LDN - Top Stories

Senate Republican balanced budget
could save local jobs, statewide services

[APRIL 25, 2002] SPRINGFIELD — A balanced budget plan developed by Senate Republican lawmakers could save state jobs locally and restore state services and facilities earmarked for cuts, according to Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield. The plan also holds the line on income tax and sales tax increases, opting instead to increase taxes on wealthy riverboats and tobacco products.

"This is by no means an ideal plan; but given our current fiscal situation, this is a lot better for local families than any proposal I have seen thus far," Bomke said. "It takes into consideration many of the revenue-generating options I have laid on the table in the past few weeks, such as increasing riverboat taxes and taking away raises for elected officials. This, along with the elimination of new programs, will allow the state to continue providing many services slated for cuts in the original budget blueprint."

According to Bomke, this represents a comprehensive, balanced state budget financial plan for the coming fiscal year that establishes spending priorities and outlines how to pay for those priorities in the face of declining revenues.

While it does not restore all of the positions marked for layoffs by the governor’s office, the financial plan estimates reinstating 870 jobs if changes can be made to state employee insurance plans. Other jobs could also be restored once an agreement is reached on an early retirement plan.

The Jim Edgar Panther Creek Fish and Wildlife Area, formerly known as "Site M" would also remain open under the plan, as would other parks, correctional facilities and state centers that in recent weeks have been slated for closure or downsizing.

[to top of second column in this article]

The plan would not stop downsizing at Lincoln Developmental Center, but Bomke said he will continue to work with AFSMCE and the Lincoln Parents Association for the best interests of facility residents.

Among the specifics of the plan are:

• Avoiding income tax and sales tax increases by increasing taxes on wealthy riverboat owners and tobacco products.

• Borrowing $1 billion at a low 2 percent interest rate for nine months so the state can pay vendors on time.

• Excluding new "member initiatives" projects.

• Maintaining elementary and secondary education funding at $6.2 billion, expanding state assistance for repairing and building local schools, and fully funding mandated "categorical" grants to schools.

• Ensuring access to health care for all citizens by forcing the state to adequately pay for services provided to the poor.

• Preventing new corporate tax breaks.

• Forcing better financial management of state funds.

• Maintaining a financially stable year-end balance.

The plan was developed after numerous public hearings on state spending and Appropriations Committee review of spending in every agency.

[News release]

Naturalist/author to speak
Monday evening

[APRIL 25, 2002] Tree lovers and people interested in learning more about trees are invited to hear naturalist Larry Mahan, author of "In Search of Big Trees," speak at a public program at 7 p.m. April 30 in the Logan County Extension building at the Logan County Fairgrounds.

A science teacher and tree enthusiast from Palmyra, Mahan travels throughout central Illinois documenting the size of large trees.

He has nominated 15 state champion trees in Illinois.

The program is sponsored by the Logan County Master Gardeners, which is also conducting a local "Treemendous Tree" Contest.

Entry blanks for the contest are available at the Extension office and Lincoln-area businesses. The deadline is May 3.

[Click here for entry information.]

[News release]

Fuhrer predicts lean years
ahead for city finances

[APRIL 24, 2002] There are lean years ahead for the city of Lincoln on the budget front, Alderman Steve Fuhrer, finance chairman, warned the city council Tuesday evening.

"We’ve spent $285,000 more than we’re bringing in this year. We’ve robbed other accounts to pay for it. They won’t be there to rob next year," he said at Tuesday’s council meeting.

"We’ve been spending more than we’re taking in for the last few years," he added. "Fortunately we had money in the general fund to recoup the losses."

The council approved a working budget for fiscal year 2002-03, with projected revenues of $3,995,004 million and anticipated expenditures of $4,292,053. Because of borrowing from set-aside funds to make up the deficit, the estimated bank balance of $781,294 on May 1 of this year will drop to $487,254 by the end of the coming fiscal year April 30, 2003.

Anticipating similar problems in the future, Fuhrer suggested the council set up a three- to five-year plan for getting extra revenue for the city, rather than thinking ahead just one year at a time.

The city’s financial crunch brought budget cuts across the board. These included wage freezes for all department heads and management positions, a moratorium on purchases of new vehicles for the police and the zoning office, a hiring freeze in all departments, cutbacks in funds for conferences and seminars, and cutting out $216,000 to widen Elm Street.

Historically low interest rates, which reduce the amount of money the city earns on its investments, and drops in sales and other taxes are the major reasons for the lower-than-usual city revenues.

Alderman Michael Montcalm commended Fuhrer on his work as finance chairman. "Steve did a super job. In all the years I’ve been here, it’s the roughest budget I’ve seen. Everybody gave up things we didn’t want to give up to put this budget together."

All nine council members present voted to pass the working budget. Alderman Glenn Shelton was absent.

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In other business, Mayor Beth Davis announced that she is forming a Lincoln Beautification Commission, which will meet the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. in her office. Goal of the commission is to clean up the city, particularly to have it in good order for the sesquicentennial celebration in August of 2003.

Fuhrer said he had contacted people in the town of Normal, which also has a beautification commission, to find out how they are operating. He said Normal has a good program and picks up trash all year. The Normal program is funded by a fee paid along with the city water bill, and Fuhrer said he would try to get more information about it.

Several aldermen said they would oppose any hike in water rates to pay for such a program.

The city has been asked to approve Plat II of the Austman/Johnson subdivision on the west side, across from West Lincoln-Broadwell School. Plat I of the commercial subdivision was approved in 1998. Plat II would add two more lots to the subdivison and has already been approved by the Planning Commission, according to Bill Bates, city attorney.

Fuhrer said he was concerned that the city would be asked to put in sidewalks and streetlights at a later date. Bates said this plat was for a commercial, not a residential development, and the city could state in the minutes that it will never have any responsibility for installing sidewalks and lights. The approval of the plat will be on the agenda for May 6.

Mayor Davis reported that she has been contacted by Kitty Campbell of Pedcor Investments about a letter of support for Phase II of the Brainard Landings apartment development. Davis pointed out that construction of Phase I of the 56-unit apartment development has not even been started and she did understand the reason for the request.

