On May 11, 2026, at 2:03 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Eric Powell conducted a traffic stop on a White 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan for traveling 97 mph in a 70-mph zone on Interstate 69. Upon stopping the vehicle near the State Road 64 exit Deputy Powell identified the driver as 30-year-old Stevenson Pierre of Tamarac, Florida. After a brief investigation Mr. Pierre was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Reckless Driving.
Oakland City Officer Ty Schmittler 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.
Niemerg Looking For Answers Following Inmate Death At Robinson Prison
State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) is calling on the Illinois Director of Corrections to provide an immediate tour of the Robinson and Lawrenceville Correctional Facilities after a reported overdose and death of an inmate in Robinson over the weekend. Niemerg once again is calling for changes to the DOC’s policies which allow for drugs to enter into facilities.
Niemerg said the situation is not acceptable when people in the custody of the State of Illinois continue to die.
Niemerg went on to say we have a can of worms here and Springfield really needs to deal with the program and make sure these drugs are not getting into the facilities.
As of this time, specifics have not been released nor the name of the inmate.
MCPD Activity Report-April 2026
From MCPD Chief Erin Peach….
Food Truck Regulations Floated
At Monday’s Mount Carmel City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge discussed plans to begin regulating food trucks operating on city-owned property.
Judge told council members that he and City Clerk Ryan Turner have been receiving an increasing number of requests from both local and out-of-town food trucks wanting to set up within the city.
The mayor said the city is considering a no-fee application process similar to policies already in place in other communities, including Olney. Under the proposal, food truck operators would be required to provide a valid driver’s license, proof of liability insurance, vehicle insurance and registration, a photo of the food truck, a menu, an Illinois Retailers Occupation Tax certificate, and a Wabash County Health Department permit.
Judge said the goal is to ensure vendors operating on city property are properly insured and meeting health and safety requirements.
The proposed regulations would apply only to food trucks operating on city-owned property. Judge said a formal proposal is expected to be presented to the council at a future meeting.
Garbage Rate Increase Proposed
At Monday afternoon’s Mount Carmel City Council meeting, Garbage Commissioner Susan Zimmerman proposed increasing garbage rates for city residents.
Zimmerman told council members rising costs have made an increase necessary despite efforts to delay it as long as possible. Under the proposal, garbage rates would increase by one dollar beginning July 1st of 2026, with an additional one-dollar increase taking effect July 1st of 2027.
Zimmerman said the increases would help the city continue offering services such as leaf pickup and brush pickup, while also helping offset increases in the city’s garbage contract costs.
During council discussion, officials noted the rate increase ordinance will require two readings before it can be approved. The proposal was accepted as a first reading Monday, with a second reading expected at the next city council meeting.
City officials indicated the increase would likely provide only a tight margin in covering future expenses, but said the timeline should still allow implementation by July 1st.
Road closures planned for chip and seal road maintence work in INDOT Southwest district
SOUTHWEST Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation has begun its spring schedule of chip and seal road maintenance. The following roadways will be closed for chip and seal projects:
May 11-13 - State Road 165 in Posey County between S.R. 66 and S.R. 68.
May 18-21 – State Road 69 in Posey County on asphalt section of the roadway south of S.R. 62.
May 25 – State Road 269 in Posey County from S.R. 69 to Harmonie State Park entrance.
May 26-29 – State Road 68 in Posey/Gibson County from S.R. 65 to U.S. 41.
June 1-4 – State Road 237 in Perry County from S.R. 66 to S.R. 37.
June 8-11 – State Road 545 in Spencer County from S.R. 66 to S.R. 62.
June 15-18 – State Road 545 in Dubois County from S.R. 164 to S.R. 56.
June 22-30 – State Road 145 in Crawford/Orange County between S.R. 64 to S.R. 56.
July 6-9 – U.S. 150 in Orange/Washington County between S.R. 37 and S.R. 66.
July 13-15 – U.S. 50 in Lawrence County between S.R. 37 to S.R. 446.
July 16-21 – State Road 158 in Martin County between S.R. 158 to S.R. 450.
All work is weather dependent and all schedules are subject to change.
