(The following article by John H. Croessman was published by the Du Quoin Evening Call.)
TAMAROA, Ill. — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich told Tamaroa Mayor Bill Place Friday “There’s no substitute for a hands-on mayor.”
The governor thanked Place and Illinois Emergency Management Agency director Mike Chamness for their immediate response to what could have been a disaster during the February 9th derailment of 21 cars in the middle of town.
The governor touched down in Carbondale approximately 40 minutes behind schedule because of inclement weather. He had hoped to land at the Pinckneyville-Du Quoin Airport, but couldn’t because of the weather.
He was a welcome sight and told onlookers that the State of Illinois will stay with the town until the end of the cleanup. The Illinois governor thanked the people of Tamaroa for their patience and insisted that the Canadian National Railroad stay the course until the cleanup was completed. Railroad spokesman Jack Burke said the railroad will meet its deadline of next Friday to remove all of the wrecked cars from the site. Rail traffic resumed last week on the IC mainline through the town.
Burke said as of Friday the railroad had paid out 616 claims totaling approximately $225,000 and commented very little on a class action suit against the railroad by several residents.
The suit names residents Clayton Moss, Dawn Klamm and children, Vicki Przygoda and children, Larry Galbraith and wife Shirley, Kenneth Knapp and daughter Brittany, Ricky Long and wife Opaline, Kim Arendell and Randy Fallowell as plaintiffs and the railroad as the defendant. The railroad has been quick to pay as many claims as possible and to get signed releases against future claims.
The National Transportation Safety Board says the train was traveling 39 miles per hour through the town when it derailed. It has not issued its preliminary findings.