ACCIDENT LEAVES ROUTE 4 SHUT DOWN OVERNIGHT
IL Route 4, in the St. Jacob Township, near U.S. Route 40 has been shut down since 11PM last night due to an overturned tractor trailer. According to the Illinois State Police, the accident occurred when a 2003 Dodge Neon, driven by 20 year-old John Crow, of Carlyle, was traveling northbound on Route 4, and allegedly fell asleep. His vehicle then went into the southbound lanes and struck a semi tractor-trailer, driven by 45 year-old Jackie Wayne Manes, of Malden, MO.
The impact caused the tractor-trailer to overturn. The Highland Ambulance, along with the Illinois State Police and St. Jacob Fire Department responded. Crow was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Highland for treatment of minor injuries. He was ticketed for no seatbelt and improper lane usage. Manes was not injured. As of 9am this morning, Route 4 was still shut down due to the cargo that was lost from the overturned semi. There's no word yet on when police might re-open the highway.
9TH ANNUAL BOND COUNTY RELAY FOR LIFE
Today is the 9th Annual Bond County Relay for Life at the Bond County Fairgrounds. The event gets under way at 6PM with the opening ceremony. The Survivor Victory Lap will begin at 6:30PM. The theme for the year's Relay is "Walking the World for a Cure". Teams this year will have their campsites decorated to represent countries throughout the world. The will offer various food and entertainment based on their country.
At 9PM the Luminary Ceremony will be held to honor both the survivors and loved ones that have finished the fight with cancer. The ceremony's keynote speaker will be Dr. James Mannoia, President of Greenville College. Throughout the evening, there will be games, prizes, food and drinks, music, movies, contests and fireworks. The public is encouraged to come out, bring their lawn chairs and join in the celebration.
BOND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HEARS 2006 AUDIT REPORT
At the Monday night Bond County Health Board Meeting, Alison Sears, from West and Company, presented the Fiscal Year 2006 audit. Included with the audit was a letter outlining ways to strengthen internal controls and increase operating efficiency.
The recommendations in the letter suggested relocating work space, adding or reassignment of existing staff, more staff training with the Therapist Helper software, more staff cross training, and to consider software alternatives. Alison said it was important that the billing staff adhere to the billing policy, that states billing be done on a monthly basis, and that the administrator receive a copy of billing documents along with an aging report with proof.
Maxine Barth, Health Department Director, told the board that many of these suggestions have already been implemented, but because of space constraints in the current building it is not possible to relocate the staff.
The 2006 audit for fiscal year ending November 30th was basically positive, and did show a net income of $17, 000 for Mental Health, net income of over $237,000 for Hospice, and net income for Nursing General of over $260,000.
RATE INCREASE IN 2009 FOR SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC MEMBERS
Southwestern Electric has announced that after a decade of financial windfalls that included four years of falling electric rates, two months of free energy and the return of millions of dollars in patronage capitol, a rate hike is on the horizon for cooperative members. President Alan Libbra reported that power rates would rise about 24% in 2009. However, co-op members will still have some control of how the increase is implemented.
The announcement was made Saturday at the Southwestern Electric Cooperatives 69th Annual Meeting of Members. Libbra continued by saying that the co-op has the ability to phase in the rate increase due to the good run over the past 10 years. He says that after the initial increase, rates should be relatively stable.
The cooperative last raised rates in 1993. Between 1999 and 2001, four rate reductions, totaling an 18.5% drop, were implemented. Members also received free energy during the month of November in 2003 and 2004.
