Perceived Problems Shown in Capstone Survey

Drugs, alcohol and domestic abuse stand out for community
that generally likes itself

[FEB. 9, 2000]   The good news in the Capstone committee’s survey ["Lincoln Loves Library,
9-1-1, Fire Service"] is that Lincoln residents are generally very favorable toward their community. Most public services received a high rating. Dr. Ernest Cowles, from the University of Illinois at Springfield’s Center for Legal Studies, worked with Lincoln’s mayor and police department to prepare and conduct the survey. Cowles told a group of citizens assembled at Lincoln Community High School last night that, "In most communities we find much higher levels of dissatisfaction with public services."

Indeed, the majority of the residents surveyed were satisfied with everything from their public library to the fire department, police department, schools, and park and recreation services. The respondents were particularly pleased with the Lincoln Police Department’s community policing activities, including its school-based programs, neighborhood patrols, and workshops.

Dana Wilmert, a Lincoln native and now a researcher at the Center for Legal Studies, assembled the report of the survey data for Lincoln. Analysis by neighborhood (four quadrants of the city) revealed that, "not many problems were significantly related to the neighborhood," said Ms. Wilmert. The perceptions cut pretty consistently across neighborhoods. When examined by age group, the 68 and over group (which constituted about one quarter of the respondents) was more sanguine about city services than other groups, but more pessimistic about crime.

When the survey probed residents about crime, their concerns centered primarily on three areas: drug abuse, alcohol abuse and domestic violence. It should be noted that a survey reveals only people’s perceptions. The Lincoln Daily News intends to contribute to a discovery and analysis of the reality of both the positive characteristics of Logan County and the problem areas. In today’s How We Stack Up column in the Commentary section, LDN compares drug arrests in Logan County with those in nine other Illinois counties of similar size.

In 1998, county and city police in Logan County recorded 200 arrests for drug-related crimes. Of the 10 counties compared, Logan County ranked fourth in number of drug-related arrests per 1,000 of county population. A higher number of arrests might indicate an unusually high level of drug activity or an especially productive police force. A lower number might indicate a low level of drug activity or a lax police force.

The Lincoln Daily News will present comparative data on other factors in How We Stack Up over the coming weeks. LDN hopes this information will be helpful to community groups that study community issues.

According to Cowles, people’s perceptions of problems are sometimes related to their awareness of an issue. "As you raise people’s awareness of a problem they tend to see it as a serious problem." Local media and discussion-group attention to a problem may elevate residents’ perception of the seriousness of the problem.

On the other hand, every community can bear improvement. LDN will provide information about problems and perceived problems so steps toward improvement can be taken on firm ground.

Yesterday the Lincoln Daily News announced the creation of its Ombudsman section. This is another effort by LDN to help a good county become even better. LDN encourages its readers to submit specific problems that should be addressed.

Lincoln Loves Library,
9-1-1, Fire Service

Capstone survey shows Lincoln residents like their town

[FEB. 8, 2000]   A year ago, with a grant from the State of Illinois, the Lincoln Police Department organized Capstone, a community policing project that began with an assessment of the community’s strengths and areas of concern. A sixty-member advisory group met with consultants from the Regional Institute of Community Policing, to discuss issues related to quality of life, safety, crime, and satisfaction with city services.

The Capstone committee developed a community survey, and on September 25, forty Lincoln Community High School students took the survey door to door to households selected by a computer to represent every neighborhood. "The survey was designed to give us insights into things we are doing well and things we need to improve," said Officer Rich Montcalm, Lincoln Police Department’s coordinator of community policing.

The average age of respondents was 54 years, with ages ranging from 22 to 92. Respondents had lived in Lincoln from 2 months to 84 years, with the average being 29 years. Slightly more females (56%) than males (44%) completed the surveys. Seventy-five percent of respondents were homeowners, and 23% were renters.

What do Lincoln residents like most? Ninety-seven percent were satisfied with their 9-1-1 service, and 95% were satisfied with their library and fire service. Garbage collection achieved 94% satisfaction, followed closely by the utilities—electricity and natural gas/heating at 92% each.

