Dave Hawkinson announces for Rep. run

[MAY 29, 2001]  In what is shaping up as an interesting race to fill the state representative’s slot in the 90th House District being vacated by John Turner, another candidate has announced his intentions to the six county chairpersons charged with making the selection to fill Turner's remaining term. Longtime Lincoln and McLean County resident Dave Hawkinson wants to be chosen to complete the term and to be the candidate of choice at the next election.

Hawkinson's extensive experiences as chamber of commerce and economic development director in both Logan and McLean counties is the background he brings to the contest.

"As I look at Lincoln today, I see projects such as the enterprise zone, the tourism bureau and the Certified Cities designation that were created during my time at the chamber. Working with community, business and political leaders, we accomplished a great deal during my tenure," Hawkinson noted.

 

He also worked with state agencies to land Lincoln's second correctional facility, which benefits the community through stable employment.

In McLean County, Hawkinson was the executive director for the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development of the Bloomington-Normal Area. He served for nearly a decade in a community that is the envy of others for its growth, prosperity and high employment.

During the past 30 years of his career, Hawkinson has had contact with hundreds of businesses and thousands of individuals throughout central Illinois. He serves on numerous boards and committees and has had many opportunities to represent his communities and the state of Illinois throughout the United States and in many foreign countries. He has previously been selected by his peers on the Illinois Development Council as the Economic Developer of the Year.

"Now is an opportune time to offer my talents, strengths and experiences to the citizens of central Illinois," he said. "I bring three decades of experiences, personal-professional contacts and a unique knowledge of how to accomplish tasks through networking with the people who get things done."

Hawkinson is also well-known for his work with the Central Illinois Corridor Council and his numerous presentations to social and civic organizations. He is the father of three grown daughters, husband of Kathy for 32 years, and enjoys distance running, helping his wife with her many projects, and volunteer service to charities.

Hawkinson resides in rural Lincoln and is employed by Corn Belt Energy of Bloomington.

 


Background

•  Born in Chicago, raised in Elmhurst

•  Graduated York Community High School

Education

•  Graduated Illinois State University, BA/MA

•  Additional post-college studies in chamber and economic development programs of studies

Work experience

•  Special education teacher, LeRoy Middle School

•  Principal, LeRoy Middle School

•  Principal, Barrington Middle School

•  Dean of Students, Lincoln College

•  Development Officer, Lincoln College

•  Director, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

•  Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development of the Bloomington-Normal Area

•  Currently employed as Director, Marketing and Public Affairs, Corn Belt Energy Corporation, Bloomington

 

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Community service, associations, committee service

•  Director, United Way, Bloomington

•  Chairman, Central Illinois Corridor Council

•  Vice president, Children’s Discovery Museum

•  President, BroMenn Advisory Council

•  Co-chairman, World War II Memorial, Bloomington

•  Citizens Committee for High Speed Rail

•  Easter Seals-UCP Advisory Committee

•  Lake Bloomington Association Board

•  Elks Club, Bloomington, Lincoln

•  Illinois Development Council, past Economic Developer of the Year

•  Governor's International Trade Mission delegate and presenter

•  Illinois Wesleyan Associates

•  Illinois State University Homecoming Committee

•  Academic Development Institute Board of Directors, board member

•  Rotary Club, board member

•  Bloomington Lake Run Club, Race Director for Mitsubishi Half-Marathon Race

•  US-Midwest Japan Association, Illinois delegate

•  Bloomington Sister Cities Committee

•  Member First Baptist Church, Lincoln

•  Member Wesley United Methodist Church, Bloomington

•  Board member, Community Advocacy Network, Bloomington

•  Courier Citizen of the Month

•  Committee for the Learning Institute, Bloomington

•  Co-chairman, Lincoln/Logan County Enterprise Zone

•  Established Logan County Tourism Bureau

•  Lincoln Certified Cities designation

•  State of Illinois trade missions to Japan, Korea, Canada, China, Mexico, Germany, France and Belgium

