[DEC. 20, 2000]  The Logan County Board Tuesday night unanimously approved a new contract with the Teamsters covering employees in the highway department.

The contract, which was approved for a three-year period, increases pay by 60 cents per hour for each of the three years beginning December 2000. This is reflected in the base pay per hour of $13.50 for the year 2000, $14.10 for 2001 and $14.70 in 2002.

Other topics included the transition process for the coroner's office. Rod White, chairman of the finance committee, met with Chuck Fricke, coroner, and Ed Barry, former coroner.

"I was pleased with the outcome, and most of the equipment was transferred today and the balance will be turned over tomorrow," White said.

Equipment that was previously purchased by the coroner's office, and not delivered yet, may not be needed by this administration. In such cases, the order would be canceled.

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Doug Dutz, chairman of the law enforcement committee, told board members that medical problems of prisoners taken into custody and housed at the Safety Complex, become the responsibility of the county.

"If a prisoner is on Public Aid, they would remain on their medical program for a 30-day period and then would become the county's responsibility," Dutz said.

Dave Hepler, board member, asked that the board check to see if those medical expenditures are consistent with the level of payment that Public Aid makes for the same services.

The board adjourned into executive session to discuss personnel matters.

[Fuzz Werth]

[DEC. 19, 2000]  At its regular meeting Monday evening, the Lincoln City Council approved the 2000-2001 tax levy ordinance of $1,404,703, which is $24,590 less than last year’s, and also authorized the fire department to let bids for a new rescue pumper.

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"Ideally we would like to purchase this item locally," Alderman Joseph Stone, chairman of the finance committee, told the council, but he noted it was the city’s "fiscal responsibility" to take the lowest bid.

[Joan Crabb]

[DEC. 19, 2000]  At its regular meeting Monday evening, the Lincoln City Council approved the 2000-2001 tax levy ordinance of $1,404,703, which is $24,590 less than last year’s, and also authorized the fire department to let bids for a new rescue pumper.

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"Ideally we would like to purchase this item locally," Alderman Joseph Stone, chairman of the finance committee, told the council, but he noted it was the city’s "fiscal responsibility" to take the lowest bid.

[Joan Crabb]

[DEC. 19, 2000]  Six candidates are vying for the position of mayor of Lincoln, but only five of them will appear on the ballot for the Republican primary election Feb. 27. Republican candidates Stephan Mesner, Joan C. Ritter, Don F. Fults, Jason R. Harlow and Elizabeth Davis will appear on the ballot, in that order. Sixth mayoral candidate Kenneth Gray has filed to run as a Democrat and will automatically be placed on the ballot in the April 2 general election. There is no Democratic primary scheduled, as no other candidates have filed to run as Democrats.

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[Joan Crabb]

Ho Ho Dough giveaway postponed

[DEC. 18, 2000]  The annual Ho Ho Dough holiday cash giveaway scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sunday was postponed due to the extreme weather conditions.  With the National Weather Service confirming life-threatening wind chill factors of nearly 20 degrees below zero, officials with the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Lincoln determined to postpone the event to Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m.  Bobbi Abbott, executive director of the chamber, and Wendy Bell, Main Street Lincoln program manager, both felt it would be irresponsible to bring people out in the extreme conditions.  They noted the wide range of ages attending include babies and the elderly, whom the weather would be particularly hard on. 

As it was, both Abbott, Bell and their families stood in the cold and personally turned away the die-hards who didn't get the word on Media One, at the Lincoln Area Music Society concert or via the grapevine.  Lincoln City Police assisted with the effort.  No one was more disappointed than the officials that the money wouldn't be given away that evening and most were joyous that they wouldn't be standing in the sub-zero temperatures to claim the prize. 

The forecast for Wednesday is the warmest all week, with highs expected in the 20s and only light snow late in the evening.  The time has been pushed back to 6 p.m. to give as many people as possible the chance to get downtown after work.  Officials note that it will be dark at that time and everyone should bring a flashlight to read their ticket numbers. Also, people are encouraged to dress warmly. 

New Illinois Heritage Tourism Program includes Logan County Route 66 project

[DEC. 18, 2000]  Gov. George H. Ryan has announced the selection of four new Illinois heritage tourism projects, including the first-ever project aimed at promoting African-American heritage within the state and further development of Route 66 as a viable tourism destination in Illinois. 

Illinois' heritage tourism program has been a national model since the first seven projects were designated in 1998. With the naming of these four new projects, Illinois has a total of 11 heritage areas that are being targeted for development.

"Illinoisans can take pride in our state's history and heritage, and the Heritage Tourism Program provides Illinois with new opportunities to share our past with visitors," Gov. Ryan said. "I'm particularly pleased that the development of the first African-American heritage area in Illinois is moving forward. Retracing the Underground Railroad has tremendous potential to bring new economic development to minority communities while ensuring that the history of African-Americans in Illinois will be remembered by future generations."

The Department of Commerce and Community Affairs' (DCCA) Bureau of Tourism developed the Heritage Tourism Program to boost cultural/historical tourism throughout Illinois. Selected projects qualify for six years of administrative support, grants to provide technical assistance and priority funding from the Tourism Attraction Development Grant Program.

