09-26-2012

WAVES OF SEVERE WEATHER HIT AREA

Wave after wave after wave of rain and storms moved through the area Tuesday night. A tornado was spotted at Damiansville and Okawville Tuesday evening.  The tornado would drop to the ground then get sucked back up into the clouds only to move down the road and descend back to the ground, according to the national weather service.  Damage was reported near Okawville. Metal sheds reportedly had roofs ripped off and twisted. A home under construction was nearly destroyed and several roofs were damaged.  Power was lost to some in Greenville for hours.  Others, in Highland and throughout the county, lost power due to winds and tree limbs.  According to a fire report from the Greenville Fire Department, lightning was the cause of a hay bale fire along Idler Lane Tuesday evening at about 6:30.  A warm front, stalled out in our area, brought the waves of rain last night and this morning and will continue to bring bouts of rain and storms today and tonight. 

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GREENVILLE RAIN TOTALS

We got more rain Tuesday and Tuesday night and here are the official rain totals for Greenville as recorded at 6:00 o’clock this morning.  1.87 inches were measured at the Sewer Plant, 2.25 inches at the station on Sixth Street, and 2.09 at Idler Lane and Rt. 140.  Here at the WGEL Studio, our gauge showed two inches.  Mike Greenwood reported 1.7 inches and Joe Doll said his gauge had three inches over the past 24 hours. Rain totals are even greater to the south in Clinton and Washington Counties. The National Weather Service has estimated rain totals as high as 4 inches in that area.

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CONGRESSMAN SHIMKUS ENDORSES McGLYNN

Congressman John Shimkus visited Greenville to endorse Judge Steve McGlynn for the Fifth District Appellate Court.  Congressman Shimkus said he has known Judge McGlynn for a long time and McGlynn has been twice unanimously appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve as both an Appellate and Circuit Judge.  McGlynn is viewed favorably by his peers in the legal and judicial profession and his conservative values fit southern Illinois well. McGlynn is a lifelong resident of Belleville and is the former Director and Chairman of the Board for Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois and Christian Social Services of Illinois.  He is a proud member of the NRA, the Illinois State Rifle Association, the East St. Louis NAACP, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Missouri State Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association. Judge McGlynn and his wife, Mary Anne, have one daughter.

A NIGHT OF SHARED MEMORIES

It was a night of shared memories as about fifty people gathered at the Glenwood Monday to talk about the past and future of Greenville.  There was a reception for Mac Hughey, Susie Cooper and Charlie Nash, the living members of the 1965 Sesquicentennial Board .  All three were on hand to share memories and favorite parts of the 150th anniversary celebration.  Greenville will turn 200 years old in 2015 and planning has been underway for how that milestone will be celebrated.  The "Sweetest Thing" on the Greenville Square supplied special treats complete with the Sesquicentennial logo. 

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GC MUSIC DEPARTMENT PARENT'S DAY PROGRAM

The Greenville College Music Department will celebrate Parents’ Day Saturday, September 29 with a concert in the Whitlock Music Center at 7:00 p.m. Three of the college’s student touring ensembles, the Greenville College Choir, Chamber Singers, and Worship Arts Ensemble, will perform in addition to the faculty ensemble and faculty soloists. There is no admission charge and everyone is invited. For more information, contact the music department at 664-6560.

ISP ANNOUNCES ROADSIDE SAFETY CHECK RESULTS

The Illinois State Police announced the results of a Roadside Safety Check Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23 on the Illinois Route 15 eastbound ramp to Illinois Rt. 157. There were 45 citations or arrests and 23 of the 45 were alcohol or drug related.  Eight were for occupant restraint offenses and three were for driver’s license offenses. Alcohol is involved in more than 40% of fatal crashes in Illinois.  Roadside Safety Checks are designed to remove alcohol-impaired drivers from the roadways.