Homeland security training
measures announced

[FEB. 4, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. George Ryan today announced a series of 17 regional Homeland Security Workshops that will begin next week and culminate in a Statewide Homeland Security Summit in May 2002.

  “These new workshops will build on the 16 regional workshops we offered this past November and December,” Gov. Ryan said. “The goal of these new workshops is to help local and regional officials plan and identify actions that can be taken to improve public safety, homeland security and anti-terrorism efforts throughout Illinois.”

The workshops are a cooperative effort of members of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force, created by Gov. Ryan in May of 2000. The University of Illinois is sponsoring the workshops and there will be no cost for participants.

The workshops will bring together elected officials and key-decision makers including representatives of local, state and federal agencies; Law Enforcement, Fire Service, Emergency Management, Public Health, Education, Transportation and other Public Services as well as members of the private sector.

“Homeland Security is something we must continually strive to improve,” Gov. Ryan said. “These workshops will add to the thousands of hours of training and preparation we’ve been able to supply first-responders through the Illinois Terrorism Task Force.”

“These seminars are being conducted to ensure that Illinois communities are safer and better prepared to deal with any act of terrorism or natural disaster,” said Illinois Homeland Security Director Matt Bettenhausen. “The importance of coordinating state and federal actions with first-responders was clearly demonstrated by the tragic events of September 11th.”

Following the regional workshop, a Statewide Homeland Security Summit will be held May 20-21, 2002 at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The goal of the two-day summit will be to develop a set of key conclusions and action plans from the workshop process. Key individuals from the participating workshop groups will be invited to the Statewide Summit

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Each workshop will be nearly a full day with the following agenda:

7:30-8:30 a.m. -- Registration

8:30-10 a.m. -- How Process Works

10 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Planning Breakout sessions on two tracks. The workshop attendees will be presented with the scenarios and given an opportunity to work through the issues that the scenarios present. The two groups will then be brought back together to make a presentation to the entire group.

Track One - Based upon Terrorist Event Law Enforcement

Track Two - Based upon the evolving Public Health situation

1-2 p.m. - Debrief the planning session

2-3 p.m. - Follow-on Action discussions

The workshops will be conducted around the state in five regional "clusters" at the following locations and specific dates:

Southern Region: Benton - February 4; Carbondale - February 5; Effingham - February 6

Chicago Region: Aurora - February 26; Rockford - February 27; Tinley Park – Feb. 28

Central Region: Bloomington - March 18; Peoria - March 19; Champaign - March 21; Springfield - March 20; Ottawa - May 10

Southwestern Region: Collinsville - April 25; Quincy - April 26

Western Region: Galesburg - May 6; Dixon - May 7; Macomb - May 8; East Moline – May 9

For more information visit the Illinois Fire Service Institute’s website:  http://www.fsi.uiuc.edu/hspw/index.html

Help prevent theft of your
vehicle or its contents

[FEB. 2, 2002]  The Lincoln Police Department is advising residents of Lincoln that over the past several months, officers have been investigating large numbers of burglaries and thefts from motor vehicles, as well as cases in which a motor vehicle itself was stolen. The department is encouraging residents to lock the doors of their vehicles and keep the windows rolled up. Residents should also keep any items of value out of view, and it would be best to remove those items from the vehicles.

Most of the thefts have occurred when a vehicle was unlocked. When parked outside a business, do not leave your vehicle running and unattended. It takes only a few seconds to steal a vehicle when the keys are in it and the car is running.

You may contact the Lincoln Police Department for more information on crime prevention.

If anyone has any information concerning thefts or any other crime, you may call the Lincoln Police Department or report your crime to Crime Stoppers at 732-3000.

[Timothy Butterfield, Lincoln Police Department]

Illinois Senate week in review

[FEB. 2, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate continued work on its spring session this week, introducing 132 bills, according to state Sen. Claude Stone. The Senate Executive Committee acted this week on legislation to honor President Reagan, protect Chief Illiniwek and renounce a clothing retailer’s racy marketing tactics.

Honoring the birthday of our nation’s 40^th president, Senate Bill 1553 designates Feb. 6 of each year as Ronald Reagan Day. As an official commemorative date, the former President’s birthday would be honored but would not warrant school or business closings. The measure is an initiative of the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project and was approved unanimously by the committee.

A measure to protect university symbols and trademarks, such as the University of Illinois’ Chief Illiniwek, from unauthorized use also made its way through the committee. Senate Bill 1555 would prohibit the use of university symbols or trademarks without permission. The measure was approved 8-0.

Senate Resolution 170 also gained unanimous approval. The measure urges a public boycott of the clothing retailer Abercrombie and Fitch. Sponsors of the resolution object to the company’s racy marketing techniques, which they say promote an obscene lifestyle.

All three proposals will now be considered by the full Senate.

Meanwhile, introduction of new legislation continues. Among the measures introduced this week in anticipation of the Feb. 7 filing deadline are:

Teachers (SB 1584) — Allows elementary and secondary teachers to claim a tax credit for continuing-education classes. (SB 1585) — Gives teachers $1,000 signing bonuses for agreeing to teach in a public school for at least three consecutive years and provides grants to school districts for teacher mentoring programs. (SB 1617) — Provides down-payment assistance to public teachers in low-performing challenge schools. (SB 1618) — Creates the Teacher Cadet Program to introduce high school student to careers in education.

