Lincoln turns out to show
support and sympathy

[SEPT. 15, 2001]  Americans young, old, and in between gathered on the Logan County Courthouse lawn Friday afternoon to be, for a little while, part of a larger community that cared and wanted to show it.

[Click here to view more pictures]

Like so many other Americans in so many other towns and cities, those who took part in the ceremony in Lincoln were a living proof that enemies who think acts of terrorism, no matter how heinous, can divide and conquer America have made a tremendous mistake. 

      As Illinois Representative Jonathan Wright put it, “They have underestimated the greatness of our country and our people.

      “The enemy,” he said, “expected us to respond selfishly.  Instead, Americans are giving their lives to try to save others.

      “They expected us to respond with fear, but we responded with courage.

      “They expected us to respond with regionalism, saying, ‘That’s New York City’s problem.’  Instead, citizens have stepped forward, saying, ‘How can I help?’

      “They expected us to respond with apathy because ‘This doesn’t affect me personally,’ but instead we have come together for prayer vigils and patriotic meetings,” Wright said.

      Selfishness, fear, regionalism and apathy were simply not in the picture on Friday.  Instead, in a show of support for their fellow firefighters, emergency medical technicians, police and other rescue workers in New York City, firefighters from all over Logan County, and a few from beyond the county’s borders, lined the walkway on the Broadway side of the courthouse during the ceremony.  A few had tears running down their cheeks, as did many in the audience.

      A further show of respect and brotherhood was “the last alarm,” the ringing of the bell three times in honor of the fallen firefighters on the East Coast.

      The question “How can I help?” is being answered with a fund drive for the families of the firefighters and rescue workers who died trying to save the lives of others  in the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings on Tuesday.  

      Those who want to help may drop off donations at the Lincoln Safety Complex and WalMart from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, and at the same two locations on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or they may call the Emergency Service and Disaster Agency (ESDA) at 732-3911.  Hours for donation drop-offs in other Logan County fire districts will be announced later.

      Dan Fulscher, ESDA director, can attest that Lincoln residents are not responding with selfishness.  He has already had donations of $62, just from the few people who heard the planning committee discussing the fund drive.   When the drive ends Sept. 30, Logan County Board Chairman Dick Logan will mail the contributions to New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to give the New York City Fire and Police Fund.

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Logan, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the occasion, said, “Our hearts are heavy, but our spirits are high.”

      The Lincoln Interveterans Council carried the colors, and World War II Veteran Arnold Haak asked that American veterans be remembered along with others who had made sacrifices for their country.

County Clerk Sally Litterly read a resolution by the County Board, presented by historian Paul Gleason.   These “overt acts of terrorism” which were unprovoked, are “a threat to the civility of the American way of life and a violation of the safety and security of our citizens,” the resolution said.

      It expressed the board’s “condemnation of the attacks, our support of the President and Congress, and our concern for the injured and the families of those lost.”  A copy of the resolution will be sent to the President of the United States and to represenatives in Washington.

      Carla Bender, Clerk of the Circuit Court and 18th District Congressman Ray LaHood’s Logan County Coordinator, read a letter from LaHood to Logan County residents.  That letter will be reprinted in its entirety in Monday’s issue of the Lincoln Daily News, as will the speech given by Wright. 

      Wright thanked the assembled firefighters, police and rescue workers for being “ready to pay the price” and expressed his condolences for the lost and their families and friends.

      “In the face of tragedy, I have seen the brilliance of our country shine,” he said.  “Freedom never shines so brightly as in the darkest hour. . . . I have always been proud to be an American citizen, but I have never been so proud as I am today.”

      The Rev. Larry Maffett of the First United Methodist Church gave the opening and closing prayers, and the Lincoln Community High School choir sang the national anthem and “America the Beautiful.”  At the close of the ceremony, the community of those who cared joined hands and sang “God Bless America.”

[Joan Crabb]

Young, old and in between
come together on Friday

[SEPT. 15, 2001]  Mary Olson, who remembers Pearl Harbor, was one of the 1200 to 1500 folks who attended the ceremony Friday at 4:15 p.m. on the lawn of the Logan County Courthouse to show her patriotism and her sympathy for the rescue workers in New York City.

Make a Blanket Day for national disaster

[SEPT. 15, 2001]  Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization.  It is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children that are ill, traumatized or otherwise in need, through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer blanketmakers.

Board earmarks $1,000 for disaster relief

[SEPT. 14, 2001]  As "a token from one government to another," in Rod White’s terms, the Logan County Board said it plans to send $1,000, from the County Farm Fund surplus, for disaster relief in New York City and Washington, D.C., to be administered by the American Red Cross.

At the beginning of its board of the whole meeting at the courthouse Tuesday night, the board held a moment of silence for the victims of Tuesday’s attack and announced a service at 4:15 p.m. Friday to express feelings of patriotism. The service will be at the Broadway side of the courthouse.

