[FEB. 7, 2002]  ^"Soil moisture conditions over Illinois for spring have improved with the first significant winter storm that struck Illinois on January 30-31, generating a large swath of snow across the northern half of the state, freezing rain south of the snow band and rain over the rest of the state," says Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey in Champaign.

Precipitation was heaviest south of the band of maximum snow. Some west-central Illinois locations received more than 3 inches: Morton (3.41 inches), Washington (3.31 inches) and Peoria (3.17 inches).

Based on preliminary storm data, Galesburg reported 17.3 inches of snow, and snowfall amounts of 10 to 12 inches were common in the Chicago area. There were reports of 12.3 inches (Chicago Botanic Garden), 12 inches (O’Hare) and 11.1 inches (Midway).

"Even with this storm, winter snowfall remains at less than 50 percent of normal across central Illinois and less than 75 percent of normal across northern Illinois. Southern Illinois is at or above normal winter snowfall thanks to an earlier storm on January 18-19 that dropped between 3 and 6 inches at most locations. Normal February snowfall ranges from 8 inches in northeastern Illinois to 4-6 inches in central Illinois to 3 inches in southern Illinois. So we still have a chance for more snow this winter," says Angel.

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The 33.2 F average January temperature was 8.4 degrees above normal, the sixth warmest January on record since 1895 and tied with 1914 and 1921. The warmest January on record was 1933 with 37.6 F. South of a line from Galesburg to Kankakee, the average temperature was at or above 32 F. Based on preliminary data this month, only Galesburg reported a below-zero January temperature, -1 F on Jan. 2. Because December and November temperatures were also above average, the combined November-January period was the second warmest on record since 1895.

"Through January 29, precipitation for the state was only 31 percent of normal. However, the late-month storm boosted the statewide total to 2.19 inches, 0.27 inches above normal. The storm also alleviated some concern about having adequate soil moisture for spring crops," concludes Angel.

[From the Illinois State Water Survey]

[FEB. 7, 2002]  Police are currently investigating a reported bank robbery at Central Illinois Bank, 428 Keokuk St. The suspect has left the premises. The activity occurred just before 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Lincoln Police are doing a complete door-to-door canvas of the neighborhood.

The suspect, said to be a white male, 40ish in age, escaped on foot and is believed to have left the area in a car. The robber is said to have made off with an undisclosed amount of money.

It is believed that there is no relationship between this robbery and the Dec. 28 State Bank of Lincoln robbery.

The FBI has been notified.

[LDN]

[FEB. 6, 2002]  Although some city officials may believe no racial profiling occurs in Lincoln, that statement is not accurate, according to Alderman Glenn Shelton, minister of the Second Baptist Church and the first African-American to serve on the city council.

"There is a problem in this community," Shelton said at the Feb. 4 evening meeting of the council. The problem, he said, is that some African-Americans feel they are not being treated equally or with respect by police and other agencies, firemen, EMTs and hospital personnel.

Shelton was referring to a comment made last week by Alderman Verl Prather, chair of the police committee, that statistics show there is no racial profiling in Lincoln and that no formal complaints of racial profiling have been made. The comment was quoted in The Courier.

"I have a problem with someone drawing conclusions that there is no profiling," he told the council, then cited two incidents in which he himself was involved.

In one incident, which occurred before he was on the council, he was pulled over by Logan County Sheriff’s Police in the Kroger parking lot one night, asked for identification and asked where he was going. He said he told the officers he was just coming from a prayer meeting and was then told this was a "courtesy stop" because his license plate light was out. By that time several more police cars had pulled up.

He said he got out of his car to check the light and saw it was on. He said he even kicked the back of the car to see if the light was malfunctioning, but it remained on. Later, he said, he received an apology for the stop.

He also reported that at one Sunday service, cars in the Second Baptist Church’s parking lot were checked. "I wonder if any white church members had their cars checked that day," he said.

[to top of second column in this article]

He refuted the statement that no formal complaints about racial profiling have been made, saying he has reported complaints to city officials. "If I go to the police chief or the mayor, that’s a complaint."

He also noted that African-Americans make up only 2 percent of Lincoln’s population, but 5 percent of all those arrested and ticketed here are black people.

However, he was quick to defend Mayor Beth Davis and Police Chief Rich Montcalm.

