Trucker Bombs

I love stuff like this. Yes, we need to know the latest from Washinton, what's going on in the world and what political shenanigans are happening in State government, but when a reporter gets down and dirty and goes after the little-thought-about tidbits of everyday life, I really appreciate it.

Today's Bloomington Pantagraph:

BLOOMINGTON -- Jim Woolridge runs over garbage of all sorts when he's mowing grass along the state highways and interstates in McLean County. But the gallon milk jugs and 20-ounce soda bottles make him cringe.

Woolridge, one of 36 state workers who mow the right-of-ways in the Bloomington-Normal area, has been soaked by an all-too-familiar warm mist when his industrial mower chops one of the plastic containers.

The reason? The containers -- nicknamed "trucker bombs" -- sometimes are filled with the urine of passing motorists who prefer to bypass rest areas and instead take aim at an empty jug.

EEEEEEWWWWWWWW!!

But there's more:

The trucking industry can safely be blamed for most of the urine containers, said Mark Gillis, supervisor of IDOT's maintenance office in Bloomington. While the majority are found at exits and on-ramps, his workers come across a large number of urine containers and even plastic bags filled with feces near truck weigh stations.

The jugs are "disgusting, especially after they've been laying out there in the sun cooking for days," Woolridge said."I got hit one time when I was mowing down on (U.S.) 51 near Heyworth. I got drenched that day. I was all stenchy after that."

AAARRRGGGGHHHHH!! Breakfast is on the rise.

Let's take one more peek:

In Illinois, someone caught littering usually is fined $75 under the general litter statute, said Illinois State Police Sgt. Rick Hector. No state law specifically addresses waste containers as dangerous litter.

Gillis, whose clothes were ruined a few years ago by an unexpected shower, said you only need to be hit once to realize harsher penalties are needed.

"I haven't been hit as bad as some of the other guys. It's something we don't like to talk about," Gillis said. "I think people should use the proper facilities and have the personal pride not to do that. There's just not enough police or manpower to stop them."

I love it. Well, I love that I don't have to do that job but I also think Brett Nauman is the man for getting this story. Hopefully, he will now be promoted from the poop desk.