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Southern Ill. Lawmaker Recovering from Eye Injury

State Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Norris City) (State of Illinois photo)
State Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Norris City) (State of Illinois photo)

By AP/KWMU

Harrisburg, Ill. – A southern Illinois State Representative recently had eye surgery in St. Louis, after a hunting accident.

Democrat Brandon Phelps, who represents southeastern Illinois, was hit in the face by a bungee cord on Dec. 30. It had snapped loose while Phelps was strapping something to a vehicle. He was on a hunting trip in Saline County.

It's not sure whether the 30-year old freshman legislator lost any vision in his right eye. He's wearing an eyepatch after undergoing eye surgery on New Year's Eve at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Phelps announced last month that he would run for re-election in the 118th District. The district stretches across eleven southern Illinois counties.

Phelps's uncle is former Congressman David Phelps.

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