MCHS Special Ed Students Learning Special Life Skills

A Mt. Carmel High School teacher is helping her students learn some of life’s most important lessons, from budgeting and cooking to calling the doctor’s office.

At the November Wabash District 348 School Board meeting, Mt. Carmel High School special education teacher Rebecca Hocking shared how her life skills program prepares students for life after graduation.

“My primary focus is life skills. So what that means for my students is getting them ready for what comes next after high school—whether that’s entering the workforce, moving into a group home, or getting job training. If it’s something you do as an adult, we do it in my class.”

Hocking’s class covers everything from taxes and budgeting to cooking and cleaning — even making doctor’s appointments.

“We actually set up the classroom like a doctor’s office. The students have to check in with our receptionist, provide their information, and then come talk to me— their ‘doctor.’ It’s all about building real-world independence.”

This fall, her eight students have also been busy preparing for the holidays with a hands-on cooking unit— made possible by support from the community.

“My students wrote letters to local businesses asking for donations, and I’m proud to say our class is fully funded. That means we’ll be cooking twice a week through the holiday season.”

Hocking says the goal is simple: to help her students leave high school ready to live and work as independent, confident adults.

Mt. Carmel High School special education teacher Rebecca Hocking 

School Board Hears Technology Report

At the November Wabash Community Unit School District 348 Board meeting, junior high teacher Heather Borowiak gave a presentation about her recent work with the Illinois Business Education Association and the professional conference she attended last week.

Borowiak, who teaches seventh and eighth grade technology skills, currently serves as president of the statewide organization, which supports business and technology teachers through professional development, digital resources, and mentoring programs for new educators.

She told the board that the group’s annual fall conference focused heavily on emerging classroom technology , including artificial intelligence, as well as strategies for reaching multicultural students and helping every student feel seen and supported in the classroom.

Borowiak said the event was energizing and full of ideas she could bring right back to her students, calling it “a very successful conference.”

She also explained that her tech skills class is an elective, typically taken by students who aren’t enrolled in band or choir, and provides hands-on experience with digital tools and technology concepts.

Heather Borowiak, Illinois Business Education Association President

North Carolina man arrested for OWI

On December 7, 2025, at 3:23 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Michael Bates conducted a traffic stop on a White 2013 Cadillac CTS for traveling at 93 mph in a 60-mph zone on US 41 near Richland Creek Drive.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Bates detected the odor of burnt Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and other clues that the driver may be under the influence.  At that point he began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in the driver 6-year-old Drason Little of Jackson Springs, North Carolina being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center.  Upon arriving at the detention center Mr. Little was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, and Possession of Marijuana. 
 
Princeton Officers Craig Zurliene and Jackie Wood 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.

DISTRICT #348 SOCIAL WORK TEAM RECEIVES GENEROUS DONATION

The District #348 Social Work Team recently received a generous donation from the Eagles FOE 3066's third annual Wings of Hope Suicide Prevention and Awareness Fundraiser. 

The event was a success, raising over $4,000 for the District #348 social work team. The funds will be used to buy educational materials for suicide prevention and awareness.

Pictured from left to right are: Julie Dickerson of Mt. Carmel Grade School, Laura Taylor of Mt. Carmel Elementary School, Amy Powers of Mt. Carmel High School, Jennifer Betsch of the Eagles, and Dr. Chuck Bleyer. 

County Employees Receiving $25 RMC Gift Checks

In lieu of a holiday dinner, Wabash County employees will each receive a $25 merchants gift check. At last week’s county board meeting, commissioner voted to provide the gift checks again this year saying workers seemed to enjoy them more than the holiday dinner, that not everyone was able to attend. County Clerk Janet Will said the gift checks will be distributed ahead of the RMC Gift Check shopping days on December 12th and 13th.

RMC Gift Check Program Shatters Record

There are many benefits to being a member of the Wabash County Retail Merchants Committee. But perhaps the biggest is the RMC’s gift check program. The gift checks work just like cash at any merchants business and the program has exploded in the last few years as many local businesses hand out gift checks as holiday bonuses. And, Chamber of Commerce executive director Lesley Hipsher says a gift check record has already been set for this year…

That’s $335,000 that will stay here in Wabash County and used at local businesses which the RMC is hosting a special event this weekend for shoppers with gift checks…

Gift checks can be purchased at the Chamber office in any denomination. Hipsher said businesses wishing to become RMC members and begin accepting the gift checks can contact her at the Chamber office for more details.

Olney Sex offender sentenced to 35 years in federal prison on new crimes against children

BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a registered sex offender to 35 years’ imprisonment after he admitted to distributing child pornography and obscene material to a minor.

