State Rep. Jennifer Wortz this week introduced legislation to honor the memory of Branch County Road Commission employee Casey Rice with a memorial highway designation on M-86. Rice was tragically killed by a semi-truck in June while operating a tractor-mower near Interstate-69. The semi-truck driver involved is now facing numerous charges, including open murder and operating while intoxicated causing death. 

“Casey left an enduring mark on this community, and a memorial designation is a permanent public recognition of his contributions,” said Wortz (R-Quincy). “It will serve as a lasting reminder that Casey lived, he mattered, and his absence continues to be felt.” 

House Bill 6309 would rename the portion of M-86 in Branch County from US-12 to Arbogast Road, an area that Rice routinely serviced, as the “Casey Rice Memorial Highway.” 

“Roads connect people and places, and this memorial would ensure that there is a lasting connection between his memory and the community he called home,” Wortz said. “We cannot bring people back after losing them to tragedy, but his memory can, and must, be carried forward.”