Announcements

[MARCH 26, 2001]  The residents of Elkhart do not want to just wait and see how their town will progress in the next five, 10 or 50 years. The residents prefer to shape their town’s future. They invited the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) of Western Illinois University to guide them along their journey.

Western Illinois University developed the IIRA to serve as an "ongoing source of information, research, education, and technical assistants regarding a variety of issues affecting the future well-being of rural Illinois." The institute has several divisions: The Rural Transit Assistance Center, The Small Business Assistance Center, The Rural Economic Technical Assistance Center, The Business & Industry Data/GIS Center, The Center for Competitive Government, and Mapping the Future of Your Community.

[Elkhart’s four high-priority goals center around population, K-12 education, business environment and community.]

[Mayor Eldridge expects that this MAPPING process will yield community-improving projects for the next three to five years, at least.]

Elkhart Mayor Dayle Eldridge contacted the MAPPING branch of IIRA. MAPPING stands for Management And Planning Projects Involving Nonmetropolitan Groups. Eldridge said that since becoming mayor, she has noticed a growing interest among residents to improve and expand their community.

The mayor thought of two community-improvement resources: hired planners and IIRA’s MAPPING. She did not like the idea of hiring a planner. Besides the great expense, planners come in, give suggestions and leave. Eldridge was concerned that this approach would not spur a lot of community involvement and willingness to work.

Eldridge had heard of MAPPING through her job at Healthy Communities Partnership, and she appreciated the program’s methods. MAPPING representatives facilitate town-planning sessions, but residents plan and execute their own project suggestions. Eldridge commented that the town may hire planners later for individual projects, but long after the community has already begun to work.

MAPPING "enhances local decision making processes by providing accurate information, effective forums for public dialogue and problem solving, and knowledge of innovative practices that are consistent with a community’s vision for growth and change." The whole planning process takes 12 to 16 weeks. Even after the planning is completed, MAPPING representatives still help communities by connecting them to the resources they need for their projects.

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[MAPPING process map - Click to enlarge]

Thursday, March 22, was the third of the visioning sessions. It began with a PowerPoint presentation on Elkhart, but the bulk of the meeting was brainstorming. The attendees broke into four different planning groups—one for each of the town’s four high-priority goals. Every 20 minutes, the groups rotated to a new goal. They brainstormed brand-new ideas and projects or enhanced previously suggested projects. At the end of the goal rotation, the groups were dissolved, and the entire body worked on consolidating and prioritizing projects. Different individuals volunteered to focus on specific projects.

Elkhart’s four high-priority goals are to "Increase the Population," "Maintain & Continue Developing K-12 Education," "Strengthen & Sustain the Business Environment," and "Develop & Sustain a Highly Competitive, Convenient Community."

The next session, called Action Planning, will be Thursday, April 5, from 8 a.m. to noon. Committees concerned with individual projects will plan to present their ideas at the Town Meeting. They will also decide on the time, location and format of the community meeting. During the Town Meeting, committees of resident planners will unveil their high-priority goals and project ideas to the entire community.

Mayor Eldridge expects that this MAPPING process will yield community-improving projects for the next three to five years, at least.

Although IIRA’s fee is not as great as an independent planner’s fee, there is still a cost. Mayor Eldridge would like to thank the following Logan County businesses and organizations for donating the funds to pay for Elkhart’s MAPPING project: Corn Belt Energy, Needs and Goals, Illini Bank, CCA Online, Welch’s Agri-Business, Blue Moon, Myers Rabin & Hanken Association, Gwen Rosenfeld, Elkhart Christian Church, Lincoln Christian College, Elkhart Public Library, Talk of the Town, Davis Truck Services Inc., Elkhart Grain, STS Consultants, Village of Elkhart, Elkhart Homecoming Association, and Johnson & Johnson.

If you are from a small rural town in Illinois, and are interested in learning more about MAPPING, contact Nancy Richman or Steven Kline at (309) 298-2237 or (800) 526-9943. They have served communities of 300 residents to towns with over 15,000 residents.

[Jean Ann Carnley]

[MAPPING process map - Click to enlarge]

[MARCH 24, 2001]  Nobody wants to think it can happen here. But if it does, we need to be prepared.

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[Joan Crabb]

[MARCH 22, 2001]  Thressia Usherwood reported to the local Looking for Lincoln committee on Wednesday, March 21, that there is a state meeting scheduled with the executive director on March 28. The committees will discuss the use of the new website and the need to request additional funding.

