[JULY 19, 2001]  Ways to bridge the gap between the cost of the original design of the new Central School and the funds available to build it were the main subject of discussion at the July 18 meeting of the Lincoln Elementary District 27 school board.

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[Joan Crabb]

[JULY 19, 2001]  Motorists who park illegally in zones marked "No parking from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m." will soon see their fines go up from $3 per violation to $25. An ordinance raising the fine was passed July 16 by the Lincoln City Council.

[Joan Crabb]

Board debates motion to pay deputy’s bill

[JULY 18, 2001]  At last night’s Logan County Board meeting, board member Jim Griffin made the motion to pay Deputy Bob Spickard’s legal fees. The deputy is faced with fees of $16,029.66, of which he has personally paid $8,000 to date. Spickard incurred the expenses from his defense against criminal charges initiated by Kevin Gleason of Hartsburg for a July 25, 1999, incident. The motion, immediately seconded by Sonny Sullivan, signaled the beginning of a strongly worded and lengthy debate.

Doug Dutz requested a last clarification of the law from State’s Attorney Tim Huyett. Huyett, seemingly impatient with another request, advised the board that Illinois law protects law enforcement officials against civil but not criminal charges. When Dutz asked Huyett if that meant the board could be sued for paying Spickard’s bill, Huyett stated that the county is required to expend funds for only legitimate public purposes. The question of whether an individual could sue the county for paying such bills was noted as a possibility by the state’s attorney. Huyett made it clear that his function at the meeting was to advise the board on the law and not to tell them which way they must vote.

Griffin, Sullivan and David Hepler all expressed their belief that the board should pay the deputy’s legal fees to show the board supports its employees.

Board members Roger Bock and Rod White both expressed concern about where the money to pay this expense would come from. Sullivan stated that the sheriff’s department had collected $400,000 this year in fines and fees but was advised by White that an expense such as the payment of the deputy’s fees was not part of any budget and must come out of the contingency fund.

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Board member Dale Voyles stated he had changed his mind based on the state’s attorney’s explanation of the law (and on roll call voted "no"). New member Gloria Luster stated she was concerned that this would create a precedent for future payments and also intended to vote "no."

Paul Gleason made a futile attempt to amend the motion to pay half of Spickard’s bill, but it fell on deaf ears. Before the vote, Spickard addressed the board, saying he believed that as his employer the board carried certain obligations, although unwritten or unsaid. He stated that he performed his duties as trained and did not believe his expenses should fall on himself and his family.

The vote, not taken until every board member except Chairman Dick Logan had spoken at least once, or in Griffin’s case six times, was quick and as decisive as a guillotine: seven votes against paying the deputy’s expenses, three in favor. Those voting against paying the deputy’s attorney fees were Logan, Voyles, Dutz, White, Bock, Luster and Gleason. Those voting to pay the bills were Griffin, Sullivan and Hepler. The meeting was adjourned.

[Mike Fak]

[JULY 18, 2001]  The Healthy Communities Partnership of Logan County received the Outstanding Rural Health Practice award of the National Rural Health Association. Julie Casper, of the Center for Rural Health of the Illinois Department of Public Health, presented an engraved glass plaque to Dayle Eldredge, coordinator of the local partnership, at the June 28 "Report to the Community."

The National Rural Health Association represents providers of health-care services, agricultural associations, government and industry. Their national convention in late May recognized leaders throughout the nation. The Outstanding Rural Health Practice award was given for innovative programs and strong community collaboration and support.

Healthy Communities Partnership Coordinator Dayle Eldredge said: "This award would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of many individuals. The community of Lincoln and all of Logan County has much to be proud of, and they can be especially proud of the Healthy Communities Partnership."

[HCP news release]

[JULY 18, 2001]  During the summer months, heat waves can occur anywhere in Illinois and affect anyone. Young children, elderly people and people with health problems are most likely to be affected. This is a reminder to everyone.

• Plan to check on the elderly and those with health problems at least once a day during hot weather.

• Don’t leave children in a parked car.

• Make sure you drink plenty of liquids during hot weather.

Doing small things can make a big difference.

This public service announcement is brought to you by Lincoln Daily News and the Logan County Health Department.

