A concrete grain silo collapsed Wednesday at the Donovan Farmers Co-op in Martinton.  No injuries reported when the huge silo came spilling to the ground, but the village was left without power.  Ameran Illinois utility workers were quickly at work to restore service.  Meanwhile, clean-up operations at the elevator may be awhile.  Area farmers busy with the harvest can deliver grain to the Co-op's other business sites, at Donovan or Hooper.

Iroquois County's Emergency Management Agency (EMA) reported 30,000 bushels of soybens spilled from the silo.  The collapse tore down several power lines and left grain and debris to be cleaned up.  Other nearby grain silos will have to be inspected for their own safety stability concerns. 

Martinton, Papineau, Ashkum and Watseka Fire personnel, along with EMS, were on standby to monitor the site and oversee security and safety issues.  Martinton Fire Chief Jeff Meyer expressed his thanks to an ambulance crew that brought the emergency stressed-out grain silo situation his attention.  "The observant eye of that ambulance crew," Meyer said, "prevented what may have led to life-threatening injuries or even fatalities."

94.1 WGFA