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Features

[MAY 23, 2001]  Main Street Lincoln won three awards in Springfield on Thursday evening, May 3, at Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood’s ceremony honoring Illinois Main Street communities.

The awards received by Lincoln included Public Improvements in the Design category, given for Scully Park; Business Plan in the Economic Restructuring category, given for Sew Many Friends; and Business Expansion in the Economic Restructuring category, for Grapes and Grounds.

Attending the ceremony were Mayor Beth Davis, Main Street Lincoln Board President Jon Steffens and Program Manager Wendy Bell with her husband, Terry.

Lincoln collected more than its share of the rewards. "There are 59 Main Street communities, 43 awards were available, 200 applications came in," Bell said.

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She added, "I visit a lot of other Main Street communities, and I am always glad to come home, because we have so much here we can share with the world."

Lincoln and Logan County are in a time of apparent synergism, with historical, tourism, and new business development planning taking place on all fronts.

[LDN]

[MAY 23, 2001]  If the trees could talk in Scully Park, what a tale they would have to tell.

Violet Mary Simpson, daughter of Sir William Simpson, was educated in England and Paris, France. There she met her husband-to-be, Thomas Scully, and married in 1924. Scully, heir to a land empire, and Violet settled in the United States in 1925. Mrs. Scully was known to be a great philanthropist and gardener. Among other generous donations, she funded and planned the landscaping for the county-owned Washington Park. The park sits one block south of the courthouse square and was renamed for her upon her death in 1976.

The centerpiece of the park was a beautiful fountain in a large pool surrounded by formal flower beds. Tragically, a young teenager was accidentally electrocuted while playing in the fountain during the mid-’80s. The immediate reaction was to drain the fountain pool and fill it in with dirt. Consequently, the park became largely abandoned. "No loitering" signs were put in, the flower beds turned to weeds, and the plaque for Mrs. Scully on the fountain fell off.

In 1999, Main Street Lincoln volunteers decided to investigate the possibility of restoring the fountain. The first phase was to dig out the pool by hand and, unbelievably, the pool floor was found to be intact. The project went on Main Street Lincoln’s work plan in 2000. Funding for the $27,000 project was obtained from several sources. The Logan County Board and the Logan County Parks and Trails Foundation, which Mrs. Scully also initiated, each gave approximately 25 percent of the total. The other half came as a grant from the Woods Foundation, and an extra $100 came from Union Planters Bank’s ribbon of dollar bills when they opened their new drive-through across from the park.

Results

The most important result of this project was the spirit of cooperation and an increase in civic pride. The groups that funded the project are unrelated to each other but each was committed to the legacy of Violet Scully and saw the possibilities of the park.

Local contractors were used throughout the project. Electricity was moved and the fountain rewired at a low voltage by Fitzpatrick Electric. P & W Pool finished the interior of the pool and installed the fountain. Don Bode, a local welder, designed and built a wrought-iron fence to surround the perimeter of the pool. This, combined with all electrical apparatus being housed in a small blockhouse, should ensure there is never another tragedy to close the fountain. Bode also designed a wrought-iron gateway sign for the main entrance. Eight sturdy picnic tables were ordered from Big R Farm Supply, and not one has disappeared yet. Banners were made by a local seamstress and hung by our city street crew

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Main Street Lincoln volunteers replanted the flower beds with donated perennials, trimmed the overgrown trees and took the "no loitering" signs down. They trenched the lines for electricity and replaced and poured concrete where necessary. Four contemporary streetlights that surrounded the pool were taken down by volunteers and replaced with new historically sympathetic lighting. Four heavy-duty trash containers were also added so families picnicking had a place to dispose of their garbage. Main Street Lincoln coordinated the entire project and administered the finances.

The "new" park was dedicated Memorial Day weekend in 2000. Officials from the Logan County Parks and Trails Foundation, the Logan County Board, the Woods Foundation, city of Lincoln and Main Street Lincoln were on hand. More importantly, Violet Scully’s two sons, Michael and Peter, as well as family from England attended. Michael and Peter cut the giant violet-colored ribbon at the gateway while hundreds looked on. Afterwards, a punch-and-cookie reception was held near the fountain and the first penny was thrown in by Main Street Lincoln Board President Dale Bassi. The "wishes" from the fountain are collected when the pool is cleaned and donated to another Main Street Lincoln project, restoration of the Indian maiden statue.

