For
Cass, Fulton, Logan, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon, Schuyler and
Scott counties, including the cities of Beardstown, Canton, Havana,
Jacksonville, Lewistown, Lincoln, Mason City, Rushville,
Springfield, Virginia and Winchester:
Heavy snow warning
today
Snow will develop again during midday,
then diminish to flurries during early evening. Expect and
additional 2 to 4 inches today, giving a storm total of 5 to 7
inches by 6 p.m. Locally between 7 and 9 inches is possible across
west central Illinois near Rushville. Winds will be north between
10 and 20 miles per hour. Snowfall intensities will be heavy enough
to substantially reduce visibilities to a half-mile or less at
times.
Remember, a
heavy snow warning means severe winter weather conditions are
imminent or highly likely.
For
Clark, Clay, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence and
Richland counties, including the cities of Effingham, Flora,
Lawrenceville, Marshall, Newton, Olney, Robinson and Toledo:
![](../images/ads/sponsor/dicklogan.gif)
Winter storm warning
through this evening.
Snow
will develop again across southeast Illinois during midday and
continue into this evening. Sleet could also mix in with the snow
today along and south of Interstate 70. Between 2 and 4 inches of additional
snow could fall by 9 p.m., giving a storm total of 5 to 7 inches.
Snowfall intensities will be heavy enough to substantially reduce
visibilities to a half mile or less at times.
Remember, a
winter storm
warning means severe winter weather
conditions are imminent or highly likely.
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
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For
Champaign, Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Macon, McLean,
Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby and Vermilion counties, including the cities
of Bloomington, Champaign, Charleston, Clinton, Danville, Decatur,
Mattoon, Monticello, Paris, Rantoul, Shelbyville, Sullivan,
Taylorville and Tuscola:
Heavy snow warning
through this evening.
Snow is expected to redevelop during
midday and continue into this
evening. Expect between 2 and 4
inches of additional snow, giving a storm total by 9 p.m. of 5 to 7
inches. Winds will be north between 10 and 20 miles per hour. Snowfall intensities will be heavy enough to substantially reduce
visibilities to a half-mile or less at times.
Remember, a heavy snow
warning means severe winter
weather conditions are imminent or highly likely.
For
Knox, Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford counties,
including the cities of Eureka, Galesburg, Lacon, Pekin and Peoria:
Snow advisory today
Snow will intensify during
midday,
then diminish to flurries during early evening. Total snow
accumulations are expected to be in the 2- to 4-inch range by 6
p.m. Expect north winds between 5 and 15 miles per hour. Snowfall
intensities will be heavy enough to substantially reduce
visibilities to a half-mile or less at times.
A snow advisory
is issued when snow is expected to accumulate, but only
enough
to cause minor inconveniences such as travel delays.
[National Weather Service]
|
[Click here for January and February news]
[Click here for March and
April news]
May
Struggle
to keep LDC open continues
Even though the Health Facilities
Planning Board told the Department of Human Services it did not need
a permit and a public hearing to move residents from LDC, Logan
County Circuit Judge Donald Behle ruled that the procedure must be
followed and the injunction against moving residents is still in
force. The preliminary injunction was issued late in March, in time
to stop scheduled moves of residents on April 15.
Attorneys for the Department of Human
Services, which oversees LDC, filed an appeal of the injunction
before the 4th District Appellate Court in Springfield.
Later in May, as the state budget
process neared its end, state Reps. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsythe, and
Jonathan Wright, R-Hartsburg, filed legislation for $27 million to
be appropriated to keep LDC open. Budget legislation passed by the
Senate and sent to the House did not include adequate funding for
LDC.
"The House Republicans have gone
through agency budgets line-item by line-item, and we have been able
to identify areas of the budget that can be reduced that won't hurt
essential services and would enable us to keep LDC operating," said
Wright. "We feel that it is in the best interests of the residents,
their families and the local economy to keep this facility
operating."
Rich Brauer, Republican candidate for
state representative in the new 100th District, also announced his
support of the legislation to restore funding for the Lincoln
Developmental Center.
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Central
School news
The future holds many changes for
District 27's venerable Central School. The most obvious is the new
building going up behind the old one, but another important change
is that Lenny Janet, who has been principal for 21 years, is
stepping down. Christa Healy, currently a special education teacher
at Central, will take over the job as principal of both Central and
Adams schools.
The district school board continued
trying to cut construction costs for the new school, with somewhat
mixed results. Board members learned they can save about $64,000 on
food service equipment, but they will not be able to save an
estimated $80,000 to $90,000 on the exterior building system by
using a combination of brick and a synthetic material instead of all
brick. The board decided to stay with the original design of an
all-brick exterior. Board members chose a color from a number of
samples brought in by architect Dave Leonatti, selecting a blend of
reddish bricks showing a slight variation in color. They also chose
a seal brown color for the building's standing seam metal roof.
City news
Two representatives from Ameren, the
company that is purchasing CILCO, the utility that serves Lincoln,
attended a Lincoln City Council meeting to introduce themselves to
city officials. According to an Ameren press release, electric rates
will remain frozen at current levels until at least 2004 because of
a state freeze.
The city council also opened bids on
Phase I of the $9.8 million sewer plant upgrade. The second round of
bids, for electrical and general contracting work, will be opened in
June. City engineer Mark Mathon said the city cut the original
estimates of the upgrade by $1.5 million by acting as its own
program manager.
Officer Robert Rawlings, a member of
the Lincoln Police Department since 1982, was named Police Officer
of the Year by the Lincoln/Logan Crime Stoppers. Police Chief
Richard Montcalm cited his many achievements, including an award by
the state of Illinois for a heroic act when he rescued a 3-year-old
girl and another child from a burning structure on South Chicago
Street.