Streets, sidewalks, animal control and sewers cited as problem areas

At the other end of the scale, there was less satisfaction with sewers/storm drains (59%), animal control services (56%), sidewalk maintenance (50%), and street maintenance (48%). Only street maintenance had fewer respondents dissatisfied than satisfied. Comments indicated that perceived problems with street maintenance included the timing and inconvenience of repairs.

Community policing popular with Lincoln residents

The Capstone survey, with its genesis in the community policing program, covered police-related issues in particular detail. Lincoln residents like their police department’s bike patrols, foot patrols, residential patrols and targeted patrols. They want more school programs (DARE, violence prevention) and community policing activities (block parties, workshops, neighborhood watch, ride alongs, citizen police academy).

Lincoln residents encourage their police department to continue drug busts and alcohol stings, including targeting stores and individuals that sell to minors. In fact, substance abuse related crimes were the number one crime problem cited by respondents in the survey. Other problem areas were property damage/theft/vandalism, domestic violence and child abuse, youth crimes, and shoplifting.

The Lincoln citizens surveyed, while strongly supportive of the Police Department’s programs, indicate in a few comments that they would like to see officers required to meet annual physical fitness tests. Comments also reveal that some citizens perceive abuse of authority (harassment, entrapment, covering up for fellow officers) as an area of concern, as well as misuse of patrols (talking with other officers while on duty, too many squad cars responding to a call.)

Satisfaction with public services

The complete list of city services surveyed and the percentage of respondents who were satisfied with each service follows.

Acceptability of conditions in city

In addition to querying respondents about the public services they receive, the survey asked about the level of acceptability of a variety of conditions in the city. For example, 88% of respondents found the degree to which streets are lined with trees or shrubs to be at an acceptable level. Other conditions were rated as follows.

Crimes in the city

The survey asked if the following crimes were "under control" in the community. The following percentages answered "yes."

The survey yielded many comments and other data that will be presented at a public forum at Lincoln Community High School at 6:30 Tuesday evening, Feb. 8.

For Youth and For America

Japanese woman visits local 4-H club

[FEB. 9, 2000]   They are learning about how to make the best better.  That’s the 4-H motto.  Just this week, members of the Millennium Clovers, a recently reorganized 4-H club, discovered that this means reaching out, discovering new things and embracing new ideas.

As all 15 members gathered around the board room table, President Chris Ackerman brought the meeting to order.  Roll call was taken and every member recited the pledge. Secretary Brook Wibben read the minutes, Zach Goodman gave the treasurer’s report, and old business and new business matters were raised.  The meeting was under way.

 Minutes later, these pre-teens were transported to another place, all the way across the globe.  It is a place so rich in tradition that it could only come to life through the eyes of one of its own.

 Chie Murakami, a native of Sendai, Japan, a city located just north of Tokyo, spoke to these 4-H’ers about life in her country.  A sophomore at Lincoln College, Murakami came to the United States as a senior in high school to live with a host family in Rockford, Ill.  She is the first person in her family to come to the United States.

 “My parents were not excited in the beginning,” she confesses.  “Now they are very proud of me.”  Murakami enjoys giving presentations to youngsters because she believes it will help her become a better teacher. 

 Since seventh grade, she has been learning the English language, and while she spoke English when she came to America, she admits, “You would have to ask my host family how good.”  In order to make sure she conveys her ideas accurately and in case she has questions about American slang, Murakami brings her roommate, Lacey Middlecoff of Alton, along with her.  “She is my walking dictionary,” Murakami adds. 

The 4-H’ers questioned Murakami about life in Japan.  They were eager to know what type of commercialism is present in her country.  She reassured them that Japanese students are very familiar with Nike and Pepsi.

In addition, the 4-H’ers learned that school in Japan is all year round—from April through March, with three vacations spread throughout the year. 

 As early as kindergarten, Japanese children learn the traditional art of origami.  Murakami walked the 4-H’ers through an origami demonstration.  In the end, each boy and girl had a usable cup made completely out of paper.

 Another Japanese tradition is the coming of age ceremony, at age 20. Murakami says this is when a Japanese teen becomes an adult.  “You can drink, smoke, vote, just be independent.”  For the ceremony, Murakami donned a multi-colored kimono made entirely of silk.  “This is a very big tradition,” she says.

