IECC Approves $808,000 Wabash Valley College Tennis Court Renovation

The Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees has approved a major renovation and expansion of the tennis courts at Wabash Valley College.

During Tuesday night's meeting at WVC, trustees awarded the construction contract to Kieffer Brothers Construction Company for $807,782 after determining the company met all bid specifications.

The project will be funded through a combination of IECC, the Wabash Valley College Foundation, The Bolden Trust, Dean Kieffer, the United States Tennis Association, and other private donations.

The community-led project is designed to rehabilitate and expand the existing tennis facility for use by the public, Mount Carmel High School and Wabash Valley College.

Plans call for reconstruction of the current four tennis courts with new asphalt paving, surface coating and court striping. The project also includes new ADA-accessible parking and walkways, replacement fencing, new light poles and LED lighting, and new net posts and nets.

Trustees also approved an alternate bid that adds two additional tennis courts on the east side of the complex. The expansion will include a larger fenced playing area and repositioned court lighting.

College officials say the upgraded facility will provide a modern venue for community recreation and school athletic programs for years to come.

Updates Offered On City & County Summer Road Work

Motorists should expect temporary street closures later this week as the City of Mount Carmel completes its annual street maintenance program.

During Monday afternoon's City Council meeting, Mike Hannah reported that city crews completed this year's chip seal program last Friday and are now sweeping loose rock from the treated streets.

Hannah said crews will begin applying a fog seal on Thursday, weather permitting. The process is expected to take one day, although a second day has been set aside if needed. Streets receiving the fog seal will be closed for several hours to allow the surface to dry properly.

City Engineer Dave Dallas urged residents whose streets were chip sealed last week to avoid parking on the street Thursday while the fog seal is being applied. Work is scheduled to begin around 7:30 a.m., with closures lasting several hours depending on weather conditions, including temperature, humidity and wind. Officials said sunshine and a light breeze should help speed the drying process.

During Monday afternoon's meeting of the Wabash County Commissioners, County Highway Engineer Dustin Bunting reported that recent oil and chip work on Maud Road and Friendsville Avenue went smoothly.

Bunting said the next phase of the project is scheduled for Thursday, when crews will sweep Friendsville Avenue from Wabash Valley College to Friendsville before applying a fog seal to help protect and preserve the new road surface. He said the work is expected to be completed quickly.

Bunting also told commissioners that all county roads with pavement striping are scheduled to be restriped later this year. That work will include Friendsville Avenue, including the section that recently received the oil and chip treatment.

The projects are part of the county highway department's ongoing summer road maintenance program.

MCHS May Change How Valedictorians Are Chosen

Mount Carmel High School may soon change the way it selects its valedictorian and salutatorian.

During Monday morning's Wabash Community Unit School District #348 Board of Education meeting, High School Principal Amy Duckworth presented a proposal that would take effect with the incoming freshman class, meaning it would not affect current high school students.

The proposal comes after the Class of 2026 graduated with eight valedictorians under the current policy, which awards the honor to any student who completes the required coursework and maintains straight A's throughout high school.

Duckworth explained the proposal would not change the grading scale or bring back weighted grades. Instead, it would determine the valedictorian based on the highest cumulative grade percentage earned over all four years of high school while still requiring students to complete the same rigorous college-preparatory coursework currently listed in the student handbook.

She said using cumulative grade percentages would better distinguish students who earn a 90 percent average from those earning grades closer to 100 percent, while still recognizing academic excellence.

The proposed policy would also establish one valedictorian and one salutatorian unless students remain tied after calculating cumulative grade percentages to additional decimal places, in which case co-valedictorians could still be named.

Board members discussed whether attendance, behavior or extracurricular activities should be considered, but Duckworth noted the school's policy has historically been based solely on academics. Former Principal and Athletic Director Pat Cheesman told the board that, since 1980, Mount Carmel High School has never used attendance, discipline or extracurricular involvement in selecting its valedictorian.

Board members expressed support for the concept but asked administrators to gather additional information, including how the proposed policy would have affected recent graduating classes. Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer suggested the issue be reviewed further by a committee before any action is taken.

If ultimately approved, the revised policy would first apply to the current freshman class and their graduation in 2030.

