Thursday, Oct. 31

 

Halloween fest

[OCT. 31, 2002]  Fun times and great memories for all were created at last night’s Halloween Funfest. The Lincoln Park District was packed with about 600 kids. Moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, enjoyed bringing children for the evening of games and contests. "It was great," said Roy Logan of the Lincoln Park District.

[Click here for more photos]

The panel of costume judges was composed of Police Chief Rich Montcalm, Assistant Chief Harley Mullins, Sheriff Tony Soloman, Lisa Curry and Jim Sparrow.

 


[Photo by Bob Frank]

Soloman said, "It was tough judging. There were so many great costumes." But, he added, there were also so many contests and games that by the time the kids did everything, most everybody got something.

The park district hosted 11 games. Seven other agencies — Lincoln Fire, Lincoln Police, Lincoln Public Library, 4-H, ESDA, YMCA and Maple Ridge — hosted booths with activities for the youth.

"The business community was outstanding," in their support for this, Logan said. "We couldn’t do it without them."

A listing of supporters will be in LDN tomorrow.

[Jan Youngquist]


Mitchell bill asks for impact study
before closing a state facility

[OCT. 31, 2002]  A bill introduced by state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsythe, would require that an economic impact study be submitted to the General Assembly before the closure of any state facility, and also that a community which has lost a state facility will have priority as the site for construction of a new one.

The bill, HB 6310, called the State Facility Closing Act, is designed to help communities like Lincoln that have lost or are in danger of losing a state-run facility that brings jobs to the community.

It will be introduced during the November veto session. Mitchell said if the bill fails to get to the floor or is vetoed in November, he will reintroduce it in January, when the 93rd General Assembly convenes.

Mitchell is unopposed on the ballot for the 87th District seat, although candidate Fred Tabor, who failed to file enough signatures for a spot on the ballot, has announced he is running as a write-in candidate.

Mitchell made the announcement this morning in Lincoln City Hall, accompanied by Rich Brauer of Petersburg, who is the Republican candidate for state representative in the 100th District; Mayor Beth Davis; Circuit Court Clerk Carla Bender; and Aldermen George Mitchell, Verl Prather and Glenn Shelton.

 


[Photos by Joan Crabb]
[Bill Mitchell speaks while Rich Brauer,
Beth Davis, Verl Prather, George Mitchell and
Glenn Shelton look on.]

The bill might prevent, or would at least delay, the process of closing a facility such as the Lincoln Developmental Center, which Gov. George Ryan closed as of Aug. 31. It would not prevent the administration from closing a facility eventually but would require added time for study of the impact on the community.

"This would slow down the process and allow for a lot more input and a lot more time to make life-defining decisions," Brauer said.

Mitchell also said he thought the state should continue to support communities in which a facility has been closed. "I wonder about the logic of closing one facility and opening another one someplace else," he said.

Gov. Ryan has closed a prison in the town of Sheridan but is building another in Hopkins Park, a community near his hometown of Kankakee.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Mitchell was one of a group of area legislators who opposed closing LDC, and he and Brauer have pledged to work to reopen the 125-year-old home for the developmentally disabled.

He also represents parts of Tazewell County, including East Peoria, that were home to some of the 270 employees of Zeller Mental Health Center in Peoria, also closed by Gov. Ryan.

At this morning’s press conference, Mitchell said he believes it is important for the entire General Assembly to understand what the economic impact of closing a state facility will be on the community before that facility is closed.

"It is important that we have some policy to guide facility closures," he said. The closure of LDC affected the lives of "hundreds of families as well as small businesses in Lincoln," he added.

Mitchell said that because he is on a committee for appropriations for the Department of Human Services, which operates the state’s facilities for the developmentally disabled, he will "see that there is money appropriated to reopen Lincoln."

 


[Bill Mitchell speaks with Carla Bender
and George Mitchell.]

It will then be up to the administration to find the money to reopen the shuttered facility, he said. He conceded that the sale of equipment held earlier this month will make reopening LDC more difficult.

Brauer noted that both gubernatorial candidates have pledged to reopen LDC and, if elected, he would "hold them to their word — hold their feet to the fire." Brauer is opposed in next week’s election by Democratic candidate Carl Oblinger.

