On 8/23/25, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Jaxsun S. Keepes, age 18, of Bellmont, for Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Firearm without a Valid FOID, Unlawful Possession of Firearm Ammunition, Cyberstalking, and Harassment through Electronic Communications. The arrest was a result of an investigation into Keepes making alleged threats of harm through electronic communications to another individual, which included references to a firearm. This incident resulted in a complaint being signed against Keepes. As MCPD attempted to locate Keepes, MCPD and the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office were advised of an unrelated reckless driver complaint coming into Mt. Carmel from Indiana. Upon stopping the vehicle at 3rd & Walnut, the officer located Keepes, who was seated as a passenger. The officer placed Keepes under arrest at this time, without incident. During the arrest, officers located a loaded 9 mm Glock handgun inside the vehicle where near Keepes was seated. This firearm matched that of the firearm referenced in the original threat complaint. Additionally, this firearm had been reported stolen to the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office on a separate complaint from a county resident. Keepes was transported to the Wabash County Jail, where he was charged and held pending a pre-trial release determination by the court.
Bleyer Thanks Company For Water Donation
Last month’s water emergency in Mt. Carmel brought an outpouring of support from individuals and the business community. For local school kids, there was never a doubt their hydration needs would be met. Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said the district accepted three pallets of water from Performance Contractors in Owensville…
Students and custodians worked to unload the 252 cases of water back on August 15th.
Photo Credit: District #348
Photo Credit: District #348
Employee Turnover At WGH Not An Issue
Wabash General Hospital has won several awards in recent years for employee satisfaction. And that satisfaction is evident in employees not leaving the hospital. Nationally, the employee turnover rate at hospitals is 20%. But at WGH, the rate is just .42%. President/CEO Karissa Turner…
Chief of Staff Dr. Julko Fullop says the lack of employee turnover is a definite recruiting tool…
WGH is Wabash County’s largest employer.
Welfare check leads to arrest of trio on multiple drug charges
On September 9, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report from a concerned citizen asking for a welfare check to be conducted on a person at a residence located at 4886 S 1100 East near Somerville. Upon arriving Deputy Wyatt Hunt detected the odor of burnt Marijuana coming from inside the residence as people stepped out. At that point Deputy Hunt and Deputy Wes Baumgart began a drug investigation. During the investigation a search warrant was applied for and issued, and at the conclusion of the investigation law enforcement placed three individuals into custody and transported them to the Gibson County Detention Center.
Upon arriving the following people were booked in:
Donald G. Williams age 57 of Somerville.
Manufacturing/ Dealing Methamphetamines While in Possession of Firearm
Possession of Methamphetamines Over 5 Grams
Possession of Methamphetamines With Firearm
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Legend Drugs (Gabepentin and LSD)
Possession of Paraphernalia
Christina S. Lloyd age 57 of Oakland City.
Possession of Methamphetamines
Possession of Paraphernalia
Randy D. Bates age 54 of Fort Branch.
Possession of Methamphetamines
Possession of Legend Drug (Gabapentin)
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Paraphernalia.
Arresting Officer, Deputy Wyatt Hunt, was assisted in his investigation by Deputy Wes Baumgart and Sgt. Loren Barchett. Oakland City Officer John Pace also assisted in this investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Collinsville man imprisoned 46 months for pipe bomb
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Collinsville man will spend almost four years in federal prison for making pipe bombs.
Jeremy Barr, 49, was indicted in March 2024 by a grand jury sitting in East St. Louis of possessing a destructive device and pled guilty to that offense on May 1, 2025. Barr, who has been detained since his arrest on federal charges, was sentenced in District Court on Sept. 3, 2025.
“Improvised explosive devices are inherently unpredictable, unstable, and indiscriminate,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Jeremy Barr threatened innocent lives near a Southern Illinois school, endangering kids, and our community. We thank the brave law enforcement officers who responded, and we pledge to relentlessly pursue bomb makers to protect the public.”
Analysis by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), determined that the explosive device was packed with fragmentation that could have caused serious injury or death upon detonation.
“The defendant in this case left two pipe bombs in a car parked next to a school for two days, posing a direct threat not only to the school but also the surrounding community,” said ATF Chicago Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “I want to commend the swift actions of law enforcement and prosecutors, whose efforts helped avert a potential tragedy. ATF remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt threats to public safety and hold violent offenders accountable.”
As part of his sentence, Barr will pay $15,000 in restitution to his former landlord for damage to the residence caused by the Illinois State Police during execution of a search warrant to determine if other devices might be in the home. According to court documents, there were no additional devices, but evidence of bomb making was found in the basement.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF, the Wood River Police Department, the Collinsville Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the FBI Springfield Field Office and the Illinois Secretary of State Police Hazardous Device Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke prosecuted the case.
Owensville man arrested for DUI
On September 7, 2025, at 2:39 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of an abandoned vehicle on County Road 25 West near Haubstadt that appeared to be wrecked. Deputies Michael Bates and Wes Baumgart located a White 2025 Ford Escape with heavy front-end damage. At that point Deputies began an accident investigation. Upon towing the vehicle Deputy Baumgart observed a Blue 2006 Dodge Ram in the area pulling a trailer with no running lights. At that point Deputy Baumgart conducted a traffic stop and began a roadside investigation. During the inquiry evidence indicated that the driver of the Dodge Ram 22-year-old Brayden Martin was also the driver of the Ford Escape. At the end of the investigation Mr. Martin was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center. Upon arriving Mr. Martin was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Dubois County Nonprofit Director Sentenced for Embezzling Over $161,000 from Youth Mentorship Program
EVANSVILLE- Ellen L. Corn, 50, of Petersburg, Indiana, has been sentenced to one year and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to five counts of wire fraud. Corn has also been ordered to pay $121,439.72 in restitution.
According to court documents, from March 2017 to August 2022, Ellen Corn served as the Executive Director for a Dubois County nonprofit that facilitates a youth mentoring program and provides college scholarships for local high school students. During her employment, Corn had various financial responsibilities including entering all income and expenses into the organization’s accounting software and had access to the organization’s credit card.
Over that five-year period, Corn stole a total of $161,344.85 via several methods, including by using the organization’s credit card to pay for personal expenses at various businesses and restaurants, such as Amazon, Target, and Walmart, and to make tuition payments to colleges for her children. She made approximately 1,226 unauthorized transactions with the credit card. Corn also stole funds by making unauthorized transfers from the organization’s PayPal account to her personal PayPal account. Additionally, Corn made unauthorized purchases directly from the nonprofit’s checking account via debit card and check.
Corn ensured that the organization’s accounts had enough funds to pay for her illegitimate expenses by reducing funding for certain departments and programs. In 2022, she also failed to notify a first-generation college student that the student had been selected to receive a scholarship.
To conceal her fraud, Corn deliberately omitted the unauthorized transactions from the nonprofit’s accounting records, which she regularly presented to the Board of Directors and the organization’s tax preparer.
“Ellen Corn abused her position of trust and stole from an organization dedicated to serving and mentoring local youth. Her crimes not only harmed the program and its ability to serve young people but also betrayed the trust of the public who support and rely on its mission,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This sentence holds her accountable and demonstrates our commitment to protecting community nonprofits from fraud and financial exploitation.”
“The sentencing in this case holds Ellen Corn accountable for violating the trust she held as the executive director of an organization focused on mentoring youth. It also reinforces the U.S. Secret Service’s commitment to pursuing officials who shamefully break the public’s trust by illegally enriching themselves through fraud and deception,” said Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office. “Thanks to the Jasper Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Indiana for pursuing this case.”
“This case is a testament to the dedication and diligence of Detective Sergeant Greg Brescher, whose thorough investigation uncovered a serious breach of public trust. Thank you to those that came forward to provide the initial information as it your courage to contact us played a vital role in bringing this case to light. We are proud of the strong collaboration between the Jasper Police Department and the U.S. Department of Justice, which ensured that justice was served. Our agency remains steadfast in its commitment to holding individuals accountable, no matter their position, and to protecting the integrity of programs that serve our community’s youth.”
The U.S. Secret Service and Jasper Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.
