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Budget woes hit city
employees
[MARCH 26, 2003]
Tough financial times have
struck hard in Lincoln. The start of the regular council meeting was
delayed Tuesday evening by a closed legislative session. When the
meeting began Mayor Beth Davis opened with an announcement that
there will be a reduction in city employees. The three main
departments -- police, streets and alleys, and fire departments --
were each told to cut two employees. Names are to be submitted at
the next council meeting. There was no further discussion after the
brief announcement.
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Special zoning and liquor license
issues for the upcoming Lincoln Sesquicentennial were the main
subject of the evening. Issues of zoning and alcohol ordinances were
discussed at length. A couple of drinking establishments, Capones
and Camelians, have already put forth requests to block the street
at Sangamon to have outdoor drinking in order to take advantage of
the bands that will be in the downtown area.
In addition, Main Street Lincoln is
soliciting Illinois wine makers to come offer their wares at a
special outdoor wine tasting venue. They are proposing hosting the
event in Scully Park during the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival as
well as at the Ethnic Festival. Both events occur during the
sesquicentennial, one week apart.
City Attorney Bill Bates has examined
city ordinances closely and cannot see a way that would allow the
wine makers to sell their wares to take home. The way the ordinance
reads now they can get a daily permit that allows for the sale of
alcohol to be consumed on-site. He recommends that if we want to
have these businesses be able to sell bottles of wine to take home,
we could amend the liquor ordinance at this time in order to
accommodate special events. This needs to be done quickly as vendors
are making their schedules now.
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Alderman Glenn Shelton expressed some
concern about selling alcohol in a park where there is playground
equipment, questioning the message that this sends to children. The
question also came up about how many other drinking establishments
in the downtown area might want to move out of doors and how other
businesses might feel about having more alcohol on the streets. It
was decided that the zoning committee would look at this issue and
possibly search for other locations that might be used for the wine
tasting. They will meet March 31 to discuss it all.
The next
council meeting is April 7.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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Public announcement of
'Worldwide Caution'
[MARCH 26, 2003]
This updated public
announcement from the U.S. Department of State is to alert Americans
to an increased potential for anti-American violence, including
terrorist actions against U.S. citizens, as a result of the military
action in Iraq. The U.S. government remains deeply concerned about
the security of Americans overseas. American citizens are reminded
that it is more important than ever to maintain a high level of
vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security
awareness. This "Worldwide Caution" supersedes that issued on Feb. 6
and expires on July 20.
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As a result of military action in Iraq,
there is a potential for retaliatory actions to be taken against
U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world. Public
demonstrations carry the potential for precipitating violence
directed at American citizens, symbols associated with the United
States, or other U.S. and Western interests.
The threat to U.S. citizens includes
the risk of attacks by terrorist groups. Terrorist actions may
include, but are not limited to, suicide operations, bombings or
kidnappings. Possible threats include conventional weapons such as
explosive devices or nonconventional weapons, including chemical or
biological agents. Terrorists do not distinguish between official
and civilian targets. These may include facilities where Americans
and other foreigners congregate or visit, such as residential areas,
clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels, outdoor
recreation events, resorts and beaches. U.S. citizens should
increase their security awareness at such locations, avoid them, or
switch to other locations where Americans in large numbers generally
do not congregate.
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U.S. government facilities worldwide
remain at a heightened state of alert, and some have drawn down
their dependents and personnel. These facilities may temporarily
close or suspend public services from time to time for security
reasons. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make
every effort to provide emergency services to American citizens.
Monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest
American embassy or consulate.
As the
Department of State continues to develop information on any
potential security threats to Americans overseas, it shares credible
threat information through its Consular Information Program
documents, available on the Internet at
http://travel.state.gov. In
addition to information on the Internet, travelers can get
up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1 (888)
407-4747 in the United States. Outside the United States and Canada,
the number on a regular toll line is l (317) 472-2328.
[U.S. Department of State] |
