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Frauds
and scams hit Illinois
[AUG.
9, 2001] In
light of two major Illinois cases where investors lost millions of
dollars, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is warning people
to beware of investment frauds involving religion.
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White
and his Securities Department issued the warning highlighting two
Illinois investment fraud cases — St. Clair Industries and Greater
Ministries International Church — reaching a total of $586
million.
"Cloaking
an investment with religion can give it a false sense of
safety," said Secretary White. "Many people borrowed money
or invested their life savings based on the belief that a fellow
church member could be trusted, and instead they were sadly
deceived."
"When
you invest you shouldn’t let you guard down merely because someone
is appealing to your religion or your faith," said Secretary of
State Jesse White. "Always do your homework. Be skeptical and
careful when you invest."
Secretary
White warns that con artists who use religion to promote their scams
often:
•
Predict imminent financial or social crisis.
•
Claim they will reinvest a portion of the profits in a worthy cause.
•
Equate faith in their scam to religious faith.
The
Internet also provides a great opportunity for scam artists. Have
you ever received an e-mail saying that with an investment of a
little money you can make lots of money and help someone too?
Most
recently there has been a rash of spam (unsolicited e-mails) sent
out claiming to be from fleeing nationalists from either Nigeria or
the Ivory Coast of Africa. They claim to have escaped with cash
money and need to get it invested right away and they need your
help. With a sense of urgency, most often they request transactions
to take place within a matter of days.
The
following is an excerpt from one of several types of these e-mails
floating through Illinois in July, this one purportedly from the
victim of a military coup:
"I
was able to escape with two trunk boxes containing U.S. $15 million
dollars each which I have deposited with a self-keeping company as
jewelries for security reasons. I am writing you this letter to ask
you to assist me in investing this money in your country in a good
business. I will also like to stay in your country to monitor this
investment if you agree to help me. I know you might feel disturbed
about how I got your contact, I got it through the Chamber of
Commerce where I noted you are a renowned entrepreneur. I will give
you 20% of this money if you accept my request. I also wish to
inform you that the business should be kept top secret at all times.
Should you be interested in this transaction contact me immediately
by mail so that I will give you details of how we shall handle the
deal."
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Before
making any investment, Secretary of State Jesse White urges
investors to ask the following questions:
•
Are the seller and investment licensed and registered in Illinois?
Call the Illinois Securities Department at 1 (800) 628-7937 or visit
www.sos.state.il.us to
find out. If they are not registered, they may be operating
illegally.
•
Has the seller given you written information that fully explains the
investment? Make sure you get proper written information, such as a
prospectus or offering circular, before you buy. The documentation
should contain enough clear and accurate information to allow you or
your financial adviser to evaluate and verify the particulars of the
investment.
•
Are claims made for the investment realistic? Some things really are
too good to be true. Use common sense and get a professional,
third-party opinion when presented with investment opportunities
that seem to offer unusually high returns in comparison to other
investment options.
•
Does the investment meet your personal investment goals? Whether you
are investing for long-term growth, investment income or other
reasons, an investment should match your own investment goals.
The
secretary of state’s office will be rolling out an online
complaint form to allow victims of securities, loan broker, business
opportunity or business broker fraud to file complaints with the
Illinois Securities Department online. The target date for the
online form to be available is the middle of August.
[LDN
and news release]
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It’s
coming
Art and
balloon fest all in order
[AUG.
8, 2001] All
year we wait for that weekend when the morning and evening skies are
filled with brilliantly colored orbs and the hushed roar of propane
flames. The town takes on an excitement as crowds gather in the
parks and at the fairgrounds to peruse amazing arts skillfully
crafted or view glowing balloons as dusk gathers. Numerous other
side events make a wonderful, fun-filled weekend for everyone. With
only 16 more days before the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival
begins, the local chamber of commerce reports that all is in order.
Lots of new activities have been added to what is already a terrific
end-of-summer weekend.
