LDN - Top Stories

Main Street director announces departure

[DEC. 17, 2001] Three-year Main Street Lincoln Director Wendy Bell has announced that she will soon be leaving the Lincoln program. She has accepted a position with the state of Illinois Main Street program as program associate.

[Wendy Bell stands with Burnetta DePuy at the rededication of the Indian Maiden statue.
Photo by Bob Frank.]

Both honored and excited about joining the program at the state level, Bell says that nationwide the Illinois program has a great reputation. They service more programs and have more budget than other states. The Illinois program has an association of 59 communities. "It provides lots of training, reviews and other support, helping them have better programs," she said.

Bell made the announcement Friday, saying she was waiting for the right time to let everyone know. Main Street activities are at a low time of the year right now; the organization is between events. Bell observed that this is a good time to make her move, as it is quieter than other times of the year when lots of community activities are taking place.

Bell leaves the Lincoln program in peak condition. Most importantly, she wants it understood by all those that she has worked with, "I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished!"

Logan County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bobbi Abbott praised Bell saying, "Wendy’s resignation leaves me with mixed emotions. Of course, I’m happy for her success and wish her well with her new career move. She’ll take her expertise to the state level, which will benefit communities throughout Illinois. On the other hand, Lincoln is losing an energetic, positive leader, and it will be a challenge to replace her. She’s a great office partner and friend, and we’ll all miss her."

She will stay in her position until Jan. 4, then take the rest of the month for her vacation. With a chuckle she explained, "I won’t really be on vacation." As is customary for this energetic leader, she will assist with the Illinois State Pagent and Talent Show for one week in Springfield.

Bell begins her new position in the downtown Springfield office on Feb. 1.

She says an interim director will probably be appointed to fill in until a permanent replacement is found. Possible candidates include Jan Schumacher, who has been served before, or Jon Steffens.

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Bell says one of the things she has appreciated most has been having "a positive working relationship with both the city and the county." Since working with Main Street Lincoln, Bell has been involved with numerous projects and programs, including lots of grant writing, that have been completed under her directorship.

Some of the highlights of her leadership have included the restoration of Scully Park, the completed mural on the back of the Neal Tire building, the restoration of the sculpture of the Indian woman sculpture and plans for a park setting around her on the Logan County Courthouse lawn. Main Street has also designed and sold the first official City of Lincoln Christmas Ornaments, "now in its third year as a collectible series." Added to collectibles for this year is a full-color tapestry pillow for holiday giving, which features an aerial view of Logan County. She has also been a strong leader in the Looking for Lincoln program and plans to remain involved with this important aspect of our community history and tourism development.

Main Street conducts many annual community activities, the most recent of which is quickly becoming a favorite Lincoln holiday tradition. ’Tis the Season and the Festival of Trees are done in partnership with Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation.

Having invested herself wholeheartedly in Lincoln, it is no surprise that she says she will remain involved with the community, particularly the Looking for Lincoln program, as much as her new job allows. Bell intends to remain living here with her sons and husband Terry.

[http://www.mainstreetlincoln.com]

Editor’s note:

Thank you for all your dedication and perseverance, Wendy. Lincoln Daily News wishes you the very best!

[Jan Youngquist]

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County moves toward
expanding enterprise zone

[DEC. 14, 2001] Last night, Tony Campbell and Gary Barnhart, representing Corn Belt Energy, gave a Power Point presentation to the full Logan County Board. Corn Belt Energy, a Rural Electrical Cooperative serving central Illinois since 1939, wishes to build a low-emission boiler system in Elkhart at the mouth of the Turris Coal Company. The plant, which will be able to burn Illinois coal within EPA guidelines, is an important first step in proving Illinois coal can be harnessed into energy in a clean and efficient manner.

The plant, with a price tag of $140 million, will use 380 to 420 thousand tons of coal per year, yielding an output of 82 megawatts — an amount of energy sufficient to meet the needs of 27,500 residences.

