On 11/25/17 at 6:22pm Mt. Carmel Police arrested 33 year old Mt. Carmel resident Crystal D. Adams for Driving While License Suspended when an officer observed operating a 2006 Chevy in the 500 block of N Walnut Street. The officer knew Adams had a suspended driver’s license and placed her under arrest. Adams was transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was charged and later released on a $150.00 cash bond.
Mt. Carmel Man Jailed On Multiple Charges
On 11/25/17 at 10:28pm Mt. Carmel Police responded to a complaint of loud music coming from the 700 block of W 1st Street. When an officer arrived on scene they attempted to contact the resident in question with no success. A second call on the loud music came in at around 11:00pm. The resident exited the home this time but the resident refused to provide his name after multiple requests from the officers. Officers advised the subject he was under arrest for Obstructing Identification. The subject attempted to shut the door to avoid arrest and an officer attempted to step into the doorway to prevent the door from closing. The subject then continued to shut the door causing the officer to be pinned against the door frame and the door. The subject then began pushing on the door against the officer repeatedly. The officer was able to break free and place the subject, later identified as 31 year old Mt. Carmel resident Linden Scott Reed, under arrest. Reed was arrested for Obstructing Identification, Resisting a Peace Officer and Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer. Reed was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he is being held on a $3000.00 cash bond.
Governor Signs Reis’ Bill to Help Rural Water Customers
Governor Bruce Rauner has signed a bill into law sponsored by State Representative David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) that helps rural wastewater customers. Reis introduced HB 1914 on behalf of EJ Water Cooperative and rural customers seeking new wastewater service.
“I am proud to have sponsored HB 1914 to enable non-profit companies to add wastewater services to residents that are not served by a sanitary district,” Reis said. “Many rural communities are in need of wastewater services that meet environmental requirements and this law will help in that regard.”
Currently, non-profit water companies can utilize public ground for water supply lines, but are not specifically authorized to utilize public land in the same way if the community also wants wastewater services.
“Some of the more rural areas in my district do not have a local government or special district that is capable, qualified or close enough to provide sewer service,” Reis said. “Some of these areas receive their water service from a private company, such as EJ Water Cooperative, and would like to purchase their wastewater services.”
EJ Water Co-Op representative Bill Teichmiller says he appreciates Rep. Reis’ efforts on behalf of rural wastewater customers.
“It can be a long and arduous process to change the law,” Teichmiller said. “But, Representative Reis thoroughly worked through the process and made this major change in a very short amount of time. We want to thank him for understanding this issue really does effect a lot of families in the rural parts of our state. We’re proud to offer wastewater services in rural areas and this law is going to help us do that for more families.”
Illinois State Police Announces Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend Enforcement
Illinois State Police District 19 Commander, Captain Cory Ristvedt, announced today activity and enforcement figures for the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend, November 22nd – November 26th. Troopers in District 19, which includes Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, White, Hamilton, Saline, and Gallatin Counties, recorded 478 incidents during the long weekend.
Enforcement activity consisted of 315 citations and 203 written warnings, including 235 speeding citations, 2 DUIs, 28 occupant restraint citations, 4 criminal citations, and 87 written warnings for speeding. Troopers also assisted 11 motorists, conducted 62 Motor Carrier Safety Inspections, and investigated 9 traffic crashes. There were no fatal traffic crashes investigated by District 19 during the holiday weekend.
Moreover, 266 citations and 97 written warnings were issued for “Fatal Four” violations. These violations are most associated with fatal traffic crashes and include DUI, Speeding, Failure to Wear a Seatbelt, and Distracted Driving.
Illinois State Police is Committed to Driving Zero Fatalities to a Reality.
Indiana State Police Mourns the Loss of Retired Canine 'Camo'
The Indiana State Police is saddened to announce the death of 12 year old retired canine Camo. Friday morning, November 24th, Camo was euthanized after a lengthy battle with Degenerative Myelopathy. District Commander Lt. Jeff Payne stated, "I am deeply saddened by the death of Camo, he was an invaluable asset to our district for nearly 10 years. He undoubtedly saved lives and made our communities safer. He will be greatly missed."