Logan County ESDA Director Dan Fulscher announced that the LEPC-ESDA yearly exercise will still be held on Sept. 29, but the Mount Pulaski safe school exercise is canceled because the SWAT team is occupied elsewhere. Roger Bock, chairman of the Airport Committee, said the airport was briefly reopened Thursday and then closed again by the FAA. An ultralight fly-in is still expected to take place on Saturday and Sunday, drawing 30-50 aircraft.

Lloyd Evans, administrator of the Logan County Health Department, said he has been informed that blood donations are not needed at the present and, rather than collect a "glut of blood" now, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital laboratory is keeping names of those interested in donating blood as need arises.

In tentative votes the 12 board members, including newly seated member Thomas Cash, indicated that on Tuesday they will approve bids of $8320.50 from Stewart’s Carpet Center in Mount Pulaski for carpet and installation and $8,900 from High for bird repellent for the courthouse. They also indicated they would accept these bids for the Dr. John Logan County Building: $2,937.46 from Gossett’s Decorator Studio for vertical blinds, $5,460 from Gossett’s for carpet and installation, $2,982.50 from Lincoln Office Products for 10 tables and 24 chairs, and $6,350 from Ushmann Communications for a phone system. A sign for the building has been ordered from Mr. Hickey at a cost of $969.

Lloyd Evans of the Logan County Health Department discussed several proposed changes to the food inspection ordinance. These changes would restate inspection frequency as "at least as often as the state requires," change response period from 10 days to 10 working days and allow for a temporary permit with a termination date.

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Board member David Hepler questioned a provision requiring that a food service establishment have a person able to understand and speak English available for routine inspections and other health department business. Since inspections and other business are not announced ahead of time, this would mean having an English-speaking person present whenever the restaurant or other establishment is open. Hepler suggested instead adding a provision for the use of an interpreter, with the establishment bearing the cost.

Kathy Waldo, Health Department director of environmental services, said it is impossible to conduct an inspection, train on food safety issues or investigate food-borne illnesses if no one in the restaurant speaks English. State’s Attorney Tim Huyett said his personal reaction was, "It’s a cost of doing business in a predominantly English-speaking country." Evans said that in Chicago an applicant can take the test for a food handler’s license in a variety of languages, and Cook County hires personnel who can act as interpreters. However, it is cost-prohibitive for a smaller county to employ interpreters. The Logan County Health Department does have food-handling videos available in several languages.

Dale Voyles, chair of the Legislative Committee, reported a proposal to enlarge the Zoning Board of Appeals from five to six members in coordination with the coming transition to board districts. The additional member plus others to fill vacancies would be appointed from districts not currently represented.

Repairs to the Indian maiden statue are expected to be completed by the end of October, according to Building and Grounds co-chair Terry Werth. The statue will be set on the Pulaski Street side of the courthouse.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

CEFCU accepts contributions to
Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund

Light a candle

[SEPT. 14, 2001]  A nationwide show of solidarity is planned for this evening, Friday, Sept. 14, at 7.

Every American is being asked to step out of your door, stop your car, or step out of your establishment and light a candle. We will show the world that Americans are strong and united against terrorism.

The message: We stand united — We will not tolerate terrorism!

Large attendance at
Mount Pulaski prayer vigil

[SEPT. 14, 2001]  Approximately 400 people attended a candlelight prayer vigil on the Mount Pulaski square on Thursday evening, Sept. 13. Pastor John Robertson of the Mount Pulaski Christian Church organized the event.

A group of children began the vigil by singing "God Bless America."  Prayers were offered by Pastor Robertson; Sally Litterly, Logan County clerk; Bill Glaze, mayor of Mount Pulaski; Ron Bowles, Mount Pulaski fire chief; Greg Maus, father of a U.S. serviceman; and Karen DeVault, a Mount Pulaski resident who offered a prayer for all medical personnel.

All Mount Pulaski firemen, EMS personnel and police officers attended in full dress uniform. It was very emotional and patriotic ceremony.

The service concluded with everyone singing "Amazing Grace." 

[LDN ]

Community services planned for Friday

Special hours at Logan County Courthouse

[SEPT. 13, 2001]  The president has proclaimed Sept. 14 a National Day of Prayer. The president is "encouraging employers to permit their workers time off during the lunch hour to attend the noontime services to pray for our land."

By order of the Logan County Board chairman, the courthouse and all county offices will be closed from noon to 1 p.m. to allow employees to attend a communitywide prayer service at the Lincoln Christian Church.

The courthouse and county offices will re-open at 1 p.m. and close Friday at 4 p.m. for a "Public Expression of Patriotism" service at 4:15 p.m. at the Broadway side of the courthouse. Logan County government and emergency workers request your attendance to do our part for those suffering in the eastern United States.