Zoning officer Les Last explained that the Pedcor group needs time to get financing for Phase II, which has already been approved by the city. Last said no construction date has been set yet for Phase I.

[Joan Crabb]

Flower firm not ‘itinerant
merchant,’ council says

[APRIL 24, 2002] What is an itinerant merchant?

Is it a peddler who stays in town one day? Or a weekend? Three weeks?

How about 105 days?

The city council decided last night that it needs to clarify the definition in its ordinance soon, but it did come to one conclusion right away.

Whitledge Flowers, the firm that for the past 10 years has been selling garden plants in Lincoln’s Big R parking lot, isn’t an itinerant merchant and doesn’t have to pay a fee of $25 per day.

Acting on an opinion by City Attorney Bill Bates, City Clerk Juanita Josserand recently told the Whitledge firm that under the city ordinance it was considered an itinerant merchant and must pay a $25-a-day fee.

Whitledge, Bates reported at Tuesday evening’s council meeting, "objected vehemently."

A letter from a Peoria law firm representing Whitledge pointed out the following:

Whitledge Flowers, Inc., is registered with the state of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pays sales tax (a share of which is returned to Lincoln) and has an account with a Lincoln bank.

The firm paid $16,500 in wages to 10 Lincoln residents in 2001 during its April 17 to July 31 sales season, which is 105 days. It is also covered by insurance.

Whitledge Flowers also made $2,700 worth of charitable contributions to various Lincoln nursing homes and churches.

It would cost the firm $2,625 in fees if it is classified as an itinerant merchant, and the firm probably would not continue to do business in Lincoln. Local people would lose wages and Lincoln would lose sales taxes.

[to top of second column in this article]

Bates told the city council that the flower-selling firm might or might not be classed as an itinerant merchant, that the council would have to decide, and that it was a "judgment call."

He said according to law the fee is not to be used as a source of revenue but is to compensate the city for any costs it incurs, such as extra police protection for the business.

He also said he thought the attorneys for the flower seller would take the case to court if the council decided it was an itinerant merchant and pursued collecting the fee.

It didn’t take long for the council to make the call.

"I don’t want to run off any business in town employing 10 people," Alderman Verl Prather said. "They are a legitimate seasonal business.

"They have contributed flowers to Friendship Manor and other places. We should allow them to do business here," Alderman Joe Stone said.

Assistant Police Chief Harvey Mullins confirmed that the firm does not require any services except the routine police patrol that would ordinarily be given the Big R parking lot.

"We just need to define what ‘itinerant’ means in our ordinance," Pat Madigan said.

Whatever else it means, it doesn’t mean Whitledge Flowers, Inc.

[Joan Crabb]

Gov. Ryan proclaims Volunteer Week

Announces recipients of Illinois Points of Light Awards

[APRIL 24, 2002] SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan has proclaimed April 22-28 as Volunteer Week in Illinois and announced the recipients of the Illinois Points of Light Award, the state’s award for volunteerism and community service.

"For millions of Americans, volunteering is an essential part of a well-rounded and meaningful lifestyle," said Gov. Ryan. "Volunteering renews our sense of civic responsibility and reaffirms our connection to communities."

Gov. Ryan encouraged Illinois residents to become more involved in volunteer activities and to nominate a volunteer they believe should be recognized for a Points of Light Award. The Illinois Points of Light Award program is an adaptation of the national Daily Points of Light Award created by former President George Bush. These state and national programs are designed to honor those who have made a commitment to volunteer service and to encourage individuals to spend time helping one another. The Points of Light Award program is administered by the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, a part of the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Leona Mroz of Arlington Heights, Beverly Potts of Deer Creek and Charmaine Blessman of Western Springs are being honored by the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service for their exemplary service to others and countless hours of volunteering.

Leona Mroz volunteers at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. She provides library patrons with information on resources and services and takes her job a step further by distributing information on shows and programs. Mroz has served as a volunteer for the Red Cross for 20 years and has volunteered at the St. Roberts Bellamine Church for the past 10 years. Additionally, she is also a member of a sewing team that devotes time to infants with drug addictions.

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Beverly Potts volunteers time toward the leadership of the Deer Creek Library. She played an instrumental role in relocating the library and securing additional resources for its operation. Potts has dedicated her spare time to moving furniture, staining and varnishing shelves, and making certain that projects are completed on time at the library. The new library building will have room for collection expansion, which in turn will provide more resources for everyone in the community.

Charmaine Blessman chairs the annual Neighborhood Environmental Appreciation Team event in Western Springs. The team’s volunteers clean streets and collect winter debris throughout the village. Blessman has organized the NEAT event for the past 10 years. In 2001, NEAT organized 542 youth and 254 adult volunteers and collected 7.19 tons of lawn waste, litter and trash in the public areas of Western Springs. In addition, Blessman has co-chaired several groups at her church and served as a Girl Scout leader.

"Every day, countless volunteers across the state give time and energy toward the needs of those who are less fortunate, the education of our children, the protection of our environment and countless other acts of kindness. Nothing more clearly exemplifies the American spirit," Gov. Ryan said.

To receive information or a nomination form, contact the Illinois Commission of Volunteerism and Community Service at (217) 558-2663 or write to the commission at 618 E. Washington, 1st Floor, Springfield, IL 62701. Additional information about the Points of Light Award program and other state and national service programs can be found on the Illinois Volunteerism and Community Service website.

[IGNN press release]

Judge issues restraining order
blocking May 15 closure of Vienna C.C.

[APRIL 24, 2002] VIENNA, Ill. — Judge James Robert Williamson in Johnson County Circuit Court issued a temporary restraining order, or TRO, to halt the closing of Vienna Correctional Center. The TRO stops all transfer of inmates and all layoffs that would be related to closing the facility on May 15.

"We know that rushing to close Vienna risks the security and stability of the state’s correctional facilities. Now a court has affirmed that to do so may also be illegal," said Henry Bayer, executive director of AFSCME Council 31.

