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Still Waters,
Bird’s-Eye
View, the
em space, Where They Stand,
By
the Numbers, How We Stack Up,
What’s
Up With That?
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Commentaries
posted do not necessarily represent the opinion of LDN.
Any opinions expressed are those of
the writers.
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A
Christmas wish list
By Mike
Fak
[DEC.
17, 2001] Well,
the story goes that residents and employees of the Lincoln
Developmental Center have homes and jobs until at least the
beginning of next year. Unless, of course, you are one of the
families of the additional 43 residents being moved to other
facilities. For you, LDC is forever closed. The survivors can’t
find much solace in those words, I am sure.
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The
remaining residents of this community have a special gift under
their tree this year. Perhaps I should rephrase that and say there
is a special gift hovering over our heads instead. It is a package
that says: "Don’t Open Till New Year’s." All of us,
with them, will have to wait to see what the New Year package
eventually is.
Is
the time to catch our breath for the holidays important? Of course
it is. But don’t tell me we don’t all feel like Iggy right now,
walking around with a dark cloud over our heads.
I
always have a small, modest list of gifts I ask for this time of
year. A book or two, new socks, maybe some underwear. This year my
list is even less costly than previous years. I don’t want
anything tangible. Rather I am hoping for just a few questions of
mine to be answered. Let me tell you what they are.
First,
I would like to hear thoughts on LDC from the morass of
gubernatorial candidates planning on running for governor. To date,
I have spoken to the O’Malley camp about this issue. No other
candidate, it seems, wants to come out from under the bed until this
is all over. We don’t need any of these candidates next spring. We
need them this winter.
Secondly,
I would like the derogatory write-ups about LDC that have been
sailing through the media to be inspected one by one for validity.
Case in point. We have all read ad infinitum that a resident
supposedly swallowed a game piece. We have not read that extensive
testing of the resident did not show any such token inside her body.
A trumped-up charge by a clipboard artist? Or was it a case of
building as many negative reports against LDC employees as possible.
Until someone gets to the bottom of this, I will call this the case
of the immaculate digestion.
[to top of second column in this
commentary]
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Third,
I would like to see all the advocacy groups shouting for LDC’s
closure to report on findings in other state-run institutions. I’m
curious if they will spend the time noting alleged failings in other
facilities. I would also like them all to spend a day at LDC. That
way when they fly off the handle with words like abuse and neglect
of residents I will be able to chalk their words up to intolerance
rather than ignorance.
Lastly,
I would like someone to explain how, with a hiring freeze in place,
the governor can appoint Andrea Moore, R-Libertyville, to an
executive post in the Department of Natural Resources at $96,000 per
year. The governor says the post is outside the hiring freeze
because it is deemed an essential job. I need know how such an
essential job could have been vacant for almost seven years, and now
with every state employee facing an unpaid furlough, this job needs
to be filled right now. This reeks so badly of partisan politics
that it feels almost criminal in my mind.
I
could finish my little wish list by stating that I’m not asking
for much, but maybe I am. I am asking state officials to be
fair-minded and honest and decent in their actions. Those gifts are
not very expensive, but they seem to be beyond the capacity of
Springfield to offer.
[Mike
Fak]
Reply to
Fak
(not for publication):
mikefak@msn.com
Response
to Fak’s commentary:
ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com
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  Peace
Christmas
will be different for most and very difficult for the
thousands who lost family and friends this year. There will be
children who, more than for presents under a tree, will be
wishing that they could only see their mom and dad again. No
doubt Sept. 11th and the tragic attacks on the twin towers,
the Pentagon, and the story of those who died on the plane
that fell short of its goal due to heroics by brave
passengers, will forever affect our lives. Due to these
events, our nation is at war in an effort to stop such acts
from happening again.
During
such a time as this, grief, anger, chaos, uncertainty and fear
darken the spirits of many. There is a message that continues
to be heralded with as much clarity and assurance as the first
day angels proclaimed it to shepherds abiding in the field.
"For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which
shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the
city of David,
a savior, which is Christ the Lord."
To
accompany this declaration, an angelic host appeared and sang,
"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good
will toward men." This is the heart of God for the world.
