[DEC. 27, 2001]  Logan County officeholders and employees have been playing fruit basket upset for the past month and a half, but all report being happy with their new quarters, even the two who moved a block down McLean Street. Fortunately for those seeking newly located offices, signs are plentiful.

Both Regional Superintendent of Schools George Janet and Supervisor of Assessments Rosanne Brosamer have moved from the courthouse to the Dr. John Logan Building at 122 N. McLean. Janet’s office is located in the front of the former bank building, and Brosamer’s in the rear. They share a basement kitchen and conference room, newly furnished with 10 modular tables and 24 chairs. A sign-up sheet is needed to keep track of usage; Janet reported having three meetings there during the week of Dec. 10-14.

[Regional Superintendent of Schools George Janet
in his new office.  All photos by Lynn Spellman.]

Brosamer said that at first she was reluctant to move but is glad she eventually volunteered: "I thought I would be losing space, but it is so much more convenient. We love it." She cited handy parking, especially handicapped parking right by the door, as one of the pluses. "So many of our clientele are seniors" who found it difficult to get to the courthouse office, she said.

[Jan Klockenga, Janet Dahmm and Sandy Blane in reception area of Superintendent of Schools' office.]

Another plus in the new assessments office is a separate research room where clients can find property record cards, plat maps, aerial maps, deeds and photographs of all buildings in the county. Given the address or owner of the property in question, a computer program supplies the record card number. In a few years Brosamer expects to offer an appraisal computer program also.

During tax season Brosamer will share one section of her office with an employee of Treasurer Mary Bruns. For the first time the county will offer drive-up facilities for paying taxes. The assessment office employee who normally uses this area will be in the field during tax time.

Brosamer’s office has new walls and carpeting. As in the quarters of Regional Superintendent of Schools George Janet, full-length drapes were replaced with vertical blinds and open windows at the top, giving much more light. Janet praised how well Dale Bassi, who did the work, matched the wood trim.

Air circulation for heating and air conditioning required that only partial walls separate Brosamer’s office from Janet’s. Both officials said noise does not create a problem.

"The building serves both of us well," Janet reported. "I enjoyed the courthouse, but this is a nice facility. We’re comfortable here, and it is very functional." One improvement is in wiring. Though the office has essentially the same computer setup as in the courthouse, wiring is more direct and simple. In both buildings Janet has had offices on two floors, but wiring in the courthouse had to go through the basement and back up.

A drawback of the new office is reduced storage. Janet said his courthouse safe was three times the size of the one he now has. Overall square footage is somewhat reduced as well.

The Dr. John Logan County Building is named for an Illinois state representative who, although a Democrat, was a friend of Abraham Lincoln. Logan (1788-1852) served in the General Assembly in 1839 when Logan County was created, and it is named for him. He was the father of Gen. John A. Logan, Civil War soldier and statesman. Janet reports that several people have attempted to make medical appointments with "Dr. Logan."

The departure of Janet and Brosamer enabled other occupants of the courthouse to increase their space. A major beneficiary is Darrell Sisk, Sojourn court advocate, whose former office was a partitioned area of the basement. He has moved to the first-floor space previously occupied by Robert Dorch, Janet Dahmm and others from Janet’s office.

"The difference is as day and night," Sisk said. Terming the basement a "dungeon," he said it was "haunting" to descend the stairs. "The atmosphere and environment wasn’t appropriate to the clientele I deal with," he added. "There was no privacy."

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Sisk, who moved in October, said he brought almost nothing from his former office to the new one, which has at least quadruple the space. Instead he happily furnished it with discards from other offices. "Personally, I prefer the old wood furniture," Sisk explained. "It is more authentic to a courthouse."

Circuit Clerk Carla Bender said the Sojourn office serves a dual purpose. Previously there was no private place in the courthouse for an attorney and client to confer. Now if Sisk is not dealing with a client of his own, he sometimes vacates his office for private conferences.

The Logan County Board is moving back to the original Board of Supervisors space on the first floor of the courthouse. About 1986 the probation office took over that area, and for a time the county board met in a basement room with exposed pipes and peeling yellow paint. Space was so cramped that the few visitors or officeholders who attended board meetings had to stand in the corner. More recently the board has been meeting in the first floor courtroom.

