Bates won’t run again
for District 27 board

[NOV. 14, 2000]  Lincoln attorney William Bates, current president of the board of Elementary School District 27, has announced that he does not intend to run for another term at the April 2001 election. "It’s time for new blood. I don’t want to monopolize the market," he said.

He said his decision has been "relatively firm" for some time and is not related to the successful referendum Nov. 7 to build two new schools. "The vote has nothing to do with the reason I am not going to seek another term," he said. "It’s a coincidence that I am leaving at this time."

The referendum to issue $4.1 million in bonds to secure $8.3 million in state funds to replace Central School and Lincoln Junior High School was opposed by preservationists who wanted to see the two schools renovated instead of demolished. The vote to build new schools passed 3,677 to 2,042.

"It’s an important project," Bates said. "A part of me says, ‘Yes, I’d like to see this through.’ It’s tempting to stay on through the building process, but that would be another three or four years. It’s time for other people to become involved."

Bates began serving on the board more than 15 years ago, to replace Bill Gossett. "We’ve had a lot of good board members over the years," Bates commented. He has served as board president for the past seven years.

"Bill Bates has been a very valuable board member during the seven years I’ve been here," said District Superintendent Robert Kidd. "But I understand why, his children being gone from the district, he might look for another avenue of public service."

Though Bates is an attorney, Superintendent Kidd noted that he has "never tried to practice school law while on the board."

The three other board members whose terms will be up next year have all taken out petitions to run again. They are Bruce Carmitchel, Marilyn Montgomery and James Wilmert. Both Montgomery and Wilmert said they want to help oversee the new building project. "I feel that we were in on the beginning of the new school project and I want to be here to be involved in its completion," Montgomery said. She is finishing her first four-year term on the board.

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Wilmert, who has served on the District 27 board for at least 16 years and prior to that served eight years on the board of Lincoln Community High School, told Lincoln Daily News that this will "absolutely be my last term. I’ve said that before, but this time I mean it.

"I’d like to be here to see the projects get off to a good start," he said. "I don’t think they will be completed in four years. I’m hopeful it may be done, but I’d rather we take the time to do it right," he said.

Carmitchel has served for three years, having been appointed to fill an unexpired term and then elected for a two-year term. He is also expected to run again, according to Superintendent Kidd.

A fourth candidate, Steven Rohrer, has also taken out petitions and told Lincoln Daily News he plans to run. Rohrer, who is director of network and communication services for the University of Illinois and has an office on the Springfield campus, grew up on a farm near Lincoln and has lived in town since 1991.

At this time, no other candidates have taken out petitions. Petitions must be filed between Tuesday, Jan. 16, and Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 5 p.m. They are available at the district office at 100 S. Maple St.

This year’s election will be unusual in that new board members elected in April of 2001 will not take office until the following November. This is due to a change in state law to avoid multiple elections and allow school board members to be elected at the same time as municipal officials instead of in a separate election in November. In subsequent years, however, school board members will be elected in April and seated on the board in the same month.

[Joan Crabb]

'Did my vote get counted?'

[NOV. 14, 2000]  Has the thought crossed your mind, "How would I feel if my vote had been cast in Florida or one of those areas where so many spoiled ballots were thrown out — where I wasn’t sure if my vote was counted." With this in mind, Lincoln Daily News contacted Sally Litterly, Logan County clerk and recorder, and asked a few simple questions. Sally happily reported the following:

Q: In light of recent election difficulties, were there any discrepancies in Logan County or have there been any questions about our election results?

A: None!

Q: Were our ballots state or county issued?

A: Our ballots are approved by the State of Board of Elections. We have used the same type here for 15 years.

Q: Are there any improvements or changes planned before our next election?

A: No. I took this same ballot to all the schools in Logan County with third grades. The third graders used this system and had no problems with it.

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What voters need to know is that it is OK to ask for help no matter where they are voting. They can make a mistake on their voting ballot, say to themselves and the election judges, "Oops, I goofed. I need another one." The spoiled ballot is then thrown away and they are given a new one.

If voters have any questions, there are people there to demonstrate how to use the ballot. There are sample ballots designed for demonstration purposes (you vote for George Washington, etc.). All people need to do is say, "Show me how to do this." This can be done right at the polling place. There are people there just to demonstrate.

Above all, Sally emphasizes, "Ask questions!"

[LDN]

LDN readers respond to the question, "What is your opinion concerning this presidential election?"

[NOV. 11, 2000]  The following are responses to the question, "What is your opinion concerning this presidential election?"

