Equipment Testing Keeping MCFD Busy

The Mt. Carmel Fire Department is preparing to conduct its required annual equipment testing.

Fire Chief Frances Speth provided the update during last Monday afternoon’s Mt. Carmel City Council meeting.

Speth said the department will conduct pump tests on its fire engines along with annual testing of its fire hoses.

The inspections are required by the Insurance Services Office, commonly known as ISO. The organization evaluates fire-protection capabilities in communities, and those ratings can affect insurance costs for local property owners.

The annual testing helps verify that the department’s engines, pumps and hoses are operating properly and will be ready when needed during an emergency.

Speth said the testing is completed each year as part of the department’s equipment-maintenance and insurance-rating requirements.

Commissioners Deliver Reports At City Council Meeting

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

Streets and Parks Commissioner Tyson Meador said work on the Park Road sidewalk is nearly complete. Crews are also installing LED-flashing crosswalk signs near the school at Oak and Poplar streets, cleaning and edging sidewalks along Oak Street and mowing several areas. The department also assisted with utility work at the new city pool.

Finance Commissioner Eric Ikemire reported general fund receipts of nearly 362-thousand dollars during the past two weeks. That included approximately 223-thousand-600 dollars in sales tax revenue and nearly 69-thousand dollars in state income tax revenue. Expenses totaled just over 184-thousand dollars.

Water and Sewer Commissioner Tom Meeks reported normal plant operations and maintenance. Crews helped connect a large water line and meter at the new pool, completed 32 JULIE utility locates and finished work on three temporary service lines.

Fire and Garbage Commissioner Susan Zimmerman said firefighters recently responded to several incidents, including a vehicle crash requiring extrication.

Zimmerman also reminded residents that fall cleanup runs October 2nd through the 17th, with no curbside pickup. Residents needing a replacement garbage tote should contact City Hall rather than Republic Services.

K of C Tootsie Roll Drive This Weekend

A longtime Mt. Carmel fundraiser supporting people with intellectual disabilities will return later this month.

Gary Ritz appeared before the Mt. Carmel City Council last week to discuss the annual Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive.

The fundraiser will be held Friday and Saturday, September 25th and 26th. Volunteers plan to collect donations at two intersections from noon until 5 p.m. Friday and at three intersections from 7 a.m. until noon Saturday.

Ritz said proceeds from the drive will benefit WAVE, Wabash Community Unit School District 348’s special education programs and the Eugene C. Kieffer Charitable Organization.

The Tootsie Roll Drive has been held in Mt. Carmel for many years. Ritz thanked area residents for their continued generosity and support of community organizations and benefit events.

Ritz appeared before the council to request permission to conduct the collections at city intersections during the two-day fundraiser.

McGee To Remain Jailed Following Appellate Court Ruling

The Fifth District Appellate Court has upheld a Wabash County judge’s decision to keep Terry McGee in custody while he awaits trial on multiple felony sex charges involving a child.

Correspondence filed in Wabash County Circuit Court states the appellate court affirmed the detention order and denied McGee’s motion for relief.

Judge William C. Hudson previously ruled that McGee’s continued detention was necessary to prevent a real and present threat to a specific person or the community. Hudson also found that no combination of release conditions would adequately address that threat.

The 61-year-old McGee is charged with six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and three counts of criminal sexual assault. Court records allege the offenses involved a child under the age of 10 and occurred between January 2024 and January 2026.

Attorney Jarrett Adams is now representing McGee after taking over the case from Public Defender William Easton.

McGee’s jury trial was previously postponed. His next status hearing is scheduled for September 21st at 10:30 a.m.

McGee has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

City Buys Two Properties At Sheriff's Sale

The City of Mt. Carmel has acquired two properties through a recent sheriff’s sale.

City Attorney Derek McCullough provided an update during Monday afternoon’s City Council meeting. McCullough said the city held liens on properties at 230 Hinde Street and another on Market Street and submitted the highest bids at the sheriff’s sale.

Another property, located at 922 North Cherry Street, is expected to be offered at a public sheriff’s sale as early as next month.

McCullough also updated commissioners on the city’s efforts to address dilapidated houses.

The city has filed legal petitions involving approximately four or five properties and is working to serve notice on everyone with an ownership interest.

McCullough said two or three of the cases have reached the public-notice stage because officials have been unable to locate the property owners.

State-mandated notification requirements can slow the process. The city must wait at least 30 days following the first publication of a legal notice before it can take further action involving those properties.

Help For Property Owners Considered By City

Mt. Carmel officials are developing a new program that could help city residents save money on home improvements.

City Clerk Ryan Turner discussed the proposal during Monday’s Mt. Carmel City Council meeting. Turner said the program would function similarly to an enterprise zone but would be available to homeowners rather than only businesses.

Under the proposal, residents completing qualifying home-improvement projects could apply for a sales-tax exemption on construction materials purchased in Illinois by their contractors. Eligible projects could include new roofs, windows, doors and other residential improvements.

Mayor Joe Judge said the city still needs to establish the program’s requirements and financial limits. He used a 10-thousand-dollar project as an example but emphasized that the final guidelines have not yet been determined.

The program would apply to residential properties located within Mt. Carmel’s corporate city limits.

Turner said the city is in the early stages of what will be a lengthy development process. Officials hope to have the residential enterprise program completed and available before next spring.