Impact

The impact of the Scully Park restoration was obvious all summer long. There were people in the park day and evening, when once no one visited. A neighbor who lives in a second-story downtown apartment has adopted the flower beds as "her back yard" and is teaching the neighborhood children to care for them. Downtown employees routinely eat their lunch in the park. Parents visit with their children. In the evening, lovers young and old stroll through. With the gentle sound of water and the scent of roses, it is a romantic spot; the first wedding was held there this fall.

The Scully Park restoration is a success story because of the public-private partnership initiated for the good of the community.

[Main Street Lincoln]

[MAY 23, 2001]  Ivy Koritz and Sue Bidwell did their homework before opening the doors of "Sew Many Friends," and it shows.

Project description

Koritz and Bidwell were college roommates who maintained their friendship long after graduation. They each have unique talents but both share a love of quilting and sewing. The lack of available materials drove their desire to open a store with adequate supplies. However, with no retail experience, they took time to study all the options and learn from the experts.

Koritz and Bidwell worked with the local SBDC on their initial business plan and then had the S.C.O.R.E. chapter from Bloomington review it. They also attended a Business Start Up Seminar hosted by Main Street Lincoln and put on by the S.C.O.R.E. chapter from Springfield. This included sessions on SBA loans, marketing, bookkeeping and small-business banking, as well as more on the business plan.

Their next step was attendance at Main Street Lincoln’s Business Nexus, an event to bring prospective business owners and business resources together. During that time, Main Street held tours of available property downtown. When Koritz saw the block-glass window, the breadth of 127 S. Kickapoo and the fact that the property was located next to a needlework and framing shop, she knew she’d found their location.

The final step was to finish their business plan, then use it as a guideline in opening their business in October 2000. Ivy and Sue appropriately named their business "Sew Many Friends" to honor all of the people who had helped and inspired them in planning the new business.

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Results

Having a quilting supply store next to a needlework and framing shop has installed an arts-and-craft anchor on a corner of downtown Lincoln. Both businesses have benefited from the traffic each individual store brings.

Koritz notes that their target market area of the surrounding 60 miles is still their base, but the word is getting out and some people are coming from even out of state. This is largely due to a "Shop Hop" that Sew Many Friends was a part of. The Shop Hop features quilting supply stores throughout a region and then offers special incentives for quilters to visit all of them. Originally 400 names, their mailing list now includes 1,000 addresses.

Impact

Besides the benefit to the business next door, Sew Many Friends offers services previously unavailable to the area. Their inventory includes 650 bolts of fabric, as well as batting, threads and patterns. Lessons are available for the beginner to the experienced quilter. And for those who have no desire to learn to quilt but want to snuggle under one, Sew Many Friends has invested in a machine so they can quilt any design you’d like.

[Main Street Lincoln]

[MAY 23, 2001]  After owning Eckert’s Fine Dining for 2½ years, Jon and Jason Steffens decided to expand their business to include a fine wine and coffee shop.

 Jon Steffens said that they view Grapes and Grounds "as a natural extension of a fine restaurant." Eckert’s Fine Dining Restaurant is open two days a week, and dining is by reservation only. Grapes and Grounds is open six days a week, inviting passers-by to pause for a drink or dessert. When the weather is conducive, tables and chairs are even placed out on the sidewalk to encourage customers to relax.

The new but related business took three months to plan and execute. The Steffens brothers created a doorway between the restaurant and the adjoining shop in their building and renovated the empty storefront to prepare for Grapes and Grounds. During the three months of preparation, they also searched through distributors to acquire particular wine and coffee products.

The result of the Steffenses’ business expansion is very promising. Grapes and Grounds has increased the visibility of Eckert’s Fine Dining, which has led to an increase in the number of Lincoln diners. Prior to Grapes and Grounds, only 15 percent of Eckert’s customers were from Lincoln. Now Lincoln diners account for 30 percent of Eckert’s customers.

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Jon Steffens believes that Grapes and Grounds gives the public "one more reason to come downtown," as opposed to shopping and dining in west Lincoln or outside of Lincoln. Grapes and Grounds adds to downtown’s diversity and complements other businesses. Next door to the wine and coffee shop is a new bakery—one stop for customers on their way to work.

