Stretch of Route 51 to bear Tyler Iubelt's name

Route 51 in Tamaroa will be renamed to honor PFC Tyler Iubelt, who died late last year while serving in Afghanistan.
The Illinois House last week adopted a joint resolution designating the section of Route 51 the PFC Tyler Iubelt Memorial Highway. The Senate approved the resolution.
Sen. Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo) sponsored the measure in the Senate, and Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) was the chief sponsor in the House. The resolution passed both chambers unanimously.
The resolution calls for new signage designating the highway's name between Shamrock Road to the north and Kimzey Road to the south, running directly through Tamaroa. Ron Deedrick, a spokesman for Schimpf, said the Illinois Department of Transportation still has to produce the signs marking the memorial highway, and Iubelt's family will determine when they are erected and dedicated.
"The family will likely dictate when that will happen, after the sign manufacturing takes place," Deedrick said. "Senator Schimpf has been dealing directly with the Iubelt family, so we'll take their lead."
A separate resolution passed the same day renames a stretch of Route 3 in Randolph County after Chester Police Officer James I. Brockmeyer, who died Oct. 28, 2016, in an auto accident resulting from a felony police chase.
Iubelt, just 20 at the time, died Nov. 12 from injuries sustained during an attack at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. The 2015 Pinckneyville Community High School graduate left behind a wife and a 6-month-old daughter.
Iubelt's mother, Charlotte Loquasto, spoke with the Call about a month ago and noted how touched she has been by the many tributes to her son she has seen. Last week's resolution provides yet another tribute in memory of her fallen son.
"The honor that has been bestowed on Tyler from day one has been astounding," Loquasto said. "Friends from around the world have sent so much support."