[JAN. 4, 2002]  Flames consumed the Lincoln American Legion building at 1740 Fifth St. early this morning.

 A cleaning person was in the building when he heard a loud pop in the kitchen. Lincoln Fire Department received the call and responded at approximately 6:30 a.m. Unofficial early reports suspect it to be a grease fire.

The fire was reported under control at about 10 a.m., though damage appears to be extensive. Local fire inspectors are on the scene investigating the incident.

The building was formerly a restaurant next to the Ramada Inn before the American Legion bought and remodeled it. It appears to be a total loss.

As of noon, the hoses were being rolled up as firefighters prepared to return to their firehouses. Investigators will remain on the scene this afternoon.

[LDN]

[JAN. 4, 2002]  For the people in Logan County, like those everywhere else in the nation, the defining event of the year 2001 was Sept. 11. Logan County’s response to the tragedy was not one of hate and fear, but instead a message of hope and healing. Many gathered on the courthouse lawn on Sept. 14 to honor the New York rescue workers who gave their lives to save the lives of others as well as to honor their own police officers, firefighters and rescue workers. Many also contributed to the fund-raising effort by county emergency workers to help the families of the New York fire, police and rescue personnel who died at the World Trade Center. And many found a new definition of hero — not an entertainer with a multimillion-dollar salary, but a man or woman, maybe one who lives next door, doing a job that needs to be done to help others.

However, other news also happened in Logan County throughout this unforgettable year. Here is our roundup of some of the more important and interesting local matters.

[Click here for a review of local events in January and February 2001]

MARCH

In March the ground was shaking with some major groundbreaking activities. The biggest took place at Lincoln Christian College as they stepped forward with their plans to build a $3 million, 30,000-square-foot athletic facility to replace their outdated gymnasium. The new gym will seat 1,000 spectators, and the building will also provide office space, training rooms, locker rooms, a weight room, a lobby and concessions.

Across town at Lincoln College, a new dormitory was going up and an old one, Spatz Hall, was coming down.

CCA Online, Lincoln’s major Internet provider, broke ground to set the footing for a tower that will supply high-speed wireless Internet service to the city of Lincoln. The tower is on the CCA site at Logan and Woodlawn streets.

In Mount Pulaski, in the midst of swirling snowflakes on an empty lot, ground was broken for Logan County’s newest Habitat for Humanity home. The house will go to Cheryl Mittelsteadt and her two sons, J.T. and Austin, who are all grateful for the opportunity to have a home of their own. This is the first Habitat house to be built in Mount Pulaski.

An open house at the Lincoln’s Public Library celebrated administrator Richard Sumrall’s 10th anniversary as head of the library. During his term, circulation has increased from 72,000 to 112,000 books a year and many non-print formats have been added, such as books on tape, videos, CD-ROMs, electronic and online databases. Also during this time the annex was added across the alley from the main building and the original building was renovated, with new carpeting and ceramic tile and cleaning and lighting of the stained glass dome.

Postman Steve Jones noticed that for several days the mail was not collected and newspapers remained in the yard at the home of a woman on his route. He called the police, who found the woman had fallen and was not able to get up. Jones later visited her while she was recovering at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

Emergency Services and Disaster Agency and the Local Emergency Planning Committee discussed the threat of terrorism, especially bioterrorism, and the plans being put into place to combat it. LEPC is a state-mandated group that will spearhead a community response during any incident involving hazardous materials.

Volunteers are making it possible for the Postville Courthouse to be open five days a week instead of only two, according to Richard Schachtsiek, site manager. Volunteers, under the management of Shirley Bartelmay, will keep the historic site open Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The 2000 census figures show that while Logan County and Lincoln haven’t lost population, they haven’t gained much, either. Actually, Lincoln is down by 49, while the total number of folks in Logan County is up by 385, from 30,798 in 1990 to 31,183 in 2000.

Businesses making news included the Pink Shutter Thrift Shop, which relocated to 114 N. McLean St. and had a grand opening in mid-March. The shop has been owned and operated by ALMH Auxiliary sine 1962. The new location offers more room and is more convenient.

Team Express, a subsidiary of Team Electronics Super Store in Decatur, had the grand opening of its new store at 411 Pulaski St. The business offers cellular services and accessories. Manager is Leigh Horner and assistant manger is Mandy Cook, both of Lincoln

The big news in sports was that Illinois won the Big Ten championship. In a late surge, the Illini overcame the Minnesota Gophers to win 67-59. Frank Williams scored eight of his team-high 15 points in the last three minutes, and Lincoln’s Brian Cook added five points during this stretch, including a 3-point play.

By beating the Kansas Jayhawks 80-64, the Illini made it to the Elite Eight, only one win away from making it to the Final Four.

Girls volleyball was in good shape in Logan County, especially in Hartsburg-Emden and Mount Pulaski schools. In the 7A competition, Hartem’s Lady Stags claimed third and Mount Pulaski’s Honeybears second at the state tournament in Pawnee.

In the 8A competition they did even better. Mount Pulaski, with an undefeated 29-0 season, beat its rival Hartem in two games to win the state title. Hartem had to settle for second best in the state.

APRIL

The April 3 general election decided four Logan County mayoral contests. Republican Beth Davis won handily over Democrat Kenneth S. Gray (1,458-130) to become mayor of Lincoln. In Mount Pulaski, alderman William C. Glaze, polling 330 votes, won out over Delmar L. Stewart, a former mayor but not an incumbent, polling 240, and Robert W. Letterle, who brought in 41 votes.

In Atlanta, incumbent Republican Bill Martin beat challenger Taplia "Jack" Renfrow 262-208. In San Jose, Citizens Party candidate Duane Worlaw, with 159 votes, won easily over Independent candidate Ida M. McWilliam, who polled only 21 votes.