[News release]

[JULY 17, 2001]  CEFCU is proud to be able to assist the Lincoln Police Department in purchasing bulletproof ballistic safety vests for their newly established Emergency Response Team. The Lincoln Police Department ERT was formed a little more than a year ago in proactive preparedness for potential situations that require immediate action. It was recognized that while there are state-trained teams that will come here should the need arise, a local, quick-acting response will have much better results.

Every shift there are always at least two officers on duty who are trained in certain types of emergency responses, such as a terrorism or hostage situations. They are familiar with the layouts of our schools and have courses of action worked out that could save lives when time counts. Of course it is hoped that this will never be needed, but planning for it will make any efforts more successful if anything ever should happen. Knowing that our police department has made plans should be a comfort to the community and a hope that we will never need to implement them.

These vests will assure that the increased dangers encountered by the Emergency Response Team will not be as life-threatening and will allow the officers to successfully complete their missions.

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[Presenting a check to the Lincoln Police Department are Mary Conrady, CEFCU Member Center manager, and Laura Ziegle, CEFCU vice president of branch operations, with Lincoln Police Chief Richard Montcalm and Community Policing Officer Tim Butterfield receiving it.]

Laura Ziegle, vice president of branch operations, and Mary E. Conrady, Member Center manager in Lincoln, stated in a press release that CEFCU is "privileged to be able to work with such a dedicated group of people and play a part in their life-changing work."

With thanks to CEFCU’s members and board of directors, the women presented a check for $2,500 to the Lincoln Police Department.

[LDN and
CEFCU news release]

[JULY 17, 2001]  The on-again, off-again status of the East Park subdivision was finally resolved Monday evening when the Lincoln City Council gave Rodney White unanimous approval for his 16-home development on North Sherman Street.

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[Joan Crabb]

[JULY 16, 2001]  The swearing-in of Claude "Bud" Stone, Jr. to the 45^th District Senate seat is scheduled for 4 p.m. today at Freedom Hall, 349 W. Birchwood in Morton. Third District Appellate Judge William E. Holdridge will administer the oath of office to the newly appointed senator. Stone, of Morton, was chosen July 12 to serve the remaining 17 months of Sen. Bob Madigan’s unexpired term. The public is invited to attend the ceremony.

[JULY 16, 2001]  The house at 1208 N. Ottawa St., across from Lincoln College athletic fields, is moving today. It is being moved by Goodwin House Movers, Inc. of Washington, Iowa. The moving company owner, Rick Goodwin, says they have moved houses for six generations, since 1930.

The house was previously owned by Lincoln College and now is in the possession of S.M. Davis. It is not being moved too far. Its next location is 1302 N. Kankakee St.

Utility services involved with the move are CILCO, Insight and Verizon.

[LDN]

[JULY 14, 2001]  As the summer months roll along, workers continue to hammer away on major renovation and construction projects at Lincoln Christian College and Seminary. According to Ed Plumier, assistant vice president of physical services, most construction will be complete before students return in mid-August.

To complete LCC’s new look, college president Keith Ray wanted LCC to have a "visual impact," according to Plumier. Older campus buildings are being treated to an exterior stain consistent with the color of the newer Restoration Hall and chapel in order to create an appearance more conducive to the collegiate atmosphere.

Included in the building projects is the construction of a new athletic facility with a 108-car parking lot.

A new facility maintenance building is complete, along with the construction of a five-bay garage that houses the school’s fleet of vehicles.

The former facility management building has been totally gutted, and framing work is complete for converting this building into a student center with a "garage" motif. The newly remodeled building will also contain the offices of the student services staff. A new hip roof over the building is nearly complete, and exterior staining has begun.

The bookstore, adjacent to the student center, is also being completely remodeled and carpeted.

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All dormitories are getting a fresh coat of paint, as well as new furniture, which will begin arriving July 16. The college has upgraded the dorm electrical systems, which will include high-speed network and Internet access. Fire detectors have been added to each dormitory room. New hip roofs with dormers are replacing the current flat roofs on Alumni and Titus Hall. New windows have been installed in Harmony Hall, and framing and drywall installation is in progress.

Also receiving a facelift is the student apartment complex. New siding has been added to Buildings 1 and 2. Buildings 3 and 4 will receive siding by the end of July. On the inside, the apartments will be newly carpeted by the end of the month. They will also have new kitchen vinyl and appliances.