Miscellaneous

•  Married 32 years to Kathy, third-grade teacher in Lincoln and developer of log cabin garden

•  Key interests in coal/energy technology, statewide marketing and utility deregulation

•  Completed 14 marathons, three Chicago triathlons and 10 years of running the 80-mile River to River event

•  Cutest granddaughter on the planet and the best-behaved grandson in a six-county area

[News release from Dave Hawkinson]


Memorial Day ceremony
scheduled for Lincoln

‘Remember, freedom is not free’

[MAY 26, 2001]  The Rev. James Cravens of Trinity Episcopal Church in Lincoln will be the guest speaker at the Memorial Day services at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 28, on the courthouse lawn in Lincoln.

Cravens has been a military man for many years. He serves as deputy fleet chaplain, director of reserve religious ministries, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Va.

Tom Gerdts of Lincoln Christian Church will give the invocation and benediction at the ceremony.

Tom Murray is in charge of the firing squad, and Haydn Gerdts will play "Taps." C. Wayne Schrader is the master of ceremonies. The auxiliaries will participate in the laying of the wreath.

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The local veterans sponsor the Memorial Day services. Ham and beans will be served at the American Legion Post 263 hall in Lincoln after the ceremony.

All the people of Lincoln and the surrounding area are encouraged to take time to honor and remember those young men and women who gave their lives so we can remain a free nation. Remember, freedom is not free.

[News release]


Memorial Day, a day to honor all
military personnel who died in service

[MAY 26, 2001]  There are two theories about the origin of Memorial Day, formerly called Decoration Day. The first people to celebrate it may have been the Southern women who spread flowers on the graves of veterans. Or the founder may have been Union Gen. John A. Logan, who decided after the Civil War that the United States needed to honor the war dead and followed through with a speech at Arlington National Cemetery in 1868. Gen. Logan was the son of Dr. John Logan, the Illinois General Assembly colleague of Abraham Lincoln after whom Logan County was named.

In 1971 Decoration Day officially became Memorial Day, and Congress declared the last Monday of May as the day to honor all military personnel who died in service to this country. Many families use the day to decorate all their graves, but officially it is devoted to those who died while in military service.

 


[C. Wayne Schrader is a student of the history of Memorial Day.]

According to C. Wayne Schrader, finance officer and past commander of American Legion Logan Post 263, the number of volleys, the playing of "Taps" and the timing of the ceremony are grounded in history. He said that firing squads used to be restricted to seven members, so a 21-gun salute was seven riflemen firing three volleys each. At Monday’s service the squad will probably be somewhat larger but will fire the traditional three volleys.

"Taps" was composed by Union Gen. Daniel Butterfield in 1862. His men had begun to falter, and he himself was seriously wounded. When he learned from President Lincoln that there would be no reinforcements, Butterfield sought a way to bring comfort and peace to his tired men. He hummed the sounds he wanted, and his bugler, Oliver W. Norton, wrote the seven notes on the back of an old envelope. When Norton first played the song on July 2, 1862, the effect was magical, and soon it was being heard throughout the Army of the Potomac. A few days later it was used for the first time at the funeral of a fallen soldier. In 1874 the U.S. Army officially adopted "Taps."

 

When the armistice ending World War I was signed, Gen John J. Pershing asked Hartley B. Edwards, an American soldier, to play a final "Taps." The hour was 11 a.m. Organizers of the Lincoln Memorial Day service try to time the program so "Taps" is played at that same hour.

 

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In anticipation of the Memorial Day service, the American Legion will distribute poppies Friday and Saturday, May 25 and 26. Schrader said that all poppies are made by hospitalized veterans, who receive three cents for each poppy they make. All other money collected in Lincoln will be sent to rehabilitation units in veterans hospitals. Schrader is one of four judges of the local poppy poster contest for school-age children. The winning poster in the oldest class is sent to the national competition, where the first-place prize is a scholarship.

A few days before Memorial Day Greg Fitzpatrick leads a crew who place flags on the graves of all former American Legion members buried near Lincoln. About 900 flags are placed.