Corn Belt expects to employ up to 200 construction workers during the 2.5-year building phase of the operation. The finished plant will employ 25 and create an additional 20 jobs at the Turris Coal Mine.

The energy corporation is seeking inclusion in the enterprise zone to become eligible for sales tax exemption on materials, as well as other funding programs. Corn Belt has not asked for any financial concessions from the county and has estimated the completed operation will create $325,000 per year in real estate taxes. A unanimous straw vote by the board moved the request onto next week’s agenda for board consideration.

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In other matters, Roger Bock, chairman of the airport committee, recommended the board move to vote on a bid by Pemco Service Co of Sherman to install a computerized credit card system for the airport fuel pumps. The bid of $14,623.60 will make the pumps available for aircraft use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Bock stated that with Logan County Airport prices as much as 60 cents a gallon cheaper than surrounding area pumps, the ability to sell larger quantities of aviation fuel could be a strong revenue producer for the county. The move to forward the proposal to a voting session was unanimous.

In animal control, the committee has recommended that all three employees be retained for next year. They are: Dr Lester Thomson as Logan County Animal Control administrator, Shiela Farmer as animal control warden and Polly Farmer as assistant animal control warden. The report received no objections at the workshop.

The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.

[Mike Fak]

County moves toward
expanding enterprise zone

[to top of second column in this article]

The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.

[Mike Fak]

Jonathan Wright steps out
of legislative races

[DEC. 14, 2001] Jonathan Wright, current state representative for the 90^th District, has announced that he will not run for a legislative seat next term. He was appointed last summer to fill the unexpired term of John Turner of Atlanta, who accepted a seat on the Appellate Court.

Wright, R-Hartsburg, who made the decision yesterday, could have run in either the new 87^th or 100^th Districts. He told the Lincoln Daily News that he had decided not to run because, "There are conservatives representing my ideology running in both districts. I would have run if I had felt there was a need to on the issues."

Wright said that Bill Mitchell, R-Forsythe, an incumbent running in the 87^th District, and Rich Brauer, a newcomer from Petersburg, who is challenging incumbent Gwenn Klingler in the 100^th District in next spring’s primary election, represent his conservative philosophy.

Wright lives in what will become the 87^th District, but because the 100^th District in the new Democratic-drawn legislative map contains part of the current 90^th District, he is eligible to run in that district as well.

Wright said he had considered running in the new 100^th District against incumbent Klingler to give the voters a "clear choice" of political philosophy.

"I don’t think her views reflect the views of the 100^th District," he said. "I am pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-family values."

However, when Brauer announced he was running, Wright said he reconsidered because he thought he and Brauer might split the vote and give Klingler a win in the primary.

Wright also cited his young family as another reason for not running. He has three daughters, age 5, 4 and 2.

"I don’t want to sacrifice them on the altar of politics," he said.

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"I don’t bring the same perspective to political office as many others do," he added. "It’s not a career for me. I’m not looking forward to the pension. But someday, if the opportunity and the need for public service presents itself, I would run again."

After December of next year, when his current term expires, Lincoln and Logan County will be without a representative in the Statehouse for the first time in many years.

Wright will continue to represent the 90^th District until the end of his term, continue to live in Hartsburg for the foreseeable future and continue his law practice in Lincoln.

Asked if there was anything he would like to accomplish while still in the state legislature, he said, "I would like to think we could bring fiscal responsibility back to the state of Illinois, because I think that’s the most pressing issue we face. We are in the situation we are now because we have been irresponsible in the past."

Some of his constituents were sorry he had decided not to run, he said. "I’ve already had some people express some disappointment and I’m humbled by that, but I think I’ve made the right decision."

He also said he wanted the public to know that the fund-raiser scheduled for Dec. 14 at the Lincoln Recreation Center has been canceled.

[Joan Crabb]

Wright announces his election decision

[DEC. 14, 2001] In a fax received by Lincoln Daily News on Thursday afternoon, state Rep. Jonathan Wright announced and explained his decision about whether to run in the next election.