School construction (SB 1586) — Increases the amount of funding available for school construction grants.

EMT and paramedic plates (SB 1588) — Creates emergency medical technician and paramedic license plates.

Senior citizen tax deferral (SB 1606) — Increases the annual household income cap for the senior citizen tax deferral to $40,000.

Agriculture incentives (SB 1610) — Allows a tax credit for investing in cooperatives that produce renewable fuels or goods made from agricultural products.

School bus drivers (SB 1611) — Requires school bus drivers with valid permits to be fingerprinted.

Family leave (SB 1615) — Requires employers with 25 or more employees (rather than 50 or more) to provide family and medical leave.

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Youth service (SB 1616) — Creates the Youth Service Scholarship Program in which high school students can earn scholarship funds to Illinois private or public schools through community service hours.

Illinois Opportunity Scholarships (SB 1619) — Provides scholarships for tuition and fees at undergraduate schools in Illinois.

Fatherhood (SB 1620) — Creates the Council for Responsible Fatherhood to establish a responsible fatherhood initiative in Illinois.

Minimum wage (SB 1621) — Increases minimum wage for workers at least 18 years old to $6.50 per hour and provides annual adjustments beginning in 2004.

Park district youth plates (SB 1623) — Creates park district youth license plates to benefit after-school programs sponsored by park districts.

Car insurance (SB 1625) — Requires proof of insurance to register or renew a vehicle.

Pledge of Allegiance (SB 1634) — Requires high school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Price gouging (SB 1636, 1652) — Makes it illegal to raise prices on essential commodities to unreasonable levels during a state of emergency.

Telemarketing (SB 1637) — Makes it illegal for telemarketers to call a cell phone.

Voting (SB 1643) — Creates an Internet voter’s guide, published before each general election, to provide information on statewide and other candidates, public questions on the ballot, and voting information.

Stealing utilities (SB 1646) — Sets penalties for stealing or helping someone steal cable, Internet or other services companies provide paying customers.

Optometric scholarships (SB 1654) — Creates the Optometric Education Scholarship Program to provide 10 scholarships each year to optometric students studying in Illinois and requires them to practice in Illinois for each year they receive a scholarship.

Piercing (SB 1658) — Requires parental consent and notification of health risks before a child younger than 18 can pierce his or her tongue.

Aborted babies born alive (SB 1661, 1662, 1663) — Provides medical alternatives and legal responses in cases where an aborted infant is born alive and appropriate medical care has not been provided.

MAP grants (SB 1684) — Increases the maximum grant to undergraduate students through the Monetary Award Program.

Spouse benefits (SB 1710) — Allows spouses who both work for the state to share unused sick, vacation or personal time.

Representatives oppose LDC closure

[FEB. 1, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Three area Republican representatives today urged Gov. George Ryan to keep Lincoln Developmental Center open.

After meeting with House Republican Leader Lee Daniels and discussing the issue, Reps. Gwenn Klingler of Springfield, Bill Mitchell of Forsyth and Jonathan Wright of Lincoln joined in writing a letter to the governor strongly expressing their conviction that the center should not be closed.

"I’ve had so many calls on the possible closing of Lincoln Developmental Center, and I’ve personally looked into the problems there," Klingler said. "While the problems are real, I believe the center should stay open for the benefit of the residents and their loved ones, who clearly do not want the center closed. I sincerely believe the problems at Lincoln center can be solved and their solution will benefit everyone."

Mitchell said he too had been contacted about the possibility of the center’s closing and was convinced that it would not be in the best interests of the residents or their families.

"A recent survey indicates that Lincoln Developmental Center should not be singled out for closure for residential abuse," Mitchell said.

 "There are other facilities with far higher levels of abuse, and there have been no calls for their closure. Furthermore, the economic and social impact on the entire area is too great not to be considered. The impact would be devastating to too many communities in central Illinois. We need to keep Lincoln open."

[to top of second column in this article]

Wright said the impact of the closure on his community was also a factor that should not be minimized.

"Lincoln Developmental Center is very much a part of the Lincoln community," Wright said. "Closing it would not only have serious economic ramifications for the entire area, it would result in a loss of vital part of all of our lives here in Lincoln. For us, the center is so much more than bricks and mortar. It is a vital, living force that helps give life to our community."

In their letter the representatives urged Gov. Ryan to find a solution for the problems at the center by working with staff, residents and families. All agreed that anyone found abusing should be immediately fired, but none believed the entire staff at Lincoln center should be assumed guilty because of the acts of a very few employees.

[News release]

January 31, 2002

Honorable George H. Ryan

Governor, State of Illinois

207 State House.

Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Governor Ryan,

We are writing in regards to the Lincoln Developmental Center and the pending decision as to the fate of this facility. We would first like to commend you on your involvement in this issue. We realize that the situation at Lincoln represents a very difficult issue for you that consequently bears a major impact, not only on those within the facility, but also for the Lincoln community.

