Former WAVE Property Sells For $142,500

Wabash County Commissioners Monday accepted the high bid from Premium Rock Bit of $142,500 to purchase the former WAVE property on West Third Street in Mt. Carmel. Premium Rock’s bid easily outdistanced the other bid from Pacific Press of $100,000.

County board chairman Tim Hocking said he was ready to submit a bid of $130,001 on the property before being informed Sunday night by State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman that county commissioners were legally barred from bidding on the 6 acre plot.

Earlier this month, commissioners voted to sell the 6 acres of land which had previously been leased to the 377 Board and used as a sheltered workshop. But the three buildings are now only used for storage and the property is a strain on the 377 Board’s budget.

Last year, commissioners shot down an attempt by the health board to buy the property and move the health department operations there and instead chose to remodel the existing facility at 7th and Chestnut Streets.

City Council Sets Parameters For Sale Of Cherry Street Lot

At their meeting two weeks ago, the Mt. Carmel City Council voted to sell the vacant lot at 615 Cherry Street. The lot has been vacant since the city demolished a dilapidated house there several years ago. Now, the city wants to sell it and put it back on the tax rolls. Monday, the council set the parameters for how the lot will be used once it is sold. Commissioners decided that the double lot will not be able to be subdivided into two lots and a stick built home of at least 1,500 square feet will have to be built. The council was specific in saying that no manufactured homes will be allowed to be placed on the lot. In addition, construction of the new home on the lot would have to start within two years. And if not, then the winning bidder would forfeit 50% of the purchase price. Once the bid window opens, potential buyers would have 30 days to place a bid.

This vacant lot at 615 Cherry Street will soon be for offered for sale by the city of Mt. Carmel.

Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest Of 2 Mt. Carmel Residents

 

On 8/18/23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Josie M. Lewis, age 39, and Timothy D. Morrison, age 23, both of Mt. Carmel for Possession of Hypodermic Needles following a traffic stop on a 2011 Buick at 3rd & Cedar Street.  During the stop, Wabash County Deputy Cheadle and his K-9 Kiki arrived on scene at the request of the initiating officer.  Deputy Cheadle utilized his K-9 to conduct a free air narcotics sniff around the exterior of the Buick.  In doing so, Kiki alerted to the presence of narcotics.  The occupants were asked to exit the vehicle at which time a female officer located (1) used hypodermic needle and a 10 pack of unused needles in Lewis’ undergarments.  Furthermore, officers located (2) used hypodermic needles and (2) 10 packs of unused needles in an envelope next to Morrison in the back seat. Needles are commonly used to ingest narcotics, when not under the direction of a physician for medical necessity.  Both were placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where they were charged and later released on Notices to Appear.  

Doug Bunting Edwards County 4-H Hall of Fame Inductee

Doug Bunting was recently inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame.  Doug has been a dedicated 4-H supporter and volunteer for many years in Edwards County.  He was the auctioneer for the Edwards County Youth Livestock Auction for many years and has been instrumental for the Beef project members to participate in the Rate of Gain contest.  Being an owner of the Albion Stockyards, he allows the use of the stockyard facilities for the annual Beef Weigh-In.  Doug is seen at weigh-in helping, along side the youth and other volunteers.

Excessive Heat Causing Changes To MCHS Games & Practices

This week’s heatwave coincides with the first week the Illinois High School Association allows schools to have games for the fall sports season. At last night’s Wabash District #348 school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said with temperatures close to 100 degrees and heat indices topping 115 yesterday, you’re going to see very few games being played…

Bleyer said the IHSA mandates no games or practices be held outdoors when the heat index is 104 or higher. The Aces football team beat the heat yesterday by practicing at 5:15am.

And the new artificial turf at Riverview Stadium absorbs heat pushing the surface temperature to 120 by week’s end according to Bleyer. Friday night’s season opening football game against Gibson Southern was pushed back an hour to 8pm. Gates at the Stadium will open at 6:30pm.

Bleyer said this week’s heat is even causing issues with students going outdoors after lunch or for recess. Appropriate safeguards are being taken in those instances as well.

Photo Credit: MCHS AD Kyle Buss. The Aces beat the heat Monday by starting practice at 5:15am.

