[MARCH 16, 2002]  The county board seems poised to adopt new rules and regulations for Logan County Airport, pending review by State’s Attorney Tim Huyett. Existing regulations were passed in 1985, 1980 or even earlier and do not address many current needs, according to Airport and Farm Committee chair Roger Bock, who researched the changes.

New provisions in the proposed rules and regulations, which are intended to replace all existing regulations, include the following:

•  The airport is entitled to move, without liability, a plane or other vehicle obstructing traffic.

•  Aircraft permanently based at the airport must be registered by completing the Hangar/Tie-Down Lease.

•  Hangars are leased in as-is condition. Tenants are responsible for mowing within 10 feet of the hangar and for snow removal from the hangar to the taxiway.

•  Owners may do preventative maintenance on their aircraft, but airframe repairs or motor overhauls must be performed by a licensed mechanic in designated areas.

•  Disposal of fuel, oil and other waste is regulated.

•  Sky divers are restricted in where they can land and taxi. They cannot operate when wind speeds exceed their maneuvering capabilities.

•  Sky divers and people operating businesses at the airport must be insured.

•  Only one lease for retail sale of aviation fuel is allowed for each 500,000 gallons of fuel dispensed per year.

•  Animals except seeing eye dogs are not permitted in the airport office. Elsewhere on the property they must be on a leash.

•  Hunting is banned on airport property.

•  No person may be denied use of the airport based on race, color or national origin.

The airport regulations passed in a straw vote at the county board meeting Thursday and will be presented for final vote Wednesday if they survive scrutiny by the state’s attorney.

Also pertaining to the airport, Bock reported that the credit card-operated fuel pump is working, and Logan County Airport now offers fuel 24 hours a day, seven days a week at competitive prices.

In other business Dale Voyles, chair of the Insurance and Legislative Committee, said it seems prudent to renew the county’s health insurance coverage with Health Alliance of Champaign despite a 23 percent increase in premium. He said the main reason for the increase is that claims have exceeded the premium by more than $200,000 during the seven months the policy has been in effect. Three significant claims have produced this shortfall.

Though the committee is not yet ready to make a recommendation, Voyles said other companies are not likely to offer a better rate because of the county’s poor short-term history. He suggested waiting a year before rebidding health insurance coverage, saying two years of claims experience is needed to build a rate-base history.

Health Alliance is owned by Carle Clinic in Champaign and is affiliated with Memorial Hospital in Springfield and with Springfield Clinic. These providers assume 85 percent of the risk of coverage, and Health Alliance assumes 15 percent. Therefore, according to insurance agent Roger Garrett, the rating by Weiss Ratings, which considers only Health Alliance, is not indicative of the stability of the company. Weiss ratings for the insurance carrier ranged from weak to excellent in specific areas, with stability being rated weak.

Garrett said that with the partners’ assets included the company would easily have met A-rating standards. Health Alliance is not rated by A.M. Best, an industry standard, because the cost of being rated is prohibitive for a regional carrier. Garrett also pointed out that Health Alliance assets gained nearly $5 million in the past year. Therefore, the company is stronger than when the county bought the policy.

Garrett said that National Committee for Quality Assurance, which monitors health maintenance organizations nationally, gave Health Alliance one of its few excellent ratings for Illinois HMOs and rated it 15th in the country.

[to top of second column in this article]

Garrett was able to negotiate a cut from the 27 percent rate increase originally quoted to the current 23 percent increase in premium.

Health Committee chair Dave Hepler said the design of the Health Alliance plan is inflationary and will lead to greater utilization and expense. He said he would like to consider other proposals.

The issue will be discussed and a recommendation probably determined at the April 9 Insurance and Legislative Committee meeting. The renewal date for the policy is May 1.

In another insurance issue the rate increase on the county’s dental policy with Guardian is being lowered 2 percent because enough county employees took out life insurance with the company. The dental increase was originally set at 11 percent, with the possibility of lowering it to 9 percent. That change was effective March 1, according to agent Jerry Palmer.