It is due to this tenuous balance between the interests of the residents, their families, employees, and the community involved that we write to urge you to delay implementation of any further plans for reduction or closure until the facility has ample time to correct these problems. We believe it is only fair that the determination on whether the facility should be allowed to continue its receipt of Medicaid funds is made before you request the Department to take further action. As representatives of the area, we believe the Lincoln Developmental Center provides a vital economic interest to the community of Lincoln and closure of this facility would have ramifications well beyond the loss of jobs for those employed directly by the facility. As a result of the facility reductions made over the past few months, many area businesses have already felt the pains of this loss. Thus, a complete closure of the facility would inevitably prove devastating to the community.

This is not to say, however, that the economic interests of the Lincoln community come before the serious concerns that have ultimately led the facility to the situation it now faces. The loss of Lincoln's certification as a result of these cases of abuse and neglect is inexcusable. The safety and welfare of the individuals residing at the facility should be a priority for all members of the staff. The few members of the staff that have chosen not to regard this as a priority should be subjected to swift and appropriate consequences.

[to top of second column in this letter]

Unfortunately, it is because of these employees that the majority of the staff members who have consistently held a high regard for the safety and health of the residents are forced to suffer for the actions of others. More importantly, the families and the individuals that reside at Lincoln and wish to continue their care at this facility may be unnecessarily subjected to an understandably upsetting disruption in their lives. Furthermore, we believe it makes no sense to transfer these residents to facilities, such as Jacksonville, with higher incidents of abuse and neglect. Although none of us have had personal experience with a developmentally disabled child, we can only imagine the strain this would not only place on the parents, but also the child who may be particularly sensitive to such a drastic change in environment.

In light of these concerns, we once again urge you to delay any decision on the fate of the Lincoln Developmental Center. We also encourage you to continue working with the Department to ensure Lincoln has qualified staff and management in place to carry out both the concerns and daily functions of the facility in a caring, efficient and highly professional manner. Furthermore, we are also committed to assisting the Department on developing measures to prevent past problems at the facility from persisting in the future. While we regret the situation at Lincoln has occurred, we believe this situation affords us the opportunity to coordinate efforts to make systemic improvements that protect individuals with developmental disabilities and the interests of those individuals and communities that care for them.

Again, we would appreciate your careful consideration on the fate of the Lincoln Developmental Center. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Representative Gwen Klingler

Representative Bill Mitchell

Representative Jonathan Wright

New stamp honors Langston Hughes
on his 100^th birthday

[FEB. 1, 2002]  A new stamp being issued by the U.S. Postal Service honors poet and author Langston Hughes, who wrote his first poem in 1916 as a Central School student in Lincoln. The date of issue corresponds to the 100^th anniversary of Hughes birth on Feb. 1, 1902, in Joplin, Mo.

The stamp is the 25^th in the Black Heritage series, with one stamp brought out every January or February. Acting Lincoln postmaster Jeff Poole said previous honorees include Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. DuBois, Harriet Tubman, Jackie Robinson, Scott Joplin and James Weldon Johnson. A poster displayed in the Lincoln post office announces the stamp.

According to window clerk Donnie Wolpert, first day issues are available on Friday only in New York City, where Hughes owned a home and did much of his writing. The stamp will be unveiled at New York’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Elsewhere the stamp is available for sale starting Saturday, Feb. 2.

The stamp reproduces a 1946 black-and-white photograph of Hughes taken in New York City by Henri Bresson, a renowned photographer and friend of Hughes.

Hughes, best known as a poet, also wrote a long-running column for the Chicago Defender, short stories, novels, plays, children’s books, a hit Broadway revue, an opera, a movie and assorted nonfiction. He took pride in being the first black American to support himself wholly by writing. Many public readings of his works helped him accomplish that feat.

An Illinois State Historical Society marker erected at Central School in 1998 memorializes the poet. It stands on the corner of Eighth Street and Union.

Margaret Peifer of rural Lincoln, chair of the marker committee, said that when she first learned of Hughes’ Lincoln connection, she was elated. "I’d been teaching Langston Hughes for years," she recalled. "I’ve always loved his poems, and kids loved them too. He had a way of saying that didn’t offend but made (racial interactions) real."

Peifer noted that nearly everyone can relate to "Dreams," the Hughes poem quoted on the marker. It says in part: "Hold fast to dreams / For if dreams die / Life is a broken winged bird / That cannot fly."

[to top of second column in this article]

Raised primarily by his grandmother in Lawrence, Kan., Hughes lived in Lincoln for about a year in 1915-16 when his stepfather worked for the railroad here. According to biographer Arnold Rampersad, Ethel Welch, Hughes’ English teacher at Central School, reported that he was one of the top three composition students in the class. In his autobiography ‘The Big Sea," Hughes recalls being unanimously elected class poet with the duty of writing the graduation poem.

He recounts, "In the first half of the poem, I said that our school had the finest teachers there ever were. And in the latter half, I said our class was the greatest ever graduated. So, at graduation, when I read the poem, naturally everybody applauded loudly. That was the way I began to write poetry."

Dr. Robert Goebel, president of the school board, presented Hughes with his diploma. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Cleveland.

For years after leaving Lincoln, Hughes corresponded occasionally with Ethel Welch. He sent her three autographed volumes of poetry: his first book, "The Weary Blues," published in 1929, plus two from the late ’40s, "Fields of Wonder" and "One-Way Ticket."