Logan County voters spoke loud and clear about their preference for a districtwide election for county board members instead of the present at-large method. The advisory referendum passed by a more than 3-1 margin. The board later rescinded their former vote to keep the membership elected at large and voted to choose members by district.

The Lincoln City Council passed the city’s first bed-and-breakfast ordinance, to give prospective B & B owners guidelines to follow. Owners must get permits from the city code enforcement office and have food operations certified by the Logan County Health Department. Off-street parking requirements were waived, and B & Bs will be permitted in residential districts.

This month the new radio station, WMNW, 96.3 FM, headquartered in Atlanta near Lazy Row, went on the air, with Jim Ash as general manager. The station broadcasts classic rock of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s to listeners in Logan, McLean and Sangamon counties and will keep its listeners informed of important breaking news. Ash was with WPRC radio in Lincoln and later with WUIS in Springfield.

The Illinois State Police and the Logan County Sheriff’s Department confiscated more than 240 pounds of cocaine April 24, in one of the largest drug seizures in downstate Illinois. A Texas man, Victor Caballero, was charged with substance trafficking and intent to deliver a controlled substance and could serve from 30 to 120 years in prison.

[to top of second column in this section]

Plans for District 27’s new Central School are almost complete, said Superintendent Robert Kidd. The brick building will face south on Seventh Street and will have double gables over either side of the entrance. It will have 14 classrooms, a kitchen and cafeteria, a 6,860-square-foot gymnasium, a stage, a music room, a media center, a library, rooms for special education, and office space and a conference room for teachers and administrators.

Lincoln College President Jack Nutt announced that at its Normal campus the college will begin offering courses that will lead to a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. Nutt said this has been in the planning stages for several years and meets the needs of both two-year graduates and working adults.

In business news, the Tropics Steak and Pasta House at 1007 Hickory Drive, on historic Route 66, opened under the management of Tim Dalipi, serving a menu of Italian and American dishes. Five members of the Dalipi family are involved in the restaurant operation. The former coffee shop is now the dining room for smokers, and the two dining rooms have been redecorated. The menu offers a variety of items.

In sports, Lincoln had a new state champion in April — Dart Man. Brian Dutz captured two state titles in the 2001 State Dart Championships at the Civic Center in Peoria, winning in both Open Singles and Open Singles Cricket, the first person ever to take both titles.

Judy Dopp, Lincoln Community High School National Honor Society sponsor, announced at the city’s council meeting on Monday that Lincoln had won a Governor’s Home Town Award for 2000 for the plantings done by the National Honor Society and the biochemistry classes taught by Jim Vipond. The Plant the Tree program for 2000 included extensive plantings at the Logan County Fairgrounds and in the Don Shay parking lot across from Scully Park in downtown Lincoln, as well as plantings at Memorial Park and at two nursing homes. The program has been going on for the past five years.

Community members, friends, family and workers — all gathered for dedication services July 4 at the newest Habitat House in Mount Pulaski. Keys for the sixth completed Habitat for Humanity of Logan County home were turned over to the Cheryl Mittlesteadt family. Cheryl and her sons, James T. and Austin M. Berger, planned to move into their new home at 317 Vine St., Mount Pulaski, on Saturday.

The climax of the Healthy Communities Partnership report to the community on Thursday was the presentation of the National Outstanding Rural Health Practice Award to Dayle Eldredge, director of the Rural Health Partnership Task Force and of the overall partnership. Among the projects of the RHP are the mobile health unit which provides health care throughout Logan County, educational seminars including one on prostate and testicular cancer conducted June 27, farm safety programs offered in conjunction with the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, and assistance to farm families with a disabled member. Later in the month HCP also received the Outstanding Rural Health Practice Award of the National Rural Health Association, which represents providers of health-care services, agricultural associations, government and industry.

The Logan County Genealogical and Historical Society has been awarded a $10,000 state grant, according to an announcement by Sen. Bob Madigan before he left his legislative position. The money will be used to help purchase the building that is currently home to the society. The organization recently moved from Arcade Court to 114 N. Chicago in Lincoln. Society member Dorothy Gleason said the new location gives them much-needed breathing room.

Rod White’s East Park subdivision, which was stalled last month when the Lincoln City Council requested that he pay the entire cost of upgrading North Sherman Street in front of the new development, is back on again. The council took another look at the wording of the ordinance that says a development must bring all streets in the subdivison up to city code. However, they decided, that is mandatory only for new streets, and Sherman is an existing street. White will pay for curbs and gutters and said he would begin work on the new subdivision immediately.

A report from economic development director Mark Smith notes that in late April, the U.S. Census Bureau began releasing all kinds of information collected during the 2000 census. Some of it tells us something about Logan County. Our official population is 31,183, only 385 more people than in 1990. Our growth rate was 1.3 percent. Our median age is 37.0 years, almost three years higher than the state figure. The percentage of our population below 18 is 5 percent less than the state average. There are 11,872 total housing units in the county. Of those units, 11,113 were occupied at census time. Of the vacant units, 20.2 percent were for sale, 26.7 percent were for rent and 3.7 percent were used seasonally or for recreational purposes.

From a "textbook" perspective, Logan County could be viewed as holding its own — barely. Over the past decade, population and new housing developments have been flat. Our population is aging faster than average. Based on these preliminary statistics, and if the trend does not improve, there may be cause for concern as the next decade unfolds, Smith’s report said.

