Schools
to go down
[MARCH
16, 2000] In
an unexpected move, Lincoln Elementary School District 27
school board voted Wednesday night to rescind last
month’s decision to renovate Central Elementary School
and to approve replacing both Central Elementary and
Lincoln Junior High School with new facilities.
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The
change in plans came after Superintendent Robert Kidd
reported that he had received little support from the
Lincoln City Council for permission to move a 6-by-6 foot
city sewer line that runs across Ralph Gale Field. The
sewer would have to be moved before the school district
could complete its original plan to build a new school on
that site.
Although
the City Council meeting held Tuesday evening was a work
session and no official vote was taken, Dr. Kidd said
there did not appear to be support for moving the sewer,
but instead appeared to be opposition. He said aldermen
opposed changing the big walk-in sewer line that was
functioning well and also cited opposition from
constituents who want to keep Ralph Gale Field as open
space.
![](../images/Mvc-024s%20copy.jpg)
After
hearing Kidd’s report, board member Bruce Carmitchel
moved to rescind the motion to renovate Central School. A
second motion was made to adopt a plan which Dr. Kidd had
submitted earlier, which calls for building two new
schools: a new Central School facility on the same lot,
facing Seventh Street, and a new Lincoln Junior High
School.
Both
motions passed 5-2, with Board President Bill Bates and
Leta Herrington voting no.
Bates
said he voted against the motion because he was not in
favor of demolishing both of the existing school
buildings. He said he favored building a new Central
School facility but not demolishing the junior high school
at this time.
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![](../images/ads/Gossetts/gossetts.jpg)
Mayor
Joan Ritter told the Lincoln Daily News this
morning that although aldermen said they had received
letters from constituents who wanted to keep Ralph Gale
Field, the only issue addressed by the council Tuesday
evening was the sewer line itself.
She
said that, based on the relocation of the sewer line,
"There was just not enough technical information
given to the council, city engineer and sewer treatment
plant manager for the city to give the school board a
commitment at this time.
"This
is a major trunk line, six feet wide, all brick. Sewer
plant manager Grant Eaton said the plans were not detailed
enough for him to advise the council how to make a
decision," she said.
Dr.
Kidd said he believed Wednesday night’s decision would
be the end of the controversy over saving Central School.
"We have to have all proposals in to the State Board
of Education by April 1, and we have no more meetings
scheduled until after that date," he noted.
If
approved by the State Board of Education, the new building
projects will get 73 percent of their funding from the
state of Illinois, with the rest coming from a local bond
issue. Approval from the state board probably will not
come before early summer, Kidd said.
After
that, district voters will have to approve a bond issue
for the remainder of the funding, which would go on the
ballot either in November or at the next municipal
election in April of 2001.
"The
earliest time we could possibly see dirt turned would be
the summer of 2001," Kidd said. The new plan calls
for building a new Central Elementary School at the back
of the present school lot, moving junior high students
into the existing Central facility, then constructing a
new junior high school. There are approximately 280
students in both Central Elementary and Lincoln Junior
High School, Kidd said.
[Joan
Crabb]
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Back
on track
Lincoln
Depot to open doors soon
[MARCH
16, 2000] Renovations
to the restaurant at the Depot are underway and will
probably continue until it’s time to open the doors for
dinner on March 28th. The restaurant will offer a Sunday
brunch, and in April lunch will be added.
The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Sunday.
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Making
the transition from solely a banquet facility to a
restaurant has involved a lot of hard work and creative
ideas. Owner Rob Orr, who has operated the Depot as a
banquet facility for the past three years, said, "I
didn’t want to significantly alter the building. I
wanted to keep our flexibility and our options open."
The major changes have been in the kitchen and banquet
facilities.
![](../images/031600-depot/depot1.jpg)
[Rob Orr, Lesa Jackson and Jeff Tendick]
The
kitchen utilizes one-fourth of the building. It includes
rooms for cooking, food preparation, dishwashing, dish
storage, cold storage, a walk-in freezer and an eventual
wine cellar in the basement.
Major
remodeling is being done to the kitchen. Jeff Tendick, Orr’s
partner and a European-trained chef, is very pleased with
the custom-designed exhaust hood that pulls exhaust from
the stove and other cooking surfaces without pulling the
cool air and the heat out of the building. The eight-foot
walk-in freezer was custom designed to allow for better
utilization of the storage units that are in the freezer.
There are 12 inches of insulation in the walls that
surround the freezer and will help to keep the freezer
very cold. One of the concerns with a building this size
is trying to keep down energy costs.
![](../images/031600-depot/depot4.jpg)
[Chef Jeff Tendick poses in the Depot's newly renovated
kitchen]
The
Illinois Central area will be used as the banquet
facility. The main area is sandwiched between two 80-ton
1933 Panama Limited Railroad cars. Doors have been cut
into the inside walls of each train car for direct access
to the center banquet room.
