4-08-2008

 

THREE-VEHICLE ACCIDENT KILLS TWO IN MACOUPIN COUNTY

 

A three-vehicle crash occurred on IL Rt. 16, Monday afternoon at 3:34 PM.  According to the Illinois State Police report, a green 1992 Ford Explorer, driven by 18 year-old Amanda Z. Wilson of Edwardsville, was eastbound on Rt. 16 and did not see a black 1999 Chevrolet Z71 pick-up truck, driven by 27 year-old Julie M. Bartlett of Jerseyville, preparing to make a left turn onto Plainview Road.  The Explorer rear-ended the truck and pushed it into the path of a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle driven by 43 year-old Michael J. Tucker of Brighton.  Shortly after impact, the pick-up truck and motorcycle burst into flames.  Shipman Fire and Ambulance responded to the scene and extinguished the fire.  Macoupin County Coroner Charles Landers pronounced Michael Tucker and his passenger on the motorcycle, Kimberly Tucker, age 36, dead at the scene.  Neither were wearing a helmet.  Wilson and Bartlett were both transported to hospitals for treatment.  IL Rt. 16 was closed for approximately 5 hours.  The crash remains under investigation.

---

POLICE CALLS IN COUNTY ON SATURDAY

 

Local law enforcement responded to a couple of accidents Saturday.  The first was a backing accident in the Dairy Queen Parking lot.  The second was a car vs. deer accident on Old Ripley Road.  No injuries were reported.

 

Keyesport Firemen were called to a car on fire, on Milstone Road, in Clinton County.  No further details are available at this time.  And the Greenville Fire Protection District responded to a carbon monoxide detector sounding on Prairie Street, in Greenville.  Upon arrival, no reading in the home was found.

---

Greenville FFA Banquet

 

At the Greenville FFA banquet last week, Chapter scholarships went to Bryan Davidson, Josh Tebbe, Amy Schaufelberger and Kayla Hagler. Bryan Davidson was honored for having the highest senior grade point average. Tannor Spittler, the State FFA Reporter, from Kansas, was the Keynote speaker and Karen File, Ag Literacy Coordinator, gave a report on the Ag Book Barn currently being built.

 

NATIONAL WORK ZONE SAFETY WEEK THROUGH APRIL 11^TH

 

This week, through Friday, April 11^th is National Work Zone Safety Week. Safe Electricity is urging motorists to slow down and pay close attention to work crews while driving.  Most of the time, electric utility workers share the road with motorists in order to access overhead power lines and electrical equipment. Motorists should not tailgate in workzones, instead keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers and construction equipment.  Always be patient and keep up with the traffic flow.

 

The most common crash in a roadway work zone is the rear-end collision. According to statistics from the Federal Highway Administration, the number of persons killed in motor vehicle crashes in work zones has risen in recent years and now averages more than 1,000 deaths per year.

---

ICC PRESENTED PETITION IN OPPOSITION TO AMEREN RATE INCREASE

 

This past week, State Representative Tom Holbrook met with Peggy Snyder, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Illinois Commerce Commission, to present a petition with nearly 2,500 signatures, voicing opposition to Ameren's proposed rate increase.  According to Holbrook, those who are affected by the possible change need to have their opinions heard.

 

The ICC will convene in the coming months to consider the proposal and will issue a ruling to approve, deny or amend Ameren's requested rate increase.  The public can call the ICC at their toll-free consumer comment line at 1-800-524-0795.