The proposed 2025-26 Wabash District #348 budget is now on display at the district office. Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer told the board Monday that the spending plan is just a starting point…
A budget hearing on the budget will be held before the board formally approves it.
A small tract of land in the Southgate Industrial Park is being sold by the city of Mt. Carmel. The tract is 1.66 acres and City Clerk Ryan Turner said someone is interested in buying it….
Other stipulations are that the tract will have to be used for industrial purposes and work on a building would have to start by December 1st. Bids for the tract of land will be accepted until 3pm on Tuesday, September 2nd. The city council then meets an hour later at which time bids will be opened.
The Mt. Carmel City Council has voted to spend over $61,000 for equipment that hopefully reduce the number of water line breaks around the city. Mayor Joe Judge said the three pressure reducing valves are needed to help avoid the situation the city has faced the last couple of weeks…
The low bid of $61,497 for the three valves was accepted by the council. The price tag does include installation.
Offender:
Noah Chappell
35 year old Male
Princeton, IN
Summary of Investigation:
In October of 2024, members of the Gibson County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began investigating an online National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) report. This report provided information into the online activities of Noah Chappell, which included sending and receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Detectives were able to confirm information received through the report through their investigation, and Detective Neftali Padilla of the Princeton Police Department served a search warrant for the electronics of Noah Chappell and conducted an interview with him. During this interview Noah Chappell, admitted to receiving CSAM through the messenger application Telegram, as well as possessing it on a hard drive.
Detective Jennifer Loesch of the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office continued the investigation, and a search of Noah Chappell’s electronic devices uncovered dozens of videos and photographs depicting the sexual abuse of minors. In June of 2025 Noah Chappell was arrested for Possession of Child Pornography, and on August 21st, 2025, Noah Chappell pleaded guilty to the crime.
Noah Chappell was sentenced on three Level 5 felony counts of Possession of Child Pornography for a total of 9 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 3 years suspended to probation. Chappell will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Offender:
Noah Chappell
35 year old Male
Princeton, IN
Summary of Investigation:
In October of 2024, members of the Gibson County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began investigating an online National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) report. This report provided information into the online activities of Noah Chappell, which included sending and receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Detectives were able to confirm information received through the report through their investigation, and Detective Neftali Padilla of the Princeton Police Department served a search warrant for the electronics of Noah Chappell and conducted an interview with him. During this interview Noah Chappell, admitted to receiving CSAM through the messenger application Telegram, as well as possessing it on a hard drive.
Detective Jennifer Loesch of the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office continued the investigation, and a search of Noah Chappell’s electronic devices uncovered dozens of videos and photographs depicting the sexual abuse of minors. In June of 2025 Noah Chappell was arrested for Possession of Child Pornography, and on August 21st, 2025, Noah Chappell pleaded guilty to the crime.
Noah Chappell was sentenced on three Level 5 felony counts of Possession of Child Pornography for a total of 9 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 3 years suspended to probation. Chappell will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On August 21, 2025, at 4:17 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted a traffic stop on a Silver Ford Taurus for speeding on US 41 near County Road 800 South. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Hunt detected multiple clues that the driver 38- year-old Steve McCulland of Evansville may be under the influence of an unknown intoxicant. At that point Deputy Hunt began a roadside OWI investigation that resulted in Mr. McCulland being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center at the end of the inquiry. Upon arriving at the Jail Mr. McCulland was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Deputy Eric Powell assisted Deputy Hunt in his investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
On August 21, 2025, at 4:51 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Eric Powell drove up on a two-vehicle accident that had just occurred on US 41 near Strain Street in Fort Branch. After checking on both participants in the accident Deputy Powell began a roadside accident investigation. During the investigation Deputy Powell detected multiple clues that the driver of the White Mercury Grand Marquis may be under the influence of an unknown intoxicant.
Deputy Powell determined that 47-year-old Carlos Cabell of Evansville had rearended a Blue 2013 Ford F150 that was slowed in traffic on US 41 with his White 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis.
Once the accident investigation was completed Deputy Powell focused on the OWI investigation, and at the end of the inquiry Deputy Powell placed Mr. Cabell into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Detention Center. Upon arriving at the Detention Center Mr. Cabell was charged with Possession of Methamphetamines, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. He was also issued a citation for Operating a Vehicle Without Financial Responsibility.