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Additions
to this year’s schedule are a petting zoo, soapbox derby,
Adventure Zone (children’s activities), corporate chalets and
fireworks. With local caterers already involved in the weekend, the
chamber has contracted Lauer’s Catering from Clinton to supply
food and drinks in the corporate chalets. Two corporations have
already made reservations, with a possible third to confirm. There
is plenty of room for more. A chalet gives your business the best
view of the balloon glow while providing a unique setting conducive
to making an amiable business impression. It is great opportunity
for corporations to show appreciation to their employees or clients,
or to entice new business.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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The
chamber of commerce is still looking for an additional sponsor for
the fireworks. That event is only half sponsored at this time.
You
can contact the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce for more
information about the above activities. Ask for Connie or Pam at
(217) 735-2385.
[Click
here for a full schedule of events.]
[LDN]
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Historic
preservation, economic development goals may clash
[AUG.
7, 2001] Historic
preservation or economic development? A possible conflict between
the two goals came to the surface Monday evening when the Lincoln
City Council’s Ordinance and Zoning Committee began a discussion
of a proposed historic preservation ordinance.
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A
Casey’s General Store representative and Lincoln property owner
Larry Riva, who would like to sell his Fifth Street lot just west of
the Postville Courthouse to the Casey corporation, came to the
meeting to ask if the proposed ordinance would prevent the new
business from being built. Property owners in a historic district
who want to remodel, change or demolish a structure would need to
get permission from the historic preservation commission and would
be restricted to the changes outlined in the ordinance.
Although
no specific building or location was named in the 13-page document,
Lincoln Mayor Beth Davis has already said she would like the area
from the Postville Courthouse west to Postville Road to be
designated a historic preservation district. This would include the
property Riva wants to sell and Casey’s wants to buy.
"Can
they declare this a historic site while we are getting permission to
build?" Casey representative Diane Ahern asked.
"They
can, but the city council will have the final word," newly
appointed City Attorney William Bates answered. "There are a
whole lot of things that would have to happen before you would be
regulated by that ordinance."
He
pointed out that the time element did not favor the historic
preservation designation and that a lot of "ifs" stood
between the proposed historic district and limitations on the use of
Riva’s property.
"If
the historic preservation committee were appointed, and if it would
hold public hearings to decide that the area should be a historic
district, and if the committee voted ‘yes,’ and then if the
council accepted the committee’s recommendation, restrictions on
what could be built in the area would apply," he said.
He
emphasized that the final decision of designating a historic
preservation district or a historic landmark would be up to the
council.
The
time it will take to get the proposed ordinance passed is another
"if." The ordinance committee has just begun discussions
of the proposal and has a lot of work to do before passing it,
according to committee chairman Michael Montcalm.
For
the Casey store, the time element could be much shorter. Before any
construction can begin, Riva’s lot must be rezoned from
residential to commercial use and approved by several commissions. A
hearing is scheduled before the city’s planning commission on Aug. 16
and another before the zoning board of appeals on Aug. 20. Then the
plan for the new store must be approved by the full council.
Although
Mayor Davis said she welcomed the Casey store to Lincoln, she said
she had tried to persuade the company to choose another location.
She had hoped the city would buy Riva’s lot, which is presently
empty, and develop it as a parking area for tourists visiting the
Postville Courthouse next door.
However,
she said she would not contact either the planning commission or the
zoning board of appeals to influence their decisions.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Ahern
said the company has been looking for an appropriate location for
3½ years and that they "don’t see another site" that
would be desirable.
She
also said the company was willing to make some concessions about the
appearance of the building so it would fit into a historic
neighborhood. These would include a "subdued exterior,"
all brick and with less red than the standard Casey exterior; a
"monument" or low sign rather than the high pylon sign;
and a brick sidewalk. Riva and the Casey company would also give the
city a 30-by-35-foot area on the corner of the lot to use as an
information and welcome center for tourists.
