LDN - Where They Stand

PERSPECTIVES

Still Waters, the em space, Where They Stand, By the Numbers,
How We Stack Up, What's Up With That?,

The brighter and lighter
side of Logan County

By Mike Fak

[MARCH 13, 2001] With all the press about questionable ethics of charities, it looks like Logan County has a wonderful humanitarian organization that is not only honest and altruistic but, of course, receives little or no press coverage. Let's change that. This April 24, at a 6:30 p.m. dinner at the Lincoln Christian Church, the Lincoln/Logan Food Pantry will celebrate another year in existence.

In the event you do not know what the Lincoln/Logan Food pantry is or does, you are not alone. Comprised of 100 county residents, almost all senior citizens, the food pantry organization collects foodstuffs and passes them out on a monthly basis to the 350 families in our county judged by the state of Illinois as needing such basic assistance. This all-volunteer staff gives of their time and energy for this worthy cause and should be congratulated for continuing to serve the needs of our community. What makes this organization even more special is that the funding for this group comes from 11 countywide banks and 33 churches in our area. In their kindness they have invited me to their April gathering. I will be sure to thank all of them on behalf of all of us.

The 100^th anniversary of the Hartsburg bank should be celebrated by all residents in the county, not just those who live in Hartsburg or deal with this bank. In a day and age where even small-town banks carry the name of some national conglomerate more interested in numbers than people, it is gratifying to see that some financial dinosaurs still roam the earth. Rural America was born on the backs of small banks in small communities that understood that a person’s handshake and word carried more value than an attractive credit application and financial statement. Our county still has a few such banks among us. Let us hope Hartsburg Bank lasts another century. So few of what made us great seem to pass the test of time. I am pleased to add the Hartsburg bank to that small but special list.

[to top of second column in this commentary]

The board of directors of the Lincoln Public Library is not shy about celebrating a good thing, and that is what the board did Sunday, March 11, with a 10th anniversary get-together for the library’s director, Richard Sumrall. Richard is not only a fine leader for our library district but is totally involved in organizations and events throughout the Logan County area. In a day and age when many of us are content to gather a paycheck and go home for the day, Richard can be found everywhere in this community volunteering and assisting wherever he is needed. Although the celebration was to mark Richard’s 10 years with the library, I considered it a celebration congratulating the board on being smart enough to hire Sumrall 10 years ago. It was one of the most judicious decisions a public group has made in Logan County in decades.

Who says a politician can’t have a sense of humor. We all know about the heat put on the Logan County Board regarding the question of at-large or district voting on board seats. Proponents of districting continually bring up the anomaly that board member David Hepler lives right next door to board member Terry Werth. When I asked County Board Chairman Dick Logan if he had any thoughts on a probable replacement for board member Beth Davis’ vacancy, he answered quickly, "I guess I need to find out who lives on the other side of Terry Werth."

Another quip happened at a recent Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting. The committee was discussing a bid I had placed before them to strip the tile floors in the courthouse and to bring a little life back into their appearance. After the committee decided not to spend any money on such a project at this time, one in attendance suggested that a warrant be sworn out for my arrest. Then the sheriff could see that I do the job under a work release order for no cost at all.

[Mike Fak]

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Reflections on a mayoral race

By Mike Fak

[MARCH 7, 2001] Well, everyone, it appears that Lincoln will have a new mayor at the helm come next season. Pitching a near shutout, Beth Davis carried 20 of the 21 precincts in the city. The raw vote count was not as impressive to me as the fact that Davis drew support from all areas of the city, showing that Lincolnites had decided it was again time for a change on who swings the gavel at City Hall meetings.

The general election still is before us, but with Kenneth Scott Gray receiving little outward support from a sleeping Democratic Party, Davis seems at this time to be a prohibitive favorite to be the second female mayor in Lincoln's storied history.

The question will need to be asked if the election of Davis was a pro-Beth Davis victory or an anti-Ritter mandate. Taking nothing away from Davis nor laying any blame on Ritter, the norm in this state, as well as country, seems to show a mentality to continue to vote incumbents out of office. In a small community such as ours, an incumbent thick in the decision-making process can, with little effort, eventually sway voters in a direction away from continuing to support them. A mayor in Lincoln who makes decisions approved by 90 percent of the constituents still has caused 10 percent of the vote to be at odds with them. After four years those 10 percents can add up to a serious roadblock to being re-elected. Perhaps this is what happened to Joan Ritter, as it did to John Guzzardo, as it did to Pete Andrews.