Board secretary JoAnne Marlin moved to her new first-floor office from the law library on the third floor. Though not yet completely unpacked, she is enthusiastic: "It’s great. Lots more room. My files are organized now." She also said that when the board meeting room is finished, it will be easier to cart files back and forth.

[JoAnne Marlin, county board secretary,
in her new office.]

The once and future boardroom is already being used for committee meetings. Rod White and Paul Gleason are the only members of the current board who were also members when it formerly met in that space, Marlin said.

Probation officer Dean Aielts has moved across the first floor to the area formerly occupied by Brosamer. The new probation office is larger and has all new furniture, with former furniture donated to the treasurer’s office.

Circuit Clerk Carla Bender’s office has been separated into criminal and civil divisions, with the criminal remaining in her office on the second floor. The civil division has been relocated next door to Janet’s former territory. Bender said the move has been helpful, allowing personnel more space for greater efficiency. Vault storage space is still a problem, she said, and Bender is sharing with County Clerk Sally Litterly.

The elections room, adjacent to the school superintendent before, has been moved into what was Janet’s private office within Bender’s civil division quarters. In the former elections room the juvenile probation office now has the privacy of a separate room. Noelle Tongate, juvenile probation officer, said she has at least doubled her space, making it easier to provide confidentiality. The second-floor office sports new carpet, paint and furniture.

[Noelle Tongate, juvenile probation officer,
in her new quarters.]

[Emma Knauer at a new computer work station
in the treasurer's office.]

Other offices, though still in the same place, have some new touches. The treasurer’s office has new wood-patterned vinyl flooring and new computer stations. Similarly, the county clerk’s office has new carpet and four new computer stations.

[Angie Marlin, recorder of deeds, at a new computer station in the county clerk's office.]

Books from the third-floor law library are being moved to the courthouse basement and the shelves removed to make additional space for State’s Attorney Tim Huyett. The future home of the law library has not yet been determined, according to board chairman Dick Logan, but the new library will be computer-based.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[DEC. 26, 2001]  Every year, thousands of children wake up on Christmas morning to a beautifully lit and decorated evergreen with sparkling packages spilling out from underneath. They dive under a sea of paper, finally emerging with piles of brand new toys and clothes. But every year, there are thousands of children who only dream of this joy: Children whose parents do not have the means to provide their children with more than, perhaps, a sprig of a tree and a couple hand-me-down gifts.

Sure, there are many organizations that help out. The Angel Tree is popular among churches and businesses. A tree with many children’s names and wish lists is placed in an obvious spot and people choose a child and buy him or her presents for Christmas. There are also the ever-present, red-bucketed Santas from the Salvation Army. And every grocery and department store has a bin where you can drop canned goods, new presents or teddy bears to be given to “those less fortunate than ourselves.” But Angel Trees and drop-off bins can only go so far. They can only reach so many people. Many of them have cut-offs either for the number of children or the income of the parents. Many children still do not have the Christmas a child ought to have. What about those children?

About 18 years ago, Officer Mark Coons of the Lincoln Police Department decided he needed to do something. He started a program known as COPS, “Children Ought to have PresentS.” That year, he and his three-year-old daughter went to area organizations and individuals and asked for donations. Then they took about 20 children to Wal-Mart and let them buy presents for their families and themselves. 

The program continued in approximately the same way. The volunteers and children were let into Wal-Mart an hour before the store opened and allowed to shop for presents. Then they were taken into the back to eat breakfast and wrap their presents. Santa Claus often shopped with the children and brought smiles that would brighten up any person’s day.  “The first few years were tough, but word got around… and the program’s blossomed.”

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Coons shared the story of a girl in the program during this time. She bought presents for most of her family and chose a small doll for herself. At the last minute, she took the doll back—saying she did not really need it—and chose a gift for her baby brother instead. Needless to say, the volunteers made sure she received the doll anyway.

Today, however, times have changed and the logistics make it impossible to take the children shopping. Instead, Officer Coons collects the names of children who have been passed over by other organizations and he goes and buys the gifts for parents or family members to pick up.

The money for these presents comes from different sources. Fundraisers are held each year and a portion of that money goes to COPS. Also, there are many individuals in the county who donate money specifically to this program.

To those people—and most definitely to Officer Mark Coons—many children owe tremendous thanks. We too, must recognize that these are the people who make the difference in our lives as a community. Thank you!

