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Mine subsidence severely damages houses in Benld

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UPDATE April 9, 7:56am: Benld is providing donuts, coffee and water to area residents without power and any emergency personnel in the area around 9 a.m. at the Benld Civic Center. Volunteers will also be walking the mine subsidence area providing the same food items to crews on scene and residents in the area.

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UPDATE April 8, 9:36pm: Methane gas from the mine was discovered in the city’s sewer lines this afternoon, so Ameren turned off power around 4:30 p.m. for residents within the boundary of West Central, Dorsey, Route 4 and the railroad tracks as an extreme precaution.

The City of Benld opened the Benld Civic Center and served dinner to about 50 residents affected by the mine subsidence while power was reportedly still shut off at 9:30 p.m. Authorities are still monitoring the methane gas situation and attempting to remove the gas from the lines using a “negative pressure machine”.

Ameren warning area residents of the outage through a Facebook advertisement.

(Ameren warning area residents of the outage through a Facebook advertisement.)

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BENLD – More issues with mine subsidence in Benld has forced the closure of two city streets Wednesday morning, April 8, while investigators determine the extent of damage subsidence caused to houses, city infrastructure and roadways. Authorities said they may have to vacate the houses in the area.

After mine subsidence ruined the Benld Elementary School in 2009, home owners approximately 1000 feet away from the school site were woken up this morning around 4 o’clock by the sound of their basement walls cracking.

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Damage affected more than ten houses in the area of Dorsey Avenue, South Kentucky Street, South Illinois Street and Hickory Street with home owners reporting large cracks in their basement walls, garage floors and yard areas. A large open lot in the neighborhood, which neighbors said used to be flat, was sunk in Wednesday morning.

“The cop woke me up about 6:10 and told me I might want to move my car and truck,” Jim Matesa told us. “I have about an inch wide crack through my garage floor. The dirt is pulled away from my garage wall about [five inches].”

There’s major damage and it seems to be in a two block area, but it is still sinking and it is still moving out.

Matesa, who hasn’t discovered damage inside his house yet, explained investigators had to break open the front door of his neighbor’s house on Dorsey to check on the owners. “They say some doors on other houses won’t open,” Matesa added. “Gloria’s basement walls are cracked and the floor is buckled. Some basement supports for houses on Hickory aren’t even touching the floor.”

A large buckle in the road on Dorsey Avenue stands nearly 12” high and stretches across the width of road while small cracks are spread throughout South Illinois Street and Dorsey Avenue. City maintenance workers were on hand Wednesday morning to monitor the city water main and lift station.

Maintenance Supervisor Jim Savant said he was on-site this morning at 4:30 barricading the damage, but subsidence has continued since then. “It’s terrible,” Savant added.

Mayor Gloria Sidar explained the city has contacted the Department of Mining and the Department of Natural Resources. Both departments are sending investigators, according to Mayor Sidar. In addition, the Macoupin County emergency crew was on-scene Wednesday morning along with insurance agents, Benld Fire Chief Anthony Kravanya and Ameren employees.

“I’ve already contacted the insurance companies to contact mine subsidence organizations to get a case number,” Mayor Sidar explained. “A case number has already been assigned and the county has already sent an assessor down to assess properties. There’s major damage and it seems to be in a two block area, but it is still sinking and it is still moving out.”

The city is doing everything they can right now, according to Mayor Sidar. Besides the major structural damage to her own house, Sidar was very worried about the city’s lift station that is located near the subsidence damage. “It’s one of our major lift stations.”

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It is unclear which mine subsided, but there is no active mining in the Benld area.

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Thunderstorms, winds, snow, freezing rain coming to BenGil area

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Another major winter storm is forecasted to blanket the BenGil area in heavy rains, flooding and snowfall starting Wednesday night through Thursday.

The mixture of precipitation and rapidly changing weather likely will produce the potential for sudden icing on roads, with high winds leading to blowing snow and reduced visibility.

“The Illinois Department of Transportation’s snow-and-ice teams will be prepared and out in force, but the public needs to be ready for conditions to change quickly and worsen if they are out on the roads,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “As always during periods of extreme weather, the safest option is to postpone any unnecessary trips and stay home. If you must travel, prepare for very slow and potentially hazardous conditions. And please slow down around our plows and other emergency vehicles, giving them plenty of room to do their jobs.”

The National Weather Service is predicting a wintry mix of precipitation to start with thunderstorms and heavy rain in much of the state this evening, converting to freezing rain overnight before turning to snow Thursday morning. In addition to localized flooding, ice and sleet accumulations are likely, creating extremely slippery surfaces and slick conditions.

Due to the rainy conditions ahead of temperatures falling overnight, the effectiveness of pretreating and salting surfaces in advance of significant snowfall will be limited. The public should anticipate icy conditions even when roads appear clear and greatly reduce speeds. 

“As the Illinois State Police plans to take on the unpredictable Illinois weather, we would like to remind motorists to do their part in keeping the roads a safe place,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.  “ISP, alongside IDOT and other agencies, will be working in hazardous weather conditions. Please remember to slow down, stay vigilant and move over for ANY vehicle on the side of the road.”

Statewide, IDOT has available more than 1,800 trucks and equipment to plow, treat roads and respond to weather emergencies. If you encounter a plow or any maintenance vehicle during your travels, please slow down, increase your following distance and remain patient. Do not attempt to pass – conditions in front of the plow will be worse than behind it.

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Police investigating death of Bunker Hill woman

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Police are investigating the death of a Bunker Hill woman who was found dead at the end of her driveway near the roadway on Monday morning, January 31.

Nancy Blycker, 91, had multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call to the 2900 block of Wood Hill Lane around 7:40 a.m. on Monday.

The initial suspicion was homicide, according to a release by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis who said approximately 20 investigators were working the investigation, but the autopsy contradicted that suspicion.

The Major Case Squad said on Tuesday it is “highly unlikely” Blycker’s death was the “result of homicidal means.”

The Major Case Squad turned the case back over to the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department. The official cause of death is pending further lab analysis.

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Winter storm warning issued for BenGil area

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The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the BenGil area, southwestern Illinois, and the St. Louis area.

The warning was issued early Tuesday taking effect at midnight tonight until noon on Thursday, February 3 calling for a “wet, heavy” snow. The forecast also calls for ice prompting a warning about possible power outages.

“All indications continue to point to a disruptive, impactful, and dangerous winter storm impacting the region starting late tonight and lasting through Thursday night,” the National Weather Service said in its Area Forecast Discussion.

The BenGil area is expected to receive heavy mixed precipitation including snow accumulations between 6 and 10 inches, sleet accumulations around three-quarters of an inch, and ice accumulations around two-tenths of an inch. Wind gusts will be as high as 35 mph on Thursday.

The storm is expected to start with rain most of the day today before transitioning into a mixture of freezing rain and/or sleet Tuesday night, then all snow Wednesday morning or as late as Wednesday afternoon continuing until about noon on Thursday.

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