New MCPD Officer Introduced At City Council Meeting

The Mt. Carmel Police Department introduced its newest officer during Monday afternoon’s City Council meeting.

Police Chief Erin Peach introduced Officer Joseph Wood, who recently graduated from the police academy.

Wood is a graduate of Mt. Carmel High School and completed his academy training near the top of his class.

Mayor Joe Judge said Wood performed well academically, finishing among the top four members of his academy class. Judge said instructors spoke highly of the graduating class during its recent ceremony.

The mayor said city officials are proud to welcome Wood to the Mt. Carmel Police Department and look forward to watching him grow throughout his law-enforcement career.

Wood began his service with the department as a cadet and has now advanced to the position of police officer following the completion of his academy training.

Members of the City Council welcomed Wood and congratulated him on his graduation and new position with the Mt. Carmel Police Department.

MCPD Chief Erin Peach with new officer Joseph Wood.

New Aquatic Center Taking Shape

Mayor Joe Judge says construction on Mt. Carmel’s new city pool continues to make steady progress.

During Friday’s “Ask the Mayor” segment on WSJD, Judge said crews have finished the bathhouse structure and have begun applying an insulation barrier. Spray foam has also been installed inside the concrete blocks, with roof trusses expected to go up soon.

Crews have also been digging a large trench for water lines that will connect the main pool shell to the bathhouse and chemical room.

Judge said the pool will be filled with water this fall so its systems can be tested. The water will remain in the pool throughout the winter.

Installation of the pool’s dual slides is expected in early December. Judge said the manufacturer, believed to be Oasis, is running behind schedule and is not expected to deliver the slides until mid-November.

Most of the construction work is expected to be completed by the first week of December. Crews will then return in April to conduct final testing ahead of the pool’s opening.

Wabash County Health Board Moves Forward With Solar Project Development

The Wabash County Board of Health Wednesday afternoon approved a project development agreement with Tick Tock Energy of Effingham, taking the first step toward a possible solar energy project at the Wabash County Health Department.

The action followed a presentation from Eric Pals of Tick Tock Energy, who outlined the proposed rooftop solar system, projected costs, available incentives and potential long-term savings.

Pals said the preliminary design calls for an 18.88-kilowatt DC solar array consisting of 32 solar panels. The system is projected to produce approximately 26,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

According to figures presented to the board, the Health Department currently has an annual electric bill of approximately $13,085. Pals estimated solar could reduce that expense by about 34 percent, with projected cumulative savings of approximately $92,000 over 15 years.

The preliminary project budget is $68,752. Pals said federal and state solar incentives could significantly reduce the Health Department's ultimate cost. He estimated approximately 68 percent of the basic project cost could be covered through incentives, although additional fees would reduce that percentage somewhat.

Wednesday's approval does not represent final authorization to purchase and install the solar system.

Under the project development agreement, Tick Tock Energy will develop construction plans, examine the building's electrical system and structure, and submit the proposed system to Mt. Carmel Public Utility for engineering review and approval. The proposed system could be adjusted depending on the results of that work.

Once that process is completed, Tick Tock Energy would return with a final construction contract and price. The Health Board would then have another opportunity to decide whether to proceed with installation.

Board members discussed the projected return as well as possible future maintenance expenses before indicating support for moving ahead with the development phase. One member said the maintenance estimates may be somewhat low but still described the project as a good idea.

Eric Pals of Tick Tock Energy makes a presentation to the Wabash County Health Board Wednesday.

Mt. Carmel Man Sentenced to Three Years on Methamphetamine Charge

A Mt. Carmel man has been sentenced to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following a methamphetamine conviction in Wabash County.

Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman announced that 40-year-old Brandon Siverly was sentenced August 31st by Circuit Judge William Hudson in Wabash County Circuit Court.

Siverly was sentenced for Possession of Methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, stemming from an offense that occurred on June 21st of this year.

Judge Hudson sentenced Siverly to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Following his release from prison, Siverly will also be required to serve six months of mandatory supervised release.

Covalt Resentenced to 120 Years

A former Mt. Carmel man has again been sentenced to 120 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following an appellate court ruling in his child pornography case.

Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman announced Wednesday that Chad Covalt was resentenced Tuesday by Judge William Hudson.

Covalt was originally convicted following a 2022 trial in Wabash County on 28 counts of child pornography and sentenced to a total of 120 years in prison.

Covalt appealed his convictions and sentence. During that review, the appellate court determined that a single child pornography video depicting multiple victims could support only one conviction rather than separate convictions for each victim shown in the video.

As a result, two of Covalt’s convictions were vacated, leaving 26 counts for resentencing.

On Tuesday, Judge Hudson resentenced Covalt on the remaining convictions, again imposing a combined sentence of 120 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The investigation that resulted in the charges against Covalt was conducted by Mt. Carmel Police Department Detective Sergeant Eddie Johnson.

The Wabash County State’s Attorney’s Office says it remains committed to pursuing cases involving the protection of children and upholding the results of the judicial process.

Mayor Judge Updates Council on New Illinois Laws

Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge says city officials are keeping an eye on new state laws and legislation that could impact the community.

During the recent Mt. Carmel City Council meeting, Judge reported that he recently attended a Southern Illinois Mayors Association meeting, where local leaders discussed upcoming legislation and other issues affecting communities throughout the region.

Judge said mayors are also reviewing new Illinois laws that took effect July 1st, along with additional changes scheduled to take effect January 1st.

One issue receiving particular attention involves laws and regulations surrounding electric bicycles and scooters.

Judge called e-bikes and scooters a “hot item” among municipal officials and encouraged residents to make themselves aware of changes that will take effect at the beginning of the new year.

Judge said there is currently a lot happening at the state level, with recently approved legislation creating changes that municipalities will need to follow and address locally.

Wabash County Commissioners Hold Brief Monday Meeting

Not much business was transacted during Monday afternoon’s Wabash County Board of Commissioners meeting, which lasted just six minutes.

Board Chairman Tim Hocking reported there has been no new word from Bellwether concerning amended solar applications submitted to the county.

Hocking said work continues on the county budget, with meetings planned later this month with department heads to review their individual budgets.

The county has also heard from the state concerning its Energy Transition Community Grant. Hocking said that process continues to move forward, with the county leaning toward seeking reimbursement for individual projects rather than receiving grant money upfront.

Wabash County Highway Engineer Dustin Bunting reported crews have been busy with road work while keeping up despite the recent heat and the start of harvest.

The department recently tried using hot-mix asphalt for patching on County Road 400, south of Lake Prairie Church toward Wabash 12 Avenue. Bunting said the cost is comparable to cold mix, but hot mix is considered a better product. The county purchased approximately 25 tons for the trial and will monitor how the repairs hold up.

Bunting also reported that delayed road striping work has now been completed.

Sheriff Derek Morgan gave a brief report, telling commissioners his department has been busy and that the county jail is full.

Under new business, commissioners approved moving forward with a preliminary renewal of the county’s employee health insurance. Hocking said the county may still consider changing plans in an effort to reduce costs, with the Health Insurance Committee expected to review available options.

Commissioners had also planned to consider bids on surplus property, but those bids were not available at Monday’s meeting. The matter will be placed under old business for a future meeting.

County Clerk Janet Will reported her office is working on tax reports and preparations connected with the upcoming consolidated election.

Animal Control Warden Sam Osman’s August report showed six dogs, 19 skunks, 20 raccoons, three groundhogs and one snake were picked up during the month. Osman traveled 1,633 miles.

The meeting adjourned after approximately six minutes.

Vehicle Strikes Multiple People at Mesa Lake; Driver Arrested

On September 5, 2026, at approximately 6:35 p.m., the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a vehicle striking multiple people at a cabin located at 21155 East Point Lane near Mesa Lake.

Witnesses reported hearing screaming and yelling and initially believed the disturbance was an argument. Shortly thereafter, witnesses observed a red passenger vehicle leaving the area at a high rate of speed and discovered two individuals lying on the ground.

The preliminary investigation determined that Jagger O. T. Gourley, 20, of Mt. Carmel, had become involved in an altercation at the residence. During the incident, Gourley reportedly drove away while passengers were exiting the vehicle and standing nearby. According to witnesses, the vehicle subsequently stopped, backed up, and struck additional individuals who were in the area.

Gourley then left the area. A short time later, he contacted the owner of the vehicle and provided information regarding where the vehicle had been parked.

One individual was transported to Wabash General Hospital by a private party and treated for injuries. Two additional individuals reported sustaining injuries but did not immediately seek medical treatment.

Following the investigation, Gourley was charged with Reckless Driving, Failure to Remain at the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident, Failure to Report a Personal Injury Accident, and Vehicular Hijacking.

Gourley was initially held at the Wabash County Jail. He was subsequently released on a Notice to Appear, on September 7, 2026.

The investigation remains ongoing, and all individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Mt. Carmel Commissioners Provide Department Updates

Mt. Carmel City Commissioners provided updates on street, financial, utility, fire and garbage operations during last Monday afternoon’s City Council meeting.

Streets and Parks Commissioner Tyson Meador reported that work continues on the Park Road sidewalk project. Crews also repaired a sinkhole on Division Street and replaced three stop signs that had been damaged or run over, with one additional sign still needing replacement.

Meador said crews have also continued cutting trees and brush away from roadways and assisted with a couple of water leaks.

Finance Commissioner Eric Ikemire reported the city’s General Fund brought in just over $45,000 in revenue during the past two weeks, primarily from utility taxes and miscellaneous revenue. General Fund revenue for the fiscal year now stands at just under $2.2 million, or approximately 43 percent of the budget. Ikemire said that puts the city ahead of schedule. Expenses over the two-week period totaled approximately $447,400.

Water and Sewer Commissioner Tom Meeks reported crews dealt with a water main break over the weekend and repaired or replaced four service lines. Employees also continued servicing equipment at the wastewater and water treatment plants along with regular day-to-day operations.

Fire and Garbage Commissioner Susan Zimmerman reported the Mt. Carmel Fire Department responded to six incidents over the past two weeks.

With another stretch of hot weather expected, Zimmerman reminded residents to be careful when using multiple fans or other electrical equipment. She cautioned against overloading electrical outlets, which could create a fire hazard.

Zimmerman also reminded residents that Mt. Carmel’s Fall Clean Up will run October 2nd through the 17th. Community-wide yard sales are planned for October 2nd and 3rd.

Unlike some previous clean-up events, there will be no curbside collection. Residents will be responsible for taking unwanted items to the Brush Arbor Recycling Center and are asked not to leave items along the curb.

The recycling center will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. during the clean-up period, with extended hours until 7 p.m. on October 6th and October 16th.

Illinois Capitol renovations 'a few months behind,' set to wrap up this winter

Architect of the Capitol Andrea Aggertt says the project will be within the $350M budget

By BRENDEN MOORE
Capitol News Illinois 
bmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com  

Article Summary  

• The $350 million renovation of the Illinois State Capitol building’s north wing will wrap up "sometime this winter," Architect of the Capitol Andrea Aggertt told Capitol News Illinois in an interview this week.  

• There's been progress: The Senate returned to its refurbished digs on schedule in January 2025. And the $46 million, 435-space parking garage for legislators and staff opened this spring — more than two years later than anticipated.  

• Despite overruns on time, Aggertt said the project, funded by the Rebuild Illinois capital construction program, is "within that budget" and they "don't anticipate going over that."  

• The renovations of the third through sixth floors is complete with construction still wrapping up on the first and second floors along with the new underground conference center and welcome center, Aggertt said.   

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

SPRINGFIELD — Nearly five years after construction crews started moving dirt on the $350 million renovation of the Illinois State Capitol's north wing, there are finally glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel. 

The massive project, which included a rehab of the Illinois Senate chamber, construction of a new underground parking garage and conference room and the creation of a new main entrance with enhanced security features, will wrap up "sometime this winter," Architect of the Capitol Andrea Aggertt told Capitol News Illinois in an interview this week. 

"We are slightly behind," Aggertt said. "As with everything, it's almost like we're on an archeological site. You don't know what you're going to find until you get into it."

