[SEPT. 28, 2002]  The body of 18-year-old Brian Bobb of Lincoln was found in Kickapoo Creek Park at approximately 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27. He was found by a walker in a remote area on the north perimeter of the park. Logan County Coroner Chuck Fricke pronounced him dead at the scene at 9:34 a.m.

An autopsy was performed Saturday morning at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.  The forensic pathologist determined the cause of death was due to blood loss causing an air embolism in the lung due to neck trauma.

When asked, Fricke could not answer whether the death had occurred at the park or if the body may have been dumped there. That part of the investigation is up to law enforcement personnel, he said. He could say the death had occurred at least several hours earlier than when the body was found.

The incident is being treated as a homicide. Logan County Sheriff’s Department, led by Detective Rick Bacon, is the lead agency on the case. Illinois State Police crime scene technicians were called in also.

Authorities are not saying anything about a suspect.  However, while the park was closed off to the public Friday for the investigation, all agencies involved say:

“Kickapoo Park should not be considered dangerous for normal activities, and the park has no history of such activities. We should like, however, to remind the public that it is always a good practice to be accompanied by others when visiting any remote or private areas and have access to a cell phone if possible.”

[Jan Youngquist]

Here kitty, kitty!
Tiger loose in Bloomington-Normal

[SEPT. 28, 2002]  Police warned Bloomington-Normal residents not to go outside Saturday.  A Bengal tiger was loose in the city.  He escaped at about 4:30 a.m. from a trailer at the Travel America truck stop off Market Street while its owners were feeding it.

Zoo officials armed with tranquilizers assisted police in recapturing the wild animal.  At last word, they believed they had subdued it with the tranquilizers. It will be transported to the zoo and taken care of there.

Keep tuned to Bloomington radio stations, such as WBNQ-FM 101.5 or WJBC-AM 1230,  for further updates.

Final update at 2:02 p.m. Saturday.

‘Day of the Dozer’ reaps
benefits for cancer patients

[SEPT. 28, 2002]  The Community Cancer Center and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, McLean County Affiliate, were each presented with a $22,500 check from the proceeds of the fourth annual William F. Brady Day of the Dozer, which was Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Interstate Center.

Over 1,300 children were able to explore the fascinating world of heavy construction equipment. The kids were able to stare a bulldozer or dump truck in the face, crawl all over a backhoe, and take rides in or operate bulldozers, excavators, cement trucks and much more.

Founding sponsors of this event are Brady Construction Company, Brady Weaver GMAC Real Estate, MJE Construction Company and Stark Excavating.

"The Day of the Dozer Committee would like to thank the sponsors of this event, the operators working the equipment, the volunteers that helped at the event, and most of all to the parents, grandparents, friends and family that brought their young people out to enjoy this great experience. This event raises not only construction awareness, but also benefits two worthwhile causes: the Community Cancer Center and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, McLean County Affiliate," said Bob Brady, chair of the event.

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The Community Cancer Center is a joint venture between BroMenn Healthcare and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center. Aimed at better serving the present and future needs of area cancer patients and their families, the center focuses on outpatient care and includes services such as radiation therapy, medical oncology, coordinator for multidisciplinary treatment planning, supportive care services, case management, promotion of prevention, early detection and screening, and community education. Ninety percent of the donation from the event will go to services.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, McLean County Affiliate, was established in November of 1998. The mission of the local affiliate is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. The affiliate is working on this mission through local fund-raising events. Seventy-five percent of all dollars raised stay for local programs, and 25 percent goes for national research.

[Press release]

Illinois River basin conservation
program gets $8.5 million

[SEPT. 28, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan announced on Thursday the release of $8.5 million for conservation projects on floodplain and other highly erodible land as part of the Illinois River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, or CREP.

"The Illinois River CREP is the nation’s most successful river basin restoration effort and serves as the foundation for my Illinois Rivers 2020 initiative to restore the long-term health of this vital waterway," Ryan said. "This funding provides even more landowners with the tools they need to reduce topsoil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance habitat for wildlife and aquatic life throughout the Illinois River basin."

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is a joint state-federal land conservation program providing financial incentives and technical assistance to owners of floodplain and adjacent environmentally sensitive agricultural lands in the Illinois River watershed. Participation in the program is entirely voluntary. It provides assistance to landowners who agree to plant trees and grasses, create buffers, expand or restore wetlands, and implement other conservation practices to reduce river sedimentation and chemical runoff.

Landowners who agree to extend their contracts through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve Program beyond 15 years or agree to permanent conservation easements receive bonus payments from the state and are eligible for state and federal financial assistance in installing conservation practices on their land.

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Since 1998, state appropriations totaling $48 million have resulted in the commitment of $260 million in federal funding for the Illinois River CREP. The funding announced Thursday will allow 125 landowners throughout the Illinois River basin to enroll approximately 9,500 acres in permanent conservation easements.

During Gov. Ryan’s administration, the Illinois CREP has been expanded three times — through the addition of the LaMoine River watershed in west-central Illinois in 1999, the Sangamon River basin in central Illinois in 2000 and the inclusion of the balance of the Illinois River watershed in 2001. During Gov. Ryan’s tenure, nearly 5,000 landowners have enrolled more than 108,000 acres in the program, including approximately 62,000 acres now protected through permanent conservation easements.

In all, more than 5,500 landowners along the Illinois River and its tributaries have enrolled 118,000 acres of flood-prone, environmentally sensitive cropland in CREP.

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]

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