Hoffman Trial Postponed Until October

The jury trial for a Bellmont man facing multiple child pornography charges has been postponed.

Twenty-eight-year-old Gage Hoffman appeared Monday in Wabash County Circuit Court with his attorney, William Easton. At the defense's request, and without objection from the State, the court rescheduled Hoffman's jury trial to October 5th at 9 a.m.

A pretrial conference is now set for August 17th at 11 a.m., followed by a final pretrial conference on September 14th at 9:30 a.m.

Hoffman also waived his right to a speedy trial.

The court ruled that Hoffman will remain in the Wabash County Jail, finding his continued detention is necessary because he poses a real, specific, and present threat to the community and that no combination of release conditions would adequately address that threat.

Hoffman is charged with 15 felony counts involving alleged child sexual abuse material. The case includes seven Class X felonies and eight additional Class 2 felonies filed by Wabash County State's Attorney Kelli Storckman.

According to court records, the alleged offenses occurred between July 2024 and March 2025. Investigators allege several of the charges involve victims under the age of 13.

The charges stem from an investigation that began after Wabash County Sheriff's deputies executed a search warrant at a Bellmont residence on April 29, where electronic evidence was reportedly recovered. The investigation remains ongoing with assistance from the Mount Carmel Police Department and the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

Hoffman has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case remains pending.

City Council Moves Forward With Plans To Ban Sale Of Kratom In Mt. Carmel

Mount Carmel officials are moving forward with plans to prohibit the sale of certain synthetic drugs within the city limits.

During Monday afternoon's City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge announced he has requested the removal of synthetic kratom products, known as "7-O," and other synthetic gray-market drugs from businesses in Mount Carmel.

Judge said protecting the health and safety of residents is one of his responsibilities as mayor. He noted that while legislation banning kratom products stalled in the Illinois General Assembly, the city does not plan to wait for state action.

The mayor said he has consulted with officials at Wabash General Hospital, who told him they are not currently seeing an increase in cases involving the synthetic substances locally. However, Judge pointed to actions by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration, which are pursuing temporary federal restrictions on highly concentrated synthetic kratom compounds because of their potent opioid-like effects.

Judge told council members he has already directed Mount Carmel Police Officer David Houser to deliver letters asking local retailers to voluntarily remove the products from their shelves immediately.

Council members voiced their support for the effort, and Judge said he and City Clerk Ryan Turner will begin working with the city's attorney on an ordinance to ban the sale of synthetic kratom products and other synthetic gray-market substances within the corporate limits of Mount Carmel.

If approved, the ordinance could come before the city council within the next two meetings.

Road closure planned for State Road 56 in Pike/Gibson County

PIKE AND GIBSON COUNTY Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure for State Road 56 in Pike and Gibson Counties.

Beginning on or around Monday, July 27, crews will close State Road 56 near Hazleton. This closure will occur between Dead Level Road and Cutoff Road.

This road closure will allow for a small structure replacement project. Work is expected to last through the end of August, depending on the weather.

The official detour for this project is U.S. 41 to State Road 64 to State Road 65. Local traffic will have access up to the point of closure. INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, use extra caution, and avoid distractions when traveling in and near work zones.

Failure to Move Over Leads to OWI Arrest in Knox County

On Sunday evening, Trooper Tanner Hurley was stationary on the right shoulder of northbound U.S. 41 near Camp Arthur Road with his emergency lights activated.

Hurley observed a blue Ford SUV approaching from behind in the right lane. Although no other vehicles prevented the driver from changing lanes, the SUV remained in the right lane and passed Hurley’s police vehicle.

Hurley initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as Anthony L. Mason, 58, of Illinois. During the traffic stop, Hurley observed signs of impairment and, as part of his investigative process, obtained a search warrant to further the investigation.

Mason was arrested and transported to the Knox County Jail, where he was remanded into custody on the following preliminary charges:

• Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Endangering a Person

• Resisting Law Enforcement​​​​​​​

This traffic stop occurred during the 6-State Trooper Project’s Move Over enforcement period, which runs from July 19 through July 25. The initiative brings together state police agencies from Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to increase enforcement and public awareness of Move Over laws.