AGGERT

There's been progress: The Senate returned to its refurbished digs on schedule in January 2025. And the $46 million, 435-space parking garage for legislators and staff opened this spring — more than two years later than anticipated. Under the updated timetable, the entire project will be complete about two years behind schedule.

Despite overruns on time, Aggertt said the project, funded by the Rebuild Illinois capital construction program, is "within that budget" and they "don't anticipate going over that."

'Surprises'

Labor shortages attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and a scarcity of specific materials necessary to renovate a 150-year-old building contributed to the slowdown, Aggertt said. Not to mention the weather. Multiple heavy rain events this summer set the construction timeline back another several weeks.  And then there were several unanticipated "surprises" that Aggertt and her team were confronted with as construction progressed.

Among them: The discovery of wrought iron trusses that were apparently hidden behind walls for more than a century. Their presence was not even unearthed during the last major renovation of the north wing in the 1970s. But the trusses, it turns out, play a critical role supporting the Capitol's mansard roof. 

NORTH WING

So, they had to pivot, working around those structural components and reallocating floor plans while making sure they would be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

"There have been things that we did not anticipate," Aggertt said. "We also had staff and members in offices all the way until the time we started construction. So that means our first chance to look behind walls that nobody had seen for 70 years was at that point, and that also led to surprises that we had to overcome, which I'm proud to say that the group that we have working, the general contractors, the subcontractors, all the union tradesmen and women, have done a great job to complete that."

Most of the work inside the north wing is now complete, including the removal of mezzanines added in the 1960s and 1970s that subdivided floors with lofty ceilings. This will result in less office space in the Capitol but restore the building's original look.

Detailing work is done and new carpeting has been installed with furniture to be delivered to the refurbished north wing in the coming months, Aggertt said.  

MEZZANINE

A casualty of this restoration? The Capitol office of former President Barack Obama, who served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. Aggertt said it would've been "impossible" to maintain that one space while gutting everything else around it. 

"But I can say we've saved everything from it down to the carpet and the light fixture," Aggertt said. "So, if we want to build a replica someday, we documented everything."

What's left?

The renovations of the third through sixth floors is complete with construction still wrapping up on the first and second floors along with the new underground conference center and welcome center, Aggertt said. 

Those passing, driving or walking by will notice that work has finally begun on the removal of the paved north drive. Its tear-up had been pushed to the back of the queue so construction crews could utilize it.

RENOVATION ENTRANCE

The drive once included parking spots for senators and staff and was a popular pick-up and drop-off location, first with horse-drawn carriages and later cars. 

But in an era of heightened security threats, the drive allowed cars too close to the building and it will thus be replaced with a sidewalk that'll allow pedestrian access to the building from Second and Monroe streets. 

Security enhancements were a key consideration in the details of the renovation. 

The new north wing entrance, which will serve as the main gateway into the building, will feature an attached welcome center that will allow the Secretary of State's police to screen visitors before they enter the Capitol itself. There will be two security lines to better accommodate large groups and a dedicated drop-off lane for tour buses on Monroe Street.

ENTRYWAY

The new space will include an information desk, a cafe, public restrooms and a room where visitors can start their tour of the building with an informational video.

"Our plan is that when groups do come into the Capitol building, there would hopefully be a video or two that they can watch... about this construction, maybe the original construction" and "some of the more notable officials that have served in the Illinois State Capitol building," Aggert said. "So I think that's a really cool way to also educate people about the history and something that we've never been able to offer before."

Like any building, the Capitol requires regular upkeep and maintenance, Aggertt said. Before this, the Capitol's west wing underwent a $50 million renovation between 2011 and 2013. 

Aggertt said there's no funding allocated yet for future work, but she said the building's east wing will need a refurbishment like the north wing within the next decade. They'll soon need to replace the roof of the Capitol dome, which hasn't had any major work done on it since the 1970s.

If there's anything she wants people to take away from the renovation, Aggertt said it's the "beauty of the original architecture."

"So, unfortunately, over the last several decades, mezzanines were added," and "walls were painted white," Aggertt said. "So we had the cool opportunity to take a deeper look at all those layers of paint and determine what was originally there. So everyone's going to be able to see that now."

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.

 The Illinois State Capitol is pictured from the north. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)