Other
additions to this area include a separate entrance from
the street, a hardwood dance floor, handicapped-accessible
restrooms, and a ceiling-to-floor divider that will break
down the room to accommodate smaller parties. The train
car on the northeast side of the building, closest to
Chicago Street, has been gutted and is being converted
into a bar and lounge that will service the banquet
facility. The car on the northwest side will be used for
meetings, dining or as overflow for the private events.
The banquet facility can accommodate about 150 people.
The
more historic parts of the building will remain virtually
unchanged. The Sunroom that looks across Chicago Street
will be used for relaxed, family style dining. The
Victorian room will be used for intimate, casual dining
while the baggage room will be a lounge that will cater to
patrons after work hours and may include a piano bar in
the future.
The
Telegraph room will initially be used as a preparation
station for the waiters, and the deck will offer outdoor
dining on the west side of the building, overlooking the
railroad tracks. The two red cabooses that are attached to
the northwest side of the Depot house a rubber-stamping
business that is not a part of the restaurant.
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![](../images/ads/nobbe/nobbe_2x3_000124.jpg)
David
Katz, a former owner of the Lincoln Depot, is the
contractor for the restaurant’s remodeling. Orr said,
"Katz knows where everything is – the wiring,
plumbing, etc. – and he has made some good
recommendations on things we needed to do. It’s really
working out well."
But
what is planned for the Depot’s menu? Tendick says,
"We will have a living menu. It will change from
season to season." French Mediterranean, regional
American, Provence, Louisiana, South Carolina and New York
cuisine are some of the selections that will be offered.
"The menu will never be boring. It will take
advantage of locally grown fresh products. There will be
an emphasis on fresh, including fish and seafood. I want
to offer the best of the world to you," Tendick
explained.
The
wine selection will be held to about 30 choices. As the
former owner of the Kingston Inn Restaurant in Galena,
Tendick offered 11,000 choices of wine on his spirits
menu. But the room in the depot basement that will be used
as the wine cellar is directly under the railroad tracks,
making long-term wine storage impossible. "The
temperature down there (basement) is almost perfect. We’ll
have to figure out some way to absorb some of the
vibrations. As it is now, wine storage will only be about
two months," he added.
Imported
English and German beers, single malt scotch and single
estate coffees will also be on the menu. Within the next
year, table coffee service will be added, whereby a patron’s
choice of coffee blend will be brewed at the table. There
will also be beverage-tasting opportunities.
Progressive
dinners are in the plans, too. Orr and Tendick have been
in contact with other restaurant owners in town, and they
envision patrons moving from one restaurant to another to
partake in different courses of the same meal. This kind
of dinner will also be coordinated with other events in
town. Tendick stated, "I foresee working very well
with other restaurants in town. We have given and received
very positive support to and from them."
A
staff of 30 full-time and part-time employees has been
hired to handle the dinner hours. About four positions
have been left unfilled. Additional staff will be hired
once they open for lunch in April.
Dan
Ellis, a local man who has worked in several of the
Lincoln eateries, will be one of the cooks assisting
Tendick. Lesa Jackson, former owner of Kindred Spirits,
will manage the lunch shift. They will make their own
desserts and breads. Jackson said, "I am really
excited about offering customers an excellent dining
experience and hope that everyone enjoys their experience
at this historic restaurant."
![](../images/031600-depot/depot2.jpg)
[Kym
C. Ammons-Scott]
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Lincoln
Daily News:
easier to navigate, easier to read
[MARCH
15, 2000] In
keeping up with our increased readership, Lincoln Daily
News has made some improvements to the site.
It is now easier to navigate.
Every article in the entire paper is accessible
from every page. Just
scroll down to the bottom of every page and see the index,
which lists the title of every section.
After reading an article you can click on the next
column of choice and you will quickly jump to that page.
This will enable YOU to choose what you read.
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Choosing
to go back to the front page is now easier than ever too.
Simply click on the Lincoln Daily News logo located
on the top left of every screen. It says "back to
front" and it will take you there.
The
Lincoln Daily News has been online now for nearly
seven weeks. We have continued our commitment from the
beginning: to research and report the news and commentary
from our community in a truthful and straightforward
manner. There are many exciting things happening in our
towns in and around Logan County. As the days and weeks
and months go by, we strive to maintain the things you
have come to expect from LDN.
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![](../images/ads/chamber_of_commerce/cfaasset_2x3_0126000.jpg)
So,
let us know what you think. How are we doing? We are here
for our readers. If you have story ideas or know of
anything that is up and coming in your town, let us know.
If you want to let us know about the improvements made on
the site email us. ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com
[LDN]
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Sheriff’s
deputies go high tech
[MARCH
15, 2000] Felons
intending to commit a crime in Logan County should be
forewarned that their criminal records are as close as the
touch of a computer key. The two Logan County K-9
sheriff’s deputies will soon be receiving the latest in
police technology. Thanks to $16,500 in drug forfeiture
monies provided by Logan County State’s Attorney Bill
Workman, the two K-9 units will have touch-screen laptops
that will be mobile with the police unit. These computers
will give officers instant access to anyone’s criminal
record information.
