On August 29, 2026, at approximately 4:45 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Michael Bates conducted a traffic stop on US 41 near County Road 1025 South on a Black 2006 Ford Explorer after observing multiple moving violations. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Bates immediately detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the driver 47-year-old Justin Harmon of Lewisburg, Tennessee. At that point Deputy Bates began a roadside DUI investigation. Once the inquiry was completed Mr. Harmon was placed into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Deputy Levi Sims 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.
Local 4-H Members Compete at Illinois State Fair
ALBION, Ill. – Local 4-H members traveled to the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on August 15 to exhibit their 4-H general projects at their County Exhibit Day. Eligible 4-H members from Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, and Wayne counties showed alongside members from 33 additional counties throughout the state as part of the three-day event. The following 4-H members received awards for their general projects:
Edwards County
Hayley Perry — Champion, Consumer Education: Entrepreneurship: Be the E!
Landon Loyd — Champion, Electricity: Electricity 3
Violet Rude — Reserve Champion, Entomology: Entomology 1
Lucas Troyer — Inspire Award, Entomology-Beekeeping: Beekeeping 1
Lillian Bare — Reserve Champion, Entomology-Beekeeping: Beekeeping 1
Hannah Bare — Inspire Award, Geology: Rock Hounds 1
Ellie Troyer — Champion, Health: Sports Nutrition
Aleya Bare — Reserve Champion, Service Learning: Service Learning 2
Ben Kelsey — Reserve Champion, Woodworking: Woodworking 1
Lawrence County
Emma Clodfelter — Champion, Clothing and Textiles: Costume Design - Beginner
Becca Gress — Champion, Visual Arts: 3-D Design / Mixed Media
Richland County
Daniel Scherer — Champion, Aerospace: Model Rocketry
Haley Ginder — Inspire Award, Babysitting: Babysitting Display
Averie Ochs — Reserve Champion, Clothing and Textiles: Sewing 1 Non-Clothing
Lydia Zehner — Champion, Entomology: Entomology Display, Other
Brenna Brooks — Reserve Champion, Foods and Nutrition: 4-H Cooking 101 Cereal Bars
Kylie Kocher — Reserve Champion, Foods and Nutrition: 4-H Cooking 401 Pie Shell
Meadow Anderson — Reserve Champion, Foods and Nutrition: Food Preservation Drying
Kaitlyn Ginder — Champion, Forestry: Forests of Fun 1
Natalie Zwilling — Champion, Forestry: Forests of Fun 3
Ella Tait — Reserve Champion, Geology: Pebble Pups 1
Mallory Kocher — Reserve Champion, Health: Health Innovation
Mary Scherer — Reserve Champion, Horticulture - Floriculture: Wearable Flowers
Audrie May — Inspire Award, Horticulture - Floriculture: Cut Flower Specimens
Quinn Sager — Inspire Award, Horticulture - Floriculture: Outdoor Mixed Planter
Raeanna Hanna — Inspire Award, Horticulture - Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits: Vegetable Gardening Display - Other
Lillie Branham — Inspire Award, Veterinary Science: Veterinary Science 1
Bailey Graves — Champion, Visual Arts - Quilting: You Can Quilt
Clara Weidner — Reserve Champion, Visual Arts - Quilting: Quilting the Best Better
Ellison Ginder — Reserve Champion, Visual Arts: Metal
Norah Brown — Inspire Award, Visual Arts: Nature
Ashtin McCormick — Reserve Champion, Visual Arts: Paper 2D
Bryar Meadows — Reserve Champion, Visual Arts: Wood
Seth Clodfelter — Inspire Award, Welding: Welding
Wabash County
Achilles Enton — Reserve Champion, Computer Science: Beginning Visual Programming
Kristopher Hutton — Inspire Award, Foods and Nutrition: Food Preservation - Preservation Combination
Wayne County
Benton Yandell — Reserve Champion, Agronomy: Hay
Reagan Jackson — Reserve Champion, Clothing and Textiles: Clothing Embellishment Stitched
Kinley Pope — Champion, Foods and Nutrition: Kitchen Boss
Ronen Tannahill — Reserve Champion, Natural Resources: Sportfishing 1
Silas Keyser — Champion, Natural Resources: Wildlife 1
Addisyn Hutchcraft — Inspire Award, Photography: Photography 2
Clayton Fearn — Reserve Champion, Tractor: Tractor B
Jordyn Spindor — Inspire Award, Visual Arts: Chalk / Carbon / Pigment (Drawing and Painting) Division B: Paper
Brody Hutchcraft — Champion, Visual Arts: Metal
Hunter Kirk — Reserve Champion, Visual Arts: Paper 3D
Aubree Houston — Inspire Award, Visual Arts: 3-D Design / Mixed Media
WRITER: Rileigh Holman, marketing and communications program coordinator, University of Illinois Extension
Wabash Community Health Center Celebrates $650,000 in Federal Funding
Wabash Community Health Center has received $650,000 in new federal funding to expand its services.
Program Director Cathy Ruth announced the award during Monday evening’s Wabash General Hospital Board of Directors meeting, saying the Health Center has received its long-awaited New Access Point funding.