Claude "Bud" Stone, Morton, Tazewell County Republican Party chairman, has been chosen to fill the unexpired term of former Sen. Robert Madigan of Lincoln. Madigan resigned at the end of June to take a post with the Illinois Industrial Commission. The choice was made at a meeting of the seven GOP county chairmen whose counties are all or in part in 45th Senatorial District. Stone will serve until Madigan’s term expires in January of 2003.

The first meeting of Lincoln’s Historic Homes and Buildings Committee was on July 16 in the office of Mayor Beth Davis. Its mission is "to promote and preserve historic homes and buildings within Lincoln, Illinois, for the purpose of recognizing and preserving their historic value." The committee will be chaired by Lincoln resident Betty York.

On a hot 31^st of July, the 65^th Logan County Fair was officially opened when Lincoln Mayor Beth Davis and Fair 2000 Queen Elizabeth Stoll, along with members of Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce, cut the ribbon.

In business news, the local branch of APAC Customer Services announced it would hire at least 30 full-time and 30 part-time telephone sales representatives at its Lincoln customer interaction center, 2500 Woodlawn, before the end of July. The additional employees will serve expanding business volume from a major financial services client that was assigned to Lincoln recently.

Lincoln Dairy Queen, under new ownership, celebrated a grand opening in July. New owners Mitzie Welsh and Scott Werner plan to operate the business on an extended season, March 1 to Oct. 31 each year.

A downtown Lincoln business, Camel’s Hair’em, has changed owners and has a new name. Paula Landess, a Lincoln native, has purchased the hair-styling business and changed the name to Cape Landing Salon. The telephone number, 735-4247, remains the same.

(To be continued)

[Joan Crabb]

[JAN. 4, 2002]  Investigators looking into last Friday’s robbery at the Sangamon State branch of the State Bank of Lincoln are still not releasing any information. Lincoln Police Department Detectives Mike Harberts and John Bunner have been working in collaboration with the FBI since the early evening robbery on Dec. 28.

The robbery suspect is said to have been a man and is described only as tall and thin. He entered the bank just before 5 p.m., advised a bank teller that he had a gun in his pocket and demanded she empty her cash drawer. He never produced a weapon and fled the scene on foot. A triggered silent alarm brought police to the scene within minutes.

[LDN]

[JAN. 4, 2002]  Lead

[LDN]

Today’s history

Compiled by Dave Francis

4th day of the year

Quotes

"If I have seen further [than certain other men] it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." — Isaac Newton

"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." — George Washington

Birthdays

1643 — Isaac Newton, scientist

1785 — Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm, Germany, librarian (fairy tale collector)

1809 — Louis Braille, Coupvray, France, developer of reading system for blind

1813 — Isaac Pitman, Britain, inventor of stenographic shorthand

1813 — Louis L. Bonaparte, English and French linguist and senator

1890 — Alfred G. Jodl, German Wehrmacht general and chief of staff

1896 — Everett McKinley Dirkson, senator, R-Ill.

1914 — Jane Wyman, St. Joseph, Mo., first Mrs. Ron Reagan, actress ("Magnificent Obsession")

1914 — Mohammed Sahir, shah (Afghanistan)

1930 — Don Shula, winningest NFL coach (Miami Dolphins)

1935 — Floyd Patterson, heavyweight champ (1956-59, 1960-62) (gold medal, 1952 Olympics)

1493 — Columbus left New World on return from first voyage

1642 — King Charles I with 400 soldiers attacks the English Parliament

1786 — Mozes Mendelssohn, Jewish and German philosopher (Haksalah), dies at 56

1790 — President Washington delivers first "State of the Union" address

1821 — Elizabeth Ann Seton, first native-born American saint, dies in Maryland

1863 — Four-wheeled roller skates patented by James Plimpton of New York

1877 — Cornelius Vanderbilt, U.S. robber baron, dies at 82

1965 — T.S. Eliot, poet ("Washed Country"), dies in London at 76

1970 — Beatles last recording session at EMI studios

1974 — Nixon refuses to hand over tapes subpoenaed by Watergate Committee

1995 — Newt Gingrich (R) becomes speaker of the House

[JAN. 3, 2002]  The first baby of the new year was born at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital at 12:02 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1.

Athena Patricia Lambros, daughter of Lynn Lambros of Lincoln, weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and was 20½ inches long. Athena was welcomed into the family by mom and big sister Samantha.

ALMH’s new Family Maternity Suites, which opened in August, encourage and welcome families to share in the wonder and excitement of childbirth. Labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care can all be administered inside one of the private birthing suites, eliminating the need to move the mother to another room.

[JAN. 3, 2002]  For the people in Logan County, like those everywhere else in the nation, the defining event of the year 2001 was Sept. 11. Logan County’s response to the tragedy was not one of hate and fear, but instead a message of hope and healing. Many gathered on the courthouse lawn on Sept. 14 to honor the New York rescue workers who gave their lives to save the lives of others as well as to honor their own police officers, firefighters and rescue workers. Many also contributed to the fund-raising effort by county emergency workers to help the families of the New York fire, police and rescue personnel who died at the World Trade Center. And many found a new definition of hero — not an entertainer with a multimillion-dollar salary, but a man or woman, maybe one who lives next door, doing a job that needs to be done to help others.

However, other news also happened in Logan County throughout this unforgettable year. Here is our roundup of some of the more important and interesting local matters.

[Click here for Part 1: January and February 2001]

(Due to a technical error March and April’s reviews will be posted tomorrow.

MAY

Lincoln College hosted a dedication ceremony for the Anna K. and Bernard E. Behrends Admissions Building on May 12. The building was named because of the generous support of two siblings from Lincoln who are graduates of the college: Anna K. Behrends, class of 1936, retired after 40 years as an elementary teacher, and her brother Bernard E. Behrends, class of 1948, currently CEO of Hartsburg State Bank.

Lincoln’s new mayor, Elizabeth "Beth" Davis, appointed new police and fire chiefs at her first regular meeting with the city council, on May 8. Rich Montcalm, a 12-year member of the police force, was named to head the Police Department. Robert "Bucky" Washam, a firefighter for 26 years, was named fire chief. Montcalm replaced former chief Richard Ludolph, and Washam replaced Ken Ebelherr. Ludolph has since taken a position on the staff of the Supreme Court Administration Office of the Illinois Courts Association. Ebelherr remains on the Lincoln City Fire Department. Staying on with the city were Jonathan Wright as city attorney, Les Last as building and zoning officer, and Donnie Osborne as street superintendent.

Three lives were lost during the second week of May. A fire at Friendship Manor at 925 Primm Road claimed the life of 87-year-old Ray Money. A traffic accident claimed two lives: William Robert Hazard, 71, of Mason City, and Linda Rose Coffey, 54, of Bend, Ore. Coffey was in Lincoln to attend the funeral of her father.

A historic well across from the Postville Courthouse — a well from which Abraham Lincoln often drank — was opened on May 14 by the Looking for Lincoln Committee of Logan County. The well is just outside the VFW Post at 915 Fifth St., where the Deskins Tavern once stood. Along with Lincoln, other historic figures such as Stephen Logan, David Davis, John Stuart and Samuel H. Trent made the tavern their headquarters while traveling on the 8^th Judicial Circuit. The committee hopes to make the well usable again as a tourist attraction.

In sports news, West Lincoln-Broadwell School took second place in the Class 7A girls track-and-field meet in East Peoria. Helping to garner winning points were Christine Presswood, who took first place in both the 800-meter and the 1,600-meter races and set a meet record in the latter. Kylie Courtwright also took first in the high jump.

John Turner of Atlanta, the Illinois state representative for the 90^th House District, received an appointment as a judge on the Illinois Appellate Court for the 4^th Judicial District and announced he would step down from his House seat on June 1. Logan County area candidates announcing their candidacy for the position included Carla Bender, Logan County Court clerk; Jonathan Wright, Lincoln city attorney; and Dave Hawkinson, former director of the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce. Bender later dropped out of the race, citing family responsibilities. Three more Logan County candidates announced later: George E. Davis, retiring administrator of St. Clara’s Manor; John Guzzardo, former mayor of Lincoln and restaurant owner; and Lois Olson, Elkhart, with the Illinois Department of Financial Institutions.

A well-attended Antiques Roadshow and the ninth annual Mayor’s Awards for Historic Preservation climaxed the four-day celebration of National Historic Preservation Week in Lincoln. The Antiques Roadshow brought in everything from china dolls to Indian artifacts, keeping the 10 experts who were on hand busy trying to date and value the items. Jerry and Colleen Roate won the Mayor’s Award in the residential category for the "sympathetic alterations" of their home at 146 Ninth St. The nonresidential award went to the State Farm building at 200 N. Chicago St., owned by Jane Wright, which was part of the downtown façade renovation done last summer.

The statue of the Indian woman was removed from its home on the west lawn of the Logan County Courthouse. She has been badly in need of repair, having lost one hand and part of the water jug it held. The statue was a gift to the town by the Lincoln Woman’s Club in 1906. Sculptor David Seagraves of Elizabeth, Ill., took the statue to his studio to do the restoration work.

The Lincoln City Council chambers were standing room only as folks came to hear the Rev. S.M. Davis give his proposal to erect a giant statue of Abraham Lincoln christening the town of Lincoln with watermelon juice. Davis said the 305-foot statue would be a city landmark and tourist attraction and the focus of a theme park or playground. He said it could bring in from 5,000 to 15,000 tourists a day, promote the building of motels and restaurants, raise property values, and perhaps double the size of the city. A committee is looking into finding corporation sponsorship to build the $150 million project.

Making business news, Integrity Data, a technology and computer programming organization, completed renovations of its headquarters at 110 N. Kickapoo. The firm purchased the former Schick building at 640 Broadway and 110 N. Kickapoo. Integrity Date’s new office space is on the second floor on the Kickapoo side. Midwest Bible occupies part of the first floor. Integrity Data, Inc. is owned and operated by Patrick Doolin, a Lincoln native, and Mark Hisken of Willmar, Minn.

Logan County Chamber of Commerce ambassadors were on hand to celebrate a ribbon-cutting and open house at Insight Communications (formerly Media One) at its new quarters at 1102 Keokuk St.

[to top of second column in this section]

JUNE

The completion of the crisis management center in the lower level of the Logan Safety Complex makes Logan County one of the most disaster-prepared counties in the state, according to Emergency Services and Disaster Agency Director Dan Fulscher. The entire lower level supports emergency disaster efforts, especially the Central Command Center, he said. The new facility was dedicated to the memory of Larry Schroyer, an early civil defense director whose planning in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s led to the ESDA organization of today.

Lincoln College received a $1 million grant from the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs through Build Illinois, which college president Jack Nutt said would be put toward building a new Lincoln College Museum. The museum, which has many Abraham Lincoln artifacts, will be expanded from the present 1,200 square feet to 6,000.

Plans for a proposed 16-home East Park subdivision, which have been under discussion by developer Rodney White and the Lincoln City Council for several months, came to a halt over the question of who will foot the bill for upgrading Sherman Street, which the subdivison will face. White, who said he was trying to develop "affordable housing" in the $80,000 to $90,000 range, said it was not feasible for him to pay the entire cost of upgrading the street. The council was also told it would have to make some decision on sewer rate increases in order to secure the $10 million loan to upgrade the sewage treatment plant.

The Logan County Board, reviewing options for changing from at-large to district representation, finally voted to accept a plan for six districts with two members each. A motion to add a 13^th at-large member to act as a tie-breaker was defeated. Gloria Luster of Mount Pulaski was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Beth Davis, who was recently elected mayor of Lincoln. The board earlier tabled a motion to increase members’ pay from $35 to $50 per committee meeting and from $40 to $75 for each general board meeting.

The newly formed Logan County Arts Association was officially incorporated on June 8. Its mission is "To enhance the quality of life by actively promoting arts dissemination, thereby making the arts an integral component of life in our community and the surrounding area." The association later announced plans for several classic movie presentations.

Jonathan Wright, city attorney for Lincoln and Atlanta, was named to fill the 90^th District Illinois House seat vacated by John Turner. He was chosen by the six GOP county chairmen in the district from a field of seven candidates. The choice was unanimous, said Mary Jane Jones, Mason County GOP chairman. "He will do a good job replacing Mr. Turner," said Tazewell County GOP Chairman Claude Stone. Wright was sworn in by Turner at a standing-room-only ceremony in the second-floor courtroom of the Logan County Courthouse.

Another resignation from state government left Logan County without a member in the Illinois Senate. After 14 years in the 45^th Senate District, Sen. Robert Madigan, R-Lincoln, resigned to take a position on the Illinois Industrial Commission, the administrative court for workers’ compensation cases. His resignation is effective July 2 and means that Republican county chairmen, many of whom just went through the appointment process to select Jonathan Wright, must meet again to find a candidate to fill Madigan’s seat.

Before leaving office, Sen. Madigan announced that Main Street Lincoln will receive a $10,000 grant from the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to restore the Abraham Lincoln well. Wendy Bell, Main Street program manager, said the money would be used to make the well usable as a public drinking fountain and to bottle the water for sale, with a label depicting Mr. Lincoln.

Business news wasn’t good this month. As of June 30, Lincoln will no longer have a downtown office store, a handy place where somebody who just ran out of copy paper or ink cartridges can run over and stock up. June 29 is the last day the U.S. Office Products store on the corner of Broadway and Chicago Streets will be open for business. U.S. Office Products was recently sold to Corporate Express, which does not keep retail outlets open. "This had nothing to do with our location or the amount of business transacted here. It is just a corporate business decision to close all retail stores," said Gail Rawlins, manager of the Lincoln store.

Motorists breathed a little easier as they watched gasoline prices continue to plunge lower after reaching highs of more than $2 a gallon in some places. The average price at the pump in Illinois at the end of June was reported at $1.65. Area stations were posting prices of $1.49 for their base grade this morning. Prices dipped as low as $1.34 in Bloomington in a regional gasoline price war.

In sports news, Olympia’s Lady Stags softball team came home carrying their first state championship trophy, this one for second place. Having beaten two-year champion Casey-Westfield earlier in the day, the Lady Stags lost to Nashville 0-3.

[Joan Crabb]

[Click here for Part 3]

Today’s history

Compiled by Dave Francis

3rd day of the year

Quotes

"While the sick man has life, there is hope." — Marcus Cicero

"I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen." — Martin Luther

B.C. — Marcus Tullius Cicero, Rome, statesman and author ("Academica")

1624 — William Tucker, first black child born America

1939 — Bobby Hull, NHL forward (Chicago Blackhawk 1957-72)

1945 — Stephen Stills, Dallas, Texas, songwriter and guitarist (Cosby Stills & Nash)

1945 — Victoria Principal, Fukuoka Japan, actress ("Earthquake," Pamela in "Dallas")

1946 — John Paul Jones, rocker (Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven")

1956 — Mel Gibson, Peekskill, N.Y., actor ("Mad Max," "Mrs. Soffel," "Lethal Weapon")

Events

1431 — Joan of Arc handed over to the bishop

1521 — Martin Luther excommunicated by Roman Catholic Church

1543 — Juan Cabrillo, conqueror of Central America, discoverer of California, dies

1847 — California town of Yerba Buena renamed San Francisco

1870 — Brooklyn Bridge construction begins; completed May 24, 1883

1871 — Oleomargarine patented by Henry Bradley, Binghamton, N.Y.

1876 — First free kindergarten in United States opens in Florence, Mass.

1888 — First wax drinking straw patented, by Marvin C. Stone, Washington, D.C. ["It’s Drinking Straw Day!"]

1920 — N.Y. Yankees purchase Babe Ruth from Red Sox for $125,000

1924 — British Egyptologist Howard Carter finds sarcophagus of Tutankhamun

1925 — Mussolini dissolves Italian parliament, becomes dictator

1946 — William Joyce (Lord Haw Haw), hanged in Britain for treason

1952 — "Dragnet" with Jack Webb premieres on NBC-TV

1958 — Edmund Hillary reaches South Pole overland

1967 — Jack Ruby, assassin who killed assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, dies at 55

1973 — George Steinbrenner III buys Yankees from CBS for $12 million

1979 — Conrad Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels, dies at 91

JANUARY

January 2001 opened cold and snowy, after two cold months and record December snow. Some local stores had trouble keeping their shelves stocked with birdseed as thoughtful Logan County residents filled feeders for hungry birds.

The first month of the year also brought a buying spree for 1-cent stamps, because the cost of a first-class stamp went up from 33 to 34 cents on Jan. 7.

Jim Ash of Linc-On TV was named general manager of the new radio station, WNMW 96.3 FM, based in Atlanta. Ash was a familiar voice to the former Lincoln station WPRC listeners until its demise several years ago.

The Logan County Board began debating whether to put an advisory referendum on the April 3 ballot to elect representatives based upon population (by district) rather than on the at-large system. Initially, the board voted down the advisory referendum.

Lincoln Christian College representatives asked the city of Lincoln to allow the college to purchase economic development revenue bonds through the city to fund a building program that would add a new 30,000-square-foot athletic facility, renovate student housing and update building exteriors. The city agreed to the request, which saved the college from paying federal taxes on the new construction work.

On the evening of Jan. 16, smoke began pouring from the historic Scully Building on the corner of Kickapoo and Pekin streets. Before the fire, believed to be arson, was extinguished, the four upstairs apartments were destroyed and two businesses on the ground floor damaged. The silhouette of the historic building was changed from a pitched roofline to three gables and two chimneys outlined starkly against the sky. Barricades were in place for many weeks before the gables were stabilized so they would not fall.

Five candidates announced their intention to run for mayor of Lincoln in the April primary: then-incumbent Joan Ritter, Jason Harlow, then-incumbent alderman Stephen Mesner, Don Fults and county board member Beth Davis.

The Lincoln City Council continued its discussion of a new liquor code but got bogged down when it came to raising fees for license holders. The issue has been put on the back burner and is still unresolved, with the existing liquor license fees and code still in effect.

Deputy Jason Lucas, a two-year veteran of the Logan County Sheriff’s Department, was given recognition by the Logan County Board for an act of heroism. On the night of Dec. 31, 2000, Lucas rescued an incapacitated man from a burning house.

In sports, Lincoln’s own Brian Cook led the University of Illinois to their fourth conference win of the year at Northwestern University in Evanston. Cook scored eight straight points to help the Fighting Illini beat Northwestern 19-6.

[to top of second column in this section]

FEBRUARY

A ruptured sewer main on Route 10 in front of Greyhound Lube forced eastbound motorists to find an alternate route to get into Lincoln for more than a week. Many, including trucks, had to take Connolley Road to Fifth Street because the Illinois Department of Transportation decided it was unsafe for eastbound traffic to be channeled into one of the two westbound lanes.

On Jan. 26, now called Black Friday, news of the disastrous 7.9 magnitude earthquake in India stunned the world. There was an outpouring of concern and relief efforts sent from around the world in the days and weeks to follow. Super 8 Motel manager Sunil (Neal) Patel helped set up the local fund at the Illini Bank for quake victims. [http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2001/
Feb/06/news/today/today_a.shtml#India earthquake shocks felt in Lincoln]

On Feb. 8, Mount Pulaski’s seventh-grade boys won the championship round of the Class 7A State Basketball Tournament in Wenona against Pontiac St. Mary’s. Coach Robert Gasaway said the game was "hard fought." The final score was 42-34. They had a 25-0 season with no close games.

The West Lincoln-Broadwell eighth-grade boys basketball team went all the way to state. The team competed in the Class 8A state championship Feb. 15 in Concord against Normal Metcalf. Normal won the game 41-33, and WL-B received the second-place title in the state of Illinois.

The Lincoln City Council learned in February that the city’s sewage treatment plant must be upgraded because it is at capacity and without an overhaul could soon be out of compliance with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency requirements. An estimated $9 million upgrade is in the planning stages. The plant was built in the 1930s and has not had a major renovation since 1972, the council was told.

Chester-East Lincoln "mathletes" team, competing against six other schools, finished second in the regional Mathcounts competition at Millikin University in Decatur.

This month folks began hearing about the plan of the Rev. S.M. Davis of the Park Meadows Baptist Church to build a giant statue of Abraham Lincoln as a city landmark and tourist attraction. The 305-foot statue (the height of the Statue of Liberty) would be located close to Interstate 55 and would be visible as far as 50 miles away. Along with the statue, a theme park with an observation deck, a visitors’ center and other amenities would bring visitors and new prosperity to Lincoln. Davis suggested corporate sponsorship to fund the $150 million project.

The Feb. 27 Republican primary election brought out 3,009 of the 10,003 registered voters, probably because of the five-way race for mayor of Lincoln. Beth Davis won with 44 percent of the vote (1,309 votes); incumbent Joan Ritter polled 32 percent (967); alderman Stephen Mesner got 10 percent (310); Don Fults polled 9 percent (278); and Jason Harlow came in last with 5 percent (145 votes).

In sports, wrestling made the news. Olympia High School wrestlers took second in the state, beating Harvard in the quarterfinals, 49-19, and Oregon in the semifinals, 30-29. Sandwich defeated them for the championship, 31-24.

[Joan Crabb]

[Click here for Part 2]

Today’s history

Compiled by Dave Francis

2nd day of the year

"Although problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions are not." — Isaac Asimov

"Golf courses are the best place to observe ministers, but none of them are above cheating a bit." — John D. Rockefeller

1647 — Nathaniel Bacon, leader of Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia (1676)

1863 — Lucia Zarate, became lightest-known adult human (2.1 kilograms at 17)

1920 — Isaac Asimov, Russia, scientist/writer ("I, Robot," "Foundation Trilogy")

1936 — Roger Miller, Fort Worth, Texas, country singer ("King of the Road")

1939 — Jim Bakker, televangelist (PTL Club)/rapist (Jessica Hahn)

1570 — Tsar Ivan the Terrible’s march to Novgorod begins

1861 — Frederik Willem IV, king Prussia (1840-61) and Germany (1849-61), dies at 65

1882 — Because of anti-monopoly laws, Standard Oil is organized as a trust

1935 — Bruno R. Hauptmann trial begins for kidnap-murder of Lindbergh baby

1936 — First electron tube to enable night vision described, St. Louis, Mo.