"The police chief and this mayor take the issue seriously and will not tolerate it. I don’t want anyone to think these officials are not doing anything about it." He said he simply did not believe that statistics presented recently by Chief Montcalm could be interpreted to mean that there is no harassment or profiling of African-Americans in Lincoln.

"Thank you for listening to my concerns," he concluded.

"We will not tolerate this kind of behavior," Mayor Davis said. She urged any citizens with concerns about racial profiling to attend a meeting of the Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities, Seniors, Veterans and Youth, which she said also includes minorities.

Chief Montcalm also said that racial profiling and harassment will not be tolerated and encouraged alderman and others to come to the Citizens Police Academy, a program starting in March in which citizens learn how the Police Department operates and ride along with officers on patrol.

[Joan Crabb]

Governor’s LDC speech

[FEB. 5, 2002]  In a press-only announcement Monday afternoon, Gov. George Ryan announced plans to keep Lincoln Developmental Center open. The ordered changes are drastic and call for a complete revamping of the LDC operation. In October the facility had over 700 employees and housed about 400 residents. Over the next few years it will be cut to approximately 200 employees caring for 100 residents to be placed in 10 new small group homes that are to be built on campus.

Lincoln Daily News will continue to monitor and present to you community responses and efforts that are being made to reverse this decision.

The following is the governor’s announcement as given Monday, Feb. 4, less a few words about federal government funding, surveys, assessments and statements that can be found in the press release posted yesterday afternoon.

Governor’s announcement

Today I am announcing plans to keep the Lincoln Developmental Center open. With that I am also announcing some major changes that will make the center a very different place from what it is today. In making this decision my first and only concern was and has been for safety of the residents at LDC and the care that they receive.

I’ve listened to parents and guardians of Lincoln residents. I’ve also heard from parents who want the center to remain open and unchanged. But I’ve also heard from parents who want the facility closed down because they are concerned about the safety of their loved ones. You know I have visited the facility. I have listened to the concerns of the LDC staff and the union that represents them. We’ve had meetings and talked with them.

I’ve consulted the experts in the field that operate other well-run facilities elsewhere in the state.

As you know the federal government has moved to pull certification.

For almost 20 years Lincoln has repeatedly struggled to stay in compliance with state and federal standards. There have been substantial cases of abuse and neglect and tragically there even has been residents that have died — three as a matter of fact.

Other state facilities serving the DD have had problems. However, unlike the Lincoln Developmental Center, the problems were corrected and they stayed corrected. It is obvious with the long, disappointing record that the Lincoln Developmental Center can not continue to operate as it has been operating.

Key excepts:

Today I am ordering the Department of Human Services the following steps and programs.

1.  The department will propose a plan for the federal government that will downsize the facility to 100.

2.  Along with this, [we will] request the federal government to suspend the hearing process. I am told by the department [that] the federal government may be willing to negotiate an agreement with the facility that will keep it within the Medicaid program.

3.  As a part of the restructuring we will continue with our plans to build four small group homes on campus that will house 10 residents each. (Six more homes will be built in the future.)

The experts say that small group homes — emphasis on "homes" — is a good way to care for persons with developmental disabilities.

Construction of these small group homes on the LDC campus will cost 2.5 million dollars. Funding for them is in the current budget, and we anticipate that they will be ready for occupancy next year. That time frame gives the department ample time and ample opportunity to work with the parents and the LDC residents on the best way to make the transition to their new home. In addition, I’m ordering the department to make some long-range plans of six more small group homes on the LDC campus. Converting LDC to small group homes over the next several years will put Lincoln on the cutting edge of modern care for people with moderate developmental disabilities that require the services of a state-operated center.

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I am also directing the department to explore with the private sector the establishment of community integrated living arrangements, CILAs, off the LDC campus in Logan and other central Illinois counties. These new CILAs will be available to parents who want alternative living options for their family members. The state has pledged 3.4 million [dollars] to develop these new CILAs in cooperation with the private agencies, and we anticipate that they can be up and operating with in a year from now. I’d also like to mention that with the continued operation of LDC and the construction of the new CILAs there will be a continued need for the full cooperation and operation of the Logan Mason Rehabilitation Center.

The state currently contracts with the center to provide education and rehab programs during the day for about 150 residents. With this plan I expect that there will be more than enough residents in the Lincoln area to keep that center open.

After we have completed reshaping the Lincoln Development Center we expect staffing ratios to be in line with other state-operated centers. That means that there will be approximately 200 positions at the new Lincoln Developmental Center. There will be, however, employment opportunities at other state facilities. There will be new jobs for persons with experience in caring for developmentally disabled, as a result of the CILA development in Logan County and in other counties and locations.

