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Thursday, Feb. 13 |
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Central
Illinois braces for potential ice storm
(Weather update issued 3:08
p.m. Thursday)
[FEB. 13, 2003]
A significant winter storm
is expected to affect central and southeastern Illinois late tonight
through Friday night.
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A storm system will get organized
across the southern Rockies tonight, then begin tracking eastward
toward the region on Friday. As a result, precipitation will develop
across southwestern Illinois late tonight, then spread across the
remainder of the region Friday morning. Enough cold air will be
present at low levels of the atmosphere for the precipitation to
begin as freezing rain. Surface temperatures are expected to remain
at or below freezing throughout the day along and north of
Interstate 74, creating a prolonged period of freezing rain. Further
south, along and north of a Springfield-to-Mattoon line,
temperatures may rise a few degrees above freezing Friday afternoon,
allowing the precipitation to change over to rain. South of I-70,
temperatures will rise above freezing by noon, allowing the change
over to rain to occur earlier.
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For the counties of Cass, Christian,
DeWitt, Logan, Macon, Menard, Morgan, Piatt, Sangamon and Scott,
including the cities of Beardstown, Clinton, Decatur, Jacksonville,
Lincoln, Monticello, Springfield, Taylorville, Virginia and
Winchester:
Ice storm
warning for early Friday morning through Friday afternoon
Freezing rain will develop across the
area by dawn Friday. The precipitation will continue throughout the
morning hours, with ice accumulations of around one-quarter inch
possible. The precipitation may change to rain for a period Friday
afternoon before changing back to freezing rain Friday night.
An ice storm warning is issued when
significant accumulations of ice are expected. The ice may down
trees and power lines, resulting in widespread power outages. Travel
will be extremely dangerous if not impossible. People in the warned
area are advised not to travel.
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For the counties of Clark, Coles,
Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie and Shelby, including the
cities of Charleston, Marshall, Mattoon, Paris, Shelbyville,
Sullivan, Toledo and Tuscola:
Ice storm
warning Friday
Freezing rain will develop across the
area Friday morning. The precipitation will continue into the early
afternoon hours, with ice accumulations of around one-quarter inch
possible. The precipitation may change to rain for a period Friday
afternoon before changing back to freezing rain Friday night.
An ice storm warning is issued when
significant accumulations of ice are expected. The ice may down
trees and power lines, resulting in widespread power outages. Travel
will be extremely dangerous if not impossible. People in the warned
area are advised not to travel.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
For the counties of Champaign, Fulton,
Knox, Marshall, Mason, McLean, Peoria, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell,
Vermilion and Woodford, including the cities of Bloomington, Canton,
Champaign, Danville, Eureka, Galesburg, Havana, Lacon, Lewistown,
Mason City, Pekin, Peoria, Rantoul and Rushville:
Winter
storm warning Friday and Friday night
Freezing rain will develop across the
area Friday morning. The precipitation will continue into Friday
evening, with significant ice accumulations of one-quarter inch or
greater possible. The precipitation will then change to snow Friday
night. Some snow accumulation will be possible before the
precipitation tapers off early Saturday.
A winter storm warning is issued when
heavy snow or ice is forecast to accumulate in the affected area,
causing hazardous driving conditions. People with travel plans in
the warning area are advised to choose an alternate route or, if
travel is unavoidable, should use extreme caution.
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For the counties of Clay, Crawford,
Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence and Richland, including the cities of
Effingham, Flora, Lawrenceville, Newton, Olney and Robinson:
Freezing
rain advisory for Friday morning
Freezing rain will develop across the
area Friday morning. The precipitation will change to rain by noon
as temperatures rise above the freezing mark.
A freezing
rain advisory is issued when ice accumulations are expected to cause
problems with driving and walking but no damage to trees or power
lines.
[3:08 p.m. Thursday news
release] |
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Central
Illinois braces for potential ice storm
(Weather update issued 3:26
a.m. Thursday)
[FEB. 13, 2003]
An extended period of
freezing rain is possible across central Illinois late Thursday
night and Friday.
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A weather system moving across the
southwestern states Thursday morning is expected to strengthen as it
tracks into the southern Plains by late tonight and into the Ohio
River Valley on Friday. Abundant moisture with this system will
interact with a cold air mass across the mid-Mississippi and Ohio
River Valley to bring a wintry mix of precipitation to central
Illinois, with an extended period of freezing rain possible late
tonight and Friday.
