Snow advisory for area

Snow warning to the south tonight and tomorrow

(Posted Wednesday afternoon)

[JAN. 15, 2003]  A developing winter storm is expected to affect central Illinois tonight and Thursday. The storm system taking shape over western Oklahoma will move east into Tennessee by Thursday afternoon. As a result, snowfall across the Plains States this afternoon is expected to move southeast into Illinois, beginning late this evening, and persist into Thursday. Locally heavy snowfall amounts will be possible across the southern half of Illinois late tonight and tomorrow.

For Champaign, DeWitt, Fulton, Logan, Mason, Piatt and Vermilion counties, including the cities of Canton, Champaign, Clinton, Danville, Havana, Lewistown, Lincoln, Mason City, Monticello and Rantoul:

Snow advisory tonight through Thursday

Light snow is expected to develop by late this evening and increase in coverage and intensity after midnight. Snowfall amounts should reach 1 to 2 inches by the morning commute, with total amounts of 2 to 4 inches possible by midafternoon on Thursday.

A snow advisory is issued when snow is expected to accumulate but only enough to cause minor inconveniences, such as travel delays.

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For Cass, Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Macon, Menard, Morgan, Moultrie, Richland, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott and Shelby counties, including the cities of Beardstown, Charleston, Decatur, Effingham, Flora, Jacksonville, Lawrenceville, Marshall, Mattoon, Newton, Olney, Paris, Robinson, Rushville, Shelbyville, Springfield, Sullivan, Taylorville, Toledo, Tuscola, Virginia and Winchester:

Heavy snow warning tonight through Thursday

Light snow is expected to develop by late this evening and increase in coverage and intensity after midnight. Snowfall amounts should reach 2 to 4 inches by the morning commute, with total amounts of 5 to 7 inches possible by midafternoon on Thursday.

Remember, a heavy snow warning means severe winter weather conditions are imminent or highly likely.

Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Slow down and allow extra time when traveling. Practice your winter safety rules; keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your car in case of emergency.

[3:12 p.m. Wednesday news release]

[JAN. 15, 2003]  After reviewing the Logan County animal control program, a citizens' committee recommends increased staffing, updating office equipment and requiring local veterinarians to issue dog tags.

The committee, consisting of Robert Sullivan, Barbara Lolling and Thomas Fleshman, all of Lincoln, found the animal control shelter to be well maintained and the staff "sincerely interested in humane treatment of animals." However, understaffing means that when employees go out to pick up an animal, the shelter is closed during posted hours. The facility needs two full-time employees and at least two part-time employees to ensure its remaining open as posted, the report concludes.

Noting that evaluation of employees should be done by the employer, the report does not comment on current personnel except to list their responsibilities. Lester Thomson, the administrator and veterinarian, neuters animals and performs euthanasia on contract and is responsible for following Illinois Department of Agriculture regulations. Presently, animal control warden Sheila Farmer and two part-time employees run the office, collect fees, clean kennels, handle adoptions and patrol for animals running at large. One employee is on medical leave. Volunteers are used when possible.

The committee recommends giving employees opportunity for job-related education. In the eight years that Farmer been on the job, her training has consisted of one course in euthanasia last summer.

The ordinance requiring veterinarians to issue dog tags is not being followed, according to the report. Therefore, after having their pets inoculated for rabies, owners must go to the animal control shelter to obtain the tags. Then they may find the shelter closed because the warden is out collecting an animal. "This is time-consuming, takes time from actual animal control and definitely does not conform to the ordinance," the report says.

Current fees are higher than specified in the ordinance, and the committee found other deviations as well. Therefore, another recommendation is that the Logan County Board completely review and update the 1990 ordinance.

Sometimes dogs "with potential" are kept alive longer than the law requires in the hope that someone will adopt them. "This saves the county money since disposal of euthanized animals to the Chicago area is expensive," the report writers conclude.

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The committee praises conditions at the shelter. On three unannounced visits members found the operating room spotless and someone cleaning the kennels each time. However, large dogs are staked outside while their kennels are being cleaned. For liability reasons, the committee recommends providing two outside runs to be used during cleaning as well as to exercise the animals.

Record-keeping at the facility is "adequate but antiquated," according to the report. Accounting is done on hand ledgers. The committee recommends buying updated computer software to handle accounting, plus a fax machine. A triplicate receipt book is also advised.

Several decisions are directed to the county's animal control committee. It is their task to hire and evaluate personnel. Second, they should establish a policy for handling donations to the shelter. The committee notes that, in addition to money, some businesses help out with food, which enables the shelter to get by on $500 a year for food. The animal control committee may want to form a citizens advisory committee.

Finally, the board committee may want to investigate alternative procedures for euthanasia. Though acknowledging that they are not experts in the field, audit committee members state: "We explored the euthanasia procedures and are comfortable that proper practices as prescribed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture are being followed. Euthanasia is not something any animal lover wants but, unfortunately, is sometimes necessary. There are different procedures, all humane, which the animal control committee may want to check into in more detail."

The report was presented to the county board's animal control committee Monday, Jan. 13. The committee is chaired by newcomer Patrick O'Neill. O'Neill also had a list of recommended changes.

Those recommendations that survived committee vote will be presented to the county board on Thursday.

[Lynn Spellman]

[JAN. 15, 2003]  City of Lincoln officials will head for Washington, D.C., this month to see if they can find federal money to help fund the city's $9.8 million sewer plant upgrade.

Mayor Beth Davis and three aldermen, along with officials from Environmental Management Corporation, the firm that manages the sewer plant, will meet with Sens. Peter Fitzgerald and Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood on Jan. 28, 29 and 30. Aldermen who will make the trip are Bill Melton, chair of the sewer committee, Verl Prather, present finance chairman, and Steve Fuhrer, past finance chairman.

Expenses of the trip will be paid by EMC, whose officials suggested making the request. However, to prevent any violation of the gift ban act, the city will pay the expenses initially and EMC will then reimburse the city.

Davis said she believes other municipalities have received funding help for similar sewer projects from the federal government. She said EMC officials thought the request might carry more weight if city officials were also present. EMC and city officials will meet this afternoon to finalize plans.

The city must upgrade the plant because it is now operating at capacity, and failure to upgrade could mean the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency would not approve any new hookups. The plant must also upgrade to be in compliance with new and stricter EPA requirements. The upgrade will change the operating capacity from the current 3.5 million gallons per day to 5.2 gallons.

To qualify for a low-interest loan of 2.6 percent from the IEPA to pay for the upgrade, the city has adopted a two-step plan to raise sewer rates. The first raise went into effect in January of 2002, and the second is scheduled for June of this year.

Construction on the upgrade has already begun, with what city engineer Mark Mathon described as a "humongous hole in the ground," 18 to 22 feet deep, the first step in building a new clarifier. The plant will also add a grit removal structure and new aeration tanks. Mathon said progress on the upgrade is good.

The IEPA has also approved payment of the first set of construction costs, $720,000, according to Melton. The IEPA holds the money set aside for the Lincoln plant and reimburses the city after the bills it submits have been approved.

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In other business, the council heard several suggestions for insurance coverage for employees. Glenn Shelton, chair of the insurance committee, told the council he is looking into plans for primary health insurance coverage and hopes to find a dual option plan to present to the employees and their unions. Because Memorial Medical Center in Springfield and Family Medical Center in Lincoln decided not to accept the Illinois Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO plan, employees who want to keep their doctors at Family Medical Center may now have to pay extra charges.

Matt Nordsiek, a member of the Grieme Insurance Agency, outlined an additional insurance benefit city workers could get with their supplemental AFLAC policy. The plan allows workers to set aside money from their paychecks for two new categories, day care and unreimbursed medical costs. The monthly amount is set aside tax-free to employees, but they must use the money within the year or it will revert to the city. The plan is free to both employees and the city if the city administers the account.

Bill Bates, city attorney, told the council that Lincoln College is asking for an amendment to its $5 million bond issue to change the financial covenants. The bonds were issued by the city and the money loaned to the college, with the city assuming no liability for paying off the bond. This is a common practice, and the city of Lincoln has issued bonds for both Lincoln College and Lincoln Christian College. Bates said all five bondholders as well as the legal firm of Chapman and Cutler, which specializes in corporate financing, have agreed to the amendment. Bates told the council he was a member of the Lincoln College board, but the original bond issue predates his employment by the city.

Prather reminded the council that a forum to explain the 0.5 percent sales tax increase the city hopes voters will approve in April will be held at Friendship Manor on Jan. 22 at 7:15 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and take part in the discussion.

[Joan Crabb]

Springfield pays respects for fallen fire captain

[JAN. 15, 2003]  SPRINGFIELD -- Flags are to be flown at half-staff on all city buildings for the next seven days and at the fire stations for 30 days by order of Mayor Karen Hasara and acting Fire Chief Ron Hasara in honor of fallen Fire/Rescue Capt. Joseph Rotherham.

Capt. Rotherham suffered a possible heart attack at the scene of a fire at 427 E. Iles Ave. in Springfield. Springfield Fire/Rescue was called to the fire at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. Battalion 2, Engine 1, Engine 5, Engine 6, Engine 7 and Truck 3 responded.

Rotherham was in the building with his crew and came out of the building to replenish his air supply. He collapsed on the scene and was treated by medical personnel.  He was then transported to St. John's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:21 a.m.

Rotherham began with Springfield Fire/Rescue on April 24, 1989. He was promoted to driver engineer on July 28, 1999, and to captain on March 18, 2002. He was a member of IAFF Local 37. 

He is survived by his wife, Sandy; two sons, Jefferson, stationed with the U.S. Navy Seal Unit in Somalia, South Africa, and son Bobbi; and two daughters, Michelle and Brandy.

[LDN and press release]

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