Without judging, I believe it is safe to say that voters are becoming more and more fickle in whom they vote for. More and more, Americans displeased with the way things are, are going to vote someone out of office rather than someone into office. Is this what just occurred in Lincoln? I will let all of you tell me if that is why you voted for Davis or Mesner or Fults or Harlow rather than the incumbent.

On Mayor Ritter's behalf, I believe she stood her guns on many issues that did not win her any popularity contests. I have told her in person she was intractable on some of her positions. This noteworthy trait can be seen as a great strength by those who agreed with her but was viewed as stubborn and narrow-minded by those who disagreed. I personally did not agree with all of our mayor's decisions but never once felt that she did not believe in her heart that she was doing what was best for the community.

[to top of second column in this commentary]

I know Beth Davis to be a good person and can find no animosity in my heart to the fact she won the election fair and square. I do have a problem with Davis’ outlook on the mayoral position as well as the 1,309 of you who voted for her. The mayor of Lincoln can let department heads run their various agencies with no argument from me, but what about all the other things a mayor can do for Lincoln? Seminars, luncheons, meetings during the day when issues regarding the well-being of Lincoln are discussed will now, for the first time in 12 years, be without the mayor of Lincoln present. What will we do when a potential business comes to town for a tour and is told so-and-so will show them around because the mayor is working? For all the great things Beth will try to do for Lincoln, and I truly believe she also has our city’s best interests at heart, there are just some things that can’t be done if a person isn’t there.

Ten percent of the registered voters either decided that a part-time Beth Davis is better than a full-time Mayor Ritter or that Lincoln doesn’t need to have a full-time mayor. I disagree with 1,309 of you. Not because you voted for Beth but because you feel a mayor in Lincoln cannot find enough important things to do to fill a 40-hour workweek.

I, like Beth, have a full-time job as well as several part-time avocations. Often I find my full-time career causing my part-time aspirations to suffer. Sometimes it is the other way around, but always I have had to realize I cannot do all things to the best of my ability, because of time constraints. I will not be surprised if, after a few months in office, Beth Davis will also realize that it is impossible for mere mortals like ourselves to be in two places at the same time.

Joan Ritter will go down in history as Lincoln’s first female mayor. Perhaps Beth Davis will come to the realization it is time for Lincoln to have another first — the first full-time mayor in our city’s history.

[Mike Fak]

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the em space

Welcome to the em space, a staff writer's commentary section with observations about life experiences in Logan County and beyond. Thank you for visiting.

- Mary Krallmann

Last call for lights out

Compared with gas bills these days, the telephone bills are almost comforting. Between heating and cooling seasons there used to be times when my phone and energy bills were about the same amount. Now they're not even the same number of figures. When it takes triple digits to keep warm each month — and I don't mean 100 degrees in the shade — a mere double-digit fee for basic phone service doesn't look so bad. In fact, I can enjoy poking fun at my costs per call.

Never one to use the telephone much, I've paid mostly for the privilege of keeping the wire plugged into the wall and connected with the outside world.

This year so far there has been more phone activity than usual. A doctor changed jobs, so I had to make new arrangements for my records, and insurance changes are also in process. Last month, for example, I made five calls. Dividing the basic monthly phone rate by the number of calls, the average was about $5.

The month before, I placed four calls and conversed with one person who called me. Again, that was $5 per call.

I suppose it was worth $5 in peace of mind for my mother to know that I got back safely from a trip.

I'm not sure if making a haircut appointment was worth $5, in addition to the cost of the haircut, but calling ahead was better than repeated trips for a walk-in cut if the shop was busy.

The most unproductive call was worth $5 in entertainment value only, and only after the frustration wore off. I didn't time the session, but on tape (TTY paper, similar to cash register tape) it filled 16½ inches.

On a Saturday I'd noticed a parked car with its lights on and attempted to notify someone in a nearby building, not open to the public. First I reached a recording with options to dial an extension number, a directory for extensions, or to stay on the line for a receptionist if I was calling during regular business hours, which I wasn’t.

