Just in time for this weekend's Ribberfest, City crews were busy today putting up new bicentennial banners along Market Street.
WGH Board Reveals Master Facility Plan Proposal
Plans could be in the works to give Mt. Carmel residents with Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance another option to get their prescription medication. Part of the proposed master facility plan being developed by Wabash General Hospital includes the expansion of the pharmacy at WGH since Mt. Carmel’s only retail pharmacy, CVS, does not accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance. Currently, the WGH pharmacy is only available to hospital in-patients.
The proposed plans call for a two-step process with step one being retail pharmacy services to WGH employees this summer with step two expanding the pharmacy services further at a to be determined date.
Other projects in the report presented to the hospital board of directors this week include possibly relocating WGH’s convenient care off campus; continue to grow the orthopedics and primary care and family practice areas.
No action has been taken by the board so far on any of the projects included in the plan developed. At the January board meeting, CEO Jay Purvis said the growth of the hospital has caused a space crisis that needed to be solved sooner than later.
Mt. Carmel City Council Adopts New Budget With $88,000 Deficit
The Mt. Carmel City Council has adopted the 2018-19 budget that includes an $88,000 deficit. Before adopting the spending plan that begins a week from today, the council hosted a public hearing on the budget at which finance commissioner Joe Judge explained how the city was able to trim almost $60,000 from the preliminary budget that was presented two weeks ago….
Judge went on to explain why the city is upside down with their budget…
The total Mt. Carmel budget for the new fiscal year is $2,837,250.
Lewis Pleads Guilty To Domestic Battery Charge
A 49 year old Mt. Carmel man has been placed on one year of conditional discharge after pleading guilty today to a domestic battery charge. Willard L. Lewis, Junior was arrested last November after an altercation on North 1250 Boulevard. Sheriff Derek Morgan reported at the time of the incident that the altercation turned physical with Lewis hitting a woman with a table. Appearing in court today, Lewis pled guilty to the domestic battery charge and was sentenced to 1 year of conditional discharge, 6 months in the Wabash County Jail that was stayed, in addition to fines and court costs.
No Change In Bond For Roberts
Bond will remain at $1,000 cash for 34 year old Gavin Roberts of Mt. Carmel. A 7 day bond review hearing was held today in Wabash County Circuit. State’s Attorney Cassandra Goldman said the bond should remain at $1,000 cash since Roberts is already on probation in two other felony cases and has two pending felony charges facing him including the theft charge that he’s currently been jailed. Judge Christopher Weber agreed that no changes should be made to Roberts’ bond. A preliminary hearing in the most recent felony theft case was set for May 15th.
Molstad To Enter 24-Month Offender Initiative Program On Drug Charge
Charges against an 18-year-old Mt. Carmel teen who was charged with delivery of a controlled substance while on school property may be dismissed if he completes a 24-month offender initiative program. Jacob Molstad was charged March 6th with the Class X felony for allegedly delivering a substance containing Xanax to a 16-year-old boy on the Mt. Carmel High School parking lot.
Appearing in court this afternoon, Judge Christopher Weber approved the agreement that would see Molstad enter the 2-year offender initiative program saying there were no prior felony charges. If he is successful in staying out of trouble, an amended Class 2 felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance would be dismissed. The agreement also calls for Molstad to report to the probation office, complete 30 hours of community service, attend classes to receive his GED or high school diploma, and pay fines and court costs.
Catt Pleads Not Guilty To Alleged Sex Crime
20 year old William L. Catt of Mt. Carmel has pled not guilty to a charge of criminal sexual abuse between the age of 13 and 17. Catt was arrested last month after he was found in the bedroom of a 15 year old girl on Walnut Street. During an appearance this afternoon in Wabash County Circuit Court, Catt waived his rights to a preliminary hearing and arraignment and entered the not guilty plea. A pre-trial conference in the case was set for June 5th. At the time of his arrest, Catt was out on bond awaiting sentencing on a 2017 Wabash County conviction for aggravated criminal sexual abuse between the age of 13 and 17. Sentencing in that case is set for May 22nd. He is being held without bond in the Wabash County Jail.
Fourth Death Related to Synthetic Cannabinoids
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting the fourth death connected to synthetic cannabinoid use. The most recent death was a woman in her 30s in central Illinois. Two men, one in his 20s and another in his 40s, have also died in central Illinois. A Chicago-area man in his 20s also passed away. More than 150 people in Illinois in 13 counties have been sickened by synthetic cannabinoids laced with rat poison.
“We continue to see new cases of individuals experiencing severe bleeding after using synthetic cannabinoids,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “Like so many other drugs, synthetic cannabinoids are addictive and people are not able to give them up. Alternatively, they think that it won’t happen to them because they know their dealer or trust wherever they purchased the drugs. If you know someone who uses synthetic cannabinoids, tell them these are deadly products and try to help them get treatment.”
Individuals who have been sickened by the synthetic cannabinoids have reported coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody nose, bleeding gums, and/or internal bleeding. A chemical found in rat poison, brodifacoum, prevents blood from clotting, resulting in severe bleeding. High doses of vitamin K, up to 30 tablets a day for up to six months, can help restore the blood’s ability to clot.
Because of the large amount of vitamin K needed, the long duration of treatment, and costs up to thousands of dollars per patient, IDPH started discussions with key stakeholders to find a solution with no financial burden on patients. IDPH recently received a massive donation of nearly 800,000 tablets of vitamin K from the Bausch Foundation and Valeant Pharmaceuticals. This donation will allow every individual who has experienced severe bleeding to receive lifesaving treatment free of charge.
Synthetic cannabinoids are human-made, mind-altering chemicals that are sprayed on to dried plant material. These chemicals are called cannabinoids because they act on the same brain cell receptors as the main active ingredient in marijuana. The health effects from using synthetic cannabinoids can be unpredictable, harmful, and deadly.
People should not use synthetic cannabinoids, but if they have used these drugs and have severe, unexplained bleeding or bruising, call 911 or take them to the emergency department.
More information is available at http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/medical-cannabis/synthetic-cannabinoids.
Owensville man arrested for DUI
On April 22, 2018, at 12:15 a.m. Gibson County Sgt. John Fischer observed a Black 2012 Chevy Malibu traveling left of center on Warrenton Road near the Log Inn. Upon conducting a traffic stop Sgt. Fischer detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver 24 year old Adam Dike of Owensville. At that point a roadside DUI investigation was conducted. At the conclusion of Sgt. Fischer’s investigation Mr. Dike was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Gibson County Jail Mr. Dike was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. He has since posted a $650 bond.
Assisting Sgt. Fischer in his investigation was Deputy Loren Barchett and Fort Branch Officer Jeff Beck.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mt. Carmel City Council Meeting 4/23/18
Mt. Carmel City Council Meeting 4/23/18