Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

Related Photos

  • DUI Memorial Sign in honor of Ronald Hale Tesaa Culli/Register-News

    images_sizedimage_302210048
October 29, 2009

DUI Memorial Sign installed in King City

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The first Illinois DUI Memorial Sign in Jefferson County has been erected in honor of 35-year-old Ronald Hale at the corner of Shawnee Street and Illinois Route 142.

“We just want people to look at it as a reminder not to drive impaired,” Hale’s mother, Jeanne Hale said Thursday afternoon.

Ronald Hale, of Waltonville, died on June 14, 2006, at 3:21 p.m. after the motorcycle he was driving was involved in an accident at the intersection. The alleged driver of the vehicle which hit Hale was Steven Hanner, who was 16 at the time of the accident, and has since been charged as an adult with six counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs and possession of more than 2.5 grams of marijuana.

Hanner, of the 1800 block of Franklin Avenue, has not been to trial on the charges. According to court documents, Hanner was allegedly under the influence of six different types of drugs during the crash. Toxicology reports indicate there was allegedly cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDA and ecstasy in his urine at the time of the accident.

No trial date has been set for Hanner at this time.

The DUI Memorial Sign Program, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Transportation, is to memorialize deceased victims of crashes and to raise public awareness of the consequences of driving while impaired, according to IDOT. The memorial may be placed on state highways and crashes must have happened on or after Jan. 1, 1990. An application is filled out by the family, and IDOT reviews and if the application is approved, the family pays a one-time fee, and the memorial is installed at or near the location of the crash.

Additional information about the program is available online at www.dot.state.il.us/oper/diumemorialprogram.html or by contacting IDOT at 217-785-8534.

Text Only
Local
  • Women’s Heart Night to be held

    MT. VERNON — Good Samaritan Heart Center is hoping it has the keys to women’s heart health.

    February 3, 2012

  • Students selected to perform in festival

    MT. VERNON — Three Mt. Vernon Township High School band students have been selected to perform as part of the Heartland Honor Band Festival.

    February 3, 2012

  • Fence project almost complete

    MT. VERNON — The $1.2 million fence project at Mt. Vernon Outland Airport is expected to be completed next week.

    February 3, 2012

  • Vera Gilliam Vera Gilliam

    Vera M. Gilliam, 93, of West Frankfort, died 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, at West Side Rehabilitation and Care Center in West Frankfort.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Local woman steps up in support of trail

    MT. VERNON —  One local entrepreneur is starting a petition in support of the Cedarhurst leg of the multi-use trail.

    February 3, 2012

  • Lovin Lovin retires after 31 years of service

    MT. VERNON — Staff at Crossroads Community Hospital celebrated Supervisor of Housekeeping Linda Lovin’s retirement after 31 years.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Classes MVTHS adds second class to track

    MT. VERNON — A new class at Mt. Vernon Township High School has led to the addition of another science-related opportunity for students.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Catholic Social Services changes name

    MT. VERNON — Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois has changed its name to Christian Social Services of Illinois.

    February 2, 2012

  • Foutch charged as adult

    MT. VERNON — A 16-year-old has been charged as an adult with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault.

    February 2, 2012

  • B. Maxine Shelton B. Maxine Shelton

    B. Maxine Shelton, 93, of Centralia and formerly of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 10:19 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt. Vernon.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo