[FEB. 14, 2002]  There are two very different schools of thought about the best way to care for the developmentally disabled.

The hearings by the Illinois House committee on the plan to downsize the Lincoln Developmental Center became a kind of debate between these two groups: those who want to keep large state-run institutions like LDC open and operating and those who believe that most, if not all, of the developmentally disabled are much better served in small-group, community-based homes.

But even some of the strongest proponents of small-group, community-integrated care concede that their present level of funding by the state is woefully inadequate.

Gov. George Ryan’s latest plan for downsizing LDC calls for putting about 100 residents in small-group homes yet to be built on the present campus. He has already moved about 130 residents to other facilities, and the new plan calls for putting another 159 residents in other state facilities or in small-group homes.

At the last of the four hearings before the combined Mental Health and Patient Abuse Committee and Disabled Community Committee, Barbara Thomas, director of residential services for the Springfield Association for Retarded Citizens, said that although she favors community-based homes and doesn’t like large institutions, she believes parents of LDC residents are right to be concerned.

"I have heard LDC parents say community providers can’t take care of their family members. They are right. Until funding is provided for community facilities, we need LDC."

She pointed out some of the differences between the care her disabled son receives in a community-integrated living arrangement, known as a CILA program, and the care a friend’s son receives at LDC.

"If my son needs dental care, I pay for it. If he needs psychiatric care, I pay for it. If [my friend’s] son at LDC needs dental care, the state pays for it. If he needs psychiatric care, the state pays for it."

She said her agency, which is committed to helping the disabled live in the community, has had to return some clients to state institutions "because when we asked for additional resources, the state said no."

"Our agency did not fail. The system failed these people. We live in a state that never made people with disabilities a priority," she said.

She was also critical of the credentials of those making decisions about the fate of the developmentally disabled.

"Decisions are made by people who don’t have a clue about those they are making decisions about. People who make these decisions should have worked in a facility and been involved with direct care."

Another criticism of the Illinois system came from Thomas Cook, presently regional director for Dungarvin Illinois. Cook, who worked for the Illinois Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities and in other Illinois agencies for 20 years, sent his comments in a letter that will be made part of the record of the hearings.

Although he supports the CILA concept, he questioned the decision on downsizing and closing institutions such as LDC because of the "constant fluctuations in state funding of CILAs and because of the lack of a community infrastructure" such as transportation, recreation, health care, therapies and others.

More than seven years ago, the state asked Dungarvin, an out-of-state provider, to come into Illinois and provide care for the developmentally disabled. Dungarvin was promised adequate funding from the Department of Mental Health, he said.

This year, however, funding was cut and the Dungarvin group will leave the state on March 1, about $60,000 in debt for the services it has been providing. Cook must now find other services for the 56 people in northern Illinois that Dungarvin has been serving.

In regard to the latest proposed LDC cuts, Cook said: "I think the Department of Human Services lacks credibility when they claim they can place as many people as they have proposed (159) in a quality CILA program by July of this year.

"For the department to gain credibility in this matter, they have to fix what’s broken in the CILA rate-setting methodology and they have [to] give assurances about their ability to keep the promises they make for years to come.

"No wonder there is so much doubt in the minds of the Lincoln parents about the DHS plan, especially when they see agencies like Dungarvin depart the state because of broken promises and inadequate funding."

Another service provider who worked with the disabled in New York State before moving to Illinois said she feels she is living in the "Dark Ages" here. She said New York and other states provide many more options and much more funding for the care of the disabled. Another advocate said that both Wisconsin and Michigan have closed all of their large state facilities and are serving the disabled community in small-group homes.

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During the hearing several members of the disabled community testified in favor of the growing trend for small-group or independent homes. Some spoke with great emotion about the benefits of independent living, and some recalled incidents of abuse in state-run institutions. Most said they believed that everyone with a disability could and should be accommodated by a CILA or other arrangement for independent living, and most were critical of large institutions like LDC.

John Britton Jr., formerly of Lincoln, one of those who testified, relies on a wheelchair to get around and a computer to speak, but he has never lived in a large institution. He visits LDC because he has friends there.

"Every time I go to LDC I look for people who should be there. I have not seen them," he said.

Another asked, "Why does Illinois continue to segregate people because of their disabilities? She suggested the state take the funding used to keep institutions open and put it toward services for groups in communities. "Then people with disabilities would have a life."

Amy Irving of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union of LDC employees, said that while the hearings began with a discussion of LDC’s problems, they ended with a discussion about the entire state system of delivery of services to the developmentally disabled.

"We are pitting state-operated institutions against community-based living centers," she said. "We need a continuum of care to serve people with a diversity of disabilities.

"We shouldn’t be talking about taking away services for people who live in state institutions to serve community-based living," she said. "We should be talking about increasing the size of the pie."

State Rep. Jonathan Wright, R-Hartsburg, who attended the hearings, said he supported community homes and CILAs but did not believe they were adequate for everyone.

"If you talk to people who operate group homes, they will tell you there is a great turnover in employees because they can’t offer any benefits and the pay is as low as $7, $8 or $9 an hour.

"How can we take people out of LDC when there isn’t any place else to put them? Most of the residents are being transferred to other state-operated facilities. They’re not going to be sent to small-group homes because, first, we don’t have space for them in CILAs, and second, most residents are not suited to living in small-group facilities."

Irving and other AFSCME members blamed poor management at LDC for the recent problems that brought about the call for closing the 124-year-old institution. Last fall, after problems at LDC surfaced, director Gwendolyn Thornton, who had come from the Department of Corrections and had no experience working with the developmentally disabled, was replaced by an employee of the Jacksonville Developmental Center.

Irving said there was a problem with management not listening to employees and there was "no accountability" at the Department of Human Services, an agency in charge of LDC.

"The LDC situation could be a seminal event that affects all other state institutions. If it happened at Lincoln, it can happen at others."

AFSCME Local 425 President Don Todd said he was disappointed that Department of Human Services Director Linda Renee Baker had not appeared at any of the four legislative hearings.

"I think she should be here to answer for what has happened at Lincoln," Todd said. He said the chairman of the joint committee, Lou Lang, D-Skokie, had asked Baker to testify, but instead she sent two of her employees.

Lang announced that he had sent a letter to Baker asking a number of specific questions and that in a few days her reply and the rest of the testimony at the hearing would be made public.

Although Lang did not say specifically what the next action of the joint committee might be, he admitted that the system isn’t perfect.

"We are committed to do our best to improve the delivery of services to those with developmental disabilities or mental disabilities. We know the delivery system has never worked as well as it should have."

[Joan Crabb]

[FEB. 14, 2002]  The text of Mayor Elizabeth A. Davis’ statement on Wednesday, Feb. 13, to the Illinois House Committee on Mental and Developmental Abuse and Neglect is as follows:

Good morning Honorable Representatives and Senators:

As Mayor of the City of Lincoln, a lifetime resident of this city, and a former Lincoln Developmental Center (LDC) employee, I would like you to be aware of what I am so well aware of. Lincoln Developmental Center has been an integral, instilled part of our community all of our lives much more than anyone would believe. LDC has stood almost 125 years — longer than any of us here have been alive, and I thought LDC would be here forever because of the wonderful services it provides to our meekest fellow human beings. All of us in Lincoln and Logan County have ties to it in various degrees, and we all have been affected by LDC — its care giving for the individuals requiring continuous care, the commerce LDC provides to the city of Lincoln and Logan County, the jobs it has provided for many, many of our citizens, and the peace and comfort LDC has provided for the parents and family members of our LDC residents.

LDC has always been on the cutting edge of care giving for the mentally challenged and developmentally disabled individuals in the state and the nation, and many current state-operated facilities within Illinois have staff who were trained at LDC. Just two short years ago, LDC was recognized as one of the best facilities in the nation, five years ago it was the first facility in the nation of its type to be accredited, and now it has come to this — miscommunication, misrepresentation, decisions made without first hand knowledge and understanding. It confounds all of us who truly know what is and isn’t going on regarding LDC.

My question to you, Representatives, is why LDC/Lincoln/Logan County is being targeted so heavily when LDC’s abuse/neglect record of nine surveyed IL state-operated facilities revealed LDC is ranked #5. Jacksonville and Ludeman Developmental Centers both were ranked worse than LDC and yet some of LDC’s residents are being moved to both of those facilities.

