No
decision yet on LDC lawsuit
[FEB.
21, 2002] No
decision has yet been made on the motion to dismiss the lawsuit
against Gov. George Ryan to prevent him from closing Lincoln
Developmental Center during the current fiscal year, which ends June
30.
|
At
a hearing Wednesday at the Logan County Courthouse, Judge Don Behle
heard arguments from attorneys for both sides but said he did not
feel comfortable "reaching a ruling at this moment."
He
said he would make the decision and inform the attorneys after he
has reviewed all the documents.
Steve
Yokich, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, said he was not
surprised by the delay. "This was all done on an expedited
basis," he explained. The briefs were filed so recently that
Judge Behle probably had not had time to read all of them.
The
plaintiffs include AFSCME Council 31; Norlan and Eleanor Newmister,
parents of an LDC resident; state Sen. Larry Bomke of Springfield;
and Don Todd, president of AFSCME Local 425.
Defendants
are Gov. Ryan, Illinois Department of Human Services Director Linda
Renee Baker, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and state Comptroller
Daniel Hynes.
![](../images/ads/Politics2002/Anderson.gif)
The
plaintiffs contend that the governor does not have the right to
withhold the money that has already been appropriated to keep LDC
running until the end of the fiscal year. They also contend that it
is against the law to reduce the number of beds at LDC without a
permit from the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board. The
Department of Human Services should have gotten permits before
transferring any of the residents out of LDC, but no such permit was
issued.
Gov.
Ryan has already moved about 130 LDC residents to other facilities,
and his latest plan calls for moving out another 159 residents,
leaving only 100 still at LDN. The plan also calls for cutting the
staff, which six months ago was about 700 employees, to about 200.
Karen
McNaught, representing the state, said there was no authority for
the proposition that once money is appropriated it must be spent.
She said the law does not mandate the entire amount appropriated
must be spent, and the decision on spending rests with the agency in
question.
Yokich
said he has never argued that all money appropriated must be spent,
but that it is not up to the executive to "unilaterally have
the authority to determine when and how the money is to be
used."
"Are
the operations at LDC being cut in order to save money (which we
believe) or for other reasons?" he asked.
![](../images/ads/Politics2002/klinglersm.gif)
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
![](../images/ads/Glenn%20Brunk/glennbrunkweb.gif)
Yokich
and McNaught cited statutes and case law regarding the matter of the
permits.
McNaught
said that when transferring residents, the Department of Human Services
relied on the legal department of the Illinois Health Facilities
Planning Board for the opinion that no permit was required. She also
said the state has not conceded that LDC is a health care facility and
falls under the requirements of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning
Board.
She
also conceded that if the DHS was going to close LDC, they would have to
get a permit, but because there is no discontinuation of services, no
permits are required.
Yokich
said the Health Facilities Planning Act is being violated because the
governor’s plan is fundamentally changing the scope and operation of
LDC. He said that as he interprets the statute, permits are required if
the facility cuts more than 10 beds or more than 10 percent of its beds.
If
LDC downsizes, he said, "Employees, families and residents have to
make choices. They deserve to know whether the statute is being complied
with."
![](../images/ads/Lo_co_bank/LoCoBnk2.gif)
Before
closing the hearing, Judge Behle asked several questions of the two
attorneys. He asked Yokich if he agreed the governor has the authority
to close LDC. Yokich replied that he does, if the proper procedures are
followed. The judge also asked what benefit Yokich’s clients would
have if the DHS were to comply with the health care act and seek
permits.
Yokich
replied that public hearings would have to be held and parents and
guardians, as well as employees, would have a chance to take their case
before the public.
"People
can come to the agency and say, ‘This is a bad idea.’"
Attending
the hearing were members of the Lincoln Parents Association as well as a
representative from AFSCME.
[Joan
Crabb]
|
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City
contract negotiations
start next week
[FEB.
21, 2002] At
a recent committee-of-the-whole meeting of the Lincoln City Council,
Mayor Beth Davis named the members of the committees that will
negotiate with the four unions that represent city of Lincoln
employees. Contract negotiations will begin the week of Feb. 25.
|
Negotiating
with the Operating Engineers, Clerical, will be Alderman Glenn
Shelton, the mayor and city attorney Bill Bates. Negotiating with
Operating Engineers, Streets and Alleys, will be Alderman George
Mitchell, chairman of the streets and alleys committee, along with
the mayor and Bates.