From Rep. Jonathan Wright

For several weeks, I have been contemplating all of my options with regard to the next election cycle. My decision is difficult. The redistricting process has divided my home county, Logan County, into two different districts — the 87^th and the 100^th. I have considered running in both districts. I have also considered my other option, to fulfill my current duties as state representative without seeking re-election. After much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to fulfill my duties as state representative of the 90^th District without seeking re-election in any representative district.

My guiding principle in making this decision is my motivation for seeking the office. The important issue is not whether I choose to run or whether I choose not to run. The important issue is why I choose a certain path. Running for election in the 87^th District would pit me against another conservative Republican. Running for election in the 100^th District would pit me against another conservative Republican in Rich Brauer. Against this backdrop, I determined that running for election — the time, the cost, the sacrifice — is only justified if the need is present. Elected positions must never become careers or avenues to pursue personal ambitions. Elected positions are about public service. Therefore, I am choosing to decline the many kind requests to pursue the election. I am continually honored and humbled by the office I hold and consider it a great honor to carry out those responsibilities.

Please also announce that the fund-raiser scheduled on my behalf for Friday, Dec. 14, is canceled.

[News release
from Rep. Jonathan Wright]

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Holiday safety tips to protect yourself and your property from crime

[DEC. 14, 2001] As the holiday season gets into swing, the Lincoln Police Department and Lincoln Daily News are providing you with some safety tips on protecting yourself and your property during this time of year.

There are some times of year that seem to attract more crime than others — during the warm or summer months, and then this time of year, the Christmas and New Year season. Crimes that occur during this season range from damage to property, such as Christmas lights and decorations, and residential burglaries. The Lincoln Police Department would like to give you a few safety tips to help prevent crimes that would affect you and your family.

The police receive a large number of damage reports from the community during this time — damage such as cutting lights, knocking over displays and even stealing displays from the front yard. With these crimes, it is difficult to catch the person responsible because of the short time that it takes for the crime to happen. Residents can take a few simple steps to reduce the risk of being vandalized. Residents can put decorations close to the house and when they are not being used at nighttime, remove them from the yard, or leave house lights on.

Thefts also account for a large number of police reports with the department. Thefts from your vehicle can leave you with a sense of being unsafe. These thefts can be drastically reduced by not leaving your keys in your car and by locking your doors. If you are somewhere that you cannot see your vehicle, put your holiday shopping items in your trunk and make sure that it is locked. Don’t leave items such as cell phones, purses, wallets, pocket change, or cassette tapes or compact disks lying in your vehicle. Items like these only tempt the less honest person into committing a crime against you. It is always best to lock items like that in your trunk when you get out of your car. Believe it or not, someone will break into your car for $3 in pocket change.

[to top of second column in this article]

Residential burglaries are rare but do occur in your area. These crimes leave you not only with property missing but also with a feeling of being insecure in your own home. These crimes cause victims to lose sleep and have new fears of being in the home, as well as fears of going outside of the home. To reduce the risk of being burglarized, there are several things that you can do. You should always lock your doors and windows, even the ones that you don’t think anyone could get into. Trim your bushes and trees so that they do not cover up your windows. Leave lights on inside and outside, and have a friend or neighbor look after the house while you are gone. Try to avoid leaving high-value items near windows or doors where someone could easily see the valuables from outside.

If you see something strange or out of place in your neighborhood, call the police. The Lincoln Police Department is there for you and wants to help. Even if you think that something is minor and is not worth calling about, some crimes are solved or prevented by people calling and reporting something just a little odd. Please don’t hesitate to call.

There are other things that you can do to reduce crime in your neighborhood. The Lincoln Police Department offers a Neighborhood Watch program that you can start in your neighborhood. It has been shown that an active Neighborhood Watch program will reduce the risk of crime in your area.

If you have questions about any of the safety tips suggested or would like to become a member of the Neighborhood Watch program, please contact the community policing division of the Lincoln Police Department at 732-2151.