[Gina Sennett]

[DEC. 26, 2001]  December 29 marks the 150^th anniversary of the founding of the first YMCA in America, and you can watch how it all began on The History Channel. A documentary film titled "America's Haven; The YMCA at 150" was produced by YMCA of the USA and will air on The History Channel at 6 p.m. EST/PST on Saturday, Dec. 29.

"The Lincoln Area YMCA is proud to share this ‘living’ history book with The History Channel and the Lincoln community," said Linda Marini, executive director of the Lincoln Area YMCA.

"Without the pioneering spirit of national YMCA heroes like Thomas Sullivan, who founded the first YMCA; Luther Gulick, who revolutionized physical fitness and led the way for James Naismith to invent basketball at the YMCA Training School; and Anthony Bowen, a former slave who founded the first YMCA to serve the African-American community in 1853; the Lincoln Area YMCA might not exist," said Marini.

Tune in to "American's Haven; the YMCA at 150" to see firsthand how YMCAs influenced America and how many heroic Americans have strong ties to the YMCA movement. The hour-long documentary features interviews with former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley and former congressman, U.N. ambassador and mayor of Atlanta Andrew Young — both longtime YMCA members.

It also details the YMCA’s transformation from an evangelical group of young, urban, Protestant men to a broad-based secular, community organization led, staffed by and serving men, women, and children across all religious and social lines.

The documentary also celebrates YMCA legacies, including pioneering mass swimming instruction, teaching English as a second language, service in World War I trenches and World War II POW and Japanese-American detention camps, and the arrival in 1978 of a certain song that spreads the Y’s story still farther around the globe.

YMCAs have served in every one of the nation’s struggles since the American Civil War and have received a Nobel Peace Prize as well as a subsequent nomination. Their everyday programs range from infant-parent water orientation to physical rehabilitation, minority mentoring, youth-in-government, job-skills training, and anti-drug and gang intervention.

The Lincoln Area YMCA leads the Lincoln community in before- and after-school programs, summer camp, spring and fall soccer, girls’ basketball, tae kwon do, and various other programs.

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"We’re delighted that The History Channel has chosen to showcase the century and a half in which YMCAs grew with the American democracy," said Ken Gladish, Ph.D., national executive director of the YMCA of the USA. "It’s a vivid portrayal of how YMCAs have influenced American history, as well as a preview of our plans to move forward into a new century, building strong kids, strong families and strong communities."

YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for America’s 2,434 YMCAs.

The production of "America’s Haven: The YMCA at 150" was generously funded by a grant from the Pepsi-Cola Company, which has chosen YMCA as a charity of choice.

The Lincoln Area YMCA is in its 10th year of service to the Lincoln community.  The organization has placed approximately 1,800 children in over 30 various programs. The Lincoln Area YMCA offers financial assistance, a referral program and also works with various state subsidy programs to help ensure that anyone can be a part of the Y family.

The mission of the Lincoln Area YMCA is "To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all."

The Lincoln Area YMCA offers a variety of programs for all ages: before- and after-school programs, summer camp, spring and fall soccer, girls basketball, swim lessons, tumbling, cheerleading, home school PE, home school arts, boxing, NYPUM (National Youth Program Using Minibikes), tae kwon do, aerobic kickboxing, youth and adult art program, mentoring, Counselors In Training, Y Leaders Club, adventure camps, and much more. They are always adding new programs to better serve the Lincoln community.

Now reaching more than 78 million Nielsen subscribers, The History Channel reveals the power and passion of history as an inviting place where people experience history personally and connect their own lives to the great lives and events of the past. The History Channel is the only place "Where the Past Comes Alive." The History Channel received the prestigious Governor’s Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the network’s "Save Our History" campaign dedicated to historic preservation. The History Channel website is located at www.HistoryChannel.com

[YMCA news release]

[DEC. 24, 2001]  Neither the victims nor the heroes of September 11, 2001, were forgotten at the ninth annual Christmas banquet and awards night sponsored by the Logan County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA), Logan County E-911 Board and the county Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

Many of the individuals and organizations attending the December 16 banquet were members of Logan County Fire, Rescue and Police departments and took part in the services held outside the courthouse on Sept. 14, in the fundraising drive for families of New York City rescue workers who died in the World Trade Center tragedy and in the candlelight ceremony that saw the unveiling of the $32,540 check for the rescue workers.