Alderman
Verl Prather, chair of the police committee, will negotiate with the
Police Department union, along with Bates and the mayor. Alderman
Benny Huskins, chair of the fire and ESDA committee, will be on the
team with Bates and the mayor to negotiate with the Fire Department’s
union.
![](../images/ads/Lo_co_bank/LoCoBnk2.gif)
The
insurance committee met before the regular meeting for preliminary
discussions with the city’s insurance carrier, R.W. Garrett Agency
of Lincoln. Roger Garrett outlined several types of proposals and
will meet with the committee again soon to present more specific
plans.
Providing
health insurance is becoming more expensive, and the city will be
considering ways to keep costs down, including co-payments by
employees.
"We
are going to have to make some hard decisions. We are going to have
to ask employees to take more responsibility," said Shelton,
who is chair of the insurance committee.
Bill
Melton, chair of the sewer committee, said there is an ongoing
problem getting some delinquent homeowners to pay their sewer bills.
These users cannot be cut off, because they are on a double hookup
and cutting them off would penalize a user who is paying the bills.
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
![](../images/ads/prairie_years/Prairie_years_small_ad.gif)
At
present, those on single hookups who are behind in payments will have
the sewer line dug up and disconnected, which then means, unless service
is restored, they will have to move out of the home because it is not in
a livable condition.
This
doesn’t happen often, according to City Clerk Juanita Josserand. Sewer
users may ignore the notices they receive, she said, but "when they
see the red mark in the yard, they fly in and pay the bill."
Grant
Eaton, sewer plant manager, said he has had to dig up only two or three
sewer lines. "We’ll give them a last-minute chance to pay before
we drop the blade, but if they don’t pay, we’ll dig them," he
said.
Josserand
said one customer owes $2,600 on a sewer bill but can’t be cut off,
because he is on a combined sewer system and the other customer is paid
up.
Verl
Prather pointed out that if the city were billing for sewer use by the
amount of water used, delinquent users could have the water shut off, a
much easier procedure than digging up a sewer.
![](../images/ads/fricke/Fricke2.gif)
Alderman
Steve Fuhrer, chair of the finance committee, said the first budget
meeting will be on Saturday, March 16, at 9 a.m. He asked department
heads to have budget requests in by March 8. The city’s fiscal year
runs from May 1 to April 30.
[Joan
Crabb]
|
|
Lawmakers
get governor’s budget plan
[FEB.
21, 2002] SPRINGFIELD
— Gov. George Ryan’s proposed FY2003 state budget of $52.8
billion is a good starting point, but much debate and discussion
remains before a final plan is approved in late spring, according to
Sen. Claude Stone.
|
"The
budget won’t be finalized for several more months, but the
governor’s plan is a good start," said Stone. "We are in
a very tight fiscal year because of lower than anticipated revenues
and higher than anticipated costs. I commend the governor for
resisting pressures and temptations to raise taxes to solve the
financial problems. Raising taxes is not the answer. Government must
tighten its belt and do with less."
The
governor predicts $500 million of revenue growth over the current
fiscal year, which ends June 30. He is calling for a reduction of
about 3,800 state jobs, mostly through attrition and retirement,
although some layoffs may be necessary.
Under
the Ryan budget plan, education remains the top priority.
"Under
the governor’s plan, elementary and secondary education would see
a $245 million increase in the base funding level for public
education and work-force training," said Stone. "He’s
also proposing increases to higher education, bringing the state’s
total commitment to public education to $11.4 billion."
Other
provisions in the budget proposal include:
Taxes
• No tax increases.
• $35 million for continued funding of Illinois’ Earned Income Tax
Credit, the EITC.
• $60 million for continued funding of the state’s Education
Assistance Tax Credit.
• Implementation of a tax amnesty program to generate $35 million.
![](../images/ads/Tourism%20Bureau/tourism4.jpg)
Public
safety
• $383 million for the Department of State Police, with funding for 100
new officers.
• Allocation of $143.5 million in federal funds for the Illinois
Emergency Management Agency to create an Urban Search and Rescue
Team for preparations to respond to acts of terrorism involving
chemical, biological agents or explosive devices and responses to
natural disasters.