Shirley Bartelmay, chairman of the Postville volunteers, reported that Richard Schachtsiek, site manager, has involved the volunteers, and the Postville Courthouse is now open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in addition to Saturday and Sunday. It is expected that the number of visitors to the Postville site will increase when the warm weather arrives. Local residents are encouraged to visit the courthouse and learn more about Lincoln history. The Postville Cluster is also seeking signage for the courthouse and the Lincoln well across from the courthouse.

The Downtown Cluster, chairmaned by Wendy Bell, is organized to promote the downtown as a historic area, giving tourists the opportunity to walk where Lincoln walked and acting as a link between Postville Courthouse and Lincoln College. The group is looking for funding to produce a brochure listing areas to visit and tours that will be offered. Plans are being made to print Lincoln postcards and sell other souvenir items.

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The Elkhart Historic Society is making plans for a chautauqua in Elkhart on Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gillette Ransom reported that there will be bluegrass music, and Fritz Kline and other re-enactors will be there on horseback with a cavalry escort. In addition, plans are being made to have a Lincoln look-alike contest. The society will advertise for Elkhart on Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gillette Ransom reported that there will be bluegrass music, and Fritz Kline and other re-enactors will be there on horseback with a cavalry escort. In addition, plans are being made to have a Lincoln look-alike contest. The society will advertise and seek contestants to participate in the contest.

The next meeting of the Looking for Lincoln committee will be Tuesday, April 24, at 7 p.m. in the Union Planters Conference Room.

[Kathleen McCullough]

[MARCH 22, 2001]  You might think it’s the springlike weather that is driving the completion of Lincoln’s newest tower, but you would be in error in that thinking. Computer Consulting Associates owners Jim Youngquist and Curt Schleich of have awaited the arrival of this day for nearly two years now, and it couldn’t have come any sooner. "I can hardly believe the tower will finally be up," said Youngquist.

Schleich, who manages the CCAonline Internet services for Computer Consulting, realized the need for an improved means to provide better quality high-speed Internet access. Without the use of big-company equipment, area telephone lines cannot support DSL or cable modems that are used by other, larger communities. The only other option left was wireless.

CCA investigated "getting an antenna into the air using downtown buildings or current towers," says Schleich, but those choices proved to be either quality- or cost-prohibitive, or lacked a place for nearby equipment storage. It was soon recognized that a tower was the only option.

CCA found a company that has been building towers since 1949. Seims Welding of Danforth drew up the plans, and a Chicago engineer approved them. Ground core samples were taken to judge for stability capability for the 140-foot tower. In the meantime CCA gained approval from the city to erect the tower as one of several tower sites under the city’s new Telecommunications Tower Ordinance.

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The CCA tower is open to adding other antennas for other businesses. At this time the tower will sport two antennas. One will be for CCA Wireless, and another for Illinois Signal Paging is scheduled to go up later.

Schleich is excited about bringing this new technology to Lincoln. He could not say just how many users one antenna will support for the new wireless Internet service. As with their online business, he plans to "upgrade as necessary to maintain a high quality of service."

When asked about what this project has cost besides a lot of patience and planning, Schleich responds, "By the time we’re all done it will have cost between $20,000 and $25,000."

For more information about wireless technology you can log on to www.ccaonline.com. Schleich says you can also find cost and sign-up information there. So far there are about 70 sign-ups on the waiting list. The sign-ups will be notified via e-mail when service has been initialized. Then "sign-ups will be contacted in turn for site evaluation and equipment setup," he says.

[Jan Youngquist]

[MARCH 22, 2001]  Closing out the 16th annual Community Health Fair co-sponsored by Lincoln Park District and Logan County Health Department, Marcia Greenslate of the Lincoln Park District noted they had a lot of exhibitors. "I thought it was a super crowd," she said.

Winners of door prizes and sponsors of the prizes are listed below.

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[MARCH 21, 2001]  Turris Coal Mine in Elkhart received approval from the Logan County Board Tuesday night on a petition to rezone a portion of their property from agriculture to M3 to allow construction of an overland conveyor belt.

The next step for Turris is to obtain the necessary permits from state agencies to begin the construction process. According to Roger Dennison, representing Turris, it will take approximately nine months for the permits, and it will be approximately four years before the conveyor belt is in operation.

Following the 12-0 vote, with one absence, Dennison expressed his appreciation.

"I want to thank the board for their hard work and cooperation," he said.

"A lot of hours and public involvement have gone into this project which will help us expand our operations," he added.

In other action, the board appointed Gail Apel-Sasse, Roseann Coers and Ron Keller to the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau and Mike Patridge, Jim Pinney and Jim Altig to the Logan County E-911 board.