Besides the healthy impact on downtown Lincoln businesses, Grapes and Grounds will help the Steffens family. Jon Steffens believes that diversifying is stabilizing agent for businessmen in a small town. Business at Eckert’s Fine Dining tends to revolve around holidays. Grapes and Grounds yields steady, year-round business.

Grapes and Grounds opened just over a year ago and is doing well, so the Steffenses' business is expanding again. At the time Main Street nominations were submitted, plans for Eckert’s Bed and Breakfast were in the works. The bed and breakfast has been open for more than six months and has one of four planned thematic rooms open, the Arabian Room.

[Jean Ann Carnley]

[MAY 10, 2001]  Whether you’re a business or a community, the operative word in this day and age of rapidly changing economics is that "If you’re not growing, you’re dying." Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director Mark Smith provided some of his thoughts about "Total Community Development" in the May issue of the Chamber letter.

Take a look at these principles and think about them. How do you see Lincoln stacking up? Are you doing your part? Can you make a more concerted effort to patronize local businesses for goods and services, thereby supporting the local economy with salaries, revenue and tax dollars? Or is it simply time that you become more involved in local civic groups that enhance the quality of life for everyone in the community?

We believe that every individual is important and can contribute significantly to our community. Lincoln Daily News challenges you to really look at the list below and think about what role you can play in strengthening your community. Then write us at Lincoln Daily News or write your Chamber with your thoughts, observations and the commitments you are willing to pledge or have already made to give this community a strong future.

[Jan Youngquist]

Total Community Development

In an article titled "Principles of Total Community Development," Richard Preston states that in order for a community to be successful in its community and economic development efforts, it must exhibit a total commitment to cooperation and preparation. The article was published in the third edition of "Practicing Economic Development" (1996).

Preston provides three basic principles that demand attention. They are as follows: (a) The community must be a quality place, (b) "desirable growth" occurs when environmental quality is an integral goal of the planning process, and (c) total community development must become the standard process for all present and future decisions about economic development.

The community must constantly strive to make itself into a quality product. This involves developing and sustaining the following traits and characteristics:

1.  A proactive, positive community spirit, balancing wants and needs, and doing so in an environmentally pleasing way.

2.  A civic awareness that is represented by all of its entities and groups.

3.  A progressive, cooperative, representative governmental organization.

4.  A housing plan for all income groups—both present and future.

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5.  Health facilities capable of serving the needs of a growing, changing population, and efficient protective services such as fire and police.

6.  Broad-gauged educational programming that include vocational and technical training, student support services and assistance.

7.  Trained and willing reserves of employees.

8.  Realistic land-use plans, supported by realistic zoning and development codes that represent the community’s commitment to both short- and long-term comprehensive planning.

9.  Public utilities that meet both current and future demands.

10.  Services adequate to accommodate expansion of commercial, manufacturing, recreational and residential segments.

11.  A transportation network that is capable of meeting future needs.

12.  Healthy business climate that is respected and supported by its citizens.

13.  Sense of responsibility on the part of its citizens toward the community and a willingness to work to make it an even better place.

How do we measure up to Preston’s principles? How can we do better? Are we really committed to the time, energy, perseverance and money that it will take to meet our goals and objectives and to improve the quality of life in Lincoln and Logan County? As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions on how we can help.

[Mark Smith, economic development director]

E-mail Lincoln Daily News: ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com 

Lincoln Daily News

601 Keokuk

Lincoln, IL 62656

E-mail Mark Smith: econdev@lincolnillinois.com 

Lincoln and Logan County Economic
Development Council

303 S. Kickapoo St.

Lincoln, IL 62656

[MAY 4, 2001]  Mary Conrady, manager of CEFCU’s Lincoln branch, agrees with other local financial institutions that the banking industry has fared well in Lincoln, and she predicts a healthy future.

The credit union, which is based in Peoria, has 19 member centers within 14 counties, including Logan County, with a total of 214,000 members. Although it was originally founded, in 1937, for employees of Peoria-based Caterpillar, customers now include anyone who lives or works in one of the 14 counties served. CEFCU has been operating in Lincoln since 1988, when it merged with the former Logan County employees’ credit union.

