Mitchell seeks state disaster declaration    

[DEC. 5, 2006]  FORSYTH -- On Monday, state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, sent a letter to Gov. Rod Blagojevich requesting state disaster assistance for Christian, DeWitt, Macon, Sangamon and Tazewell counties following Friday's winter ice storm.

"I have had several area mayors contact my office about the need for state assistance to clean up debris and broken tree limbs and branches," said Mitchell. "Today I sent a letter to the governor urging him to declare these areas a state disaster so that we can get them the help they need."

Mitchell said some smaller communities within the district can't afford the cost of cleanup. "The heavy ice has caused significant damage, littering our roadways and sidewalks with tree limbs and branches," he said. "The state needs to do more to help our downstate rural communities impacted by this storm."

[News release from Rep. Bill Mitchell]