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Features

[NOV. 17, 2001]  Over 50 people gathered for the ceremonial groundbreaking for a new warehouse at Willamette Industries, Inc., at the intersection of Lincoln Parkway and Fifth Street Road. Willamette General Manager Joe Nemith thanked dedicated employees for the company’s 8 percent increase since last year in a time when the industry in general is down.

"Willamette has been a member of the community for a long time," Nemith told the group of company employees, Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and others. "It’s very easy to do business in Lincoln."

The 70,000-square-foot warehouse and manufacturing space is roughly triangular in shape and is expected to be completed in April, according to Nemith. It is being added on the south side of the existing building, where the railroad spur used to be located. The spur is being relocated to make room for the addition.

Nemith said Willamette has built three expansions since purchasing the plant in 1992. The plant itself has been in continuous operation since 1947. It is one of three Willamette facilities in Illinois, the other two being in Chicago. The company has spent over $50 million improving the three Illinois plants in the last five years, according to Nemith.

"Five competitors have closed their doors in the last two years," Nemith said. He credited dedicated employees and the resultant good customer base for Willamette’s growth in a period of industry decline. "We hope to be here another 53 years," he added.

Though not yet built, the addition has already increased the number of local employees. "This expansion will provide the Lincoln facility the necessary room to add additional converting capacity to the plant in 2002," Nemith said. "In anticipation of this, we have already added six new employees, who are now undergoing training. We expect to add an additional four employees after the new equipment arrives." Willamette employs about 100 people in Lincoln.

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General contractor for the addition is H & H Construction Services, Inc. of Carlinville, which also handled Willamette’s two previous expansions. Jim Hudson, president of H & H, said, "We are very excited to be working again for Willamette Industries. This company has been a strong asset to the Lincoln community."

Nemith stated that the expansion of the Lincoln facility "is due to the faith Willamette has in both the Lincoln work force and the community in which it is located. The dedication of our employees to Lincoln’s success and the community’s support has made this major capital expenditure a very easy decision to make."

Willamette Industries is an integrated forest products company with 105 plants located in the United States, France, Ireland and Mexico. The company owns 1.7 million acres of forestland in the U.S. and manages it sustainably to produce building materials, composite wood panels, fine paper, office paper products, corrugated packaging and grocery bags.

The groundbreaking was ceremonial and took place around a company sign on the east side of the building. In fact, ground has already been broken and leveled for the warehouse.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[NOV. 15, 2001]  On Tuesday and Wednesday, Lincoln Daily News conducted an e-mail poll. The poll’s intent was to get a general feel from the community for their first responses to the proposed industrial park. Some have said with wisdom that the economy is not conducive at this time. Others feel there is no time that is going to be good. The results are as follows:

Citizens of Lincoln and Logan County:

Are you in favor of the proposed new industrial park?

Yes — 91 percent

No — 9 percent

No:  The events of September 11 make the timing of a new industrial park a very poor decision. With the current economy, it will only be a matter of time before all segments of government will be running out of money. Not one dollar of taxpayer money should be spent on this project.

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Yes:  If you stop growing and changing you begin to DIE.

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Yes, I think we NEED to get moving and progressing! It is so sad to see our younger generations who go off to college, leave to never return to Logan County as their home county and possibly even leave the state. I know that not all leave the county, but IMHO, a high percentage do. We are in need of jobs in this area, and hopefully jobs that will support families ... not what happens in much of the service industry. These industries are needed, but we need a variety of jobs available.

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Yes, it will take some risk, but dreaming and never working toward those dreams is something like hiding our heads in the sand and hoping that we don’t suffocate or get forgotten about, while other communities grow and prosper.

I attended a meeting where Mark Smith gave an excellent presentation: Well thought out, researched, and input from some wise people, at least IMHO. He made a lot of sense.

The question of "Is this the right time to do this?" (meaning build the industrial park) reminds me of something I heard long ago in reference to a young couple — educated and in a good, stable marriage — wanting to put off having children "until we can afford them." The answer from wise older lady was, "My dear, if you wait until you can afford children, you never will have them."

Sometimes we have to just decide what it is that we want, make a feasible plan, set our minds to it, and follow through by working for it! If we can unite on a common goal and agree to work toward it, we CAN do it!!!

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Lincoln is long overdue for this type of thinking!! Building an industrial park makes far more sense than a statue of Abe Lincoln.

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[LDN]

[NOV. 8, 2001]  The Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce kicked off a special one-week membership drive yesterday with a breakfast session at the chamber offices. The goal of the campaign is to add 30 new members to the chamber’s roster, an additional 10 percent of the current membership.

Members picked up packets of material, chose the five prospects they would call on, and treated themselves to homemade donuts or scrambled eggs before starting out on the 2001 "Proud to be a Member" campaign.

