City Officials Say Now Is The Time To Prevent Frozen Pipes

Mt. Carmel officials are urging residents to take precautions against this week’s extremely cold temperatures and wind chills. At last night’s city council meeting, city clerk Rudy Witsman warned residents in mobile homes or with exposed water pipes to take the necessary steps to avoid broken lines…

Witsman said city hall had received calls recently from residents asking about low water pressure only to find out they had frozen water lines.

Mayor Bill Hudson also commented on the cold saying now is the time to do the neighborly thing….

Commissioner Joe Judge said the WC Cafeteria and Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 to 3pm serving as a warming center.

Temperatures tonight could hit zero with wind chills as low as minus 20. A wind chill advisory goes into effect at midnight tonight.

St. Francisville Woman Jailed For DUI After Hitting Police Cars While Texting

ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12

WHAT: Injury Crash

WHERE: Business 50 approximately 3/4 mile East of Lawrenceville

WHEN: 01/27/2019 @ 8:27 p.m.

VEHICLES: UNIT 1 - 2008 GMC Acadia

UNIT 2 – 2010 Ford Crown Victoria Police car

UNIT 3 – 2018 Ford Taurus Police Car

DRIVER: UNIT 1 - Erika Boger, 39, St. Francisville, IL

UNIT 2 - Officer Kody Waggoner, 32, Vincennes, IN

UNIT 3 - Officer Byron Middlecoat, 36, Sumner, IL

CHARGES: UNIT 1 – DUI, Scott’s Law, Failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, Illegal transportation of alcohol by driver and texting while driving

TRANSPORTS: UNIT 2 – Good Samaritan Hospital, Vincennes, IN

UNIT 3 - Lawrence Co Hospital, Lawrenceville, IL

PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate two Lawrenceville Police Officers were on a traffic stop and were returning to their police cars when the crash happened. The driver of Unit 1 was texting and ran off the road, striking the rear of Unit 2 (rear police car) that was parked on the right shoulder with its emergency lights activated. Unit 2 was forced into the rear of unit 3, the second police car that was also parked on the right shoulder with emergency lights activated. Unit 2 driver was outside of his squad car and was struck during the crash. The driver of Unit 3 was sitting in his patrol car when the crash occurred. The drivers of unit 2 and 3 were treated and released from the hospital.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

One Airlifted Following Three Vehicle 1-70 Crash

ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12

WHAT: Personal Injury Traffic Crash

WHERE: Interstate 70 Westbound at Milepost 89 (Effingham County) WHEN: 01/28/2019, 8:11 p.m.

VEHICLES:

UNIT 1 – 2016 Chevrolet

UNIT 2 – 2019 Peterbilt Truck Tractor/ Trailer

UNIT 3 – 2019 Freightliner Truck Tractor/ Trailer

DRIVER: UNIT 1 – Patricia Brown, F, Age 31, Terre Haute, IN

UNIT 2 – Reynaldo Fruits, M, Age 46, Moore, OK

UNIT 3 – Travis Mitchell, M, Age 29, Greenville, SC

PASSENGERS: UNIT 2 – Robert Keith, M, Age 48, Oklahoma City, OK

UNIT 3 – Jose Londono, M, Age 58, Tamarac, FL

CHARGES: UNIT 1 Driver (Patricia Brown) – Following Too Closely and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid a Crash.

TRANSPORTS: UNIT 1 – Driver was transported to St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham via ambulance then airlifted to Carle Hospital in Champaign.

PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate Unit 1 struck Unit’s 2 and 3 in the rear of the semi-trailers for unknown reasons and became disabled in the right lane.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

Pritzker Issues Disaster Proclamation Ahead of Life-Threatening Winter Storm

Springfield, Ill. – Governor JB Pritzker today issued a disaster proclamation for the entire state ahead of a severe winter storm that will blanket the state with life-threatening wind chills for several days.

 “This storm poses a serious threat to the well-being of people around the state, and we will use every tool at our disposal to keep our residents safe,” said Governor JB Pritzker.“This disaster proclamation ensures that the state of Illinois has the flexibility to effectively and efficiently respond to the needs of local governments during this extreme weather event.”