1945 — Kentucky begins 130 home-basketball-game winning streak that ends in 1955

1960 — John F. Kennedy announces run for U.S. presidency

1977 — Bowie Kuhn suspends Braves owner Ted Turner for one year due to tampering charges in Gary Matthews free-agency signing

1990 — Alan Hale Jr., skipper on "Gilligan’s Island," dies of cancer at 71

1st day of the year.

Quotes

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." — Edmund Burke

"Above all, I would teach him to tell the truth … Truth-telling, I have found, is the key to responsible citizenship. The thousands of criminals I have seen 40 years of law enforcement have had one thing common: Every single one was a liar." — J. Edgar Hoover

Birthdays

1449 — Lorenzo de’ Medici [The Magnificent] of Florence

1729 — Edmund Burke, British author

1887 — Wilhelm Canaris, German admiral and head of German military intelligence

1895 — J. Edgar Hoover, Mr. FBI

1900 — Xavier Cugat, Barcelona, Spain, band leader (married Abbe Lane, Charo)

1909 — Barry Goldwater, senator, R-Ariz. (1953-65, ‘69-86) and presidential candidate (R, 1964)

1912 — Kim Philby, British spy, Soviet mole

1912, Victor Reuther, Wheeling W.Va., labor leader

1919 — J.D. Salinger, novelist. ("Catcher in the Rye")

1922 — Ernest F. Hollings, senator, D-S.C. (1966- )

1958 — Grandmaster Flash [Joseph Saddler], New York City, rocker ("Message from Beat Street")

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Events

Origin of Christian era

1515 — Louis XII, "the Justified," king of France (1498-1515), dies at 52

1622 — Papal Chancery adopts Jan. 1 as beginning of the year (was March 25)

1701 — Great Britain-Ireland union is effect, creating United Kingdom

1772 — First traveler’s checks issued (London)

1776 — Gen. George Washington hoists Continental Union flag

1782 — Johann Christian Bach, German composer and Mozart’s tutor, dies at 46

1785 — "Daily Universal Register" (Times of London) publishes first issue

1787 — Arthur Middleton, U.S. farmer (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 44

1788 — London’s Daily Universal Registrar becomes the Times

1788 — Quakers in Pennsylvania emancipate their slaves

1797 — Albany replaces New York City as capital of New York

1808 — Congress prohibits importation of slaves

1840 — First recorded bowling match in United States, at Knickerbocker Alleys, New York City

1861 — President Lincoln declares slavery in Confederate states unlawful

1863 — First homestead under the Homestead Act claimed, near Beatrice, Neb.

1863 — Emancipation Proclamation (ending slavery) issued by Lincoln

1874 — New York City annexes the Bronx

1880 — Building of Panama Canal begins

1886 — First Tournament of Roses (Pasadena, Calif.)

1892 — Ellis Island becomes reception center for new immigrants

1897 — Brooklyn merges with New York to form present city of New York

1902 — First Rose Bowl game (Pasadena, Calif.) (University of Michigan 49, Sanford 0)

1907 — President Theodore Roosevelt shakes a record 8,513 hands in one day

1908 — First time ball signifying new year is dropped at Times Square

1923 — Union of Socialist Soviet Republics established

1928 — First U.S. air-conditioned office building opens, San Antonio

1934 — Alcatraz officially becomes a federal prison

1934 — Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (U.S. bank guarantor) effective

1934 — International Telecommunication Union established

1935 — First Sugar Bowl and first Orange Bowl

1935 — Associated Press inaugurates Wirephoto

1935 — Eastern Airlines hires Eddie Rickenbacker as general manager

1946 — ENIAC, first computer in United States finished by Mauchly and Eckert

1953 — Hank Williams, country singer ("Cold Cold Heart"), dies at 29

1959 — Castro leads Cuba to victory as Fulgencio Batista flees to Dominican Republic

1968 — Evel Knievel fails his attempt to jump Caesar’s Palace fountain

1969 — Ian Fleming, writer (James Bond), dies at 80

1994 — Cesar Romero, U.S. actor (Joker in "Batman"), dies at 86

1995 — Last "Far Side" by cartoonist Gary Larson (started 1980)

[DEC. 29, 2001]  It was a dark day in LDC history when word got out that as of Nov. 21 officials had cut $17 million in federal funding of the $35 million dollar annual budget. The loss of Medicaid funds left the state of Illinois to pick up the entire operating expenses tab for the next month.

The loss of those funds was based on an  “immediate jeopardy” citation the institution received when it was believed a “pica resident” had put some indigestible thing in his mouth. A corrective patient care plan for the resident was submitted, and the implementation has been observed since that time. As a result, the citation has been removed. With that, federal funding is now restored.

The institution has been under new administration and is aggressively working on several other issues needing correction. According to Illinois Human Services Secretary Linda Renee Baker, there remain several areas of concern before LDC is in compliance with federal and state health and safety guidelines that include client protection, staffing, treatment and governing policies.

Ordered reduction of the residential population, rearrangement of the population, new patient care plans, additional employee training, surveys, inspections and close governmental surveillance has brought about many changes in the last couple of months for the LDC residents and staff. 

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The governor and Illinois Human Services Department officials both cite interest in what is best for the health and safety of the residents at the facility. Who could say better than a parent what is best for their child? LDC has unanimous endorsement from this group. Following the parents’ meeting with the governor on Dec. 6 in Springfield, LDC Parents Group president Linda Brown said, “I would hope that [the governor] will look at our testimonials and that he will listen to us and that we will weigh in on his judgment on what to do. We realize that he has a hard job to do and that he could be held accountable. But as a parent we just feel that LDC needs a chance to stay open."