Board historian Paul Gleason reported that a lithograph of Abraham Lincoln owned by the county is a print of a portrait painted by John Littlefield and engraved in 1866 by Henry Gugler of the Bureau of Printing. The date of the print is not known. Littlefield was a former law student in the Lincoln-Herndon office in Springfield who worked in the U.S. Department of the Treasury during Lincoln’s presidency.

Mary Turner, executive director of the Illinois Association of Museums, recently inspected furnishings in the Logan County Courthouse. She wrote in a letter to board member Rod White: "It seems that you have an excellent example of a fairly uncommon but popular print that was done very soon after Lincoln’s death. … Yours, by the way, is in excellent condition in, what appears to be, the original frame."

The Abraham Lincoln print hangs in the first-floor office of Sojourn Court Advocate Darrell Sisk. Until recently, it was stored in the vault of Regional Superintendent of Schools George Janet.

The board’s voting session has been moved from Tuesday, March 19, to Wednesday, March 20, because of the primary election. Issues to be voted upon at that meeting include:

•  A resolution earmarking $528,693 for maintenance of the county highway system. The money is budgeted and will come from the county motor fuel tax fund.

•  Approval of the low bid opened March 11 for culvert replacement and materials. The highway department is determining the lowest bid.

•  Reappointment of Rosanne Brosamer as supervisor of assessments.

•  Designation of Hanson Engineers of Springfield as airport consulting engineer for another five years. Hanson and its predecessor firm have been airport engineers since the airport’s beginning.

•  Employment of Janet Dahmm to clean the Dr. John Logan Building for $3,900 per year. Dahmm works as certification and GED clerk in the regional superintendent of school’s office, which is located in the building. Board member Doug Dutz indicated that he would vote against the measure because he believes this position should be let for bids.

Several board members gave notice of issues likely to come up at future meetings. These include a county bike trail, a proposal from the 911 board to take over administration of dispatchers, a five-year plan being developed by county engineer Tom Hickman for prioritizing road projects, and a homicide procedure that would coordinate activities of the coroner, state’s attorney, sheriff and city police departments.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

183rd being called to active duty to serve in 'Operation Southern Watch'

[MARCH 16, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan addressed about 150 members of the Illinois Air National Guard’s 183rd Fighter Wing at a departure ceremony on Tuesday before they mobilized for active duty at various locations throughout Southwest Asia. Members of the 183rd, based at Springfield’s Capital Airport, will fly "Operation Southern Watch," enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq.

"The 183rd has a proud tradition of service," Gov. Ryan said. "You’ve served in Operation Southern Watch three times before, you know your mission, and you know how to perform it. You are among Illinois’ finest. I know you will serve with distinction and honor."

The mission to Operation Southern Watch had been scheduled for quite some time as part of the unit’s Aerospace Expeditionary Force cycle. AEF is the concept that allows the Air Force to package predesignated combat, mobility, support and leadership capabilities from the active duty forces, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. The theater commanders can then tailor the desired operational effect using a total force integration of all available assets.

The unit was initially scheduled to deploy for 30 days, but due to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 the unit was called to active duty under the partial mobilization authority issued by the president. That authority allows for mobilization for up to 24 months; however, the members of the 183rd are initially being ordered to active duty for up to 120 days.

"The 183rd Fighter Wing has incredible combat power; their aircraft are equipped with the latest in advanced technology and targeting systems," said Maj. Gen. David Harris, the adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard. "The members of the unit are highly trained professionals who will do an outstanding job. The 183rd is one of the premier units in the Air National Guard structure nationally."

[to top of second column in this article]

The unit was notified last month of its missions, and the unit members have spent the past several weeks getting their personal affairs in order.

The members began reporting to the 183rd Fighter Wing, located in Springfield, at the end of February to complete their processing. Processing for deployment includes briefings from the judge advocates office, the finance office, review of medical and personnel records, intelligence, and collection of information to assist family members and employers.

