April 16th, 2019- Mt. Carmel Police arrested 26 year old Kaleigh C. Singer of Mt. Carmel on a Wabash County failure to appear warrant. Singer was located in the 100 block of W. 9th Street in Mt. Carmel and placed into custody. Police transported Singer to the Wabash County Jail where she was held pending the posting of bond.
District #348 School Board Calls Special Meeting To Reorganize
WABASH COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING
DISTRICT OFFICE
218 W. 13th Street
Mt. Carmel, Il 62863
Thursday, April 25, 2019 8:00 a.m.
1. Call to order / Roll call
2. Approve Election Results
3. Board Members – Oath of Office
4. Seating of the New Board
a. Appoint President Pro Tem
b. Appoint Secretary Pro Tem
c. Election of Board officers and Establish Terms of Office
i. Board President
ii. Board Vice President
iii. Board Secretary
5. Establish Date, Time, and Place of Regular Meetings
6. Appoint School District Treasurer
7. Adjourn
Fischer Re-Elected As IECC Board Chairman
The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 reorganized for the next two years, at the regular meeting, Tuesday, April 16, at Lincoln Trail College, Robinson.
Following adoption of a resolution for the election returns of April 2, the oath of office was administered to trustees Al Henager, Mt. Carmel, John Brooks, Robinson, and James Lane, Robinson. Trustees Henager and Brooks were seated for six-year terms, expiring in 2025 and James Lane was seated to fill the remaining 2 years of an unexpired six-year term, expiring in 2021.
The oath of office was also administered to Corey Hall, who was seated for a one-year term as student member of the Board of Trustees. A student at Lincoln Trail College, he succeeds student trustee Haylee Neuman.
Trustee G. Andrew Fischer was re-elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Trustee Brenda Culver was elected Vice-Chairman.
Trustee Gary Carter was appointed Secretary Pro Tempore.
Ryan Hawkins was re-appointed District Treasurer.
Renee Smith was re-appointed Board Secretary and District Ethics Officer.
All of the officers were elected unanimously.
Action was taken to adopt all rules, regulations, policies and actions of prior Boards of Trustees.
A resolution was adopted listing the dates, times and locations of regular monthly meetings for the remainder of calendar year 2019. The meetings will continue to be held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., except for the December meeting, which will be held on the second Tuesday. Meeting location will rotate between the four colleges, as follows:
Tuesday, May 21, 2019, 7 p.m., Olney Central College
Tuesday, June 18, 2019, 7 p.m., Wabash Valley College
Tuesday, July 16, 2019, 7 p.m., Frontier Community College
Tuesday, August 20, 2019, 7 p.m., Lincoln Trail College
Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 7 p.m., Olney Central College
Tuesday, October 15, 2019, 7 p.m., Wabash Valley College
Tuesday, November 19, 2019, 7 p.m., Frontier Community College
Tuesday, December 10, 2019, 7 p.m., Lincoln Trail College
Trustees approved two articulation agreements between IECC and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in the area of Accounting and with Chamberlain University in the area of Nursing. These agreements facilitate the smooth transfer from IECC’s programs to the universities’ Programs.
Acceptance of two parcels of property was approved by the Board. The Lincoln Trail College Foundation has conveyed 11 acres of property for use by LTC for a soccer field. Lincoln Trail has also received a real estate gift of property that is located at 303 East Cherry Street in Robinson. Trustees also approved a renovation and expansion project to LTC’s Zwermann Arts Center. The project will be funded with local contributions.
Activity Fee allocations for 2019-2020 were approved for FCC, LTC, OCC and WVC. The Board adopts the allocation of student activity fees at the colleges each year. The allocation notes what percentage of each dollar will be turned over to an appropriate self-balancing account in the auxiliary fund.
An affiliation agreement was approved with Harmon’s Pharmacy of Oblong for LTC’s Pharmacy Technician Program.
Trustees approved an agreement between IECC and area high schools that satisfies a state mandate with the goal of improving the transition from high school to college or work by reducing the number of students who need math remediation coursework in college.
The Board received a status report on the Identity Theft Prevention Program and a report on the upcoming HLC Year 4 Assurance Argument Review.