 Murakami also introduced the 4-H’ers to her native language. Her first name Chie, which is derived from her mother’s name, means “wise.”  She also wrote out each member’s name using traditional Japanese characters, and she brought several Japanese “teen” magazines, which included the latest Japanese styles and trends.  Finally, she even taught them how to pronounce certain Japanese words including, hello (kon-ni-chi-wa), goodbye (si-you-nar-a) and thank you (ari-gato).

Editor’s Note:  Murikami, who discovered Lincoln College through the Peterson’s Guide to Two-Year Colleges, will graduate with her A.A. in May.  She aspires to be a Japanese Education teacher and will continue her education at the University of Wisconsin next fall.

[Natalie Jeckel]

Washington-Monroe Jumps for Heart Health

[FEB. 5, 2000]   Teachers, parents, students and alums at Washington-Monroe Elementary School pitched in to raise more than $1,000 for the American Heart Association Saturday. “This is the third year for the event,” said sixth-grade teacher Debbie Pettit, “and we have already exceeded our goal.”

     Former Washington-Monroe student and current Railer basketball standout, Gregg Alexander, twirled a rope while W-M students jumped. Thirty-eight students collected pledges for the Heart Association, and twenty-seven students jumped for an hour and a half Saturday morning. 

[Gregg Alexander twirls for W-M jumpers.]

     Washington-Monroe principal, Rebecca Cecil, and event coordinators Leslie Singleton and Mrs. Pettit credited a parents’ committee for the organizational work that made the event a success. Amy Gordan, Joni Hundreiser and Bev Wonderlin kept track of each student’s contribution to the project.

     Mrs. Singleton asked that contributions for the American Heart Association be sent to her or Mrs. Pettit at Washington-Monroe Elementary School, 1002 Pekin Street, in Lincoln. Checks should be made to the American Heart Association.

[Teachers Leslie Singleton and Debbie Pettit and principal Rebecca Cecil wait their turn to jump.]

[Parents Amy Gordan, Joni Hundreiser and Bev Wonderlin help organize the event.]

Choosing child care

Important decision for parents

[FEB. 4, 2000]  For Chip and Stephanie Schwarzentraub of Lincoln, choosing a day care program for their 5-month-old daughter, Sloan, was far from easy. The Schwarzentraubs aren't the first, and won't be the last parents faced with the difficulties of making a child care decision. There is however, a licensing program, implemented by the Department of Children and Family Services, to ensure that quality care is provided to every child in day care.

"It's never easy," Chip Schwarzentraub said. "You always feel parents give the best care. But if you're in a situation where you have to have child care, you want to be comfortable with [a provider], and we are."

The Schwarzentraubs initially enrolled Sloan at a day care that was unlicensed, "but then we decided to switch," Schwarzentraub said.

One of the reasons is that parents who use a licensed facility can claim the expense on their income tax. "We're a young couple and we thought that was something we needed to take advantage of," Schwarzentraub added.

Once realizing there was a licensing system in place, the Schwarzentraubs consulted a friend who referred them to Marcia Bidwell, a licensed child care provider in Lincoln. From there they set up an interview with Bidwell, in the child care environment. Stephanie Schwarzentraub contends that they chose Bidwell because she seemed "agreeable and would do what my husband and I wanted. Then we signed a contract with her that let us lock in her rate and times."

[Chip and Stephanie Schwarzentraub, seen here with their daughter Sloan, suggest visiting the day care provider’s environment unannounced to see what the facility is like.]

While not required by DCFS, Bidwell decided to create her own contract. "That's my policy. I write it all out so people know what to expect," she said.

According to DCFS in Springfield, there are stringent licensure requirements to operate a day care facility. In fact, the 50 page, Licensing Standards for Day Care Homes explicates everything from the maximum number of children who can be in a single home to proper disciplining and nutritional needs for each child.

Despite the criteria, Bidwell, who has been a DCFS approved provider for 16 years, said earning a license isn't all that difficult.

"It's not that hard—you just have to comply with DCFS," she said. "They go over the whole thing with you. It's real simple stuff, not hard at all."

When discussing the criteria Bidwell explains, "everybody has to have a physical for one thing. Then they make sure you have smoke detectors and your [outlets] have safety covers. You just fill in the paperwork; it's like applying for a job."

