Orio Chowder Tradition Returns Saturday

A longtime local tradition returns Saturday as the annual Orio Chowder gets underway with around 1,200 gallons of chowder in the recipe.

Wabash Presbyterian Church Pastor Kevin McGinnis recently joined us on the WSJD Morning Show to talk about the event, which begins long before customers arrive tomorrow morning.

McGinnis said volunteers begin showing up tonight around midnight, and before long the grounds are filled with activity as crews prepare 11 kettles of chowder at a time.

Automatic stirring equipment has made the process easier on volunteers over the years, although some hand stirring is still required before the chowder comes off the kettles.

This year's chowder is 30 dollars per gallon, with containers provided. Drive-thru carryout service begins at 6:30 Saturday morning, allowing customers to remain in their vehicles while volunteers load their chowder.

And chowder isn't the only attraction.

The sandwich line is expected to open around 10:30 Saturday morning, with food available into the afternoon.

A softball tournament is also planned, along with washers beginning around 11 a.m. and horseshoes at approximately 1 p.m. The church grounds offer plenty of parking and shaded seating under several tents.

McGinnis said additional volunteers are always welcome, whether it's helping with the chowder, washing dishes or assisting with other jobs throughout the day.

For those traveling from Mt. Carmel, organizers suggest taking Bridgeport Road from Route 1 to Highway 11, turning left and then following the Orio church signs.

The annual Orio Chowder is tomorrow, with drive-thru carryouts beginning at 6:30 a.m. Chowder is 30 dollars per gallon, and containers are provided.

Mt. Carmel Council Approves Wabash Valley College Foundation Property Sale

The City of Mt. Carmel is moving closer to completing the sale of surplus city-owned property to the Wabash Valley College Foundation, while officials are also preparing to sell additional surplus equipment.

City Clerk Ryan Turner provided several updates during Monday afternoon’s Mt. Carmel City Council meeting.

The council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the sale of surplus real estate to Wabash Valley College Foundation for $60,000. Turner said the city hopes to close on the transaction as early as next week. The two tracts are located just off of Oak Street in the Wolfe Addition. (See Photo)

The council also heard the first reading of Ordinance 2157, which would authorize the city to purchase two parcels located behind the Super 8 motel for $10,000.

Turner said the city previously owned the two lots before transferring them as part of a trade in which no money changed hands. The current owner is now looking to dispose of the additional property while retaining ownership of the hotel and has offered the two parcels back to the city.

The ordinance will return to the council for a second reading in two weeks.

Turner also reported the city has received payment for a mobile home located on city-owned property outside Mt. Carmel that was previously sold. The buyer has requested more than 30 days to remove the mobile home. Turner said some issues at the site appear to have been resolved, and the structure is expected to be moved.

Under new business, Turner announced the city will soon accept bids on two surplus police squad cars. One of the vehicles is currently located at the Mt. Carmel Municipal Airport and will be brought back before the vehicles are offered for sale.

Turner said the city is reviewing its inventory for other surplus property that is no longer needed.

“If it’s not making us money, if we’re not using it, we’re selling it,” Turner told the council.

The city is also preparing to address a long-vacant home at 114 North Market Street.

Turner said Mt. Carmel has now taken possession of the property, which sits on a hill and has been vacant for a number of years.

The city plans to seek bids to demolish the house and haul away the debris. Turner said officials initially considered using equipment purchased by the city last year to handle the demolition internally. However, because of the terrain, trees and other challenges at the property, officials believe contracting the demolition will be the better option.

Indiana Parole Violator Taken Into Custody in Wabash County

An Indiana man wanted on a parole violation warrant has been taken into custody in Wabash County.

Wabash County Sheriff Derek Morgan reports deputies arrested 45-year-old Kenneth W. Fitzgerald of Plainfield, Indiana, at approximately 7:32 Wednesday evening.

Fitzgerald was wanted on an Indiana Department of Corrections parole warrant issued September 30th of last year following an alleged failure to comply with the requirements of his parole.

Authorities say Fitzgerald was taken into custody without incident.

During the investigation, 43-year-old Maryann Fitzgerald of Cowling was cited for obstructing a peace officer.

The Wabash County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Mt. Carmel Police Department.

Kenneth Fitzgerald will remain in custody pending further proceedings related to the Indiana Department of Corrections warrant.

All persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

45-year-old Kenneth W. Fitzgerald

Keensburg Man Arrested Following Investigation

A Keensburg man is being held in the Wabash County Jail following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault.

The Wabash County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation began August 19th after receiving a report from the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana concerning an alleged criminal sexual assault.

As part of the investigation, a forensic interview was conducted through the Guardian Center.

Authorities later obtained an arrest warrant for 42-year-old Quincy J. Franklin of Keensburg on charges of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and unlawful restraint.

A search warrant was also obtained September 2nd.

At approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday, members of the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System Special Weapons and Tactics Team, served the arrest and search warrants at a residence in the 9400 block of Market Street in Keensburg.

Authorities say Franklin was taken into custody quickly and without incident. Investigators searched the residence and collected evidence related to the investigation.

Franklin appeared Thursday in Wabash County Circuit Court, where he was advised of the charges and a detention hearing was held.

Following the hearing, the court ordered Franklin detained pending further court proceedings and denied his release from custody.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities say no additional information concerning the allegations or evidence collected is being released at this time.

Franklin is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

West Salem Man Injured In Monday Wabash County Crash

A West Salem man was injured Monday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash on Friendsville Avenue in Wabash County.

Wabash County Sheriff Derek Morgan reports deputies were called to the area of 16819 Friendsville Avenue at approximately 4:20 p.m.

According to the Sheriff's Office, 77-year-old Robert E. Pixley of West Salem was driving a green Ford Ranger when the vehicle left the roadway. Pixley reportedly overcorrected, crossed the center line and entered a ditch.

The truck then became airborne and rolled several times before coming to rest on the driver's side.

The Ford Ranger sustained significant damage in the crash. The Mount Carmel Fire Department stabilized the vehicle and removed the windshield and roof to allow emergency personnel to safely extricate Pixley.

Pixley was removed from the truck and transported to an Evansville-area hospital with what authorities described as apparent non-life-threatening injuries.

The Wabash County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Mount Carmel Fire Department, Mount Carmel Police Department and emergency medical personnel.

The crash remains under investigation by the Wabash County Sheriff's Office.

Hoffman Trial Vacated; Remains in Custody

A Bellmont man facing 15 felony child pornography charges was back in Wabash County Circuit Court Monday.

Twenty-eight-year-old Gage Hoffman appeared in custody with his attorney for a scheduled court hearing.

According to the court entry, Hoffman's previously scheduled bench or jury trial was vacated. The case is now set for another pre-trial conference on September 28th at 1 p.m.

Hoffman will remain in custody as the case continues. The court found his continued detention necessary, ruling that his release would present what the court described as a "real, specific, and present threat to the community" and that no conditions or combination of conditions would prevent that threat.

Hoffman remains lodged in the Wabash County Jail.

The case has expanded significantly since charges were initially filed in May.

Wabash County State's Attorney Kelli Storckman later filed eight additional Class 2 felony child pornography charges, bringing the total number of counts against Hoffman to 15.

Hoffman was originally charged May 4th with seven Class X felonies involving alleged child sexual abuse material. Court records allege several of the offenses occurred between July of 2024 and March of 2025. Five of the original charges involve alleged victims under the age of 13, while two involve alleged victims under the age of 18.

The charges followed an investigation that included the execution of a search warrant at a Bellmont residence on April 29th. Investigators reportedly recovered electronic evidence connected to the alleged possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material.

Hoffman's next court appearance is scheduled for September 28th.

Late-Summer Heat Could Help Corn Dry Down, But Create Challenges for Soybeans

This week’s heat wave could provide some benefits for the area corn crop, but may also create challenges for soybeans and grain storage.

Mike Wilson of Wabash Valley Service Company discussed the impact of the hot weather during last week’s Valley Update on WSJD.

Wilson said temperatures reaching into the 90s will help speed up the maturation and drying of corn in the field. Hotter corn entering a grain dryer also requires less additional heat to reach drying temperatures, potentially reducing the amount of fuel needed during harvest.

However, Wilson said high humidity limits some of those benefits, and the heat creates another concern once corn is placed into storage.

Wilson said freshly dried corn needs to be cooled quickly to around 70 to 75 degrees to prevent it from sweating, regaining moisture and potentially developing mold or rot. With high outside temperatures, cooling stored grain becomes more difficult and requires additional monitoring.

