Board to vote on salary, fill vacancy, seek new bids for airport fixed-base operator [JUNE 15, 2001]  Logan County Board members will vote Tuesday evening to accept or reject the recommendation of the Insurance and Legislative Committee to increase their salaries effective December 2002.

The recommendation calls for an increase from $35 per committee meeting to $50 and from $50 to $75 for each board meeting.

At their work session June 14, board member Rod White objected to the proposal being made at this time, since current talks to divide the county into districts and to consider the size of the board haven’t been completed.

"Our current budget allows for $45,000 for board salaries and mileage reimbursement," White said. "This proposal calls for a 63 percent increase and would result in an increase in this amount to over $62,000.

"I’m not saying we shouldn’t address an increase at some point," White said, "but 63 percent is too much at one time in light of the fact that, by law, we are almost a year premature in looking at it."

Board Chairman Dick Logan, who supports the proposal, felt that it would be an incentive for anyone who might be interested in running for public office.

"There might be someone younger who is interested in running for office, and this salary increase might be a way, as a second job, for the person to help raise his or her family," Logan said.

A straw vote Thursday night indicated six members for the change and four against the measure.

Board members currently receive retirement and insurance benefits.

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In other action at the Thursday work session, Cliff Sullivan, chairman of the animal control committee, said that they had gone online to let others know, through the Internet, what animals had been found, including pictures of the animals and also of those that are available for adoption.

"There might be someone in the county or outside of the county that is looking for a lost pet or one to adopt," Sullivan said. "With this service we will be able to reach more people that ordinarily wouldn’t have the opportunity to come to the animal control office," he said.

Board members also heard from Roger Bock, chairman of the airport committee, that the county is still operating the airport.

"We had two bids for the position of fixed-base operator," Bock said. "Both bids were rejected by the committee and we plan to re-advertise for bids."

Logan reported to the board that he had received 13 applications to fill the unexpired term of Beth Davis, who resigned following her election as mayor of Lincoln.

"I have decided to interview Gloria Luster, Delmar Stewart and Tom Cash on June 19," Logan said.

He also told members that he would submit a name for approval at their June 19 meeting or at the special session scheduled for June 21.

[Fuzz Werth]

[JUNE 15, 2001]  This week the governor begins sorting through the 540 bills the General Assembly approved this spring. Among the legislation gaining support in both legislative chambers was historic coal legislation and a comprehensive pro-consumer telecommunications measure that will dramatically improve telephone service in Illinois.

The session also yielded a resolution creating an election task force, a bill with reforms of the firearm owners identification card application process and an agreement on insurance coverage of mental illnesses, according to state Sen. Bob Madigan, R-Lincoln.

The General Assembly approved a $53 billion budget directing nearly $9 billion toward education spending. The budget also allocates about $460 million of all new general revenue growth to education, which is 51 percent of the total new general revenue growth.

The budget provides almost $80 million for thousands of developmental disabilities direct-care workers to receive a $1 per hour increase in pay that is retroactive to March 1, 2001. The budget also provides $3 million to fund an additional 150 community-integrated living arrangements for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Other budget highlights include money to fully fund the Medicaid program at a 30-day payment cycle without imposing any additional rate reductions to Medicaid providers and $80 million for updated cost reports for nursing homes for the purpose of increasing Medicaid rates for certain long-term care providers.

There also is $176.7 million included in the budget to fully fund the governor’s Venture Tech I proposal that will improve the state’s medical research and treatment capabilities and foster economic development.

Both chambers also sent the governor a comprehensive telecommunications plan that benefits consumers by creating basic, flat phone rates, providing more consumer choice, and putting into place tougher service-quality standards and better access to technology statewide.

The legislation (HB 2900) provides three basic rate packages for consumers. The legislation also requires the installation of new basic services within five days of a customer order and requires companies to credit consumer bills for any period of time beyond 24 hours when basic phone service is not restored. Also, at the request of the AARP, the bill requires consumers to be notified of the new quality standards.

Other legislative action includes legislation sent to the governor that will rejuvenate the coal industry in Illinois and help meet the state’s future energy needs. The legislation (HB 1599) creates a financial assistance program that allows new energy producers and coal mines to tap into billions of dollars of bond money, provides state tax incentives for the production of coal and the building of new power plants, and sets parameters for local governments to provide property tax breaks for coal mines and new power plants.