 A state disaster declaration makes available a wide variety of state resources that can help affected communities respond and recover from the storms. The state of Illinois has mobilized personnel and assets to help local government officials with disaster response and recovery.

 Earlier this week, Governor Pritzker activated the State Emergency Operation Center to support local government as they begin to plan for these extreme weather conditions. Current forecast models indicate arctic air will move into Illinois Tuesday evening and last through Thursday. The National Weather Service indicates wind chills could reach -55 in northern Illinois, -35 in central Illinois and -25 in parts of southern Illinois.

 With these extreme temperatures and dangerous wind chills, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) indicates frostbite could set in on exposed skin within 10-15 minutes. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has a list of identified warming centers in our state, listed by county on the Ready Illinois website. If there is not a warming center near you, call your county emergency management agency for additional assistance. Additionally, all Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) offices serve as warming centers during regular business hours for anyone looking to find a safe, warm place during the cold.

 To learn more about preparing your home and family for dangerous winter weather, visit Ready.Illinois.gov.

Mt. Carmel Poised To Leave Big 8 Conference In All Sports

Mt. Carmel’s run as a member of the Big 8 Conference will apparently end in 2020, if not before.

At last night’s Wabash District #348 school board meeting, MCHS Principal Jake Newkirk said Big 8 officials will meet on March 6th to discuss the future of the league as Illinois implements a new district football schedule in 2021 that will eliminate the possibility of the Aces continuing to play football in the Indiana conference.

Newkirk said he expects Mt. Carmel to look at conference options in Illinois in other sports. He said initial overtures to that end have been promising.

Mt. Carmel’s departure as a football school in the Big 8 leaves the other 6 league schools scrambling. Newkirk said he expects clarity on the situation following the March meeting.

Click the link to hear Newkirk’s presentation to the school board.

Wabash District #348 January Personnel Matters

PERSONNEL MATTERS

January 28, 2019

RETIREMENTS

Kimberly Owens -MCHS Family/Consumer Science Teacher effective the end of the 2022-2023 school year

Lennette Jones -MCES 2nd Grade Teacher effective the end of the 2022-2023 school year

Gayle Kieffer -MCHS Special Ed Teacher effective the end of the 2018-2019 school year

NON-CERTIFIED

Christy VanMatre -0-3 Grant F/T Parent Educator/Home Visitor beginning October 27, 2018

Marc Calverly -District F/T Bus Driver beginning January 3, 2019

Glee Wheeler -District F/T Bus Driver beginning January 10, 2019

Roxi Ingram -MCHS Secretary and Registrar effective January 15, 2019

(Replacing Jeannie Kennard who retired)

VOLUNTEERS

Taylor Sutton -MCJHS Girls’ Track Coach beginning 2018-19 season

MCJHS Aces of the Month

Mount Carmel Junior High School would like to congratulate the Aces of the Month. These students have been selected by MCJHS Staff as going above and beyond at the Junior High School. Congratulations go to 7th grade students, Macy Mandrell & Miranda Hammond, and 8th grade student, Owen Dougherty. Great job students and keep it up!!!

Woman Arrested On Criminal Trespass Charge

01/25/2019-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 47 year old Michelle L. Johnson of Mt. Carmel after police were notified of a disturbance at 1413 W. 3rd Street.  Police arrived on scene and were told that Johnson had been on the property after receiving notification barring her from that location.  Police located Johnson at her home and placed her under arrest for criminal trespass to state supported property.  Johnson was held pending the posting of bond.  

Mt. Carmel Man Arrested On Domestic Battery Charge

01/26/2019-Mt. Carmel Police arrested  50 year old Tracy Deckard of Mt. Carmel after police were dispatched to a domestic dispute in the 200 block of W. 12th Street.  Police were told by the victim that Deckard pushed her to the ground during an argument.  Deckard was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with domestic battery.  

Mt. Carmel Man Jailed After Entering Home Without Permission

1/27/2019-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 30 year old Clint R. Ford of Mt. Carmel after police responded to a disturbance in the 800 block of Glendale Avenue.  Police were told that Ford entered the residence without permission from the home owner and committed a battery against a resident living in the home.  Ford was later located and formally charged with criminal trespass to a residence and battery.  Ford was held until the posting bond.