METROPOLIS, IL – A commercial semi-truck incident on Thursday morning has resulted in a widespread power outage on East 8th Street in Metropolis.

According to reports, the driver of the semi-truck lost their way, resulting in a collision that eliminated two power poles and damaged other electrical infrastructure near the Dollar General Store. Due to the extent of the damage, East 8th Street remains closed to traffic while crews work to clear the site and make necessary repairs.

Michael Gentry of the City of Metropolis spoke with WMOK when we were on the scene around 10:00 a.m. today, that residents and businesses in the area should prepare for an extended service interruption, as the power outage is expected to last a minimum of 8 to 10 hours.

Managing Food Safety During the Outage

With the power expected to be out for the majority of the day, residents should take steps to protect the contents of their refrigerators and freezers:

• Keep doors closed: An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will hold its temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if half-full) if the door remains closed.

• Minimize opening: Only open the refrigerator or freezer doors when absolutely necessary to prevent cold air from escaping.

• Use coolers: If you have advance notice or access to ice, transfer highly perishable items (meat, dairy, eggs) to a cooler with ice to keep them below 40°F.

• Check temperatures: Once power is restored, use a food thermometer to ensure items have not exceeded safe temperatures before consuming. When in doubt, throw it out.

For those navigating the area, please avoid East 8th Street and allow crews the space needed to safely restore service.

At the state level, several attempts have been made in the Illinois General Assembly to address time standardization. Various bills, such as HB 5400 and SB 2926, were introduced during the 2026 session to explore either exempting the state from DST or adopting permanent standards.

Currently, these state-level proposals have not been enacted into law and remain in legislative committees.

Under the current federal Uniform Time Act, states generally cannot unilaterally adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time without federal authorization.

If the Sunshine Protection Act passes and makes Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent, you would notice a significant shift in Massac County’s winter daylight hours. Because the area would skip “falling back” in November, all sunrise and sunset times between November and March would shift exactly one hour later than what you are normally used to.

The primary impacts you would experience in Metropolis and the rest of Massac County include:

Later Winter Sunrises: Instead of the sun coming up around 7:00 AM during the darkest parts of winter, sunrise would be delayed until roughly 8:00 AM to 8:10 AM from early December through mid-February. On the year’s latest sunrise (around January 6), the sun wouldn’t rise until 8:09 AM. This means morning commutes and school bus pickups would happen entirely in the dark.

Later Winter Sunsets: In exchange for the dark mornings, you would gain an extra hour of afternoon light. Under normal standard time, Massac County’s earliest winter sunsets occur in early December at a very early 4:37 PM. If DST becomes permanent, that earliest sunset would shift to 5:37 PM, keeping it light through the typical 5:00 PM drive-home window.

No Summer Changes: Your spring and summer daylight hours would remain exactly the same as they are right now, meaning mid-summer sunsets would still top out right around 8:20 PM.

Case Update: The State vs. George E. Bradfield

Recent proceedings in the Massac County courthouse regarding the case of George E. Bradfield have focused on discovery, evidentiary motions, and scheduling. Below is a chronological review of the court activity recorded from late June through mid-July 2026.

Late June 2026: Motions and Case Management On June 30, 2026, the State filed a Supplemental Motion to Admit Evidence under Illinois Rule 404(b). During a Case Management Conference held the same day via Zoom—attended by the State, defense attorney Joseph Cervantez, and the defendant—the State indicated plans to file further supplemental 404(b) motions. The defense noted that responses to these motions were being drafted. At that time, the pretrial conference was reset for July 7, 2026.

Early July 2026: Discovery Hurdles Following a July 7 hearing, a pretrial conference was held on July 8, 2026. During this session, defense counsel reported experiencing challenges regarding discovery related to the defendant’s pending case in Kentucky. The State advised that it would update all discovery requests once additional materials are received and indicated plans to issue a demand for defenses to the defense counsel in the near future. The matter was then reset for a pretrial conference on July 14, 2026.

Mid-July 2026: Extension Granted On July 13, 2026, defense attorney Joseph Cervantez filed a motion requesting an extension of time. This was addressed on July 14, 2026, during a hearing before Judge Thurston. The court granted the defense’s motion for an extension of time to respond to the State’s 404(b) motion without objection, allowing an additional 14 days for the response.

The matter is currently set for a further pretrial conference on July 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM via Zoom.

WMOK – Massac County, IL –

Now that we’ve made it to the other side of Independence Day, it’s the perfect time to catch your breath and look ahead. While the heat is on, we’re entering that sweet spot of summer where we can really lean into those goals we set back in the spring. Whether it’s tackling a home project, spending more time outdoors, or simply slowing down to enjoy a sunset, there is still plenty of time to make the most of the season before the pace picks up again.

As we look toward the coming months, keep in mind that the transition to the new school year is just around the corner. Here is a look at what is coming up for our local students and community:

Important Dates for Your Calendar

• August 10: Teacher In-Service (Massac Unit 1 & Joppa-Maple Grove)

• August 11: Teacher In-Service (Massac Unit 1 & Joppa-Maple Grove)

• August 12: First Day of School (Massac Unit 1: 2pm Dismissal; Joppa-Maple Grove: First day back)

• September 7: No School — Labor Day (Massac Unit 1)

School Registration Information

• Massac Unit 1: Online re-registration for students returning in Grades 1 through 12 is available now through the Alma portal. For further details and to get your students registered, visit the official Massac Unit 1 registration page.

• Joppa-Maple Grove: Existing students should log into the PowerSchool Parent Portal to complete registration. If you are new to the district or need assistance with your portal account, please reach out to the school office at mbaughman@joppa38.com.