MCPD Chief Reports More Issues With Golf Carts/UTV's On State Routes

Mt. Carmel Police Chief Mike McWilliams has issued another warning to drivers of golf carts and UTV’s to stay off of the state highways that run through the city. Those include Walnut Street from the bridge to 9th Street; 9th Street from Cherry to the westside city limits; Cherry Street from 9th to the northside city limits; and 3rd Street from Walnut to the southside city limits….

McWilliams said operators also need to make sure their city permit to legally drive the golf carts and UV’s is current.

As for the motorized bicyclists that had become a nuisance around town, McWilliams said there have been zero complaints since the city council adopted an ordinance this Spring to regulate them.

Nightly ramp closures planned for U.S. 41/U.S. 50

KNOX COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces ramp closures in Knox County near Vincennes.

Beginning on or around Monday, August 28, crews will begin work on ramps along U.S. 41 and U.S. 50 near Vincennes. This work will require ramp closures. Work will occur nightly between August 28 to September 7. Two ramps will close each night, one ramp at a time. During these closures crews will perform HMA patching work on the roadway. 

Planned closures are as follows:

  • August 28: 6th Street SB off ramp from U.S. 50 WB and U.S. 50 EB on ramp from 6th street.

  • August 29: U.S. 50 EB on ramp from 6th street NB and U.S. 41 NB off ramp from U.S. 50 WB.

  • August 30: 6th street on ramp from U.S. 50 EB and U.S. 50 WB on ramp from 6th

  • August 31 and September 5: U.S. 50 EB to Washington over tri-level and U.S. 50 WB to U.S. 41 under tri-level.

  • September 6 and 7: U.S. 50 EB exit from U.S. 41 NB.

Closures will begin at 9:30 pm and end at 6:30 am daily. All work is dependent on the weather.

IDEM issues Air Quality Action Day for Monday in three Indiana regions

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) and is forecasting high ozone levels for Monday, August 21, in the following areas:

  • Central/East Central Indiana, including the cities of: Bloomington, Brookville, Columbus, Frankfort, Indianapolis, Greensburg, Kokomo, Lebanon, Martinsville, Muncie, Richmond and all other cities within the area.

  • Southeast Indiana, including the cities of: Brownstown, Corydon, Jeffersonville, Madison, New Albany, Salem, Versailles and all other cities within the area.

  • Southwest Indiana, including the cities of: Bedford, Bloomfield, Evansville, Huntingburg, Mount Vernon, Paoli, Princeton, Rockport, Tell City, Vincennes and all other cities within the area.

A state map including regions and affected counties is available at SmogWatch.IN.gov. 

IDEM forecasters anticipate higher ozone as hot and hazy conditions make their way into the region on for the coming work week. High temperatures near or over 90 degrees combined with light winds will lead to conditions that are suitable for ozone to build to the level Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG).

Note: IDEM's AQAD forecast is based on data from ozone air quality monitors located throughout the state. IDEM encourages residents of counties within or bordering the AQAD region(s) to heed the forecast. Air quality information for all Indiana counties can be found at SmogWatch.IN.gov. 

Some municipalities have additional open burning restrictions on AQADs.  For more information, see idem.IN.gov/openburning/laws-and-rules. 

IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone by making changes to daily habits. You can:

  • Drive less: carpool, use public transportation, walk, bike, or work from home when possible

  • Combine errands into one trip

  • Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.

  • Keep your engine tuned, and don’t let your engine idle (e.g., at a bank or restaurant drive-thru)

  • Conserve energy by turning off lights and setting the thermostat to 75 degrees or above 

Air Quality Action Days are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on the specified date. Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.

Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather combine with vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties for sensitive populations.

IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. Air Quality Action Days generally occur when weather conditions such as light winds, hot and dry air, stagnant conditions, and lower atmospheric inversions trap pollutants close to the ground.

To learn more about ozone or to sign up for air quality alerts, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.

County Commissioners Approve Fencing In WEMA Property

Wabash County Commissioners have voted to spend $11,000 with an Evansville company to construct a fence around the WEMA property on Market Street. At their most recent meeting, commissioners Tim Hocking and Scott West approved the estimate from Mr. Fence to put up a four foot high chain link fence along 150 feet of the back property line, 125 feet along the alley, and 75 feet along the angled portion of the property. Since the cost of the project was less than $30,000, commissioners weren’t required to seek formal bids on the fence which will be paid out of ARPA funds the county currently has.