The minimum-security facility was slated to be closed as a budget-cutting measure. When the closure date was moved up to May 15, AFSCME, along with two state legislators, filed suit against Gov. George Ryan on the grounds that he could not close the facility without the approval of the General Assembly, which had already approved funding for the facility through June 30.

The state has until May 2 to appeal the ruling. In addition, the attorney general’s office, which is representing the state, has filed a motion to dismiss, which will be heard on April 30.

[to top of second column in this article]

"We were shocked that Governor Ryan suddenly decided to speed up the closure," said Bayer. "It was creating chaos. It’s a relief that the court has put the brakes on this potentially dangerous decision."

Ryan and Donald Snyder, director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, are among the state officials named as defendants in the suit. The plaintiffs are AFSCME Council 31; Jeff Jackson, the president of Local 415, which represents most of the employees at Vienna; Sen. Larry Woolard, 59th Senate District; and Rep. Jim Fowler, 118th House District.

[News release]

LDC staffing concern sparks press conference, letter-writing campaign

[APRIL 23, 2002] Concerned that the transfer of employees at Lincoln Developmental Center will jeopardize the care of the 248 residents at the facility, Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union are asking state officials not to lay off workers while the residents still need their care.

Although an injunction prevents the Department of Human Services, which oversees LDC, from moving any more residents, 128 LDC employees are scheduled to be laid off as of April 30, under a plan by Gov. George Ryan to downsize the Lincoln facility.

Of these 128 AFSCME members, about 90 are technicians who give direct care to the residents. Nineteen employees have already been transferred to other state facilities.

Bomke called a press conference yesterday in Springfield in which he charged that it is "irresponsible to cut back staffing levels" and that the plan "could be devastating." He said the cutback would leave only 183 direct-care workers for the 248 residents still at the facility. (A press release from Bomke appears below.)

Bomke, along with AFSCME Council 31, AFSCME Local 425 President Don Todd and parents of an LDC resident, filed the suit that led to the injunction preventing more LDC residents from being moved.

AFSCME Local 45, the union that represents many LDC employees, is calling for a letter-writing campaign to ask the four top state legislators to restore funding so LDC can keep 240 residents and 480 employees.

All those in the Lincoln area who are concerned about keeping LDC operating and keeping jobs in the community are asked to write to these four legislative leaders at the Statehouse, Springfield, IL, 62706:

• Rep. Mike Madigan, D-Chicago, House majority leader;

• Rep. Lee Daniels, R-Elmhurst, House minority leader;

• Sen. James "Pate" Philip, R-Addison, Senate majority leader;

• Sen. Emil Jones, D-Chicago, Senate minority leader.

[to top of second column in this article]

According to the governor’s plan, LDC was to be downsized to 100 residents and 210 employees by June 30, the end of the state’s fiscal year. Also, 372 staff members were to be laid off by that time. The staff layoffs were to coincide with transfers of LDC residents to other facilities.

Dan Senters, local AFSCME spokesman, said losing the 128 staff members, about 90 of which are technicians who give direct, hands-on care to patients, "would make it impossible to provide adequate care for the residents and would set LDC up to lose federal funding.

"I cannot see how the governor’s intent to go with the layoffs even with residents still here can be consistent with his claim that his only concern is for the safety of the residents."

Senters said anyone who wants more information about the letter-writing campaign may call the AFSCME office at 735-1342.

According to Wanda Taylor, deputy press secretary for Gov. Ryan’s office, as of right now the plan is to go ahead with the layoffs of 128 employees.

However, Taylor said, a court hearing is set for Thursday which will determine whether or not the injunction will remain in force. Taylor did not know exactly where the hearing would be.

If the injunction remains in place, she said, DHS will reassess the situation to make sure that proper staff-to-resident ratio is maintained.

"We are not going to do anything to jeopardize patient care," she said.

[Joan Crabb]

Bomke, LDC parents want layoffs halted

[APRIL 23, 2002] SPRINGFIELD — A contingency staffing plan to serve Lincoln Developmental Center residents after layoffs take effect April 30 could be devastating for facility residents. Sen. Larry Bomke and concerned parents gathered at the Illinois Capitol Monday to denounce the plan.

Residents were originally scheduled to move starting April 15 in order to meet the governor’s downsizing plan for only 100 beds at the facility, but an injunction secured by Sen. Bomke, Lincoln parents and AFSCME bars the move.

"To proceed with this layoff just doesn’t make sense at this point," said Bomke, R-Springfield. "As long as the transfer of residents is on hold, it is irresponsible to cut back staffing levels to this point. We need to put the care of LDC residents first and the facility LDC cannot function effectively with staffing this low."

In meetings last week, facility management presented the union with a contingency staffing plan, on the assumption that the layoffs may go forward is planned on April 30 despite the injunction against moving residents.

The plan calls for laying off 96 direct-care staff, leaving only 183 direct-care workers to staff 248 residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This represents a lower staffing ratio than any other state center. The plan was unclear as to whether the remaining staff would work overtime to compensate for the missing workers or whether they would work short.

"If they don’t ask the staff to work overtime, they can't care for our family members," said Linda Brown, president of the Lincoln Parents Association. "And even if they do allow overtime, the staff are already pushed to the brink. Either way, our loved ones lose."

The governor had justified the large and sudden movement of residents out of the facility as necessary to improve staffing ratios. Previously, the Illinois Department of Public Health has cited LDC for insufficient staff. Even before the impending layoffs, direct-care staffing ratios have fallen back to their decertification levels, despite the large number of residents who have already left the facility.

[to top of second column in this article]

Already the decrease in staffing has affected patient care. Parent Larry Bruns detailed an account of his daughter Darla Cramer’s trip to Memorial Medical Center in Springfield last week.

Darla’s doctor had asked for an immediate transfer to Memorial for a CT scan and possibly emergency surgery at approximately 10:30 a.m. It took more than five hours for LDC to round up the necessary staff to transport Darla to Springfield because of the staff shortage. Bruns fears the impending layoffs will only make matters worse.

Union estimates show more than 100 direct-care workers have left LDC without replacement since the downsizing began, including 17 who were transferred to other state centers last week. This has already driven up overtime hours for employees. Workers are concerned that these layoffs could mean the end of LDC.