In honor of those groups, candles were lit on the same large candelabrum that was used in the ceremony presenting the check. One candle, the only black one amid a field of white, had remained unlit during the check presentation ceremony on October 18. At the December ceremony, ESDA director Dan Fulscher asked Rep. Jonathan Wright, speaker of the evening, to light the black candle as a sign that New York and the nation were recovering from the tragedy.

Wright, who said he was speaking not as a politician but “as a citizen who benefits from what you do,” encouraged the fire, police and rescue workers to “stay the course.”

“You represent the best,” he told the rescue workers. He especially commended the volunteers who work without pay.

“Sept. 11 brought some positives along with the tragedy. Once every kid wanted to be a firefighter or a policeman. Today kids are keyed on athletes and entertainers with big salaries. But on Sept. 11 children saw what firefighters, police officers and rescue personnel are really all about.”

Perhaps once young people will want to grow up to be firefighters, police officers and rescue personnel, he said.

Wright, who recently announced he would not run for state representative next term, said, “I decided not to run again, and it only hurt my pride. If you decide not to do what you do, the whole community suffers. Lives depend on you. Stay the course.”

Fulscher presented awards in two categories, special merit and volunteer of the year, to members of many of the organizations and individuals who were present.  Receiving awards were the following:

Lincoln Police Department, lead agency for the Logan County Terrorism Task Force; Rep. Jonathan Wright for assistance in fundraising for New York City Police, Fire and EMS disaster families; County Board President Richard Logan for leadership in the fundraising for New York City families.

Also Weather Watch Team awards, Gerald Hubrich and Debbie Craig, special merit, and Rick Kempf, volunteer of the year; Underwater Search and Recovery Team awards, Denis Bailey and Gary Knauer, volunteers of the year; Snowmobile Team and Search and Rescue awards, Gene Hickey and Lynn Buse, special merit; Lincoln Railsplitter REACT awards, Don Begolka, special merit, and Devin Vannoy, volunteer of the year.

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Also Mounted Horse Search and Rescue, Lori Schaub and Nathan Reinhardt, special merit, and Tammy Buse, volunteer of the year; Lincoln Rural Explorers awards, William Hutcheson and Adam Wessbecher, special merit.

LEPC awards went to the Logan County Health Department for the outstanding work they do to help make LEPC valuable to the community, with Lloyd Evans and Debbie Cook receiving special merit awards. Community service awards also went to Lincoln Daily News, Jan Youngquist and Joan Crabb; and Insight Communications, Tim Rogers, Jim Ash and Mike Fak, special merit.

LEPC volunteer of the year went to Lisa Funk of CILCO; ESDA volunteer of the year went to Ed Houchins and an honorary award to all New York City Fire, Police and EMS.

The Larry Schroyer Award, given in honor of the man who was the first Civil Defense director in Logan County, who set the Civil Defense unit (which has since become ESDA) on the path it is now, went to Everett Kennett and Gene Bathe.  Kennett is a former Lincoln City Fire Chief and is now a trustee of Lincoln Rural Fire Department. Bathe has been on the Hartsburg Fire Department for 38 years, served as Chief and also head of the Rescue Squad.   

Special thanks also went to those who helped with two major emergencies during 2001. On April 3, a tanker truck filled with gasohol overturned on Rt. 136 west of McLean, and Fulscher recognized the following people for their help with this incident: 

Robert and Renee Stubblefield; Chief Dave Leach of McLean Fire and Rescue; Shelly Barger of Atlanta Fire and Rescue; Chief Bucky Washam of Lincoln City Fire; Chief Bob Thomas and Dave Hurley of Lincoln Rural Fire, CILCO Dispatcher Lisa Funk; and Emergency Management Coordinator and Assistant Director Terry Storer.

Seven-year-old Austin Mollet received a special merit award for the assistance in getting help for his grandmother. On Nov. 25, he was at her home when she stopped breathing. He was able to call 911, talk to dispatcher Mark Mann and give him all the information needed to send help to the home immediately. Austin, who was at the banquet, presented Mark Mann with a special merit award for his leadership in handling the call.

