THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: Jakob Weder practices climbing down a poll behind the Ameren Illinois Danville Operating Center on Georgetown Road.
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TILTON — Three Danville-based Ameren Illinois apprentice linemen think they’ve got what it takes to compete with the best of the best, in the International Lineman’s Rodeo next weekend in Overland Park, Kan.
Zach Fox of Oakwood, Devin Richards of Westville and Jakob Weder of Humboldt — all from the Danville Operating Center on Georgetown Road — will be among 400 electrical linemen taking part in competitions ranging from a speed pole climb, a hurt-man rescue, mystery events and a written test.
For the pole climb, competitors must ascend as quickly as they can while holding a bag in their mouth, swap the bag with one at the pole’s top, remove a raw egg from the bag, and descend with the egg in their mouth without breaking it.
“You have to be fast and smooth on that one,” Weder said.
Richards said it’s pretty gross if the egg cracks.
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