The communications assistant handling my call through the voice-TTY relay center had to redial for the extension directory because the initial attempt was disconnected. Next, the system didn’t recognize the name I suggested, and the whole process began to feel familiar.

I had tried to make a similar report once before and had difficulty reaching a person. I couldn't remember for sure what the solution was that time.

I found another number to try, but there was no answer even after 10 rings.

I suggested still another number and got another recording, which again caused me a problem because I wasn’t calling when anyone was in the office. (If you forget to turn off your lights, remember to do it during business hours.) I thought of a different entry to try in the directory, but the program reported, "The letters you entered don't match any names in our system." Evidently names of places weren’t included.

Then I thought of the name of someone who worked there, and the relay assistant dialed for me again (the sixth time). The call went through to another answering machine. I concluded that if I left a message and the person responded "as soon as possible," that would probably be on Monday, so I didn't bother.

With thanks and apologies to the assistant at the relay center, I discontinued my calling attempts.

I decided to try another method. As I started out walking, a light went on in my mind. I found a security person a short distance away, reported the car lights, and he followed up immediately.

Alexander Graham Bell invented a wonderful way to carry messages from place to place, but sometimes two feet work better and faster. Of course, additional unsuccessful phoning attempts would reduce my average cost per call, but I’d call it a waste of time and effort.

[Mary Krallmann]

Where They Stand

By the Numbers

Motor fuel taxes paid in August 2000

[DEC. 27, 2000] Local figures are as follows:

Logan County = $44,078.23

(Counties receive an allocation on the basis of motor vehicle registration fees, with the exception of Cook County, which has a percentage allocation set by law.)

Townships and road districts = $90,973.85

(Townships and road districts are allocated an amount computed on the basis of mileage in their jurisdiction.)

City of Lincoln = $38,003.84

(Cities receive an allocation based on population.)

[Source: Economic Development report]

Buildings in Hartsburg

128

Houses

Apartments in old schoolhouse

Churches

Bank

Community high school

Elevator for grains

Firehouse

Implement company

Legion hall/community building

Post office

Tanning and beauty shop

Town hall

Alexis Asher

Population estimates in Logan County

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

Alexis Asher

Logan County’s “Relay for Life”

Teams

600

Team members

$55,000

Total pledged

Gold sponsors

Silver sponsors

Bronze sponsors

Area merchant friends

Co-chairwomen, Kathy Blaum and
Mary Ellen Martin

Key volunteers

Assistants (volunteers)

Survivors walked first relay

788

Luminaria tile for memorials or honors

Alexis Asher

4-H in Logan County

Clubs in county

359

Youth involved

Club leaders

University of Illinois Extension office

Unit leader - John Fulton (Extension adviser)

Office workers

150

Records turned in (records now optional)

Achievement night

Key Club Award - Holly Ingram

I Dare You Award - Mary Healy

Leader of the Year - Carla Ackerman

Alexis Asher

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

1977

San Jose High School consolidated with Illini Central (Mason City)

1979

Latham High School became Warrensburg-Latham

1988

New Holland-Middletown High School consolidated with Lincoln Community High School

1994

Beason High School consolidated with Lincoln Community High School

Alexis Asher

Hartsburg Fire Protection District

Second Installment

$300

Cost of yearly training of 36 hours per year continuing education of E.M.T.

$150

Cost of yearly training of 20 hours per year of firemen

Rescue van

$12,000

Value of equipment on board rescue van

Pumper

750

Gallons of water pumper holds

Mini-pumper

250

Gallons of water mini-pumper holds

Water truck

1,500

Gallons of water the water truck holds

$30,000

Cost to run department yearly

$24,000-$25,000

Received from county taxes per year

$5,000

Raised by annual Fireman’s Day in June and donations from local citizens

Alexis Asher

Thanks to Hartsburg Fire Chief Gene Bathe

(To first installment)

Lincoln High School history

1859

Lincoln School District

School buildings in 1859

"Grammar school" in 1859

High school teacher, Mr. January, in 1859

1870-71

Central School opened

1898

High school building started

1900

High school dedicated, Jan. 5

$20,000

Cost of new high school

1920

Election authorized community high school District #404

1958

Dedication of new Lincoln Community High School, 1000 Primm Road, in auditorium, on Nov. 9

