http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/story/35647935/idot-plans-to-install-more-cable-barriers-to-combat-crashes

CARBONDALE, IL – (Logan Gay, WPSD-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story and video.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Four people died this weekend in three separate crashes on Interstate 57 and Interstate 24 in Illinois. The crashes involved drivers crossing the median and hitting oncoming cars. Troopers with Illinois State Police are still investigating the crashes.

“Fatigue is one of the big contributors where people fall asleep and come through the median. Another one is medical issues or they will have some sort of medical condition. They’ll make a lane change and lose control of the vehicle,” Joey Watson of the Illinois State police said.

“The cable median barrier is designed to stop or prevent median crossover type crashes. Now, guardrail and cable median isn’t crash tested for a semi,” said IDOT District 9 Program Development Engineer Carrie Nelson.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – After a long-term solution to the state’s economic competitive issues and a resolution to the two year budget impasse wasn’t produced by the General Assembly’s scheduled May 31 adjournment, State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) believes achieving a final resolution now becomes even harder to achieve

Legislators returned to their districts for the summer, despite the fiscal uncertainty plaguing the state. Senator Fowler remains committed to returning to the State Capitol at a moment’s notice to vote much-needed reforms and a budget deal.

The Senator is concerned that as the clock runs down on Fiscal Year 2017, the consequences of inaction become even direr. After repeated requests by Senator Fowler and his fellow Senate Republican lawmakers, the majority party seems to have dug in even more in their opposition to reaching a budget deal with associated reforms that will help make Illinois more competitive.

Senator Fowler has held a number of meetings in his Harrisburg Office with constituents on issues ranging from coal mining to disaster recovery. On June 6, the Senator joined Representative Dave Severin for tour of the now-shuttered Bombardier boat factory. The factory ceased operations in 2012 and the factory is now being offered on the open market for future Franklin County economic development.

As most schools districts in Southern Illinois closed for the summer, impoverished students are often reliant on summer community-based lunch programs. Senator Fowler’s office took part in the opening of the Harrisburg East Side Elementary summer feeding program on June 7. The Senator thanked the non-profit organizations who are all-too-often leading providers to fill in the “gaps” for Southern Illinois Families.

Senator Fowler’s Comcast Newsmakers

The Senator recently made his debut on Comcast Newsmakers to discuss Cairo’s ongoing housing situation and his efforts to help economically rebuild the community. Senator Fowler’s appearance can be found on his Facebook “fan page” available at www.facebook.com/senatorfowler

Marion Senior Fair

Williamson County area senior citizens are invited to a 6/27 FREE senior health fair to be held at the Marion HUB Rec Center located at 917 W. Main. Nearly 30 vendors will be in attendance and several are offering various screenings including: mental health, blood pressure, oral exams, grip strength testing and some limited immunizations. The event will run from 9:00 – 11:00 A.M. For more information visit www.senatorfowler.com.