Indiana State Police reminds motorists that Indiana’s Move Over law, IC 9-21-8-35, requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated to change lanes away from the vehicle when it is safe to do so. When drivers cannot safely change lanes, they must reduce their speed to at least 10 mph below the posted speed limit and proceed with caution.

The law also protects tow trucks, highway maintenance vehicles, utility service vehicles, certain other authorized service vehicles displaying flashing lights, and disabled vehicles displaying flashing hazard lights.

All criminal defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Covalt to Be Resentenced Following Appellate Court Ruling

A Wabash County man convicted of multiple child pornography offenses is scheduled to be resentenced later this month following a ruling by the Illinois Fifth District Appellate Court.

Court records show 38-year-old Chad Covalt is scheduled to appear in Wabash County Circuit Court on July 27th for resentencing after the appellate court issued its decision last October.

Covalt was convicted in 2022 on 29 counts of child pornography following a bench trial and was originally sentenced by Judge William C. Hudson to 120 years in prison. At the time, Wabash County State's Attorney Kelli Storckman successfully argued that the offenses occurred during two separate courses of conduct, resulting in consecutive 60-year prison terms.

On appeal, Covalt challenged his convictions and sentence on several grounds, including alleged speedy trial violations, evidentiary issues, the sufficiency of the evidence, sentencing, and what is known as the "unit of prosecution."

The Fifth District Appellate Court rejected those arguments but found that two of Covalt's convictions could not stand under the unit of prosecution doctrine. The court vacated two convictions and remanded the case to Wabash County for resentencing, while affirming the remainder of the convictions.

During the original sentencing hearing in May 2022, Judge Hudson noted Covalt had shown no remorse and read a victim impact statement describing the lasting emotional trauma suffered by one of the victims.

Covalt was arrested in May 2021 after his ex-wife discovered child pornography images on his cellphone and turned them over to law enforcement. His resentencing hearing is scheduled for July 27th in Wabash County Circuit Court.

Parrish Case Advances Toward September Jury Trial

An 18-year-old Mount Carmel man charged in connection with the alleged robbery and attempted sexual assault of an elderly woman remains in custody after appearing in Wabash County Circuit Court last week.

Joshua Parrish appeared with State's Attorney Kelli Storckman and Public Defender William Easton for a preliminary hearing. Judge William C. Hudson found probable cause to proceed with the case. Parrish waived formal arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

Following the hearing, Judge Hudson ruled that Parrish's continued detention is necessary, finding he poses a real and present threat to the safety of the community or a specific person and that no conditions of release could adequately mitigate that threat.

Parrish faces eight felony charges stemming from an alleged incident on June 19. The charges include armed robbery, robbery, aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault, attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault of a victim age 60 or older, attempted aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery, and unlawful restraint.

Prosecutors allege Parrish used a knife to rob an elderly woman, threatened to sexually assault her, and attempted to force her into a wooded area.

A final pretrial conference is scheduled for August 17 at 9:00 a.m., with a jury trial set to begin September 8 in Wabash County Circuit Court.

As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and Parrish is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Mt. Carmel Police Report: More Than 500 Incidents Handled in June

The Mt. Carmel Police Department responded to 505 incidents during the month of June, according to the department's monthly activity report submitted by Chief Erin Peach.

Officers made 40 traffic-related arrests, including seven for driving while license suspended or revoked, five for operating an uninsured vehicle, six registration violations, two speeding arrests and five other moving violations.

Police also made three alcohol-related arrests for DUI and three arrests for unlawful consumption of alcohol. Drug-related enforcement included two methamphetamine arrests and one arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Among other criminal activity, officers recorded six domestic battery arrests, five weapon offense arrests, two assault arrests, one retail theft arrest and one criminal damage to property arrest.

During the month, officers served one warrant, investigated 12 traffic accidents, handled two missing person cases, completed 21 mental health incident forms, responded to 26 animal complaints, and conducted 84 hospital security checks, 74 residential security checks, and 16 business security checks.

The department also issued 14 new golf cart stickers, renewed 18 golf cart registrations, completed five new bicycle registrations, and executed two search warrants during the month of June.