10-2-2007

HILLSBORO ENERGY FILES MINE APPLICATION WITH ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

 

On September 21st, Hillsboro Energy LLC submitted a mine permit application for a longwall mine in Montgomery County. The proposed mine facilities are located on 803 acres immediately east of Hillsboro. The initial underground mining is planned for an area southeast of Hillsboro and northwest of Coffeen.  The production of the mine is expected to start at one million tons per year with a maximum production level reaching eight million tons per year.

 

According to Chris McCloud, with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Mines and Minerals, the mine application is just the beginning of a long process.  The application must first be reviewed and deemed complete.

 

After that is done, the Department will start the technical review process, and at that time the applicant will publish notices in a local paper indicating the permit was filed. A copy will then also be available at the Montgomery County clerks office for public review.

 

The Permit Coordinator will notify various federal and local governmental bodies, planning agencies, sewage and water district authorities and water companies in the locality of the proposed mine.

 

Copies of the application will also be sent for review to the Illinois EPA, the Department of Agriculture.

 

There had been organized resistance to long-wall mining in Montgomery County, the main concern being subsidence.

 

Longwall and high-extraction retreat mining cause vertical and horizontal surface movements that can affect structures and other surface features. 

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STREET OILING IN GREENVILLE WEDNESDAY

 

The City of Greenville will be oiling several streets in the city on Wednesday, October 3^rd.  They will begin at 8:00 am on the north side of town and work their way south during the day.

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JOBS UP NEARLY 47,000 OVER THE YEAR IN ILLINOIS  

 

The Illinois Section of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area shows that the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area gained 300 jobs in August 2007 compared to August 2006. However, those numbers aren't explained in the rise in unemployment locally. In Bond County the rate has increased from 4.9% one year ago to 5.2% currently. Clinton County went from 4.8% unemployment in August 2006 to 4.9% currently. And Madison County, showed an increase as well, with 5.0% last year to 5.6% this August.

 

In fact, every county reporting in the Metro East Statistical Area, saw a rise in unemployment from last August.

MULTIPLE FIRE CALLS THIS WEEKEND

 

Greenville firemen were busy Saturday, responding to four fire calls beginning at 1:12 PM.  The first call was a return trip to Irongate Trail where stumps had rekindled from a timber fire on Friday.  Firemen were on the scene for a little over an hour.

 

The second call came at 1:37 PM while firemen were still fighting the stump fire.  The call was to a bean field and brush fire at 531 Olde Cabin Road.  According to the fire report, the fire started from an out of control open flame.  Keyesport firemen were called at 1:39 for mutual aid with a brush truck and Pocahontas-Old Ripley firemen were called for mutual aid at 1:50 with additional man power.  Firemen were on the scene for over two hours.

 

At 7:31 PM, Greenville firemen responded to a fire alarm sounding at Holtwick Hall, on Prairie Street.  A police officer also responded to the scene to assist firemen with traffic control and evacuation.  Upon arrival, the officer discovered the cause to be a grease fire on a stove and used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Firemen arrived shortly thereafter and vented smoke from the building.

 

Greenville firemen were called again Saturday night at 10:45 PM to Fair Oaks Nursing Home to a report of smoke in one of the rooms.  The cause of the smoke was found to be a locked up blower motor on a heating unit.  Firemen disconnected the motor wires.  Greenville Police officers assisted with evacuation procedures at the scene.  Firemen and police were on the scene for about an hour.

 

Greenville firemen were called again Sunday afternoon at 1:36 PM to the location of a timber fire Friday on Iron Gate Trail.  Tree stumps had rekindled.  Firemen were on the scene this time for about an hour.

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TUNE INTO WGEL FOR

The Rat Pack is coming to the Fox in St. Louis and WGEL has tickets to give away. When you hear the gorgeous Pirelli Sisters open the WGEL ticket registration window Thursday October 4^th be the first 5 callers to 664-3300 and you’ll be registered to win one of 4 pairs of tickets to see the Rat Pack at the Fox Sunday October 7^th at 7:30. From our registrations we will draw our winners on Friday October 5^th.  So tune in Thursday the 4^th for your chance to get registered.

 

You must be at least 18 years old or older to register. You can only register once.

Employees of WGEL and the Fox theatre and their immediate family members are ineligible to register and win. One winner per family. All decisions of the judges are final.