Sgt. Loren Barchett assisted Deputy Powell in his investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Wabash District #348 school board has voted to allow all distict students into sporting events free of charge. Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer explained the reasoning behind the idea at the school board’s monthly meeting on Monday…
The waiver of student ticket fees only applies to District #348 students and will not apply to any IHSA post-season games where passes of any kind are not allowed.
On August 20, 2025, at 11:48 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of an intoxicated person in the drive thru of the Wendy’s Restaurant located in the Love’s Truck Stop at 901 E 1250 South near Haubstadt. The caller stated that the vehicle left the parking lot headed westbound without the headlights activated. While speaking with dispatch the caller was able to provide a Texas license plate. Deputy Micheal Bates and Sgt. John Fischer arrived in the area and located the vehicle in the Baymont Inn just south of the Wendy’s restaurant. Upon approaching the vehicle, Deputy Michael Bates detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver 35-year-old Matthew Olguin of Haltom City, Texas. At that point Deputy Bates began a roadside DUI investigation. During the investigation Mr. Olguin was transported to Deaconess Gibson Hospital to obtain medical clearance. During this time Mr. Olguin became agitated and began to yell multiple times after being instructed to stop. Once the investigation was completed Mr. Olguin was transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Refusal, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Prior, Operating a Vehicle Without Ever Obtaining a License, Disorderly Conduct, and Operating a Vehicle With an Open Alcoholic Beverage.
Deaconess Gibson Police Officer Jennifer Robb and Sgt. John Fischer assisted Deputy Bates in his investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
The Board approved the minutes of the Board of Trustees regular meeting held on July 15, 2025. Affiliation agreements were approved with Stone Bridge Memory Care, Stone Bridge Senior Living, Ferrell Hospital, The Carle Foundation, WLC Management, and Axiom Healthcare of Flora. The IECC Program Review Report FY25 was accepted by the Board and will be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board.
The Board approved three memorandums of understanding with the following:
• Prevail Illinois, Robinson, IL – as required by the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act, and referenced in IECC Policy 100.31, confidential advisors will be available for students or employees who experience sexual violence, should they choose to seek their services.
• Sexual Assault and Family Emergencies (SAFE), Vandalia, IL – as required by the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act, and referenced in IECC Policy & Procedure 100.31, confidential advisors will be available for students or employees who experience sexual violence, should choose to seek their services.
• Lincoln Trail College Foundation – this agreement will provide the Foundation with a suitable and clearly defined location on the LTC campus while ensuring alignment with college operations and facilities management.
The Board selected Trustee Browning and Trustee Ridgely to serve as members of the Audit Committee to review the annual audit and complete the Audit Report.
The purchase of Rapid7 Managed Threat Detection services through CDW-G for a three-year term was approved by the Board.
The Board approved a license agreement with ASTAR for the utilization of approximately 7,500 square feet of space at Wabash Valley College to provide training and certification services to area industry and IECC students.
Bid committee recommendations were approved for acceptance of the following bids: Bevis Construction, Inc. for a total of $5,651,000 for the capital investment project of the Athletic Facility at Frontier Community College.
• Murray Concrete, Inc. for a total of $29,750 for the new sidewalk included in the Lincoln Trail College Athletic Performance Center project.
Approval of employment was given for Jared Price as Academic Advisor, WVC effective September 8, 2025; Lora Smith as Custodian, LTC effective August 25, 2025; Dr. Emily Krajec as District Medical Director effective August 25, 2025.
Changes in employment status were approved for Chris Forde from Coordinator of Public Information & Marketing to Program Director of Marketing & Communications effective August 25, 2025; Ken Pryor from Technology Systems Specialist to Technology Infrastructure Manager effective August 25, 2025; Mark Blevins from Technology Systems Specialist to Technology Infrastructure Manager effective August 25, 2025; and Fawna Forrest from Part-time HR Assistant to HR Operations Specialist effective August 25, 2025.
Previously approved pay increases for Full-time Non-Bargaining Unit Employees were reviewed and accepted for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
A special assignment was approved for Aaron Biddle as Athletic Director at Wabash Valley College.
Resignation ratifications were approved for Autumn Hoalt as Custodian, LTC effective August 1, 2025, Annie Lankford as TRIO SSS Academic Advisor, FCC effective August 7, 2025, and Wade Baker as Music Instructor, OCC effective August 8, 2025.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. at Frontier Community College, Fairfield, IL.