The prolonged hot and dry conditions could also reduce yields in some soybean fields.

Wilson said double-crop soybeans are particularly vulnerable, while later-planted crops north of U.S. 50 could also lose some yield if the hot and dry weather continues.

Another concern is insect pressure. Wilson said the large number of moths and other insects currently visible at night includes several agricultural pests laying eggs in corn and soybean fields. Late-planted corn could face stalk problems from corn borers and other insects.

Stalk diseases, including anthracnose, are another issue farmers will need to watch as harvest approaches. Wilson said weakened stalks can lead to lodging, causing corn plants to fall or break over before they can be harvested.

Despite those concerns, Wilson remains optimistic about the overall crop.

He said corn yields he is seeing in his portion of the region look “phenomenal,” with the potential for outstanding yields. Recent rains in northern portions of Wabash Valley Service Company’s territory should also benefit soybean production.

Wilson said crops are running well ahead of a typical growing season, possibly by as much as four weeks in some cases. Earlier planting and improvements in earlier-maturing corn and soybean varieties have contributed to that progress.

Wilson also reflected on how close the region came to suffering major crop losses from flooding earlier this growing season.

He said the difference between the Wabash River reaching roughly 20-and-a-half feet at Mt. Carmel and a potential crest near 23 to 23-and-a-half feet was significant. Wilson estimated a higher crest could have flooded thousands of additional acres between Mt. Carmel and Crawleyville and potentially wiped out crops between federal levees on both sides of the river.

Wilson said the impact would have extended well beyond Wabash and Gibson counties into other portions of southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana.

Overall, Wilson said the crop continues to look strong heading toward harvest and believes area farmers could be looking at a very good year.

Evansville woman arrested on False Informing charge

On September 1, 2026, at 5:07 p.m.  Gibson County Deputies Wes Baumgart and Eric Powell conducted a drug investigation at the On The Fly Convenience Store located at 611 West Morton Street in Oakland City.  During the investigation they attempted to 37-year-old Nicoya Poole of Evansville, but she gave them a false name in an effort to hide the fact that she had an outstanding warrant out of Evansville.  At the conclusion of the inquiry Ms. Poole was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where she was charged with a new charge of False Informing.  She also is being held on a Failure To Appear warrant out of Vanderburgh County. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
 

Illinois man arrested for DUI

On September 1, 2026, at 7:18 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Eric Powell conducted a traffic stop on a Burgundy 2019 Lincoln MKZ after observing multiple moving violations on US 41 near Deadman’s Curve near Fort Branch.  Upon stopping the vehicle on the off ramp from US 41 to County Road 550 South Deputy Powell detected multiple clues that the driver 49-year-old Lynn Matchem of West Salem, Illinois was under the influence.  Upon asking the driver out of the vehicle to perform Standard Field Sobriety Tests Deputy Powell detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Mr. Matchem’s breath.  At the conclusion of the roadside inquiry Mr. Matchem was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Possession of Marijuana. 
 
Deputies Wes Baumgart, Aubrey McNeely, and Bart Wagner 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.

Illinois State Police Releases Video of Shooting Incident in Effingham

EFFINGHAM – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is releasing video of a shooting incident that occurred in July in Effingham, IL. ​ The Effingham Police Department and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office requested the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8 to investigate a shooting incident at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Jefferson Avenue in Effingham.

 On July 5, 2026, at approximately 9:27 a.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church security contacted the Effingham Police Department to report a suspicious vehicle and suspicious man inside the church wishing to speak with the pastor. ​ The Effingham Police Department and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office responded to the church locating the man, 36-year-old Allen O. Gattino of St. Charles, MO. ​ The suspicious vehicle was reported stolen out of Marion County, IL. ​ Officers from both agencies attempted to restrain Gattino. ​ During the struggle, Gattino produced a firearm, which discharged, and Gattino was struck. ​ Gattino was taken to a local hospital and later transported by helicopter to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he was pronounced deceased. ​ No one else was injured in this incident. ​

 In accordance with ISP’s commitment to integrity and public transparency, the video of the shooting is being made available to the public and can be found by clicking HERE. ​ ISP provided Gattino’s family the opportunity to review the video before its release to the public. ​ ​ ​

 Upon completion of the investigation, ISP submitted the case to the Effingham County State’s Attorney’s Office.