Peace, true peace through Jesus the Christ. Peace that heals
the hurting and causes wars to cease.
--Pastor
Joe Bennett |
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A
Spiritual Message from LDN and the following Sponsors: |
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Lincoln
IGA;
713 Pulaski;
732-2221 |
Coy's Car
Corner;
1909 N. Kickapoo:
732-1661 |
Harris-Hodnett
Agnc;
119 N. Sangamon; 732-4115
Gary Long, George Petro,
Barb Wibben, Sue Stewart |
American Legion
Post 263;
Lincoln, IL;
732-3743 |
Meier Acct. & Tax
Serv.;
519 Pulaski St.;
735-2030 |
Key
Printing;
1112 Keokuk;
732-9879 |
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LDC
employees not the only ones that make mistakes
Governor and new administrator mistake
employee for resident during tour
By Mike
Fak
[DEC.
10, 2001] Friday,
Gov. Ryan breezed into Lincoln for a surprise executive visit to the
beleaguered Lincoln Developmental Center. Accompanied by new
facility director Peggy Davidsmeyer, the governor, by his own
statement, visited "four or five of the buildings." George
H. Ryan is an intelligent man, so I find it hard to fathom why he
didn’t recall if it was four or five, since he had just concluded
his tour. Perhaps it was because employees blessed enough to see the
whirlwind of suit coats, ties and bodyguards go flying by believe it
could be difficult to determine what he visited at such a great rate
of speed.
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The
Courier headlines blared that Ryan was not pleased with what he saw.
According to my sources he must have reviewed it later in slow
motion. One employee of the center looked for a number on the back
of the governor, assuming he was an entrant in some marathon in
Lincoln that no one had told him about. By all accounts, the
35-minute drive from the executive office to LDC lasted longer than
the governor’s visit. By all accounts, this executive "dog
and pony show" would make the Animal Planet channel blush with
envy.
The
governor was quick to point out he saw a resident chewing on a pen.
He went on to say the resident was unattended as he snacked on the
Bic Click. It seems that "resident" actually was an
employee of the institution. Cruising by, Ryan didn’t stop to ask,
and the new director didn’t recognize the individual as a staff
member of the institution.
Actually
this error by both could be construed as a good thing for employees
of the center. In the event Ryan wants not only residents but
employees under constant supervision, LDC has a whole lot of hiring
to do in the next few months.
[to top of second column in this
commentary]
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All
the details of the visit were supplied by the governor, of course.
Davidsmeyer, who was hired to replace an ill-suited corrections
department official, has been as quiet as a church mouse through
this entire ordeal. This constant silence and lack of openly
defending her new employees asks this observer to wonder if part of
her new job description wasn’t to remain mute while all around her
was assaulted as a debacle of human consideration. The previous
administrator received a promotion for her lack of activity. One has
to wonder what has been promised to Davidsmeyer for keeping an open
ear but a closed mouth to the outlandish accusations draped on the
shoulders of LDC employees.
It
seems a shame that a few of the clipboard carriers were not present
as the governor and director made such a serious mistake as judging
an employee as a resident. I would have loved to have seen that
write-up hit the newspaper. Hey, maybe it just did.
[Mike
Fak]
Reply to
Fak
(not for publication):
mikefak@msn.com
Response
to Fak’s commentary:
ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com
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Bird’s-Eye
View
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The feel of love… upside my head
By Colin
Bird
"Love
is an exploding cigar which we willingly smoke." — Groucho
Marx
[NOV.
1, 2001] Walking
along the city streets of Lincoln, there’s nothing greater than a
man and a woman, hand in hand, alone, with only the company of warm
smiles and fast-beating hearts to surround them. Nothing greater.
Unless of course the above-mentioned man isn’t me… in
which case: I hate them. And I hope "Captain Cupid"
switches over to a pellet gun and starts chasing ’em up and down
Woodlawn for at least eight hours.