The parents and family members have only wonderful, respectful comments about LDC and its staff as they should be the foremost group to be consulted regarding their children and family members living at LDC. Why is their voice not being heard? Would you honestly leave one of your children in a facility if you didn’t feel comfortable about the treatment, care, or love s/he was receiving? I most certainly would not. Many of the residents being targeted have resided in group homes which were highly non-conducive to their individual, medical, physical, or psychological needs and have very much met those needs while living at LDC. I myself, as are many, are concerned with safety and happiness for the LDC residents and believe if an individual is able to ride a bicycle, walk, or wheel one’s wheelchair to a nearby store to purchase something to eat, or if not, at least have the presence of mind or a personal caretaker with him/her to understand where s/he is and knows how to do something independently, I believe that is an individual who will fare well out in society living in a group home. But the individuals we have at LDC, for the most part, are extremely developmentally disabled and so dependent on the loving staff who take care of them 24 hours per day, there is not immediate hope of them living independently through means of a lesser staffed group home. Having worked at LDC for almost five years, I thoroughly believe this. Some people and advocacy groups are making strong judgments regarding this issue without ever visiting LDC’s residents or consulting the residents and/or their families for their preference.

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With Governor George Ryan’s proposal to downsize LDC to 100 residents and 200 employees and utilize ten group homes while less safe facilities like Jacksonville and Ludeman Developmental Center receive our residents, is unexplainable and very much wrong. LDC’s importance to Lincoln is compared with that of the Loop to Chicago, and as Caterpillar is to Peoria. Please don’t allow the Governor to take our economic stability away from Lincoln/Logan County. This is going to be devastating500 jobs lost at LDC and another 50 to 60 lost jobs at our two prisons if the privatization of the commissary and dietary duties is enacted. There has to be an explanation of why Lincoln, IL has been targeted so heavily.

Illinois Representatives and Senators, please upgrade our resident and staff numbers significantly - please take a stand on what is right -reinstate LDC to its former residential and staff numbers. Our city and county residents and businesses depend on LDC for sustaining its economy. To lose the facility, especially in these tough economic times, would be so devastating to us - the loss of many, many higher paying jobs, loss of commerce, loss of jobs for both husband and wife teams who are employees of LDC, reduction of students at our community schools and colleges, loss of businesses, church hospital/medical facilities, tax revenues, potential revenues throughout the community, bank loans for LDC employees, and our consumer goods will be more expensive. It will just be a downward spiral.

In closing, I have always believed a society should be measured by how well it takes care of its weakest, most vulnerable members; and LDC by leaps and bounds is off the Richter scale as far as the level of care, love, dedication, and professionalism which its employees demonstrate 24 hours per day to our residents. I am confounded by Governor Ryan’s continuing statement that he is only concerned about the welfare of the residents at LDC. But the Governor is misunderstanding the point — LDC is a family and family members take good care of their own. LDC does have the concern and welfare of its residents as its utmost priority! Having worked at LDC and been around the residents of LDC all my life, I know that for a fact. By threatening to further break up this family, is nothing short of abuse and neglect on our government’s part.

I’m telling all the LDC staff I see to keep up their good work because not everyone has the dedication, courage, and strength to bring daily sunshine to the lives of our loved ones whom they take care of at LDC 24 hours per day.

I respectfully ask you for your support and compassion in keeping LDC fully-functioning and fully-funded, so it once again can move into state and national accreditation as a cutting-edge facility.

Thank you.

Mayor Elizabeth A. Davis

City of Lincoln, Illinois

217/735-1612

217/732-2144(TDD)

mayorbethdavis@yahoo.com

[FEB. 13, 2002]  Two hearings over the future of Lincoln Developmental Center were scheduled this morning. A 9 a.m. hearing at the Logan County Courthouse was in regard to the lawsuit filed to protect the facility from closure or cuts by Gov. George Ryan. The information from that hearing is available below.

A second hearing was at 10 a.m. at the Stratton Building in downtown Springfield. A subcommittee of the Illinois General Assembly met to discuss the possibility of keeping the facility open as it is through June. State legislators allocate funding for LDC by the fiscal year. Funding has been appropriated through June 30. Information on the state committee meeting will be posted as soon as it is available (click here).

Round two in lawsuit to protect LDC

A brief exchange of information and small agreements resulted from this morning’s legal hearing at the Logan County Courthouse. The lawsuit brought in early January by Sen. Larry Bomke, AFSCME Union 425 President Don Todd and LDC parents seeks to protect the facility from closure by Gov. George Ryan.

Gov. Ryan announced Feb. 4 that he would be reducing the resident population to 100 and cutting the workforce to 200 employees. Transfers and cuts would begin in April.

Lawyers Steve Yokich, representing LDC, and Karen McNaught, defending the state, met shortly after 9 a.m. before Judge Eldon Behle.