Wendy
Bell, representing Main Street Lincoln, which drew up the proposed
ordinance based on a state of Illinois document, cited some of the
advantages it would bring to the city. She said it would help
homeowners get grants to restore historic homes and would help the
city become a tourist attraction.
She
also said that property could not be designated a landmark unless
the owners applied for landmark status.
Bates,
however, said that as he reads the ordinance at present, property
owners do not have to be the ones to petition the commission for
landmark status. "Someone else can petition to have a property
designated for the historic district," he said. One-third of
the property owners would have the ability to nominate an area a
historic district.
Bell
said that technically the commission does have the right to nominate
a site for landmark status, but the nomination still has to go
through the hearings and be approved by the council.
Bates
also noted that as the proposed ordinance currently reads, the only
appeal for permission to change or demolish a structure would be
heard by the same body that originally ruled on the issue.
The
ordinance commission will meet again to discuss the proposal at 6:15
p.m. on Aug. 14, before the scheduled work session of the council.
In
other business, the council agreed to waive bidding for the purchase
of a used leaf vacuum and to approve purchasing a 25-cubic-yard
vacuum for $15,800.
The
council also passed an ordinance allowing the fire chief to sell the
city’s 1976 pumper, which is no longer needed, at a private sale.
They
voted to table a request by Logan County for a right of way in front
of city hall to install fiber-optic cable to connect the county
buildings.
A group of citizens from
the Logan County chapter of the Coalition of Citizens with
Disabilities in Illinois attended the meeting. Spokesman Dan
Dickerson said the group supported the city’s decision to allow
handicapped people to ticket vehicles illegally parking in
handicapped spots. He noted that the law says the placard
identifying a handicapped person must be displayed prominently on
the vehicle.
[Joan
Crabb]
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Bates
appointed as new city attorney
[AUG.
7, 2001] William
C. Bates was named the new attorney for the city at the regular
Lincoln City Council meeting Aug. 6.
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Lincoln
Mayor Beth Davis described him as "thorough, prompt and an
excellent attorney." She said he had been chosen from a field
of "eight or nine" candidates who were interviewed.
Council members gave Bates a unanimous "yes" vote.
A
Lincoln native, Bates began practicing law here in May of 1979. He
served as city attorney under Mayor Peter Andrews from 1985-1989. He
also served on the board of Elementary School District 27 for 16
years, on the YMCA board and on the board of St. Clara’s Manor. He
is presently a member of the board of trustees of Lincoln College.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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His
law practice primarily involves estate planning, estate
administration, real estate and collection work. He has also done
municipal work representing the city of Atlanta.
Bates
was appointed to the $64,200-per-year position after the resignation
of Jonathan Wright as of Aug. 1. Wright was chosen to fill the
unexpired term of state Rep. John Turner after Turner was appointed
to a seat on the appeals court and has pledged to run again in the
November 2002 election.
Bates said he is looking
forward to working with the mayor and the council.
[Joan
Crabb]
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Click
here for Logan County Fair news.
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Logan
County Board sets budget review
The
Logan County Board will start its FY 2002 budget review hearings on
Friday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon. Sessions will continue
Wednesday, Aug. 22, from 8 a.m. to noon; Thursday, Aug. 23, from 1
to 4 p.m.; and Friday, Aug. 24, possibly beginning at 8:30 a.m.
When
all hearings are completed, the information will be assembled for
analysis. After that the auditors will schedule and make a
presentation to the full board.
All
meetings are in the third-floor jury room at the Logan County
Courthouse and are open to the public.
[News
release]
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Weather
warning
It’s too
hot!
During
the summer months, heat waves can occur anywhere in Illinois and
affect anyone. Young children, elderly people and people with health
problems are most likely to be affected. This is a reminder to
everyone.
-
Plan
to check on the elderly and those with health problems at least
once a day during hot weather.
-
Don’t
leave children in a parked car.
-
Make
sure you drink plenty of liquids during hot weather.
Doing
small things can make a big difference.
This
public service announcement is brought to you by Lincoln Daily
News and the Logan County Health Department.
[News
release]
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