This deployment marks the fourth time the unit has deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 1996 and 1997 the unit was deployed for 30 days at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait and in 1999 to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The 183rd Fighter Wing has already deployed nearly 100 members in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle and Expeditionary Combat Support worldwide. Additional members are serving on active duty in Springfield in support of deployed members and for increased security. Upon completion of this mobilization, approximately 400 of the wing’s 1,100 personnel will be on active duty.

[IGGN press release]

[MARCH 15, 2002]  In a press conference in Springfield, state officials denied that the transfer of residents from one cottage to another, part of Gov. George Ryan’s downsizing plan, had anything to do with the recent death of three Lincoln Developmental Center residents.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 and the Lincoln Parents Association, representing parents of LDC residents, have charged that the move of 28 medically fragile residents from Coty Cottage to Bowen Cottage was at least in part responsible for the deaths of several of these residents.

"These serious allegations are totally unfounded and without medical basis. It is irresponsible and unfortunate that such allegations were made and caused such fear in the minds of the many parents and staff at LDC," a Department of Human Services press statement issued yesterday said.

Appearing at the press conference were Linda Renee Baker, head of the Department of Human Services, which oversees facilities such as LDC; Dr. Theodore Sunder from DHS, also a professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine; Dr. Sam Gaines, Department of Public Health; and Kathleen Muniz, Office of Developmental Disabilities of DHS.

The state officials said the moves from Coty to Bowen involved medical personnel and were "exceptionally well planned to safeguard the well-being of the individuals involved." Dr. Sunder said the move did not pose any danger to the residents.

AFSCME has charged that while in Coty Cottage, the residents were "living in an environment in which they were much more protected from contracting communicable diseases." Coty had been set up for the care of the medically fragile and had once been a hospital, union officials said. The cottage had a better air filtration system, and the number of people entering the living space of the residents was very limited. Bowen Cottage, AFSCME said, was overcrowded and home to more mobile individuals who might carry diseases.

State officials said that residents and staff frequently came and went in the Coty Cottage. They also said Coty did not have isolation rooms with a special air-handling system, and the medical conditions of those living at Coty did not require such measures.

Reginald Marsh, spokesman for DHS, said residents were moved from Coty because some were housed on an upper floor and there was concern about getting them out of the building in case of fire. Coty is now closed for patients and is being renovated as an administrative building, he said.

[to top of second column in this article]

In the press statement, state officials said the incidence of flu rose in Illinois early in March, and that people with chronic medical conditions, such as the former Coty residents, can experience complications or even death from the flu. LDC residents and staff have received flu vaccinations, according to the DHS press statement.

They said the incubation period for the flu is one to four days, and the last residents of Coty were moved out in February. "Given the length of time between the last moves and the initial cases of flu-like symptoms, any relationship [between the move from Coty and the flu] is highly unlikely," the press release said.

State officials said two of the deaths were linked to respiratory complications from the flu and the third was due to medical complications after gallbladder surgery. The deaths occurred on March 4, March 6 and March 10. Residents’ ages were 60, 27, and 42.

Baker said the deaths will be investigated by a medical review team.

Gov. Ryan made a decision early in February to downsize LDC to 100 residents, who will eventually be living in 10 cottages on the grounds. The decision came after months of charges and countercharges about neglect and abuse of LDC residents.

Employees at LDC, many of whom are members of AFSCME, will be reduced to 210. Formerly LDC had nearly 400 residents and 700 employees.

Marsh said the governor is continuing with his plan to downsize LDC and plans to move another 148 people out by the end of the fiscal year, June 30. He said the state has $2.5 million in this year’s budget to build the new 10-resident group homes on the LDC campus, but there is no date set to begin construction.

No decision has been made on what to do with the existing buildings on the LDC campus, he said.

[Joan Crabb]

[MARCH 15, 2002]  On Tuesday, March 19, Logan County voters will go to the polls to choose primary candidates to run in the November elections. Ballot choices may be somewhat confusing this year because of the redistricting that has changed Illinois House and Senate districts and because of the Logan County Board’s decision to elect members from districts instead of at large.