Yokich said a law on the books restricts a state-run facility from making residential cuts at random. According to the State Health Facility Planning Act, before a state hospital can reduce the number of beds, a permit must be issued from the State Health Facilities Planning Board.

The state has not gotten a permit to do that.

It had been rumored that transfers might begin as early as in two weeks. However, according to the McNaught, transfers are not to begin until April except in case of an emergency.

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As a result of a request by Yokich, McNaught agreed to have a representative of the Department of Human Services notify Yokich if there are any residents to be moved before April. Not only will they need to say the resident(s) are being moved, they will also need to say why they are being moved.

McNaught filed a motion on behalf of the attorney general’s office on Monday, Feb. 11, to dismiss this suit as well as a motion to stay further discovery. The second motion would prevent any further actions against them. Yokich stated he was not in his office for two days and had not received the motion prior to the hearing. Judge Behle did not get a copy until today.

With all done that could be done today, Judge Behle set the next hearing for 1 p.m. Feb. 20. It is to hear the motion by the state to dismiss this lawsuit to restrict the governor’s actions.

Meanwhile, Yokich has received leave to conduct one deposition of an unnamed person before the April hearing.

That deposition will take place at 10 a.m. Feb. 19 at the attorney general’s office.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman and Jan Youngquist]

Legislative committee winds up LDC hearings

[FEB. 13, 2002]  A joint Illinois House committee wound up its hearings on the downsizing and possible closure of the Lincoln Developmental Center on Wednesday, Feb. 13, with the promise to compile a report that will be made public in a matter of days.

During the four hearings, the joint committee heard testimony from advocates of keeping LDC open as well as testimony from those who believe the developmentally disabled would be better served in small- group homes. The joint committee is composed of the Mental Health and Patient Abuse Committee and the Committee on the Developmentally Disabled.

Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, chairman of the committee, said the outcome of the hearings is yet to be determined. “I don’t know what we will do, what we can or should do.”

He did say part of the public record will be a reply from Linda Renee Baker, secretary of the Department of Human Services, which will answer in “a lot of detail” questions about the situation at LDC and how it has been handled by DHS. Baker was asked to testify during the commission’s hearing but did not attend, instead sending representatives from her department.

After hearing complaints that patients were not being properly cared for at LDC, Gov. George Ryan moved about 130 residents to other state facilities. His latest plan is to keep only about 100 residents at the facility, in small-group homes yet to be built. This plan would cut the number of employees from a high of 700 to about 200. A few months ago, the number of residents was about 370.

[to top of second column in this article]

Rep. Jonathan Wright, R-Hartsburg, who attended the hearings, said the committee’s report could be broad-based, about the entire system of caring for the developmentally disabled in Illinois, or might be very specific to the LDC situation.

Wright, who has supported keeping LDC open, said he did not believe the Department of Human Services had a clear plan for providing services to the developmentally disabled. He said he believed the General Assembly should be sure that a clear plan exists before closing down facilities such as LDC.

Wright also said that although in theory the General Assembly has the power to block Gov. Ryan’s plan to close LDC, there is a question as to whether it would have the political will to take that step.

More than 60 people attended the hearing, including members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union Council 31, representing LDC employees, and parents of LDC residents, along with disabled people who live in group homes and their assistants and advocates.

[Joan Bogar Crabb]

[FEB. 12, 2002]  Children all over Logan County have spent the last few weeks concentrating their artistic efforts on our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. In honor of Lincoln’s birthday the Logan County Arts and Craft Guild sponsored a poetry and picture contest for all school-age children of the county. Entries were judged based on subject, clarity, neatness and technical accuracy, and winners were announced at the guild-sponsored birthday party Saturday at the Logan County Courthouse.

[View more pictures]

The celebration opened with a prayer by Henry Johnson, a local prison chaplain. This was followed by the annual placing of the wreath. Girl Scout Brownie Troop 479 carried a wreath across the courthouse and placed it in front of a statue of Abraham Lincoln. Representatives of the local Interveterans’ Council presented the American flag and a 21-gun salute.

[Brownies cover their ears during the 21-gun salute]

Civil War music, provided by The Prairie Aires, included "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! The Boys are Marching" (a tune better known as "Jesus Loves the Little Children"), "Minstrel Boy" and a medley of "Camptown Races," "Little Liza Jane" and "Skip to my Lou."