 

Schrader himself has spoken at Memorial Day programs and often uses the poem "Freedom Is Not Free," written by Cadet Maj. Kelly Strong, a Homestead, Fla., high school student and member of Air Force Junior ROTC. Schrader quotes the title to emphasize the cost in human life of the democratic institutions citizens sometimes take for granted. Memorial Day is the time set aside to remember the sacrifice of so many lives in war.

Veterans Day, celebrated Nov. 11, differs from Memorial Day in that it honors all veterans, living and dead, whereas Memorial Day honors only the dead.

Schrader hopes for a good attendance at this year’s service. He also wishes that every veteran would join a veterans organization. He points out that all were founded to help veterans and that the organizations have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on hospitals and assistance to families.

[Lynn Spellman]


Senate Week in Review

Illinois Senate agrees on new districts

[MAY 26, 2001]  A historic agreement on a congressional map and the establishment of task forces to study Illinois election procedures and the expansion of the state’s KidCare program highlight Senate action this week, according to Sen. Bob Madigan, R-Lincoln.

The new map, which eliminates one district as dictated by the 2000 census figures, marks an agreement by congressional map negotiators. This historic bipartisan agreement means the state will not have to argue in the courts, as in previous decades. The proposed maps (HB 2917) are now pending approval in the House of Representatives.

Senate Resolution 153, adopted by the Senate Executive Committee, creates the Senate Task Force on Integrity in Voting. The task force will examine the state’s voting process and election technology in the light of last year’s events in the Florida election.

Senate Resolution 152 proposes an examination of the state’s KidCare program before the program is expanded to include families.

The Senate also approved two economic development measures, which will now return to the House of Representatives for further approval:

McCormick Place (HB 263) — Allows expansion of the state’s premier convention and exposition center and creates a fund for statewide economic development purposes.

Boeing (HB 1655) — Authorizes a $64.1 million ($41.1 million state assistance, $23 million Chicago assistance) in economic incentives to the Boeing Corporation as they prepare to move their headquarters to Chicago, a move which is projected to bring 500 jobs and $4.3 billion in revenues to Illinois over the next 20 years.

The following measures were approved by both chambers and currently await consideration by the governor:

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

Abandoned babies (SB 216/HB 632) — Allows parents of newborn infants to leave their baby at a safe haven (church, hospital, fire station, etc.) for purposes of adoption without any civil or criminal repercussions.

Child support (SB 950) — Publishes a list naming 200 child-support deadbeats who owe $5,000 or more in back support. (SB 993) — Notifies parents who are 30 days late (or more) on child-support payments that simple interest will accrue at the rate of 9 percent.

Unattended children (SB 28) — Sets penalties for adults who leave young children unattended in a motor vehicle.

Tobacco (HB 2254) — Creates a unique driver’s license format for those younger than age 19 to prevent underage purchase of tobacco.

Alcohol delivery (HB 1000) — Requires delivery people to get the signature of someone at least 21 years old when delivering alcohol.

CONSUMERS

Sweepstakes fraud (SB 797) — Protects consumers from sweepstakes fraud by requiring mailings to state clearly that no purchase is necessary, disclose all information and award the prize within 30 days.

Restricted call registry (HB 176) — Creates the statewide Restricted Call Registry for consumers who do not want to be called by telemarketing sales companies.

Halal food (SB 750) — Makes it a Class B misdemeanor to misrepresent food as being halal, food that is prepared under the strict compliance with laws and customs of the Islamic religion.

CRIME

Pupillometers (SB 1517) — Creates a pilot program using Pupillometers for drug tests of prison inmates with drug and alcohol abuse problems.

FOID cards (SB 1065) — Provides more oversight for the FOID card application process, tightens the FOID card felony exemption, creates a new offense for anyone falsifying a FOID card application, uses driver’s license photos to confirm identities and cracks down on repeat FOID card offenders. (HB 1942) — Sets Class 2 felony penalties for any person who forges or materially alters or counterfeits a FOID card or possesses a card that has been forged, altered or counterfeited.