Conrady said business has been good, due in part to expanded services. "The outlook is great. We are offering new products and services, and we feel we are very competitive. I see the future here in Lincoln as very bright," Conrady said.

"Business is good. We had a great year last year — one of the best years in history. We diversified and we’re doing more business loans. A lot of members are business owners who wanted to have business accounts where their personal accounts area. We’re now offering a full line of business services."

The credit union serves 27 businesses in Logan County with payroll deductions, a benefit for companies.

Conrady said that last year CEFCU changed from a federal charter to a state charter, and business also increased due to the conversion.

Serving more than 7,500 members and 57 households in Logan County, the financial institution offers savings, checking, certificates, consumer loans and mortgages, among other services.

[to top of second column in this article]

The area’s largest financial institution has current corporatewide assets, as of March 31, of $2.1 billion. Total assets in Logan County are $51 million. Savings growth increased 5.5 percent, the number of loans increased by 5.8 percent, and net worth increased 11.8 percent over the previous year, Conrady said.

"We see continued growth. There’s a lot of potential for us. We have everything in place for business services, and we’re going to promote that. We want to make the community aware of what we have to offer. We are one of the few locally to offer online banking," Conrady added.

Even though the agriculture industry was hit by hard times in recent years and some stores closing downtown may have signaled a troubled economy, she said her customer base is so diversified that those factors haven’t had a negative impact on her bank’s business. Even though many customers work in the agriculture industry and in local businesses, she said the bank has seen only increased business.

She feels one of CEFCU’s advantages is that it’s member-owned. "The income goes back to members. Last year, we gave back a one-time special dividend of $4 million to membership corporatewide," she said.

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[MAY 3, 2001]  Main Street Lincoln Program Manager Wendy Bell and board members Jan Schumacher and Larry Crisafulli joined more than 1,500 community leaders attending the National Town Meeting on Main Street. The April 1-4 meeting in Indianapolis was the largest annual gathering of downtown revitalization professionals in the nation.

The conference brought together local Main Street program directors, board members and volunteers, as well as preservationists, city planners and economic development professionals for three days of educational activities focused on revitalizing downtowns using historic preservation.

The conference featured workshops, educational sessions and inspiring speakers to inform, advise and motivate attendees. Topics included "Tourism and Retail Development," "Professional Volunteer Leadership Development," "Creating a Powerful Marketing Program" and "Heritage Tourism."  Schumacher and Bell noted the heritage tourism and tourist-oriented sessions were especially timely for Main Street's involvement with the Looking for Lincoln program.  It was also an opportunity for Bell, Schumacher and Crisafulli to network informally with the hundreds of other attendees from downtown revitalization programs around the country, exchanging ideas and successes.

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Increasingly, communities are focusing on downtowns and traditional commercial districts, as the costs of outlying homogenized development rise. Although downtowns continue to feel economic pressure from sprawl development and changes in retail trends, cities and towns are counteracting these effects through the Main Street program, which re-establishes downtowns and neighborhoods as community centers. Over the last 20 years, the Main Street program has successfully revitalized declining downtowns and has generated over $15.2 billion in community investment.

Sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center, the Indiana Main Street Program, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana and Indianapolis Downtown, the National Town Meeting focuses on the Main Street program, a highly successful strategy that blends historic preservation and economic development for downtown renewal. For more information, go to www.mainstreet.org.

[Wendy Bell,
Main Street Lincoln program manager]

[MAY 3, 2001]  Despite a nationally troubled agriculture economy and  locally owned small businesses struggling for survival against larger conglomerates, the banking industry in Lincoln is alive and well.  There are six banks in town and several banks in smaller surrounding communities in Logan County, such as Hartsburg and Atlanta.

[click here for Part 1, with observations by William Hull of State Bank of Lincoln]

[click here for Part 2, with observations by Brian Ash of Logan County Bank]

Cullen Birdsell, president of Union Planter’s Bank, said his bank has experienced an overall 8 percent increase in the past year. Although he declined to release specific figures for the Lincoln facility, he said business in the past year has been good.

"We’ve had one new bank (CIB) come to town recently. Normally, you wouldn’t think a new bank would start up in a community unless they’ve done their homework and thought there was a need for it. There’s a lot of old money in Lincoln. It’s a very wealthy community and rich farmland. I think you’d be surprised at the amount (of money) in a community this size," said Birdsell. "We had a nice increase on the bottom line in the past year," he said.

