From Gay Bowlin, Franklin County Farm Bureau President 

BENTON, IL – 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.

Gay Bowlin

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.

The townships that I have spoken with – Benton and Tyrone – indicate that they will not require a written permit to run on their roads.   The most important part of this is that YOU CANNOT RUN ON ANY INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHILE OVERWEIGHT.

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

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 435-3616 and I will do my best to walk you through the process.

We are still looking for Silent Auction Items for our Annual Meeting. The proceeds will benefit Ag in the Classroom. If you have an item that you would like to donate please contact our office at 435-3616 and we can make arrangements to pick it up. Thank you for your consideration and this is a tax deductible donation.

Also, it is time again to ask for donations for our annual “Harvest of Help” – we collect money then purchase food for each of the nine food pantries in Franklin County. Every dollar helps! This is a tax deductible donation and checks need to be made to Franklin County Farm Bureau Foundation. Over the nine years that we have been doing the Harvest of Help we have donated in excess of $62,000 to the food pantries. We are very proud of the support that we have received from everyone for this program.

It is time again to order pecans, oranges and grapefruit.

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 they will be in before Christmas. Pecans will be in before Thanksgiving. Call 435-3616 now to get your order in.

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

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36777850/local-church-takes-security-measures-after-recent-shootings

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (Roni LeForge, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Recent church shootings have members of a Franklin county congregation taking steps to make sure they stay safe.

For three weeks now, Grace Baptist Fellowship in West Frankfort has been locking their doors. It’s a security measure Pastor Roger Teal said recent tragedies forced them to take.

“When the service starts, we have someone standing at the door, he’s in plain clothes just like anybody else and he stays at the door during the entire service,” said Pastor Teal.

They have 39 trained members. Pastor Teal said many of those worshiping from their seats on Sunday have their Concealed Carry Permits and could be packing heat. Soon, they’ll add security cameras and better ways to communicate in a crisis.

A pair of upper-level disturbances will bring precipitation to the region through Tuesday night. The first will bring showers and a few thunderstorms eastward across the region from late this afternoon through early Tuesday. The second will bring mainly light rain to the region Tuesday night. The sun will return Wednesday. In the meantime, clouds, rainfall and north winds will combine to make it feel quite cool, with high temperatures well below normal (NWS Paducah)

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Watches, Warnings, and Advisories still in effect for Southern Illinos

The Tornado Watch is still in effect for Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Gallatin and Saline Counties.

There is a Flood Advisory in effect for Williamson County until 10:30.

My apologies, I did not realize my internet was down for a while, and I missed a few Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in the Southern Seven counties.

The major part of the line is in Alexander, Pulaski, and Massac Counties and will exiting the region soon.

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, PADUCAH KY

A Tornado Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service
for all of southern Illinois and southwest Indiana, as well as
portions of southeast Missouri and west Kentucky . This watch is
in effect until 10 PM Central time. The following safety tips are
being provided in the hope that broadcast media will frequently
broadcast these messages while the watch affects their area.

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for the development
of severe thunderstorms which can produce tornadoes in and close
to the watch area. If you are in the watch area, keep informed of
the latest weather information. These storms can develop rapidly,
so there may be occasions when advance warning is not possible.

A Tornado Warning means a tornado has been spotted or indicated by
radar. If you are in the path of or near the tornado, take
immediate action to protect life and property.

Follow these safety rules:

In open country, find a ditch, culvert, or other low area and lay
down flat. Cover your head with your hands for protection.

In homes or small buildings, go to the basement or a small
interior room on the lowest floor, such as a hallway, bathroom, or
closet. Use heavy furniture for shelter or cover yourself with a
mattress or blanket.

In mobile homes or vehicles, abandon them and go to a substantial
structure or place of safety. Never try to outrun a tornado in a
vehicle.

In schools, hospitals, factories, or shopping centers, go to
designated shelter areas. Interior halls on the lowest levels are
usually the best. Stay away from gymnasiums or auditoriums. Avoid
all outside walls and windows.

The key to tornado survival is to be prepared and take immediate
action when a warning is issued or when you feel threatened.
Remember, the action you take during a tornado event may save your
life and the lives of those you are responsible for.

$$

Use the Extra Hour this Sunday to Change and Test the Batteries in Your Smoke Alarm

CHICAGO, IL – The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) today asks Illinoisans to take an extra few minutes this weekend to change and test the batteries in their smoke alarms while setting their clocks back an hour. Clocks fall back an hour for Daylight Savings Time this Sunday, November 5.
“Daylight Savings Time is a great built-in reminder for us all to check that our smoke alarms are working in case of emergency,” said State Fire Marshal Matt Perez.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that between 2009 and 2013 three in five home fire deaths occurred in homes that either did not have smoke alarms or the alarms did not work. More than half of the non-working smoke alarms either had missing or disconnected batteries. Dead batteries caused nearly a quarter of smoke alarm failures.

Illinois law requires every household to have smoke alarms within 15 feet of every bedroom and at least one alarm on each floor of the home.

The NFPA provides the following tips for installation and maintenance of smoke alarms:

• Install alarms close to each sleeping area of the house and on every level of the house. Ensure that the alarms are interconnected.
• Test alarms at least once a month.
• Change alarm batteries at least twice a year. Daylight Savings Time is a reminder to “Change your Clock, Change your Batteries.”
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are ten years old.
• Closed doors may slow the spread of smoke.
• Smoke alarms should be a part of a larger home escape plan for emergencies. Visit the NFPA website for more information on home escape planning.