05-15 -2008

 

FRANK WATSON MAKES EMOTIONAL RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD

 

Long-time State Senator Frank Watson made an emotional return to the capital in Springfield recently.  Representative Ron Stephens was there and he talked with WGEL about what happened. Stephens said that Frank walked onto the House of Representatives floor where, being a former house member, he has eternal house privileges. Frank was introduced and got a standing ovation. Stephens added that he had not seen Frank for a couple of months because he was rehabilitating. He hugged him on the house floor and a lot of members wanted to talk with him. He also said that he noticed that Frank had a tear in his eye. Stephens said, "Frank has been in Springfield for more than 30 years. He has made a lot of friends and has huge respect on both sides of the aisle. He has worked hard and given so much to the people of Illinois."

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PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE IS THIS SATURDAY

 

"Paint Our Town Purple" is a big part of the relay for life celebration and it's coming up this Saturday. Fundraising events will be taking place and Mayor Gaffner will read a proclamation at 9:00 AM proclaiming Saturday as "Paint Our Town Purple" day in Greenville.  Gaffner will then paint the traditional purple cancer ribbon on the street in front of Watson's on the Greenville square.  If you want to purchase a ribbon or bow for your home, yard, car or anywhere else, call 664-1075.  And don't forget to get out the purple on Saturday.  The Bond County Relay for Life is scheduled for the evening of June 5^th to the morning of June 6^th. 

 

CITY CREWS WORK TO REPAIR SEWER LINE

 

City crews worked to repair a sewer line near Pauls Friendly City  in Greenville.  The 18 inch gravity line is one of the deepest sewer lines in the city and will take excavating before repair.  There is no word yet on why the line failed.  Work will continued into the night and the city crews had to block off Red Street from Highway 40 to Gold Street for the repairs.   

THUNDERSTORMS CAUSE DAMAGE IN GILLESPIE

 

Thunderstorms moved through Illinois early Thursday morning.  There have been no reports of damage in Bond County, but some residents lost power for a short time Thursday morning.  In Clinton County, power lines were down in Aviston. Damage was much more sever in Gillespie.  WGEL spoke this morning with the Gillespie City Police who said power poles and lines were down in the town.  Schools were closed this morning due to damage from the storm.  Approximately 10 homes, in a housing complex behind Main Street, were evacuated due to power lines down and arching.  Ameren IP crews and city crews started working at 2:00 o'clock Thursday morning to restore power and clean streets of downed power poles and debris.