Project Exile (HB 231) — Encourages the federal prosecution of anyone who illegally uses firearms in crimes against others.

Seized property (SB 1098) — Requires law enforcement agencies to return vehicles or vehicle parts that were seized for evidence in the same condition they were at the time they were seized, unless criminal charges are pending or stolen parts have been removed.

Videotaped testimony (SB 401) — Allows videotaped testimony of a mentally disabled victim who is not institutionalized to be admitted into evidence in the same manner that testimony of an institutionalized victim or the testimony of a child victim can be admitted into evidence.

DUI fines (SB 64) — Increases the fine DUI offenders pay to trauma centers from $25 to $100 for a first offense and $200 for a subsequent offense. Creates an additional $5 fine to benefit research on spinal cord injury paralysis.

Gang crime (HB 1812) — Strengthens penalties for street gang members who violate laws against murder, assault and battery.

Aggravated DUI (SB 2290) — Allows for extended term sentencing on all aggravated DUI convictions rather than just those resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disability.

Crime victims (HB 2865) — Adds stalking and aggravated stalking to the list of crimes for which victims can be compensated through the Crime Victims Compensation Act. (HB 863) — Allows the court to accept a victim impact statement from family members of the victim.

Aggravated Arson (HB 2295) — Expands aggravated arson to include damage to a house trailer, watercraft, motor vehicle or railroad car.

Multiple felonies (HB 2300) — Allows out-of-state convictions to count in determining sentencing.

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EDUCATION

School budgets (SB 898) — Requires school districts with websites to post their current annual budget, itemized by receipts and expenditures.

Education license plates (SB 1521) — Creates education license plates with funds benefiting scholarships for teachers. Illinois school children will design the special plates in a statewide contest.

College savings (SB 902) — Creates a state income tax deduction for contributions to Bright Start, the treasurer’s college savings plan on which earnings are already tax deferred.

Abuse (HB 3055) — Includes in a child’s permanent school record information about investigations of suspected abuse and neglect.

MAP grants (SB 406) — Increases the maximum Monetary Award Program grants for undergraduate students.

Alcohol and school (HB 445) — Prohibits the consumption of alcohol on public school property.

Safe to Learn (HB 678) — Extends the Safe to Learn Program in Illinois schools to July 1, 2005, a three-year extension.

Teachers (HB 1048) — Requires Internet posting of unfilled teaching positions in Illinois.

Tax equivalent grants (SB 326) — Allows school districts (except Chicago) to receive tax-equivalent grants if a United States military installation or base is located in its boundaries and children from the base attend schools in the district.

GOVERNMENT

Emergency notice (HB 1694) — Allows public safety agencies to utilize unlisted numbers in emergency situations, such as snow emergencies, for reverse 911 calls.

Miami lawsuit (HB 1623) — Extends the legal defense fund to assist landowners in the Miami Nation lawsuit through FY 2002.

Energy efficiency (SB 606) — Offers low-interest loans for energy efficiency improvements in governmental, commercial and certain multi-family buildings.

Small business (SB 1522) — Make plain-language descriptions of laws or administrative rules affecting small businesses available on the Internet.

HEALTH

Vaccinations (SB 1305) — Does not allow officials to decide that a child is neglected or abused for the sole reason that the child’s parents or guardians did not vaccinate the child.

Insurance discrimination (SB 869) — Prohibits unfair discrimination based upon race, color, religion or national origin by life, accident and health insurance policies.

Genetic testing (SB 42) — Prohibits insurance companies from using genetic testing information in connection with accident and health insurance policies.

Infectious diseases (SB 382) — Notifies firefighters and emergency medical technicians, as well as other medical professionals, when they have treated a patient with a communicable or infectious disease.

Insurance (SB 935) — Requires insurance companies to notify their health insurance customers of changes in lists containing information about the prices of approved medications.

DNR (HB 2276) — Requires a uniform do-not-resuscitate order form for use by physicians.