Ruth said the award came unexpectedly last week while she was preparing to attend a national community health center conference. As one of the funding recipients, Ruth was recognized during a general session at the conference.
The $650,000 award is through the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA, and is effective retroactively to August 1st.
Ruth said there is still considerable work ahead to implement the funding. She has several pages of required tasks to complete and meetings scheduled this week with HRSA officials and the project director to learn more about the requirements.
Ruth thanked Wabash General Hospital board members for their patience and support throughout the application process.
The new funding comes as Wabash Community Health Center continues efforts to expand access to healthcare services in Wabash County and surrounding communities.
WGH Board Approves New Digital Sign For Carmi Facility
Wabash General Hospital is moving forward with plans for a new digital sign at its Carmi Medical Clinic.
During Monday evening’s Board of Directors meeting, President and CEO Karissa Turner requested authorization to spend up to $75,000 on the project.
Turner said the proposal from Signarama falls within her normal spending authority, but the project was not included in the previously approved $400,000 budget for the Carmi clinic. Because of that, she brought the expenditure before the board for approval.
The proposed digital sign would utilize the framework of an existing sign at the clinic, which Turner described as being located in a high-traffic area.
Turner said one concern was investing in a permanent sign at a building the hospital leases rather than owns. Hospital officials confirmed the digital sign could be relocated in the future if necessary, although the hospital would be responsible for moving costs.
The new sign would be similar to the digital sign used at Wabash General’s Grayville location. Officials are also determining whether changing the existing sign to digital will require additional permits.
Turner requested authorization not to exceed $75,000, allowing some flexibility for possible landscaping or other work around the sign.
The Board of Directors unanimously approved the request.
Mt. Carmel Jr. High Athletic Officials Pay Increasing
The Wabash Community Unit School District #348 Board of Education has approved an increase in pay for officials working junior high athletic events.
The board met in special session Tuesday morning at the district office, with junior high athletic officials’ pay among the items on the agenda.
Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said the request came from the junior high athletic director following the board’s previous meeting. The goal is to bring Mount Carmel’s pay rates more in line with other schools in the area and help the district attract officials.
Under the new rates, pay will increase by about five dollars for baseball and softball officials and by ten dollars for volleyball officials. Track officials will also receive an increase of about ten dollars, with the highest rate reaching 125 dollars for certain meets. Junior high basketball officials’ pay will remain unchanged.
Bleyer said the increases are relatively small but keeping rates competitive with surrounding districts is important when scheduling officials.
Board members agreed, noting the ongoing shortage of officials in high school and junior high athletics. Members pointed out that officials often work for relatively modest pay while dealing with criticism from spectators and the physical demands of games.
The shortage has also affected scheduling. Board members noted that football games have previously been moved to Thursday nights because of difficulty finding enough officials for traditional Friday and Saturday schedules.
Following discussion, the board unanimously approved the new junior high officials’ pay rates.
District #348 School Board Approves Chromebook Purchase
The Wabash Community Unit School District #348 Board of Education has approved the purchase of 115 new Chromebooks at a cost of just over 53-thousand dollars.
The board met in special session Tuesday morning at the district office.
Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said the district needs to replenish a full grade-level set of Chromebooks. The Building and Grounds Committee reviewed the proposal in detail, with Lenovo selected as the preferred device.
Bleyer said the new Chromebooks will initially be assigned to third-grade students and will remain with those same students as they progress through junior high, creating roughly a five-year replacement cycle.
The district is purchasing 115 devices, slightly more than the number of students currently in the class, to allow for attrition and other needs. The Chromebooks will also include five-year warranties.
Bleyer said assigning a specific Chromebook to each student will allow the district to better track wear and tear and how individual devices are being cared for.
While the Chromebooks will follow students from grade to grade, Bleyer stressed that the devices will not leave school. At the end of each day, they will be placed on carts for storage and charging.
As students get older and begin moving between classrooms, they will take their assigned Chromebook with them from class to class.
Following discussion, the board unanimously approved the purchase of 115 Lenovo Chromebooks at a cost of just over 53-thousand dollars.
WGH Board Hears Updates on Ambulance Building, Carmi Rehab Space
Wabash General Hospital board members received updates on several projects during committee reports at Monday evening’s Board of Directors meeting.
Planning Committee Chairman John Evans said work continues on plans for a new ambulance building. Hospital officials have been working with ACRA to reduce the projected cost and are still determining exactly what will be included in the project. Evans said the committee hopes to have a final cost estimate available at its next meeting.
The Planning Committee also discussed a possible solar panel installation. No action was taken, and the proposal remains under study.
Construction and Building Committee Chairman Rob Coleman reported that the hospital currently has little construction underway. He did announce that Wabash General’s space in Carmi has been refreshed, reopened to patients and is doing well.
Meanwhile, Contract Compliance Committee Chairman Bill Easton reported the committee approved an agreement with a medical provider who will serve the hospital as an independent contractor. No additional details about the provider were announced during the meeting.
The hospital board approved the minutes and reports from all three committees.
Major Upgrades To District #348 Bus Garage Considered
The Wabash Community Unit School District #348 Board of Education is considering a major upgrade to the district’s bus garage, with an initial estimate putting the project at approximately 2.1 million dollars.