For the past 10 years, all of Logan County has been in the same representative and legislative districts, so all county voters have seen the same choices for state senators and representatives. Also, the county has been fortunate to have in Springfield both a state senator and a state representative from Logan County.

All that has changed. Last year former state Rep. John Turner, R-Atlanta, accepted a seat on the Appellate Court, and former state Sen. Robert Madigan, R-Lincoln, took a position with the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Attorney Jonathan Wright, R-Hartsburg, was chosen to replace Turner, and Claude Stone, R-Morton, was picked to replace Madigan. Neither has opted to run again. The legislative redistricting, which must by law be done every 10 years, has divided Logan County into two representative districts and two legislative districts, so not all residents of the county will be voting for the same state senators and representatives this election.

The two representative districts are the 100th and the 87th. [Click here to see maps]

The 100th District is made up of the southwest quarter of Logan County, including most of Lincoln, part of Menard County and part of Sangamon County, but not most of Springfield. The areas of Lincoln that do not fall into the 100th are the entire East Lincoln 12 precinct, which is near the airport, and a portion of East Lincoln 5, which is in Mayfair.

In the 100th District, voters who take a Republican ballot will chose between incumbent Gwenn Klingler of Springfield and challenger Rich Brauer of Petersburg for state representative. Klingler, an attorney, has served for four terms. Brauer is a farmer. There is no candidate on the Democratic ballot.

The 87^th Representative District includes the other three-fourths of Logan County, small parts of Sangamon and Christian counties, about three-fourths of Macon County but not Decatur, DeWitt County, a small part of McLean County, not including Bloomington, and about half of Tazewell County, not including Pekin.

In the 87th District, the only candidate on the Republican ballot is incumbent Bill Mitchell of Forsythe. No Democrat has filed.

Each legislative district, from which senators are elected, is made up of two representative districts. The 50th Legislative District is made up of the 99th and 100th Representative Districts and includes Springfield. On the Republican ballot, incumbent Larry K. Bomke of Springfield is the only candidate running for the Senate. The only Democratic candidate is Don Tracy.

The 44th Legislative District is made up of the 87th and 88th Representative Districts and includes Bloomington. On the Republican ballot, Bill Brady and Rus Kinzinger, both of Bloomington, are vying for the nomination for state senator to fill the seat left by retiring Sen. John Maitland, R-Bloomington. Brady is a former state representative; Kinzinger, a political newcomer, is director of Home Sweet Home Mission in Bloomington. On the Democratic ballot, Gerald A. Bradley is the candidate.

The 12 Logan County Board members who will be elected in November will be chosen from six districts within the county. Two board members will be elected in each district. This is the first time in many years that county board members have been elected by districts instead of at large.

District 1 is made up of the north and northwest parts of the county, including San Jose, Emden, Hartsburg, Atlanta and New Holland. There is no contest in this district. Lloyd Hellman, an incumbent from Emden, and Charles E. Ruben of Hartsburg are running on the Republican ballot. There are no candidates on the Democratic ballot.

District 2 is the southwest part of the county, including Middletown, Broadwell, Elkhart and some sections of the west part of Lincoln. Four Republicans are vying for two seats: incumbent Richard E. "Dick" Logan, Lincoln, present county board chairman; incumbent Roger W. Bock, Lincoln; Scott E. Doerr, Elkhart; and Robert D. Farmer, Lincoln. No Democrats have filed.

District 3 comprises the southeast part of the county, including Mount Pulaski and Latham. One Democratic candidate, Harold G. Dingman, Latham, is on the ballot. Three Republicans are seeking two spots: Tom Cash, Latham, an incumbent appointed to fill the seat vacated by Philip Mahler; Gloria Luster, Mount Pulaski, also an incumbent, appointed to fill the vacancy left by Beth Davis; and John L. Stewart, Mount Pulaski.