Executive Director Bobbi Abbott said this is the first organized membership drive the chamber has had for about four years. "We thought this was a good time to touch base with businesses that are not members and let them know we’d like to have them come on board," she said.

One important reason for becoming a member of the chamber is the opportunity to network with other business people in the community, Abbott said. The chamber offers many activities, such as the 3rd Wednesday Morning Mixers at Al’s Main Event, which feature different speakers each month addressing a timely topic in the community.

Another get-together opportunity is provided by the After Hours Mixers sponsored by individual chamber members. This gives a particular business the chance to host a gathering and show other chamber members new products and new services available.

"This activity brings people into a business that might not normally come in," Abbott said.

The annual golf outing and the office professionals luncheon are among many other networking opportunities.

Another reason for chamber membership is that the chamber advocates for business-friendly local, state, national and global legislation; assists with small business startups; initiates and participates in work force development ventures; and works to attract new businesses and retain existing ones, Abbott said.

For example, the chamber recently initiated a letter-writing campaign to Illinois Gov. George Ryan on behalf of the Lincoln Developmental Center, urging the governor to keep the facility open. From 75 to 100 letters were sent to Springfield during this campaign, Abbott said.

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Recently the chamber also worked with the city of Lincoln on an ordinance to govern bed-and-breakfast businesses in the city. In addition, Abbott said, the local chamber has the opportunity to become active on the state level, promoting legislation friendly to small businesses, because the state chamber is now bringing local groups on board as affiliates.

One of the programs many businesses particularly like is the Chamber Bucks gift certificate program, Abbott said. As a gift on Christmas, a birthday or any other occasion, Chamber Bucks give the recipient the chance to shop in more than 60 chamber member businesses. The gift certificates are purchased at the chamber and redeemed at the participating businesses, which then bring the certificates back to the chamber for reimbursement.

There is no guessing, because all participating businesses are listed on the back of each certificate. Certificates can be purchased in denominations of $5, $10, $25 or in any combination.

This "one size fits all" gift program is so popular that the chamber is issuing between $60,000 and $75,000 in gift certificates each year, Abbott said. She emphasized that there are no "hidden costs" to these gift certificates, as the chamber does not charge an administration fee but absorbs all costs as a service to its members.

The chamber also serves as an information center for the community, she said. Business guides, maps, brochures, phone books, restaurant guides, information about special events such as the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival, and information about tourism are all available in the chamber office.

"We will have about any information anybody could want," Abbott said.

At the end of the membership drive, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m., chamber members will reconvene for a more formal reception — wine and cheese and hors d'oeuvres made by members — to celebrate their campaign.

Anyone who would like more information may call the chamber office at 735-2385.

[Joan Crabb]

Choose your investment adviser carefully
[NOV. 8, 2001]  Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has announced that a former stockbroker was sentenced to nine years in prison for defrauding three Illinois residents of over $1 million.

"Protecting Illinois investors from fraud is one of my top priorities," White said. "This sentencing sends a clear message that stockbrokers who prey on our senior citizens will go to jail."

An investigation by White’s Securities Department and a prosecution by the U.S. attorney’s office resulted in the sentencing of John R. Whitlow, 51, as well as an order to pay restitution of $628,654. He pleaded guilty to mail fraud, money laundering, engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity, and making and filing a false income tax return.

Whitlow owned and operated an insurance and securities business known as Central Illinois Financial Services, located in Bloomington. He defrauded three senior citizen clients of over $1 million dollars by having two clients grant him financial powers of attorney and having another client appoint him as the trustee of her life insurance trust. After receiving these financial powers, Whitlow proceeded to withdraw money from each of the client’s accounts and spend the money for personal or business use. Two of the victims are now deceased.

In 1996, the Illinois Securities Department audited Central Illinois Financial Services and Whitlow. Based upon that audit and an investigation, the department revoked Whitlow’s securities salesperson registration in Illinois.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by the cooperative effort of the secretary of state’s Securities Department, the U.S. attorney’s office, the Criminal Investigative Division of the IRS, the Postal Inspection Service and the Illinois State Police.

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Tips on how to protect your investments

Before picking a stockbroker or making any investment, Secretary of State Jesse White urges investors to consider the following:

•  Is the stockbroker or the person selling the investment registered with the Illinois Securities Department? Call the Illinois Securities Department at 1 (800) 628-7937 and 1 (888) 231-1175 (Spanish-speaking assistance) to find out. If they are not, they may be operating illegally.

•  Has the stockbroker given you written information that fully explains the investment? Make sure you get proper written information, such as a prospectus or offering circular, before you buy. The documentation should contain enough clear and accurate information to allow you or your financial adviser to evaluate and verify the particulars of the investment.