• $1.3 billion for Illinois’ Department of Corrections, funding 2,677
new prison beds in the current fiscal year and 2,160 new prison beds
for FY2003.
• Closure of the Vienna Correctional Center in Vienna and the Illinois
Youth Center in Valley View, with their respective populations
transferred to other state facilities.
Health
and human services
• $102 million for SeniorCare, an expanded version of the state’s
Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance program for low-income
elderly and people with disabilities.
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
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• $4.9 billion for the Department of Human Services to support health
and social service programs to help families continue to move from
welfare to work.
•
Continued funding for subsidized child care and funding to maintain
the state’s commitment to substance-abuse prevention and
intervention programs.
• $4 million for the Illinois Workforce Advantage program to assist
disadvantaged and economically depressed areas of the state.
• The Department of Human Services will downsize state mental health
centers in Rockford and Elgin and close the center in Peoria.
Residents will be moved to other facilities.
• Funding for 310 new community-integrated living arrangements.
• $331.6 million allocation and $118.4 million in general revenue
funding for the Department of Public Health to continue overseeing
and promoting health care.
Natural
resources and environmental protection
• $40 million for Illinois Open Land Trust, which preserves land for
public use.
• $11.7 million for the Conservation 2000 program to preserve and
enhance wildlife habitats, and to increase recreational facilities.
• $12 million in state funds for Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency’s Walter Pollution Control Revolving Fund program to help
local governments install and improve sewer and wastewater treatment
facilities.
• Continued funding for Agri-FIRST, a statewide program to help farmers
and agricultural producers add value to Illinois crops through
innovative strategies and new products.
Economic
development
• $12 million increase for the state’s Department of Commerce and
Community Affairs "Prime Sites" program, which provides
assistance to economic development sites and helps create or retain
jobs.
• Continued funding for the "Economic Development for a Growing
Economy" tax credit, commonly known as the EDGE program.
• Continued funding to clean up and rehabilitate polluted urban
industrial sites.
The
budget outlined by the governor before the House and Senate
Wednesday is for the 2003 fiscal year, which starts July 1.
[News
release]
![](../images/ads/LDN/when%20you%20see%20news%20happen%20copy.jpg) |
|
City
approves paperwork
for sewer plant loan
[FEB.
20, 2002] The
Lincoln City Council moved quickly Tuesday night to approve the
paperwork for the $12 million loan that will allow the city to make
the necessary upgrades to its sewer plant.
|
The
council unanimously approved an ordinance and a resolution to borrow
up to $12 million from the Water Pollution Control Loan program, but
several members questioned the ordinance asking them to buy national
flood insurance on all structures at the sewer plant.
"This
comes as a surprise to me," said Glenn Shelton, chairman of the
committee on insurance. Shelton and others said they would like a
chance to study the flood insurance policy and get figures on
prices.
However,
when sewer plant manager Grant Eaton told the council that all
documents, including the resolution of intent to buy flood
insurance, were due in Springfield the next day, council members
agreed to the flood insurance provision.
The
last paperwork must be at the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency today (Feb. 20), if the city is to get the loan money this
year, Eaton said.
Eaton
said he would hand carry the signed documents to Springfield to be
sure all deadlines are met. The city will know if the 20-year 2.68
percent loan is approved by March 31. In the meantime, the city can
go out for bids so final bids can be approved when the funding is
secure.
The
loan authorization includes a "back door referendum"
provision, which means after the loan ordinance is published, if
enough residents object and sign a petition, the city must take the
project to the public as a referendum.
Eaton
said he was optimistic about getting the money this year.
"We’re
at the top of the list now," he said. He hopes to see
construction start sometime in May and estimates it will take about
18 months to be completed.
If
the loan approval doesn’t come by March 31, Lincoln will have to
wait until October of this year or even January of 2003 — delays
that will result in increased costs, according to Environmental
Management Corporation, which manages the sewer plant.
The
plant upgrade is necessary, EMC officials say, because the existing
plant has reached capacity, and violations would mean the IEPA could
refuse to approve any new hookups, thus stopping growth in the city.
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
To
assure the IEPA that the city can repay the loan, the city has raised
sewer rates in a two-step program. As of Jan. 1, 2002, rates for
residential users went from $11 per month to $14, and rates for
commercial, industrial and institutional users have also risen. The
second tier of rate increases, to go into effect 18 months later, would
raise rates for all users again, bringing residential rates to $16.39.