When Welch died the volumes were given to her neighbor and friend Charlene Boward. Almost 20 years ago Boward, in turn, saw that they were passed on to Becky Thornton, an assistant in the Lincoln Community High School instructional materials center. The LCHS IMC displays the three autographed volumes in a case just inside the entrance.

Among the many public figures Hughes knew were two with area roots. In 1930 he and Reinhold Niebuhr both spoke at an interracial conference at Riverside Church in Manhattan. Niebuhr, professor of applied Christianity at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, also graduated from Central School and also is memorialized by a historical marker in Lincoln.

In the mid-1920s, after winning an Opportunity magazine prize for "The Weary Blues" but supporting himself as a busboy in Washington, D.C., Hughes was "discovered" by poet Vachel Lindsay, a Springfield native. Lindsay was there to give a public reading, and when the busboy slipped him some of his poems Lindsay included them in his performance.

Hughes is known for incorporating the rhythms of jazz, blues and spirituals into his poetry. His most famous prose character is Jesse B. Simple, whom he introduced into his Chicago Defender column in 1944. Sitting on a stool in Paddy’s Bar, in dialogue with the educated, somewhat stuffy narrator, Simple dispenses his colloquial and often perverse wisdom regarding his troubles with women, interactions between the races and life in general.

Hughes was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and the first black member of PEN. He won the Springarn Medal for contributions to the Negro race and was appointed as American representative to the first World Federation of Negro Arts in Dakar, Senegal. He died in 1967.

Weather statement

As of 6:09 a.m. Jan. 31

[JAN. 31, 2002]  Winter storm warning continues for parts of central Illinois through tonight.

A stationary front located just south of the Ohio River will have a series of low-pressure areas move along it today and tonight. As these low-pressure areas move northeast, the southerly winds ahead of the systems will bring plenty of moisture and warmer air into the lower levels of the atmosphere. This will combine with the front to produce showers and thunderstorms across the southern half of the area.

Areas farther north, where the temperature remains around the freezing mark, will experience periods of freezing rain or freezing drizzle through tonight. Areas experiencing the freezing precipitation will be along and north of a Rushville-to-Bloomington line. Areas further north have already received heavy snowfall, over 6 inches, and ice accumulations around one-half inch. Additional ice accumulations and light snow tonight will make outside conditions much worse. Travel is strongly discouraged in these areas today and tonight. However, if you must go out, allow extra time to reach your destination.

[Weather Underground]

To keep updated, click on the weather report located under the date on the front page of LDN.

New, innovative prescription assistance program: Illinois SenioRx Care

[JAN. 31, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan detailed an innovative prescription assistance program, Illinois SenioRx Care, approved Monday by President Bush and the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a new national model for providing assistance for all prescription medication to low-income senior citizens.

"I want to commend President Bush and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson for working with us to provide relief to our senior citizens. SenioRx Care is an innovative program that dramatically expands our continuing efforts to make prescription medication affordable for low-income seniors," said Gov. Ryan. "This program is the first of its kind across the nation, due in large part to the success we have had with the state’s Circuit Breaker program. We hope other states will join us so that all seniors can receive the assistance they need to care for their health."

"Gov. George Ryan deserves credit for his efforts to improve access to affordable prescription drugs for Illinois seniors," U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said. "Illinois now can use federal Medicaid dollars to extend prescription drug coverage to some 368,000 seniors."

The proposed program is modeled on the state’s existing Circuit Breaker/Pharmaceutical Assistance program, administered by the Department of Revenue. Once enrolled, an individual would remain eligible for 12 months, and participants will have similar cost-sharing responsibilities. The current Illinois Circuit Breaker program will continue to serve eligible seniors earning between 200 and 250 percent of the federal poverty level, as well as disabled citizens.

"The state’s innovative approach pools federal and state Medicaid dollars to help those seniors most in need. We also will make it easier financially and administratively for other states to quickly follow Illinois’ lead," Secretary Thompson added.

Gov. Ryan first presented his concept for this innovative prescription drug plan to Secretary Thompson during a meeting last April in Chicago. The proposal has been under preliminary review by the federal government since Illinois submitted its plan to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on July 31, 2001.

"The lack of access to prescription drugs for the elderly is one of the most significant issues confronting our national health care system," Gov. Ryan said. "This progressive initiative will provide an immediate benefit to Illinois seniors."

The new program will provide a broad pharmaceutical benefit to eligible low-income Illinois seniors age 65 and older. Those with annual incomes up to about $17,200 for a single person and $23,220 for a couple will qualify without being subject to an asset test. The program is scheduled to begin June 1.

Participants will pay a nominal co-pay averaging $3 per prescription. When an individual’s pharmaceutical costs exceed $1,750, SenioRx Care will pay about 80 percent of the cost of additional prescriptions, while enrollees will pay the remaining 20 percent plus the co-pay. The state does not plan to charge an annual enrollment fee for the program.

[to top of second column in this article]

"Because the new program will cover such a broad range of drugs, it will benefit significantly more seniors," Gov. Ryan added. "The increased cost of the program will be offset by federal matching funds, cost-sharing features and drug manufacturer rebates paid to the state."