The Senate also took action to improve the election process in the state by approving Senate Resolution 153 that creates the I-Vote Senate Task Force on integrity in voting. The I-Vote Task Force will be composed of 11 members (seven senators and four public members) who will examine various issues relating to voting procedures and elections technology and then issue a final report by April 1, 2002.

In the wake of the Feb. 5 shooting at Navistar in Melrose Park that left five people dead, the General Assembly approved legislation (SB 1065) that improves the process of applying for a FOID, as a means to prevent felons from owning firearms in Illinois. The following are some of the key components of Senate Bill 1065:

•  Allows for the use of the secretary of state’s digital photo system for FOID card applicants, requires the FOID card applicant’s signature to be displayed on the card and prohibits use of the digital images if those images are associated with fraud or erroneous data.

•  Allows for online FOID card applications when the Illinois State Police have the capability.

•  Makes giving false information on a FOID card application a Class 2 felony.

•  Modifies the current system in which felons can appeal to the director of the state police and grants that power to the Circuit Court in certain cases involving serious felons, in order to give the hearings more public scrutiny.

•  Makes it a Class 1 felony if someone transfers three or more firearms to people who do not properly display a valid FOID card and requires the surrender of firearms after a felony conviction to be done at a time and place designated by the court.

Another measure (SB 1341) provides coverage under group policies (based upon medical necessity) of up to 45 days of inpatient treatment and 35 visits for outpatient treatment per year but does not limit lifetime coverage. Mental illnesses would also be covered at same amount limits, deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance factors as physical illnesses. The legislation does not apply to businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

Under this measure, hospital and medical expenses for schizophrenia, paranoid and other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, major depressive compulsive disorders, depression in childhood and adolescence, and panic disorder would be covered.

The following bills were sent to the governor for final approval:

MTBE (HB 171) — Prohibits the sale and production of MTBE as a fuel additive in Illinois, a move which will allow for increased use of ethanol.

Value-added agriculture (SB 994) — Creates a grant program to encourage businesses to market and package Illinois agricultural products locally, adding value to the commodities and creating jobs.

Industrial hemp (HB 3377) — Authorizes a study on the feasibility and desirability of industrial hemp production in Illinois.

Brownfields (SB 75) — Expands the brownfields grant program.

Mercury (SB 683) — Requires utilities to inform landowners when they work on equipment containing mercury.

Boeing (SB 1285) — Authorizes economic incentives to the Boeing Corporation as they prepare to move their headquarters to Chicago, a move that is projected to bring 500 jobs and $4.3 billion in revenues to Illinois over the next 20 years.

McCormick Place (HB 263) — Allows expansion of the state’s premier convention and exposition center and creates a fund for statewide economic development purposes.

Abandoned babies (SB 216/HB632) — Allows parents of newborn infants to leave their baby at a safe haven (church, hospital, fire station, etc.) for purposes of adoption without repercussions.

Baby AIDS legislation (SB 1254) — Requires managed-care insurance plans to cover routine HIV testing for expectant mothers.

Child support (SB 950) — Publishes a list naming 200 child-support deadbeats who owe $5,000 or more in back support. (SB 993) — Notifies parents who are 30 days late (or more) on child-support payments that simple interest will accrue at the rate of 9 percent. (SB 661) — Allows the courts to use child-support collection incentives, such as driver’s license suspension or criminal prosecution, even after the child reaches the age of 18 years old.

Tobacco (HB 2254) — Creates a unique driver’s license format for those younger than age 19 to prevent underage purchase of tobacco.

Car seats (SB 403) — Increases the maximum fine for failing to use a child safety seat or seat belt from $25 to $50 for a first offense and from $50 to $100 for subsequent offenses. (SB 98) — Requires every person transporting passengers ages 4 to 15 to ensure passengers are in car seats or seat belts.

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Home loans (HB 2439) — Creates the Treasurer’s Home Loan Collateral Fund to help Illinois residents buy new homes or avoid foreclosure through low-interest loans.

Sweepstakes fraud (SB 797) — Protects consumers from sweepstakes fraud by requiring mailings to state clearly that no purchase is necessary, disclose all information and award the prize within 30 days.

Insurance discrimination (SB 869) — Prohibits unfair discrimination based upon race, color, religion or national origin by life, accident and health insurance policies.

Restricted call registry (HB 176) — Creates the statewide Restricted Call Registry for consumers who do not want to be called by telemarketing sales companies.