Eaton
said he is seeking state and federal grants to help pay the costs and
keep the final sewer rates as low as possible. The entire cost of the
plant is estimated at $9.8 million, but having the $12 million loan
"blocked out" for the city gives it a "comfort
zone." Eaton is working on applications for two grants now, one
from Illinois Green for $125,000 and one from the Department of Commerce
and Community Affairs for $400,000.
In
other business, the council denied the request of the Lincoln Christian
Church to pave over the city sidewalk and up to the curb when it
upgrades its parking lot.
"I
can’t in clear conscience ask the city to do this," said Dave
Armbrust, chairman of the Sidewalks, Forestry and Lighting Committee.
"We would be giving up our sidewalk and giving up the buffer zone
to the street."
The
council specified that all construction in the parking area must be
limited to the parking lot area, and the new sidewalk, to be installed
at the church’s expense, must be a separate pour. The grassy area
between the sidewalk and the street must also be preserved.
Mayor
Beth Davis announced the appointment of Jim Drew to the Zoning Board of
Appeals, which was unanimously approved by the council. The ZBA is now
fully staffed, she said.
Davis
also announced that she is receiving complaints about political signs on
city property and asked that those who put up these signs move them to
private property.
[Joan
Crabb]
|
|
County
purchases ambulance
and backhoe
[FEB.
20, 2002] In
a shorter than usual voting session Tuesday night, the Logan County
Board committed to nearly $163,000 in purchases, including a new
ambulance and backhoe.
|
With
no negative votes, the board approved four expenditures:
• $88,278 to Foster Coach Sales of Sterling for a 2002 Medtech ambulance
and cot. A $9,500 trade-in for the old ambulance is part of the bid.
Board member Clifford "Sonny" Sullivan abstained from
voting because he is a member of the Paramedics Association board.
• $58,212 to Machinery, Inc., of Springfield for a backhoe to be used by
the county highway department.
• Time and materials to Ozyurt & Stone of Springfield for scour
repair on the Waynesville bridge. The work is expected to cost about
$10,000.
• $6,239 to Springfield Overhead Doors for garage doors on the highway
department maintenance building. The bid includes removal of the old
doors, installation and push-button openers for the new doors.
Finance
Committee chair Rod White reported that investments in the state
pool are earning only 1½-2 percent interest. County Treasurer Mary
Bruns is seeking other investment opportunities with a higher
interest rate.
White
also said that the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, which has
earned up to 20 percent or more in recent years, made only 1.87
percent in 2001 and is projected to lose 6.7 percent in 2002. As a
result, the county will have to pay more into the fund, but how much
will not be known until April.
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
Roger
Bock, a Finance Committee member, praised county officials for keeping
within their budgets. The one exception is that 40 percent of the
sheriff’s deputy overtime budget has already been spent. Bock said
this problem, which involves radio operators, is being addressed.
Representatives
of Edward Jones investment banking firm had made a presentation on
bonding to the Finance Committee. White said there are no current plans
to issue bonds, but board members are looking at possibilities so they
will be prepared should the need arise.
Bock,
who chairs the Airport Committee, reported that the communication tower
next to the newest hanger had suffered wind damage and had been removed
to protect the building. Insurance is expected to cover the cost of the
tower.
The
county will have an open house from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, March 3, to
showcase the new Dr. John Logan County Building and improvements to the
Logan County Courthouse. Refreshments will be served in the courthouse
rotunda.
Board
chairman Dick Logan read a letter from Rod White indicating his
intention to retire in December at the end of his current term. White
has served on the county board for 20 years.
[Lynn
Shearer Spellman]
|
|
Gov.
Ryan previews education
goals in budget message
Creates ‘Illinois Agenda for
Excellence in Education’
[FEB.
20, 2002] DECATUR
— Gov. George Ryan announced Monday that he will propose a
dramatic change in school funding that will increase the state’s
foundation level to almost $5,000 per student — a record level —
and keep his pledge of devoting 51 percent of new state revenues to
education and work-force training..
|
The
governor’s remarks were made at George Washington Elementary
School in Decatur during a preview of his education agenda and
budget message.