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Agenda for Public Expression of Patriotism

• Welcome by Logan County Board Chairman Dick Logan

• Pledge of allegiance to the flag

• Prayer led by the Rev. Larry Maffett

• "Star-Spangled Banner," performed by LCHS Choir

• County board resolution read by Sally Litterly, county clerk

• Remarks by state Rep. Jonathan Wright

• Letter from U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood read by Carla Bender, clerk of the Circuit Court

• "God Bless America," led by Dick Logan

• Song by LCHS Choir

• Remarks by Dan Fulscher, Logan County ESDA director

• Closing prayer

• "Proud to be an American" recording

[LDN and news releases ]

Blood donors will be needed
in future, Hester says

[SEPT. 13, 2001]  The local supply of blood is adequate now, but more may be needed in the near future, according to Woody Hester, CEO of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

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[Joan Crabb]

Students grapple with terrorism

[SEPT. 13, 2001]   

Tuesday

At Lincoln Community High School, social studies teacher Stephen Sauer attempted to put the events of the day in perspective for students as they sat watching history unfold live on Channel 1.

He told his students, "This is history you are living in. You are seeing something which is unprecedented in history."

Sauer went on to say all of the following:

"I have told kids in the past, ‘Because we are a free society, we are vulnerable.’ I never imagined that something would happen on a scale like this.

"The kids seem be responding really well. They've asked questions like, ‘Who’s responsible?’

"We had just watched as a plane flew into the building, and a plane flew by over here. We all made eye contact. You just get heightened, you get a little more sensitized when you watch these things happen.

"They’ve been handling it well though — asking good questions and watching pretty attentively."

Like other past catastrophic events, such as the assassination of JFK, Waco, Columbine, and when the Challenger blew up, it is expected that this week’s events will have an impact on our children. When they travel to D.C. or New York, or wherever they go, they'll be thinking twice about what happened on Sept. 11, 2001.

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When asked what the influence he thought this event might have on the students’ political involvement, Sauer responded, "I'll be curious to see in the days ahead what they think once we know more about what happened — their reaction: Are we supposed to go out with guns blazing or do we use diplomacy? How are we going to handle that?"

Wednesday evening

Lincoln College students, faculty and staff gathered in regard for the national events that occurred on Tuesday. Student housing director Steve Snodgrass, creative writing instructor John Means and religion instructor John Welter spoke on a variety of topics dealing with how we as a community can cope with what has happened. Mr. Welter’s speech was moving because he compared the events to what he witnessed during the race riots of the ’60s.

[LDN ]

The day after ‘Attack on America’

Area leaders respond to national tragedy

[SEPT. 12, 2001]  Sympathy for the victims and their families and a sense that America has reached a turning point were among the reactions that Logan County officials had to Tuesday’s acts of terrorism that destroyed the World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon.

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[Joan Crabb]

City says ‘no’ again to taking
over problem culvert

[SEPT. 12, 2001]  A proposal that the city of Lincoln take over and repair a deteriorating box culvert north of the Cracker Barrel Restaurant near Allison Lake got the same answer it got last November — a resounding "no."

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[Joan Crabb]

U.S. under terrorist attack
How is Logan County affected?

[SEPT. 11, 2001]  The terrorist attacks that have destroyed New York’s World Trade Center buildings and part of the Pentagon, shut down air traffic in the United States and Canada, closed trading on Wall Street, and brought military bases throughout the country on high alert are being monitored closely here in Logan County.

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"Now when we talk about being prepared for terrorist attacks, people will understand better what we’ve been working toward," he added

He said the local ESDA has put in requests for state funding for specialized terrorism equipment and training for the next three years, and that he now intends to ask for funding for the next six years.

[Joan Crabb]

Chamber of Commerce Week

Local organization has contributed to community since 1913

[SEPT. 10, 2001]  Gov. George Ryan has proclaimed Sept. 9-15 as Chamber of Commerce Week in Illinois. The Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce has joined the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce in celebrating this special recognition of the contributions chambers of commerce make to American civic and economic life.

Chambers of commerce have contributed to the civic and economic life in Illinois for 163 years. The chamber in Lincoln was incorporated in 1913 as The Lincoln Commercial Club. The purpose of the club was "to procure factories and manufacturers, public improvement, celebrations, and benefit."

 In 1922, the name of the organization was changed to Chamber of Commerce of Lincoln Illinois, under the presidency of William Hodnett. In 1970, the name was changed to Greater Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce, with Jack Hodgson as president of the board and Charles Isley as executive director.

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The current name of the local chamber, Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce, was approved in 1987, when Dave Hawkinson was executive director. The name change reflected the mission to represent the total business community in Logan County, and that mission remains in effect today.

 "Our board of directors represents small and mid-size private business, manufacturing, agriculture, education, finance, tourism, not-for-profit and real estate. And we have representation from the two larger commerce communities of Mount Pulaski and Atlanta," reports Bobbi Abbott, executive director. "We are proud of the diversity of our board and the chamber’s many positive contributions to this community."

[News release]

Announcements

LCHS budget hearing and board meeting on Monday

[SEPT. 14, 2001]  A public hearing on the 2001-2002 budgets of the Lincoln Community High School and Lincolnland Technical Education Center, as well as a regular meeting of the Lincoln Community High School District 404 Board of Education, will be on Monday, Sept. 17, in the Instructional Materials Center at LCHS. The budget hearing will be at 6:45 p.m. and the board meeting at 7 p.m.

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