Union Planters, which acquired the former Magna Bank facility in 1998, is a new face in town, but has enjoyed success, despite a slowing down in recent months. "The last few months have been slower. On the commercial side, we’ve had projects that have just been shelved. Even though the interest rates have dropped, they (customers) are not sure the business climate warrants the need for expansion, and they want to wait and see what happens. We could see another six months or a year before those projects go ahead. Everyone is convinced they need to slow down," he said.

"I don’t think things are nearly that bad (as some have predicted). We’ve had some large companies laying off people (nationwide), but housing is still good in Lincoln, even before rates came down. Overall, there’s been an increase in mortgage loans."

Because Union Planter’s Bank is a large company, Birdsell said the bank can afford to be selective in what areas to focus on. "We are part of $34 billion holding company, so we look for niches. An independent bank has to be all things for all people. In Lincoln we’re very blessed we have a nice mix and a variety. About 48 percent of our business is commercial, about 28 percent is ag, and 24 is consumer products. That’s a nice mix to have. The county is about 35 percent ag-related, so that’s holding true for the bank," he said.

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[Cullen Birdsell]

"We have seen that farm prices during the last three years have not really been good for farmers, and that always brings up [the] problem of carry-over debt. We are seeing government agencies offering more assistance to farmers than in the past, and that may continue; we don’t know. The outlook, I believe, especially in this county, is that we will continue to see agriculture very much a part of our business climate." Even though the agriculture industry has been changing because of new federal programs which provide some services once offered by banks, such as operating loans and longer repayment periods, Cullen said agriculture-related business is still the largest sector of his bank’s business.

"We are really the only large bank holding company in Lincoln. Our individual local loan limit is probably bigger. We can do 1½ million right here and never leave Lincoln with that, and that takes care of most of the demand here," he said.

Having a diverse mix of banking options is healthy for business, he said. "I think it’s good for the consumers to have a mix. We don’t catch the hot money; we don’t need to. Margins are shrinking in banking just like they are in retail. Banking is probably seeing its biggest changes because of the shrinking margins, and you do have to find other sources of revenue. Now we’re doing payroll, brokerage services and insurance. I think that’s good for the consumers; they can get more services in one place," he said.

"Lincoln has a great advantage with its location between St. Louis and Chicago and close to Springfield and Bloomington. It’s going to be a very active community."

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[MAY 2, 2001]  Despite a nationally troubled agriculture economy and  locally owned small businesses struggling for survival against larger conglomerates, the banking industry in Lincoln is alive and well.  There are six banks in town and several banks in smaller surrounding communities in Logan County, such as Hartsburg and Atlanta.

[click here for Part 1, with observations by William Hull of State Bank of Lincoln]

Brian Ash, president of Logan County Bank, the city’s other independently owned bank, also reports a healthy local economy. "We’re proud to be one of two independent banks. It’s important to a lot of people to have local control and be able to come in and talk to the people who make the decisions," he said.

Logan County Bank, operating in Lincoln since 1962, enjoyed considerable growth in 1999, a 3 percent growth rate in 2000 and an even brighter outlook this year. "So far in 2001, we’ve grown as much as all of last year," Ash said. The bank’s total assets are currently $58 million, as of February.

"Overall, economy is good from our bank’s perspective. We’ve had some economic setbacks with businesses closing in town, which is not a positive thing, but there’s been a lot of activity and effort going on to revitalize the downtown district, and they are trying to keep it viable," he said. "It’s a positive thing — continuing to invest in the downtown area. We think there’s a lot more potential here. I’m not alarmed by anything, we’ve had a consistent increase from three years ago."

[to top of second column in this section]

Ash also pointed to the local agriculture community as a main component of the local banking industry. "We’ve had setbacks, but that’s normal. Agriculture is one area our bank has been growing, and we see ag as a very important part of Logan County’s economy. I know ag plays a key part of business at other banks in town as well," he said. "We’re trying to become even more involved, and we’re pursuing new ag business. We’re not afraid to do business with the ag sector, in fact we’re seeking out ag business. I’m happy to say we’ve not had any unfortunate circumstances (as some communities have experienced.) It is out there, but not here. Ag is a large economic sector in Logan County and the state and is only going to continue to be viable."