Organizations represented at the awards ceremony included Armington Fire and Rescue; Atlanta Fire, Rescue and Police; Beason Fire and Rescue; Broadwell Fire; Chestnut Fire and Rescue; Cornland Fire; Elkhart Fire, Rescue and Police; Emden Fire and Rescue; Hartsburg Fire and Rescu; Latham Fire and Rescue; LEPC; Lincoln City Fire, Rescue and Police; Lincoln Rural Fire and Rescue; Logan County Government; ESDA; Logan County Paramedic Association; Logan County Auxiliary Police; Middletown Fire and Rescue; Mt. Pulaski Fire and Rescue; New Holland Fire and Rescue; San Jose Fire, Rescue and Police; and Williamsville Fire and Rescue.

[Joan Crabb]

Christmas car giveaway

[DEC. 22, 2001]  Christmas is a time for joy, love, sharing…yes, and presents.  It is a time when we look around at the world and see it is full of people:  People who are lonely, tired, or just in need of a little TLC.  But do we ever fill those needs, or do we just notice them?

Erv Guyett, owner of Collision Concepts, decided last year that he wanted to be one who fills the needs.  Last year he contacted the Department of Human Services and requested the name of one person in the area who needed a car.  The name he was given was Frank Watts, a man with congestive heart failure who needed the car to get to and from the hospital.  Guyett gave Frank and Michelle Watts a 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier that Collision Concepts had loaned to patrons without rental insurance.

And now, Guyett has done it again.  This year the Department of Human Services created an application for citizens of Logan County to fill out if they felt they needed a car.  Erv Guyett and Tony Cameron of DHS reviewed these applications and found one woman whose need stood out.  Guyett commented, “There was not another one who came close.”  That woman was Susan Cotten.

Susan Cotten is a lovely woman with two children:  A son, Corey, and a recently married daughter, Tina.  She recently started a new job and has been walking to and from work every day.  Friday morning, while at work, she received a phone call informing her that she was going to receive the car at noon that day.  Cotten remarked that she cried all morning.  Those tears were still in her eyes when, just after noon, her white 1990 Buick Century with classy maroon interior pulled out of the garage and around the corner.  The car had been fixed up by Graue Motors, who donated over $1,000 worth of new parts for it.

[to top of second column in this article]

“I know my son will appreciate it,” she said, explaining that the 13-year-old is disabled and has many medical problems.  As with Frank and Michelle Watts, Cotten will be able to use this car to get them to and from the doctor and the hospital.  The tears that had flooded her morning were still on her cheeks as she sat down in her new car and drove it home.

But the gift of the car is not the end.  Guyett said that DHS has funds available to help with licensing, title transfer and other assorted fees.  Next year, he is hoping to get other companies involved in this Christmas Car giveaway by helping with insurance, gas, oil and maintenance.

So once again, Erv Guyett has brought a season of joy to Logan County.

Merry Christmas, Susan Cotten.  Merry Christmas Corey.  And Merry Christmas to Erv Guyett and his supporters in this generous and much-needed gift. You’re a blessing to the community!

[Gina Sennett]

[DEC. 22, 2001]  Rus Kinzinger, Bloomington candidate for Illinois Senate in the 44^th District, has called for an end to legislative scholarships, which siphon as much as $5 million from our public universities at a time when tax revenues are shrinking.

Legislative scholarships are really tuition waivers. Legislators, who can award as many as eight tuition waivers annually, don’t have to budget or set aside money to fund this scholarship program. "Instead, they pass the buck to our state universities, who lose the tuition revenue of students who receive these awards and are forced to adjust their budgets downward," Kinzinger explained.

The lack of mandatory guidelines to use in determining who gets the scholarships, such as financial need or academic standing, has resulted in years of abuse. "Many scholarships have gone to sons and daughters of legislators themselves, or to relatives or friends of political insiders," Kinzinger said.

If the governor is asking state employees to give up a day’s pay to help balance the budget, then let’s be fair and ask legislators to give up this political perk, he says. Other beneficiaries of tuition waivers are members of the Illinois National Guard. They return the favor with six years of service to their country following college graduation. If the legislative scholarship program continues, Kinzinger believes it should have a similar payback program for recipients built into it.

The Chicago Tribune has called for an end to this program for years. Some legislators have taken positive steps — such as Gwen Klingler, who in January 2000 gave her tuition waivers to people in her district who were wards of the state. While this sets a good example, it does not rehabilitate a bad program.

[to top of second column in this article]

Let’s end politics as usual, says Kinzinger. Let’s end the legislative tuition waiver program and keep the much-needed $5 million in the budgets of our state universities.

