[MARCH 21, 2002]  Detective John Bunner of the Lincoln Police Department is encouraging motorists to lock their cars and know where their keys are at all times. There have been a record number of vehicles that have been stolen in the area recently — four in the last week. The vehicles have been left unattended and unlocked with keys in them.

It was just such a vehicle that was used in the Clark station robbery Sunday morning. A black male entered the station located at 548 Woodlawn Road at 12:27 a.m. He had brown-tone, pantyhose-like mesh over his head and was wearing a hooded black sweat suit. Armed with a green box knife, he spoke roughly to the employees and used the knife on the cash drawer. He escaped the store and fled on foot, heading west on Woodlawn Road.

A short while later a paramedic heard tires repeatedly spinning over at Seventh Street and Walnut in back of the hospital. When he looked out he saw a man fleeing a pickup truck that had caught fire (the bad luck). The paramedic immediately called in to report it. His description matched that of the Clark station robbery suspect.

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When police arrived at the abandoned truck they found it had two flat tires. A search of the area found the box knife dropped near the truck matching the description of the one used at the Clark station. K-9 Jack was brought to the scene but was unable to pick up the trail of the suspect (the good luck).

The owner of the vehicle did not know it had been stolen until police contacted her.

No further information is available at this time, as the case is under investigation.

[Jan Youngquist]

[MARCH 21, 2002]  Logan County revenues from sales and income taxes for the first three months of the fiscal year are down and expenses exceed income by 2.79 percent, according to reports presented at the county board meeting Wednesday night.

Finance committee spokesperson Roger Bock said revenues from the income tax and 1 percent and one-fourth percent sales taxes are $65,000 below where they ought to be at the end of the first quarter. Not all revenue sources are down, and interest income is holding steady. However, he said, sales tax is a better indicator of overall trends than other revenue sources like inheritance tax because it is less susceptible to fluctuation.

If the present trend continues, Bock projected a year-end revenue deficit in the neighborhood of $250,000. "It does bear watching," he warned. "This time last year we weren’t this low."

Dale Voyles, who tracks expenditures for the finance committee, said expenses are being kept in line. Most officials are staying within their budgets, he explained, with none going more than 1.5 percent over. Still, expenses exceeded revenues by 2.79 percent for the three-month period from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28.

In another matter, Peter B. Ruedi, vice president of marketing for Health Alliance, spoke in response to questions raised at the March 14 board meeting about the weak Weiss rating of his company, which provides health insurance for county employees. He emphasized that Health Alliance is owned by Carle Clinic, which would be financially responsible should the 23-year-old company be unable to meet claims.

Ruedi contended that the Weiss rating does not adequately reflect financial viability for a company in the managed health care and HMO business. For one thing, it does not audit a company fully but uses information filed with the Illinois Department of Insurance. He said a better indicator is that Health Alliance is regulated by the department and meets state risk-based capital requirements.

Although Ruedi claimed that industry ratings are of little relevance to his company, he did suggest that Health Alliance would seek a rating from A.M. Best, which performs an on-site audit, to respond to concerns such as those expressed by the Logan County Board.

[to top of second column in this article]

The county policy with Health Alliance is in its first year, with the previous insurer being Blue Cross/Blue Shield. A renewal decision must be made by May 1.

In other business the county board took action on issues introduced in the board-of-the-whole meeting on March 14. On a unanimous vote it agreed to pay $528,693 from the motor fuel tax fund for maintenance of city and state highways within the county. A second resolution for materials was also unanimously approved by the 12 board members present, with Paul Gleason being absent. Together, the two votes approved expenses for highway contractors and materials for the year.

Janet Dahmm was hired to clean the Dr. John Logan Building for $75 per week, or an annual salary of $3,900. Board members Jim Griffin and Doug Dutz opposed the measure.

Rosanne Brosamer, supervisor of assessments since 1994, was reappointed for a third four-year term, to end in 2006. Griffin voted against the appointment.

Hanson Engineers of Springfield was made airport consulting engineer for another five years. Bock said Hanson, chosen from a field of about 20 firms, has given good service for the variety of airport needs.

A special meeting to hear information on the industrial park being proposed by the Economic Development Council was scheduled for 6 p.m., March 26. Mark Smith is director of the EDC.

The Lincoln Area Music Society was granted use of Latham Park for four summer Sunday concerts.