"How can we maintain our Medicaid certification?" asked Don Todd, president of AFSCME Local 425. "This puts us below the staffing level we had when we were decertified. Any savings to the state from these layoffs will be offset, either by the cost of overtime or by the loss of Medicaid dollars."

[Press release]

Brady to be sworn in to Illinois
Senate 44th District seat

[APRIL 23, 2002] BLOOMINGTON — Former state Rep. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, will be sworn in to the Illinois Senate on Wednesday, May 1, at 4:30 p.m. The ceremony, conducted by Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman, will be at the McLean County Historical Museum (old courthouse). Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Bill Brady’s appointment to the Senate comes after Sen. John Maitland, R-Bloomington, recently announced his resignation from the Senate, effective April 30. Brady will complete Maitland’s term, which expires January 2003. "The decision to retire has been difficult," explained Maitland. "However, it’s easier with Brady being the unanimous choice of all the county chairmen in the district. His record is impressive, and I'm looking forward to watching him be sworn in."

Bill Brady served as state representative from 1993-2001. As a legislator, Brady worked to increase education accountability and funding. He also worked to successfully reform workers compensation and tort law. He championed insurance and financial reform legislation that was later used as a national model. He is most noted for passage of legislation guaranteeing retired teacher health insurance. Brady recently received the Republican nomination for the Senate 44th District.

"John Maitland has been a mentor and good friend to me. While I’m saddened by his resignation, I’m looking forward to returning to the Illinois General Assembly," stated Brady.

[Press release]

Four war veterans get LCHS diplomas

[APRIL 22, 2002] It might be a little late — 61 years in one case — but on Sunday Lincoln Community High School awarded diplomas to four former students, men who left school before they graduated.

Today’s young people might think of these four men as dropouts, but in their day they were heroes.

All of them left school to enlist in the armed forces at a time when America was engaged in conflict that threatened its very existence. Two of Sunday’s graduates, Robert Ball and Edgar Logan, enlisted to serve in the U.S. Navy in World War II. The other two, Richard Montcalm and Jim Pinney, signed up to serve during the Korean War a few years later.

In those days, many young men saw it as their patriotic duty to join up and serve their country.

[Robert Ball]

As Robert Ball put it, "I couldn’t wait to get in." Ball enlisted on Dec. 14, 1941, just a week after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He served four years in the European Theater of Operations, shipping out on destroyer escorts, ships that protected convoys from enemy ships, especially German submarines, which were a deadly menace in the Atlantic.

[Edgar Logan]

Edgar L. Logan also wanted to join the Navy, not the Army, so he enlisted in August of 1943. Instead of spending the next year as a high school student, he was sent to New Caledonia, an island in the Pacific, where he served as a carpenter’s mate, repairing ships.

[No photo available of Richard Montcalm]

Richard T. Montcalm joined the U.S. Army in February of 1951, when he was a junior at Lincoln Community High School. He was only 17. At Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was trained as a paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division and served for three years. Although he was prepared to go, he was never sent to Korea. "They didn’t need any more paratroopers, I guess," he said.

[Jim Pinney]

Jim Pinney, an honor student at LCHS, wouldn’t have had to serve in the Korean War at all. His only brother, Bill, had been killed in World War II, so as the only surviving son he would not have been drafted. His father, Earl Pinney, had also served in World War II in the South Pacific and was among those who stormed the beach and raised the American flag at Iwo Jima. But in October of 1950, Jim signed up for active duty in Korea because he felt it was his duty. Like Montcalm, Jim Pinney never went there. He was sent to Austria instead, with the 350th Engineer Corps, where his unit lived in tents until they could build their own barracks.

Now, because of Public Law 92-446, all four veterans have diplomas from Lincoln Community High School. This recently passed law says that if a veteran of either war was enrolled in high school, if his high school career was interrupted by service in the military, and if he was honorably discharged, he may be given a diploma.

Robert Meinershagen, president of the LCHS school board, who attended the ceremony, explained the new law, and Joyce Hubbard, LCHS principal, presented the diplomas.

The veterans themselves heard about the new law in various ways.

Evelyn Logan, Edgar’s wife, said she read an article in an out-of-town paper that told about a veteran of World War II who had received his high school diploma. She called Hubbard to see about getting her husband a diploma. Hubbard was very helpful, Evelyn said. "I know from my own personal experience she’s put a lot of time into it.

"Edgar’s wanted his diploma all this time. But when you get married and have children, a diploma gets pushed into the background."

[Ceremony photos by Dean Langdon]
[LCHS principal Joyce Hubbard presents a diploma to World War II veteran Edgar Logan, who left school to enlist in the Navy.]

Edgar was discharged on March 18, 1946. He and the former Evelyn Sloan, were married on May 22, 1949.

Edgar worked for 15 years as a cabinetmaker for Lincoln Store Fixture Company, for 15 years as a foreman for Myers Industries, for four years for Buch Realtors building houses and for 18 years as maintenance supervisor at the Christian Village Nursing Home. He retired from the nursing home on Aug. 18, 2000.

The Logans have three sons, Lee, Roy and John, all living in central Illinois, so they can visit often with their four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Edgar has served as co-president of the Jefferson School PTA, Cubmaster for Jefferson school Cub Scouts, deacon at Lincoln Christian Church and chaperone for the high school choir of Lincoln Christian Church.

[to top of second column in this article]

"When he left Lincoln Community High School, he needed one class to graduate, which he would have done in 1944. He had enough credits but he hadn’t taken one test, in civics," his wife said.

"He’s excited, like a little kid at the candy store. We’re going to have a family party after the ceremony," she said.

Robert G. Ball was born in Lincoln, where he attended Central School and Lincoln High School. He left high school in 1941, and 61 years later has now received his diploma.

[LCHS principal Joyce Hubbard presents a diploma to World War II veteran Robert Ball, 61 years after he left school to enlist in the Navy.]

