TRACTOR ACCIDENT TAKES LIFE OF HIGHLAND MAN
According to Madison County Coroner, Stephen P. Nonn, a Highland man was killed Thursday when his tractor tipped and threw him into a pond. Timothy Cochran, age 53, was found dead in a farm pond owned by his brother, Perry Cochran. Timothy Cochran had been mowing property in the 6000 block of Fedder Lane, a rural area between Collinsville and Troy. The coroner's office said the wheels of the tractor went too far over the edge of the earthen berm while Cochran was driving across a dam on the pond. The coroner will be performing an autopsy to aid in the investigation.
THIRD HUMAN WEST NILE VIRUS CASE IN ILLINOIS FOUND IN MADISON COUNTY
The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed the third human West Nile virus case in Illinois for this year. A Madison County man in his 60s has West Nile neuroinvasive disease, which is the most severe form of the West Nile virus, as it affects a person’s nervous system. Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, Illinois Department of Public Health Director, said that this third case should make residents even more cautious when it comes to mosquitoes.
Last year, 77 of the state’s 102 counties were found to have a West Nile positive bird, mosquito, horse or human case. A total of 215 human cases of West Nile disease, including 10 deaths, were reported in Illinois in 2006. Only about two persons out of 10, who are bitten by an infected mosquito, will experience any illness. Symptoms can include fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness, such as encephalitis, meningitis and death are possible. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reminds residents that the best way to prevent West Nile disease, or any other mosquito-borne illness, is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
BURGLARY AT FUNERBURKS OVERNIGHT WEDNESDAY
In update to the burglary at Funderburk's Gas, Grill and Deli in Pocahontas, owner Tracy Funderburk reported that someone entered the business between 10:45PM and 3:58am. The suspects took an undetermined amount of money from an ATM machine and the office area located inside the business. The Bond COunty Sheriff's Department continues to investigate.
BOND COUNTY TO AUCTION DELIQUNET TAX PROPERTIES
All properties that were delinquent on taxes in 2003 and prior years, and have been obtained by Bond County, will be up for auction next month. There is approximately 32 items available on a sealed bid auction sale at the Bond County Treasurer's Office. The sale will help to benefit the County and neighboring property owners by eliminating abandoned properties and putting them into the hands of owners who will keep the taxes paid and the property maintained.
A minimum bid of $655.00 per item is required with a sealed bid cut-off date of August 9, 2007. All items will be sold to the highest bidder. A bidder's packet and sale catalog is available at the Treasurers Office for $5.00.