Despite several business closings, leaving gaps in the downtown square, Ash said his bank has seen an increase of 20 to 25 percent from last year in loans. "We’ve always been strong in residential and consumer loans, and now we’re focusing on ag to give us diversification," he said.

(To be continued)

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[click here for Part 3]

[MAY 1, 2001]  Despite a nationally troubled agriculture economy and  locally owned small businesses struggling for survival against larger conglomerates, the banking industry in Lincoln is alive and well.  There are six banks in town and several banks in smaller surrounding communities in Logan County, such as Hartsburg and Atlanta.

"Overall, the economic climate is pretty stable here," said William M. Hull, executive vice president and trust officer of the State Bank of Lincoln. Established in 1904, the State Bank, which has four local locations, is the oldest bank in town and one of two independently owned banks.

Hull said the bank’s total current assets of $154 million have remained steady with no losses in the past year. And, although some farming communities nationwide have suffered in past years, the local agriculture climate not had a negative impact on the local banking business. "We’ve seen some small businesses expanding," Hull said. "Agriculture is very important to our bank and to Logan County. We’re now looking to see what the export situation will be and what the new administration does in terms of farm programs," he said. "There were some concerns last year," about the future of the agriculture industry, but the local farming community weathered the storm.

[to top of second column in this section]

Hull said the bank has seen an increase in mortgage loans, and the real estate market has remained steady, with increased growth since the first of the year. Many customers are refinancing to take advantage of lower interest rates, while commercial loans and trusts also remain viable, he said.

Despite a rich agriculture community, Hull said another reason business is good is because of the growth in Springfield and Bloomington, which is drawing new residents to the Lincoln area. "We are a little hub only 35 to 40 minutes away from those two cities. We see a lot of people who live here and work in surrounding cities like Springfield, Bloomington, Decatur and even Champaign," he said. Good health care, recreation opportunities and schools are some of the community’s drawing cards for citizens who choose to reside in Logan County.

(To be continued, with views from other local bankers)

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[click here for Part 2]

[APRIL 30, 2001]  Assuming approval, Nutt plans to advertise the bachelor’s degree program to this year’s 700 to 800 graduates of Lincoln College and Heartland Community College and to workers in Bloomington/Normal. He hopes to attract 50 students to the program this fall, with an eventual goal of 100 full-time and 50 part-time students. His plan for all of Lincoln College is to stabilize at about 1,200 full-time equivalent students, including 525 residential students in Lincoln, 200 to 250 commuters and 450 full-time equivalent for all programs in Normal. He expects to reach the Lincoln goal this fall, aided by the completion of a new dormitory.

[click here for Part 1]

Reaching the goal of 525 residential students is the culmination of the fifth year in the college’s five-year growth plan. Nutt expects that an additional dormitory planned for next year and the projected 50,000-square-foot Lincoln Center will solidify the gains in student population. The Lincoln Center will contain a gymnasium, fitness center open to the public, museum, rare-book room, Logan County Hall of Fame and the relocated Hall of Presidents. Nutt also hopes to establish a Hall of Governors, with signatures of all Illinois governors, patterned after the presidential signature display now in McKinstry Library.

He said the process of developing the bachelor’s program began in 1995 when Heartland Community College officially opened and enrollment at Lincoln College in Normal began to decline. In an effort to develop "a symbiotic, not an adversarial relationship," he said, Lincoln College began building housing to differentiate itself from its all-commuter neighbor on Raab Road. When three housing units were in place, enrollment stabilized and began to climb. Acquisition of Midwest College of Cosmetology three years ago added the equivalent of 100 full-time students per year. Building plans for the Normal campus include an addition to the cosmetology school and more housing.

Planning began in earnest when Lincoln College employed Educational Alliance, a higher-education consulting firm located in Boston, to explore the feasibility of a baccalaureate program. Focus groups were conducted among students, alumni, business leaders and other affected groups in Bloomington/Normal. The North Central Association was also consulted, and a curriculum committee has been meeting for 15 months to establish course requirements.

[to top of second column in this section]

In addition to Fansler, two faculty members have been hired specifically for the bachelor’s program: Dr. Debora Van Hoorn in language and humanities and Dr. Dana Farnham in anthropology. Faculty members already teaching on the Lincoln and Normal campuses will conduct the remainder of the new courses.

