HILLSBORO — Excavators can be seen on the site of a large sinkhole on Wednesday afternoon, April 24, on the property of Arlen and Pat Kasten, located on Illinois 185 between Coffeen and Hillsboro.
The highway has been shut down since the sinkhole was first discovered on April 11. Work just began this week on the sinkhole, which is at least 95 feet across.
On Tuesday, Hillsboro Energy filed a temporary restraining order against the Kastens for access to the ground. Both parties reached an agreement on April 23, that the mine would be able to have excavators on site for up to seven days to create a berm. An additional three days for work is possible if there is inclement weather.
Illinois Route 185 between Hillsboro and Coffeen remains closed indefinitely as work continues near the sinkhole.
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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.