Wednesday, Sept. 11

 

LCHS students remember 9-11

[SEPT. 11, 2002]  The young people at Lincoln Community High School have not forgotten.

At a moving and inspiring assembly this morning, they reminded each other of the way it was one year ago, when history suddenly became not a subject in a textbook but a real event they were watching unfold.

It started out as a normal day, with students getting up, going to school, talking to their friends, going to classes.

Then phones rang and ashen-faced teachers stopped talking about math or science or English and turned on the television. They thought at first it was some kind of terrible accident. Then they knew it wasn’t.

Omigosh! It was real!

That reality was captured for the audience with videos of the World Trade Center buildings collapsing, interspersed with remembrances of students who watched while America saw itself attacked from within.

 


[Photos by Bob Frank]

Along with the videos, both the beginning and advanced choirs, the LCHS band, the speech classes of Ms. Carrie Schreiber and members of the student council helped retell the story and reaffirm the students’ faith in a united America.

Under the direction of Ms. Kim Peterson-Quinn, the 70-member mixed choir sang "Proud to be an American," setting the audience cheering.

 

Members of the speech classes gave several presentations, reading poems and other reminiscences, some of them written by students from a high school just a few blocks away from the World Trade Center.

The poems and essays spoke of the loss of innocence and security and of the price the nation has paid for its complacency.

One presentation noted the ordinariness of Monday, the day before the attack, when students believed athletes were heroes and thought of themselves as black, white, male, female, Christian or some other religion. After Tuesday, the day of the attack, they knew who the real heroes were, and they thought of themselves simply as Americans.

Another theme was that while students might regret their lost innocence, they celebrate their understanding of what "American" means, they will no longer take it for granted, and they hope the terror will stop and peace will prevail over the entire earth.

 

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In a candlelighting ceremony, student council members reviewed the hard facts: for example, 6,333 people were reported missing on Sept. 22, and today there are still 105 not accounted for; but on the positive side, 58 percent of the homes and businesses in American made financial contributions to help those who lost a loved one in the terrorist attack.

Mr. Steve Sauer, chairman of the social studies department, opened the program with a welcome to the audience, asking the students to remember the heroic efforts of firemen, paramedics and police to save thousands of innocent victims, and to rededicate themselves to continue the fight against acts of terror.

 

"Never forget 9-11, ever, but never forget also that each one of you is a citizen of the greatest nation in the world. This country has its faults and its ‘warts’ for the world to see, but we remain strong in our belief that we will win this current fight and that we will in the end emerge stronger and more united as a country than ever."

Christina Xamis led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

To close the assembly, the band played the national anthem and the choir, along with many in the audience, sang.

 

Other teachers and administrators who worked on the project include Joyce Hubbard, principal; Jim Vipond, science; Dave Swaar, band; Sally Zurlinden, PowerPoint presentation; Barbara Waymire, technical coordination. Stu Wyneken, technical work and stage; and Janet Hudelson and Timie Olson, student government.

Students who participated included band, choir and speech class members, along with Robbie Perry, Josh Fillmore, Jillian Kimberlin, Jenny Cassad, Zach Gahr, John Peters, Cliff Carnahan, Omar Obaisi, Jerrod Marten, Jamie Fuiten, Miles Musick, Adama Voyles, Colin Voyles, Alex King, Tim Fak, Chelsea Jones, Kenzi Huelskoetter and Stanton Schumacher.

[Joan Crabb]

9-11-01

Fallen but not Forgotten

9-11-02

Sponsored by Lincoln Daily News and:

Clean Sweep Janitorial Service

First Wok Logan County Title Company
Diane Schriber Realty Key Printing Meier Accounting
Edward Jones Investments, Robert F. Neal Lincoln Cycle Center Werth & Associates, Realtors

Terrorism preparedness,
homeland security

[SEPT. 11, 2002]  Since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, America has come to a better understanding and appreciation of the hard work and dedication of our first responders.

While our police, fire, EMTs, health care professionals, public servants, and the men and women serving in our military have always been heroes, sadly we have seen graphically the sacrifices they are willing to make to protect our families, our loved ones, our homes and our way of life. Their dedication and commitment is not something new — they were training, preparing and protecting us long before Sept. 11, 2001.

For more information on Illinois Homeland Security efforts:

 [Illinois Government News Network]

Thank You

To Lincoln Developmental Center employees:

The Lincoln Parents' Association would like to express our sincere appreciation for the excellent care you have given our loved ones over the years. You chose to make a career in caring for the most fragile of individuals with disabilities. For this, we are most grateful. 

The stress of this past year has been almost unbearable for you and for us. In spite of poor management, politics and constant scrutiny, you have maintained your excellent level of care. There are not enough words to express our thanks.