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Since
the conception of love back in the early 1950s, many men had known
no greater joy. Due to the fact that, that is when the remote
control was invented. But this resulted in the sparking of a pivotal
chain of events all of which lead back to the fact that men still
forget to buy flowers on anniversaries. What happened first was in
Webster’s Dictionary. People instantly removed the phrase
"Extreme Male Bliss" out from under the word "Super
Bowl" and over to a new word that was created by those
friendly, non-bitter ladies at the National Organization of Women.
That word was LOVE. Which, I should like to point out, stands for
"Losing One’s Vital Enjoyment." Thus expiring the chain
of events, along with those men’s ability to ever again watch
televised sports with their friends.
This
has not deterred me. I have found out through my time in Lincoln
that the relationship process here goes as follows: Man meets Woman;
Woman ignores Man; Man meets Emergency Backup Woman; Initial Woman
smacks Man upside Man’s head; Man falls in love with Initial
Woman. …It’s true. I actually know this couple. They are
extremely content now, currently living more happily than ever in
separate states.
So
I decided that road wasn’t for me. Instead, I myself have taken on
the role of Cupid, and here’s how it works. We’ll be dining out,
my date and I, at one of Lincoln’s fanciest eateries. Then
typically only a short while after I order our Happy Meals, she is
suddenly overcome with an unexpected epiphany: that there has not
been, nor will there ever be, any greater love in her life than that
of her former boyfriend or any future prospect she may have been
considering. Often prompting her to hail down a cab, right there in
the Playland, leaving me behind in a cloud of love-dust, wondering
if I spelled epiphany right.
But
now I’m faced with two problems, coinciding. The first being that
I have met someone in town that I, in the future, may consider being
left by. The second is that I’ve been repeatedly identified by
many highly paid therapists as being dense. A rare disorder, they
tell me, that only affects me when I’m thinking. Although
recently, I was more accurately diagnosed by a good friend of mine
from Springfield, Greg Hoffman, who is both my life insurance agent
and my banker (thus making him more than qualified to make fun of me
publicly), as having two forms of "Colin-itis."
[to top of second column in this
commentary]
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The
first form is "Normal Colin-itis." This variation causes
me to (even though I am, by my own admission, in no way capable,
or even willing, to maintain a relationship that involves any more
depth than that of having random discussions on the vast, ethnical
differences between the smooth and the crunchy peanut butter)
think that every time I meet someone new, an enduring love is in the
air. The second form is "Acute Colin-itis." This is when,
30 seconds after basking in the air of newfound enduring love, I
happen upon somebody new, and for whatever reason, cannot for the
life of me recall a single thing about the previous,
potential-enduring-love person. …I have issues.
This
is not something I’m proud of. In fact, at times, I can downright
loathe it. Partly because as I grow older, I find myself enjoying
less and less the prospect of potentially eating my Happy Meals
alone.
Over
the past few months I have seen an elderly couple walking Lincoln’s
city streets, holding hands, redefining love. Perhaps you’ve seen
them as well. Beautiful, aren’t they? Yes. Except I think they’ve
been hired out by my mother, who has all but threatened me at
gunpoint to get married and provide for her the World’s Record for
number of grandchildren to spoil.
I
admire that couple. I took a picture of them the other day while
they were walking together at sunrise. It reminds me that this
prospective "someone special" I’ve stumbled upon…
well, just might be worth overcoming the fear I own. The fear of
following these feelings I’ve slowly been allowing myself to
experience. Is she the one? Is Lincoln where I’ll find her? Who
knows? But one thing is certain: Captain Cupid is apparently
packing.
[Colin
Bird]
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This
is the em
space, a staff writer’s section with observations about life experiences in Logan County and
elsewhere. Enjoy your visit.
—
Mary Krallmann
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Home for Christmas — eventually
This story
about going home for Christmas is from a time before cell phones were a
part of everyday life — before people called home from planes or chatted
on the phone while shopping for groceries or gifts. The account here is
condensed from a story written for a class assignment.
 It was the
end of the first semester, and I was ready to go home for Christmas. My
last exam was done, my suitcases were packed, and it was a sunny morning.
I had a bus ticket for the long ride from southeast Nebraska to central
Illinois. The problem was that there had been a heavy snowstorm the day
before.
While some
students dug their cars out of the drifts, I tried to find out about the
bus I planned to take. It was running hours late through all the snow.