For the counties of Cass, Champaign,
Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Fulton, Knox, Logan,
Macon, Marshall, Mason, McLean, Menard, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria,
Piatt, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, Vermilion
and Woodford, including the cities of Beardstown, Bloomington,
Canton, Champaign, Charleston, Clinton, Danville, Decatur, Eureka,
Galesburg, Havana, Jacksonville, Lacon, Lewistown, Lincoln, Mason
City, Mattoon, Monticello, Paris, Pekin, Peoria, Rantoul, Rushville,
Shelbyville, Springfield, Sullivan, Taylorville, Tuscola, Virginia
and Winchester:
Winter
storm watch for late tonight through Friday
Precipitation is expected to begin
across central Illinois very late tonight and continue through the
day Friday. Current indications suggest the precipitation will be
predominantly in the form of freezing rain at the onset, with
freezing rain continuing through much of the morning Friday.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
Some
locations will likely warm above the freezing mark by early Friday
afternoon, which would diminish the threat of freezing rain and ice
accumulation later in the day.
The freezing rain may be mixed with
snow or sleet Friday morning, especially along and north of
Interstate 72. The wintry mix of precipitation is expected to linger
on into Friday night, when the mixture may change back over to
mostly snow, mainly north of I-72. Along and south of I-70, the
precipitation is expected to be mainly in the form of rain.
There is still some uncertainty as to
the exact track of the storm system. Any deviation in the expected
track of the storm will alter precipitation amounts and type.
A winter storm watch is issued when
severe winter weather is possible but not imminent. At the time,
there is a potential for significant snow or ice accumulations.
Future driving and walking conditions may become hazardous, so it is
important to monitor the latest forecasts.
Stay tuned
to NOAA Weather Radio or your local media for the latest concerning
this potentially dangerous winter weather situation.
[3:26 a.m. Thursday news
release] |
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Prayer for our youth
this Saturday
[FEB. 13, 2003]
A community time of prayer
for our youth is being planned once again. Hundreds poured out in
response to the invitation to meet in Scully Park last fall. From
youth to grandparents, even those not espousing a religion, all
joined in a show of concern for our youth.
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The movement was
spurred by the significant numbers of youth that that we have lost
to death. There has also been an increase in youth-related accidents
and criminal activities. Most often either legal or illegal
substance use has been the root of the incidents. Despite efforts by
community leaders, law enforcement and health officials, the trend
still continues.
"We are more
organized than we were in October and will be able to be seen and
heard in the LJHS gym," said organizer Stacey Martin.
Everyone and anyone is
invited to come.
Saturday, Feb. 15
6:30 p.m.
Lincoln Junior High
School gym |
[Jan
Youngquist]
[Click
here for LDN article about the Oct. 5, 2002, gathering (pictured
at right).] |
[photos by Jan Youngquist]
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Abraham Lincoln birthday celebration
Poetry
and art contest winners
[FEB. 13, 2003]
As winds blew cold through
Logan County early Saturday morning, children and adults gathered
inside the warmth of the Logan County Courthouse. A dozen people
milled around, bringing in cakes, modeling 1800s clothing or just
waiting for things to get started. A few girls sat in front of a
small television watching the Looking for Lincoln video. Lincoln's
Logan County Arts and Crafts Guild and the Logan County
Railsplitting Association were hosting a birthday party honoring
Abraham Lincoln.
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The program started a little after 10
a.m., with John Sutton, a member of the guild, acting as master of
ceremonies.
Dr. James Sennett, a professor at
Lincoln Christian College, gave the invocation. The VFW Post 1756,
along with Girl Scout Troop 53, performed an opening flag ceremony.
Michael Snyder played taps on the bugle.
After the flag ceremony, students from
Zion Lutheran School, dressed in red, white and blue, gave a
stirring presentation of the Gettysburg Address. Goosebumps
dominated the room at the conclusion.
[Partygoers could watch the Looking for Lincoln
video before or after the celebration.]
[Photos by Gina Sennett]
Nancy Saul invited all the children in
the room to sit on small carpets on the floor. She told them stories
about some of Abraham Lincoln's friends and how they helped his
cause of emancipation of slaves.
Finally came the presentation of awards
for the Abraham Lincoln art and poetry contest, also sponsored by
the guild. The contest was open to all first- through 12th-grade
students in Logan County. There were six levels in each of the two
categories, and the first-place winner in each received 1800s
clothing -- an apron and day cap for the girls, a shirt for the
boys. Poetry and art were judged on appropriateness of subject,
clarity of message, neatness and technical accuracy.
The poetry entries were judged by the
Memories class from The Oasis. Fay Stubblefield represented the
class at the birthday party.
Poetry
winners
Grades 1-2: Honorable mention went to
Mrs. Chamberlain's first-grade students at Washington-Monroe School
for their book "If I Were President…" compiled with the help of Mrs.
Wiser. The book consisted of photos of the children, which they
altered so that they looked like Abraham Lincoln (with a stovepipe
hat and black coat), and short statements which the children wrote
saying what they would do if they were president. Instead of
clothing, the class received a copy of the book "Ellen's Story" by
Susan Kirby, which is set in the 1830s and takes place in the New
Salem area.
Grades 3-4: There were so many entries
in this level that the Memories class decided to award two
second-place winners in addition to the first-place winner. First
place went to Tina Morrow, fourth grade, from Washington-Monroe
School. She received a day cap and apron. Second place was shared by
Melyssa Cooper and Brittany Bone, both in third grade and both from
Lincoln. They each received a second-place ribbon.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
Grades 5-6: Camillia Bone in fifth
grade won first place.