In high school Robert met Helen Campbell, who lived on a farm along Primm Road. He married her in 1943, while he was still in the Navy. His home port was New York, and when he was in port she would come to New York to visit him. They have one son, Michael, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

After his discharge from the Navy, Ball went to southern Illinois, where he worked for three years at Wood River Oil Refinery, 17 years at Sinclair Oil and 20 years for Olin Corporation. He retired from Olin as maintenance supervisor and was a boilermaker by trade.

During the years he lived in Bethalto, he was assistant chief of police, civil defense director, a member of the park board and the police commission. He was also active in Boy Scouts, earning his Eagle Scout badge, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge 406 in Bethalto, the Scottish Rite Valley of Southern Illinois and the Sahib Temple in Sarasota, Fla., where he lived after he retired. In 2002 he and Helen returned to Lincoln to live at the Christian Village.

He attended New York City College while in the Navy and attained the rank of petty officer first class.

Richard Montcalm came home from the service in 1954 and married Beverly Williams on June 5, 1955. He worked first at the State School fire department (Lincoln Developmental Center), from May 1954 to December 1957. In 1958 he joined the Lincoln City Fire Department, retiring in November of 1995 as assistant fire chief safety officer.

[LCHS principal Joyce Hubbard presents a diploma to Korean War veteran Richard Montcalm, who was trained as a paratrooper.]

He and Beverly have three sons, Mark, Michael and Richard, all in the area.

"It was always a dream of his to have his diploma," Beverly said. She heard about the new law on the news; then son Rich, Lincoln’s police chief, heard about it at the high school. Rich told the family LCHS was going to award diplomas and was looking for former servicemen who qualified to receive them.

"A dream come true," Beverly said.

Another dream come true is the family’s first granddaughter, after five grandsons.

"Impossible. There’s never been a girl born in the Montcalm family before," said Beverly. "She will be spoiled with love."

Jim Pinney’s children, especially his youngest daughter, Darla, and his granddaughter Corrie, wanted him to have his high school diploma at last.

Jim, an honor student, left LCHS in the fall of his senior year. Joyce Smith was only a freshman then, but she had a big crush on Jim.

"I just thought he was the cutest thing in the whole wide world. I was really sweet on him," she said.

She wrote to him every day and can still recite, without hesitation, the number she had to write on the envelope, RA17291847. They got engaged by mail. Jim had his older sister buy Joyce a ring and give it to her. He came home Sept. 23, 1953, and they were married five days later. Their four children are Debbie, Jim, Bill and Darla; they have eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A talented mechanic, Jim’s first job was with Hake Oldsmobile. He started on the grease rack and ended as service manager. After 40 years with Oldsmobile dealerships, he opened his own business, Jim Pinney’s Auto Service, on Kickapoo Street across from Latham Park. He retired in 2000.

Somewhere along the line he also found time to teach for Lincoln College, setting up all the mechanics courses the college was offering at the Logan Correctional Center. He taught all the mechanics courses at the Logan prison and also set up classes at the Pontiac Correctional Center. During his four years as a teacher in the prison system, he placed 34 former inmates in jobs as mechanics. Many of them have kept in touch with him, Joyce said.

Since his retirement he’s built a garage for his tools, a place where his old cronies can come to drink coffee. He’s helping his son, Jim Pinney, the Atlanta police chief, build a log home, and each day he picks up great-granddaughter Emily from pre-school and granddaughter Corrie from LCHS. He’s even found time to develop a new passion, making his own fishing poles and lures, Joyce reports.

Wayne Schrader, finance officer of American Legion Logan Post 263, who was speaker at the ceremony, congratulated the veterans on the "belated honors" given them. In a few short words, he summed up the reasons the four men enlisted.

"When a disaster takes place, the only thing we can think about is helping out. When war breaks out, the only thing we think about is that our country needs us," he said.

"These men had their lives put on hold. They went to war as kids and came back as men."

[Joan Crabb]

Relay for Life raises $60,510
for American Cancer Society

[APRIL 22, 2002] An arch of purple balloons . . . a crowd of walkers passing underneath . . . Tim Searby singing "Wind Beneath My Wings" — these elements merged into one of the most moving moments at the April 19-20 Relay for Life, a benefit for the American Cancer Society.

[Click here to see more photos]

The people circling the oval track at the Recreation Center were survivors of cancer — men and women, old and young, each carrying a red carnation. Leading them were event co-chairs Kathy Blaum and Mary Ellen Martin, honorary chairs and cancer survivors Elizabeth Brooks and Ray Leesman, all of Lincoln, and young survivors Tabatha Weidhuner, 7, of Middletown and Kayla Rae Meister, 8, of Sherman.

[Photos by Bob Frank]

Sixty-two teams represented families, businesses and organizations, with several organizations fielding two or even three teams. Each team was responsible for having at least one walker doing laps at all times, so there were always over 50 making the circuit and sometimes many more. One group, however, was excused from walking — the Christian Village Rockers teams 1 and 2 rocked continuously instead.

Together the relay teams plus silent auction, food and relay gear sales raised $60,510.50 by the end of the day, according to co-chair Mary Ellen Martin, who expected final proceeds to reach the goal of $63,000. Goods for the silent auction were donated, with the largest share of items from Lee’s Home Furnishings.

Ethel’s Angels 2 from Eaton Corporation Cutler-Hammer was the winning team, raising $4,635.50. Together with Ethel’s Angels 1, both named for retired employee Ethel Buchanan, the corporation accounted for $5,761.50. Other teams credited with $1,500 or more were Investor Steppers, Jigglers (Breast Cancer Support Group), MII Boomerangs, Angels All Around (Lessen family) and Lincoln Woman’s Club. Anna Bunner of Lincoln was the top individual fund-raiser.

Honorary chair Elizabeth Brooks also captained the three National Honor Society teams from Lincoln Community High School. Together they raised over $1,000. At the time Brooks contracted cancer she was a student at Chester-East Lincoln, which that year fielded a team in her honor.