"The issue is one of fairness. As your senator, I will first push to disband this program. Failing this, I will push for the establishment of mandatory guidelines that legislators must follow in making these awards," Kinzinger said.

Kinzinger challenged his opponent in the Republican primary, Bill Brady, to join him in calling for an end to legislative scholarships. "I do not know what standards Bill used in awarding legislative scholarships when he was a state representative, but he joined many others in making these available. The citizens of the 44^th District deserve to know that their tax dollars are being used wisely and fairly, not for political payoffs. I encourage Mr. Brady to join me in ending this program and removing this unfair burden on our public universities."

[Kinzinger for Senate press release]

[DEC. 21, 2001]  Tension was high at the Logan County Courthouse last night as half the town gathered for the annual Ho Ho Dough drawing. The prize was $5,000 cash. Five thousand dollars is a lot of moola!

Mothers, fathers and children of all ages clutched at little red tickets, eyeing each other with suspicion and curiosity. Is he going to take my tickets if I drop them? Is that one ticket she’s got the winner? Christmas music poured from unseen speakers, but no one really listened. There was one thought common to everyone’s mind. "Draw my ticket. Draw it now!"

[Photo by Bob Frank]

Finally the crowds were appeased. The music stopped. Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bobbi Abbott stepped to the microphone and greeted the crowd. Tension was eased a bit as she introduced Mayor Beth Davis, who wished the town a Merry Christmas. The tension was replaced with impatience as Main Street Lincoln director Wendy Bell performed the obligatory thanking of the sponsors.

Finally, it was time. The rules of this game are simple. Shop in local stores through November and December and collect tickets for every $10 you spend. Bring your tickets to the courthouse at 6 p.m. on the appointed day and collect your prize if your ticket is drawn. The big thing is you must be present to win! Winners are given two minutes to claim their prize before another number is drawn.

So at last the great wooden drum was opened, and Saint Nick himself drew the first number. The ticket came from Lincoln IGA, No. 6770032. Two minutes on the clock. The crowd was silent as they checked their tickets over and over again, praying for the right number. Two minutes came. And went.

The second number drawn came from Graue Motors, No. 101567. Two minutes on the clock. Feet shuffled as someone made his way slowly to the front. The official ticket-checkers, staff at the chamber of commerce, held their lights close to the ticket. False alarm! There was a joint sigh as everyone let out their held breaths. Voices from all over the crowd called for another number.

The third number (third time’s a charm) came from Graue Pharmacy, No. 6945886. More shuffling of tickets and feet as the cold air began to bite at fingers and toes. Then, a cheer erupted from across the street. A man and woman broke from a group standing near Hallmark and made their way up to the courthouse steps.

Then, silence. No affirmation, no denial. No declaration either of winner or of false alarm. The couple dug through a paper shopping bag containing 1,664 tickets until, at last, the winning ticket was found!

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[Photo by Bob Frank]

How in the world did one couple spend enough to get 1,664 tickets? The answer there is that they did not spend the money for those tickets, nor did those tickets belong to them. The woman was Mrs. Mahler, principal of Carroll Catholic School, and all 1,664 tickets belonged to the school.

Mahler said she put out an announcement to the parents of the school’s children asking them to donate tickets if they did not feel like standing in the cold or simply did not feel lucky. She credited the $5,000 prize to the "hard work of the people in the parish."

[From left, Bobbi Abbott, Santa Claus,
Mrs. Mahler, Wendy Bell.]
[Photo by Bob Frank]

Not expecting to win, Mahler said she had absolutely no idea what they would do with the money. She did know what to do with herself, however. After a couple short interviews and a quick photo session, she and her family went back to the school, where the seventh- and eighth-grade basketball teams were playing against Springfield St. Agnes. The seventh grade team barely lost, 46-44, bringing them down to 10-5, but the eighth-graders had more to celebrate than just the Ho Ho Dough winnings. They overcame a 17-6 deficit in the first quarter to win 47-37. The team is now 15-0.

[Photo by Bob Frank]

But the ticket drawing was not the end of the evening. As disappointed adults dispersed, excited children ran up the steps to visit Santa Claus and receive gifts of chocolate and candy bars. Plenty of sugar for all! But who was it under that red suit and bushy beard? Why, Kris Kringle, of course! After all, Logan County is blessed to have on reserve the real, one-and-only Santa. Every Christmas he is flown in (First Class, of course) from the North Pole to listen to the requests of Logan County children and to pull the winning ticket for the Ho Ho Dough drawing. Even Santa shops in Lincoln.

