East Central Reporter

State Representatives Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) and Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro) have successfully passed House Joint Resolution 39, designating a section of Illinois Route 133 in Oakland as the “Lieutenant Jared W. Southworth Memorial Highway.” This designation honors Lt. Southworth's service and sacrifice to his community and the United States. Lt. Southworth, a part-time police officer in Oakland, was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2009.

“One small way for us to show our respect for the men and women of our military who pay the ultimate price with their lives is to help remember them with a memorial highway designation,” explained Rep. Adam Niemerg. “I have been working on this for over a year and we finally accomplished passage of the legislation this session and can now have the signage produced and installed along Route 133 to honor Lt. Jared Southworth in his hometown.”

Jared Southworth, born in Mattoon in 1982, was raised and educated in Oakland, graduating from Oakland High School in 2000. He earned an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Lakeland College and later a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University in 2006, where he participated in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. Lieutenant Southworth married Chrissy Lynn Royer at the Oakland Christian Church in 2001 and served the Oakland community as a part-time police officer.

“Jared Southworth had a tremendous impact on the community of Oakland and his life serves us with a reminder of the importance of family, living with purpose, helping others, and fighting for what is right,” added Rep. Chris Miller. “This Memorial Highway designation is a special way to honor the life of Jared and a dedication to his family, community, and the country he loved. His unwavering commitment to serve our country is an example of American pride and his sacrifices will always be remembered.”

Lt. Southworth was part of HHC 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment of the Illinois National Guard and served as a United States Army Ranger. He died on February 8, 2009, during Operation Enduring Freedom in Kabul, Afghanistan due to wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device (IED). He was awarded both the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony at Oakland Town Square on Saturday, July 6, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

For more information, contact Rep Niemerg's district office at 217-813-6036 or online at RepNiemerg.com.