"People come to Lincoln College because we are a two-year school," said Nutt. "Now another bridge will be available to them." Among potential students he counts graduates of Illinois Central College in Peoria, Parkland Community College in Champaign/Urbana and the nearly three-quarters of the population of McLean County with less than a bachelor’s degree. However, he expects the majority of students to be associate’s degree graduates of Lincoln College.

He notes that in the last 20 years three-fourths of the private two-year colleges in the United States have folded. Lincoln College, by contrast, has experienced five years of growth. Assuming approval by the North Central Association, he expects the two-plus-two program to continue that growth.

The college was founded as Lincoln University, a four-year school, but the program was reduced to two years in 1929, when enrollment dropped as a result of the threatening Depression. In a way the school has come full circle.

[Lynn Spellman]

[APRIL 28, 2001]  If approved by the regional accrediting association, Lincoln College will begin offering courses this fall leading to a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. The program will be offered on the Normal campus only.

LC President Jack Nutt said the program, which has been in the planning stages for several years, meets the needs of both two-year graduates who want to complete their studies near home and working adults whose education was interrupted. "Although some junior colleges try to expand out of a sense of panic in order to survive," he said, "that is not true here. Instead, institutional research has identified a local need that will sustain the program."

[LC President Jack Nutt]

To define the program for presentation to the North Central Association, the regional accrediting association, the college published a 114-page institutional change report in January. It outlines a two-plus-two program, meaning two years leading to an Associate of Arts degree, until now the entire mission of the college, and a separate enrollment and two-year program leading to a bachelor’s degree. The report defines two new programs, a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. However, the plan is to offer only the liberal arts program for at least a year.

A two-person North Central accreditation team reviewed the programs April 23-24. They unanimously recommended approval of both degrees, in liberal arts and business management, and the college anticipates favorable action by the commission when it meets on June 18.

As part of the research justifying the program, Lincoln College conducted focus-group discussions with major employers in Bloomington-Normal, such as State Farm Insurance. According to Nutt, these employers said they want liberally educated employees whom they can then train to meet the needs of the particular position.

Nutt said he envisions a hands-on program. Although students will not concentrate in a traditional major, in their final semester they will apply their skills in a specific job situation. The school will require a minimum of 10 hours’ work off-campus per week as part of the senior project, which will also include a paper. Students will be placed in internships related to their intended field of employment; those who are uncertain will be placed in human services positions.

[to top of second column in this section]

Gigi Fansler, who has been hired as associate dean to direct the program as well as teach, will secure the internship positions. She was previously head of the Illinois State University human resources department.

Nutt said several factors led to the decision to offer the baccalaureate program only at the Normal campus. First, the twin cities have more than 10 times as many people to draw from, compared with Lincoln. Second, the area offers many potential part-time faculty members as well as the ambience of a university town. Third, the Normal campus has room for expansion; of the nine acres the college owns, only six have been developed.

Finally, Nutt said LC could not afford a junior-senior program without the student services contract it has signed with Illinois State University. According to the terms of this contract, "Lincoln College students are identical to ISU students in everything except where they attend class," he said. They are entitled to use all other student services and facilities, including recreation, library, food service, personal and career counseling, and health services. "They can join fraternities if they want," he said, "or play in the marching band." One employee in Milner Library is the designated contact to work with LC students and faculty to locate any materials they need. Like ISU students, they will have 24-hour Internet access to library sources.

The liberal arts degree will comprise 60 hours of credit, 39 in required courses and 21 in electives. Required classes are distributed among communications, critical thinking, humanities, social sciences, ecology and mathematics. A two-year schedule of required courses might include, for example, professional writing, communication theory, techniques of persuasion, comparative economic systems, organizational behavior, research methods, conflict management, finite mathematics and physical anthropology.

Of the 60-hour total, 40 hours must be at the junior-senior level, with course numbers in the 300s and 400s. Sixteen upper-level courses of three hours each are planned for the fall semester. To meet the needs of working adults, late afternoon, evening and Saturday courses will be offered.