If you wish to report a suspect in a crime, you can call the Lincoln Police Department at 732-2151 or call the Lincoln/Logan Crime Stoppers at 732-3000.

[Tim Butterfield, community policing officer,
Lincoln Police Department]

Fuel spills in accident near Lawndale

[DEC. 13, 2001] A semitrailer overturned on Interstate 55 north of Lawndale yesterday afternoon. The driver was freed by rescue workers and transported to ALMH, where he underwent treatment. It is said that he will be all right.

Nearly 40 gallons of diesel leaked from the fuel tank and ran into the ditch, where some of it made its way into Kickapoo Creek.

Kathy Waldo of the Logan County Health Department was on site to examine nearby wells for possible contamination.

An original alert warned that a boil order might be issued. The official word finally came that there was no need to boil water. According to Terry Storer of the Logan County ESDA, "There was limited migration of the fuel to the Kickapoo Creek."

The Illinois EPA is meeting today with the contractor to discuss plans for cleanup of the spill.

[LDN]

Will bring jobs to Logan County

Elkhart energy plant wants
in enterprise zone

[DEC. 12, 2001] Corn Belt Energy Corporation, a Bloomington-based energy cooperative, is asking the city of Lincoln to extend its enterprise zone to the company’s planned new power generation plant in Elkhart.

The $140 million coal-powered plant, expected to be up and running by 2004, will bring construction jobs to the area, as well as 45 permanent jobs when the plant is finished, Corn Belt Energy officials told the Lincoln City Council Tuesday.

"This is good news," Phil Mahler, Logan County planning commissioner, told the council. "This company is going to hire a lot of people in this county."

Mahler also pointed out that two of the company’s executives giving the presentation, Dave Hawkinson and Tony Campbell, live in Lincoln. Hawkinson was formerly head of the Lincoln/Logan Chamber of Commerce.

The new power plant will be built adjacent to the Turris Coal Company in Elkhart, eliminating the cost of transporting coal to the facility.

It will be a "clean plant," the first of its kind, using the newest technology to reduce emissions of undesirable gases, according to vice president Campbell. Emission-reducing features include a low-emission boiler system to reduce nitrous oxide while burning the coal and scrubbing systems for both nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide.

"This plant is supposed to prove that Illinois coal can be used in an efficient and environmentally friendly way, and we think it can do that," he said. He said many coal plants in Illinois have been using Western coal instead of Illinois coal because it has less sulfur.

The plant would operate 24 hours a day and produce enough power to serve approximately 27,300 large homes at peak usage, Campbell said.

Construction jobs over the projected 2.3 years it would take to build the plant would bring salaries of about $13.8 million to the Logan County area, and revenues from temporary housing, food and entertainment for construction workers would bring in another $2.53 million, he said.

When the plant is complete, 45 permanent jobs will be created, 25 in operations and maintenance of the plant and 20 in coal mining due to increased sales, bringing combined job-related dollars of $3.45 million into the county.

The estimated real estate taxes from the new plant would amount to about $325,000 a year, he added.

[to top of second column in this article]

"The dollars are floating out there. Attract them to Logan County and Lincoln," Campbell urged the council.

Extending the enterprise zone will give Corn Belt Energy an abatement of sales taxes on supplies purchased within the enterprise zone. The company will not ask for an abatement of real estate taxes, according to company attorney Gary Barnhart.

Corn Belt officials brought in a map showing the proposed extension of the Lincoln/Logan Enterprise Zone, which would follow Interstate 55 in a narrow strip south to Township Road 600 N. in Elkhart.

If approved, the new extension would add .827 square miles to the enterprise zone, bringing it up to about 5 square miles. This would still leave 7 square miles to go before the 12-square-mile limit is reached, Barnhart said.