The new program will include a full range of drugs, including antibiotic, gastrointestinal, anti-anxiety, antihistamine and antidepressant therapies. The waiver program also will make diabetic testing supplies, hypodermic syringes, ostomy supplies and selected over-the-counter medications available to eligible seniors.

By providing seniors with affordable prescription drug, savings will be achieved by helping prevent costly institutional Medicaid care. Funding will be provided by state funds, federal matching funds, cost-sharing features and drug manufacturer rebates paid to the state and federal governments.

"This program will provide a significant benefit for seniors taking prescription drugs," said Public Aid Director Jackie Garner. "For example, if a senior is taking three drugs which cost $50 per prescription per month, the total annual cost is $1,800. Under SenioRx Care, that same person would save about $1,700 a year by paying about $100 for an average $3 co-pay for a prescription," Garner said.

To encourage seniors to keep any private insurance coverage for prescription drugs, the program will allow individuals the option of receiving monthly rebate checks to help cover out-of-pocket expenses, including premiums, deductibles and co-payments for pharmaceuticals.

Highlights of the Illinois SenioRx Care program, to begin June 1, are:

•  Eligibility level — 65 and over, 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

•  Coverage for up to 368,000 seniors.

•  Seniors already enrolled in the Circuit Breaker/PA program who are below 200 percent of federal poverty level will be automatically enrolled in Illinois SenioRx Care and have a complete prescription formulary available to them.

•  Pays for over 90 percent of average eligible senior’s drug cost.

•  No asset test or "spend down" requirements, as with traditional Medicaid.

[News release from the Illinois governor’s office]

Today’s history

Compiled by Dave Francis

Thursday, Jan. 31

The 31st day of the year

"Writing books is the closest men ever come to childbearing." — Norman Mailer

"A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy." — Guy Fawkes

1734 — Robert Morris, merchant (signed Declaration of Independence)

1797 — Franz Peter Schubert, Lichtenthal, Austria, composer ("Unfinished Symphony")

1872 — Zane Grey, American West novelist ("Riders of the Purple Sage")

1919 — Jackie Robinson, Georgia, first black major league baseball player (Dodgers)

1923 — Norman Mailer, New Jersey, New York City mayoral candidate and novelist ("The Naked and the Dead")

1931 — Ernie Banks, "Mr. Cub," Chicago Cubs, Hall-of-Famer (first baseman)

1937 — Suzanne Pleshette, New York City, actress ("The Birds," Emily in "The Bob Newhart Show")

1947 — Nolan Ryan, pitcher (Mets, Angels, Astros) (seven no-hitters, 5,714 K’s)

[to top of second column in this section]

1606 — Guy Fawkes, convicted in the "Gunpowder Plot," executed at 35

1788 — Charles E. Stuart, English pretender to the throne, dies at 67

1842 — John Tyler’s daughter Elizabeth marries in White House

1851 — Gail Borden announces invention of evaporated milk

1865 — Gen. Robert E. Lee named commander-in-chief of Confederate Armies

1874 — Jesse James gang robs train at Gads Hill, Mo.

1905 — First auto to exceed 100 mph (161 kph), driven by A.G. MacDonald, Daytona Beach

1928 — Scotch tape first marketed by 3M company

1929 — Leon Trotsky expelled from Russia to Turkey

1955 — John R. Mott, U.S. theologian and founder of YMCA (Nobel 1946), dies at 89

1990 — First McDonald’s in Russia opens in Moscow, world’s biggest McDonald’s

1992 — Sportscaster Howard Cosell retires

Approval of sewer update design hinges on 56 comments from Illinois EPA

[JAN. 30, 2002]  Fifty-six "comments" from a reviewer at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency must be addressed before the design for the Lincoln sewage treatment plant upgrade can win final approval.

Joe Miller of Environmental Management Corporation told the Lincoln City Council Tuesday night that the sewage plant design could be approved immediately if the city were to accept all 56 suggested changes. However, since some changes would add substantial expense, Miller plans to discuss those issues with the IEPA to find the most cost-effective design.

Treatment plant manager Grant Eaton said past comments have been successfully addressed and he expects the same with these new issues. Miller said EMC representatives have met with the reviewer and his supervisor before and will probably do so again. A written response to the 56 comments has already been submitted.

Miller said he hopes for final design approval by mid-March so bidding can be conducted in April and May and ground broken in June. A timely approval is important for two reasons: First, money is waiting in the form of a 2.7 percent IEPA loan; Lincoln is approved to receive the loan, but the money is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and could conceivably dry up until October. Second, interest rates are favorable now.

Miller commented that it is not a question of the submitted design failing to meet regulations, but there is more than one right way to accomplish the goal, and the reviewer prefers some methods that are more expensive.

For example, Eaton said, the design calls for using an existing clarifier splitter box that has proved effective. The city does not want to replace a structure that is well designed and has given no trouble.

Miller said he has met with prison officials to discuss their paying a share of the sewage treatment plant cost proportionate to their usage. He reported general agreement on 22.4 percent as an appropriate amount. Eaton said prison officials have agreed to reduce their loadings of BODs (biological oxygen demand) to 300 milligrams per liter and suspended solids to 350 milligrams per liter. He said EMC would test three days a week to monitor these levels.