(To be continued)

[Lynn Spellman]

[click here for Part 2]

Announcements

[APRIL 20, 2001]  Congress repealed the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) June 30, 2000. A new Workforce Investment Act (WIA) has replaced it. The Logan County Illinois Employment and Training Center (IETC) now houses two offices:  Illinois Department of Employment and Security Office (IDES), "the unemployment office," and Logan County Workforce Office (WIA)

Effective April 30, 2001, the offices will be at the following address:

120 S. McLean St., Suite B

Farm Bureau Building

Lincoln, IL 62656

The new e-mail address is ietc@abelink.com.

Phone and fax numbers remain the same: phone (217) 735-5441 and fax (217) 732-2658.

Staff members are Fred Wiemer, Rod Lewis and Jan Gleason.

Please feel free to contact any of the staff for employment and training services. The staff looks forward to serving you.

The Chamber Report

Upcoming events

June 8 — Chamber roundup golf tournament, auction and dinner

Aug. 24-26 — Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival

[to top of second column in this section]

The Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst for community progress, bringing business and professional people together to work for the common good of Lincoln and Logan County.

Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce

303 S. Kickapoo St., Lincoln

(217) 735-2385

Fax (217) 735-9205

www.lincolnillinois.com

chamber@lincolnillinois.com

[Provided by Bobbi Abbott, executive director of Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce]

Honors & Awards

[MAY 17, 2001]  LCHS seniors Stephanie West and Zac Tibbs have been selected by the Lincoln Rotary Club as two youth who are "Ready for the Real World." The annual award that recognizes youth demonstrating exceptional vocational skills and work ethic was presented to the students and their parents at the May 9 Rotary meeting.

Stephanie and Zac were each honored with a plaque and a $250 cash award.

Zac Tibbs, son of Dennis and Beverly Tibbs of New Holland, owns and operates his own produce business, which includes production planning, planting, weeding, harvest, sales and bookkeeping. He has also served as the assistant superintendent in the Floriculture Department at the Illinois State Fair for the past two years.

[Zac Tibbs]

Cherie Lock and Dave Robson, both from the University of Illinois Extension, nominated Zac. Robson writes that in his second year working at the Floriculture Department Zac "took initiative without needing any reminders and even suggested improvements for a smoother working environment."

Zac will study engineering this fall at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Stephanie West]

Stephanie West, daughter of Randall and Cynthia West of Lincoln, has been employed for one year as a nurse’s assistant in the long-term care facility at The Christian Village. "Stephanie always has a smile and a soft touch with the residents," says Stephanie’s supervisor, Deidre Berger, RN. Stephanie says she enjoys helping others meet their needs for everyday life. She will attend Lincoln College in the fall to study nursing.

This is the third year for the Ready for the Real World Award. It was established to honor young people who demonstrate responsible work ethics above and beyond what is normally expected for someone in their teen-age years. One award is given to a young person with outstanding entrepreneurial skills. The other is awarded to a young person who has excelled in his or her work for a Logan County business or agency. Nominations are accepted from the student’s direct work supervisor and are due each year in March.

The Lincoln Rotary Club meets Wednesdays at noon at the Restaurant at the Depot. Membership is open to area professionals nominated by current Rotary members.

[Rotary news release]

[MAY 9, 2001]  Congratulations to Randy Turley, who was named Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital May Employee of the Month.

Randy began employment at ALMH as a Care-A-Van driver in February 2000. Randy and his wife, Tina, have four children—Adam, Chase, Spencer and Madyson. In his "spare" time, Randy enjoys playing golf and softball. He also hosts outings for needy children and families.

According to Randy’s nominator, "Randy is a true ALMH star! He has his own fan club at the area nursing homes, comprised of both staff and residents. He truly cares about everyone—he gives up his free time to take nursing home residents for Frosties at Wendy’s and drives through the park. He’s an excellent goodwill ambassador between ALMH, the physician offices and the long-term care facilities. If the hospital calls and has a transport in off hours, he comes in to help if available. Randy’s great sense of humor has brought smiles to many and brightened many days."

[ALMH news release]

Main Street Corner News

mailto:manager@mainstreetlincoln.com 

Job Hunt

Now Lincolndailynews.com makes it easy to look for a job in the Logan County area
with our new Job Hunt feature in the Business section.

Employers, you can list available jobs by e-mailing ldn@lincolndailynews.com. Each job listing costs $10 the first week, $20 for eight days to three months. There is a limit of 75 words per announcement.

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