Consideration of the proposed revision to the Logan County Airport rules and regulations was postponed until April. State’s Attorney Tim Huyett has not yet reviewed the document.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

High 40 percent turnout in Logan County

[MARCH 20, 2002]                [Click here to view more photos]

[Photos by Bob Frank]

(100 percent of local results in)

*denotes winners

County clerk and recorder

(Logan County area results
continued from first column)

50th Senate District

87th House District

100th House District

Statewide results

*denotes winners

U.S. senator

(99 percent reporting)

(99 percent reporting)

Changing times

[MARCH 20, 2002]  This primary was more confusing to voters than most elections because of new districts for state senator and representative and the change to district representation for county board. Some voters experienced a change in precinct location. And two precincts voted in Northwest School gymnasium.

County board member Dave Hepler said, "I’m hoping people don’t become disenchanted with the confusion and not vote in the fall."

Incumbent county board member Dale Voyles said he noticed "lots of confusion right down to the end." He said people were still calling him in the last two days asking whether it was true that they couldn’t vote for all the board seats. But he believes the confusion is a one-time situation: "I think people will get used to it. It brought out more candidates, and voters had more options," he said. "Now we have to get back to representing everybody in the county."

County board chairman Dick Logan said that electing board members by district creates more of a popularity contest. If you live in Atlanta, you vote for a candidate from Atlanta, he said; if you live in Lake Fork, you want to vote for someone from Lake Fork. He said he does not see that the district system gives an advantage to outlying areas. "But I’ll gladly represent everybody, as I always have," he concluded.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[MARCH 20, 2002]  Election night at the Logan County Courthouse had a different look Tuesday as poll-watchers gathered around a computer monitor instead of the traditional blackboard.

Up to 50 people at a time pressed around the 20-inch monitor, trying to get a look at the latest results. In previous elections, those returns were posted on a large blackboard in the middle of the rotunda, with all the results visible at a time. As new precincts reported in, clerks would erase the previous total and write in the new one. On the monitor to the side of the rotunda Tuesday night, only a few races could be seen at any given time.

A larger screen showing televised primary coverage collected few watchers. Those present in the courthouse were, after all, at the scene of election news.

Logan County Clerk Sally Litterly, who made the decision to switch to the monitor, said the reason was speed. She said that computer technology makes it possible to reach and disseminate an accumulated total faster. In addition, she has changed to a faster printer, so precinct results were printed more quickly for posting in the entrance hallway and for the press. Because of the gains in speed, most counties use a monitor, Litterly said.

County board chairman Dick Logan said he preferred the old system. "This is not a typical election atmosphere," he noted. He forecast a return to the blackboard or use of a big-screen TV, because the 20-inch monitor was hard to see.

Don Jordan, courtesy van driver for Graue, Inc., also objected to the monitor system: "It’s changed the look of things. I liked the old way, even though it was out of the last century. If they’re going to do this, they should at least get bigger screens."

County board member Roger Bock said he liked the monitor system but added, "Although with the old system you could see which races are recorded and what’s left and predict what way it might go."

In other respects the courthouse scene was familiar, with a sparse crowd at 7:30 p.m. growing to about 100 by 8:15. That doesn’t count the election personnel delivering and tabulating the precinct votes. Every few minutes an aide would push a cart laden with red and blue bags across the rotunda to the elevator. The red bags contained Republican results; the blue bags, Democratic.

[to top of second column in this article]

Cell phones were everywhere. Tension among candidates and their supporters grew until each primary race was decided, with county board District 2 in question until 10:15 p.m.

Some candidates were pleased with what they saw. Jean Anderson, Republican contender for regional superintendent of schools and a Lincoln resident, said, "I’m happy so far. I have no idea what is going on in Mason and Menard counties, but Logan County looks great." Anderson garnered 60 percent of the Logan County vote and defeated Robert Turk in the three-county region.

Patrick O’Neill, who defeated incumbents Cliff Sullivan and Jim Griffin in county board District 5, said, "I’m very surprised, to be honest. It’s a lot of hard work paying off."

Some candidates were philosophical about the possibility of losing. Gloria Luster, who eventually topped the Republican county board contenders in District 3, noted that her sister had asked whether she would be embarrassed if she lost. "No," answered Luster. "You can’t win if you don’t try. And I think any of the candidates would do a good job. We’re all there for the same purpose." Luster and fellow Republican winner John Stewart will face Democrat Harold Dingman in the November election.

Interested onlookers included several unopposed candidates and a few incumbents who chose not to run. Lloyd Hellman, one of two Republican candidates for the two seats in county board District 1, and Doug Dutz, county board member who did not file, said they find it difficult to stay away from the courthouse action.