Sincerely,
Members of the
Lincoln Parents' Association


City responds to athlete death

City addresses liability and extra expenditures

[SEPT. 11, 2002]  Mayor Beth Davis questioned if the city has an ordinance that regulates the sale of products with ephedrine. Mayor Davis said that she would like to see the city have an ordinance if there isn’t one, stating, "I think we should help protect our children."

Her concern echoes that of many in our community with death of a Lincoln Community High School student late last week. It appears the student, an athlete, was taking the over-the-counter drug ephedrine, in a form known as Yellow Jackets, in an effort to enhance his athletic performance.

Mayor Davis called upon Lincoln Police Chief Rich Montcalm. He said he had checked with Logan County State’s Attorney Tim Huyett, and there are no laws regulating sale of these products. Chief Montcalm reported that police have been out in the schools talking to the students and are working with the schools on this. He pointed out that without the cooperation of parents and schools an ordinance won’t do any good.

One year ago the water company, along with other municipal utilities and nuclear power plants nationwide, was ordered by the federal government to find security to protect our water supply. With an urgent situation on their hands they turned to the city for help. The city, according to Alderman George Mitchell, was happy to provide off-duty officers for the task. At present the city pays the officers and is reimbursed by the water company.

Mitchell said it has recently come to his attention that there are other issues to consider as well. He raised the question, "Who is liable for the officers if they are injured while performing that duty?" The city incurs additional taxes, other costs and liability by providing this service.

 

Gary Bellafiore from Illinois American Water responded, saying that as he recalled, there were no specifics worked out at the time this service began. It was an arrangement put together in haste. He pointed out that while the water company completely reimburses the city for the officers pay, they will not be compensated by the government for it. There are over a million dollars in funds soon to be released by the federal government for the protection of municipal utilities, but that is for the whole country. That money won’t go very far. Nor does it have a provision for protection provided by humans. It covers only purchases of protection equipment, such as motion detectors and alarm systems.

City Attorney Bill Bates said he believed that it is the party that has the payroll, in this case the city, that is the responsible party for insuring liability.

Mitchell said he understood the urgency that this treaty began under, but that now it has been a year and the immediacy is over. He requested that Bellafiore begin looking for a private company to take over the security duties at the water plant.

Alderman Mitchell said that he has been informed by Streets Superintendent Donnie Osborne that the Logan County Fairgrounds has again requested the city’s participation in refurbishing their hard-top roadways. Osborne explained that this has been a common practice in the years he has been superintendent. Once a year his department takes eight men to spend a day applying chip seal to maintain the roadways. The fairgrounds committee reimburses the city for the cost of materials used. The reason the project has been brought before the council this time is that there have been some grumblings opposing the favoritism of this action.

 

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Alderman Bill Melton commented that he was for helping them, saying, "With what they bring in (to the city), I think we ought to do that."

Playing a little devil’s advocate, Alderman Steve Fuhrer stated, "I know they do a lot for the community, but they charge (admission to events). Other businesses have to pay. I can see why some people are asking about that."

Alderman Dave Armbrust countered, "I attend the annual meeting, see their reports, work in the ticket office. They don’t have a lot of money left over." He and a few others on the council nodded agreement that the fairgrounds brings a lot of business and is a benefit to Lincoln throughout the year. It was suggested that perhaps the county board might be approached to share in this since the county benefits as well.

The matter will be on the agenda next week.

A snafu may detain the work of re-switching and rewiring the Wyatt Avenue lighting. The work has already been approved to be done to the tune of $7,232 in material costs. However, broached Alderman Mitchell, a heavier gauge wire is now being recommended by the supplier, Market Place Electric, in order to be sure of carrying electric current from one end of Wyatt to the other.

The cost increase of $1,487 would boost the project to $8,719.

This is still a bargain, with a labor savings of about $5,000 by doing the work ourselves, Superintendent Osborne pointed out. He went further to say he favored either spending the extra money or tabling the project a year if necessary, when additional funds can be obtained in order to do the job right. His main point was that when all the lights went out earlier this summer they had to dig. He doesn’t want to have the same problem in the winter when the ground is frozen.

Alderman Verl Prather spoke up, saying that since they have to look at an increase he would like to see the city get another proposal. He thought this should have been done the first time, and now is another opportunity. Several murmurs of agreement echoed, including Aldermen Glenn Shelton and Fuhrer.

The next city council meeting will be Monday, Sept. 16.

[Jan Youngquist]

 


Articles from the past week

Tuesday:

  • Gov. Ryan, state officials present update on homeland security in Illinois

  • Officials announce new Navy Pier marine safety and rescue station

Monday:

Saturday:

  • NFL football comes to central Illinois (Sports)

  • Locals have a swingin’ time with the Aussies down under (Sports)

  • Gov. Ryan announces Illinois Arts Council grants

Friday:

  • Wastewater plant readies for expansion

Thursday:

  • New distributor finds community friendly
    (Business)

  • Illinois August and summer hotter than average in 2002

Wednesday:

  • City tables Goodman petition to rezone land near Postville Courthouse

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