Some staff at the center may take advantage of retirement. I know the staff at Lincoln and the union that represents them have publicly opposed changes the operation of the facility. But I want the staff to know that if we proceed with this plan to keep the LDC open, we will be constantly monitoring their work and the living conditions there and the care of the residents to make sure the proper standards are maintained. I absolutely will not tolerate any action that endangers the safety and the care of any residents.

Finally I’d like to say a word to the parents and the guardians of the residents. This plan for the future of Lincoln balances with the concerns I had and with the concerns that you had about your children and your loved ones. I know those parents care deeply about their children and the people that they look after. They want the best for them as I do. And that’s why it has been difficult for me really to dismiss the findings of state and federal inspections since the 1980s, troubling letters in the reports that I have read about, problems with the care at LDC, and what I have seen firsthand. I cannot and will not keep the children there in a potentially harmful situation. It’s impossible for us to maintain the Lincoln center as it has been in the past. It’s all too obvious that the federal government absolutely won’t let us do it.

I’ve considered the concerns of many of the parents and the points that many of them have made to me about how closing LDC would affect their sons and daughters. The solution that I am ordering today is a safer and more manageable situation for everybody. This solution will put Lincoln on the forefront of our commitment to care for persons with developmental disabilities instead of leaving them in the background. This course of action is what is best for them.

[LDN]

City faces budget crunch next year

[FEB. 5, 2002]  The city of Lincoln has already spent more money than it has taken in during the current fiscal year and will be looking at a pared-down budget for next year, several aldermen said at Monday evening’s city council meeting.

The financial crunch has come because revenues are down and interest rates are so low the city is getting a lot less income from its investments that it usually does, according to Steve Fuhrer, the council’s finance chairman.

"We’ve already overspent $446,000 more than we’ve taken in for this year," Alderman Glenn Shelton said. "If we keep spending money like that, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that we’ll be working on a deficit budget pretty soon. Just because it’s in the budget doesn’t mean we have to spend it."

"Come budget time, we’re going to have to draw some priorities," Alderman Michael Montcalm added. The city’s fiscal year ends April 30, and budget discussions are expected to begin in mid-March.

City Clerk Juanita Josserand said the city has reserve funds from previous years, so it will not be operating in the red. "Our fiscal year has to end with seven or eight thousand dollars in the bank," she said.

She also said the city has already has notice that revenues from the state sales tax, motor fuel tax and income tax are lower than in previous years. "That means our revenues will be down," she commented.

City Treasurer Les Plotner has also been warning the council that the city is receiving much less revenue from investments because of the unusually low interest rates in effect right now.

The budget crunch came up when the police committee began discussing the purchase of a new patrol car. Police Chief Rich Montcalm presented three bids to the committee for consideration, all of which were a little over the $15,983 in the current budget for the vehicle.

[to top of second column in this article]

Bids were $18,669 for a Chevrolet Impala, $19,704 for a Dodge Intrepid, and $20,850 for a Ford Crown Victoria. Montcalm said his choice would be the Crown Victoria because of the rear-wheel drive, the roominess and the safety factor. He also said the department could find drug recovery money to make up the difference between the budgeted figure and the actual cost.

However, after some debate, the council voted 7-2 to put off the purchase of the car this year and keep the money in the budget for next year.

"The budget is tight. If we can get by and not spend money this year, I would like to see that," Fuhrer said. Voting against postponing the purchase were Aldermen Shelton and Montcalm.

"I just hope we don’t have to buy two or three cars in one year somewhere down the road," Chief Rich Montcalm commented after the meeting.

Another discussion of saving money arose when the council debated hiring a new firefighter to replace retiring Assistant Chief Donald Fulk, who is leaving Feb. 15. The council finally agreed to hire Clint Warnisher to fulfill the 21-man active roster of firefighters as of Feb. 16, rather than waiting several months to add the 21st firefighter.

Attending the meeting were five members of Boy Scout Troop 107, from Carroll Catholic School, and their assistant leader, Gretchen Jones. The scouts are working on their citizen badges.

[Joan Crabb]

Ryan plan will keep LDC open

[FEB. 4, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan announced today, Monday, Feb. 4, that the troubled Lincoln Developmental Center will remain open but will be downsized to 100 residents under a corrective action plan that calls for moving 40 percent of the facility’s residents to new small group homes on the LDC campus.

