along 9th Street until the road can be resurfaced. Judge says residents should continue to focus on the end result through the next few months.
St. Louis man sentenced to prison for unarmed bank robberies
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district court judge sentenced a St. Louis man to 87 months in federal prison after he admitted to robbing four banks in less than three weeks in 2023.
Tyrone Leslie, 40, pleaded guilty in January to four counts of bank robbery. One count was charged in the Southern District of Illinois, and the other three were charged in the Eastern District of Missouri. The Missouri cases were transferred to southern Illinois to be prosecuted simultaneously.
“Bank robbers like Tyrone Leslie threaten the safety of the community, even when they are not carrying guns,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “It is no defense that Leslie used threatening notes instead of more violent means.”
According to court documents, Leslie robbed the U.S. Bank on Tesson Ferry Road in St. Louis of $2,740 on Nov. 14, 2023. On Nov. 17, he robbed the People’s National Bank on Hampton Avenue in St. Louis of $964. Leslie robbed the PNC Bank in St. Louis on Manchester Road of $5,050 on Dec. 2. He tried to take $4,125 from the FCB Bank in Caseyville, Illinois, on Dec. 4.
Following the FCB Bank robbery in Caseyville, Leslie led police on a high-speed chase.
The Caseyville Police Department led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Burns and Laura Reppert prosecuted the case.