Former missile site near Hecker sells for $227,000
- July 12, 2014
Pictured, from left, Career Center of Southern Illinois Director Mark Stuart, Wayne Keller of Buy-A-Farm auction service and Regional Superintendent of Schools Kelton Davis watch as Mertens signs papers committing him to the purchase. (Alan Dooley photo)
It took about 30 minutes for Ron Mertens of Smithton to lock down the former Nike Missile Site east of Hecker with a high bid of $227,000.
The 14-acre property was auctioned off Saturday morning at the Hecker Community Center. Mertens did not disclose at this time what he plans to do with the site, which includes three underground bunkers with functioning elevators.
Proceeds from the sale benefit the Career Center of Southern Illinois, formerly known as Beck Area Career Center.
Read more on Saturday’s sale in next week’s Republic-Times newspaper, your local news leader since 1890.
(With reporting from Alan Dooley)