Halal food (SB 750) — Makes it a Class B misdemeanor to misrepresent food as being halal, food that is prepared under the strict compliance with laws and customs of the Islamic religion.

Tree trimming (HB 1776) — Sets standards utilities must follow when they trim trees on private property.

FOID cards (SB 1065) — Provides more oversight for the FOID card application process, tightens the FOID card felony exemption, creates a new offense for anyone falsifying a FOID card application, uses driver’s license photos to confirm identities and cracks down on repeat FOID card offenders. (HB 1942) — Sets Class 2 felony penalties for any person who forges or materially alters or counterfeits a FOID card or possesses a card that has been forged, altered or counterfeited.

Too-drunk defense (SB 265) — Eliminates the defense that persons were too intoxicated to know better when committing a crime.

Meth labs (HB 978) — Allows stiffer prison sentences on those convicted of operating an illegal drug lab if emergency response personnel are injured or killed in connection with illegal drug lab fires or explosions.

Project Exile (SB 5/HB 231) — Encourages the federal prosecution of all persons who illegally use firearms in crimes against others.

School funding (HB 3050) — Implements EFAB’s recommendations for minimum per-pupil state funding at $4,560, average daily attendance and hold harmless. Eliminates the threshold for poverty grants and maintains the continuing appropriation for school funding through the next fiscal year.

Education license plates (SB 1521) — Creates education license plates with funds benefiting scholarships for teachers. Illinois school children will design the special plates in a statewide contest.

Marine Corps scholarships (SB 267) — Creates U.S. Marine Corps license plates benefiting the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund for Illinois residents who are children of Marine Corps veterans and plan to attend an Illinois college or university.

MAP grants (SB 406) — Increases the maximum Monetary Award Program grants for undergraduate students to $4,968 for full-time students and to $2,484 for part-time students.

Veterans’ diplomas (HB 12) — Allows high schools to award diplomas to honorably discharged World War II and Korean War veterans who left school to serve during the war and never finished high school.

Quick take (SR 41) — Sets guidelines for local governments to follow when they exercise their quick-take authority.

Government land purchases (HB 3024) — Requires the state to disclose the beneficiaries of any trusts involved in the state purchase of land for airports or prisons.

Health-care grants (SB 149) — Expands health-care options to improve access in medically under-served areas through a community health center expansion program.

Nursing aides (SB 1504) — Prohibits a mental health or developmental disability facility from employing a nurse’s aide who has been found to have physically or sexually abused a patient.

STD testing for attackers (SB 1049) — Provides victims of sexual assault with information about their attackers’ HIV and STD status.

Breast cancer (HB 25) — Provides Medicaid coverage, under the Department of Public Health’s breast and cervical cancer screening program, for uninsured women under the age of 65 who have tested positive for breast or cervical cancer.

Mastectomy coverage (SB 866) — Requires all insurance companies to offer coverage for prosthetic devices and complete reconstructive surgery for patients who have had mastectomies.

Emergency contraception (SB 114) — Requires a hospital to inform a rape victim about emergency contraception or provide the medication if it is requested.

Baby AIDS legislation (SB 1254) — Requires managed-care insurance plans to cover routine HIV testing for expectant mothers.

Mental-health parity (SB 1341) — Provides the same insurance coverage for serious mental illnesses as for physical illnesses.

College-savings deduction (SB 902) — Creates a state income-tax deduction for contributions to Bright Start, the treasurer’s college savings plan on which earnings are already tax-deferred.

Tax deadbeats list (SB 60) — Publishes the names of delinquent taxpayers who owe between $1,000 and $10,000 in back taxes. Currently, only those who owe more than $10,000 are publicly named.

DUI (HB 2265) — Requires use of ignition interlock devices for restricted driving permits and increases penalties for drivers who test for double the legal BAC limit or drive under the influence with a child younger than 16 in the vehicle. (SB 660) — Increases penalties for repeat DUI offenders. (SB 64) — Increases the fine DUI offenders pay to trauma centers from $25 to $100 for a first offense and $200 for a subsequent offense. Creates an additional $5 fine to benefit spinal-cord-injury paralysis research. (SB 20) — Makes it a Class 4 felony to injure someone while driving drunk in school zones during times the 20 mph rule is in effect.

Scott’s Law (HB 180) — Requires motorists to take certain precautions when approaching a barricade or a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights. Violators face license suspension and a fine of up to $10,000.