Nursing scholarships (HB 2436) — Increases the number of scholarships available for nurses who plan to practice in Illinois.

Fetus burial (HB 382) — Allows parents to bury or cremate a child miscarried after less than 20 weeks of gestation.

TRANSPORTATION

Car keys (SB 115) — Car dealers may not issue replacement keys for a vehicle without making a copy of the person’s driver’s license and keeping it on file.

Disabled parking (HB 846) — Limits who can receive disabled parking permits and makes it illegal to park in access areas to disabled parking spaces.

The Senate also acted on a number of resolutions including:

After-school programs (SR 70) — Asks the State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Human Services to convene and co-chair a task force to promote quality after-school programs for school-age children.

Casinos (SR 88) — Objects to the construction of large casinos along the Illinois border, specifically in Wisconsin, and urges the Bureau of Indian Affairs to halt construction of such casinos until the citizens of Illinois have a chance to voice their concerns.

Flag Month (HJR 6) — Declares June 14 through July 14 as American Flag Month.

Purple Heart stamps (HJR 13) — Urges the Postal Service to issue a Purple Heart stamp, honoring those veterans who received the Purple Heart Medal of Merit.

Pearl Harbor (SJR 6) — Urges all state agencies, schools, organizations, groups and individuals to fly the United States’ flag at half-mast on Dec. 7 in honor of the men and women who died at Pearl Harbor.

Retired teachers (SJR 32) -- Addresses concerns by retired teachers throughout Illinois that a proposed 70 percent increase in health insurance premiums is too high, asking for an increase similar to previous years (approximately 6 percent) and establishing a task force to investigate the problems.

[News release]

 

 


Attorney Wright in the running
for statehouse seat

[MAY 25, 2001]  Lincoln’s city attorney, Jonathan Wright, has announced that he is a candidate for the seat in the Illinois House of Representatives being vacated by Rep. John Turner of Atlanta. Wright’s candidacy brings the number of those vying for the seat to at least seven, three of them from Lincoln.

The other Lincoln area candidates are Carla Bender, clerk of the Logan County Circuit Court and former campaign manager for Turner, and Eric Spanton, an Illinois State Police officer. Also on the list are Joe Alexander of Clinton, former aide to recently retired U.S. Rep. Tom Ewing of Pontiac; Jerry Davis, former mayor of the town of Leroy; Jered Hooker, DeWitt County Republican chairman; and Tim Siekmeyer of Mason County.

The 90th District statehouse seat will become vacant June 1, when Turner takes a seat on the Illinois Appellate Court for the 4th Judicial District.

The seat will be filled by a candidate chosen by the Republican county chairmen

in the counties of the 90th District. The district includes all of Logan, Mason and DeWitt counties, small parts of Tazewell and McLean counties, and a very small part of Piatt County. The appointment must be made by July 1.

 

Wright, who grew up in Carol Stream (a western suburb of Chicago), graduated from Monmouth College, Monmouth, and received his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. He practiced law in Monmouth and then worked for the attorney general’s office in Springfield.

In 1995 he began practicing law in Lincoln, then joined a Pekin law firm, but returned to full-time practice in Lincoln in 1997. He has lived in Logan County since 1994.

In April of 1998 he became city attorney for Lincoln, and he also does work as an attorney for the city of Atlanta and the village of Middletown.

He says it is a loss for the 90th District that Turner is stepping down from the house seat, but Turner’s appointment is a gain for the Appellate Court. He also believes the district is "at an advantage having so many qualified candidates turn out to fill the vacancy."

Wright says that while he doesn’t believe a person must have a law degree to be a good public official, it is an added benefit.

"There are a number of duties you take on as a state legislator, not the least of which is reading, interpreting and analyzing legislation. Not only my educational background, but my experience in court and legal work can help when legislative issues come to a vote.

"In addition, the training and experience I have had as an attorney will greatly assist me in terms of my ability to think on my feet and to communicate, not only one-on-one but also to a group."