After the initial application a DCFS representative will make an appointment to come to the day care providers home. "For one thing," Bidwell adds, "DCFS makes sure you have enough space."

Bidwell, who currently cares for five children, said there are many benefits to being DCFS-approved. "People know they're not taking their child just anywhere. We also have access to the state's food program (for which they're partially reimbursed). Parents know their child is getting a balanced and nutritious meal."

The program benefits the provider in other ways too.

"We can advertise if we're licensed," she said. "Also, we can screen people just like they're screening us. I need to know if a child can adapt to the children I already have. They have to get along with me, too."

Providers who earn their license get another bonus: their own support group, Community Child Care Connections. Newsletters are sent out and group meeting are held in order to provide a variety of activities which help generate new ideas for child care providers. In addition, there are programs to reimburse a child care provider for any additional training.

While Bidwell and others in the Logan County area are approved day care providers, those who are out of compliance are reported to a hotline. Any reported problems stay on the day care provider’s record for one year. This way Bidwell says, "they can know the integrity of a person."

In Logan County, approved providers aren't, however, parents' only option. Another choice for school-age children is School Age Child Care, which is administered by the Lincoln YMCA. The hours are from 2 to 6 p.m., and it is held in all five District 27 elementary schools plus West Lincoln-Broadwell School.

"We're not licensed because the school district is our governing body," said YMCA Executive Director Angie Peters. "That means we report to the school our participation numbers and how things are going."

Jan Schacht is the director of the program, which currently cares for an average of 108 children per day.

The goal of this program is to teach character development—caring, respect, honesty and responsibility. Peters says, "that's the national YMCA program. We also give them snacks, work on their homework, play games, read, play basketball, things like that."

In addition to this program is a before-school program held in the District 27 schools from 6:45 to 8:30 a.m. Chester-East Lincoln School, meanwhile, has its own after-school program, called Panther Camp.

[Ellen Shawgo]

[Natalie Jeckel - ed.]

Community ownership needed by EDC

[FEB. 3, 2000]  Lincoln, what do you want to be when you grow up?  That is the question that Mark Smith, the director of economic development for Lincoln and Logan County, is trying to help answer.  Smith is trying to help the residents of Logan County get to where they want to be and to make everything in county the best that it can be.   

The mission of the Logan County Economic Development Council is to enhance the economic climate and quality of life in Logan County by mobilizing the talents and energies of business enterprises, local governments and institutions to work in partnership to achieve growth and prosperity for businesses and job creation for Logan County citizens.  The governing board consists of a nine-member council made up of officials from the city, county, chamber of commerce and members at large.

Smith’s innovation has included facilitating a number of focus groups inside and outside of the city of Lincoln to gather recommendations and comments from residents and businesses about their desires for their county.  As part of his presentation Smith asks,  “What is good about your town?  What is not so good? What do you think we should do?”   Three more questions that he asks are, “Where have we been?  Where are we now? And, where will we be in the future?”

He also listed the suggestions that he heard at least twice and he will use this list to help formulate an economic plan or a vision for Logan County.  Smith said, “I will find the best way to allocate the city’s time, treasures and talents.”  Smith is not creating the vision but clarifying it, based on the desires of the residents.  “My job is to help Lincoln get to where it wants to be,” he commented.

Some of the recommendations are as follows: the need for more higher paying jobs, the removal of tax caps, more parks and open spaces, another 18-hole golf course and better building maintenance.  Improving streets and alley ways, enhancing the appearance of several small communities, adding more housing options, and larger conference and meeting facilities, along with working to develop a public lake, are at the top of the list.

Smith continued,  “I want all of the entities in the county--residents, the chamber of commerce, school districts, churches, businesses, industry and others--to take ownership in the future of Logan County.  But first they must identify what it is they want. The next step is to participate by asking, how can I help?  Any successful plan must be community owned.  It has to be a partnership.” 

He explained, “In the 1980s there were many negative changes in the economic landscape as a result of plant closures and job losses. We saw a lot of well-paying factory jobs leave our community.  Economic development is a long-term, day to day process that involves a lot of hard work.”

Marketing and promotion is a large part of his job, and Smith added, “Each time my telephone rings it increases the potential for success.  It may be a business that is looking for a town to relocate and maybe Lincoln will make their short list.”