When I
learned that the bus had finally reached Grand Island, about a hundred
miles away, I went to a phone booth and called my parents to explain the
situation. I said I would get on the bus whenever it came. I couldn’t
predict when I might arrive at home, except that the time would be much
delayed.
 I carried my
suitcases from campus to the bowling alley, which doubled as a depot, and
the bus arrived sooner than I expected. We made increasingly rapid
progress as we went east, where there had been less snow.
My route
included a change of buses at Davenport, on the eastern border of Iowa,
and I had guessed that the trip might take so long that it would be
morning before we arrived there. Then I could simply wait for that day’s
run to Peoria in place of the one 24 hours earlier.
However,
with the time we had gained, I realized we would arrive at Davenport late
at night. It was actually a little out of the way for me, and I wondered
if the station there was open all night. I was uneasy about the
possibilities.
 I studied
the bus schedules and found that if I got off at Muscatine instead, I
could avoid some unnecessary miles, and there were connections to Peoria
that would work out for me the next morning. I was excited about the new
plan.
As I looked
out the window into the winter night, I watched for signs, and just before
the bus came to a stop at Muscatine, we passed a hotel. An inexpensive
room was available, leaving me with sufficient funds to buy a new ticket
for my substitute route the next day.
I hadn’t
expected to make an overnight stop, but it was convenient to have
everything I needed readily available in my suitcases. After all, I’d
packed for Christmas vacation.
Briefly I
considered calling my parents, but it was late, I was tired, and I thought
I had everything under control. They already knew that the most certain
aspect of my trip was the uncertainty of the schedule.
 When I woke
the next morning and pulled back the curtains at the hotel room window,
there was an awesome sight. The sun shining on the ice-covered Mississippi
had filled the air with a cloud of vapor. It looked like a white smoke
rising from the surface, with rays of light shining through.
After that
memorable start for the day, the morning’s journey was tiring but
uneventful. In Peoria I asked about a bus for the last leg of the trip
home. I knew there was a run once a day, and if I could catch it, that
would save my parents some driving. I was pleased to find it would work
out.
While I
waited for that bus, I went into a diner adjoining the station to have a
sandwich. I thought of calling home but remembered a story I’d heard
about someone who was discharged from the armed forces after serving
overseas. He was able to make travel connections that took him nearer and
nearer to home, so that when he phoned to ask his family to come and get
him, they were surprised at how close he was. It sounded like a good idea
to me.
 The bus
going south from Peoria was crowded, and I was glad I didn’t have to
ride for long. When we reached the highway junction where I planned to get
off, the driver didn’t stop. Soon it was clear that he had forgotten
about me. I walked forward and asked him to let me off at a restaurant not
far from the junction. Once there, I called home.
Mom said
that Dad and my brother had just come back from the highway corner. They
had gone on the chance I might be on that bus, but they saw it drive on
by.
My big
"surprise" for the family was overshadowed by their earlier
fears for my safety. Everyone had been concerned. My mother had made
numerous long-distance calls to trace my whereabouts when she learned that
the bus station in Davenport closed during the night. She was worried that
I might have been let out on the streets with no place to go. The college
couldn’t confirm that I had gotten on the bus. The Peoria bus station
paged me, but the announcement wasn’t broadcast in the diner. I
certainly should have phoned from Muscatine or Peoria or both.
Since then, I’ve tried to be
more conscientious about calling when I set  out on a trip and when I
return home. Still, there weren’t many experiences I would have traded
for the December morning when the dazzling sunshine worked its miracle on
the icy river before my eyes while no one in my world knew what had become
of me.
[Mary
Krallmann]
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Where
They Stand
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Where
They Stand is a commentary section addressing specific issues in the community. Informed individuals present their
position with facts, opinions or insights on the issue. The
material is posted unedited, in its entirety, as received. If you have further comment on the
issue, please send an e-mail message, complete with your name,
address and telephone number to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com.
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Local
teacher announces her candidacy for regional superintendent of
schools
By
Jean Anderson, candidate
[OCT.
