Ill. monument to coal miners planned

SESSER -- Plans are under way to honor Franklin County coal miners with a memorial planned in the southern Illinois town of Sesser.

Sesser Monument Co. has been tapped to install the memorial, which will include a hexagon listing the names of those who were killed in six area mines.

The monument in Sesser's city park will be 7 feet wide, more than 10 feet tall and weigh 46,000 pounds. It'll also feature an etching of a coal miner, a mine and the history of coal mining.

The project's expected $85,000 price tag is to be paid for by donations.

Sesser's mayor hopes to have the monument in place in time for Sesser Homecoming in June.