[Gina Sennett]

[DEC. 21, 2001]  An unexpected discovery during the site preparation for the new Central School, an old set of steam pipes insulated with asbestos, will bring a team in hazmat suits to the site Dec. 22.

While removing ball and tennis courts, the site preparation team found the concrete tunnel containing the steam pipes, according to District 27 Superintendent Robert Kidd. At some time in the past, the set of pipes carried steam to heat Central School from the boiler, which is housed in a separate building on the school grounds.

"This set of pipes had been abandoned years ago. We had no idea they were there," Kidd said.

A team of professional asbestos removers, wearing suits that allow them to handle hazardous materials, will be on-site Saturday to remove all asbestos from the old tunnel.

Kidd said that because the pipes were in a concrete tunnel and underground, they have not posed any health hazard to children or teachers at Central. He also said the district decided not to remove the asbestos until school was out and there would not be children in the area.

He said the asbestos removal will add to the cost of construction, but that cost can be covered by the contingency fund. He also said he did not think the asbestos removal would delay the construction schedule for the new building.

The last set of bids for construction of District 27’s new Central School were approved at the District 27 board meeting on Dec. 19 and will be let early in January, Kidd said. The bids will be accepted at the Feb. 13, 2002, board meeting.

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The complex set of bids will be reviewed by S.M. Wilson, the firm that is acting as construction manager for the project. "They want plenty of time to be sure the bids are all as they should be," Kidd said.

"We should see piers being drilled in the not-too-distant future," he added. "It’s fun to see the dirt flying. It’s obvious that we’re going to have a building in short order." The piers are necessary because of poor soil conditions on the new site, which faces Seventh Street. The schedule calls for the new 47,000-square-foot building to be completed by the end of November 2002.

The board also approved the tax levy for fiscal 2001 of $2,637,000. The amount of $412,277 will be added to the levy by the county clerk to repay the $4.1 million bond issue for the new Central and the new junior high school.

This year’s estimated tax rate is $3.05 per $100 equalized assessed valuation, about 5 cents lower than last year’s tax rate, Kidd said.

[Joan Crabb]

[DEC. 21, 2001]  An electrical fire provided an added "attraction" to the downtown Ho Ho Dough drawing last night. Lincoln’s newest firetruck was used to attend to the fire at Becherer’s Jewelers, 520 Broadway.

 Damages, limited to the sign and awning outside, with slight smoke inside, were estimated to be about $2,000. The business, owned by Charles Becherer, was possibly spared more extensive damage since the crowd gathered for the drawing called in the report of smoke.

[LDN]

[DEC. 20, 2001]  The long-debated increase in city sewer bills got its final stamp of approval Dec. 17 when the Lincoln City Council passed an ordinance that will put the new rates into effect as of Jan. 1, 2002.

The increase is necessary to qualify for a loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade the city’s sewage treatment plant. If the plant is not upgraded so it complies with state regulations, the IEPA can refuse to permit new hookups and will thus stop residential, commercial and industrial growth in the city.

A two-step plan will raise rates for city residents from $11 a month to $14 a month for the first 18 months, and for the few homeowners who live outside city limits but are hooked up to the sewer system, from $12 a month to $17.52 a month for the first 18 months.

After 18 months, unless the city gets grants that reduce of amount of money it must borrow to fund the $9.8 million plant upgrade, fees will go up to $16.39 a month in town and $22.31 for the out-of-town users.

City Clerk Juanita Josserand pointed out that because residential users are billed on a rotating schedule every four months, the cost of service rendered in 2001 will not be billed at the new rates. For example, a resident who gets a bill for service from November 2001 through February 2002 will be billed for $11 for the first two months and $14, the new fee, for January and February.

She said it will take seven months to reach the point where the last section of residents billed will see the total rate increase.

Commercial users are billed every two months, and they, too, will be billed under the old rate for all services in 2001. Industrial and institutional users are billed each month.

Fees for commercial, industrial and institutional users will also rise, under a complicated formula that lowers the fixed monthly charges but increases fees for actual use.

