2-5-2008

THE FOG CAUSED TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AROUND THE AREA

 

Monday morning fog lead to a multiple car crash and multiple accidents on a stretch of I-270 east bound, just west of I-55.  According to a press release from the Illinois State Police, a total of 20 vehicles were involved in 9 crashes over a nearly half mile of interstate highway.  Fifteen people were transported to local hospitals in Highland, Maryville, Granite City and St. Louis.  An additional 7 cars drove off the interstate to avoid colliding with the other vehicles.  Eastbound I-270 was closed for approximately 3 hours while the scene was cleaned up. 

---

MONDAY MORNING ACCIDENT BECOMES A FATALITY

 

The dense fog may be to blame for a fatal accident yesterday morning in Bond County. Benjamin Andrew Lance, age 24 of Salem Illinois, was traveling east on Route 143 around 9:30am Monday morning, when he drove through the intersection of 143 and route 127. According to Illinois State Police he then tried to back up and was traveling west when he was hit by a southbound Semi Tractor-Trailer.

 

Benjamin Andrew Lance was taken to Greenville Regional Hospital and later transferred to Saint Louis University Hospital where he died from his injuries.  Bond County fire fighters were called to the scene to help in extrication. The driver of the semi, Marvin Mathias age 63 of Assumption Illinois, was uninjured.

---

GO VOTE

 

The Polls are open.  Today is "Super Tuesday", when many states, including Illinois, go to the polls to vote in the presidential primary, along with local primaries and referendums.  Polls will open at 6am and will stay open until 7PM. There are 25 precincts in Bond County, with voting at 15 different polling locations. When you arrive at your polling place, you will need to choose one of three parties, Republican, Democrat or Green, and then vote in that party's primary. You can tune to WGEL Radio, 101.7 FM,Tuesday night following the Comets basketball game, for local election coverage. 

 

 

POCAHONTAS VILLAGE BOARD MEETING

 

The Pocahontas Village Board discussed the changes needed to proceed with the New Shooting Range Proposal, within the village.  Two things need to be presented to the board, a legal description of the property and a Platt of Annexation. 

 

Allied Waste would like the village to sign a three year contract with them.  The board will present a proposal to them, that includes a dumpster at the Little League ball diamond.  If Allied Waste is not interested, the Pocahontas Village Board will seek bids from other companies.

 

The sewer lines at Dugan’s Subdivision are being inspected with camera equipment.  The lines inspected so far are clear.  A more complete report will be available at the next meeting. 

 

Charlie Davis, Village Animal Control Officer, reported that he gets a lot of out of town calls, to collect strays.  He reminds everyone that his jurisdiction is within the village limits.

 

43 FAST-GROWING ILLINOIS SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO RECEIVE MONEY

 

43 school districts in Illinois, designated as fast-growing districts, will share $7.5 million dollars to help with challenges in providing sufficient staff, supplies and materials for new students.  The fast-growth grants are part of the historic $560 million increase in education funding, passed by the General Assembly, for Fiscal Year 2008.  Public school enrollment, in Illinois, has increased 6.4 % in the past decade, with 2,077,856 students registered in 2007.  During that same time, the number of school districts in Illinois has dropped from 900 to 871.

---

DON'T CHARGE CUSTOMERS FOR GAS THEY DON'T USE

 

Attorney General Lisa Madigan is urging the Illinois Commerce Commission to reject a controversial proposal, from two natural gas utility companies, that would impose surcharges on customers for the delivery of gas they do not use.  The proposed billing scheme, called "decoupling," works by adding a surcharge to customers' bills that makes up the difference between what customers actually spend and a pre-determined amount to be set by the ICC.  In Illinois, as in many states, utilities are permitted only to earn a profit on the delivery of gas and must pass through the cost of gas at the same market price they paid to obtain it.  "It is clearly unfair to allow utilities to charge customers for the delivery of gas they do not use," Madigan stated.  The ICC will hold public hearings this week in Springfield, to deliberate on this issue.  A final decision must be made by February 6^th.