Lincoln city attorney Bill Bates asked why Elkhart did not set up its own enterprise zone. Barnhart replied that to get the sales tax abatement, the company must buy materials in the enterprise zone, and Elkhart does not have suppliers who sell the materials they will need. Lincoln does have the suppliers.

Both the city of Lincoln and the Logan County Board must vote to extend the enterprise zone. The Logan County Board will see the presentation this week and vote next Tuesday. The Lincoln City Council will vote on the plan at its regular meeting Dec. 17.

[Joan Crabb]

Catch as cat can in Logan County

Is there a "cat-astrophe" in Logan County?

Are you "catpturing" the idea yet?

[DEC. 12, 2001] What’s the best way to catch a cat?

Clifford "Sonny" Sullivan, chairman of the animal control committee of the Logan County Board, thinks the best way is to set a trap.

George Mitchell, Lincoln alderman, who has been fielding complaints about stray cats lately, thinks the county ought to come out and round them up.

At the request of the Lincoln City Council, Sullivan attended a work session Dec. 11 to explain the county’s stand on picking up stray cats. The city of Lincoln contracts with Logan County for animal control services for a fee of $27,000 a year.

"Is animal control only dog control?" Mitchell asked Sullivan. "Three people called about stray cats. They said they were told by people at the shelter, "We don’t get cats.’"

"We do pick up cats," Sullivan replied. "We have traps available to every citizen of Logan County."

He explained that anyone in the county can pick up a trap for a $10 deposit, which will be returned when the trap is brought back. The county even provides the cat food to use as bait.

"I just don’t understand why you go out and pick up dogs and you won’t go out and pick up cats," Mitchell said.

"George, did you every try to catch a cat?" Sullivan asked. "I own four cats, and they stay in the house. If they don’t want to be caught in the house, they won’t be caught."

"Then why doesn’t the county come out and set the traps?" Mitchell wanted to know.

"We just don’t have the time. We have only two employees to serve the whole county. We’ll let the homeowner use the trap, and we’ll come out and pick it up when the cat is caught," Sullivan told him.

[to top of second column in this article]

"There may be people in the community who are not able to go out and set the traps," Alderman Dave Armbrust said.

Sullivan suggested these people might have friends who would set the trap for them.

He reminded the council that for the past five years, the county has kept the animal control fee for Lincoln the same. The county has an $88,000 yearly budget to pay salaries, utilities and all other expenses. "We’re trying to make do with what we’ve got," he said. "You get complaints, I get complaints."

Mayor Beth Davis said she has had complaints from people who have made five or six trips to the animal shelter to pick up their pets and found no one there. "Perhaps you need more employees," she suggested.

Sullivan said both employees have cell phones, but when there is a dog to be rounded up, both employees have to go out.

City attorney Bill Bates pointed out that the ordinance governing animal control says the agency will go out and catch cats.

"You’re not living up to part of your agreement," Mitchell told Sullivan.

"We will pick them up when they’re caught," Sullivan replied.

"The agreement says you will go out and capture them," Alderman Joe Stone said.

"I’ll talk to my committee. They meet tomorrow night," Sullivan promised.

The meeting ended with no catcalling, cat-and-mousing, or other "cat-astrophes."

[Joan Crabb]

Ryan orders 42 more residents moved from Lincoln Developmental Center

[DEC. 11, 2001] SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan today ordered the transfer of 42 residents from the Lincoln Developmental Center to other appropriate care settings because of problems at the facility that place residents in jeopardy.

Ryan also ordered the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health to continue the constant monitoring of conditions at LDC to help maintain a suitable standard of care for all remaining residents. The governor will make a final decision on the future of the Lincoln Developmental Center after the first of the year.

The governor’s latest action follows his unannounced visit to the Lincoln Developmental Center last week. After a tour of the facility, Ryan said he was unhappy with the state of care being afforded residents.

"The things I saw firsthand troubled me deeply and backed up the reports I’ve been getting from outside monitors," Ryan said. "My concern is for the health and safety of the residents at LDC, people that are entrusted in our care. My tour left me less than comfortable with conditions at the facility, and because of that, I’ve decided that we have to move out additional residents."

