44-year-old Timothy W. Hightower of Xenia was cited for DUI and improper lane usage following an accident late Saturday morning at the east edge of Flora. State police said Hightower was westbound on U.S. Route 50 and crossed the center line into the eastbound lane and onto the shoulder, striking a disabled pickup truck head-on, driven by 51-year-old Jamey L. Tolliver of Clay City. Both drivers had major injuries along with a passenger in Hightower’s vehicle, 34-year-old Shane R. Hightower of West Salem. All of the injured were taken to Clay County Hospital in Flora. Police said additional charges against Hightower were pending.
A squirrel was blamed for causing a blown fuse along a power line on Leininger Road in Fairfield around 7:30 last night. A city power plant spokesperson said it was not known how many homes were affected by any power outages. It was first believed a transformer had blown along the line, however city workers believe the squirrel was the culprit.
An Indiana man was injured in a fall Saturday afternoon at the Garden of the Gods in Saline County. The Saline County Sheriff’s Office says a call was received shortly before 1:45 p.m. reporting a man had fallen near Table Rock at the Garden of the Gods. 21-year-old Nicholas R. Zoglman fell near the Table Rock formation and suffered a knee injury. He was flown from the scene to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, IN for treatment of his injuries.
Illinois State Police District 19 Commander, Captain Kelly Hodge has announced the activity and enforcement figures for the month of July in Distict 19. Troopers answered 283 calls for service and initiated 990 incidents in the field. Enforcement figures totalled 412 citations and 806 written warnings, including 139 speeding tickets, five DUI’s, 97 seatbelt citations, three child-restraint citations, 250 written warnings for speeding and 25 criminal arrests. One fatal traffic crash was investigated by District 19 police during July, resulting in one fatality.
The North Wayne School District has scheduled their Open House for later this month. Mt. Erie and Johnsonville schools will conduct their Open House on Tuesday, August 19th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Cisne Middle and Cisne High School will conduct their Open House on Wednesday, August 20th from 5 to 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend both open houses.