An Honors Program was approved for high achieving IECC students. The Honors Program has been developed to provide learning opportunities to talented students who seek intellectual and cultural growth through enriched academic experiences.
Contracts were renewed for two years for CEO Terry Bruce, FCC President Jay Edgren, LTC President Ryan Gower, OCC President Rodney Ranes, and WVC President Matt Fowler.
A resignation ratification was approved for Jamie Henry, Director of Business at Lincoln Trail College, effective May 4.
Retirement ratifications were approved for Carole Fusco, Assistant Professor for Nursing at Lincoln
Trail College, effective June 1 and for Cheryl Holder, Director of Adult Education at Frontier Community College, effective July 1.
Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at Olney Central College, Olney.
Photo Left to Right: Chairman Andrew Fischer, Paula Hall, Corey Hall, Chip Hall, Trustee John Brooks, Trustee James Lane, and Trustee Al Henager.
Report Of Passed Out Man Results In DUI Arrest
04/15/2019-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 21 year old Logan M. Johnson of Mt. Carmel after police received a complaint of a male subject passed out on W. 9th Street in front of Ten Pins Bowling. Police located Johnson sleeping in the vehicle and had to wake him up. According to the Police report Johnson admitted to consuming alcohol earlier in the evening. Johnson was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with DUI and improper lane usage. Johnson was held pending the posting of bond.
Probation Violation Warrant Results In Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Woman
04/14/2019-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 38 year old Elizabeth M. Fortner of Mt. Carmel on a Wabash County probation violation warrant. Police located Fortner sitting in a vehicle parked at Family Dollar and placed her into custody. Fortner was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was held pending a court appearance.
St. Francisville Woman Arrested On Deceptive Practice Warrant
04/11/2019-Mt. Carmel Police arrested 50 year old Rebecca L. Carie of St. Francisville after police observed her standing outside of the Wabash County Jail. The arresting officer spoke with Carie and she advised she was wanted on a Wabash County deceptive practice warrant. Carie was taken into the Wabash County Jail where she was held pending the posting of $150.00 bond.
Two Arrested In Connection To Recent Vehicle Burglaries
04/08/2019-Mt. Carmel Police arrested two individuals who were found to be in possession of stolen items including a stolen handgun. Police were investigating a rash of car burglaries and were able to identify two suspects. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 26 year old Michael B. Thomason of Albion and Heather M. Suddarth of Fairfield. Police found the two subjects at a local hotel where the stolen items were recovered. Police charged both with theft, possession of a stolen firearm, and endangering the life or health of a child. The endangerment charge was a result of police finding a small child near the loaded weapon that was reported stolen. Both adults were transported to the Wabash County Jail and held pending the posting of bond.
The Wait Begins To See If Former Shopko Location Is Filled
Now what? What, if anything, happens with the now former Shopko location on West 9th Street in Mt. Carmel. Sunday was the last day for Shopko in Mt.Carmel as the company has filed bankruptcy and is closing all of its’ locations. Any remaining Shopko merchandise and fixtures are being shipped out and then the wait begins to see if another business fills vacant building. The building is owned by Spirit Realty in Dallas, a firm that also owns several other buildings that had Shopko as tenants.
District #348 School Board Hires New Firm For Audit
The Wabash District #348 school board has hired a new firm to conduct the district’s audit for the next three years. At last night’s monthly meeting, the school board voted to hire Kemper CPA Group in Mt. Carmel to audit their finances through the 2021-22 school year. Finance committee member Jared Alka explained the recommendation of the committee…
The district will pay Kemper’s $18,500 each of the next three years for the audit. The school board last night also approved the deposit proposal to remain with First National Bank of Allendale and Mt. Carmel. Four bids from local banks were submitted for the deposits.
School Board Readies For Swearing In & Reorganization
Now that the results of the April 2nd Consolidated Election have been certified, the Wabash District #348 school board is looking to seating its’ new board. Elected to new terms earlier this month were Janice Alka, Neil Earnest, and Ryan Peter. The swearing in and reorganization of the board must be done before the end of this month at which time a special board meeting will be called.