District 4 is the central part of Lincoln, running from north to south. Four Republicans are running. They are Terry "TW" Werth, incumbent; David R. Hepler, also an incumbent; Stephan A. Mesner, a former city alderman; and Julia Pegram Gerardot. No Democrats have filed.

District 5 is also entirely in the city, in the northwest area. Again there is a four-way race on the Republican ticket, this time with three incumbents: Dale A. Voyles, Clifford "Sonny" Sullivan and Jim Griffin. Challenger is Patrick L. O’Neill, who has previously tried for a seat on the board. No Democrats have filed.

District 6 is made up of areas in the east part of Lincoln and some rural areas. A three-way Republican race includes incumbent Paul Gleason and challengers Veronica Board Hasprey, who has run previously, and William (Mitch) Brown. No Democrat is running.

Most Logan County voters who take Republican ballots will be choosing a new regional superintendent of schools for Logan, Mason and Menard counties. Jean R. Anderson, Lincoln, is running against Robert P. Turk, Topeka. Turk has served as assistant regional superintendent under retiring superintendent George Janet for the past eight years. He has also been a district superintendent, principal and teacher.

Anderson teaches language arts at Lincoln Junior High and serves as attendance and discipline officer. She is also the chair and chief negotiator for the District 27 teachers union bargaining committee. No Democrats have filed for this post.

[to top of second column in this article]

County board districts
(Click on map to enlarge)

In Prairie Creek precinct, voters will see candidates for regional superintendent of schools in Tazewell County on both ballots. The Democratic candidate is Karl Jordan, while the Republican candidate is Rob Houchin.

Macon and Piatt counties have one regional superintendent candidate, Charles A. Shonkwiler, on the Republican ballot. No Democrats have filed. DeWitt, Livingston and McLean counties have a Republican candidate, Larry Daghe, but no Democratic candidate.

Both parties fielded candidates for regional superintendent of schools for Sangamon County. Jeff Vose is slated on the Democratic ballot and Helen Tolan on the Republican ballot.

Countywide races will provide few choices for Democrats, with no candidates for county clerk and recorder or for county treasurer and only one candidate for sheriff, incumbent Anthony "Tony" Soloman.

On the Republican ballot, incumbent Sally J. Litterly is slated again for county clerk and recorder, and Mary E. Bruns is slated again for county treasurer.

Four candidates are vying for the nomination for sheriff on the Republican ballot, to oppose Soloman in the November general election. Henry Bartmann, Lincoln, is a sergeant with the Logan County Sheriff’s Department. James J. Pinney serves as the Atlanta police chief and has also served 20 years as a Logan County deputy. Robert J. Brandt, Lincoln, is a retired Illinois State Police trooper. Steven G. Nichols, Elkhart, is also a former Illinois State Police trooper and now works for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

On the Republican ballot, in the 4th Judicial District, Rita B. Garman, incumbent who was appointed to fill the vacancy of the Hon. Benjamin K. Miller, is running against challenger Robert J. Steigmann for judge of the Supreme Court. Steigmann is an appeals court judge. John Turner of Atlanta, former state representative who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Garman, is running unopposed for judge of the Appellate Court.

On the Democratic ballot, Sue E. Myerscough, an appeals court judge, is the nominee for the Supreme Court seat, and Bill Trapp is slated for judge of the Appellate Court.

In the 11th Judicial District, Republicans have a contest for nominee for judge of the Circuit Court. Scott D. Drazewski, incumbent, is opposed by Charles G. Reynard. Drazewski, a former associate judge, was appointed to fill the circuit judgeship last year. Reynard has been McLean County state’s attorney since 1987. There is no candidate on the Democratic ballot.

In the 18th Congressional District, no candidate is opposing incumbent Sen. Ray LaHood on the Republican ballot, and no Democrats have filed. However, Democratic voters will chose among three candidates for state central committeeman for the 18th District. They are Larry A. Johnson, Michael R. "Mickey" Vacca and James K. Polk. One candidate is slated for state central committeewoman, Shirley McCombs.