Fixed rates for commercial users inside the city limits will drop from $5.45 to $2.22 per month for those inside city limits, and from $5.95 monthly to $2.81 monthly for those outside city limits. However, other charges will increase based on usage. For example, the volume charge for commercial users in the city will go from $.86 per 100 cubic feet to $1.32 for the first 18 months, then to $1.55 per 100 cubic feet. For commercial users outside the city, volume charges will go from $.94 monthly to $1.67 monthly for the first 18 months, then to a final charge of $2.13 per 100 cubic feet. Other surcharges will also increase.

Industrial and institutional users will also see drops in fixed monthly charges and increases in charges based on usage. Environmental Management Corporation, which operates the sewage plant, recently projected the cost increases for various types of firms in the Lincoln area.

For example, increases will bring the monthly cost to a commercial user, Cracker Barrel Restaurant, from $172.65 to $304.29; for Eaton Corporation/Cutler Hammer, an industrial user, from $3,060.25 per month to $6,955.09 per month; and for Logan Correctional Center, an institutional user, from $11,550.27 per month to $26,772.74.

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In other business, the city’s streets and alleys and finance committees held the second of two combined meetings to discuss a mandatory drug and alcohol testing policy to be put into effect for streets and alleys employees who drive vehicles.

At a former meeting, the committees heard a presentation by Candy Wendt, a certified substance abuse program administrator from Mid-West Truckers Association, Inc., a drug and alcohol testing consortium.

Wendt said that because the 11 drivers in the streets and alleys department have not been in a testing program, all will have to take the tests when the policy goes into effect. Ordinarily testing is done on a random basis, with 50 percent of drivers in the consortium being tested for drugs each year and 10 percent tested for alcohol.

Most of the ordinance that the city is considering is based on federal mandates, with very little that the city can change, according to Bill Bates, city attorney. The joint committee decided that under the proposed city ordinance an employee will be required to tell his supervisor if he is taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs that could affect the outcome of the test and also voted 4-3 for a zero tolerance policy. The ordinance will be discussed at the next work session of the full council on Jan. 7.

Fire Chief Bucky Washam announced that probationary firefighter Darrin Coffey has successfully passed his one-year probation as of Dec. 1 and will receive his permanent appointment as firefighter in the Lincoln Fire Department.

Josserand announced that by entering into a three-year agreement with Independent Risk Managers, Inc., an insurance consultant firm that assesses the city’s insurance needs and finds the best coverage at the best cost, the city can get a lower yearly fee.

Cost for the service had risen to $4,200 a year, but the three-year contract brings the firm’s retainer fee down to $3,906 per year, she said.

Alderman Joe Stone asked if the city is saving enough money to offset the cost of using the management company.

Alderman Michael Montcalm replied that the firm is "making sure we are properly insured."

"I doubt if any of us here are capable of sorting out what we need," city attorney Bates added.

The council also adopted a $1,415,071 property tax levy for fiscal year 2002. This is about 3.5 percent higher than the fiscal 2001 extension of $1,376,331.

The council also approved early pay for employees before the Christmas holiday and changed the date of the December committee-of-the-whole meeting from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, prior to the regular council meeting.

[Joan Crabb]

Holiday safety tips to protect yourself and your property from crime

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.

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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]

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.

[Click here for names available now.]

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]

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.

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• LEPC hears plans for annual exercise

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

• The day after ‘Attack on America’
  Area leaders respond to national tragedy

• ESDA and LEPC conduct successful hazardous materials exercise at water treatment plant 

• 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

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/

India

http://www.dailypioneer.com/ 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/ 

http://www.timesofindia.com/ 

Israel

http://www.jpost.com/ 

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/ 

England

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/ 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/ 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

Pakistan

http://www.dawn.com/

http://frontierpost.com.pk/ 

Russia

http://english.pravda.ru/

http://www.sptimesrussia.com/ 

Saudi Arabia

http://www.arabnews.com/ 

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United States

Illinois

http://www.suntimes.com/index/ 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ 

http://www.pantagraph.com/ 

http://www.qconline.com/ 

http://www.pjstar.com/

http://www.sj-r.com/ 

http://www.herald-review.com/

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/ 

New York

http://www.nypost.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/

Stars and Stripes
(serving the U.S. military community)

http://www.estripes.com/ 

Washington, D.C.

Announcements

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