Alexis Asher

By the numbers
at the county's smallest high school

1921

First class to graduate from Hartsburg Community High School District 402

7-18-1950

First day of class at Hartsburg Emden Community High School District 21

Smallest class (1921)

Largest class (1970 & 1973)

830

Male graduates

811

Female graduates

1641

Total alumni

500

Active alumni (invitations to reunions)

240

Served in armed forces

Servicemen lost in action

70%

Percent of last three years' classes going on to higher education

Alexis Asher

Thanks to Lyndon Westen

"Buy" the numbers

212

Total residences sold in Lincoln

Total residences sold in the rest of Logan County

$18,584,829

Total price of all residences sold in Lincoln

$3,959,500

Total price of all residences sold in the rest of Logan County

$67,828

Average price of all residences sold in Lincoln

$62,849

Average price of all residences sold in the rest of Logan County

$60,250

Median price of all residences sold in Lincoln

$65,000

Median price of all residences sold in the rest of Logan County

$2,500

Lowest price of all residences sold in Lincoln

$10,000

Lowest price of all residences sold in the rest of Logan County

$242,500

Highest price of all residences sold in Lincoln

$139,000

Highest price of all residences sold in the rest of Logan County

Alexis Asher

Thanks to Logan County Board of Realtors

By the numbers with the
Hartsburg Fire Department

women volunteers

men volunteers

junior firemen

age of youngest junior fireman

age of oldest junior fireman

EMTs -- all trained to use the defibulator

trustees

$25,000

from taxes

fire runs per year

emergency calls per year

mutual aid to other departments

average house loss per year

deaths

Alexis Asher

Thanks to Hartsburg Fire Chief Gene Bathe

(To second installment)

What happened on Leap Year Day?

45 BC

Emperor Julius Caesar proclaims the last day of February as Leap Year Day, skipping it three out of four years. Back then, February 30th was the last day of the last month of the year, which is why he picked it.

4 AD

Emperor Caesar Augustus corrects a counting error in Leap Years. He also gets the month of August named after him, and steals the last day of February so that August can have 31 days, just like Julius' month. Now February has 29 days in Leap Years.

1582

Pope Gregory XIII moves the end of the year to December 31st and makes century years Leap Years if they are divisible by 400. (So 2000 is a Leap Year, but 1900 was not.) He moved the end of the year back two months so that Easter would occur in the spring.

1692

The Salem Witch Trials begin on this Leap Day when Tituba, the female Indian servant of the Rev. Samuel Parris, and one Sarah Goode were both arrested and accused of witchcraft.

1964

William S. James, who designed cars for Hupmobile, Studebaker and Ford, and who served as vice president for research and engineering with the Fram Corporation, dies on this day at age 71.

1972

Hank Aaron becomes first baseball player to sign for $200,000 a year.

1984

The following songs top the charts on this Leap Day:

"Jump" - Van Halen

"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" - Cyndi Lauper

"Thriller" - Michael Jackson

"Stay Young" - Don Williams

365.24219878

approximate days equal to one year

Computer use by adults

(Statistics from a recent study by Harris Interactive)

percent of computer users on the Internet three years ago

percent of computer users on the Internet TODAY

percent of adults use the computer at home

percent of adults used the computer at home in 1996

percent of all adults use the Internet

percent of adults access the Internet from home

percent of adults access the Internet from work

percent of adults access the Internet from a different location

Lincoln/Logan County numbers

Wards in Lincoln

Townships in Logan County

Officers in Lincoln City Police Department

Officers in Logan County Police Department

Firemen in the Lincoln City Fire Department

Rural Fire Departments in County

Members of Logan County Board

Members of Lincoln City Council

Colleges in Lincoln

44,850

Volumes in Lincoln Public Library

40,000

Volumes in Lincoln College Library

126,000

Volumes in Lincoln Christian College Library

How We Stack Up

This feature of the Lincoln Daily News compares Lincoln and Logan County to similar cities and counties on a variety of issues in a succinct manner, using charts and graphs for illustration.

Racial makeup of selected Illinois counties

What's Up With That?

When you look around, you will probably find something interesting to look at here in Logan County.For instance, sitting just north of Lincoln near I-55, this trailer-home looks a little odd up on stilts. But if you look closely, it makes perfect sense as it stands above the expanding waters of the nearby borrow-pit pond.

Innovation is alive and well here in Logan County.

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