There’s still no decision on whether another Mt. Carmel business will be allowed to sell liquor. Family Dollar has applied to sell liquor at their new location at 9th and Walnut Street and their application was again on the agenda at this week's city council meeting. But, Joe Judge, who serves as the city’s liquor control commissioner, said he was again delaying a decision on the application because Family Dollar officials still haven’t submitted the required payment with the liquor license application. Judge also said the city needs to see the store’s design of where the alcohol would be sold. Judge said, until those two issues are settled, the application remains on hold.
Wabash County Courthouse Closed On Eclipse Day
Wabash County Commissioners have voted to close the courthouse for Eclipse Day on Monday. The decision came at their meeting this week after circuit clerk Angie Crum said other area courthouses would also be closed. But, Crum said there was another issue for commissioners to consider…
Mt. Carmel City Hall will also be closed Monday as will local schools.
Wabash County Tax Sale Set For Friday
The Wabash County tax sale is tomorrow morning at the courthouse and, as of Monday, treasurer Angie Brewster reported there were still 238 real estate tax bills that were delinquent. But, if you are delinquent on your property taxes, you have one last day to pay and that is today. But keep in mind if you are paying your taxes today, personal checks are no longer accepted as only cash, money order, or cashier’s check are being accepted. Payments may be made in person in the treasurer’s office or you can use the drop box in front of the courthouse. You can contact the treasurer’s office for the correct amount due with penalties tacked on. The tax sale starts tomorrow at 10am in the courtroom.
$1,150 WADI SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE
Wabash Area Development, Inc. (WADI), in coordination with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, through the Community Services Block Grant Program, announces the availability of one scholarship per county in the amount of $1,150.00 to be made available to income eligible students in each county of Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Saline, Wabash, Wayne and White for use during the 2024 - 2025 school year. High School seniors and college students are encouraged to apply. Completed applications should be returned to any WADI office by 5:00 p.m. May 2, 2024.
Charges Filed Against Former Aces Basketball Coach
Four felony charges have been filed against former Mt. Carmel High School boy’s basketball coach Tyler Buss of Keensburg. On Monday, Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman filed three Class 3 felony theft charges and one Class 3 felony forgery charge against the 34-year-old Buss who also served as assistant principal at Mt. Carmel Grade School. He resigned both positions last July citing health concerns and a desire to spend more time with family as the reasons for stepping down. In September, Mt. Carmel Police said an investigation was underway into financial issues into the Golden Aces basketball program.
In the three theft counts, Storckman alleges Buss took unauthorized control of between $500 and $10,000 in monies belonging to District #348 on July 23rd, 2021, December 31st, 2021, and August 18th, 2022. The forgery charge alleges Buss delivered to First National Bank a document purported to be an outstanding invoice from HUDL for $950 that Buss knew was altered.
MCPD Detective Eddie Johnson signed and attested to the charges filed Monday by Storckman following a Mt. Carmel Police Department investigation regarding allegations of the fraudulent use of funds involving the Wabash School District #348 boys' basketball program.
Under the Pre-trial Fairness Act these charges are non-detainable therefore Mr. Buss was served by the Wabash County Sheriff's Office with a summons with an initial court date scheduled for May 13th at 9 a.m.
South Bend man arrested for Domestic Battery
On April 1, 2024, at 10:13 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Quinten Might went to the 100 block of East Caniff Court to investigate a disturbance. Upon arriving Deputy Might began an investigation into the incident. During Deputy Might’s investigation he had the scene photographed and spoke with all parties involved. As the investigation progressed Sgt. John Fischer spoke with the parties and found probable cause to take 28 year old Tyshawn Williams of South Bend into custody. Once Deputy Might’s and Sgt. Fischer’s investigation was completed Mr. Williams was transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Domestic Battery with a Prior Unrelated Conviction and Interfering In the Reporting of a Crime.
Assisting Deputy Might and Sgt. Fischer in their investigation was Deputies Wyatt Hunt and Logan Lashbrook as well as Princeton Officer Zach Strickland.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Proclamations Signed For Public Health Week
On Monday, Wabash County Board of Commissioners Chairman Scott West and Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge signed proclamations to honor April 1st-7th as Public Health Week.