Car keys (SB 115) — Car dealers may not issue replacement keys for a vehicle without making a copy of the person’s driver’s license and keeping it on file.

[News release]

Railroad crossing on North Kickapoo closed next week

[JUNE 14, 2001]  The railroad crossing on North Kickapoo Street, near the Dollar Store and Michelle’s Garden Shop, will be closed starting Monday, June 18, and reopen at 7 a.m. Monday, June 25. Automobile and single-axle truck traffic can detour to McLean or Hamilton streets, but tractor-trailers will be routed completely around Kickapoo Street onto Lincoln Parkway. The railroad will be installing a new concrete crossing to replace the old rubber crossing, according to Donnie Osborne, Lincoln street superintendent.

[JUNE 14, 2001]  Two more Lincoln residents have announced they are seeking the appointment to the 90th District House seat vacated by John Turner. They are George E. Davis, retiring administrator of St. Clara’s Manor, and John Guzzardo, former mayor of Lincoln and restaurant owner.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Joan Crabb]

[JUNE 14, 2001]  Developer Rodney White has withdrawn his request for a binding agreement with the city of Lincoln to improve Sherman Street in front of his proposed 16-home East Park subdivision and said he would settle for a "good-faith effort on the part of the city" instead.

[to top of second column in this article]

Increased pension contributions for firemen

[Joan Crabb]

[JUNE 13, 2001]  The Lincoln City Council has begun what promises to be an ongoing series of debates on sewer charge increases, which will be needed to pay for the $10 million loan for the upgrade of the city’s sewer plant.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Joan Crabb]

[JUNE 13, 2001]  Ann Liesman, whose stable is located just off old Route 121 north of Lincoln, is offering riding classes through the Lincoln Park District the week of June 18 to 22.

[click here for Part 1]

At Lebanon, Ill., she recently judged an open horse show, meaning that the horses were of varied breeds. She saw many nice horses and enjoyed herself. Still she described it as a grueling experience, judging 22 classes of seven to 18 horses each in five hours, moving all the time, with only one soda and no break. The ring had not been wet down, so she worked in clouds of dust.

[Annette Bates walks Hambone clockwise around the ring.]

Donna Laroux, who worked as ringmaster, reporting the results to the announcer, asked Liesman how she picked the five winners in each class so quickly. Liesman said she knows what she’s looking for and therefore can eliminate some of the horses easily. Her biggest problem, she said, occurred when a horse she had picked for a winner made a major mistake, like misbehaving or taking the wrong canter lead, and she had to look again at other horses that she had passed over.

The number of private lessons Liesman gives varies per week. For the hour-long lessons she prefers students who are at least 7 years old. Some students ride their own horses; for others Liesman provides the mount. What she teaches depends on what the individual wants to learn. For example, she must be more exacting with a student who wants to show compared to one who wants to trail ride or pleasure ride. Although the Park District course will be Western, she also works with English style. Western riders sit a trot, for example, while English riders post a trot, sitting for one beat of the two-beat diagonal gait and holding themselves above the saddle for the next beat.

[to top of second column in this article]

Nancy Sprague has been taking lessons from Liesman for about six months, trying to unlearn some bad habits. Early in the training Liesman took away the bridle, forcing Sprague to ride with just a halter and lead rope until she gained a lighter hand. Now she works on turning the horse while maintaining speed. Liesman instructs her to use her arms like levers, one pulling back to turn and the other moving forward to give the horse some room.

[Nancy Sprague checks Beau's girth strap before her lesson.]

The majority of the lesson is devoted to cuing the horse to change gaits. To cue a walk, Liesman explains, the rider moves his or her hand forward and squeezes with both legs. Squeezing a little harder and firmer with both legs signals a trot. The canter in English style or lope in Western, each a controlled gallop, is more difficult to cue. The rider must shift weight, cock the horse’s head slightly, squeeze with the outside leg and raise both knees. Temporarily Sprague uses a riding crop to tap the horse’s shoulder to start the canter.

Sprague sees positive results from Liesman’s instruction. "She saved my bacon more than once, because I could hear her voice in the back of my head when I was about to get in trouble," she said. That voice no doubt said something like what it is saying now:

"Shift your weight to cue him. You do not lean forward, ever."

"Keep your hands quiet and still."

"Beautiful! By George, I think she’s got it!"

[Lynn Spellman]

[JUNE 12, 2001]  ^"Squeeze with your knees."