Ray Leesman of Lincoln, the other honorary chair, began driving cancer patients to Springfield for radiation treatments in 1987, nine years before he himself developed colon cancer. The shuttle service is provided through the American Cancer Society and is provided by a team of drivers, each taking a different day of the week. Dick Eimer (732-8338) is the driver coordinator. Leesman has been a regular for 10 years and drove occasionally for five years before that.

Leesman, who retired in 1982 after 30 years as purchasing agent for Pittsburgh Plate Glass, has walked the survivor lap for each of the five years of the local Relay for Life. His own experience with cancer took place in 1996, when doctors found a malignant polyp and removed 18 inches of his colon. He said he has had no problems since.

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The fact that cancer can be survived was a major theme of the event. Steve Anderson, American Cancer Society field representative, said the chance of surviving cancer was 15 percent in 1900 but improved to 60 percent by 2000. The organization has set a goal of raising the rate to 80 percent by 2015.

The walk began with opening ceremonies at 8 p.m. Friday. A group of over 50 teenagers walked laps all night, with sometimes a single person on the track, according to event co-chair Kathy Blaum.

Saturday’s atmosphere was anything but static, with lively music keeping feet moving and DJ Jim Newsome occasionally calling for a reverse of direction. Other entertainment was provided by vocalist Tim Searby, the St. John United Church of Christ adult chimes choir and Flying Feet Cloggers from Audra’s Dance Studio.

Shelby Lessen, at 7 one of the youngest walkers, cut her long blonde hair to donate for a wig for a child with cancer. When her mother, Sarah Lessen, shared an article from Redbook magazine about giving hair, Shelby said, "I would do that." She was especially touched by the fact that with wigs of real hair children can swim and engage in other vigorous activities that might be impossible with artificial hair. Mrs. Lessen’s mother, Wanda Isbell, died of cancer when Sarah was 18, and Shelby’s other grandmother, Fran Lessen, has also contracted the disease.

The Lessen family has taken up the cause of hair and wigs for chemotherapy patients. Sarah Lessen sent flyers to beauty salons and health-care offices asking for wigs and hair. At Relay for Life she displayed eight wigs to be donated to the Logan County Wig Bank, located at Fabulous Hairstyles & Tanning, 108 S. Chicago, Lincoln (735-1453). Two volunteers said they would cut their hair to donate to Wigs for Kids, a not-for-profit organization in Rocky River, Ohio. Hair must be at least 12 inches long, non-permed and non-colored.

Each team of walkers decorated its rest area, and the sites were judged. Winners were Northwest (School) Wildcat Walkers, first place; Jigglers, second place; Angels All Around, third place; and Charron’s Auto Repair, honorable mention.

Inner and outer edges of the track were defined by over 850 luminaria, each given in honor of a cancer victim or survivor. At 12:30 p.m. Saturday the luminaria were lit with glow sticks, and Judy Awe of Lincoln read the names of all donors and honorees in a nearly hour-long ceremony. Joye Anderson sang "Amazing Grace," and committee members joined in a final lap.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

Gov. Ryan’s Commission on Capital Punishment completes comprehensive review of Illinois system

Final recommendations delivered to governor

[APRIL 20, 2002] CHICAGO — Gov. George Ryan recently received the report from his Commission on Capital Punishment, which makes more than 80 recommendations for change in the capital punishment system in Illinois. The recommendations include the creation of a statewide panel to review prosecutors’ request for the death penalty, banning death sentences on the mentally retarded, significantly reducing the number of death eligibility factors, videotaping interrogations of homicide suspects, and controlling the use of testimony by jailhouse informants.

The commission’s report is the product of two years of extensive research and analysis of Illinois’ capital punishment system, from initial police investigation through trial, appeal and post-conviction review. After considering all of their proposed reforms, a majority of the commission would favor that the death penalty be abolished in Illinois. The commission concluded, however, that if capital punishment is to be retained as a lawful penalty, reform of the present capital punishment system is important to better ensure that it is fair, just and accurate. The commission also concluded that Gov. Ryan and the next governor should consider the reforms that need to be made to the capital punishment system when considering clemency applications in capital cases.

"It is entirely appropriate to consider how those changes might have made a difference to defendants when reaching determinations about whether or not a death sentence should be upheld on the merits or whether mercy should be extended in light of all the circumstances."

Gov. Ryan said he will carefully study the report and deliberate on its recommendations. "I owe it to everyone who believes in justice and to everyone touched by our legal system to reflect upon this commission’s findings," Gov. Ryan said. "There are some who will be impatient, who will demand quick solutions, now that I have this report. But, our experience in Illinois with the capital punishment system has gained worldwide attention. What we do from this point forward may be an example to the rest of the country and the world.

"I want to thank each of the commission members for donating their time and extraordinary efforts to the public good. Their hard work and comprehensive study of this difficult issue is appreciated by all of us as citizens of this great state."

Gov. Ryan appointed the commission in March 2000 after declaring the moratorium on Jan. 31, 2000. At the time he said, "Until I can be sure that no innocent man or woman is facing lethal injection, no one will meet that fate." The vast majority of the commission’s recommendations and proposed reforms were reached by unanimous decision of the commission members. Other recommendations were reached by majority vote, and in some of those cases alternative proposals were suggested by the minority. The recommendations taken as a whole, if implemented, represent essential reforms to Illinois’ capital punishment system.

Some of the recommendations include:

• Creating a statewide review panel to conduct a pre-trial review of prosecutorial decisions to seek capital punishment. The panel would be comprised of four prosecutors and a retired judge.

• Significantly reducing the current list of death eligibility factors from 20 to five including murder of a peace officer or firefighter, murder in a correctional facility, the murder of two or more people, the intentional murder of a person involving torture, and any murder committed by a suspected felon in order to obstruct the justice system.

• Banning the imposition of the death penalty for defendants found to be mentally retarded.

• No person may be sentenced to death based solely on uncorroborated single eyewitness or accomplice testimony or the uncorroborated testimony of jailhouse informants.

• Recommending other reforms concerning the use of jailhouse informants who purport to have information about the case or statements allegedly made by the defendant, including requiring a preliminary hearing to be conducted by the court as to the reliability of such witnesses and their proposed testimony, full disclosure of benefits conferred for such testimony, early disclosure to the defense about the background of such witnesses, and special cautionary instructions to the jury.

