SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE OUTAGES

Sunday night some 2 thousand Southwestern Electric Cooperative members were still in the dark caused by last Thursday's ice storm and many may not see power until mid-week. According to Joe Richardson, Southwestern Director of Communications, "It's going to take days to frame and set new poles, replace power lines and restore electricity”.  Richardson said Sunday night that linemen are working 16-hour shifts and staking engineers have worked all weekend, he added "We're making progress, but it's slow work, and we're still fighting the weather”. 

WILLEY AND FRANKS COMMENT ON SWIDA

Last week WGEL reported that the Illinois General Assembly had approved the Governor’s requested changes to legislation allowing Bond County to join the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority.  The economic impact to Bond County could be big.

Greenville City Manager Dave Willey commented that work on this legislation began not long after he was hired.  He praised the efforts of County Board Chairperson Jill Franks, Senator Frank Watson, and Representative Ron Stephens for getting it done. 

Bond County Board Chairperson Jill Franks,explains that SWIDA can issue tax exempt bonds that are very advantageous in attracting industry.

Alternative Energy Sources, which plans on opening an ethanol plant in Greenville, is currently seeking the help of bonding authority assistance on another project.  According to Willey, AES has requested $70 million in tax-exempt bonds for their Kankakee facility. 

Bond County joins St. Clair, Clinton, and Madison in the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority. 

NOVEMBER DRYER THAN NORMAL

The city of Greenville rain gauges indicate that November was dryer than normal with showers recorded on only eight days.  The ten-year November average is 3.89 inches.  The totals were 2.21 at the Waste Water Treatment Plant on Route 40, 2.36 inches at 6th Street, and 2.24 inches at Route 140 and Idler Lane.  The wettest November in the past ten years came in 2003 when 6.4 inches of rain fell.  The dryest was in 2002 with 1.09 inches recorded.

ICE IS NOT FOR THE BIRDS  

Large birds have not faired well since the storm on Thursday. Saturday morning the Sheriff's department had a report of a turkey that hit the side of a vehicle causing damage to the passenger side mirror. There was nothing in the report about the condition of the turkey.

Sunday Greenville police received reports of two dead owls in Greenville. Also Saturday a Greenville resident told WGEL he had seen at least 14 wild turkeys foraging for food near Sunset Point.

SPORTS

College Basketball

Greenville College Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams both posted wins.  Greenville Men’s Team defeated Blackburn College 88-75; while the Women’s team beat Clark College 61-41.