 Lincoln is the location that Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn's office has chosen
for an event honoring our current and fallen soldiers. The
exhibition, titled "Portrait of a Soldier," is intended to show our
pride in our soldiers.
Lincoln citizen Roger Matson and a representative of the American
Legion, Ms. Hennessy, explained the combination of events planned to
honor and support our soldiers.
"The lieutenant governor chose Lincoln because we're a small town
and he likes what we're doing here," Matson said. In addition to the
lieutenant governor, other dignitaries expected to be in attendance
include Sen. Larry Bomke, Rep. Rich Brauer and Rep. Bill Mitchell.
The giant flag will be flown and the Lincoln Community High School
has been engaged to play patriotic music. A reception will follow.
Matson asked the council members to be there to represent the
city of Lincoln. The county board members are being asked as well.
The tentative lineup of events on Oct. 11 is set to begin about noon and
last till about 12:45 p.m.
"It's going to be an event that will stick in people's minds,"
Matson said.
"I think this is awesome," Alderman Verl Prather said.
A 22-year-employee of the American Legion, Hennessy explained a
program she has been involved in that keeps in contact with soldiers
while they are overseas. She typically writes letters and keeps up
correspondence with local soldiers.
This year they would like to send a book, "The Soldiers' Night
Before Christmas." School students in first through fifth grade will
be coloring pictures to add to the package, she said. They are
asking for donations to do this, as well as collecting soldiers'
names to send to.
A young Mattoon artist, Cameron Shilling, wishing to express his appreciation and to honor
soldiers who have fallen since 9/11, has created pen and pencil
drawings. Many of the pictures that parents supplied for the
drawings show more of the personality of how they want their soldier
to be remembered.
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The pictures and project are intended to remember our soldiers with
pride, rather than to draw sympathy. All but about three parents in
Illinois wanted to participate in the project, Matson said.
A book of the pictures, "Portrait of a Soldier," has been created
and is on sale for $15. Sales of the book, pledges and donations are
being accepted and will go toward support measures for our soldiers.
The drawings will be on display inside the Logan County
Courthouse on Oct. 11, and the exhibit will remain there through
Oct. 16.
The event is being sponsored by Main Street Lincoln.
U.S. Cellular proposal
At the city's Tuesday evening workshop session a U.S. Cellular
representative introduced the company's plan to enter into a lease
agreement with the city of Lincoln. They are looking at building a
tower and outbuilding in the city.
The company's "redline" procedure is to work with a city's
attorney first and then present a refined proposal to the council.
An initial proposal was submitted to city attorney Bill Bates, who
conferred with city zoning and ordinance officer Les Last on the
details of the request. Bates said that he returned the proposal
with the city's adjustments to the company for their attorneys to
review on Sept. 12. The council will hear details of the proposal
possibly as soon as Oct. 9, and a vote on the proposal could then be
on Oct. 15.
Truancy issue
The city is getting back to an issue that was laid aside earlier
this year: truancy. Home-school parents opposed the proposed new
ordinance, which could cause uncomfortable situations for them and
their school-aged children when out in public during school hours.
The county passed a truancy ordinance since then, and now the city
is looking to review a copy of that. The committee will meet at 6:30
p.m. on Oct. 9 to discuss the issue.
[Jan
Youngquist] |
