Big Boy 4014 Draws Big Crowd in Chester Traffic Backed up for Miles As Iconic Steam Locomotive Chugs Through Area by Travis Lott Eyes on the Massive Train
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Volume 42 Number 35 Thursday, September 2 24 Pages | 75¢ Big Boy 4014 draws big crowd in Chester Traffic backed up for miles as iconic steam locomotive chugs through area By Travis Lott eyes on the massive train. Who knew there were so Starting about 15 miles many train enthusiasts in south of Chester, people the area? could be seen stopping and Estimates are that be- finding places along the tween 3,000 and 4,000 tracks to view the train people swarmed the little going past. river city August 28 to see Upon making the turn the Union Pacific Big Boy onto Water Street from 4014 at its only Illinois stop. Route 3 at Mary’s River People flocked from all Bridge, motorists were im- over the region to see the mediately confronted with train pass through the a line of cars on the road Home of Popeye, leading to and parked alongside it. long lines of traffic in and Chester Mayor Tom Page A limited number of people had reservations at the old train depot to see the Big out of town. At one point, estimated that more people Boy 4014 stop in Chester. No one was allowed to board. traffic backed up from the visited Chester this past southern border of Chester weekend than for the total ple of people did become est steam locomotives in This was the first time all the way to Turkey Bluff. solar eclipse in 2017. overheated in the 90-plus- the world, as well as the Union Pacific brought a Cars rolled slowly in a Despite the massive degree weather Saturday most powerful and modern historic train vessel into miles-long caravan stretch- crowds, Chester Police afternoon. for their time. The engines Chester since 2016, when ing all the way down State Chief Bobby Helmers re- The Big Boy 4014 steam were built in 1941, at 132 the Union Pacific 844 Route 3, and people jock- ported that there were no engine is one of 25 of its feet long and 1.2 million rolled into the old train eyed for their spot to set major incidents, but a cou- kind, which were the larg- pounds. depot. CRT in our schools By Travis Lott There are two educational concepts with the abbrevia- Maybe not tion CRT. In recent months, one of these concepts, critical race what you theory, has been the subject of a great deal of controver- sy through political pundits expected in major news media and The Randolph County Huane Society has been waiting to move into its new home, political partisans. the former Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, located north of the Critical race theory is an teachers learning about Steeleville tee, for two years. Shown is the west side of the building and unfinished educational concept that the background of their kennels that were being added to the back. studies how racism and students and tailoring edu- public policy intersect and cation to them. how policies written into It recognizes that cultural Humane society building sits American law over history differences do not have impacted the advancement to be barriers but can be of minorities within the treated as opportunities to vacant as group awaits payment culture. enrich the entire student By Travis Lott society paid Craver $36,685, of the Randolph County When some parents and body. The future of the Ran- 50 percent of the original Humane Society, said that community members saw Through these teaching dolph County Humane So- estimate. before losing contact with that Illinois schools would standards, educators are to ciety moving into a new Craver then asked for an Craver, he told humane so- be adopting something attempt to understand more facility by the Steeleville additional 25 percent of the ciety representatives that called CRT, it caused a about a student’s cultural tee remains in limbo as an estimated cost February 4, the pandemic was the rea- great deal of controversy and economic background, attorney seeks to collect 2020, and the shelter paid son he couldn’t work or get at the local level, leading something that proponents money paid to a contractor him $18,342. supplies. to contentious phone calls of the standards say helps for work that was never The humane society then Stewart said the shelter to school administrators. keep students engaged completed. wrote a third check in cannot hire another con- However, the CRT being with school and connect In July of 2019, the hu- the amount of $26,835 on tractor until it has recov- adopted in Illinois schools with their teachers. mane society entered into March 18, 2020. ered its money because is not critical race theory. Sparta Superintendent an agreement with Jim Shortly