Both Mitchell and Brauer said they were impressed with the support the county and city officials had given to the efforts to keep LDC open. "Lincoln is built on community participation," Brauer said.

[Joan Crabb]


Mitchell bill would require impact study
before state facilities can be closed

Would prevent closures like LDC and Zeller
when economic impact on a community is too severe

[OCT. 31, 2002]  DECATUR — State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, and Rich Brauer, Republican candidate for state representative for the 100th District, held a press conference today to unveil legislation that would prevent closures of state facilities like Lincoln Developmental Center and George A. Zeller Mental Health Facility if the economic impact on the community is too severe.

"There clearly needs to be a way to prevent closures of state facilities when the economic impact on the community is too great," Mitchell said. "My bill requires that the state conduct a study of the economic impact before a facility can be closed."

Over great protest, Gov. George Ryan ordered Lincoln Developmental Center closed in August after 125 years of operation, saying that reforms started last fall failed to correct abuse and neglect of residents. LDC formerly housed almost 400 residents and employed about 700 workers. Zeller Mental Health Center in Peoria closed Sept. 1. Approximately 270 people and their families relied on Zeller for their employment.

 

"There’s no question that closing these facilities has had a tremendous impact on the communities," Mitchell said. "I fought hard to keep LDC open because of how many people would be affected by the closure. I knew the consequences would result in skyrocketing unemployment and, tragically, that has been the case. State figures indicate Logan County unemployment in September was 6.6 percent — up 1.8 percent from August and the highest jobless rate for the county in a decade."

Mitchell’s bill would require an economic study to be submitted to the General Assembly:

•  When a state agency or facility seeks to close or lay off at least 50 employees or 50 percent of the staff of that agency or facility, whichever is less.

•  When a private entity under permanent contract with the state seeks to lay off at least 50 employees or 50 percent of the staff performing work pursuant to the permanent contract with the state.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

The study shall report expected revenue savings and an analysis of current and projected economic and labor conditions in the communities affected by the proposed closing or layoff.

"As a member of the Illinois General Assembly, I know how important it is to have factual, unbiased information to weigh the costs and benefits associated with any state facility closings or employee layoffs," said Mitchell. "My bill will ensure the members have the vital information they need when the time comes to make such an important decision."

Mitchell’s bill would also give communities that have previously suffered the loss or closure of a state agency or facility first priority when locating future state agencies or facilities.

"As we have learned over the past year in Lincoln, the closure of a state facility can have a devastating effect on the community and the families that rely on the jobs and services provided by the facility," said Rich Brauer, Republican candidate for state representative.

"It’s only right that when the economy recovers and new facilities are slated for opening that they be located in areas hard hit by the shutdown of a facility. I support Representative Mitchell and his legislation because I expect it will help the Lincoln area to attract new facilities in the future and help prepare other communities faced with similar circumstances."

[Press release]


Articles from the past week

Wednesday:

  • Lincoln gets high rating from Canton Swap team

  • Shop at ho-ho-home with Chamber Bucks (Business)

  • Safety tips for trick-or-treaters
    and the rest of us, too  (Home and Family)

Tuesday:

  • Mentoring builds community
    Mural unveiled

  • Lincoln haunted
    Early sightings and anticipated activities

  • Veterans invited to attend Nov. 11 ceremony

Monday:

  • Lincoln ministry buys former APAC building
    (Business)

  • Treat-or-treat safety (Home and Family)

  • New education license plate unveiled

Saturday:

  • ‘Documenting Illinois’ progress in juvenile justice’
    A report from Futures for Kids in collaboration with the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission

  • New Chicago Bears posters aim to prevent underage alcohol use

  • Trick-or-treat for canned goods

Friday:

  • United for the Harvest

  • EMC ownership change won’t affect Lincoln operation

Thursday:

  • Contaminated kerosene alert!

  • Schools schedule anti-drug activities for Red Ribbon Week

  • Crashes up, accidents down
    Safe driving program for teens notes the difference

Back to top


 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law & Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health & Fitness | Calendar

Letters to the Editor