Some of the residents to be moved from the LDC constitute the most medically intensive cases handled at the facility. Seventeen people in need of extensive medical care will be moved to appropriate health-care facilities.

[to top of second column in this article]

The remaining 25 will be transferred to the Jacksonville Developmental Center. The transfers will begin this week. Once the moves are complete, the number of residents at the LDC will be 244, down from 372 residents in October.

As part of a reform program at the facility initiated in October, the governor ordered 90 residents to be moved to other appropriate care settings in order to improve the resident-to-staff ratio. He also changed management at the facility and placed a state and federal monitoring team in place to report on conditions and help improve care. This reform program is the latest in a succession of reform efforts at LDC that stretch back to 1988.

However, in spite of these latest efforts, federal authorities decided to withhold federal Medicaid funds from the facility in November because the health and safety of LDC residents was once again found to be in jeopardy.

[News release]

Military addresses sought

It is a year like no other. Since Sept. 11 we are a changed nation. Individually, our daily sensitivity toward whom and what we have in our lives has been heightened. We are more conscious and appreciative, first about those we love and see everyday. Next, we have a newfound appreciation for those who risk their lives every day as rescue workers and protectors of life and property in our communities. We also now think more about our military men and women who are committed to serve and protect our country. Many are away engaged in battle, some are in waiting to go, all are ready to lay their lives on the line in defense of our freedom.

Lincoln Daily News is seeking the names and addresses, including e-mail addresses, of friends and relatives who are serving in the armed forces. They need not be from here in Logan County. If you know someone serving, please send the information to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com. A complete list will be made available and kept updated through the site so we might all hold them in our thoughts, prayers and well wishes.

Name of person in military:

Branch of service:

Current location of service:

Postal address:

E-mail address:

Relationship to LDN reader sending information (optional):

[LDN]

Anxieties are high following terrorist attacks and threats

How have we prepared in
Lincoln and Logan County?

It’s on the radio, TV, in all the media. You hear it in the office, on the street and maybe at home — threats of terrorism. America is on high alert. Here in central Illinois, away from any supposed practical target areas, perhaps we feel a little less threatened, but we are still concerned. So how concerned should we be, and how prepared are we for the types of situations that could occur?

Whether the threat is domestic or foreign, violent, biological or chemical, our public health and rescue agencies have been preparing to respond to the situations. Lincoln Daily News has been at meetings where all the agencies gather together as the Logan County Emergency Planning Committee to strategize for just such a time. Our reports have not even provided every detail that every agency has reported; i.e., a number of representatives from differing agencies such as the health and fire departments, CILCO and ESDA went to a bioterrorism and hazmat (hazardous materials) seminar this past August.

Here are some of the articles that LDN has posted pre- and post-Tuesday, Sept. 11. Hopefully you will see in them that WE ARE WELL PREPARED. At least as much as any area can be. Every agency has been planning, training, submitting for grants to buy equipment long before Sept. 11. We can be thankful for all of the dedicated, insightful leaders we have in this community.

[to top of second column in this section]

LEPC hears plans for annual exercise

U.S. under terrorist attack
How is Logan County affected?

Logan County ready for action if terrorist event occurs - Part 1

Logan County ready for action if terrorist event occurs – Part 2

Clinton nuclear power plant safety measures in place

Logan County agencies meet to discuss protocol for suspicious mail

America strikes back

As promised, the United States led an attack on Afghanistan. The attack began Sunday, Oct. 7. American and British military forces made 30 hits on air defenses, military airfields and terrorist training camps, destroying aircraft and radar systems. The strike was made targeting only terrorists.

More than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East have pledged their cooperation and support the U.S. initiative.

Online news links

Other countries

Afghanistan

http://www.afghandaily.com/

http://www.myafghan.com/

http://www.afghan-web.com/aop/

China

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/

Germany

http://www.faz.com/