A current capital campaign will partially fund the current renovations. Other funding is the result of readjusted priorities in the current campus construction budget.

[LDN and news release from LCCS]

[JULY 14, 2001]  The Illinois Department of Public Health has awarded the Healthy Communities Partnership of Logan County a $53,772 grant. The Center for Rural Health of the Illinois Department of Public Health under the Rural/Downstate Health Act awarded the grant.

"This is the third year for funding through the department," states Healthy Communities Partnership Coordinator Dayle Eldredge. "The task forces of the partnership receive funding for program development, activities and education. Without this assistance our programs would be severely limited. Funds received also permit us to take our mobile medical unit to Greenview, Ill., again this year."

The Healthy Communities Partnership is a collaborative organization formed in 1997 and states as its mission: "To protect, maintain and improve the health and quality of life of all residents of Lincoln and Logan County."

[Healthy Communities Partnership news release]

[JULY 13, 2001]  Claude "Bud" Stone, Tazewell County Republican Party chairman, has been chosen to fill the unexpired term of former Sen. Robert Madigan of Lincoln. Madigan resigned at the end of June to take a post with the Illinois Industrial Commission.

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"It will be my privilege to serve the citizens of the 45^th District," said Stone. "Senator Madigan has left some pretty big shoes to fill, and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead."

Stone will most likely be sworn in Monday afternoon. He will finish the last 17 months of Madigan’s unexpired term, which ends in 2002.

The newly appointed senator retired from a management position with Caterpillar in 1985 after 33 years with the company. He has extensive civic experience including work with Bradley University Alumni Association, Peoria Planning and Zoning Commission, Morton Planning Commission, Tazewell County Board Boy Scouts of America, White School PTA, Grundy School PTA, Morton Athletic Booster Club, and as a coach for Little League baseball, basketball and football. Stone is currently the Tazewell County Republican Party chairman.

This is Stone’s first state-level elected position, but he is no stranger to politics. His father, Claude Stone Sr., served as a congressman from the 18^th District.

Born April 30, 1926, Stone graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and Bradley University in Peoria. He also holds an MBA from Stanford University in California.

Stone and his wife, Mary Louise, have three adult children and six grandchildren.

Stone can be reached through Sen. Madigan’s former offices in Lincoln, (217) 732-1323; Eureka, (309) 467-5464; and Springfield, (217) 782-6597.

[Joan Crabb
and news release]

[JULY 13, 2001]  Tourists in Lincoln will have an easier time finding the downtown Courthouse Square Historic District thanks to new directional signs installed by the Illinois Department of Transportation at the request of Main Street Lincoln. The brown "Courthouse Square Historic District" signs have been placed at all the entrances to Lincoln. Some replaced existing signs that merely said "Historic District," but most are in locations where there were no such signs.

"Tourists are captivated by the small-town charm of a courthouse square," noted Jan Schumacher, Main Street Promotion Committee chairperson, who oversaw the project. "We wanted to be certain that visitors knew about our unique historic district no matter which route they took into Lincoln." Lincoln has one of only seven such districts in Illinois.

"Having the name ‘Courthouse Square Historic District’ on the signs was important because it differentiates our extensive district from other historic districts which may be just a block or two of historic buildings," she explained. "We expect these signs will bring more tourists downtown to see our historic attractions, eat at our restaurants and shop in our stores," she added.

In addition to installing new historic district signs, IDOT also installed new Postville Courthouse signs and removed "dead" signs that were faded, as requested by Main Street.

"We appreciate the cooperation of IDOT on this project," noted Wendy Bell, Main Street program manager.  "The signs make our downtown more visible to visitors and therefore benefit the retailers located there."

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The locations of the new courthouse square signs are:

• Lincoln Parkway (Route 66) northbound near Fifth Street

• Lincoln Parkway (Route 66) southbound at North Kickapoo Street and at Woodlawn Road

• Limit Street (Route 121) northbound at Broadway Street

• Woodlawn Road (Route 10) eastbound near Lincoln Parkway

• Route 10 westbound just past Lincoln Christian College

• Keokuk Road at North Kickapoo Street, eastbound and westbound

• North Kickapoo Street southbound near Budget Inn and near the intersection at Keokuk Street 

[News release]

[JULY 13, 2001]  Sheriff’s Deputy Bob Spickard and his wife, Sheila, stood nervously outside the Logan County Courthouse last night waiting for word. Word that would tell them if their request for financial assistance from the Logan County Board to help pay Spickard’s attorney fees would be approved.