•  Before granting a power of attorney to your stockbroker or investment adviser or appointing them your trustee, have the documents reviewed by your attorney and ensure that you completely understand all the power and authority you are granting by signing a power of attorney or appointing a trustee. You may want to consider possible alternatives to a stockbroker, such as a relative or family member.

Secretary of State White’s Securities Department regulates the offer and sale of securities in Illinois, providing for the protection of investors and the maintenance of a fair and orderly securities marketplace. Illinois requires that all securities dealers, salespersons and investment advisers and their securities offerings be registered with the department unless exempt by law. The department enforces standards of conduct among those registered to conduct securities business in Illinois as well as dealing with consumer allegations of fraud or improper practices in the securities marketplace. Anyone who believes he or she has been a victim of securities fraud should contact the department at 1 (800) 628-7937 and 1 (888) 231-1175 (Spanish-speaking assistance).

[News release]

[NOV. 7, 2001]  Main Street Lincoln and the city of Lincoln have unveiled the design of this year’s official Christmas ornament.  As announced during Historic Preservation Week, the 2001 ornament will feature the Lincoln Public Library.  Library director Richard Sumrall said, "We’re happy to be part of the Lincoln City Ornament series and celebrate one of Lincoln’s most historic architectural treasures."

Third in the series, the ornament is 24 karat gold over brass and will be enclosed in a blue velvet presentation case with the city seal embossed in gold on the cover.  The limited edition ornaments will have a numbered certificate of authenticity including information on the history of the building and a miniature version of the proclamation naming it the official city ornament. Their cost is $15. 

Purchasers of last year’s ornaments received a preregistration form in the mail and will have the first option on continuing their numbered series. Ornaments will be available for pickup around Thanksgiving and also for retail purchase at selected locations downtown. 

A limited number of last year’s ornaments, the second in the series, featuring Lincoln City Hall, are available for $20 each. 

Also available for holiday giving is a full-color tapestry pillow featuring an aerial view of the Logan County Courthouse.  The back of the pillow will be dark green fabric.  The pillow is being made in the United States by Riddle and Cockrell, the same company that made the woven afghans previously available. Currently, a picture of the pillow can be seen in the Main Street Lincoln office, and an actual sample will be available soon.  Pillows are $29.95 each.

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The popular Logan County Christmas tree will grace the front of Christmas cards this year. A color photograph of the giant Christmas tree and the stained glass dome of the historic Logan County Courthouse will be on the front of the cards.  The inside sentiment is, "A wish for a warm, wonderful holiday season and a bright New Year."  

Marlin Roos took the picture at the 2000 Festival of Trees. Jan Schumacher, Festival of Trees chairman, commented, "The photograph was so picture perfect, it was a natural for a Christmas card."  Cards will be sold in packages of 10 for $7 and will benefit the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation and Main Street Lincoln. They are currently available at the Main Street office and will also be available at the Festival of Trees in the Logan County Courthouse from Nov. 23 through Dec. 2.  

For further information on any of these items, call Main Street Lincoln at (217) 732-2929.

[News release]

Announcements

The Chamber Report

Chamber calendar of events for November

* All meetings are in the chamber of commerce conference rooms at 303 S. Kickapoo St. unless noted otherwise

•  Thursday, Nov. 1 — Chamber board meeting, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.

•  Friday, Nov. 2 — Retailer’s Roundtable, 7:30 a.m. at Eckert’s Fine Dining

•  Saturday, Nov. 3 — Beta Sigma Phi holiday craft fair, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. at Lincoln Park District; Casino Night, 7-10 p.m. at Lincoln College

•  Sunday, Nov. 4 — Zonta turkey dinner, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at LCHS

•  Monday, Nov. 5 — Economic Development Council, 5 p.m.

•  Tuesday, Nov. 6 — Chamber Ag Committee, 7 a.m. at Al’s Main Event

•  Wednesday, Nov. 7 — Membership drive kickoff breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m.

•  Thursday, Nov. 8 — Government/Education Committee, 7:30 a.m. at Al’s Main Event; Healthcare Committee at noon in ALMH Conference Room A

•  Saturday, Nov. 10 — Lincoln Day at ISU football, 1:30 p.m.

•  Sunday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day parade and program, noon at Logan County Courthouse

•  Tuesday, Nov. 13 — Membership drive celebration reception, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

•  Wednesday, Nov. 14 — Chamber Morning Mixer, with the industrial park proposal as the topic; 7:30 a.m. at the Tropics

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•  Friday, Nov. 16 — Membership/Mixer Committee meeting, 4 p.m. at the Depot; After-Hours Mixer, 5-7 p.m. at Sugar Creek Orthodontics

•  Friday, Nov. 23-Sunday, Dec. 2 — Festival of Trees, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays at Logan County Courthouse

•  Saturday, Nov. 24 — Festival of Trees Gala

•  Tuesday, Nov. 27 — Festival of Trees candlelight event at the courthouse, 6-8 p.m.