Statewide, voters of both parties will be choosing one of three candidates for governor. Republicans will be choosing either the present lieutenant governor, Corinne Wood; the present attorney general, Jim Ryan; or Patrick J. O’Malley, a state senator from Palos Park. Incumbent Gov. George Ryan has chosen not to run again.

Democrats will choose between Paul G. Vallas, former head of the Chicago Public School system; U.S. Rep. Rod. R. Blagojevich, who formerly served in the state Senate and is now in his third term in Congress; and Roland W. Burris, former Illinois attorney general and state comptroller.

Voters in both parties will also have to make choices in the race for lieutenant governor. In Illinois, candidates for this office run separately from gubernatorial candidates, then are linked in the general election.

Republicans are fielding four candidates: Carl Hawkinson, a state senator from Galesburg; Jack J. McInerney, a Chicago commodities broker; Charles G. Owens, a pharmacist from Henry; and William A. O’Connor, a state representative from Riverside.

Democrats have three choices: F. Michael Kelleher Jr., an Illinois State University instructor from Normal; Pat Quinn, a former state treasurer who has often previously sought public office; and Joyce W. Washington, a Chicago health care executive.

For attorney general, to replace Jim Ryan, Republicans have a choice between Joe Birkett and Bob Coleman, while Democrats will be choosing between Lisa Madigan and John Schmidt.

Birkett is DuPage County state’s attorney; his opponent, Coleman, is an attorney who has spent many years practicing civil law. Lisa Madigan, who has been practicing law for eight years, is the daughter of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Schmidt is a former associate U.S. attorney general with 30 years of legal experience.

In both parties, there is only one choice for three offices. Incumbent Jesse White, Democrat, will face Republican Kris O’Rourke Cohn for secretary of state in November. Democrat Daniel W. Hynes, incumbent, will face Republican Thomas Jefferson Ramsdell for comptroller. For state treasurer, Republican incumbent Judy Baar Topinka will run against Democrat Thomas J. Dart in November.

On the federal level, voters will be choosing a candidate for only one office, U.S. senator. Democrats have slated incumbent Richard J. Durbin, with no opposition, while Republicans will be choosing among three candidates. James D. Oberweis, an Aurora dairy owner, is backed by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. John Cox is a Chicago attorney, and Jim Durkin, a state representative, is backed by the DuPage and Sangamon County GOP organizations.

School bond issue

There are races for committeeman in many of the precincts, and voters in Athens Community Unit School District 213 will be voting on a proposition to issue $3,960,635 in building bonds.

[Joan Crabb]

State representative districts:
(Click on map to enlarge)

[MARCH 14, 2002]  Three Lincoln Developmental Center residents who died recently were much more vulnerable to infections such as influenza because of recent moves from one cottage to another, union officials say.

Kent Beauchamp, regional director of American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees Council 3, said at a press conference yesterday that AFSCME, whose members are the direct caregivers for LDC residents, believe the deaths occurred because very medically fragile residents had been moved from Coty to Bowen Cottage. The move is part of the downsizing ordered by Gov. George Ryan.

Coty Cottage has been the home of LDC’s most vulnerable residents, those who cannot get out of bed or move around unassisted. Because it was at one time a hospital, Coty was set up for the care of the physically fragile. According to one current employee who previously worked in Coty, residents there had "serious medical conditions, including feeding tubes, breathing tubes [tracheotomies] limited lung capacity and other medical conditions." Some are also subject to seizures.

When these residents were moved to Bowen, the employee said, they were placed in overcrowded conditions, under the care of people who had not been trained to care for them. He said the Coty staff members who had been caring for these residents were dispersed throughout the facility instead of being sent directly to Bowen.

Symptoms of influenza appeared in Bowen about March 1, according to an AFSCME timeline. On March 4 a former Coty resident living in Bowen died at a hospital of breathing problems related to flu. On March 6 another former Coty resident living on Bowen died in the hospital due to complications of gallbladder surgery. Still another former Coty resident was admitted to a hospital on March 8 and died on March 10. Four others have been admitted to Memorial Medical Center in Springfield with influenza.