• Videotaping the entire interrogation of homicide suspects at a police station and not merely the confession.

• Allowing trial judges to concur or reverse a jury’s death sentence verdict. This will allow the trial judge to take into account potential improper influences, such as passion and prejudice, that may have influenced a jury’s verdict; to consider potential residual doubt about the defendant’s absolute guilt; and to consider trial strategies of counsel, credibility of witnesses and the actual presentation of evidence, which may differ from what was anticipated in making pre-trial rulings in either admitting or excluding evidence.

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• The Illinois Supreme Court should review all death sentences to determine if the sentence is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, if death was the appropriate sentence given aggravating and mitigating factors, and whether the sentence was imposed due to some arbitrary factor.

The report contains six recommendations relating to eyewitness identification for procedures that should be required when police conduct a "lineup" or "photospread." These recommendations include:

• Having someone who is unaware of the suspect’s identity conduct the lineup. Having police tell the eyewitness that the suspected perpetrator may not be in the lineup or photospread.

• Taking a clear written statement of any statements made by eyewitnesses as to the level of confidence they have in identifying a suspect.

• When possible, videotaping both the lineup procedures and the witnesses’ confidence statements.

• Adequate funding to eliminate backlogs and expand DNA testing and evaluation, including continued support for a more comprehensive DNA database.

• Support the Supreme Court’s recommendation for a capital case trial bar and requiring judges to be pre-certified before presiding over capital cases. As part of regular training for judges and counsel, as suggested by the Supreme Court and the commission, improvements must be made in disseminating information and creating manuals and checklists to be used by counsel and the courts. There must also be better reporting of information concerning capital cases so that the fairness and accuracy of the capital punishment system can be adequately assessed.

• Revise Illinois’ complicated and confusing statute so that juries can understand simply that they must determine, in light of all the evidence and the mitigating and aggravating circumstances, whether the death penalty is the appropriate sentence.

• To eliminate confusion and improper speculation, juries should be instructed as to all the possible sentencing alternatives before they consider the appropriateness of imposing a death sentence.

• Like defendants in any other criminal case, capital defendants should be afforded the opportunity to make a statement to those who will be deciding whether to impose the ultimate punishment allowed by the state, a sentence of death.

• Leaders in both the executive and legislative branches should significantly improve the resources available to the criminal justice system in order to permit the meaningful implementation of reforms.

With these and many other suggested reforms, the commission believes that Illinois’ capital punishment system would be more just and better enabled to ensure fair and accurate results. However, the report recognizes that "no system, given human nature and frailties, could ever be devised or constructed that would work perfectly and guarantee absolutely that no innocent person is ever again sentenced to death." This report represents the commission’s best efforts to ensure that we strive for perfection and a more just, fair and accurate criminal justice system.

The governor’s Commission on Capital Punishment’s full report is available online at http://www.idoc.state.il.us/ccp/ccp/reports/
commission_reports.html.

[IGNN press release]

First 19 employees moved from LDC

[APRIL 19, 2002] In the first of a series of staff cutbacks aimed at downsizing the facility, 19 Lincoln Developmental Center employees left as of Tuesday, April 16, to take positions in other state-operated centers for the developmentally disabled.

These were the first of 60 employees who chose to accept transfers to other locations rather than be laid off by the Department of Human Services, according to Dan Senters, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union that represents most LDC staff members. The employees went to the Fox Developmental Center in Dwight, the Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee and the Jacksonville facility.

In February of this year layoff notices were given to 372 employees, part of Gov. George Ryan’s plan to downsize the facility to 100 residents and 210 employees by the end of the state’s fiscal year June 30. Employees were given the option of applying for positions in other facilities for the developmentally disabled at that time.

The plan by the Governor’s Task Force calls for layoffs of 128 people on April 30 and another 180 by June 30. According to the original plan, LDC residents would be moving out of the facility at the same time. The transfers and layoffs of employees were timed to coincide with the transfer of LDC residents to other state-operated facilities or in some cases to group homes.

However, an injunction handed down on March 27 by Associate Judge Don Behle of the Circuit Court in Logan County prevents the Department of Human Services, which oversees the state’s 11 facilities for the developmentally disabled, from moving any more of LDC’s current 248 residents.

Senters said AFSCME’s concern at this time is that DHS will continue the layoffs of employees even though the planned move of residents has not taken place.

"Management at LDC has told us their plans included continuing with the layoffs of employees as scheduled and complying with the court order by not moving any more residents," he said. "They tell us they contact their superiors regularly for directions on layoffs and to date have had no response about changing the layoff plan."

Senters said the transfers are already jeopardizing patient care and are costing the state money. He said LDC is short of technicians — those who give direct, hands-on personal care to the residents — and the transfer of the 19 employees makes that shortage even worse. As of now, he said, the 248 residents have only 239 hands-on caregivers, not even a 1-1 ratio.

"We need 315 technicians to maintain a minimum safety level and meet the required staff levels management wants, and we have only 239," Senters said.

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However, Reginald Marsh, spokesman for DHS, said the Lincoln center has the highest ratio of staff to residents of any of the state operated facilities. Lincoln’s staff ratio is 2.5 staff to residents, higher than the 2-1 ratio most other facilities have. He also said LDC still has 255 technicians, a ratio of 1.03 staff members to residents.

Senters said the 255 technicians include employees who are on administrative leave or on light duty because of injuries. They are still on the payroll, he said, but are not presently working with residents. He said the 239 figure comes from the day-to-day work schedule.

The 555 employees now at LDC include support staff, such as dietary and housekeeping staff, nurses, psychologists, educators, engineers, carpenters, electricians and other maintenance personnel, and several new management positions created by the Governor’s Task Force, Senters said.

He also said moving the 19 employees is creating an unnecessary expense, because they are being paid a salary to work at other facilities, while those replacing them at LDC are being paid time-and-a-half for overtime.

"Over the next two-week period, we will have to have 428 extra shifts, or 3,424 hours of overtime for technicians, which will cost the state about $47,000," Senters said.

