Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

November 2, 2009

DUI memorial sign temporarily removed

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — An Illinois DUI Memorial Sign in honor of 35-year-old Ronald Hale has been removed from the corner of Shawnee Street and Illinois Route 142.

The sign was first put up on Oct. 28, and was taken down by Illinois Department of Transportation crews on Oct. 31, according to Martha Schartz of IDOT.

The sign will be put back at a later date, according to Aaron Weatherholt of IDOT, who said the sign was taken down due to a complaint received from a family member of Steven Hanner, who is accused of six counts of driving under the influence of drugs and possession of more than 2.5 grams of marijuana in connection with the accident which took the life of Hale, of Waltonville.

A family member of Hanner’s allegedly complained that because Hanner has not been convicted, the sign should not have been placed. Weatherholt said the state statute and the administrative code do not require a conviction of DUI in connection with the memorial sign program, however an application form for the signs do ask for documentation including information on a conviction.

“I had the sign taken down Saturday because we want to be responsive, and I didn’t know the details at that time,” Weatherholt said. “Conviction is not in the law for the program or the rules for the program. We decided to remove it to maintain a neutral position.”

Weatherholt said as a result of the complaint, the application form for the DUI Memorial Sign Program is being reviewed for revision. He also said the family of Hale was notified the sign would be temporarily taken down.

Hale died on June 14, 2006, at 3:21 p.m. after the motorcycle he was driving was involved in an accident at the intersection of Shawnee and Illinois Route 142. Hanner, who was 16 at the time of the accident, was 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. According to toxicology reports, Hanner allegedly had cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDA and ecstasy in his urine at the time of the accident, court reports, indicate. No trial date has been set for Hanner at this time.

The DUI Memorial Sign Program, sponsored by IDOT, is to memorialize deceased victims of crashes and to raise public awareness of the consequences of driving while impaired, according to information from IDOT. The memorial may be placed on state highways and crashes must have happened on or after Jan. 1, 1990.

An application for the memorial sign is filled out by the family of the deceased, and IDOT reviews the application. If approved, the family pays a one-time fee, and the memorial is installed at or near the location of the crash.

Text Only
Local
  • herb and garden show Midwestern Herb and Garden Show held

    MT. VERNON —  Those with a passion for plants mingled this weekend at Times Square Mall for the 24th Annual Midwestern Herb and Garden Show.

    February 13, 2012 1 Photo

  • Brehm to host Mardi Gras event

    MT. VERNON — C.E. Brehm Memorial Library will be hosting Mardi Gras at the Library Thursday.

    February 13, 2012

  • Construction to be complete by Aug. 2013

    MT. VERNON — Renovation and construction at Casey Middle School and J.L. Buford Intermediate Center will be complete by Aug. 2013.

    February 13, 2012

  • Council to discuss mobile home ordinance

    MT. VERNON — The City Council may decide today on the ordinance that would prohibit mobile homes outside of approved parks.

    February 13, 2012

  • Herb and Garden Herb and Garden Show

    Robert and Loris Butterfield were among a large crowd making their way through the 24th Annual Herb and Garden Show at Times Square Mall Friday afternoon. Hours today are 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The event is sponsored by Herbs for Health and Fun Club and Mt. Vernon Convention and Visitors Bureau.
     

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • Village offering chat and performance

    MT. VERNON – The Jefferson County Historical Village is offering two opportunities to learn about history in February.

    February 11, 2012

  • Society to hold open meeting

    MT. VERNON— The National MS Society is hosting an open town hall meeting in Mt. Vernon Outland Airport’s Banquet Room Sunday.

    February 11, 2012

  • Principal shares information about school

    MT. VERNON – City Schools District 80 Primary Center Principal Shannon Marler provided the District 80 Board of Education with an update on the school at the latest board meeting.

    February 11, 2012

  • Check Bluford students collect donation

    BLUFORD — There probably hasn’t been much loose change jingling in parents’ pockets who have children attending Bluford Grade and High Schools the last three weeks.

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • CASA Men Cooking for CASA winners

    MT. VERNON — The first-ever Men Cooking for CASA fundraiser officially came  to a close Thursday afternoon.

    February 10, 2012 1 Photo