Arson under investigation in Washington, Indiana
Reward offered for information
WASHINGTON, Ind. — The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is actively investigating a suspected arson that occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, at a residence located at 106 Mill Street in Washington, Ind.
At approximately 1:20 a.m. EST, the Washington Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the location. Emergency crews were able to extinguish the fire, and investigators later determined that the fire was intentionally set.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is urging anyone who may have information related to the incident to come forward.
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to the conviction of the person(s) responsible for this crime.
Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the Indiana Arson Hotline at 1-800-382-4628. Callers may remain anonymous.
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE REMINDS DRIVERS AND FARMERS ABOUT SAFELY SHARING THE ROADS THIS HARVEST SEASON
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is reminding motorists and farmers about traffic safety on Illinois roadways this fall. Agriculture is one of the leading industries in Illinois and farmers across the state will be moving equipment along roadways throughout the upcoming months. As farmers travel between fields, ISP reminds motorists and farmers alike to share the road to help reduce crashes involving tractors and other farm equipment.
ISP encourages motorists to follow these safe driving tips this harvest season.
Share the road and be patient. Allow for extra travel time.
Increase following distance to improve sight lines when driving behind wide, slow-moving vehicles.
Reduce speed when encountering farm equipment on public roads.
Flashing amber lights mean ‘caution’ and orange and red reflective triangles warn motorists that farm equipment travels at slower speeds.
It is illegal to pass in a no passing lane or within 100 feet of an intersection, railroad crossing, or bridge. Improper passing, including around farm equipment, can be deadly. Be cautious when pulling back into the lane of traffic.
Watch for the farmer’s indication of a turn. Newer equipment may have turn signals, but older equipment may not, so watch for the farmer’s hand signals.
Be prepared to yield to wide equipment.
ISP also encourages farmers to do their part by following these safe driving tips.
Avoid rush hours and busier roadways when possible.
Avoid driving tractors on roadways during bad weather, low-visibility and when dark.
Use reflective marking tape and reflectors at the extremities of equipment.
Take time to wipe off reflectors, flashing lights, and any other warning devices on equipment before entering the roadway. Equipment covered with dust/mud/debris from the field can make warning devices difficult to see.
Pay attention for traffic backing up while traveling between fields and look for opportunities to ease them. If road and shoulder conditions are safe, pull over to the right to temporarily allow traffic to pass giving back-ups time to clear.
By sharing the road and making safety a priority, motorists and farmers can work together to keep Illinois roadways safe this fall.
Troopers in Pike County Keep Busy Overnight with Four Arrests
Pike County: Last night and early this morning, Indiana State Police arrested three motorists for driving while intoxicated and one female for public intoxication.
Friday night, September 5, at approximately 9:01 p.m., Trooper Jack Fischer stopped a vehicle on North CR 200 E near Petersburg for not having taillights. The driver was identified as Cathi Myers, 75, of Petersburg. The driver displayed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. Myers was arrested for driving while intoxicated with a prior conviction, a Level 6 Felony. She was taken to the Pike County Jail.
Friday night, September 5, at approximately 9:02 p.m., Trooper Sturm was dispatched to the area of I-69 between the 50-54 mile-marker reference to a female walking into traffic. Moments later, Trooper Sturm located Madison Wilder, 25, of Evansville. She was extremely intoxicated. Wilder was arrested for public intoxication, a Class B Misdemeanor and taken to the Pike County Jail.
Friday night, September 5, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Trooper Sturm stopped the driver of a 2017 Polaris side by side on CR 400 South for speeding. The driver was identified as Timothy Moore, 39, of Winslow. Moore displayed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. Moore was arrested for driving while intoxicated, a Class C Misdemeanor and taken to the Pike County Jail.
Saturday morning, September 6, at approximately 2:12 a.m., Trooper Gage Cummings stopped Joshua Miller, 45, of Carmi, IL, for driving 88 mph on I-69 near the 47 mile-marker. Trooper Cummings detected the odor of burnt cannabis inside the vehicle. Miller displayed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. Miller was arrested for driving while intoxicated, a Class C Misdemeanor