[View pictures]

"In making this decision, my first and only concern is the safety of the residents at LDC and the quality of care that they receive," Ryan said. "Under this plan, LDC will be smaller. It will provide a safer environment. And it will offer a better care setting for the residents, who depend on us for their well being."

The governor’s plan will require moving 159 residents from LDC to other care settings in order to meet the new resident population target. Since last fall, 132 LDC residents have been moved or are in the process of moving to other appropriate care settings in Illinois.

The downsizing plan will coincide with a request by DHS to enter into negotiations with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Systems to stop the decertification hearing process that is currently under way. These negotiations will include a request for a new federal survey of LDC that will decide whether the facility is maintaining federal and state standards.

"No one can deny that there have been a series of problems at LDC. For almost 20 years Lincoln has struggled to maintain state and federal standards," the governor added.

If LDC is decertified, or if the current administrative hearing lasts until mid-March, the facility will no longer be part of Medicaid. In some cases, federal regulators have agreed to stop hearings and "resurvey" a troubled facility, providing another chance to prove that it meets federal standards of care.

[to top of second column in this article]

Ryan also announced plans to continue the development of small group homes on the LDC campus. The current state budget contains $2.5 million to construct four small group homes that will house 10 residents each. These new homes should be ready for occupancy next year. In addition, Ryan ordered DHS to develop long-range plans for the construction of six more small group homes on the LDC campus.

"In making this decision, I have listened to the parents and guardians of Lincoln residents," the governor said. "I have listened to parents who want to keep Lincoln open and unchanged. But I have also listened to parents who want the facility closed down because they are concerned for the safety of their loved ones."

For those parents interested in alternative care settings separate from the LDC campus, Ryan directed DHS to explore the construction of brand-new community integrated living arrangements — CILAs — off the Lincoln campus, in Logan County and potentially Mason County.

"I have visited the facility. I have listened to the concerns of LDC staff and the union that represents them. And I have consulted experts in the field that operate well-run facilities elsewhere in the state," Ryan said. "That’s why it has been difficult for me to dismiss the findings of state and federal inspectors since the 1980s and the troubling letters and reports I have read about problems with the care at LDC.

"The solution I am ordering today will create a safer and more manageable situation for the residents of the Lincoln Developmental Center. And this solution will put Lincoln on the forefront of our commitment to care for persons with developmental disabilities, instead of leaving them in the background," Ryan added. "This course of action is the best course for them. That is what I care about."

[News release from the Illinois governor’s office]

Homeland security training
measures announced

[FEB. 4, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan today announced a series of 17 regional Homeland Security Workshops that will begin next week and culminate in a statewide Homeland Security Summit in May 2002.

“These new workshops will build on the 16 regional workshops we offered this past November and December,” Gov. Ryan said. “The goal of these new workshops is to help local and regional officials plan and identify actions that can be taken to improve public safety, homeland security and anti-terrorism efforts throughout Illinois.”

The workshops are a cooperative effort of members of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force, created by Gov. Ryan in May of 2000. The University of Illinois is sponsoring the workshops and there will be no cost for participants.

The workshops will bring together elected officials and key decision-makers including representatives of local, state and federal agencies; law enforcement, fire service, emergency management, public health, education, transportation and other public services; as well as members of the private sector.

“Homeland security is something we must continually strive to improve,” Gov. Ryan said. “These workshops will add to the thousands of hours of training and preparation we’ve been able to supply first-responders through the Illinois Terrorism Task Force.”

“These seminars are being conducted to ensure that Illinois communities are safer and better prepared to deal with any act of terrorism or natural disaster,” said Illinois Homeland Security Director Matt Bettenhausen. “The importance of coordinating state and federal actions with first-responders was clearly demonstrated by the tragic events of September 11th.”

Following the regional workshop, a statewide Homeland Security Summit will be on May 20-21 at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The goal of the two-day summit will be to develop a set of key conclusions and action plans from the workshop process. Key individuals from the participating workshop groups will be invited to the statewide summit.

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Each workshop will be nearly a full day, with the following agenda:

7:30-8:30 a.m. — Registration

8:30-10 a.m. — How process works

10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Planning breakout sessions on two tracks. People attending the workshop will be presented with the scenarios and given an opportunity to work through the issues that the scenarios present. The two groups will then be brought back together to make a presentation to the entire group.