Judge said similar programs have worked well in other communities and could provide residents with meaningful savings as construction costs continue to rise.

City Council Approves TIF Assistance & Finalizes Purchase Of Property

The Mt. Carmel City Council approved a property purchase and financial assistance for a local business during its meeting Monday afternoon.

City Clerk Ryan Turner said Ordinance 2157 authorizes the city to purchase property located within the city’s TIF District Seven redevelopment area near the Super 8 motel.

The city will purchase the property for 10-thousand dollars. Commissioners unanimously approved the ordinance following its second reading.

The council also approved Ordinance 2161, authorizing 36-thousand dollars in TIF assistance for Ninth Street Auto Plaza.

The funding will help pay for parking and lighting improvements at the business. Turner said the money will be paid in one lump sum after the project is completed.

The council waived the ordinance’s second reading because commissioners had previously discussed and approved moving forward with the assistance in July.

Turner said Ninth Street Auto Plaza is ready to proceed and work on the improvements is expected to begin soon. Commissioners unanimously approved the ordinance.

Commissioners Okay Zoning Matters

The Mt. Carmel City Council approved several zoning-related requests during its meeting Monday.

The council approved Ordinances 2159 and 2160 involving properties at 1122 and 1126 North Mulberry Street.

Officials said both lots contain homes, but a garage built by a previous owner crosses the boundary between the properties. The current owner lives at 1122 North Mulberry and may eventually sell the home at 1126.

Ordinance 2159 subdivides and adjusts the property so the garage and approximately three feet of surrounding land will be included with the 1122 property. Ordinance 2160 grants a special variance reducing the required setback.

Both requests had previously received approval from the city’s zoning board. Commissioners unanimously approved the ordinances and waived their second readings.

The council also approved Ordinance 2158, granting Top Management a special-use permit to operate a financial-planning business at 126 West Second Street. The property is located in a residential zone but previously had a special-use permit for a business.

That request also received prior zoning board approval. Commissioners waived the second reading and unanimously approved the ordinance.

WGH Laboratory Receives Accreditation from College of American Pathologists

The Wabash General Hospital Laboratory has been awarded accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Accreditation Committee following the results of a recent on-site inspection.

Recognized for its rigorous and robust standards, CAP accreditation elevates quality and mitigates risk, helping laboratories contribute to improved patient outcomes through excellence in laboratory medicine.

The College of American Pathologists advised Wabash General Hospital Laboratory Manager Kandy K. Robinson of the laboratory's successful accreditation and congratulated the team on the high level of service being provided. The Wabash General Hospital Laboratory is among more than 8,500 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide.

During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine a laboratory's records and quality control procedures to ensure the highest standards of patient care. The inspection also evaluates staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety programs, and overall management practices. These comprehensive reviews help verify compliance with current laboratory medicine standards and best practices.

In addition to accreditation, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) supports more than 23,000 laboratory participants worldwide through proficiency testing, quality improvement programs, cancer protocols, and evidence-based guidelines that promote excellence in laboratory medicine and patient care. The CAP partners with laboratories around the world to advance quality, operational excellence, and diagnostic confidence. This accreditation reflects the dedication of the Wabash General Hospital laboratory team and its continued commitment to providing high-quality care for the patients and communities it serves

IECC Board Report

The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson.

A public hearing was held regarding the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Following the hearing and having received no comments, the board approved the FY2027 budget as presented. The board also authorized the chancellor to file the budget with the Illinois Community College Board in accordance with applicable requirements.

The board approved the minutes of its regular meeting held August 18, 2026.

The 2026 Annual Security Report was accepted as presented. The report includes campus crime statistics for 2023 through 2025 and new hazing reporting requirements under the Stop Campus Hazing Act.

The board received the 2026 Violence Prevention Plan, which outlines IECC’s framework for identifying, assessing and responding to potential threats and concerning behavior. The annual update reflects current institutional contacts and membership on the Threat Assessment and Behavioral Intervention Team.

The board also received the 2026 Crisis Management Plans for all four IECC campuses. The annually reviewed plans outline emergency response, communication, coordination, recovery and continuity procedures to support institutional safety and preparedness.

The board approved a resolution recognizing the distinguished service of Dr. Ryan K. Gower and conferring upon him the honorary title of Chancellor Emeritus of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges.

Proposed revisions to Policy 100.38, the General Gift Policy, were received for first reading. The revisions establish an updated framework for gift acceptance, donor recognition and naming opportunities. Final consideration is expected at the board’s regular meeting in October.

The board accepted a $39,000 bid from Entec Services, Inc. of Mattoon for the Terry L. Bruce West Richland Center HVAC Unit Replacement project. The administration was authorized to execute the necessary contract documents.

Personnel actions included the employment of Chris Forrest as Frontier Community College head men’s basketball coach and Mac Alexander as manager of technology infrastructure. Both appointments are effective September 21, 2026.

Andy Hill was approved for a change in status from Frontier Community College bookstore manager to district campus store manager, also effective September 21.

Additional personnel actions included recognition of non-college employment for Carrie Brown, approval of the annual bonus for Mining and Industrial Technology instructors and ratification of Juliet Graham’s resignation as Wabash Valley College student services specialist, effective August 21, 2026.

The next regular meeting of the IECC Board of Trustees will be held Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. at Olney Central College in Olney.