The educational time of the celebration was a presentation by Susan Kirby, author of the American Quilts books. She told stories about Abraham Lincoln and the people of the Midwest in the 1800s. Her lessons included what she called her "cue card quilts." These quilts contained pictures of buffalo, American Indians, snow and farmland. Using them, she was able to draw a vivid picture of life in the 19th century.

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[Susan Kirby tells about Lincoln]
[Both photos by Bob Frank]

Finally it was time for the highlights of the day: The entire assembly sang "Happy Birthday" to Lincoln, and the awards for the poetry and picture contest were handed out. Each winner in the elementary school levels received a copy of one of Kirby’s American Quilts books. The one high school winner received a book on the use of quilts in the Underground Railroad.

Henry Johnson closed the program with a benediction. All of the children were invited to come and receive a "souvenir" of the day. The souvenir turned out to be a metal portrait of Abraham Lincoln — i.e., a penny.

And what is a birthday without cake and ice cream? Both were served after the main festivities were over, to the delight of all participants and attendees.

All entries in the poetry and picture contest can be seen during the month of February in the display window of the Red Cross downtown, next to Sew Many Friends.

Lincoln Daily News and the Logan County Arts and Craft Guild look forward to another great party next year.

[Gina Sennett]

[FEB. 11, 2002]  Monday, when WMNW Classic Rock 96.3 in Atlanta becomes FIX 96, a new sports show with Jeff Mayfield and Greg Taylor will debut at 6 p.m.

Mayfield, a former Lincoln Community High School assistant coach and currently sports editor at Lincoln Daily News, said the hour-long show, "Sports Open Line," will encourage call-ins regarding all area sports. Men’s and women’s sports, teams from throughout the county, non-revenue sports as well as the bigger draws, college and professional sports of area interest — all are in the mix planned for the show.

Basketball is the hot topic just now, and the opening segment will comment on the Lady Railers’ first regional playoff game. But expect a quick-moving format that includes many topics. Mayfield said he and Taylor will prepare a skeletal outline for each segment, but they hope that callers rather than they will determine the shape of the fan-friendly show.

"Sports Open Line" will include interviews, live feeds and giveaways. The hosts plan to interview guests such as coaches and athletes and, after several segments have established an audience, to make them available to take calls. Broadcasts from satellite sites where fans congregate, such as college hangouts, are also in the plans. In addition, Mayfield and Taylor hope sometimes to give away items such as T-shirts and tickets.

Sports to be covered include swimming, cross country, golf and tennis, as well as basketball, football and baseball. Area teams will include those from Mount Pulaski, Hartem, Illini Central and Warrensburg-Latham.

Greg Taylor, already familiar to area listeners and readers as color commentator for Railer broadcasts and sports writer for Lincoln Daily News, is an avid Chicago Cubs fan, and Jeff Mayfield roots for the Cardinals. The two expect sometimes to play off each other in a pattern similar to that on ESPN’s "Pardon the Interruption."

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In addition, Mayfield said, Taylor is an eternal optimist, hoping to win every game. His enthusiasm will collide with Mayfield’s greater realism. Expect Mayfield to analyze and evaluate, using statistics and coaches’ explanations of strategies. When Taylor goes on about his Chicago favorites, Mayfield said, "I’ll remind him that the Cubs haven’t won since 1908."

Friends for a long time, the two hosts met when Taylor was still in high school. According to Mayfield, he is an old man compared with the young whippersnapper, Taylor. They have talked of collaborating on a radio show for several years.

Mayfield emphasized that the future of the show is in the hands of the advertisers and audience. If there is good response, "Sports Open Line" may expand beyond the one-hour weekly show. One of Mayfield’s dreams is to lead into Monday night football in the fall.

Lincoln Daily News will be providing a live feed for listening to the broadcast via the Internet. This will enable fans traveling out of the area, college students and die-hard sports diaspora worldwide to catch the show. Just click on lincolndailynews.com, go to "Hear it Here!" located under the sports banner on the front page, and click. You’ll be there with Greg and Jeff listening to two new voices exclaiming our local sporting news.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[FEB. 11, 2002]  The Decatur Sister Cities Committee is hosting this year’s Illinois State Sister Cities Convention, on April 12 and 13 at the Holiday Inn in Decatur.

Guest speaker will be John S. Kavulich II, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade Economic Council, Inc., New York. For more information visit the website at www.decaturnet.org/dscc.

[Sarah Mixell, public relations chair, Decatur Sister Cities Committee]

Investigations into after-dark incidents continue

[FEB. 8, 2002]  Detective John Bunner is heading the investigations of two separate criminal activities that occurred in the same area of town three weeks apart.

