12 volunteers patrolled Belleville when storm put out the lights

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
On the evening of Sunday, Nov. 17, a big storm with strong winds put out the electricity in the City of Belleville and the city was very dark.
Belleville Police Chief Gene Taylor said 12 volunteers patrolled the city as a “Blackout Team” and allayed the fears of those sitting in the dark.
Chief Taylor said the Blackout Team volunteers were from the Tri-Community Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Belleville Police Reserves.
CERT volunteers were: Ed Smith, Kim Tindall, Steven Jones, Phil Roberts, Jennifer Blackburn, and Mick Smith.
Police Reserve volunteers were Captain Steve Sexton, Corporal Dorn (Fred) Kirschweng, Chad Kirschweng, Victor Karvelis, Matt Raich, and Dennis Mowbray.
At the City Council meeting, which was postponed from Monday, Nov. 18, to Wednesday, Nov. 20, because of the blackout, Mayor Kerreen Conley said, “It was very dark.”