Nearing the right position, the lead man partially opens the door from time to time to look down and check their location, giving the pilot cues to adjust the plane’s position to get ready for the jump.

When everything is just right, he pushes the door all the way up, carefully climbs out onto the wing strut and is followed immediately by the other two jumpers. All three jumpers are out there in an instant, positioned on the strut; then quickly, on cue, they jump simultaneously.

The novice in the club has been jumping for more than a year, and the most experienced in the group, Mac, has jumped out of planes close to 10,000 times. Mac, a fireman from Peoria, received the award late last year for exceeding 100 hours of free-fall time (the first 45 seconds of the jump before a chute is opened).

During the free fall, they practice making and changing formations: holding hands, then changing to hold another jumper’s feet, making different formations during their quick descent toward the ground. One jumper had a digital camera attached to his helmet, recording their experience.

As they fall, members of the jump party continuously check the altimeters on their wrists to determine when they must open their chutes to assure a safe landing. When they have fallen to between 3,000 and 2,500 feet, it is time to deploy their parachutes. The old phrase "pulling the rip cord" has become archaic. They now pull from their backpack a very small parachute that pulls the main chute out. The smaller chute opens the main chute quicker than the old still rip cord and the D-ring in front. As fabric unfurls, folds loosen, and suddenly the chute snaps open, fully cupping the air, followed by lengthening cords stretching out as the rubber-banded folds pull loose and reach full extension. The parachutist’s plummet is slowed with a great jerk.

Gone are the old days when round white canopies floated docilely down to the ground like puffs of cotton. The new-style chutes are rectangular and ribbed in sporty, brilliant tutti-frutti colors like raspberry and turquoise. The new chutes also appear to afford much greater maneuverability. The jumpers glide to earth with precision and grace as they steer their chutes with handles on each side, doing aerial acrobatics, flips in the air and dramatic movements that take your breath away (don’t try this at home, kids). Just about 6 feet above the ground, the jumper makes a last-second manipulation that slows him greatly and usually sets him down gently on both feet. The ride down on the chute is much quicker than the ride up in the plane.

For a variation, the Minier club does something called a cross-country. When the wind is very strong, usually in the spring, while miles from their airfield, they jump at 10,000 feet or higher and deploy their chutes immediately. Lincoln pilot Curt Fox recalled that about four years ago, in the days before he was flying for them, a crew went up, jumped when they were two miles west of Lincoln and made it back to the field in Minier about 25 miles away.

On this Sunday ride though, once the skydivers were away from the plane, and not having fallen out myself, the pilot did a startling dipsy-doodle maneuver to close the door, and then we began our quick descent. It was a very quick roller-coaster-like descent from 10,000 feet to the ground. I noticed that the continual change in air pressure does something to your head. Soon we were back on the ground, and I climbed out with jelly legs as the next crew of four jumpers quickly climbed in.

Thanks to Curt Fox for his information about this club and the subject matter. Thanks to pilot Marvin Shumaker from Bloomington for not letting me fall out, and thanks to the club members for sharing their love of the sport.

The Central Illinois Jump Club will be back again on Saturdays and Sundays this month to ride up to 10,000 feet and then bail out into the clear, cold sky over the Logan County Airport.

Yesterday evening, two teenage boys were seen destroying four Ford pickup trucks — all belonging to the same Lincoln man — parked at Curry Ready-Mix lot on the 1600 block of North Kickapoo. At about 6:13 p.m. an individual heard breaking glass, saw two boys and called the police. The police have not found the suspects yet. A ’67 Ford’s windshield and headlights were broken. A ’78 Ford had the same damage, plus the side mirrors were broken. An ’81 Ford had the most damage: to the windshield, the driver’s side window, both headlights, both taillights, both side mirrors, turn signal lights and a reflector. An ’84 Ford had the windshield, the passenger window, both headlights, both side mirrors and turn signal lights smashed.

The police and owners would appreciate any information you have about these thefts and vandalism. Please call the city police at 732-2151 or Crime Stoppers at 732-3000.

The Lincoln Police Department, along with the community of Lincoln, commends the following businesses for taking steps to better understand the problem of tobacco use by our youth: Green Oil Company, Quick Way Foods, Qik-n-EZ, GB Oil, Lincoln IGA, Kroger, CVS, Tobacco Warehouse, Clark Refining and Marketing, Ayerco Convenience Center, Walgreens, Fifth Street Food Mart, Wal-Mart, Eagle Country Market, Illico Independent Oil Company, Apollo Mart, Jackie and Charlie’s, Bruns Service Center, and Old Joes. Most important is their enforcement of minimum age and sales laws and youth tobacco possession laws. Thank you for your efforts.