On the evening of Thursday, Jan. 17, a woman reported an incident that began in the Kroger parking lot. She was returning to her car after doing some shopping. As she approached the car, a person who was hiding in the back seat jumped out and put a gun to her, demanding her money. She gave her money to a person she believed was a heavyset man about 5-foot-8 and in his early 20s. Then, at gunpoint, the suspect made her get into the car and drive to another location. The suspect then got more money from the victim. No further harm came to the woman.

On the night of Saturday, Feb. 2, a taxi driver called police from his cell phone to report someone had accosted him in his taxi. The driver went to pick up a fare in the 300 block of Feldman Drive. As he sat waiting for his customer, someone grabbed him and sprayed something in his eyes. He exited the cab and moved away a distance before stopping to call police on his cell phone. He could see the person looking for the cash drawer in the front seat of the cab. His description was much like that of the Kroger assailant except the suspect was female.

Based on evidence, Lincoln Police went to the apartment of a 41-year-old woman living at 321 Feldman Drive. Due to her inconsistent statements, Kimberly L. Ingram was arrested for attempted robbery in the taxicab incident.

The state’s attorney has the information on both cases. It has not been stated that the two incidents are linked.

[Jan Youngquist]

Atlanta radio station announces new shows and name change

[FEB. 8, 2002]  On the air less than a year, Classic Rock 96.3, WMNW in Atlanta is changing its name to FIX 96. The name change begins Feb. 11, when the station unveils its new local morning show and an evening open line for sports. General Manger Jim Ash hopes the new image will give the station a stronger identity across central Illinois.

"We’re still going to be playing the classic rock music that’s so popular, but we feel that we’ve got a lot more to offer," Ash said.

Besides music, the station broadcasts area high school football and basketball games, special events like the Logan County Fair and balloon fest, local news, and sports. Ash says the new "Morning FIX" will run from 7 to 10 a.m. weekdays. He plans to have surprise guests, trivia games, prizes and more.

The new open-line sports show will run Mondays from 6 to 7 p.m. and will be hosted by local sports personalities Jeff Mayfield and Greg Taylor. Both men write sports news and features for Lincoln Daily News (www.lincolndailynews.com). Mayfield is a former Lincoln High School basketball assistant coach, and Taylor currently serves as the color commentator for Railer broadcasts. Ash says eventually the sports show will run five nights a week with a variety of hosts.

"We think it’s going to be a big hit, not just in Lincoln, but all across central Illinois," Ash said.

WMNW went on the air April 13, 2001. It serves DeWitt, Logan, Macon, Mason, McLean, Menard, Sangamon and Tazewell counties.

[WMNW news release]

National campaign will bring anti-drug messages to area families

[FEB. 8, 2002]  Drugs are one of the greatest threats currently facing America’s young people. Dedicated to minimizing this threat, Logan-Mason Mental Health has announced that it will join forces with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign in an effort to significantly reduce youth drug use in Logan and Mason counties.

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign is a five-year initiative dedicated to reducing youth drug use in America. The campaign mainly targets middle-school-age adolescents (approximately 11- to 13-year-olds), along with their parents and primary caregivers.

The integrated communications campaign uses a variety of communications vehicles to achieve its objectives, including advertising, the Internet, relationships with the entertainment industry, public education efforts and community partnerships, to teach children and parents about this issue.

"Building on the momentum generated by the materials and messages provided by the campaign, we at Logan-Mason Mental Health will mobilize Logan and Mason counties around this issue to de-normalize drug use in our community, " said Kristi Simpson, prevention specialist at Logan-Mason Mental Health. "Our local efforts will enhance those occurring at the national level and will provide a ‘surround sound’ effect for Logan and Mason County’s children and parents that cannot be ignored."

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 "Community involvement is essential to our success. In order to truly make an impact, the campaign’s anti-drug messages must be constantly repeated — by different people in a variety of ways," said Alan Levitt, director of the campaign. "When community organizations, such as Logan-Mason Mental Health, step up to the challenge and provide local leadership, change is accelerated and our children are the ultimate winners."

For more information about prevention efforts and what you can do to help in Logan or Mason County, call Kristi Simpson, prevention specialist at Logan-Mason Mental Health, (217) 735-2272.

[News release from Logan-Mason Mental Health]

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.

[to top of second column in this section]

• 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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