31, 2001] My
name is Jean Anderson and I am announcing my intent to be a
Republican candidate for the office of Regional Superintendent of
Schools for Logan, Mason, and Menard counties.
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I
am a graduate of Lincoln College and Sangamon State University (now
the University of Illinois, Springfield). I have a Master’s
Degree in Educational Administration and hold the Type 75
certificate, both requirements for the position of Regional
Superintendent. I am currently employed by Lincoln Elementary
District #27 Schools as the eighth grade Language Arts teacher at
The Lincoln Junior High School, a position I have held for the past
seventeen years. I also serve that school as its Discipline and
Attendance Officer.
A
member of the First United Methodist Church of Lincoln, I was its
organist for over 22 years and currently serve on the Board of
Trustees. I am chair of the Communications and Bargaining committees
and treasurer of the Lincoln Elementary Education Organization, and
also belong to the Illinois Education Association, the National
Education Association, and the Lincoln Junior High School
Parent-Teacher Organization.
The
daughter of Lincoln residents Paul E. and the late Helen Musa
Rankin, I have resided in Lincoln and Logan County for my entire
life. My husband of thirty-two years, Mike, is a Logan County
Highway Department employee. We are parents of Jonathan Anderson,
Director of Instrumental Studies at The Victoria College, Victoria,
Texas; and James Anderson, a kindergarten teacher at Mt. Pulaski
Grade School, Mt. Pulaski, Illinois. My sister, Susan Rohrer, and
her family also reside in Lincoln.
Although
I am a political novice, I believe I would be an effective Regional
Superintendent. For one, I am a strong written and oral
communicator, due to many years of teaching and music performance. I
have a working knowledge of school law and the many issues educators
currently face. Having spent seventeen years in the classroom, I am
very much aware of the concerns felt by today's teachers. I have
received formal training in negotiations, employer/employee team
building, and conflict resolution, and have served as chief
negotiator for our district's bargaining team. Our last three
contracts have been settled amicably, without mediation or
work-stoppage. In addition, I am organized and work well both
independently and in group situations.
[to top of second column in
this
section]
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Teacher
recertification is an important new issue in the education field. I
am currently serving as a member of my district's Local Professional
Development Committee, a group responsible for overseeing and
assessing the state-required recertification requirements of our
teaching staff. I received training for this position through the
Springfield Regional Office of Education. Part of my duties as
Regional Superintendent will be to provide local training for the
teachers of Logan, Mason, and Menard counties, and assist them in
the recertification process. I also plan to work with local school
districts that want to become Providers, a designation that allows
them to bring on-site training for their staff rather than sending
them to another location for training or paying an outside group for
facilitating the process.
When
elected, my intention is to continue in the professional and
dedicated manner of our current Regional Superintendent George
Janet. Not only has his leadership been outstanding, the fact that
he is a resident of this county has been a definite advantage for
all Logan County citizens, and he has represented the Republican
party well. I believe that it is advantageous for this tradition to
continue. Therefore, I feel that my party affiliation, my residency
in this county, my strong ties with area schools and school
personnel, and my knowledge and dedication to current issues make me
a strong contender for the position of Regional Superintendent.
Sincerely,
Jean
Anderson
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By
the Numbers
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Population
estimates in Logan County
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| 30,798 |
Total population,
1990 |
| 15,380 |
Rural population -
49.9%, 1990 |
| 15,418 |
Urban population -
50.1%, 1990 |
| 2,875 |
Projected births,
1990-1998 |
| 2,736 |
Projected deaths,
1990-1998 |
| 3,143 |
Persons below poverty
level - 11.8 % |
| 258 |
Average marriages per
year |
| 135 |
Average deaths per
year |
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Alexis Asher
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| Logan
County high schools: 1960-2000 |
| 1962 |
Middletown
High School consolidated with New Holland |
| 1972 |
Atlanta
High School became part of Olympia School District |
| 1975 |
Elkhart
High School consolidated with Mount Pulaski |
| 1979 |
Latham
High School became Warrensburg-Latham |
| 1988 |
New Holland-Middletown
High School consolidated with Lincoln Community High School |
| 1989 |
San
Jose High School consolidated with Illini Central (Mason City) |
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