Swelling the crowd were a number of social studies students seeking autographs. Steve Schumacher’s sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade classes from Zion Lutheran School and Joe Hackett’s students from Central School were earning extra credit by getting signatures of candidates, office holders and other dignitaries. Hackett said he sees election night attendance as a step toward involved citizenship. "It’s important for students to know who’s running and get into the election process," he explained.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[MARCH 20, 2002]  ^"With mild temperatures for the fourth consecutive month, February 2002 temperatures 3.9 degrees above average and winter temperatures 6.1 degrees above average, December-February ranks as the second warmest winter on record in Illinois since 1895," says Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey in Champaign. Only the winter of 1931-1932 was warmer, with temperatures 8.2 degrees above average.

"What’s more, the four-month November-February period was also one of the warmest on record since 1895, second only to November-February 1931-1932," says Angel.

Not only have the average temperatures been unseasonably warm, but few Illinois locations even had temperatures below zero through the end of February. Both

Quincy and Perry in western Illinois reported the highest February temperature, 71 degrees on Feb. 24. Rochelle in northeastern Illinois reported the lowest temperature for the month, minus 2 degrees on Feb. 5.

Consumers are benefiting from the mild winter temperatures because home heating costs are much more economical this winter. Heating degree-days since July 1 have been 17 percent below average compared to last winter, when heating degree-days were 9 percent above average.

Snowfall this winter has been down 50 percent or more across central Illinois and between 50 and 75 percent across the rest of the state compared to a typical winter, which averages 8-16 inches (southern Illinois), 16-20 inches (central Illinois) and 20-28 inches (northern Illinois). Windsor received the most snowfall for February, 9 inches, and Danville reported the most precipitation for February, 3.67 inches.

[to top of second column in this article]

"Despite the lack of snowfall, precipitation amounts have been near average for both February (2.01 inches) and winter (6.75 inches). As a result, soil moisture looks real good going into spring," continues Angel.

"It is not clear why this winter has been so mild. Although warm temperatures and the lack of snowfall seemed like classic signs of an El NiZo winter, such as occurred in 1997-1998, sea surface temperatures in the Pacific are still in the pre-El NiZo warming stage. The next El NiZo event is expected in the next three to six months. Based on historical records in Illinois, El NiZo events increase our chances of having a cooler and wetter summer and autumn, as well as a warmer and drier winter. However, these impacts can vary, depending on the timing and strength of a particular El NiZo episode. It is still too early to tell what specific impacts will be from the upcoming episode," concludes Angel.

[Illinois State Water Survey]

[MARCH 19, 2002]  The budget crunch that finance chairman Steve Fuhrer has been warning the Lincoln City Council about became an unmistakable reality Saturday morning when the city’s finance committee began the job of cutting $940,000 out of next year’s budget.

On Saturday the committee got the proposed budget sent in by all of the city’s department heads — about $4,935,000. The committee also got the estimated revenue for next fiscal year, which came to only about $3,995,000. Fiscal year 2002-2003 runs from May 1, 2002, until April 30, 2003.

Fuhrer told the council at its March 18 meeting that on Saturday the finance committee found almost $400,000 it can cut to make the city’s expenditures balance its estimated revenues, but that figure represents the "easy" cuts.

Among the first cuts are an extra police car, another vehicle in the budget of the code enforcement office and a proposed new employee in the code enforcement office. Work on Elm Street, budgeted at $218,000, has been cut in half, and cuts have been made in funds for maintenance of public buildings.

Fuhrer said the tight budget also means no hiring of new employees, no replacements for those who retire and no raises for the city’s department heads. Most city workers will get raises because they have union contracts.

Fuhrer also said it might be necessary to consider laying off some city employees. "I hope we don’t have to do it, but there’s always the possibility of layoffs," he said.

The city spent more than it took in last year, he said, but it had a "cushion" of about $900,000 to make up the difference. That cushion is gone now, he said, and the city must now tighten its belt.

"We spent more than was coming in. Now we’re paying the price for it," he said.

Revenues are down, Fuhrer explained, because sales are down and the city is not getting as much sales tax revenue as it did in the past. Also, because of the historically low interest rates, the city is not getting a good return on its investments. City Treasurer Les Plotner has been warning the city about low interest rates for some time.

The finance committee will meet again Thursday evening to continue hammering out cuts in the budget.

[to top of second column in this article]

In other business, Mayor Beth Davis announced a new appointment to the youth commission, Alex Dawson. Dawson was present at the meeting.

City Attorney Bill Bates said he still had "nothing more definitive" about the legality of the city’s zoning ordinance, which prohibits group homes in areas zoned R-1. An attorney for a Champaign firm that builds and operates group homes for the developmentally disabled told the council recently that the city’s ordinance was illegal according to the Fair Housing Act. The Champaign firm wants to build eight group homes in the area to house some of the residents that will leave Lincoln Developmental Center under Gov. George Ryan’s downsizing plan.