thereafter, Craver there isn’t enough cash on It stands for culturally re- Gabe Schwemmer is famil- Craver, owner of Quality stopped responding to calls. hand to move forward with sponsive teaching, which iar with the concept. She Electric and Construction By the time the humane construction and continue is a concept that has been has not only been working of Wolf Lake, Illinois for society filed a lawsuit in caring for the animals. studied and developed over to implement the standards construction work to re- October 2020, Craver had “We run solely on dona- several years. for some time now, but she model the former Mormon been absent from the job- tions, so it’s a slow-go pro- While being a broad con- also did her doctoral disser- church near the Steeleville site for months and had cess,” Stewart said. “We try cept that encompasses a tation on the concept. tee. removed his tools from the to put money in the bank wide variety of topics, it Upon signing the contract property. basically boils down to Continued on Page 5_____ July 7, 2019, the humane Shelley Stewart, director Continued on Page 5_____ Communities mourn death of Rocher teen ‘She was just a great kid’—Coach Erin Legendre By Dan Zobel Lillian Vandeford was a positive and happy spark plug. That is one of the ways that Red Bud High School volleyball coach Erin Leg- endre described the 16-year- old who was a victim of a tragic car accident the evening of August 27. Vandeford, who just be- gan her junior year at Red Bud, lived in Prairie du Rocher. On Friday, at 6:14 p.m., Vandeford was driving a Chevrolet Cruze. She was stopped at a double railroad crossing at Duclos Street Lillian Vanderford near Berger Lane in Prai- rie du Rocher, according gates and was struck on the Sparta VFW celebrates to an Illinois State Police passenger side by a train A large crowd attended last Saturday’s 85th birthday party of Sparta VFW Post report. traveling southbound on a 2698. The event featured Matthew “Fritz” Mihelcic, the new commander-in-chief of The crossing gates were second set of tracks. the national VFW. Mihelcic, who lives in Columbia but is a member of the Sparta VFW, down, and the lights were Vandeford was pronounced arrived at the celebration by helicopter, courtesy of Kim Rasnick of Steeleville. Mihelcic, activated. dead at the scene by Coro- at right, talks here with Rich Stefani of Ruma and Cheryl Miller of Red Bud, who is Vandeford yielded to a ner Carlos Barbour. president of the 14th District VFW Auxiliary. The festivities included food, drinks, northbound train, but then displays, live music and was topped off by an impressive fireworks display. drove around the crossing Continued on Page 5_____ Willis Publishing Inc. © Copyright 2021 MONEY $AVING COUPONS INSIDE! PAGE 2 COUNTY JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 All those arrested or ticketed are presumed innocent until POLICE proven guilty in court. Local police blotters Emily C. Thompson, Melissa K. Baugh- Lisa G. Rayburn, 63, 24, of Ste. Genevieve man, 42, of Chester of Chester was arrest- was arrested August was arrested August ed August 30 by Ches- 23 by the Randolph 28 by Chester police ter police for posses- County Sheriff’s Office for possession of meth. sion of meth. She was on a Randolph County She was released on a jailed. warrant for failure to recognizance bond. **** appear in court on a **** Bonnie L. Wahl, 54, charge of battery. She Dean A. Stork, 45, of Sparta was arrested posted bond and was of Coulterville was ar- August 30 by Chester released. rested August 29 by police for possession **** Coulterville police for of meth and improper Ronald J. Ballheimer, disorderly conduct signal. She was jailed. 49, of Christopher was and resisting arrest. **** arrested August 29 by He was jailed. Kelly A. Durham, 38, Chester police for pos- **** of Murphysboro was session of meth, driv- Kyle I. Baker, 27, arrested August 30 by ing on a suspended of Evansville was ar- the Randolph County license and driving a rested August 29 by Sheriff’s Office on a vehicle that had an ob- the Randolph County Randolph County war- structed windshield. Sheriff’s Office for rant for failure to ap- He was released on a criminal trespass to a pear in court on a pe- recognizance bond. residence. He posted tition to increase bond **** bond and was released. for possession of a con- Michael S. Fiala, 58, **** trolled substance. Dur- of Belleville was ar- Mark W. Greer, 57, of ham was jailed. rested August 25 by Chester was arrested **** Fundraiser cornhole tournament Red Bud police for re- August 29 by Chester Adam S. White, 49, The Sparta Fire Department held a cornhole tournament fundraiser sisting a peace officer. police for domestic bat- of Sparta was arrested Saturday.