By
executive order Gov. Ryan also announced a 10-point plan, the
"Illinois Agenda for Excellence in Education," to ensure
Illinois is meeting the Bush administration’s priorities in the
"No Child Left Behind" education reform act, better
support teacher recruitment and retention efforts, and increase
accountability for teachers and schools.
Gov.
Ryan’s Illinois Agenda for Excellence in Education builds on the
previous accomplishments in education and work-force training. It
focuses on developing "Illinois Preschool," orders the
development of a new plan for annual testing and student
accountability programs, creates a strategy to set accountability
standards to close learning gaps for disadvantaged students, and
recommits Illinois to better career development for educators.
It’s no secret that the state budget for next year is going to
present us with many, many tough challenges because of the economic
downturn this nation experienced after the tragedy of Sept. 11th,"
said Gov. Ryan. "Despite the recession our country is facing, these
problems will not stop me from making our children the state’s top
priority."
Gov.
Ryan proposes to increase the foundation-level funding for fiscal
year 2003 by more than $400, bringing the total to almost $5,000.
Funding for this increase could be available by eliminating 22
current grant programs in the State Board of Education and giving
that money directly to the school districts. Since 1999, the
foundation level has increased by $335 dollars per student. The
general state aid will be increased to almost $3.7 billion,
representing an increase of $500 million in FY 2003.
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
"This
gives Decatur and all other school districts the flexibility to
determine how bureaucrats can best meet the needs of their
students," said Gov. Ryan.
Universal
access to early childhood education, or "Illinois
Preschool," will also receive $6 million in funding under the
governor’s FY 03 proposal. A new Illinois Preschool Council will
develop the implementation framework for universal access by January
and will study how every community in the state can offer
high-quality preschool in settings like child-care centers, family
child-care homes, schools, Head Start programs and community
centers.
A
new $5,000 Illinois Teacher Education Assistance Campaign, or
I-TEACH, will be created out of existing grant programs at the
Illinois Student Assistance Commission. I-TEACH will provide
scholarships for students studying to become teachers in subject
areas where there is a shortage of teachers, like math or science.
"With
the Illinois Agenda for Excellence in Education and my budget
recommendations for the coming year, this state will greatly
strengthen our commitment to education," said Gov. Ryan.
"I believe passionately that we must work together on this
agenda and that we must remain true to our commitment to
education."
[Illinois
Government News Network]
|
|
LDC,
best home for one resident
[FEB.
19, 2002] The
prospect of downsizing the Lincoln Developmental Center is an
ongoing nightmare for Linda and Pat Brown of LeRoy, parents of a
27-year-old son for whom LDC is home.
|
"Our
son, Jeff, has been a LDC a little over 4½ years, and he’s the
happiest I’ve ever seen him," Linda says.
Although
many advocates for the developmentally disabled would like to see
their clients in small-group, community-integrated living units
known as CILAs, such a setting didn’t work for Jeff, Linda says.
Jeff is in the severe to profound disability range; he doesn’t
understand any type of danger, and he doesn’t like change.
![](../images/0219-02pics/3peeps.jpg)
[AFSCME Union 425 President Don Todd
discusses the governor’s planned LDC resident transfers with parents
Linda and Pat Brown of LeRoy. Concerned for their son's well-being
and that of other LDC residents, the Browns attended the legislative
hearing in Springfield last Wednesday.]
"He
needs structure," says his mother. "He was in a community
setting for 12 years. The MARC center in Bloomington did the best
they could with the resources they had, but Jeff didn’t do well
there. He couldn’t deal with the frequent changes in staff. He
couldn’t cope and he had behavior problems."
Later
he was put in an apartment in downtown Bloomington with one-on-one
supervision, but that didn’t work either. He had no activities,
his father recalls; he just sat there looking at four walls. One
night, he got out and was found running in the middle of a downtown
street.
At
last the family and the MARC center agreed that they could do no
more for Jeff. He was sent to BroMenn Hospital for a few days, and
then to Lincoln.
"We
had had it drummed into us that state-operated facilities were not
adequate placement," Pat Brown says. But as there seemed to be
no other alternative, Linda visited LDC and came away impressed.
"I
had always thought institutions were horrible, but I went to LDC and
was impressed with the setting and the living arrangements, and
especially with the compassion the staff had for me and for Jeff. I
had never experienced that much compassion," she reports.
When
Jeff left BroMenn, he was on six medications to control his
behavior, says his father. "He went to LDC and in a short time
they turned him around. He was soon on only one medication, to
control seizures. He absolutely loves it there. We used to have to
fight him to get him to go to the MARC center, but now he wants to
go back to LDC. He likes to come home, but when he gets here he soon
wants to go back to Lincoln. The LDC staff love him. They say he’s
easy to manage."
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
One
reason Jeff likes LDC is that he has plenty of activities. He’s in
a work program at Logan Mason Rehabilitation Center and he loves
going to work, his mother reports. He goes on outings, he’s in
Special Olympics, and he plays basketball on the LDC courts.
"Jeff
is happier at LDC than he’s ever been. He now has friends. His friends
and the staff are his family," Linda says.
"Now
we’re faced with the governor wanting to move 150 residents, and there
is no place for Jeff to go. They had trouble finding placements for the
first group they sent out. The governor’s decision is turning
everybody’s life upside down," she continues.
Linda
and Pat are co-presidents of the LDC parents group, which has recently
grown to 250 members.
Pat
thinks the move toward putting the developmentally disabled in small
group homes is the way of the future. "It’s the train that’s
going down the track that they want us all to get on," he says.
"If
the state is moving toward small group homes, why won’t they oversee
the community facilities as they do the state-operated ones? The state
needs to provide community homes with the funding and experienced staff
to care for our loved ones, as they do in Lincoln," he continues.
"Our
number one consideration is to have properly trained, properly
compensated staff who can take all the abuse — the slaps, the pinches,
the vomiting — that comes with caring for the profoundly handicapped.
They need to pay staff a living wage, not $6, $7, or $8 an hour,"
he continues.
"I
said at our last parents’ meeting, ‘At LDC we have Cadillac services
and at community-based homes we have Yugo services.’ This is because
of the state funding. Should we throw these very good services into
disarray? Why not give them all at least Ford or Chevy services?
"If
the same criteria and the same review process were used in
community-based homes, they would not pass muster. They would not pass
the stringent requirements that LDC is held to.
"The
bottom line is you’ve got to have day-to-day, well-compensated, highly
trained employees who will stay in the profession long term. And this
costs money. Otherwise we’re going to have a catastrophe in our
delivery system of services for the developmentally disabled.
"We
hope the legislature will intervene and provide the funding for LDC to
continue to operate at the level it is at right now."
[Joan
Crabb]
|
|
LCCS
athletic facility dedication planned
[FEB.
18, 2002] Lincoln
Christian College and Seminary has set the dedication ceremony for
the new Laughlin Center at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 23. Olympic
medalist Jean Driscoll is the guest speaker.
![](../images/021802pics/laughlinlong.jpg)
[Laughlin Center; photo by Bob Frank]
|
The
new athletic facility includes a 30,000-square-foot gymnasium that
features seating for 1,000 people, training and locker rooms, office
space, and a weight room and athletic equipment, as well as
additional parking and landscaping.
![](../images/021802pics/laughlingaston.jpg)
[Thomas A. Gaston Arena in the Laughlin Center;
photo by Bob Frank]
Dedication
events include ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the Laughlin Center and
the Thomas A. Gaston Arena. A reception, along with tours of the
facility, will follow the presentation by Ms. Driscoll. The
dedication will conclude with the first men’s and women’s
basketball games in the new facility.
The
athletic facility is part of the multimillion dollar renovation
sweeping the LCCS campus. P.J. Hoerr of Normal constructed the
facility. The public is invited to attend this momentous occasion.
Dedication
events
10
a.m. — Ribbon-cutting ceremony at Laughlin Center
10:15
a.m. — Ribbon-cutting ceremony at Thomas A. Gaston Arena; remarks
and recognition of special guests
10:30
a.m. — Guest speaker: Olympic medalist Jean Driscoll
11:30
a.m. — Reception and tours
1
p.m. — Women’s basketball game: Lincoln Christian College vs.
Emmaus Bible College
3
p.m. — Men’s basketball game: Lincoln Christian College vs.
Emmaus Bible College
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
Guest
speaker Jean Driscoll
Jean
Driscoll is an accomplished athlete and speaker who is known around
the world. She won silver medals in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic
Games. She has won the Boston Marathon eight times and is the only
person in the marathon’s 105-year history to achieve that feat.
Ms.
Driscoll earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and a
master’s in rehabilitation administration from the University of
Illinois. She also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of
Rhode Island.