•  Track 1 — Based upon terrorist event law enforcement

•  Track 2 — Based upon the evolving public health situation

1-2 p.m. — Debrief the planning session

2-3 p.m. — Follow-on action discussions

The workshops will be conducted around the state in five regional "clusters" at the following locations and specific dates:

Southern region: Benton, Feb. 4; Carbondale, Feb. 5; Effingham, Feb. 6

Chicago region: Aurora, Feb. 26; Rockford, Feb. 27; Tinley Park, Feb. 28

Central region: Bloomington, March 18; Peoria, March 19; Champaign, March 21; Springfield, March 20; Ottawa, May 10

Southwestern region: Collinsville, April 25; Quincy, April 26

Western region: Galesburg, May 6; Dixon, May 7; Macomb, May 8; East Moline, May 9

For more information visit the Illinois Fire Service Institute’s website:  http://www.fsi.uiuc.edu/hspw/index.html

Help prevent theft of your
vehicle or its contents

[FEB. 2, 2002]  The Lincoln Police Department is advising residents of Lincoln that over the past several months, officers have been investigating large numbers of burglaries and thefts from motor vehicles, as well as cases in which a motor vehicle itself was stolen. The department is encouraging residents to lock the doors of their vehicles and keep the windows rolled up. Residents should also keep any items of value out of view, and it would be best to remove those items from the vehicles.

Most of the thefts have occurred when a vehicle was unlocked. When parked outside a business, do not leave your vehicle running and unattended. It takes only a few seconds to steal a vehicle when the keys are in it and the car is running.

You may contact the Lincoln Police Department for more information on crime prevention.

If anyone has any information concerning thefts or any other crime, you may call the Lincoln Police Department or report your crime to Crime Stoppers at 732-3000.

[Timothy Butterfield, Lincoln Police Department]

Illinois Senate week in review

[FEB. 2, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate continued work on its spring session this week, introducing 132 bills, according to state Sen. Claude Stone. The Senate Executive Committee acted this week on legislation to honor President Reagan, protect Chief Illiniwek and renounce a clothing retailer’s racy marketing tactics.

Honoring the birthday of our nation’s 40^th president, Senate Bill 1553 designates Feb. 6 of each year as Ronald Reagan Day. As an official commemorative date, the former President’s birthday would be honored but would not warrant school or business closings. The measure is an initiative of the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project and was approved unanimously by the committee.

A measure to protect university symbols and trademarks, such as the University of Illinois’ Chief Illiniwek, from unauthorized use also made its way through the committee. Senate Bill 1555 would prohibit the use of university symbols or trademarks without permission. The measure was approved 8-0.

Senate Resolution 170 also gained unanimous approval. The measure urges a public boycott of the clothing retailer Abercrombie and Fitch. Sponsors of the resolution object to the company’s racy marketing techniques, which they say promote an obscene lifestyle.

All three proposals will now be considered by the full Senate.

Meanwhile, introduction of new legislation continues. Among the measures introduced this week in anticipation of the Feb. 7 filing deadline are:

Teachers (SB 1584) — Allows elementary and secondary teachers to claim a tax credit for continuing-education classes. (SB 1585) — Gives teachers $1,000 signing bonuses for agreeing to teach in a public school for at least three consecutive years and provides grants to school districts for teacher mentoring programs. (SB 1617) — Provides down-payment assistance to public teachers in low-performing challenge schools. (SB 1618) — Creates the Teacher Cadet Program to introduce high school student to careers in education.

School construction (SB 1586) — Increases the amount of funding available for school construction grants.

EMT and paramedic plates (SB 1588) — Creates emergency medical technician and paramedic license plates.

Senior citizen tax deferral (SB 1606) — Increases the annual household income cap for the senior citizen tax deferral to $40,000.

Agriculture incentives (SB 1610) — Allows a tax credit for investing in cooperatives that produce renewable fuels or goods made from agricultural products.

School bus drivers (SB 1611) — Requires school bus drivers with valid permits to be fingerprinted.

Family leave (SB 1615) — Requires employers with 25 or more employees (rather than 50 or more) to provide family and medical leave.

[to top of second column in this article]

Youth service (SB 1616) — Creates the Youth Service Scholarship Program in which high school students can earn scholarship funds to Illinois private or public schools through community service hours.

Illinois Opportunity Scholarships (SB 1619) — Provides scholarships for tuition and fees at undergraduate schools in Illinois.