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The
new system will reduce the need for much of the radio
communications between the officer and police dispatch,
because the officer will have that information available
through the high-tech unit in their own patrol vehicle.
“Because
of the successful drug asset forfeitures, I am able to
provide the funding for this enhancement to the law
enforcement community. It is through their hard work and
dedication to the war on drugs that these funds were
confiscated in the first place,” Bill Workman said. The
money comes from cash and other assets that have been
seized from drug dealers. Workman explained that when
money is seized from drug offenders in the course of their
prosecution, his office conducts a forfeiture proceeding.
The cash or assets that are forfeited to the state become
the property of law enforcement to be used to assist in
the prosecution of drug offenses.
In
the past Workman has used these funds to update the
computerization of the state’s attorney’s office,
equip the prosecutors with up-to-date technology and
assist in the overall prosecution of drug cases. “Due to
the success of our drug prosecutions and seizures the last
three years, we are able to not only meet the needs of our
own office, but apply some of the funds to law enforcement
directly. I feel it is a positive and productive use of
these funds to put some of it back into the local
community to fight drug crimes,” Workman said.
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Sheriff
Tony Solomon expressed his appreciation to State’s
Attorney Bill Workman for his willingness to share funding
out of his drug forfeiture account. “The Logan County
Sheriff’s Department will benefit by Bill Workman’s
assistance and support of our agency. This technology will
allow officers to access critical information immediately,
and substantially increase our ability to protect and
serve the public,” Sheriff Solomon said.
[LDN]
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The
ABCs of B & B's
Chamber
to hold bed and breakfast workshop
[MARCH
14, 2000] Could
a bed and breakfast—or perhaps more than one—be in
Logan County’s future once again? It’s a possibility
that the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce and Main
Street Lincoln are encouraging interested persons to
explore. The two groups are sponsoring a Bed and Breakfast
Start-up Workshop on March 30 from 8 a.m. to noon at
Eckert’s, 123 S. Sangamon St. in Lincoln.
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The
workshop will provide insights from experienced B & B
operators and patrons, along with information about
zoning, health department regulations, business plans,
financing and marketing techniques. A $10 registration fee
will cover the cost of materials and breakfast. Anyone
interested may call the Chamber at 735-2385 for more
information.
Representatives
of several area organizations said they believe the
Lincoln area offers opportunities for those wanting to
start such a home-based business.
"Currently,
Logan County does not have a ‘home-style’ place to
stay," says Bobbi Abbott, Chamber director. She says
that more and more travelers are looking for such
accommodations for both weekend getaways and business
trips. They find the advantages of staying at a B & B
include the opportunity to mingle with other guests and to
learn more about the area from their hosts, along with
less traffic congestion, more amenities and sometimes
lower rates than traditional accommodations.
"I
get calls from all over from people wanting to know if
there is a B & B here," says Thressia Usherwood,
executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Tourist Bureau
of Logan County. "I think B & B’s could become
very successful here. People love them."
Usherwood
thinks that as the Looking for Lincoln project gains
momentum, more and more tourists will be coming into the
area. The Looking for Lincoln project, funded by a state
of Illinois Heritage Tourism grant, will identify
important Lincoln sites and publish a guidebook so that
tourists can follow a "trail" of places
important in the history of our 16th president.
"There
is a wealth of Abraham Lincoln history here,"
Usherwood said. Sites in Logan County that will be listed
in the guidebook include the Postville Courthouse, the
Mount Pulaski Courthouse and the Lincoln College Museum of
Lincoln memorabilia. She also noted that Lincoln is a
popular stop for the Illinois Route 66 Association, which
will be holding its Hall of Fame banquet here this year.
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According
to Abbott, studies show that B & B patrons often spend
more time and money in the community than those who stop
in off-the-highway motels. She notes that unique
restaurants, antique malls and specialty shops are of
particular interest to people who stay in B & B’s.
"We have many small, local businesses that can
benefit from B & B tourism. The Chamber and Main
Street will help market our local businesses to these
patrons."
Wendy
Bell, Main Street Lincoln program manager, also supports
the workshop. "There are marketing opportunities
through Amtrak and Main Street that do not exist in other
areas. A bed and breakfast would complete the package of
good food, interesting shops, and a unique place to
stay."
The
March 30 workshop is designed to offer "information
and inspiration," Abbott said. "There is
absolutely no obligation. We’re hoping this forum will
appeal to anyone with a curious to a serious interest in
this type of home-based business.
"We
presently have two persons with serious interest. We’d
like to attract a few more. Clusters of bed and breakfasts
tend to draw more tourists than a single offering,"
Abbot continued.
"The
operators will eventually be able to put together
attractive packages featuring unique travel experiences—riding
the train, bicycling, or driving Route 66," she said.
[Joan
Crabb]
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