2-year-old mess in downtown Sidell cleaned up

SIDELL – Betty Snack had a pleasant surprise on her way to the post office in Sidell on Monday morning.

A backhoe was clearing away the remains of two buildings that burned down in an April 24, 2007, fire. That blaze destroyed five Sidell buildings overall, including two businesses, an appliance store and a salon.

"We were just about to give up that it wasn't going to get done," said Snack, who wasn't the only local resident who took a moment Monday morning to watch Owens Excavating clean up the mess, some of which had spilled over the sidewalk and into the street.

Also on this date

• Urbana liquor license fees will increase in July
• Rantoul police warn of scam
• State workers fill Parkland room to protest pay cut proposal
• C-U transit agency seeking grants for green projects
• Letter carriers collecting food donations on Saturday
• Two new Farmer City Council members sworn in
• Truck drivers voice concerns about proposal in Mansfield
• Georgetown swears in new aldermen, city officials
• Rantoul man facing drug charges
• Obituaries

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