Fatherhood (SB 1620) — Creates the Council for Responsible Fatherhood to establish a responsible fatherhood initiative in Illinois.

Minimum wage (SB 1621) — Increases minimum wage for workers at least 18 years old to $6.50 per hour and provides annual adjustments beginning in 2004.

Park district youth plates (SB 1623) — Creates park district youth license plates to benefit after-school programs sponsored by park districts.

Car insurance (SB 1625) — Requires proof of insurance to register or renew a vehicle.

Pledge of Allegiance (SB 1634) — Requires high school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Price gouging (SB 1636, 1652) — Makes it illegal to raise prices on essential commodities to unreasonable levels during a state of emergency.

Telemarketing (SB 1637) — Makes it illegal for telemarketers to call a cell phone.

Voting (SB 1643) — Creates an Internet voter’s guide, published before each general election, to provide information on statewide and other candidates, public questions on the ballot, and voting information.

Stealing utilities (SB 1646) — Sets penalties for stealing or helping someone steal cable, Internet or other services companies provide paying customers.

Optometric scholarships (SB 1654) — Creates the Optometric Education Scholarship Program to provide 10 scholarships each year to optometric students studying in Illinois and requires them to practice in Illinois for each year they receive a scholarship.

Piercing (SB 1658) — Requires parental consent and notification of health risks before a child younger than 18 can pierce his or her tongue.

Aborted babies born alive (SB 1661, 1662, 1663) — Provides medical alternatives and legal responses in cases where an aborted infant is born alive and appropriate medical care has not been provided.

MAP grants (SB 1684) — Increases the maximum grant to undergraduate students through the Monetary Award Program.

Spouse benefits (SB 1710) — Allows spouses who both work for the state to share unused sick, vacation or personal time.

Representatives oppose LDC closure

[FEB. 1, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Three area Republican representatives today urged Gov. George Ryan to keep Lincoln Developmental Center open.

After meeting with House Republican Leader Lee Daniels and discussing the issue, Reps. Gwenn Klingler of Springfield, Bill Mitchell of Forsyth and Jonathan Wright of Lincoln joined in writing a letter to the governor strongly expressing their conviction that the center should not be closed.

"I’ve had so many calls on the possible closing of Lincoln Developmental Center, and I’ve personally looked into the problems there," Klingler said. "While the problems are real, I believe the center should stay open for the benefit of the residents and their loved ones, who clearly do not want the center closed. I sincerely believe the problems at Lincoln center can be solved and their solution will benefit everyone."

Mitchell said he too had been contacted about the possibility of the center’s closing and was convinced that it would not be in the best interests of the residents or their families.

"A recent survey indicates that Lincoln Developmental Center should not be singled out for closure for residential abuse," Mitchell said.

 "There are other facilities with far higher levels of abuse, and there have been no calls for their closure. Furthermore, the economic and social impact on the entire area is too great not to be considered. The impact would be devastating to too many communities in central Illinois. We need to keep Lincoln open."

[to top of second column in this article]

Wright said the impact of the closure on his community was also a factor that should not be minimized.

"Lincoln Developmental Center is very much a part of the Lincoln community," Wright said. "Closing it would not only have serious economic ramifications for the entire area, it would result in a loss of vital part of all of our lives here in Lincoln. For us, the center is so much more than bricks and mortar. It is a vital, living force that helps give life to our community."

In their letter the representatives urged Gov. Ryan to find a solution for the problems at the center by working with staff, residents and families. All agreed that anyone found abusing should be immediately fired, but none believed the entire staff at Lincoln center should be assumed guilty because of the acts of a very few employees.

[News release]

January 31, 2002

Honorable George H. Ryan

Governor, State of Illinois

207 State House.

Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Governor Ryan,

We are writing in regards to the Lincoln Developmental Center and the pending decision as to the fate of this facility. We would first like to commend you on your involvement in this issue. We realize that the situation at Lincoln represents a very difficult issue for you that consequently bears a major impact, not only on those within the facility, but also for the Lincoln community.

It is due to this tenuous balance between the interests of the residents, their families, employees, and the community involved that we write to urge you to delay implementation of any further plans for reduction or closure until the facility has ample time to correct these problems. We believe it is only fair that the determination on whether the facility should be allowed to continue its receipt of Medicaid funds is made before you request the Department to take further action. As representatives of the area, we believe the Lincoln Developmental Center provides a vital economic interest to the community of Lincoln and closure of this facility would have ramifications well beyond the loss of jobs for those employed directly by the facility. As a result of the facility reductions made over the past few months, many area businesses have already felt the pains of this loss. Thus, a complete closure of the facility would inevitably prove devastating to the community.