The board met in special session Tuesday morning at the district office, where Board President Jamie McCorkle said several long-discussed district projects were being brought before the full board for review.
Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer presented preliminary plans for replacing the existing bus garage. Bleyer said the district owns enough property at the current site to construct a new facility behind the existing building, which would eventually be demolished.
The preliminary design calls for a three-bay garage, including a center bay with a maintenance pit that would allow the district mechanic to work underneath buses. Plans also include new plumbing and drainage, restrooms, an office, conference room, storage, mechanical and break rooms.
The estimated base cost is approximately 2.1 million dollars. Additional options, including bus shelters and other site improvements, could increase the price. Bleyer said construction costs appear to have leveled off, although there is no guarantee the final cost would remain at the current estimate.
Funding could include revenue from the district’s one-percent sales tax. Bleyer said about half of that revenue is currently committed to bonds used for previous athletic facility improvements, with approximately five years remaining on those bonds.
Board members expressed support for continuing to explore the project, noting the age and limitations of the existing bus garage. Bleyer cautioned that spending more than two million dollars on the facility would leave the district less financially flexible and could cause some future projects or purchases to be delayed.
No vote was taken Tuesday. Bleyer said the next step will be additional discussion by the Building and Grounds Committee, including input from bus garage employees about what the new facility actually needs. The district could also consider reducing or modifying the preliminary three-bay design.
Bleyer said any formal vote would likely come at a regular board meeting, and the project would not begin until sometime next year at the earliest.
Members of the Wabash District #348 school board look on as Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer shows them preliminary designs for a new bus garage on West 3rd Street.
Mayor, Commissioners, & Staff Offer City Updates
Mt. Carmel city officials offered updates on the new aquatic center, city finances and several ongoing projects during a brief City Council meeting last week..
Mayor Joe Judge said construction of the new aquatic center continues to move along quickly, with the project now in its 11th week. Crews are installing the stainless-steel gutter system, while walls in the aquatic area have been completed and plumbing for the main pool's recirculation system is being installed.
Judge said work on the decking outside the pool is expected to begin this week. Garmong Construction also recently poured the pump room floor, with pumps scheduled to be installed last week.
Judge also called Chamber Days a success, praising the Chamber and amusement company for this year's event.
Street Commissioner Tyson Meador reported continued work on the Park Road sidewalk project, repairs to a storm sewer at 7th and Chestnut, and fresh paint on Poplar Street crosswalks ahead of the start of school. Crews also trimmed trees and brush and filled potholes.
Finance Commissioner Eric Ikemire reported nearly $342,000 in revenue over the past two weeks, including more than $216,000 in sales tax revenue and $77,000 in state income tax. He said the city is about three-and-a-half months into its fiscal year but has already used approximately 42 percent of its budget, putting spending slightly ahead of schedule.
Water and Sewer Commissioner Tom Meeks reported crews repaired three water leaks and bored three new water lines. The city is also repairing the number-one well motor at the water treatment plant following what officials believe was a lightning strike. At the wastewater treatment plant, crews were also working on repairs to a floating aerator.
Commissioner Susan Zimmerman reported the Mt. Carmel Fire Department responded to 11 incidents over the past two weeks, ranging from a kitchen fire to lift assistance calls with Wabash General Hospital Ambulance Service.
During staff reports, Mt. Carmel Municipal Airport Manager Luis Garcia said work on the airport's taxiway lights is nearly complete. Garcia also replaced a runway light Monday and said only a couple of additional transformers are needed to finish the lighting work.
Mt. Carmel Police Chief Erin Peach reminded motorists to use additional caution around local schools now that classes are back in session. Peach urged drivers to watch for increased traffic, pedestrians and children riding bicycles.
City employee Mike Hannah also reported that crews completed a significant road repair on Westover. Hannah said that section of roadway had been deteriorating for some time before crews dug out the damaged area and made repairs.
WCHC Reports Early Success With Medication-Assisted Treatment Clinic
A new treatment program at Wabash Community Health Center is already making a difference for area residents struggling with substance dependence.
During Monday evening’s Wabash General Hospital Board of Directors meeting, Wabash Community Health Center’s Cathy Ruth reported that six patients have been treated through the Medication-Assisted Treatment Clinic.
Ruth said the program uses Suboxone as part of treatment for patients attempting to stop using substances, including kratom. Patients must be experiencing withdrawal when they arrive for their initial treatment so providers can determine an appropriate dose.
After that initial visit, patients return weekly for counseling, monitoring and adjustments to their medication when necessary.
Ruth said the difference she has seen in patients following treatment has been remarkable, with patients returning more engaged, smiling and reporting improvements in their lives.
Some participants were already Wabash Community Health Center patients receiving counseling before medication-assisted treatment became available. Others are traveling from outside the immediate area, including one patient from Mt. Vernon.
Ruth said Wabash Community Health Center is currently the closest provider offering the treatment in the surrounding area and expects participation to grow as more people learn the service is available.
Patients are tested during visits and must sign an agreement stating they will not use prohibited substances while receiving treatment through the program.