Edward J. Bates, 57, most recently of Olney, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of distribution of child pornography, two counts of attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor, and one count of offense by a registered sex offender. Following imprisonment, Bates will be on supervised release for the rest of his life.

“The only thing worse than child sex offenses is an armed repeat offender,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “This 35-year sentence underscores our commitment to seeking the most significant sentences possible for those who endanger kids.”

According to court documents, Bates distributed child pornography in Richland County on January 26, 2022. In April 2023, he transferred sexually explicit material to a 10-year-old minor. On June 4, 2024, Bates was found in possession of two firearms and ammunition as a felon.

Bates was previously convicted of two separate child pornography offenses and was therefore required to register as a sex offender. The Government seized a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a .38 caliber revolver and ammunition.

The Richland County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office, the Missouri Highway Patrol, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.

Illinois unveils plans to celebrate 250 years of American independence

The programs will seek to highlight local histories and celebrate Illinois’s achievements

By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY
Capitol News Illinois
mdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com 

Article Summary 

  • The Illinois America 250 Commission is gearing up to organize programming across the state to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

  • The initiative will seek to highlight local histories from across the state through archival projects, a youth art contest, a commemorative state “passport” and more.

  • A $300,000 investment from the Illinois Arts Council will provide $15,000 grants to 20 public art installations across the state.

  • The nonprofit Illinois Humanities will work with the American Indian Association of Illinois to bring stories of tribal contributions on the road across the state.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. 

CHICAGO — Gov. JB Pritzker joined the Illinois America 250 Commission at Navy Pier Wednesday to announce plans for commemorating the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence.

Commission members include volunteers from civic, nonprofit, educational, arts and business spaces, as well as Native and tribal leaders.

“We’re showcasing the way Illinoisians have, even before we became a state and right up until now, made good on the ideals of the Declaration of Independence,” Gabrielle Lyon, chair of the commission and executive director of the nonprofit Illinois Humanities said, pulling out her pocket copy of the Declaration.

“Our country, we’ve come a long way, and we have a long way to go to make good on the promises in this little book,” Lyon added. “1776, 1976 left out a lot of voices. In 2026, Illinois America 250 is really working to invite everyone in.”

Uplifting local stories

The initiative will center programming on uplifting local stories across the state. It will include a youth art contest, an archival project to record residents’ reflections on the 250th anniversary in the Library of Congress, and a statewide engagement effort around volunteering, which will commence on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Lyon said the commission had seen lots of excitement about the programming, with 200 organizations signing up as partners and 68 counties involved in planning. Hundreds of museums, cultural institutions and historic sites are also hosting events tied to the anniversary, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

The state’s tourism office has partnered with the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Association of Museums to create a keepsake “passport” that will feature historic and culturally significant locations across the state. 

Tribal recognition

Some of the focus will be on recognizing tribal histories and contributions that predate the Declaration. That effort will be led in part by commission member Dorene Wiese, a member of the White Earth Ojibwe Nation and chief executive officer of the American Indian Association of Illinois.

Wiese announced she will be working with Illinois Humanities over the coming year to bring stories from her tribe’s history on the road to locations throughout the state. 

“This period of time in history is a period where all of us have the opportunity to study the many different tribes that were in this country before the United States was formed,” Wiese said. 

Wiese also highlighted the cultural contributions of present-day tribal members.

“We have such incredible artists and oral historians and writers and filmmakers, photographers,” Wiese said. “We would like people to discover them and also they would like to share their gifts with you.”

Tourism and art 

The commission also hopes the programs will bring more tourism dollars into the state, continuing a trend from last year, in which nearly 113 million people visited Illinois, about a half a million more than the prior year. Those visitors spent a record $48.5 million dollars, according to Catie Sheehan, deputy director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. 

“That’s a lot of deep-dish pizza and Abe Lincoln souvenirs,” Sheehan said. 

Read more: Growing number of visitors discovering southern Illinois as travel destination

Nora Daley, chair of the Illinois Arts Council and daughter of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, announced that the council would be investing $300,000 for 20 public art projects across the state. Each project is intended to honor the history of the state.

“These projects show how art can energize local communities and economies and deepen our sense of place across Illinois,” Daley said.

Those who want to get involved with Illinois America 250 events can find more information on the public calendar at www.il250.org/events. 

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.


Gabrielle Lyon, chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission and executive director of Illinois Humanities speaks about the commemoration plans at Navy Pier on Dec. 3. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Maggie Dougherty)