About half of the residents of Bowen Cottage have had flu symptoms, and some of them are now beginning to recover, the employee said.

According to the AFSCME press release, every one of the victims who died or who has been hospitalized had recently been moved to Bowen in the downsizing operation.

On Nov. 30, 17 people from Coty were moved to Bowen, and on Feb. 5, 11 more were moved. Right now 35 residents live at Bowen and no residents live in Coty. The upper story of Coty has been renovated for administration offices.

"These individuals have previously been living in an environment in which they were much more protected from contracting communicable diseases," the press release said. "Coty Cottage had an air filtration system and the number of people entering their living space was very limited.

[to top of second column in this article]

"They were moved to an area in Bowen Cottage where overcrowding made it much more difficult to maintain the high level of sanitation necessary to protect such a medically fragile population. Bowen was also home to other individuals who were more mobile and could move throughout the facility, which also increased the likelihood of disease spreading. Moreover, Bowen lacked the appropriate air filtration system that Coty had.

"We feel that this tragedy is directly related to the overly hasty manner in which Lincoln Developmental Center is carrying out the plan to move residents of Lincoln," Beauchamp’s press release said.

Beauchamp also pointed out that on Feb. 12 AFSCME Local 425 President Don Todd had written a memo to the acting director of LDC, Peggy Davidsmeyer, detailing problems with the care of Coty individuals who had been moved to Bowen. He said management did not respond quickly enough to the concerns expressed in the memo. Parents of Lincoln residents had also been warned of the consequences of the move, he said.

Todd’s letter outlined some physical problems at Bowen Cottage. He said bedrooms did not have enough room for oxygen concentrators, suction pumps, feeding pumps, oxygen tanks, fans and trash cans for contaminated trash.

Power supply is also inadequate for those with oxygen requirements, there are not enough sinks for staff to wash hands, and space is limited for linen and sanitary supplies.

The letter also pointed out that Todd and other staff members had recommended that the staff from Coty accompany the residents being transferred to Bowen until Bowen staff "were comfortable with the care issues of this most difficult population." However, this was not done, the memo said.

Todd’s memo said staff at Bowen do not feel they have adequate training to care for individuals with tracheotomies and need hands-on training in feeding, lifting, repositioning in beds and positioning in wheelchairs. Staff ratios are too low, Todd said. Currently seven staff members care for 35 residents.

"We fail to understand why our original suggestion of moving Coty staff temporarily to Bowen was not heeded," the memo said.

LDN tried to reach Department of Human Services spokesman Reginald Marsh but was unable to get in touch with him by post time. Marsh has said previously that the move from Coty Cottage had nothing to do with the deaths of the residents and he believed the LDC management had taken appropriate precautions. He has also said LDC staff and residents routinely get flu shots, but he believes the LDC population is very susceptible to flu.

[Joan Crabb]

[MARCH 13, 2002]  Whether Lincoln’s housing ordinance is illegal is still an open question, City Attorney Bill Bates told the city council at its March 12 work session. And until that question is settled, the firm that would like to construct new group homes for developmentally disabled residents in the city will not be building in areas zoned R-1.

At the March 4 council meeting, Dave Krchak, attorney for the Allan G. Ryle Company of Champaign and the Charleston Transitional Facilities of Charleston, told the Lincoln City Council that the section of its zoning ordinance that prohibits group homes in R-1 areas violates an amendment to the federal Fair Housing Act by discriminating against the developmentally disabled.

Krchak asked the city to amend its ordinance so the firms he represents could begin building two community integrated living arrangements, or CILAs, by April 1. At least one site the firm was looking at is in an R-1 district, he said.

At the March 12 work session, Bates told the council he has been researching the issue but as yet can draw no conclusions.

"I am unable to sit here and tell this council our zoning ordinance is illegal on its face. I’m far from being able to tell you yes, you must immediately change this ordinance.