He also thinks his legal training will help him to make difficult decisions. "It’s one thing to make a decision knowing everyone is going to support you. It’s another thing to make a decision under pressure, knowing that no matter what you decide, someone is not going to agree. Whether in municipal or private practice, I have to be in a position to make such decisions and be able to support them and argue persuasively for them. As a state legislator, it will be important at some time for me to be able to do that."

Wright believes the experience of starting and operating his own business successfully is another asset. "Most people don’t think of a law office as a business, but it is that," he explains.

An active member of the Park Meadows Baptist Church in Lincoln, where he coaches the church’s basketball team, Wright defines himself as a Christian and a family man. "I define myself by my faith in God and my Christian beliefs," he says. "That is a valuable insight on who I am and what my values are.

"The other way I would define myself is by introducing my wife and children," he adds. Wright is married to the former Melanie Usherwood and has three daughters, Kate, age 5, Alison, 3, and Melissa, 1. "My family life is important, I actively schedule time with my wife and children."

White says if he is appointed, he will seek re-election when Turner’s term expires in January of 2003, even though redistricting may change the borders of the district he would have to run in.

 

 

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"When I considered seeking the appointment to fill Representative Turner’s term, I tried to play out in my mind the likely scenarios, even including that this district would no longer exist and I would have to be running against an incumbent.

"If I were given the honor of being a state representative, it would be incumbent on me to run for re-election," he says.

[Joan Crabb]

 


Council OKs animal-control
contract with county

[MAY 24, 2001]  Its questions about fees answered, the Lincoln City Council approved a three-year contract with Logan County for animal-control services.

Under the contract, the city will pay a fee of $27,950 per year for the next three years. After former Alderman Steve Mesner said the city and other municipalities paid fees but the county did not contribute a fair share, council members questioned whether the city was paying more than it should.

"The question we wanted answered is whether the city is getting its fair share, what we pay for," Alderman Steve Fuhrer said. Several Logan County Board members who were in the audience provided the answer.

 

Dick Logan, board chairman, said the animal-control facility "operates at a loss, and we pay the extra out of the general fund."

Rod White, finance chairman of the board, said the budget for the animal-control facility is $77,500, but last year the county had to add $12,000 from the general fund to meet expenses. Some years the county has added as much as $20,000, White said.

The city of Lincoln contributes $27,950 to the animal-control budget, smaller communities in the county contribute another $21,067, and the county picks up the rest, officials said.

"I feel the contract is fair," said Alderman Verl Prather, chairman of the sanitation committee. "We couldn’t hire someone to do this for $27,000."

 

Reimbursement for road damages

The council also agreed to reimburse West Lincoln Township $16,000 for damages incurred when a water main break on Route 10 last February made it necessary to reroute traffic along Connolley Road to Fifth Street. The $16,000 is the cost of returning the street to the condition it was before the traffic was rerouted. However, the city will also see whether reimbursement is available from the city’s insurance company, since the Illinois Department of Transportation directed the city to reroute the traffic when the water main broke, and the city had no choice in the matter.

 

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Policemen promoted; awards given

Police Chief Richard Montcalm announced two promotions within the department, Paul Adams to corporal and David Sielaff to sergeant. Adams, who has been with the police department for four years, was injured in the line of duty and is presently home recuperating, Montcalm said.

Montcalm also presented awards for participation in violence-prevention programs to representatives of three area schools: Carroll Catholic, Chester-East Lincoln and West Lincoln-Broadwell.

He also presented an award to Sgt. Darrell Sisk, retiring after 30 years, and announced that James Raymond has completed his probation and is now a regular officer. Two new officers will be added to the department as of May 31, Christi Jackson and Jason Lucas.

Upgrade plans for wastewater plant approved

The council also approved the final design and the overall project approach for the wastewater treatment plant upgrade, along with approval of additional engineering charges. The $10 million upgrade is necessary to remain in compliance with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency requirements.

Low interest rates on investments

City Treasurer Les Plotner reported that the city at present is receiving "very poor interest rates" on its investments, ranging from 4.31 percent to as low as 3.51 percent.

[Joan Crabb]

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