From Gay Bowlin, Franklin County Farm Bureau Manager 

BENTON, IL – Hopefully most of the crops are out of the fields by now but I do know that there are still some farmers who are fighting the weather. So this is just a reminder that Governor Rauner signed the HSE into effect to allow farmers to haul grain and/or livestock due to crop conditions. All three common forms of weight restriction – gross, axle and registered – are addressed. In each case, the permit can allow up to a maximum of 10 percent over the standard weight restriction.

There is no cost for the HSE permit. However, you will need to have documents in EACH truck from IDOT during this time. The HSE ruling also indicates that a permit is needed for county routes, district roads and municipal streets – I have called Franklin County and talked to Matt Barnett and Mike Rolla has indicated that Franklin County is not requiring a county permit at this time for emergency harvest. I also spoke with Hamilton County and Jackson County and they are not requiring permits either.

The most important part of this is that YOU CANNOT RUN ON ANY INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHILE OVERWEIGHT. YOU MUST ALWAYS OBAY THE POSTED BRIDGE LIMITS!

To get the IDOT permit it is necessary to go to their website and go to the oversize and overweight site and create a log in. A permit will then be issued to you – remember that each truck/plate must have a written permit at least from IDOT. This includes any truck that is hauling grain – not just a farm plate.

Each truck will be required to have three documents:

1. The permit (printed or electronic)
2. A copy of form OPER 993*; and (*special vehicle movement permit provisions)
3. A copy of the Governor’s declaration.

We are getting ready for our County Annual Meeting on November 27. If you are a Farm Bureau member please call by Tuesday the 21^st to make your reservations. For more information call the office at 435-3616.

We are taking donations for Harvest of Help – this is our 10^th year and we have raised over $62,000 to be able to donate food to all 9 are food pantries. Any amount of money is helpful and it is a tax deductible donation to the Franklin County Farm Bureau Foundation. If you would like more information call the office.

It is time again to order oranges and grapefruit.  We currently have pecans in the office so you can call or stop by and pick them up. Supplies are limited so don’t wait.

  Pecans will be $10.00 for a jumbo 1 lb bag of  ½ shelled and $7.00 for a 12 oz bag of choc covered pecans.

     Oranges – a 40 lb box is $35.00 and 20 lb box is $25.00

     Grapefruit – 40 lb box is $30.00 and 20 lb box is $20.00

     (we will not have Tangelos this year at all – sorry for the inconvenience.) 

   Orders must be received by November 22 for fruit and it will be in before Christmas.

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.

From Franklin County Farm Bureau Manager, Kay Bowlin 

Gay Bowlin

Hopefully most of the crops are out of the fields by now but I do know that there are still some farmers who are fighting the weather. So this is just a reminder that Governor Rauner signed the HSE into effect to allow farmers to haul grain and/or livestock due to crop conditions. All three common forms of weight restriction – gross, axle and registered – are addressed. In each case, the permit can allow up to a maximum of 10 percent over the standard weight restriction.

There is no cost for the HSE permit. However, you will need to have documents in EACH truck from IDOT during this time. The HSE ruling also indicates that a permit is needed for county routes, district roads and municipal streets – I have called Franklin County and talked to Matt Barnett and Mike Rolla has indicated that Franklin County is not requiring a county permit at this time for emergency harvest. I also spoke with Hamilton County and Jackson County and they are not requiring permits either.

The most important part of this is that YOU CANNOT RUN ON ANY INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHILE OVERWEIGHT. YOU MUST ALWAYS OBAY THE POSTED BRIDGE LIMITS!

To get the IDOT permit it is necessary to go to their website and go to the oversize and overweight site and create a log in. A permit will then be issued to you – remember that each truck/plate must have a written permit at least from IDOT. This includes any truck that is hauling grain – not just a farm plate.

Each truck will be required to have three documents:

1. The permit (printed or electronic)
2. A copy of form OPER 993*; and (*special vehicle movement permit provisions)
3. A copy of the Governor’s declaration.

We are getting ready for our County Annual Meeting on November 27. If you are a Farm Bureau member please call by Tuesday the 21^st to make your reservations. For more information call the office at 435-3616.

We are taking donations for Harvest of Help – this is our 10^th year and we have raised over $62,000 to be able to donate food to all 9 are food pantries. Any amount of money is helpful and it is a tax deductible donation to the Franklin County Farm Bureau Foundation. If you would like more information call the office.

It is time again to order oranges and grapefruit.  We currently have pecans in the office so you can call or stop by and pick them up. Supplies are limited so don’t wait.

  Pecans will be $10.00 for a jumbo 1 lb bag of  ½ shelled and $7.00 for a 12 oz bag of choc covered pecans.

     Oranges – a 40 lb box is $35.00 and 20 lb box is $25.00

     Grapefruit – 40 lb box is $30.00 and 20 lb box is $20.00

     (we will not have Tangelos this year at all – sorry for the inconvenience.) 

   Orders must be received by November 22 for fruit and it will be in before Christmas.

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.

http://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/news/20171114/former-williamson-county-states-attorney-garnati-dies

WSIU-TV Photo

MARION, IL – (Marion Republican-  Please click on the link above for the story and further updates.  Here is an excerpt below.)

– One of the longest-serving Williamson County State’s Attorneys in Illinois history died early Tuesday morning.

Charles “Chuck” Garnati succumbed to health complications at University Hospital in St. Louis at approximately 2 a.m.

He was 65.

Benton, IL – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake reminds visitors that the following recreation areas will be closed to all vehicle and foot traffic during the first weekend of the 2017 firearm deer season.   Dates for the closures are November 17-19, 2017.  Areas affected by the closure include the North Sandusky picnic area and campground; South Sandusky picnic area, campground, beach and boat ramp; South Marcum picnic area and campground; North Marcum picnic area and old campground; and the Blackberry Nature Trail.  These areas will be utilized by persons involved in the annual Rend Lake Deer Hunt for Persons with Disabilities and will remain closed as a safety precaution.

In addition, the Corps of Engineers will temporarily close all sections of the Rend Lake Bike Trail, which are under the management of the Corps of Engineers, to persons not actively involved in the sport of deer hunting during all state firearm deer hunting seasons.  These closures include bike trail sections beginning west of the Franklin Cemetery and continuing to North Marcum day use area, and trail sections beginning in the North Sandusky day use area and continue to the South Marcum campground. All persons not involved in the sport of deer hunting are prohibited from utilizing these trails during the periods of November 17-19, November 30, December 1-3, and December 8-10. Persons wishing to access hunting spots should remember that Federal law prohibits the use of motorized vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), on all government-managed properties.

For more information on these temporary area closings, feel free to contact the Rend Lake Project Office, by phone at 618-724-2493 or by email at rendinfo@usace.army.mil.