Health Department administrator Judy Wissel said she has challenged WCHD staff to “give back” this week as the department is collecting donations for the Lunch Wagon. She also said there’ll be social media posts this week about public health and that “we are so much more than COVID”.
City Officials Say They're Ready For Eclipse
City officials aren’t sure what to expect, but they feel they’ve done their best to prepare for next Monday’s Total Solar Eclipse. State officials are predicting thousands of visitors will descend on the southern part of Illinois concentrating on areas, like Mt. Carmel, that will experience totality. In fact, Mt. Carmel will have one of the longest durations of totality for the once in a lifetime event. At yesterday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge said the city is ready to welcome visitors, no matter how many there are…
The Mt. Carmel Airport is one location sure to see lots of visitors. Airport manager Luis Garcia told the council yesterday that he already has reservations from up to 60 pilots who will fly into the airport for the eclipse. He said if that number increases much more, the airport might be forced to close to additional aviation traffic.
Judge showed off brightly colored shirts yesterday that city workers will wear on Monday to add more visibility as they are deployed to areas they’re needed. City Hall will be closed next Monday for the eclipse.
Garbage commissioner Susan Zimmerman reminded residents to set their trash out Sunday night as Republic Services is expected to be in town by 4am to make their rounds and be out of the city before any potential traffic headaches arise. The 2024 solar eclipse will be visible over approximately 128 miles of Illinois.
Totality enters Illinois as it crosses the Missouri state line southwest in Carbondale at 1:58 p.m. The eclipse will follow a diagonal line crossing over Fairfield and exit Illinois at Mount Carmel at 2:06 p.m, giving the city more than 4 minutes of total darkness.
Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda
AGENDA
CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, April 1st 2024 at 4:00 pm
· Call to Order
o Pledge of Allegiance
o Roll Call
· Approve Minutes
o Minutes of meeting held 03/18/2024.
· Visitors (topic discussed by visitor(s) is limited to 5 minutes)
· Reports and Communications
o Mayor Judge
o Commissioner Meador Streets, Cemeteries and Parks
o Commissioner Ikemire Finance and Senior Citizens
o Commissioner Meeks Water and Sewer
o Commissioner Zimmerman Fire, Health & Safety, City Hall and Garbage
· Staff Reports
o Ryan Turner Derek McCullough Luis Garcia
o Michael McWilliams Francis Speth Mike Gidcumb
o WEMA Representative
New Business
o Consent Agenda
§ Pay all bills by providing proper signatures.
o Removal of items from the Consent Agenda
o Ordinance 2104-Annual Budget-1st Reading
o Resolution 704-MFT expenditures for IDOT’s 9th Street project
o Open bids for mower
o Old Business
o Executive Session
o Motion to Adjourn
o Liquor Control Meeting-Immediately after council hearing
Consideration for Family Dollar to sell packaged liquor
Wabash County Commissioner Meeting Agenda
REGULAR MEETING Monday, April 1, 2024
AGENDA
1) Call to order:
2) Approve minutes of previous meeting:
3) Commissioner’s reports:
4) Officer’s reports:
5) Old Business:
a. ARPA Ordinance.
b. County Highway Building.
c. Lawnmower for Froman Park.
6) New Business:
a. Tara Buerster with the U of I Extension Office along with other staff members to update the Board on current activities.
b. Bid results for Road District #6 Bridge Project on E 1100 Road.
c. Resolution No. 2024-05, a funding resolution for the Poor Farm Road Resurfacing Project.
d. Joint Agreement for Poor Farm Road Resurfacing Project.
e. Request from the Retail Merchants Committee for a donation to the 2024 Christmas Uptown festival and approval from the local tourism committee.
f. Authorize chairman to sign three deeds for Wabash County as trustee for properties sold through the Tax Sale process.
7) Executive Session:
8) Correspondence:
9) Approval of payment of claims presented:
10) Adjournment: