Decatur firefighter killed in farm accident DECATUR, Ill. — A 16-year veteran of the Decatur Fire Department was killed in a farming accident in Logan County on June 12.
The Herald & Review of Decatur reported Fire Chief Jeff Abbott confirmed the death and identified the man as Micah Wakeman, 43. He was married with four children and was a foster parent to troubled youths, Abbott said. “He did a lot of mission work and was getting ready to go on another mission to Africa,” Abbott said. “He was a really good guy.”
Logan County Coroner Robert Thomas said Wakeman was pronounced dead at 1:21 a.m. June 13. He said Wakeman “was in the process of moving round bales when the tractor he was driving rolled over and pinned him under the tractor. The accident was not witnessed, and he was found by a friend.”
The accident happened near the 1100 block of 2600 Street in rural Emden, near the Bethel Church, Thomas said. An autopsy was conducted, but the results were not available at press time.
The incident remains under investigation by the Logan County Coroner’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office.
Holcomb lifts broadband expansion hurdle
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Earlier this month, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill designed to expand broadband service in rural areas of Indiana. The measure, authored by state Rep. Sharon Negele (R-District 13), requires broadband-ready communities to develop a plan to increase the number of local subscribers.
Inside INdiana Business reports the law also calls on policymakers to study the Universal Service Fund, which is managed by the Federal Communications Commission to promote universal access to telecommunications services throughout the United States.
The study would examine how the fund could help grow broadband service in rural Indiana. |