"We may get to that," he added, "but if there’s material out there that supports his [Krchak’s] statement, I haven’t found it yet."

Bates said he has not only been reading documents but checking with governmental organizations and other municipalities. He told the council he had not been able to get a definitive answer from the Illinois Municipal League. He also reached a "dead end" when he contacted the city of Jacksonville about a lawsuit filed against them about fair housing, because that suit did not deal with group homes.

The city code allows only single-family and two-family residences in R-1 areas. A single family is defined as not more than five unrelated individuals. The group homes proposed by Krchak would house eight unrelated individuals. This is an issue that has to be looked at when making the decision, Bates said.

He also said that it might not be considered discrimination if the city treated all groups of unrelated people equally. For example, the city would not let a group of more than five college students live together in a home in an R-1 district.

He noted that some of the material given to him by Krchak is dated 1997 and before and may no longer be relevant.

The firms represented by Krchak are proposing to build a total of eight group homes in the Lincoln and Logan County area to house 64 of the residents that are to be moved out of the Lincoln Developmental Center under Gov. George Ryan’s plan to downsize the facility.

Ryan plans to cut the number of residents to 100, from a high of about 375, and the number of employees to about 200, from a high of 700. He has already moved about 130 residents to other facilities, most of them to other state institutions. His latest plan calls for moving another 159 by June 30.

[to top of second column in this article]

According to the Department of Human Services, about 70 of these residents are eligible for placement in group homes, and DHS has been directed to work with the private sector to build new CILAs in Logan and perhaps Mason counties to house these residents.

The Ryle firm, which operates other group homes in Lincoln, had planned to have two new ones operational by July 1, the end of the state’s fiscal year and the date set by Ryan to have LDC downsized to 100 residents. According to Bates, that won’t be possible in R-1 zoned areas.

"Once you decide what you want to do and I can tell you what the law requires, then we can change the city ordinance," he told the council.

He also pointed out that before changing the zoning ordinance, the city must hold a public hearing. A notice of the hearing must be published at least 15 days ahead of time.

"People want this all done by April 1," he said. "With all due diligence that is not going to happen. We have an obligation to proceed with due diligence. I will keep looking for information."

Several aldermen said they have received telephone calls and letters from residents who opposed the idea of building group homes in an R-1 district. About half a dozen people attended the meeting, and several spoke about the issue.

Sue Jones and Lois Johnson, both residents of Stonebridge subdivision, an area on the far west side of town fronting on Fifth Street, said they had been informed by the city’s code enforcement office that the Ryle companies were considering two lots in that subdivision for group homes.

Jones said she had no objection to disabled people living next door, but she believed the group homes were not residences but businesses. She also said that because there are no sidewalks in the area it would not be a safe environment for the disabled. She pointed out that the subdivision was too far from town for residents to be able to participate in community activities.

Johnson noted that the subdivision is very small and designed to accommodate only 28 single-family homes. She said there would not be parking for employees or visitors and she believed it would create traffic problems and decrease the value of the homes. Both Jones and Johnson said they believed they should have been given information about the possibility of group homes being built in Stonebridge "before the ground is broken."

[Joan Crabb]

[MARCH 11, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Rep. Gwenn Klingler has introduced a bill that would save the pension rights of state employees forced to take furloughs because of the state’s budget squeeze.

"I don’t want to see a single state employee have to take a furlough because of the budget crisis facing the state, but if it is necessary, then they should at least have their pension rights preserved," Klingler said.

Klingler’s House Bill 6053 would allow state employees to maintain their pension rights for up to five days of involuntary furlough or involuntary layoff that is due to the state’s fiscal crisis. After five days, employees would have to make an additional contribution to their pension funds in order to maintain full benefits.

"Hopefully, no one will have to take advantage of the provisions of my bill, but I want to afford all the protection possible for the people who have dedicated their lives to serving the citizens of Illinois as state employees," Klingler said.

[News release]

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/ 

[to top of second column in this section]

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

• General primary election notices

• Ballot information

• Polling places

• Absentee notice

Back to top