As a facility run by the state, the ultimate fate of LDC lies in the hands of Gov. George Ryan. The governor has postponed his decision until after the New Year.

[Jan Youngquist]

[DEC. 29, 2001]  Outgoing bank president Terry Brown and soon-to-be-president Steve Aughenbaugh will have no problem remembering the last day before the changeover in the bank’s hierarchy.

In a daring daylight robbery at the bank’s Sangamon Street location, a lone felon advised a bank teller that he had a gun in his pocket and demanded she empty her cash drawer just before 5 p.m.

The man, described only as tall and thin, never produced a weapon during the brief illegal withdrawal of funds from the bank.

The bank staff was able to trigger their silent alarm, which brought Lincoln police officer Christy Jackson to the scene within minutes of the robbery. The felon, said to have fled the scene on foot, was already gone by the time police arrived.

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Soon-to-be-president Aughenbaugh stated that proper procedures, to ensure no harm befalls employees, were  “followed to a T” by the teller, whose name is being withheld at this time.

Since bank funds are protected under FDIC insurance, the local FBI was immediately brought into the case to assist in the investigation. Both the city police and the FBI refused to disclose details of either the assailant’s appearance or the exact amount of money stolen, while they piece together the crime.

It is believed that once the initial investigation is over, a complete description of the assailant will be forthcoming. It is standard procedure in robberies of this type not to publicly disclose the amounts of money stolen.

[Mike Fak]

[DEC. 29, 2001]  Ron Allen, who started working with the YMCA not long after it opened its doors in Lincoln, was named Lincoln’s Volunteer of the Year at a statewide YMCA Key Leaders Conference held recently.

The YMCA came to Lincoln in 1991 as a branch of the Springfield YMCA, and Allen started as an assistant soccer coach, quickly moving up to head coach the next spring. Both of his sons became soccer players, and he found coaching for the Y a good way to stay connected with them.

“I really enjoyed being involved with my kids in the soccer program.  I could know what they were doing, when and with whom. And it was a very good way to get my foot in the door at the Y.”

[Chuck, Ron and Chris Allen at their home in Lincoln.]

He soon became a member of the program committee, attending monthly meetings to develop new programs for youngsters.

Allen and the Y got along together so well that in 1994 he was elected a member of the organization’s board. He has served in that capacity ever since.

He has also served on the building and grounds committee, overseeing maintenance of all the buildings in the city that the Y rents for its programs. He has been a member of the executive committee, the policy-making body of the Y, and he also sits on the futures committee, helping to set up a five-year plan for Y activities and for the role the Y will play in the Lincoln community.

In 1997 the Lincoln YMCA was chartered as an independent body.  The Y promotes the development of four core character elements -- respect, honesty, responsibility and caring -- which they try to implement in all their programs. For example, as a soccer coach, Allen encouraged his players always to be good sportsmen. 

“Don’t gloat if you are winning, and don’t be discouraged if you are losing.  Go out and win the next time,” he would tell his players. “It’s pretty much ‘Do unto others as you would have others do unto you,’” he added.

Allen helped to initiate a program to teach the four core character elements to youngsters in District 27 schools. In 1997, the Y went to the fourth-grade class at Northwest School and took the core elements into the classroom.

“We had kids write a weekly journal to tell how they felt about the things that happened to them.  We tried to show them that it’s not nice to be a bully, and that you don’t put people down just because you think you’re smarter or a better athlete,” he said. “If they would see somebody throw down a piece of paper, we taught them they should pick it up instead of going to tattle on that person,” he added.

[to top of second column in this article]

Later the program was expanded to include all first-, second- and third-grade classes in District 27. YMCA staff went in once a week for an hour for 10 weeks each semester, using materials the national YMCA furnished.

“I came up with that idea,” he said.  “But now, due to lack of funding, that program has ended.” He regrets that the Y no longer has enough staff to send a person into Lincoln classrooms to teach these values. However, the Y does serve school children in other ways. During the entire summer, from the time school is out until classes start in the fall, the Y offers a summer day camp program at a nominal fee, with hours from 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. It also offers School’s Out Fundays, programs during the days school is out, such as Christmas vacation, Columbus Day, Martin Luther King’s birthday, and other holidays during which parents may have to work. Youngsters in District 27 schools, Chester-East Lincoln and West Lincoln-Broadwell can register for these programs.  Forms are available at the school offices.

The interest in soccer that the Y instilled into his sons, Chris, now 17 and a junior at Lincoln Community High School, and Chuck, now 14 and a freshman, has carried through the years. Both boys play on the LCHS varsity soccer team and also on competitive travel teams.

Last year Chris and two of his friends from LCHS coached a soccer team for the YMCA. The second- and third-graders wouldn’t have been able to have a team otherwise, Allen said. Chris and his friends are ready to coach again this spring, when they aren’t playing soccer themselves for LCHS. 

Chris also worked for the Y last year during summer camp as a counselor for kindergarteners and first-graders. He has been a soccer referee for four years, and his brother Chuck has been a referee for 2½ years.

Because the bylaws of the organization say no one may serve on the board more than three consecutive terms, Allen will be stepping down as a board member at the end of 2002. But that won’t keep him from continuing to volunteer. He will then join the past board members’ advisory committee and continue to promote YMCA activities here in Lincoln.

The Y’s executive director, Linda Marini, praised Allen for the many different ways in which he supports the Y. He has served as a member of its committees and he seldom misses a meeting.  He also does repair work of all kinds, is involved in fund-raising and attends training meetings for volunteers.

“He just really is a Y person,” she said. “He’s got the Y in his heart.”

[Joan Crabb]

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. 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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