Pinney and Patridge were reappointments and Altig was appointed to the seat held by Dan Fulscher, who quit that post to take over the board's position of director.

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A report submitted to the board by Finance Committee Chairman Rod White indicated that the overall condition of the general fund is good, with receipts from fines in the circuit clerk's office up $200,000 and interest income in the treasurer's office up by $100,000.

Expense highlights showed that the cost for juveniles was three times higher than last year. In 1999 the cost was $60,000, with projected expenses of $110,000 for the year 2000. The actual 2000 expenses came in at $188,000.

According to White, these expenses are incurred to house youths who have violated the law and also for advocacy rights.

[Fuzz Werth]

[MARCH 20, 2001]  The Lincoln City Council is still waiting to take final action on an ordinance regulating bed-and-breakfast establishments in the city. Monday evening, for the second time, final adoption of the ordinance was postponed, this time because of the absence of City Attorney Jonathan Wright.

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[Joan Crabb]

[MARCH 20, 2001]  All the boarders at Camp-A-While were up by 7:30 this morning. One of the campers caught on fire. The fire is believed to have started from a burner which was not turned off.

A neighbor or passerby called the Lincoln Rural Fire Department at 7:22 to report a fire at 1777 1250^th Ave. The firefighters controlled and extinguished the flames in a short time and were able to leave the scene just after 8:30.

The owner of the fifth-wheel trailer is a Wyoming man who is in Lincoln doing construction work.

Fire Captain Dean Kukuck believes that most of the contents of the trailer are salvageable, and he estimated the damage equaled $12,000 to $14,000.

[LDN]

[MARCH 20, 2001]  Late Sunday night and early Monday morning, someone stole items from five different Lincoln vehicles.

The first vehicle was parked at a residence on the 1800 block of Pekin. A $175 radar detector was taken from the car.

In one of the Lincoln Christian College parking lots, change was stolen from an automobile.

On the 200 block of Mayfield, several items totaling $75 were stolen from a car parked at the owner’s residence: a book binder, school books, homework, a calculator, a learner's permit and some change.

The next vehicle was parked inside a garage on the 900 block of N. McLean. The owner remembers locking the garage door. A portable CD player, which is worth about $100, was taken from the vehicle.

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The last theft was from a car parked at the owner’s residence. A $50 AM/FM CD player was stolen.

There are no suspects at this time, but due to the timing of the crimes it is believed that they may be connected. If you have any information about these thefts, please contact the Lincoln Police Department at 732-2151, or Crime Stoppers at 732-3000.

[Jean Ann Carnley]

[MARCH 19, 2001]  Professionals from the health care industry and community agencies set up booths Friday and Saturday at the Lincoln Park District for the 16th annual Community Health Fair. This year’s fair focused on innovations in safety, health and fitness.

The event was divided into two days. It was set up on Friday to engage children brought in on school field trips. Through presentations and numerous visual and participatory activities the children were presented healthy living lifestyle examples.

Saturday’s fair targeted the community at large. A steady crowd on Saturday funneled through the numerous and varied booths offering literature, demonstrations, performances and informative displays on all aspects of healthy living. Marsha Dowling from the Logan County Health Department said, "We were real pleased with it. It was very successful."

The health fair offered information on every aspect of healthy living. More than 60 organizations had displays or offered health screenings. The screenings included balance assessment, blood pressure, blood sugar/diabetes, body fat measurement, bone density, child developmental, cholesterol, grip strength, height and weight, hemoglobin testing, pulmonary function and vision screening. All except the hemoglobin test were free of charge. There was a steady line for these.

Guests at the fair had opportunity to learn new and innovative approaches to wellness. There were lots of demonstrations, including massage therapy and water filtration systems. Assisted Living Alternatives had a guide dog and his owner.

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Bruce Stacy, R.Ph., from Medicap was there with a number one herbal pharmaceutical company representative. Cathy Leet from PhytoPharmica was a wealth of information, saying that more health care professionals are now open to recommending the use of herbs. Their company uses stringent methods of processing and testing to produce reliable herbal products. It is because they use such high standards that their product is reliable in quality, quantity and purity and that they are FDA licensed. When you take one of their herbal supplements, "You are getting exactly what it says, not anything else, and at the strength it says on the bottle," Leet says.

These were just a few of the many knowledgeable people on hand this year to share information.

The Community Health Fair is co-sponsored by the Lincoln Park District and the Logan County Health Department.