The prisons have made a number of changes to meet these standards, according to Miller. Exceeding them would limit the city’s potential growth, so significant penalties and fines would be imposed for violations.

In other business, Chief of Police Rich Montcalm submitted a report breaking down arrest statistics by race, sex and age. For example, last year the 28 arrests for transportation of alcohol involved one adult black female, one adult Hispanic female, three juvenile white males, 21 adult white males and two adult white females. For a number of crimes, such as leaving the scene of an accident (14 arrests) and residential burglary (four), all those arrested were white. Both people charged with first-degree murder and both arrested for robbery were black. But for the majority of crimes most people arrested were white.

[to top of second column in this article]

Police Committee chair Verl Prather said there have been no formal complaints of racial profiling in Lincoln. Mayor Beth Davis emphasized that she does not want profiling in this community and that any related issues should be brought to the Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities, Minorities, Seniors, Veterans and Youth.

Montcalm said diversity training is being offered to all members of the Police Department. Prather said eight officers have already completed the training.

Fire, Water and ESDA Committee chair Benny Huskins announced the resignation of Assistant Fire Chief Don Fulk effective Feb. 15. Next on the list and his apparent successor is Clint Warnisher.

Steve Fuhrer, chair of the Finance, Policy and Procedures Committee, asked department heads to carry over as much money as possible into the next fiscal year. "Next year will be tough," he said.

In a committee meeting preceding the council meeting, Tom Lally of Edward Jones discussed the investment banking firm’s policies for tax-exempt municipal bonds. Although the city expects to finance the $9 million sewage treatment plant upgrade with an IEPA loan, Lally said bonds could be issued if costs exceed the estimate. He claimed that although his firm charges a higher-than-average underwriting fee, a lower interest rate tied to a national index results in the lowest overall cost.

Jim Senica of the Illinois Development Finance Authority said if the city issues bonds through his agency, purchasers are exempt from both federal and state income tax on the interest.

Bids for a police car were opened from three local dealerships:

•  Row Motor Sales, $19,704 for a Dodge Intrepid.

•  Graue Chevrolet-Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac-Cadillac, $18,669.35 for a Chevrolet Impala.

•  Xamis Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, $20,850 for a Crown Victoria.

The bids will be considered at a later meeting.

Mayor Beth Davis defended herself against a recent Courier editorial criticizing her for having her sister deliver Lincoln Developmental Center petitions to the governor. Davis was hospitalized for emergency surgery. She asked George Mitchell, the mayor pro tem, and two aldermen to represent the city. When none of them could be present, her sister filled in.

Today’s history

Compiled by Dave Francis

Wednesday, Jan. 30

The 30th day of the year

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date that will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." — Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest." — Mahatma Gandhi

1882 — Franklin Delano Roosevelt, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 32nd president (D) (1933-1945)

1922 — Dick Martin, Detroit, Mich., actor and comedian ("Laugh-In," "Carbon Copy")

1927 — Olof Palme, Stockholm, prime minister of Sweden (1969-76, 1982-86) assassinated

1931 — Gene Hackman, California, actor ("Bonnie and Clyde," "Under Fire," "Superman")

1933 — Louis Rukeyser, financial whiz (Wall Street Week)

1937 — Boris Spassky, U.S.S.R., world chess champion (1969-72)

1941 — Dick Cheney, representative, R-Wyo., Bush’s secretary of defense (1989-93), vice president

1951 — Phil Collins, England, singer and drummer (Genesis; "Against All Odds")

[to top of second column in this section]

1487 — Bell chimes invented

1649 — Charles I, king of Great Britain (1625-49), beheaded for treason

1730 — Peter II Alekseyevitch, emperor of Russia (1727-30), dies at 14

1800 — U.S. population: 5,308,483; black population 1,002,037 (18.9 percent)

1838 — Osceola, chief of Seminole Indians, dies in jail

1862 — U.S. Navy’s first ironclad warship (Monitor) launched

1937 — Second of Stalin’s purge trials; Pyatakov and 16 others sentenced to death

1939 — Hitler calls for extermination of European Jews

1946 — First issue of Franklin Roosevelt dime

1948 — Mahatma Ghandi murdered by Hindu extremists in India

1948 — Orville Wright, U.S. aviation pioneer, dies at 76

1951 — Ferdinand Porsche, German car inventor (Porsche), dies at 75

1956 — Martin Luther King Jr.’s home bombed

1995 — Car bomb explodes in Algiers; 42 killed, 296 injured

[JAN. 29, 2002]  The two men in charge of planning and zoning for Logan County began their jobs on the same day, share an office and have both served on the county board. Phil Mahler works full time as director of the Logan County Regional Planning Commission, while Walter D. "Bud" Miller has a part-time position as zoning enforcement officer. But the two must work together for Mahler to achieve the three goals he has set.

Mahler also serves as an ex officio member of the Economic Development Council. He said he works closely with EDC Director Mark Smith, who has experience as zoning officer of DeWitt County. As Mahler defines it, Smith’s job is to attract business to the county; Mahler’s is to have the zoning prepared properly and a plan set for new growth in both business and housing.