Bates also said the Burwell Oil Travel Plaza and Steak & Shake restaurant are still eligible for the tax abatement given by the city when they were built. The Travel Plaza has been leased to Thornton Oil but is still owned by the Burwell family. Steak & Shake is still operated as it was when the tax abatement was granted, he said.

The council also learned that the Chicago firm Voistream will not be putting up a communications tower along Connelly Road near Fifth Street because of sewer lines under the site. The proposed tower would have brought the city revenue of about $500 a month, according to regional planner Phil Mahler. There was no discussion at Monday’s meeting for another site for the tower.

Alderman Bill Melton said several city council members attended a dinner in Rockford where sewer plant manager Grant Eaton was presented with the George W. Burke Safety Award for the city’s water treatment program. Only one city in Illinois is chosen each year to receive the award.

[Joan Crabb]

[MARCH 18, 2002]  A Logan County coroner’s inquest was held looking into the Feb. 20 death of 19-year-old Joseph L. Boughan of Lincoln. The hearing ended with the disquieting declaration by a jury that Boughan’s death was accidental, but avoidable.

When Logan County Deputy Bob Spickard arrived on the scene of the traffic accident three miles west of town, on Fifth Street, Logan County Paramedics were checking vitals on a male lying in the ditch as three other individuals looked on. Boughan was declared dead at the scene at 11:25 p.m.

It was first thought that Boughan was driving the vehicle owned by his parents. Upon investigation Deputy Spickard learned that an unlicensed driver, Jami L. Gannon, 16, of Lincoln was behind the wheel at the time of the accident. Gannon lost control of the vehicle at an estimated 78 mph according to Illinois State Police accident reconstuctionists.

After the vehicle left the road Gannon swerved to miss a mailbox and then ran into a utility pole, which broke in two. All four occupants, Gannon, Boughan and the other two passengers, Curtis W. Marcum, 17, of New Holland, Lindsey R. Vaughan, 16, of Mount Pulaski, crawled out the passenger side window, escaping with only minor injuries. Boughan went to the front of the vehicle to check damages, saying to his friends that they should say he was the driver. It was then in the dark that he walked into broken electrical lines hanging overhead.

[to top of second column in this article]

An empty can of beer was found in the vehicle. Upon interviewing witnesses from earlier that evening, Deputy Spickard’s investigation revealed that all four youths had been drinking. The three survivors later admitted to it. None of the youths have had charges filed against them yet.

Gregory Simpson, 42, of Lincoln is accused of supplying the alcohol. He has been arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. State’s Attorney Tim Huyett is investigating the incident. He stated, "This adult’s involvement is of primary concern right now." Simpson has an April 2 bond date.

[Jan Youngquist]

Attempted robbery

[MARCH 18, 2002]  There was an attempted robbery early Sunday morning at the Clark service station on Woodlawn Road. Lincoln Police Department Detective John Bunner is handling the case. No other information can be released at this time.

[LDN]

[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.

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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)

Military addresses sought

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

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

[Click here for names available now.]

Name of person in military:

Branch of service:

Current location of service:

Postal address:

E-mail address:

Relationship to LDN reader sending information (optional):

[LDN]

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

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

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

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• LEPC hears plans for annual exercise

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

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

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

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

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

• Clinton nuclear power plant safety measures in place

• Logan County agencies meet to discuss protocol for suspicious mail

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

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

Online news links

Other countries

Afghanistan

http://www.afghandaily.com/ 

http://www.myafghan.com/  

http://www.afghan-web.com/aop/ 

China

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

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

Germany

http://www.faz.com/

India

http://www.dailypioneer.com/ 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/ 

http://www.timesofindia.com/ 

Israel

http://www.jpost.com/ 

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/ 

England

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/ 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/ 

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

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

Pakistan

http://www.dawn.com/

http://frontierpost.com.pk/ 

Russia

http://english.pravda.ru/

http://www.sptimesrussia.com/ 

Saudi Arabia

http://www.arabnews.com/ 

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United States

Illinois

http://www.suntimes.com/index/ 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ 

http://www.pantagraph.com/ 

http://www.qconline.com/ 

http://www.pjstar.com/

http://www.sj-r.com/ 

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

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/ 

New York

http://www.nypost.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/

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

http://www.estripes.com/ 

Washington, D.C.

Announcements

• General primary election notices

• Ballot information

• Polling places

• Absentee notice

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