Illinois State Police Reminds Motorists to Use Caution During Harvest Season

It is Harvest Season in Illinois, and the Illinois State Police is reminding motorists to use caution this time of year while traveling on rural roadways. Trooper Marla Tolliver says farmers will be traveling at speeds of 25 miles per hour or less as they move equipment from field to field. She states farm machinery is required to have a slow moving vehicle emblem mounted to the rear of the vehicle. If towing another piece of farm equipment, a slow moving emblem must be mounted on the farm implement being towed. She says the most important thing is to be patient and drive at a safe driving distance, and reduce your speed when seeing slow moving equipment in front of you. "The main thing I would say is share the road. Both individuals need to do their part, the farmer and the motorist, and if they do that, then everybody will be safer for it", said Tolliver. Motorists should not attempt to pass the farm equipment unless it is legal and safe to do so, even if the farm operator waves you around. If traffic begins to back up behind the farm implement, the operator should look for a place to pull over and allow traffic to pass. Farmers should avoid movements of farm machinery at sunrise and sunset, as visibility is more limited during these times.   ICpqT

Kaskaskia College Hosting Family Reunion and Open House This Weekend

The Kaskaskia College Alumni and Friends is holding a Family Reunion and Open House Weekend on Saturday, October 8th. The event will be from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the KC main campus. Alumni Coordinator Debbie Jones says it will be a great weekend to come out and enjoy the many activities planned for the day, and a great way to show the progress of the KC Community. "We have, in the last 10 years, just grown in every facid, and a lot of people haven't come back to visit the campus. So we've opened up the campus in every way possible, from the classrooms to the labs, for people to come back and visit just to see what's going on at Kaskaskia College", said Jones. There will be a variety of events throughout the day. Thi Pheta Kappa will host a 5-K Run at 8:00am. Entry fee for pre-registration for runners and walkers is $20.00, and $8.00 for senior citizens. A family, considered four members or more, may register for a price of $45.00. Race day prices are $10.00 for senior citizens, and $25.00 for walkers/runners. Majority of the events will begin at 10:00am. There will be campus tours along with demonstrations from the departments. The Cosmetology Department will be doing mini manicures and giving away hair bling. A scavenger hunt will also take place, with the grand prize being a laptop computer. There will be a car, truck, tractor, and motorcycle show with corvettes and vehicles from the Army and Navy on display. There will be baseball, tennis, and soccer clinics. There will be a 100-inning game at 9:00am, along with the Girls Softball game against Rend Lake College. There will be activities for the kids as well, with Touch a Truck, the Little Toot Train Rides, Inflatable Jumpers, and face and finger painting. There will be a musical performance by John and Drew at Noon. The Yankees and the Confederates will be fighting again during a Civil War Reenactment that will take place at 1:00pm. The cow milking contest will take place at 3:00pm. "Due to the war, we can't have the cows arrive for the cow milking contest until after the war. So the cows will get their in time for the cow milking contest at three. We still have a couple slots open for a four-person team, and there are prizes, and there's a traveling trophy", said Jones. Jones says the whole day is free except for the food. Food is one dollar and the proceeds will go to the Veteran's Tribute. For more information, contact Debbie Jones at 618-545-3226. - http://goo.gl/j3fV2

Two Home Invasions Now Under Investigation In Rural Centralia

The Marion County Sheriff's Department has two late Tuesday night home invasions in rural Centralia under investigation. Neither occupant was injured. Sheriff Jerry Devore says there are similarities in the cases. Both involved a single male suspect carrying a flashlight who fled the residence when the occupants of the home yelled at him. One of the incidents was at the Alfred Franke home on Moonglow Road. A flower pot was thrown through a window to gain entry. The man fled before taking anything from the home. Franke reported seeing the man get into a car after fleeing the home. In the second case, entry was gained to the Rose Walters home on the Green Street Road by damaging a front door. While some drawers were gone through, there are no reports of anything missing. So far no arrests have been made. - http://goo.gl/vYel2