[Bud Miller (left) and Phil Mahler;
photo by Lynn Shearer Spellman]

Mahler’s office serves as a collection point for various types of information that citizens and public bodies may need. He receives census information on the county and the country as a whole. He also has maps depicting the 100-year flood plain, the location of former and current mines and the county enterprise zone.

Flood plain information is used in issuing building permits because no permanent structure can be built on the flood plain.

Similarly, anyone obtaining a building permit within the enterprise zone for construction that will create new jobs receives a certificate to avoid sales tax on building materials bought within the zone. In addition, property taxes levied by five bodies are abated for qualifying enterprise zone structures. The five taxing bodies are Lincoln Elementary School District 27, High School District 404, the city of Lincoln, Logan County and the park district. For qualifying structures, property taxes levied by these bodies are abated 100 percent in the first five years and 50 percent in years six to 10.

Locations of the seven former mines are important to people considering buying mine subsidence insurance. As a former insurance agent, Mahler recommends that anyone living in a mined area or within a few blocks of one buy subsidence insurance. He said the vein was generally 5½ feet thick and 280 to 300 feet beneath the surface. Although neither Mahler nor Miller knows of any case of significant mine subsidence in the county, it has occurred in nearby areas and could here.

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Mahler’s office also administers CDAP grants. These grants loan $10,000 per employee at 4 percent interest to companies hiring 51 percent or more people of low to moderate income. State monies for the loans come through the city of Lincoln. The regional planning office receives updated figures defining low to moderate income for various size families. At present, the cap is an annual income of $29,700 for a single person or $33,900 for a family of two.

Miller is responsible for assigning all 911 addresses in unincorporated areas in the county and in a few incorporated areas as well. The 911 address is issued along with the building permit, and CILCO and GTE will not hook up to a building without one. In the county, street addresses denote east-west roads, avenues are north-south roads, and a few boulevards run diagonally.

Mahler’s and Miller’s desks sit side by side on the second floor of the Logan County Highway Department building at 529 S. McLean. Miller works 9-12 and 1-4 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mahler’s hours are 8:30-12 and 1-4:30 daily.

Mahler graduated from Murray State University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with minors in physics and military science. He served two years in Germany in the 32^nd Army Air Defense Command and 28 years as a district agent for Prudential Insurance. Mahler was elected to the county board in 1994 and served until July 1, 2001, when he resigned to accept his current position. Bob Menzies preceded him as director of the Regional Planning Commission.

Mahler’s wife, Linda, is principal of Carroll Catholic School. They have three daughters: Erica (wife of Brad) Boss, an accountant in Fort Campbell, Ken.; Annie (wife of Bob) Evers, a special education teacher at Lincoln Community High School; and Emily, a sophomore marketing major at Eastern Illinois University.

Miller also officially began work on July 1, 2001, although he had been zoning enforcement officer on a temporary basis since the preceding May. He followed Harold Jouett in the position. Miller is a retired state parole officer. He served as East Lincoln Township supervisor for 18 years and on the county board for almost six.

Miller’s wife is the former Sue Ellen Franklin. His son Mike (husband of Jean Ann) Miller works for Roger Webster Construction, and his daughter Beth (wife of Darwin) Hoffert for Insight Communications. His two stepsons live in Arkansas; Sam Franklin is a buyer for Wal-Mart and D.J. Franklin is a police officer.

Today’s history

Compiled by Dave Francis

Tuesday, Jan. 29

The 29th day of the year

"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." — Thomas Paine

"For the salvation of his soul the Muslim digs a well. It would be a fine thing if each of us were to leave behind a school, or a well, or something of the sort, so that life would not pass by and retreat into eternity without a trace." — Anton Chekhov

"Two roads diverged in a wood and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." — Robert Frost

1737 — Thomas Paine, political essayist ("Common Sense," "The Age of Reason")

1756 — Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, governor of Virginia (R) and general

1843 — William McKinley, Niles, Ohio, (R) 25th president (1897-1901)

1860 — Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, Tagarov, Russia, playwright ("The Cherry Orchard")

1874 — John David Rockefeller Jr., Cleveland, Ohio, philanthropist

1880 — W.C. Fields [William Claude Dukenfield], Philadelphia, actor ("The Bank Dick")

1908 — Adam Clayton Powell, representative, D-N.Y. (1945-70)

1954 — Oprah Winfrey, Mississippi, actress and TV host ("The Color Purple," "Oprah")

1960 — Gregory Efthimos Louganis, San Diego, Calif., diver (Olympic gold, 1984, ’88)

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Events

1613 — Galileo observes Neptune but fails to recognize what he sees

1676 — Fjodor Aleksejevitsj becomes czar of Russia

1696 — Ivan V, co-tsar of Russia (1682-89), dies

1837 — Aleksandr Pushkin, poet and novelist ("The Golden Cockeral"), killed in a duel

1839 — Charles Darwin marries Emma Wedgwood

1845 — Edgar Allen Poe’s "The Raven" first published (New York City)

1919 — Secretary of state proclaims 18th amendment (Prohibition)

1920 — Walt Disney starts first job as an artist: $40 week with KC Slide Co.