"Sit down, sit back, give him a cue."

"Talk to your horse."

These are some of the directions that Ann Liesman calls out from the center of the indoor ring as she guides a student rider through her private lesson. Liesman, whose stable is located just off old Route 121 north of Lincoln, is offering riding classes through the Lincoln Park District the week of June 18 to 22.

[Annette Bates holds Hambone to clear the way for another rider.]

Of the 16 slots in the program, at least 15 are taken. Anyone who has completed first grade on up can take the series of five one-hour classes, offered at 9 and 10:30 a.m. and 1 and 2:30 p.m. to four students at a time. Cost of the classes is $75 for Lincoln residents and $80 for others. Students must wear a helmet and shoes with heels.

New students will learn to walk and trot. More advanced work is possible depending on the individual, Liesman said. She plans to use games such as Simon Says, obstacle courses and timed events to practice skills such as turning and guiding. She stresses that students absolutely must pay attention and follow directions. Otherwise, the young riders will endanger themselves.

Danny and Hawk, two of the horses to be used for the classes, belong to Liesman, while Beau and Mirage are owned by Laurie Muck and by Greg and Donna Laroux, respectively. Hawk, a recent purchase, is 12 years old; all the others are over 20. Liesman said that although it is not unusual for a horse to live past 30, most horses are no longer ridden regularly after they reach 25 to 28. However, if they are not arthritic or crippled, they can be used occasionally, especially with light riders.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Ann Liesman calls out lessons and encouragement from the center of the indoor ring.]

Although private students learn to clean and tack up their horse before riding and untack and brush afterwards, time does not permit these activities at the group classes. Annette Bates, who boards her Morgan, Hamlet (called Hambone), at the stable, stressed the importance of saddling one’s own horse. "It’s a time for the rider to get comfortable with the horse, to sense if something is wrong," she said.

Bates and Katie Muck will help Liesman get the four horses cleaned and saddled by 9 a.m. for the classes. They may also help spot the horses in the ring, but Liesman will do all the instruction.

She was trained by Charlotte Stubblefield of Atlanta, one of the premier horsewomen in the country at the time. Liesman also worked for Stubblefield for a year and has 50 years of experience as a rider. At age 3 she rode a draft-type horse by herself at Holzwarth’s Neversummer Ranch in Colorado. She said that when the horse would bend its head for a bite to eat, she would often slide down its neck and land on the ground. Then someone would put her back on, and she was ready for another trail.

(To be continued)

[Lynn Spellman]

[click here for Part 2]

[JUNE 11, 2001]  Another Logan County candidate is seeking the appointment as 90th District state representative to succeed John Turner, who resigned after being appointed a 4th District Appellate Court judge. Lois Olson, a lifelong Elkhart resident who has worked for the Illinois Department of Financial Institutions for the last 15 years, has announced that she, too, would like the appointment.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Joan Crabb]

[JUNE 9, 2001]  Thinking about a train trip this summer? If you want to leave from Lincoln, don’t plan to ride Amtrak’s 9:20 a.m. Texas Eagle to Chicago.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Joan Crabb]

[JUNE 9, 2001]  Sen. Bob Madigan has been named to a special, temporary Senate committee which is being asked to find solutions to the financial crisis facing the Teachers Retirement Insurance Program.

Madigan, who chairs the Senate Insurance and Pensions Committee, was named chairman of the special panel by Senate President James "Pate" Philip on Wednesday. Retired teachers covered by the program are facing the prospect of significant premium increases because of the plan’s financial problems.

"It will be our task to assess the financial health of the program," said Madigan, R-Lincoln. "Once we get an accurate picture of TRIP’s status, we can begin offering proposals to address the problem. Our goal should be to keep TRIP a viable, stable plan that offers affordable health-care coverage. Hopefully, we will be ready to take specific action during the fall veto session."

[to top of second column in this article]

In addition to Madigan as chairman of the Special Senate Committee on the Teachers Retirement Insurance Program, President Philip appointed Sens. Stan Weaver, R-Urbana; Tom Walsh, R-LaGrange Park; and Dave Syverson, R-Rockford to the panel. Four additional senators are to be named to the committee by the Senate minority leader. Other committee members will include representatives of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, the Illinois Education Association, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Association of School Administrators and the director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services.

The committee is directed to discuss options
for the financial future of TRIP and report its recommendations to the Senate no later than
Nov. 1.

[News release]

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