This is not to say, however, that the economic interests of the Lincoln community come before the serious concerns that have ultimately led the facility to the situation it now faces. The loss of Lincoln's certification as a result of these cases of abuse and neglect is inexcusable. The safety and welfare of the individuals residing at the facility should be a priority for all members of the staff. The few members of the staff that have chosen not to regard this as a priority should be subjected to swift and appropriate consequences.

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Unfortunately, it is because of these employees that the majority of the staff members who have consistently held a high regard for the safety and health of the residents are forced to suffer for the actions of others. More importantly, the families and the individuals that reside at Lincoln and wish to continue their care at this facility may be unnecessarily subjected to an understandably upsetting disruption in their lives. Furthermore, we believe it makes no sense to transfer these residents to facilities, such as Jacksonville, with higher incidents of abuse and neglect. Although none of us have had personal experience with a developmentally disabled child, we can only imagine the strain this would not only place on the parents, but also the child who may be particularly sensitive to such a drastic change in environment.

In light of these concerns, we once again urge you to delay any decision on the fate of the Lincoln Developmental Center. We also encourage you to continue working with the Department to ensure Lincoln has qualified staff and management in place to carry out both the concerns and daily functions of the facility in a caring, efficient and highly professional manner. Furthermore, we are also committed to assisting the Department on developing measures to prevent past problems at the facility from persisting in the future. While we regret the situation at Lincoln has occurred, we believe this situation affords us the opportunity to coordinate efforts to make systemic improvements that protect individuals with developmental disabilities and the interests of those individuals and communities that care for them.

Again, we would appreciate your careful consideration on the fate of the Lincoln Developmental Center. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Representative Gwen Klingler

Representative Bill Mitchell

Representative Jonathan Wright

New stamp honors Langston Hughes
on his 100th birthday

[FEB. 1, 2002]  A new stamp being issued by the U.S. Postal Service honors poet and author Langston Hughes, who wrote his first poem in 1916 as a Central School student in Lincoln. The date of issue corresponds to the 100^th anniversary of Hughes birth on Feb. 1, 1902, in Joplin, Mo.

The stamp is the 25^th in the Black Heritage series, with one stamp brought out every January or February. Acting Lincoln postmaster Jeff Poole said previous honorees include Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. DuBois, Harriet Tubman, Jackie Robinson, Scott Joplin and James Weldon Johnson. A poster displayed in the Lincoln post office announces the stamp.

According to window clerk Donnie Wolpert, first day issues are available on Friday only in New York City, where Hughes owned a home and did much of his writing. The stamp will be unveiled at New York’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Elsewhere the stamp is available for sale starting Saturday, Feb. 2.

The stamp reproduces a 1946 black-and-white photograph of Hughes taken in New York City by Henri Bresson, a renowned photographer and friend of Hughes.

Hughes, best known as a poet, also wrote a long-running column for the Chicago Defender, short stories, novels, plays, children’s books, a hit Broadway revue, an opera, a movie and assorted nonfiction. He took pride in being the first black American to support himself wholly by writing. Many public readings of his works helped him accomplish that feat.

An Illinois State Historical Society marker erected at Central School in 1998 memorializes the poet. It stands on the corner of Eighth Street and Union.

Margaret Peifer of rural Lincoln, chair of the marker committee, said that when she first learned of Hughes’ Lincoln connection, she was elated. "I’d been teaching Langston Hughes for years," she recalled. "I’ve always loved his poems, and kids loved them too. He had a way of saying that didn’t offend but made (racial interactions) real."

Peifer noted that nearly everyone can relate to "Dreams," the Hughes poem quoted on the marker. It says in part: "Hold fast to dreams / For if dreams die / Life is a broken winged bird / That cannot fly."

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Raised primarily by his grandmother in Lawrence, Kan., Hughes lived in Lincoln for about a year in 1915-16 when his stepfather worked for the railroad here. According to biographer Arnold Rampersad, Ethel Welch, Hughes’ English teacher at Central School, reported that he was one of the top three composition students in the class. In his autobiography ‘The Big Sea," Hughes recalls being unanimously elected class poet with the duty of writing the graduation poem.