Local traffic will retain access during these closures. Traffic flow will be controlled with a flagger. INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, use extra caution, and avoid distractions when traveling in and near work zones.
During operations, existing pavement is coated with liquid asphalt, which seals cracks and provides waterproof protection. This extends the service life of the roadway and lowers maintenance costs. Once the roadway is coated with liquid asphalt, aggregate is applied and excess material is swept from the roadway.
After a curing period, crews will return to fog seal the new driving surface and apply pavement markings under flagging operations.
ISP Conducts Underage Alcohol Enforcement In Wayne County
Illinois State Police (ISP) Zone 8 Commander, Holly Finney, announces the results of Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement (ACE) surveillance at various establishments in Wayne County on May 6, 2026. The detail was conducted to determine which businesses may be selling alcoholic beverages to minors (persons under 21 years of age). The ultimate goals are to enforce underage drinking laws and save lives by preventing impaired driving crashes and fatalities.
A total of fifteen (16) locations were surveyed of which the below three (4) were involved in the sale of an alcoholic beverage to a minor.
Business Name / Address / City Name of Employee
Chava Cantina and Grill LLC 5 Williamson Drive Fairfield, IL 62837 Mariana Sanchez-Esquivel
Jovalou 112 E. Main Street Fairfield, IL 62837 Kristy Churchwell
Lonzo’s Place 805 County Highway 9 Sims, IL 62886 Rachel Esmon
Midtown Package Liquors and Tobacco 701 Robinson Street Wayne City, IL 62895 Tyler Moyer
The employees were cited for Unlawful Delivery of Alcoholic Liquor to a Minor, a Class A misdemeanor and released on a notice to appear in court. The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The ISP commends establishments and their employees which do not sell alcohol to minors. This project is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Illinois woman arrested for leaving scene of accident
On May 10, 2026, at 5:51 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of an accident with injuries at the off ramp of Interstate 64 onto US 41. Upon arriving Deputy Wyatt Lashbrook observed a White 2026 Chevy Equinox with rear end damage stopped at the stoplight. Upon speaking with the driver who was complaining of neck injury they advised that they were rearended by another vehicle who left the scene shortly after the accident happened. While on scene witnesses came forward with statements and photographic evidence of the fleeing vehicle. At that point multiple a Be On the Look Out was placed for the other vehicle a Red 2014 Toyota Prius. Through the assistance of multiple officers from the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office and Princeton Police Department the vehicle was located in the 1000 block of North 950 West in rural Gibson County. Law enforcement spoke the driver, 38-year-old Mabel Zamarripa of Grayville and at the conclusion of the investigation, Ms. Zamarippa was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where she was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage accident.
Deputy Wyatt Lashbrook was assisted in his investigation by Princeton Officers Matt Perry and Jackie Wood. He was also assisted by Deputies Wes Baumgart, Shawn Holmes, Eric Powell, and Bart Wagner.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Accident nets impaired driver
On May 9, 2026, at 5:39 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received report of a property damage accident in the 1400 block of East State Road 64. Upon arriving Deput Wyatt Lashbrook observed a two-vehicle accident where a Bronze 2013 Chevy Silverado rearended a Blue 2024 Ford F150. Upon speaking with the drivers Deputy Lashbrook detected the odor of alcoholic beverages on the driver of the Silverado, 59-year-old Quentin Drew of Oakland City. At that point Deputy Lashbrook began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in Mr. Drew being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center when the investigation was finished. Mr. Drew was booked into the detention center on the charge of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated- Endangerment.
Deputies Shawn Holmes, Bart Wagner, and Sgt. Loren Barchett assisted Deputy Lashbrook 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.
Democratic Candidates To Appear First On Wabash County November Ballot
Wabash County Clerk Janet Will provided an update on election matters during last Monday’s county board meeting.
Will told board members that reports from the recent primary election are nearly complete. She said the next step is to send paperwork to both political parties so they can submit their recommendations for election judges.
Once those recommendations are approved by the county board, they will be forwarded to the circuit court for final approval.
Will noted that election judges serve two-year terms and said the county is currently looking for individuals interested in serving.
In a related matter, Democratic Party candidates will appear first on the Wabash County ballot for the November 6th General Election, following a lottery held last Monday to determine ballot placement.