"Research shows that heritage travelers spend more per trip, take longer trips, visit more attractions and stay overnight more often than the typical leisure traveler. The Heritage Tourism Program enhances our ability to capitalize on the economic impact these travelers have on the communities they visit," said DCCA Director Pam McDonough.

"Many of our heritage projects take in rural areas that have great potential for tourism but need help in creating a well-rounded visitor experience. The heritage program nurtures these projects, with a goal of helping them to become self-sustaining new attractions for visitors," added Cathy Ritter, DCCA's deputy director, Bureau of Tourism.

The original seven heritage projects are "Looking for Lincoln," "Trace of the Ages: The Mississippi River," "I&M Canal: The Waters that Built America," "A Tapestry of Time: The Illinois River," "Ohio River Route: Where Illinois Began," "Crossroads Region" (in southeastern Illinois), and "Immigrants and Ingenuity" (in northwestern Illinois).

The four newest Heritage Tourism projects are Freedom Trails, Illinois Route 66, and two projects recently designated as National Scenic Byways: the National Road and the Lincoln Highway.

A further description of each new project follows:

Counties included: Adams, Pike, Morgan, Scott, Greene, Macoupin, Jersey. Madison, Fayette, St. Clair, Clinton, Washington, Randolph, Perry, Jackson and Alexander

In Illinois, there seem to be roughly six major definable routes of the Underground Railroad, with five of these routes converging into Chicago. Phase I of this proposal begins from the south and east, with Phases II and III picking up the remaining counties that will take the trail into Chicago and beyond. This phase encompasses 16 counties, with the intent to partner with public, private and governmental entities to amass funding to create exhibits, publications and conduct research. Many benefits are expected in the areas of community, economic and tourism development as well as renewed pride in African-American communities. This project proposes to link the trails in a systematic order, along with African-American experiences stemming from the lifestyles, places and characters relevant to the areas.

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Counties included: Cook, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Livingston, McLean, Logan, Sangamon, Macoupin, Montgomery, Madison and St. Clair

This project will encompass a 12-county area stretching from Chicago in the north all the way to Madison and St. Clair counties in the south. It will be designed to further develop Route 66 as a viable tourism destination in Illinois by linking many of the communities along the route through infrastructure improvement and enhancement, development of maps and guides, audio tours, special events and exhibits, establishment of an Illinois Route 66 brand identity, and implementation of a cooperative strategic marketing program. As product development continues over time, the program will be expanded to include more communities within the state, and by cultivating partnerships across state borders, Route 66 has the potential to become a national heritage tourism destination and also has great international appeal.

Counties included: Cook, Will, Kendall, Kane, DeKalb, Ogle, Lee and Whiteside

The Lincoln Highway, as the nation's first transcontinental paved roadway, connected rural farming communities with industrialized cities as it crossed through 13 states. Referred to throughout history as the "Main Street of America," the original purpose for building the Lincoln Highway was to connect the communities, families and businesses located along its length by means of a paved surface. The 179-mile segment of the Lincoln Highway in Illinois is a journey from east to west, taking visitors from the industrialized southern suburbs of Chicago through a rural suburban region toward Joliet. The Lincoln Highway, which was designated a National Scenic Byway in June 2000, possesses the historic and cultural intrinsic qualities to be recognized as a true tourism destination.

Counties included: Clark, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Bond, Madison and St. Clair

The National Road of Illinois, which was designated a National Scenic Byway in June 2000, runs 165 miles from the Indiana border near the Wabash River to the grounds of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis. The association has completed a corridor management plan and will be identifying ways to provide interpretation at various sites along the road. They will also be promoting the assets of the National Road through history found in scenic and natural areas, historic architecture, folk life resources, commercial and industrial heritage, and recreational activities.

[DCCA news release]

Lincoln/Logan County tourism director excited about new tourism program

[DEC. 18, 2000]  There were a number of other choices for the Illinois Bureau of Tourism to choose from when the Route 66 project was selected for the Heritage Tourism Program. Thressia Usherwood, Logan County tourism director and project coordinator, has these things to say:

"I am extremely pleased with the fact that the governor chose our Route 66 project proposal. It makes us eligible for tourism grants we would not otherwise be able to get. It proves Logan County is wealthy in many aspects of heritage tourism. We have Looking for Lincoln and Route 66.

"Atlanta Library curator Lucille Pech can attest to the number of people interested in our area's history. She keeps a record of all the visitors that stop in there. There are people signing in from all over the world.

"The most central portion of Route 66 is from Atlanta to Elkhart. This takes in a lot of Logan County territory. It’s right down our center.

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"Logan County is luck to be in on two heritage tourism projects, Looking for Lincoln and Route 66. The Route 66 is a whole different venture. We are fortune to have enough people from the community who care to do this.

"The Illinois Tourism Bureau has made stops overnight in Lincoln eight out of 12 of their annual trips through central Illinois. They say Lincoln is exemplary small-town USA. Last year there were 450 people came through on that tour.

"Tourism brings a lot of dollars to the area. People stay in the hotels, eat in the restaurants, fill up their cars with gas, look for places to go and things to buy when they’re here."

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