The Indiana State Police K9 program has a steep tradition stretching back to 1938 when with the first dog, a bloodhound named Brutus, began patrolling statewide. In June of 2007 another canine began his career with the state police, 2 year old German Shepherd named Camo. Early in his career Camo, along with his partner Master Trooper Greg Magee, spent time patrolling the Indianapolis District assisting with drug searches, human tracking, evidence searches and assisting with other police activities.
In 2009, in addition to his patrol duties, Camo was assigned part-time to the Indiana State Police SWAT team, where he was called to nearly every SWAT situation. Camo quickly earned the utmost confidence and respect from the SWAT members and in 2016 he became the first state police canine assigned full-time to a SWAT team. He continued to work diligently and since 2013 had responded to more than 450 SWAT calls. Camo has set the bar and laid the groundwork for future SWAT Canine Teams.
During his 10 year career Camo is responsible for finding thousands of pounds of narcotics, millions of dollars in drug money and taking criminals off the streets. In one investigation Camo located 27 Kilos of cocaine, in another he found over 2000 pounds of marijuana and his largest single cash seizure in a single incident was over $2,000,000.
Master Trooper Greg Magee remembers Camo as a hard working, driven, loyal partner. He said "Camo was more than a canine, he was family. I knew I could always count on him to cover my back and to be there when I needed him. He loved going to work everyday and each time he heard my police car start his excitement was exuberant. I will hold the memory of Camo deeply in my heart and feel so fortunate to have been his partner for more than 10 years."
City Council Meets In Special Session
The Mt. Carmel City Council met in special session yesterday afternoon to hold two public hearings to facilitate improvements to the city infrastructure. The first hearing was a requirement for the city to borrow more than $1.3 million from the Illinois EPA to pay for proposed construction at the wastewater plant. City Clerk Rudy Witsman said the need for the work is important as they are out of compliance with the I-EPA….
Witsman said the work will start after the first of the year and will be completed in February of 2019.
The second project dealt with the reissuance of a $150,000 bond to purchase public safety equipment. Witsman explained the bond is renewed every 5 years and finance commissioner Joe Judge said $100,000 will go to the fire department while $50,000 is earmarked for the police department. According to Judge, 5 years ago…the street department received $100,000 with the police department getting $50,000. He said the rotation of the funds allows each department to receive a total of $100,000 every ten years.
6 Reappointed To WGH Foundation Board
Six members of the Wabash General Hospital Foundation Board have been reappointed to new three year terms. At their monthly meeting last night, the WGH Board approved the reappointment of foundation members George Raber, Dan Schonert, Steve Burton, Marilyn Kieffer, Dorothy Dersch, and Rob Coleman. WGH CEO Jay Purvis said Kate Ackerman will serve as the Foundation chair in 2018.
Filing Period Opens For 2018 Election
The window of opportunity for candidates wishing to run for office in the 2018 election opened today with a flurry of candidates filing nominating petitions in the county clerk’s office. The first to file was Sheriff Derek Morgan who is running for a second term. Morgan will have opposition in the March 20th primary as Jimmy McVaigh also filed today to run for the Republican nomination for sheriff. Others filing today were all incumbents including County Clerk Janet Will, treasurer Beverly McBride, and county commissioner Tim Hocking. The deadline to get on the spring primary ballot is Monday, December 4th at 5 p.m. Petitions can still be picked up in the county clerk's office.
Field Fire Near Lake Froman
Mt. Carmel firemen were dispatched to a field fire near Lake Froman this afternoon.
Derek Morgan Files To Run For 2nd Term
The window of opportunity for candidates wishing to run for office in the 2018 election opened today as County Clerk Janet Will says this is the first day nominating papers can be filed.
One of the first candidates to file this morning was Sheriff Derek Morgan who filed to run for re-election. Morgan was elected in November of 2014 after defeating former sheriff Joe Keeling in the Republican primary.
The deadline to get on the spring primary ballot is Monday, December 4th at 5 p.m. Offices up for grabs in 2018 include: county commissioner Tim Hocking’s 6 year seat, Sheriff, Treasurer and County Clerk. The primary is March 20th while the general election is November 6th.