He recounts, "In the first half of the poem, I said that our school had the finest teachers there ever were. And in the latter half, I said our class was the greatest ever graduated. So, at graduation, when I read the poem, naturally everybody applauded loudly. That was the way I began to write poetry."

Dr. Robert Goebel, president of the school board, presented Hughes with his diploma. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Cleveland.

For years after leaving Lincoln, Hughes corresponded occasionally with Ethel Welch. He sent her three autographed volumes of poetry: his first book, "The Weary Blues," published in 1929, plus two from the late ’40s, "Fields of Wonder" and "One-Way Ticket."

When Welch died the volumes were given to her neighbor and friend Charlene Boward. Almost 20 years ago Boward, in turn, saw that they were passed on to Becky Thornton, an assistant in the Lincoln Community High School instructional materials center. The LCHS IMC displays the three autographed volumes in a case just inside the entrance.

Among the many public figures Hughes knew were two with area roots. In 1930 he and Reinhold Niebuhr both spoke at an interracial conference at Riverside Church in Manhattan. Niebuhr, professor of applied Christianity at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, also graduated from Central School and also is memorialized by a historical marker in Lincoln.

In the mid-1920s, after winning an Opportunity magazine prize for "The Weary Blues" but supporting himself as a busboy in Washington, D.C., Hughes was "discovered" by poet Vachel Lindsay, a Springfield native. Lindsay was there to give a public reading, and when the busboy slipped him some of his poems Lindsay included them in his performance.

Hughes is known for incorporating the rhythms of jazz, blues and spirituals into his poetry. His most famous prose character is Jesse B. Simple, whom he introduced into his Chicago Defender column in 1944. Sitting on a stool in Paddy’s Bar, in dialogue with the educated, somewhat stuffy narrator, Simple dispenses his colloquial and often perverse wisdom regarding his troubles with women, interactions between the races and life in general.

Hughes was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and the first black member of PEN. He won the Springarn Medal for contributions to the Negro race and was appointed as American representative to the first World Federation of Negro Arts in Dakar, Senegal. He died in 1967.

Military addresses sought

It is a year 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]

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?

• The day after ‘Attack on America’
  Area leaders respond to national tragedy

• ESDA and LEPC conduct successful hazardous materials exercise at water treatment plant 

• 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

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/

India

http://www.dailypioneer.com/ 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/ 

http://www.timesofindia.com/ 

Israel

http://www.jpost.com/ 

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/ 

England

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/ 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/ 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

Pakistan

http://www.dawn.com/

http://frontierpost.com.pk/ 

Russia

http://english.pravda.ru/

http://www.sptimesrussia.com/ 

Saudi Arabia

http://www.arabnews.com/ 

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United States

Illinois

http://www.suntimes.com/index/ 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ 

http://www.pantagraph.com/ 

http://www.qconline.com/ 

http://www.pjstar.com/

http://www.sj-r.com/ 

http://www.herald-review.com/

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/ 

New York

http://www.nypost.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/

Stars and Stripes
(serving the U.S. military community)

http://www.estripes.com/ 

Washington, D.C.

Announcements

[JAN. 15, 2002]  Citizens who are not registered to vote and cannot leave their home, hospital, nursing home or other institution because of a permanent physical disability can arrange for voter registration by contacting a deputy registrar or the county clerk’s office.

Voter registration will close on Feb. 19 for the March 19 general primary election.

If you are physically able, you may register to vote by going to the county clerk’s office, Room 20 in the Logan County Courthouse, 601 Broadway in Lincoln. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. You will need to show two forms of identification, one with your current address on it.

For people with physical disabilities and the elderly, election judges will be available at the polling place on election day to assist voters when a friend or relative is unable to help. Handicapped-voter booths will be available for your convenience. Physically impaired or elderly persons may be eligible to vote absentee. Please contact the Logan County clerk’s office for information.

For any information concerning voter registration or voting for the elderly or disabled, please call the Logan County clerk’s office at (217) 732-4148.

[Sally J. Litterly, Logan County clerk]

[JAN. 3, 2002]  Are you registered to vote?

The March 19 primary is rapidly approaching. The close of registration is Feb. 19. If you have moved, or if you have married and changed your name, it is necessary that you change your voter registration with our office in order to cast your vote in the election.

If you have questions about your voting eligibility, please contact our office at (217) 732-4148.

[Sally J. Litterly, Logan County clerk]

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