[Jan Youngquist]

Announcements

April 3 election notices

From the Logan County Clerk's Office

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON APRIL 3, 2001 AT THE FOLLOWING POLLING PLACES:

*Denotes polling place change

IN THE COUNTY OF LOGAN, STATE OF ILLINOIS AN ELECTION WILL BE HELD FOR:

MUNICIPAL OFFICERS: Mayor/President, Clerk, Treasurer, Alderman/Trustees of the following municipalities:

Elkhart, Broadwell, Lincoln, Mt. Pulaski, Atlanta, San Jose, Emden, Hartsburg, Latham, Middletown, and New Holland

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS: Supervisor, Clerk, Assessor/Multi-Township Assessor, Highway Commissioner, Trustees of the following townships:

Lake Fork, Laenna, Aetna, Oran, Atlanta, Mt. Pulaski, Chester, East Lincoln, Eminence, Elkhart, Broadwell, West Lincoln, Orvil, Hurlbut, Corwin, Sheridan, and Prairie Creek 

PARK DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: for the following districts:

Emden, Chestnut-Beason, Atlanta, Armington, Mt. Pulaski, Lincoln, and San Jose

LIBRARY DISTRICTS: for the following districts:

Elkhart, Barclay, Mt. Pulaski, Ayer, Lincoln, and Atlanta

EDUCATION OFFICERS: for the following districts:

Regional Board of School Trustees for Macon and Piatt; Dewitt, Livingston, McLean; Logan, Mason, Menard; Sangamon; Tazewell. School Board Members and Community College Board Trustees of the following districts: Olympia School District #16, Hartsburg-Emden School District #21, Mt. Pulaski CUSD #23, Clinton School District #15, Williamsville School District #15, Illini Central CUSD #189, Greenview School District #200, Athens School District #404, Delavan School District #703, Lincoln Grade School District #27, Chester-East Lincoln School District #61, New Holland-Middletown School District #88, West Lincoln-Broadwell District #92, Warrensburg-Latham School District #11, Illinois Central Community College #514, Lincoln Land Community College, Richland Community College #537, Heartland Community College #540

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TRUSTEES: for the following district:

Mt. Pulaski Rural Fire Department

REFERENDA: for the County of Logan and Williamsville School District #15

THE POLLS OF SAID ELECTION WILL BE OPENED AT SIX O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, AND CLOSE AT SEVEN O'CLOCK OF THAT DAY.

DATED: March 4, 2001

Sally J. Litterly
Election Authority

LOGAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS

SHALL LOGAN COUNTY BE DIVIDED INTO DISTRICTS EQUAL IN POPULATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ELECTING COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE LOGAN COUNTY BOARD COMMENCING IN THE YEAR 2002?

Yes 293 à

No 294 à

WILLIAMSVILLE COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT #15

PROPOSITION TO ISSUE $7,800,000 SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS

SHALL THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF WILLIAMSVILLE COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 15, SANGAMON, LOGAN, AND MENARD COUNTIES, ILLINOIS, BUILD AND EQUIP ADDITIONS TO AND IMPROVE THE SITES OF THE SHERMAN ELEMENTARY AND WILLIAMSVILLE JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BUILDINGS, ALTER, REPAIR, AND EQUIP ALL SCHOOL BUILDINGS OF SAID DISTRICT AND ISSUE BONDS OF SAID SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE AMOUNT OF $7,800,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING THE COSTS THEREOF?

WILLIAMSVILLE COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 15, SANGAMON, LOGAN, AND MENARD COUNTIES, ILLINOIS, HAS RECEIVED A GRANT ENTITLEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,277,703 FROM THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PURSUANT TO THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION LAW FOR THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO BE FINANCED IN PART WITH PROCEEDS OF THE BONDS.

Yes 230 à

No 231 à

ABSENTEE NOTICE

FOR CONSOLIDATED ELECTION

(April 3, 2001)

Registered voters expecting to be absent from the county on the April 3, 2001 Consolidated Election may now vote in person at the Logan County Clerk’s Office, 2^nd floor Courthouse, Room 20, Lincoln, Illinois from now until April 2, 2001.

Registered voters expecting to be absent from the county on election day or those who are permanently disabled to incapacitated, may now make application by mail to vote absentee. Applications will be received by the County Clerk until March 29, 2001. No ballots will be sent by mail after March 29, 2001 as provided by law.

Sally J. Litterly
Logan County Clerk

NOTICE

The polling place for East Lincoln #3 and East Lincoln #10 has been moved to Faith Assembly of God Church located at 1225 Nicholson Road, Lincoln, IL.

Sally J. Litterly
Logan County Clerk

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