Marsh said money has never been the issue at LDC, as the state’s main concern has always been the safety of the residents.

"Unfortunately the consequences of the injunction means management does have to spend a lot of its time figuring out staffing problems and does have to pay overtime," he said. "This diverts attention from making quality improvements."

"Right now if the injunction remains in place until the end of the month, we will have to do an assessment of the staff-to-resident ratio to see about layoffs. At this time we have not planned to stop the layoffs. However, we will not reduce the number of staff to the level where residents are not being cared for properly or are not in a safe environment," he said.

In September of 2001, LDC had 373 residents and 689 employees, Senters said. Later that year, after inspections by the Illinois Department of Public Health brought charges of abuse and neglect at the 125-year-old facility, the Governor’s Task Force began transferring residents from the facility.

[Joan Crabb]

Looking for Lincoln video shoot delayed

[APRIL 19, 2002] Looking for Lincoln officers announced at the group’s April 17 meeting that the grant to fund the Abraham Lincoln video has been delayed but not canceled, so shooting must be postponed from early June to late summer or early fall.

Paul Beaver, Logan County chair of Looking for Lincoln, said Illinois Sen. Bob Madigan and Rep. John Turner assured him in the fall of 2001 that $20,000 in state funds had been earmarked for the video project. He said the money would come from a members initiative grant. Despite the assurance he was given, there is a series of steps that must be followed, beginning with approval by a grant manager and ending with signing of the grant agreement.

"There’s no problem with the application or use of the money," said Jan Schumacher, president of the Main Street Lincoln board. She said signing might occur in midsummer, but the grant manager cannot commit to a date. "At least we’re in the bureaucratic mix," Beaver commented.

Dawn Edwards, author of other period dramatizations, has completed the script for the video, which will depict Abraham Lincoln in significant events that took place in Logan County. Locales include Atlanta, Middletown, Mount Pulaski, Lincoln and the Cornland-Elkhart area. Cinematographer Dean Williams is contracted to shoot and edit the footage. If shooting takes place in early fall, he expects to complete the video by January 2003.

Beaver said September is an appropriate date for shooting because the Lincoln town christening and many other scenes to be included occurred near that time. However, shooting cannot be put off beyond Oct. 15 and still take place in 2002, he said.

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Plans are to give copies of the Abraham Lincoln video to schools, museums and libraries and to sell it to individuals and organizations at cost of duplication. Darrell Knauer of Mount Pulaski, a new representative to Looking for Lincoln, suggested making excerpts of the video available for use on bus tours of Logan County. Thressia Usherwood of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County and Gillette Ransom of Elkhart recently promoted the county to 200 Chicago tour bus drivers.

In an effort to add to known Lincoln sites in the city, Beaver said he is searching old Lincoln Herald files to locate where on the square the law office of Samuel Parks was located. Abraham Lincoln always visited the office when in town and often collaborated with Parks on legal cases, Beaver said.

Shirley Bartelmay of Lincoln reported that Postville Courthouse is now on summer hours of noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Twenty-four volunteer guides put in 120 hours in March, but additional volunteers are still being sought, especially those willing to fill in for others at varying times. The Postville Cluster hopes to decorate the courthouse for Christmas and include it in a tour of homes.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

Military addresses sought

It is a time like no other. Since Sept. 11 we are a changed nation. Individually, our daily sensitivity toward whom and what we have in our lives has been heightened. We are more conscious and appreciative, first about those we love and see everyday. Next, we have a newfound appreciation for those who risk their lives every day as rescue workers and protectors of life and property in our communities. We also now think more about our military men and women who are committed to serve and protect our country. Many are away engaged in battle, some are in waiting to go, all are ready to lay their lives on the line in defense of our freedom.

Lincoln Daily News is seeking the names and addresses, including e-mail addresses, of friends and relatives who are serving in the armed forces. They need not be from here in Logan County. If you know someone serving, please send the information to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com. A complete list will be made available and kept updated through the site so we might all hold them in our thoughts, prayers and well wishes.

[Click here for names available now.]

Name of person in military:

Branch of service:

Current location of service:

Postal address:

E-mail address:

Relationship to LDN reader sending information (optional):

[LDN]

Are we prepared for terrorism
in Logan County?

It’s on the radio, TV, in all the media. You hear it in the office, on the street and maybe at home — threats of terrorism. America is on high alert. Here in central Illinois, away from any supposed practical target areas, perhaps we feel a little less threatened, but we are still concerned. So how concerned should we be, and how prepared are we for the types of situations that could occur?

Whether the threat is domestic or foreign, violent, biological or chemical, our public health and rescue agencies have been preparing to respond to the situations. Lincoln Daily News has been at meetings where all the agencies gather together as the Logan County Emergency Planning Committee to strategize for just such a time. Our reports have not even provided every detail that every agency has reported; i.e., a number of representatives from differing agencies such as the health and fire departments, CILCO and ESDA went to a bioterrorism and hazmat (hazardous materials) seminar this past August.

Here are some of the articles that LDN has posted pre- and post-Tuesday, Sept. 11. Hopefully you will see in them that WE ARE WELL PREPARED. At least as much as any area can be. Every agency has been planning, training, submitting for grants to buy equipment long before Sept. 11. We can be thankful for all of the dedicated, insightful leaders we have in this community.

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LEPC hears plans for annual exercise

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

Logan County ready for action if terrorist event occurs - Part 1

Logan County ready for action if terrorist event occurs – Part 2

Clinton nuclear power plant safety measures in place

Logan County agencies meet to discuss protocol for suspicious mail

America strikes back

As promised, the United States led an attack on Afghanistan. The attack began Sunday, Oct. 7. American and British military forces made 30 hits on air defenses, military airfields and terrorist training camps, destroying aircraft and radar systems. The strike was made targeting only terrorists.

More than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East have pledged their cooperation and support the U.S. initiative.

Online news links

Other countries

Afghanistan

http://www.afghandaily.com/

http://www.myafghan.com/

http://www.afghan-web.com/aop/

China

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/

Germany

http://www.faz.com/