1936 — First players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson

1956 — H[enry] L[ouis] Mencken, US essayist and critic ("Smart Set"), dies at 75

1963 — Robert Lee Frost, U.S. poet, (New Hampshire, four Pulitzers), dies at 88

Military addresses sought

It is a year like no other. Since Sept. 11 we are a changed nation. Individually, our daily sensitivity toward whom and what we have in our lives has been heightened. We are more conscious and appreciative, first about those we love and see everyday. Next, we have a newfound appreciation for those who risk their lives every day as rescue workers and protectors of life and property in our communities. We also now think more about our military men and women who are committed to serve and protect our country. Many are away engaged in battle, some are in waiting to go, all are ready to lay their lives on the line in defense of our freedom.

Lincoln Daily News is seeking the names and addresses, including e-mail addresses, of friends and relatives who are serving in the armed forces. They need not be from here in Logan County. If you know someone serving, please send the information to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com. A complete list will be made available and kept updated through the site so we might all hold them in our thoughts, prayers and well wishes.

[Click here for names available now.]

Name of person in military:

Branch of service:

Current location of service:

Postal address:

E-mail address:

Relationship to LDN reader sending information (optional):

[LDN]

It’s on the radio, TV, in all the media. You hear it in the office, on the street and maybe at home — threats of terrorism. America is on high alert. Here in central Illinois, away from any supposed practical target areas, perhaps we feel a little less threatened, but we are still concerned. So how concerned should we be, and how prepared are we for the types of situations that could occur?

Whether the threat is domestic or foreign, violent, biological or chemical, our public health and rescue agencies have been preparing to respond to the situations. Lincoln Daily News has been at meetings where all the agencies gather together as the Logan County Emergency Planning Committee to strategize for just such a time. Our reports have not even provided every detail that every agency has reported; i.e., a number of representatives from differing agencies such as the health and fire departments, CILCO and ESDA went to a bioterrorism and hazmat (hazardous materials) seminar this past August.

Here are some of the articles that LDN has posted pre- and post-Tuesday, Sept. 11. Hopefully you will see in them that WE ARE WELL PREPARED. At least as much as any area can be. Every agency has been planning, training, submitting for grants to buy equipment long before Sept. 11. We can be thankful for all of the dedicated, insightful leaders we have in this community.

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• LEPC hears plans for annual exercise

• U.S. under terrorist attack
  How is Logan County affected?

• The day after ‘Attack on America’
  Area leaders respond to national tragedy

• ESDA and LEPC conduct successful hazardous materials exercise at water treatment plant 

• Logan County ready for action if terrorist event occurs - Part 1

• Logan County ready for action if terrorist event occurs – Part 2

• Clinton nuclear power plant safety measures in place

• Logan County agencies meet to discuss protocol for suspicious mail

As promised, the United States led an attack on Afghanistan. The attack began Sunday, Oct. 7. American and British military forces made 30 hits on air defenses, military airfields and terrorist training camps, destroying aircraft and radar systems. The strike was made targeting only terrorists.

More than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East have pledged their cooperation and support the U.S. initiative.

Online news links

Other countries

Afghanistan

http://www.afghandaily.com/ 

http://www.myafghan.com/  

http://www.afghan-web.com/aop/ 

China

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/

Germany

http://www.faz.com/

India

http://www.dailypioneer.com/ 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/ 

http://www.timesofindia.com/ 

Israel

http://www.jpost.com/ 

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/ 

England

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/ 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/ 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

Pakistan

http://www.dawn.com/

http://frontierpost.com.pk/ 

Russia

http://english.pravda.ru/

http://www.sptimesrussia.com/ 

Saudi Arabia

http://www.arabnews.com/ 

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United States

Illinois

http://www.suntimes.com/index/ 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ 

http://www.pantagraph.com/ 

http://www.qconline.com/ 

http://www.pjstar.com/

http://www.sj-r.com/ 

http://www.herald-review.com/

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/ 

New York

http://www.nypost.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/

Stars and Stripes
(serving the U.S. military community)

http://www.estripes.com/ 

Washington, D.C.

Announcements

[JAN. 15, 2002]  Citizens who are not registered to vote and cannot leave their home, hospital, nursing home or other institution because of a permanent physical disability can arrange for voter registration by contacting a deputy registrar or the county clerk’s office.

Voter registration will close on Feb. 19 for the March 19 general primary election.

If you are physically able, you may register to vote by going to the county clerk’s office, Room 20 in the Logan County Courthouse, 601 Broadway in Lincoln. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. You will need to show two forms of identification, one with your current address on it.

For people with physical disabilities and the elderly, election judges will be available at the polling place on election day to assist voters when a friend or relative is unable to help. Handicapped-voter booths will be available for your convenience. Physically impaired or elderly persons may be eligible to vote absentee. Please contact the Logan County clerk’s office for information.

For any information concerning voter registration or voting for the elderly or disabled, please call the Logan County clerk’s office at (217) 732-4148.

[Sally J. Litterly, Logan County clerk]

[JAN. 3, 2002]  Are you registered to vote?

The March 19 primary is rapidly approaching. The close of registration is Feb. 19. If you have moved, or if you have married and changed your name, it is necessary that you change your voter registration with our office in order to cast your vote in the election.

If you have questions about your voting eligibility, please contact our office at (217) 732-4148.

[Sally J. Litterly, Logan County clerk]

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