ROCKY BRANCH HOLDS COTTAGE GROVE ROAD FROM PEABODY IN HEARING LOCAL PROTESTERS JOIN WITH NATIONAL SUPPORT
June 2, 2014 at 6pm COTTAGE GROVE ROAD AND OLD HIGHWAY 13, HARRISBURG, ILLINOIS
Tim Tuttle, in orange, with his attorney Sam Beggs, on May 12, 2014 at Rocky Branch Road, east of Harrisburg
SALINE CO., Ill.— With Obama’s new strategy being presented today, issuing a draft regulation limiting emissions of global-warming gases from existing coal-burning power plants a week after Madigan’s HR 1146 Pro-nuke Resolution supporting the coal industry being passed, climate concerned organizations like Shawnee Hills and Hollers and communities like Rocky Branch of Illinois are determined not to be the battle ground for the fossil fuel industry demanding our lawmakers start the shift to renewable energy.
Judy Kellen, an outspoken resident of Rocky Branch, fighting for her home and way of living said, “The oil, gas, and coal industries are suppressing the technological advancement of renewable energy for their bottom line. Our politicians are building things that would kill thousands of people here in southern Illinois. They are not only destroying our lives but there won’t be any clean air, soil, and water, let alone property rights.” Residents and concerned groups tonight will attend the third hearing on Cottage Grove Road to determine to give the road to Peabody. Judy Kellen said that will not be happening. Violations in the process of holding meetings are in question and until the Cottage Grove Township Board goes through proper procedures a new road commissioner will not be chosen.
Tim Tuttle, the township road commissioner, resigned May 12, 2014, leaving the township board to replace him within 10 days. At the second hearing, May 22nd, where a growing number of concerned residents, protesters, and Peabody employees were dressed in their reflective yellow stripes, it was announced a road commissioner had not been chosen and there would be a continuance. A new hearing was set for today at 6pm at the intersection of Cottage Grove Road and Old Highway 13 in Harrisburg, Illinois. Peabody needs the road to have access to Rocky Branch Road they bought from Saline County at a meeting of the Board on April 15, 2014 with many objections and accusations of violations. Saline County Board is currently under investigation by The Attorney General’s Office for violations of the Open Meetings Act not allowing comments by residents. Saline County Board has withheld information from the Attorney General’s office not complying to send in the last three months of minutes.
Judy Kellen from Rocky Branch and Georgia de la Garza from Shawnee Hills and Hollers along with two residents of St. Louis, two residents of the Black Mesa and two members from MORE (Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment) were blocked from participating at a Peabody stockholder’s meeting on May 8, 2014 with proxy vote in their hands. They were police-escorted to a private room and were told they could not leave. While attempting to leave and entering the stockholder’s meeting, two members of MORE were arrested. The remainder of the group was heavily police escorted out of the Ritz Carlton where a couple of hundred protesters and media waited to hear the news. Eleven arrests were made in protest. Jennifer Dumbris, a resident of Rocky Branch, said “It’s important industry like Peabody see the many protesters standing up for our communities. It affects all of us. We have appreciated all the support we are getting from around the world.”
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