•  Thursday, Nov. 29 — Technology Committee, 8 a.m.; Executive Committee, noon at Blue Dog Inn; Lincoln Christmas parade, downtown at 7 p.m.; theme: "May Your Days Be Merry and Bright"

•  Thursday, Nov. 29-Sunday, Dec. 2 — "Christmas in the Chapel," LCCS

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.

Bobbi Abbott, Executive Director

Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce

303 S. Kickapoo St.

Lincoln, IL 62656

(217) 735-2385

chamber@lincolnillinois.com
www.lincolnillinois.com

Honors & Awards

[NOV. 9, 2001]  At Lincoln Daily News, we don’t like to toot our own horn. We are dedicated to the task of telling the story of Logan County and its citizens without embellishment, because those stories are worth telling.

Our dedication to task was recently given recognition by the health care agencies of Logan County, who submitted our name to the Illinois Public Health Association. After careful investigation, the association accepted the nomination and on Oct. 1 awarded Lincoln Daily News their 2001 Media Award for excellence in public health reporting on the Internet.

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"Lincoln Daily News has always reported health issues for the Health Department with complete accuracy. They have always worked with us to present important health-related issues to the community, so we nominated them for the media award.

"The review committee for the state Public Health Association looked at some of the archived articles on public health and determined that Lincoln Daily News deserved the award."

While we are excited and grateful for this recognition, we want to tell the whole story. The health care workers and agencies of this county labor long and hard to advance the cause of quality health care for the citizens of Logan County. Lloyd Evans and the staff of Logan County Health Department, Woody Hester with the staff of ALMH, Dayle Eldredge with the people of Healthy Communities, along with numerous other health care agencies and people, are working on your behalf, struggling with the health care issues that confront them on a daily basis.

They are real heroes of Logan County! Lincoln Daily News merely tries hard to provide the coverage they need and deserve, to let the citizens of this fair county know of their programs and their efforts.

And so we say thanks. Thank you for the recognition, and thank you for laboring hard on behalf of the citizens of Logan County.

[LDN]

Main Street Corner News

Main Street Lincoln calendar for November

Mark your calendar with these Main Street Lincoln "Dates to Remember in November."

•  Thursday, Nov. 1 — 8:30 a.m., Festival of Trees Committee meeting at Farm Bureau; 5 p.m., work plan training at Main Street Lincoln office

•  Friday, Nov. 2 — 7:30 a.m., Retailer’s Roundtable at Eckert’s to discuss holiday promotions

•  Tuesday, Nov. 6, and Wednesday, Nov. 7 — Main Street Lincoln hosts Grant Writing/Grant Seeking Workshop for Illinois Main Street; at Eckert’s, with side trips to other locations

•  Thursday, Nov. 8 — 4 p.m., Main Street Lincoln executive meeting at office

•  Tuesday, Nov. 13 — 7 p.m., Design Committee; meet at Kickapoo Street city garage across from Latham Park; wear grubbies to help test Christmas lighting. We'll be happy for any extras who want to help.

•  Wednesday, Nov. 14 — 8 a.m., Mornings on Main at Integrity Data; 5:30 p.m., Main Street Lincoln board meeting in Union Planters conference room; 7 p.m., Looking for Lincoln Committee meeting in Union Planters conference room

•  Thursday, Nov. 15 — 8:30 a.m., Festival of Trees Committee meeting at Farm Bureau building

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•  Saturday, Nov. 17 — 8 a.m.-noon, decorate downtown with lights. We can use everyone’s help! Coffee and doughnuts provided.

•  Thursday, Nov. 22 — Happy Thanksgiving!

•  Friday, Nov. 23-Sunday, Nov. 25 — Retailers’ holiday open houses

•  Friday, Nov. 23-Sunday, Dec. 2 — Festival of Trees

•  Saturday, Nov. 24 — Festival of Trees Gala

•  Monday, Nov. 26 — 5:30 p.m., Economic Restructuring Committee meeting at Lincoln Public Library Pegram Room

•  Tuesday, Nov. 27 — 6-8 p.m., candlelight courthouse tours; volunteers needed

•  Thursday, Nov. 29 — 7 p.m., downtown Christmas parade

Questions? Call the Main Street Lincoln office at 732-2929 or send e-mail to manager@mainstreetlincoln.com.

Main Street Lincoln

303 S. Kickapoo

Lincoln, IL 62656

Phone: (217) 732-2929

Fax: (217) 735-9205

E-mail: manager@mainstreetlincoln.com

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