Grade 7: It was originally advertised
that entries from seventh- and eighth-graders would be judged
together, but due to a lack of high school entries, they were
separated. The seventh-grade winner was Rebecca Crider.
Grade 8: Elizabeth Carter won first
place.
The art entries were judged by Sue
Bidwell, a member of the arts and crafts guild.
Art
winners
Grades 1-2: Karley Lance from
Chester-East Lincoln
Grades 3-4: Todd Coppinger from Miss
Barcolow's fourth-grade class at Northwest
Grades 5-6: Zack Huffer, sixth grade,
from Carroll Catholic
Grades 7-8: Rebecca Crider, seventh
grade, home-schooled in Lincoln. Because she already received a day
cap and apron from the poetry contest, she was given the book
"Hattie's Story" by Susan Kirby as an additional prize.
After the winners were announced, Dr.
Sennett gave the benediction and everyone was invited to have birthday cake and ice cream and to
watch the Looking for Lincoln video.
[Children listen as Nancy Saul tells about
some of Abraham Lincoln's friends.]
"The Lincoln's Logan County Arts and
Crafts Guild would like to thank all the young people who submitted
entries and all the adults who took time to help the young people
work on entries for the poetry and picture contest," Bidwell said.
"We are so very pleased with the community participation this year
that we look forward to an even more exciting event next year.
"We hope the winning students will
continue to study the life of Abraham Lincoln and become active in
the guild's various activities throughout the year to learn more
about life in the 1800s and put their prizes to good use. The prizes
were picked to stir interest in the guild and to challenge the
students!"
If any of
the winners listed above have not picked up their prizes, call Sew
Many Friends at (217) 732-4527.
[Dr. James Sennett gave the invocation and
benediction.]
[Photo by Jan Youngquist]
[Press
release/Gina
Sennett] |
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Tax filing options
[FEB.
13, 2003]
CHICAGO -- The Illinois
Department of Revenue urges taxpayers who want to avoid delays in
receiving their income tax refunds to use one of Illinois' four
electronic filing programs and to file early.
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"This will be a difficult year for
paying refunds," said acting Director Scott A. Miller. "We are
telling taxpayers upfront that there will be delays, while they can
do something about it."
The Department of Revenue anticipates
that, like last year, it will again have to slow payment of refunds
to individuals.
The department projects that the
balance in the Refund Fund (the only fund from which income tax
refunds can be paid) will force a slowing of refund payments in May.
Given the six-week timeline to process paper returns, taxpayers who
file on paper in March can expect significant delays.
Electronic returns are processed in a
week, and those filed by April 15 should be paid before the slowdown
begins.
The Department of Revenue, by law, sets
aside a percentage of income tax collections into the Refund Fund.
Declining tax receipts and increasing refund demands have left too
little money flowing into the fund.
There will be a new demand on the fund
this spring when the $150 million borrowed to pay off individual
income tax refunds last July must be repaid, just as refunds from
paper tax returns are being processed.
Illinois offers taxpayers four
electronic filing methods:
1.
e-File -- Filing with a tax professional, available to 5.4
million taxpayers.
2.
I-File -- Free Internet filing through the Department of
Revenue's website, available to 4.6 million taxpayers,
3.
TeleFile -- Free filing by touch-tone telephone for taxpayers
with simple returns, available to 2.7 million taxpayers.
4.
PC File -- Online filing with a package like Turbo Tax or Tax
Cut, available to 5.4 million taxpayers.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
The I-File and TeleFile programs all
require an Illinois Personal Identification Number. An IL-PIN was
assigned to all taxpayers who filed in the last two years and was
printed on the label of their tax booklets. The number can be
obtained at
www.lLtax.com or by calling (800) 732-8866.
Taxpayers can check on their
eligibility for electronic filing by asking their tax professional,
reading information in their tax booklets or visiting
www.lLtax.com.
Electronic filing also offers
significant benefits beyond avoiding refund delays.
Electronic filers receive a
confirmation number to prove they filed, use secure encrypted
transmissions instead of the mail, benefit from edits that prevent
errors and assure that attachments are not lost.
The Department of Revenue encourages
taxpayers who usually mail a paper return but want to assure timely
payment of their refunds this year to use the free Illinois Internet
filing program to transmit tax return information.
Taxpayers can complete their Illinois
tax return on paper, choose the I-File fill-in form option and
simply copy the information from their paper tax return onto the
form on the department's website.
Taxpayers will need a completed form,
copies of their W-2s and an IL-PIN to complete their filing, which
can be done in 15 minutes or less.
The
department has used its tax booklets and other mailings and
publications to advise taxpayers to use electronic fling to avoid
refund delays.
[Illinois
Department of Revenue news release]
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