![](../images/021802pics/driscoll_art.jpg)
[Jean Driscoll; photo provided by LCCS]
Additional
accomplishments
• 1991 Women’s Sports Foundation Amateur Sportswoman of the Year
• 1992 USA Track and Field Disabled Female Athlete of the Year
• 1992, 1996 Wheelchair Sports U.S.A. Female Athlete of the Year
• 1996 Illinois Fellowship of Christian Athletes Champion in Christ
Award
• 1997 Athletes International Ministries Female Athlete of the Year
• No. 25 on Sports Illustrated "Top 100 Female Athletes of the 20th
Century"
• Illinois Fellowship of Christian Athletes state board, 1995-present
• Wheelchair Sports U.S.A. member, 1987-2000
• Author, "Determined to Win," 2000 biography about Jean’s
life
Television
appearance highlights
• Commentator during Boston Marathon, April 2001
• "CBS Sports Spectacular," December 2000
• "Good Morning America," April 1996
• "ABC Nightline," April 1996
• "The Today Show," August 1996
• "Late, Late Show with Tom Snyder," April 1995
[LCCS
news release]
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‘Prime
bank’ scams on the rise,
Secretary of State Jesse White warns
[FEB.
16, 2002] SRINGFIELD
–– Secretary of State Jesse White warned Tuesday that losses
from "prime bank" scams are rising dramatically. Last
year, one source reported losses at more than $1.5 billion.
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Low
interest rates and volatile equity markets have caused many
Americans to rethink their investment strategies, often turning to
investments with the promise of high yield returns. Promoters of the
"prime bank" trading programs tell investors that they can
yield huge returns with no risk. In reality, neither prime banks nor
the instruments they claim to trade exist.
"People
want to believe there are secret ways to make fabulous amounts of
money," said White. "But there are no shortcuts in
investing. Simply put, prime banks don’t exist."
In
Illinois, Omega Trust and Trading Ltd. promised 50-to-1 returns on
investments in "prime bank notes." Secretary of State
Securities Department investigators assisted in uncovering a scam
that had resulted in more than $18 million defrauded from investors
worldwide. Nineteen people were indicted and all defendants either
pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial.
In
another case of investment fraud, Lynda Frykholm of Rockford was
sentenced to 12 years in prison after she was found guilty of
defrauding 220 investors from all over the United States.
Prime
bank scam artists come from all backgrounds and use their ill-gotten
gains to maintain lavish lifestyles. In the Omega case, the company’s
founder, Clyde Hood, was a 66-year-old electrician in Mattoon. Money
from investors was used to pay for dozens of classic automobiles.
Frykholm used swindled money to purchase two vacation homes in Lake
Geneva, Wis., four cars, a speedboat and several trips to
Switzerland.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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Before
making any investment, Secretary White urges investors to ask the
following questions:
• Has the seller given you written information that fully explains the
investment? Make sure you get proper written information, such as a
prospectus or offering circular. The documentation should contain
enough clear and accurate information to allow you or your financial
adviser to evaluate and verify the particulars of the investment.
• Are claims made for the investment realistic? Some things really are
too good to be true. Use common sense and get a professional,
third-party opinion when presented with investment opportunities that
seem to offer unusually high returns. Pie-in-the-sky promises often
signal investment fraud.
• Does the investment meet your personal investment goals? Whether you
are investing for long-term growth, investment income or other
reasons, an investment should match your own investment goals.
• Are the seller and investment licensed and registered? Call the
Illinois Securities Department to find out. If they aren’t
registered, they may be operating illegally. Contact the department
toll free at (800) 628-7937 or go to this address on the secretary of
state website: http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/
securities/securities.html.
[News
release from the Illinois secretary of state]
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County
agrees to buy equipment and showcase building improvements
[FEB.
15, 2002] In
a largely routine work session a month before the primary election,
the 13 Logan County Board members agreed on almost everything,
including spending about $163,000 for equipment and bridge repairs,
and announced an open house to showcase new and improved county
offices.
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The
open house, set for Sunday, March 3, from 3 to 5 p.m., will feature
the new Dr. John Logan County Building and the many newly
refurbished offices in the Logan County Courthouse. Though most
offices were completed several months ago, State’s Attorney Tim
Huyett is just moving into his office on Friday, Feb. 15. Last of
all, at the end of February, the law library will be moved to the
Sojourn room. During the open house, refreshments will be served in
the courthouse rotunda.