Doug Dutz, chairman of law enforcement and the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency committee, told members that the liability of the county was significant in paying for medical care for individuals incarcerated at the jail.

"It's possible," Dutz said, "that our portion would be approximately 40 percent of the cost if we follow specific guidelines."

These costs are similar to and are based upon the same fees paid by Public Aid.

In other discussion, board member Cliff Sullivan told members that he had been in discussion with the aunt of Scott Altman, astronaut and former Lincoln resident. Sullivan said that he would like to see signs erected at the entrances to Lincoln, honoring Altman for his contributions and achievements.

The board adjourned into executive session.

Winter allows Arnold's the best opportunity to direct total attention to this time-consuming ordeal.  Winter freezing also offers the best time to move heavy equipment in and out of the park grounds.

The public paid little attention during the monument removal process.  Two retired gentlemen slowed or stopped to watch while passing through the neighborhood.  They were assured that proper authorities knew what was going on. It's the dream of Mason City Historical Society that huge crowds will give their attention when the monument returns after its makeover.

Scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, May 26 and 27, is Civil War Living History Weekend.  This second annual event continues to be the fundamental fundraiser for the monument project. Appreciated contributions to "Save A Site" can be mailed to Melanie Gordon, MCHSociety Treasurer, 407 N. Main St., Mason City, IL 62664.

Henry Baird, president of the firm, addressed a letter to the council asking permission to put a payment window on the west side of the building and change traffic flow in the alley from northbound to southbound so drivers could make payments at the window from the driver’s side of the car.

The need for the change, according to the letter, was the increase in parking near the business, caused by the opening of Sorrento’s restaurant, which is next door to Action Rental.

Police Chief Richard Ludolph said that alleys have run north from Clinton to Pekin streets "forever," and the change in the direction of traffic flow would affect everybody who had a business in the area. He noted that because of State Bank of Lincoln’s drive-up window, traffic would have to continue to run north from Broadway to Pekin streets.

City Attorney Jonathan Wright said that allowing a drive-up window in an alley would require the approval of the council, since parking is prohibited in alleys except for loading and unloading.

City Clerk Juanita Josserand told the council she had informed Roger Mattson of the local office of Action Rental that a drop box on Kickapoo Street was available, but Mattson said that was not feasible for the firm’s clients, since cash cannot be left in drop boxes.

Alderman Joseph Stone suggested a 15-minute parking zone near the business, but Chief Ludolph said there would be enforcement problems.

However, Alderman Steve Fuhrer was looking on the bright side. "It’s a nice problem to have when people can’t find parking spaces downtown," he quipped.

No action was taken on the request, which will be discussed at a later meeting of the streets and alleys committee.

Another matter up for discussion was farming the 40 acres of land the city owns on West Kickapoo Street. For 17 years the 38 tillable acres have been farmed by Welch Agribusiness, because it was adjacent to 85 acres that business owned. The 85-acre plot has been sold to Darrell Benner of Broadwell, who has contacted Wright about taking over the farming of the city land.

Welch had farmed the 38 acres on a 50-50 crop share basis, under which the city and the tenant split the costs and the revenue. Alderman Gerald Dehner suggested the council look into a different arrangement, charging Benner cash rent for the land. Grant Eaton, sewer plant manager, said whatever arrangement is made, the tenant farming the land must agree that the city can still use the location for a storm sewer.

In other business, bids were opened for a new crane truck and a platform for the truck — equipment for the sewer treatment plant. However, bids were received for the platform but none for the truck itself. Eaton said the city would be able to purchase the needed equipment from the state of Illinois.

Alderman Stone reported that the firm which did the audit of the city’s finances for the last fiscal year had raised its price by 41 percent and said he would go out for bids from other firms for the 2000-2001 fiscal year audit.

Three petitions for new sidewalks to be constructed by the city, an ordinance to vacate an easement on College and 21st streets, an ordinance for a handicapped parking space at Lincoln Medical Supply, and an ordinance approving Economic Development Revenue Bonds for Lincoln Christian College were put on the agenda for the next regular meeting.

Because of the President’s Day holiday, the regular council meeting scheduled for Monday, Feb. 19, will be on Tuesday, Feb. 20, instead. The ordinance and zoning committee will meet at 6:30 p.m., the sewer committee at 6:45 p.m. and the full council at 7:15 p.m.