First of all Gore conceded the election to Bush, then he takes it back. Now that is what we call an indian giver. If you tell some body that you are the winner, then how is it that can take it back. Now I hear that all counties in Florida are in and Bush still leads in the count, but Gore says Bush is not the winner. Sounds to me as if he is a sore loser. Win or lose this is going to cause hard feelings for a long time. I think its time to as they say drop the hatchet and get on with business as usual.

George

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I check the news daily

  To see 'What's the score?'

Is it George Bush,

  Or is it Al Gore?

No move here, and no move there,

  There's a lot of similarity;

I guess we'll be slow to move

  'cause of too much irregularity!

But I'm here to say,

  This is no laughing matter;

Sounds like the progressive lawyer's

  Pockets will get fatter and fatter.

We are people who have a choice,

  Our nation provides us that freedom;

We'll either be on the losing side,

  Or the side who is sure to defeat 'em.

But whoever comes out the winner;

  Let's not haggle and push,

But get behind our new leader

  Whether it's Al Gore or President Bush.

Maxine Seggelke

[NOV. 10, 2000]  LDN asked several Lincoln residents about their opinion on the election process.

Ashley Steffens (freshman, LCHS): It's wrong. It's been like this a long time. Everybody else did it right. They should not be able to change their votes. You only get to vote once.

Mike Kruse (former Lincolnite, moving back): They are trying to open it to controversy because it was so close. Do we need to re-look at how we do this? Ya, I think we do!

I'm not taking sides for either candidate here.

We also need to rethink the votes coming from overseas. They have a right to vote, but let's make them be turned in sooner.

I also think the press made this ugly."

Viola Rickey: It's not the first time we've had problems in Florida (referring to election process). They (officials) need to do something!

Anonymous woman: I suppose it was honest. They threw out 19,000 votes though. That's 19,000 people who are disenfranchised. I would be mad … if it happened to me!

Ginger Musick: They need to finish. My kids ask me every morning, "Do we have a new president?" I don't know what to tell them.

No recount. There was a sample ballot in their paper. If they didn't understand it, they should have asked questions before voting. Why is it a problem now?

Gore should be a big guy and say, "You won," and step down.

Posted Wednesday, Nov. 8, with all precincts reporting

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Notice of Open Burn Code released
by Fire Department

Open Burning code for the City of Lincoln

BOCA National Fire Prevention Code 1996 Chapter 4 City Code Book Fire Regulations Chapter 3

BOCA

F-403.4.3 OPEN BURNING PROHIBITED: The code official shall prohibit open burning that will be offensive or objectionable due to smoke or odor emissions when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. The code official shall order the extinguishments, by the land owner or the fire department, of any open burning that creates or adds to a hazardous or objectionable situation.

F-403.5 LOCATION OF OPEN BURNING: Shall not be less than 50 feet from any structure.

F-403.7 ATTENDANCE: Any open burning shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. A water supply such as buckets of water or a connected and charged garden hose shall be available for immediate utilization.

CITY CODE BOOK Chapter 3 Fire regulations

5-3-2 FIRE ON PAVEMENTS: Fires are not allowed on blacktop streets, alleys or concrete sidewalks ($25 fine)

5-3-4 BURNING IN THE CITY: E-1 recreational fires shall contact the Lincoln Fire Department and notify them of the date and time of the wiener roast. No garbage shall be burned and burning must be consistent with other laws.

E-2: From October 2 through May 31 between 7:00 A.M . and 5: 00 P.M. residents are allowed to burn landscape waste only. (Leaves, trees, tree trimmings, branches, stumps, brush, weeds, grass, grass and yard trimmings only)

Fines for violations of the following codes are a minimum of $15 issued by fire crews handling complaints and illegal fires.

Persons complaining about fires must sign a complaint with the Fire Department before extinguishments of legal fires is carried out. No fines will be issued to persons burning with in the boundaries of the code. The persons burning will be advised of the signed complaint and asked to extinguish the fire or the Fire Department will extinguish the fire.

[OCT. 11, 2000]  Beginning Monday, Oct. 16, the Lincoln City Landfill will be open extended hours to allow residents to dispose of leaves and yard waste, according to Donnie Osborne, street superintendent. The landfill will open at 8 a.m. and remain open until 4 p.m. seven days a week, probably until mid-December, he said. Residents may bring in leaves any way they like — in bags, boxes or pickup trucks — but they must take the leaves out of the containers and take the containers back home with them.

[OCT. 10, 2000]  The office of the city clerk in Lincoln will be open for filing petitions for nomination for the Feb. 27, 2001, consolidated primary election, with petitions accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following dates: Dec. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 18.

Petitions will be accepted for the following city offices:

• Mayor
• City treasurer
• City clerk
• Alderman Ward 1
• Alderman Ward 2
• Alderman Ward 3
• Alderman Ward 4

• Alderman Ward 5

[Juanita Josserand, city clerk]

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