City workers gift vigilant boy toy truck

Mt. Vernon power employees show appreciation for boy’s concern
When Bailey McCann, the supervisor of the Mt. Vernon Electric Department, and Jake Garretson, a lineman in the department, were replacing transformers near the intersection of Sloan and Hickory, they attracted the attention of a five-year-old boy named Atticus Biellier.
Atticus was fascinated by the work the two men were doing, but he was also concerned for their safety. His great-grandmother, Writa Gray, said that he often watches the men when they work to make sure nothing happens to them.
“Every time he sees them …. he stands on the chair outside and yells, “Be careful, be so careful,’” she said. “He really watches out for them.”
“I didn’t want them to fall and get hurt,” Atticus said.
On Aug. 5. McCann and Garretson showed their appreciation to Atticus when they presented him with a toy version of the pole truck they use when working. It even had stickers with the City of Mt. Vernon logo on it, as well as one that read “Transformer Helper” (McCann said he got the stickers from Screen Masters in Mt. Vernon).
Atticus said he was overjoyed to receive the truck.
“I was so happy,” he said, “because of all of the stickers and colors.”
McCann said that it wasn’t the first time he’d encountered Atticus.
“I’ve been by his house where I was cutting trees about a year ago,” McCann said, “and he came out watching stuff, and I was talking to him. And then, every time I’ve been by there again working … he comes outside all the time and … he’s always watching us. And I just felt like making … a special day for him.”
Gray said Atticus was still excited about getting the truck
“I haven’t quit hearing about it since,” she said.
Atticus said that when he grows up, he wants to be a police officer.