In
the Thursday night meeting conducted by vice chairman Lloyd Hellman,
board members agreed with their Law Enforcement Committee to choose
the higher of two bids for a new ambulance. Foster Coach Sales of
Sterling bid $95,428 for a 2002 model Medtech, almost $5,500 higher
than the bid of Wheeled Coach Industries of Walnut. However, the
Foster Coach bid includes a higher trade-in allowance for the old
ambulance, a 2002 model vs. a 2001, and a fully equipped and staffed
service department. In addition, Steve Siltman of Logan County
Paramedics Association indicated at a committee meeting that the
Medtec ambulance offers better craftsmanship and greater structural
integrity.
In
an amendment to the motion to purchase the vehicle, the board also
favored spending an additional $2,350 for a new cot for the
ambulance. The final figure is $88,278 after the $9,500 trade-in is
deducted. Foster Coach plans to sell the old ambulance to the
Lincoln Rural Fire Department for the same figure, $9,500. Board
member Clifford "Sonny" Sullivan abstained from voting
because he is a member of the Paramedics Association board.
In
a different bidding situation, the Road and Bridge Committee
recommended accepting the low of eight bids for a backhoe. The
$58,212 backhoe from Machinery, Inc., of Springfield is expected to
be the only major purchase for roadwork during 2002.
At
the request of County Engineer Tom Hickman, the Road and Bridge
Committee has also approved a contract with Ozyurt & Stone of
Springfield for scour repair on the Waynesville bridge. Hickman said
the stream has shifted about 60 feet, causing the scour problem.
Because of uncertainty about what exactly will be needed, the
contract does not specify a maximum amount, but the work is expected
to cost about $10,000.
A
third purchase approved by the Road and Bridge Committee is $6,239
for new garage doors for the shop at 529 S. McLean. For that figure
Springfield Overhead Doors will provide and install two new doors
and openers plus remove the old doors. Board members made no
objections to these purchases, and it appeared that they will be
approved at the voting session on Tuesday.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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On
the plus side of the ledger, Lincoln-Logan Emergency
Services-Disaster Agency has received a $15,000 grant to fight
terrorism. Law Enforcement and ESDA Committee chair Doug Dutz
indicated that the Lincoln Police and Fire departments will use the
bulk of the grant to buy gas masks and self-contained breathing
apparatus.
In
other business, cat traps were again on the county board agenda.
Animal Control Committee chair Sullivan said five new traps are
being purchased at a cost of $45 each. There is a $25 deposit
charged to citizens while they use the traps.
Animal
control warden Sheila Farmer has proposed an animal adoption fair
and also a cat spay-and-neuter day for lower-income people in the
community. The two are related, Sullivan said, because animals
cannot be adopted until they are neutered, and some people cannot
afford neutering fees.
Airport
Committee chair Roger Bock announced a Feb. 26 meeting to discuss
plans for a golf course on airport and adjacent grounds. Tom
Stanford, a private golf course developer, will meet with
representatives of the county board, Lincoln Park District, Lincoln
Christian College and with Economic Development Director Mark Smith.
Bock
also said that the credit card-operated fuel pump at Logan County
Airport is still not operational. The pump is installed but is not
yet set up to accept credit cards.
The
one area of disagreement that surfaced during the board of the whole
meeting concerned an item in Dave Hepler’s Planning and Zoning
Committee report. A motion by board chairman Dick Logan to handle
country homes rezoning requests one lot at a time failed in
committee. Hepler said he thinks treating each lot individually
would streamline the rezoning process because it would avoid debates
about multiple lots.
Board
member Terry "TJ" Werth said he opposes the idea because
he is concerned that individual lot buyers would be identified and
become an issue. He also noted that such questions are being
considered in the review of the county zoning ordinance being
conducted by a committee chaired by Phil Mahler, director of the
Logan County Regional Planning Commission.
[Lynn
Shearer Spellman]
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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]
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Are
we prepared for terrorism
in Logan County?
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.
[to top of second column in
this section]
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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
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America
strikes back
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/
[to top of second column in
this section]
|
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.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
http://www.washtimes.com/
More
newspaper links
http://www.thepaperboy.com/
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