The board, in executive session, ended the Spickards’ wait, for now, by announcing after the session that the request would be placed on next Tuesday night’s agenda. Since any funds given to the deputy and his family would come from the county’s contingency fund, a two-thirds majority vote will be required.

Spickard, a Logan County deputy, incurred $17,000 in attorney expenses to defend himself against criminal charges brought against the deputy by Hartsburg resident Kevin Gleason for battery and the use of excessive force in an incident on July 25, 1999.

Spickard has had to pay his own attorney costs because he had opted not to purchase an insurance policy that would have protected him against legal expenses from criminal lawsuits filed against him while on duty. He was also left on his own since Illinois law requires that officers be provided with mandatory insurance protection only against civil charges but not criminal. The FOP, through their collective bargaining agreements, has yet to require that their officers be protected from such costs.

In other business Roger Bock advised the board that he is still waiting for a preliminary report from T.H.K. Associates of Aurora, Colo., on a possible golf course design for 12 acres surrounding the county airport. The study, offered free by T.H.K., is being accepted by the board only as information at this time. Bock also stated that a proposed contract for the county’s health department employees has been ironed out in committee and is being forwarded to the employees for a vote as soon as next Monday.

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Sonny Sullivan, chairman of Animal Control, advised the board that the shelter’s new website had 298 hits in the first 10 days of July, with two dogs being adopted by Bloomington residents. Sullivan noted that there was also a call from Barrington about one of the dogs already adopted. The pictures of animals available for new owners are taken with a digital camera loaned to the shelter by the Logan County Health Department.

The board approved $8,640 to slurry coat Safety Complex parking lots and accepted a low bid of $86,000 from R.A. Cullinan to rework the Nicholson Road overpass.

Board member Terry Werth, as a point of fact, wished to have it known that Economic Development Director Mark Smith had made a half dozen calls to Wal-Mart headquarters after hearing of the initial rejection by the city of Heyworth of a 125-job tire distribution center. The Heyworth City Council later changed their vote and accepted the Wal-Mart plans for development of the center.

[Mike Fak]

[JULY 13, 2001]  Lincoln Police Department reports that there was a successful drug raid performed early this morning, Friday, July 13.

A husband and wife in their mid-40s were arrested at 1303 N. Kankakee and a quantity of cocaine was seized.

Police Chief Richard Montcalm stated that this was the result of a cooperative investigation by the Lincoln Emergency Response Team and the state drug task force.

Chief Montcalm says, "We want to send a message; we’re not going to tolerate anyone using or selling drugs in this community. Maybe with the next ones doing it, we’ll be at their door."

In regard to drugs in our community, he emphasizes, "It is not an enticing environment for children to grow up in when this is taking place. We’re doing everything we can to eliminate this problem."

[LDN]

The Elkhart Homecoming this year will be Saturday, July 21. All events, food stands and entertainment will be downtown on the main street of Elkhart.

The day will kick off with the townwide yard sale starting at 8 a.m. There will be many first-timers this year, and the sale will include collectibles, crafts, antiques and much more.

From 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. there will be a cruise-in with all makes and models.

The St. Patrick's youth group will serve a rib-eye sandwich lunch from 11 a.m. till 1 p.m.

A parade at 3 p.m. will feature several exciting entrees.

From 4 till 7 p.m. the Elkhart Christian Church youth group will sponsor children’s carnival games with prizes.

The kiddie tractor pull is scheduled to begin competition at 5 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to all participants.

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A fried chicken dinner will be served from 5 till 8 p.m. The dinner includes potato salad, green beans, applesauce, marinated cucumber salad, dinner roll and drink.

Entertainment on stage from 5:30 till 7 p.m. will include the superb hypnotist Kent Sorrels and the merriment of several local talents.

A street dance featuring the band Up Front will begin at 8 p.m.

The winner of the 50/50 $1,000 drawing will be announced at 9 p.m. Only 200 chances will be sold.

Sunday morning from 7 till 11 a.m. biscuits and gravy will be served.

Mark your calendars for July 2l and 22, and come to enjoy the events and food at the annual Elkhart homecoming.

[News release]

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