The hiring freeze put in place by the
council as a cost-cutting measure was severely tested when the
second of two police officers resigned. Chris Carmichael, who
represents the Lincoln Police Department on a six-county drug task
force, needs to be replaced, according to Chief of Police Rich
Montcalm and police committee chair Pat Madigan.
Mayor Beth Davis
asked the city to take title to the old polling building that sits
at Fifth and Adams streets. The building is currently owned by West
Lincoln Township. The historical commission is willing to foot the
bill for moving the building to Postville Park, citing that it will
make a good tourist attraction as a visitor center. The council
agreed to receive the property from West Lincoln Township, provided
that the property transfer costs do not exceed $300.
Les Plotner, the city
treasurer, presented a detailed financial report that assessed
issues likely to impact city revenues. In conclusion, he stated he
did not advise supporting the proposed commercial/industrial park at
this time "without the vote of the people that says they are willing
to increase taxes via referendum to pay off such liability. I
believe an industrial park is something we need, but I'm not sure I
buy into the current plan."
![](../images/ads/Lo_co_bank/LoCoBnk2.gif)
Logan
County Board news
The Logan County
Board on Thursday night defeated a motion to support the concept of
a north-side commerce park and to find a method of financing it. The
board also heard a report that Logan County Health Department has
voted to cut its support for Logan-Mason Mental Health in half.
Discussion of the commercial park was vigorous and involved several
of the visitors at the meeting, including Lincoln Mayor Beth Davis,
former city council finance chair Steve Fuhrer and Mark Smith,
director of the Logan County Economic Development Council. The city
has been requested to supply a portion of the funding for the
proposed park, which would be located near Kruger elevator on the
northeast side of Lincoln.
Board member Dave
Hepler said he has been presented no concrete evidence that the
north side is where industries want to locate. Jim Griffin then
named three other options for commercial parks: 40 acres offered by
Curt Burwell on the west side, acreage near Cracker Barrel that is
zoned industrial and the already existing Lincoln Industrial Park on
Fifth Street Road. He said he does not oppose an industrial park but
thinks it should be located where sewer, water and roads are in
place. Board member Rod White said he believes the $950,000
initially asked for would not be the end of the financial
commitment.
In other business,
health committee chair Dave Hepler reported that the Logan County
Health Department board voted to halve funding for Logan-Mason
Mental Health, from $65,000 to $32,500 per year. He said the cut
brings Logan County support in line with the per capita support of
Mason County. The comparative figures, using the 2000 census, are
$1.13 per person in Mason, currently $2.09 in Logan and $1.05 per
person for the next fiscal year in Logan. Hepler said the reduced
figure is also in line with mental health support in Morgan County,
another member of Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois.
The Health Department
administrator, Lloyd Evans, said department income has been
declining since 1997 because of changes in Medicare funding for the
home health program and because of tax caps. He said the Medicare
loss averages over $550,000 per year for the last four years and
that tax caps have been responsible for a $250,000 decline in five
years. Because of lost income the department has been making
significant cuts, and the Logan-Mason Mental Health cut is part of
that process. Evans said total budgeted expenses for the Logan share
of 11 programs at Logan-Mason Mental Health for fiscal year 2002
amount to $919,059. The bulk of the money comes from the Department
of Health and Human Services, with other funding from the Illinois
Department of Public Health.
County board salaries
and benefits will remain frozen for 10 years, but three county
officeholders will earn $1,500 more next year and sheriff's deputies
will get a 5 percent raise. The three elected officials will receive
$1,500 raises for each of the next four years, with Sheriff Tony Soloman making $48,995 next year and County Clerk Sally Litterly and
Treasurer Mary Ellen Bruns each earning $38,000. Finance committee
member Roger Bock said Logan County salaries are well below the
average of eight nearby counties of similar population. In fact,
even with the raises, Litterly's and Bruns' salaries are 8.75
percent below those in the lowest comparable county, Christian.
Logan County Crime Stoppers presented
the Deputy of the Year award to Douglas McCartney. Sheriff Tony
Soloman said that an example of McCartney's outstanding work was his
quick thinking that averted the evacuation of Elkhart. In response
to a bomb scare on Oct. 5, 2001, he identified suspects and obtained
a confession that the scare was a hoax. McCartney has been with the
sheriff's department since February '99. He lives in Chestnut.
Severe
weather takes its toll
Severe weather caused power outages to
about 315 homes in the Lincoln area Sunday morning, May 12,
beginning about 7:20. CILCO reported that the power was restored to
all but a few locations by 9:03. Heavy rainfall over Illinois last
weekend continued to cause flooding across the state and is likely
to lead to considerable delays in farming operations over much of
Illinois. Numerous rivers and streams are above flood stage in many
communities. In mid-May Gov. George Ryan declared the entire state
of Illinois a disaster area as a result of flooding that is
occurring now and may occur in the future.
Weather caused a change in plans for
the 75 Lincoln Community High School students involved with the
musical production of "Cinderella." Heavy rains caused major leaks
in the LCHS auditorium ceiling. The students, who had two
performances under their belt but were looking forward to the big
audiences the weekend shows always bring, were disappointed. At 7
p.m., director Tom Quinn decided to move the set to the school
gymnasium. There was no question that some of the play would be
hampered in this "theater in the round" atmosphere. The actors, now
only a few feet from the 400 to 500 in attendance, ignored the fact
that their markers were now free-throw lines and out-of-bounds lines
rather than stage points. The play must go on and it did.
![](../images/ads/prairie_years/Prairie_years_small_ad.gif)
Business
news
Russell Stover Candies store on
Lincoln's west side opened in May at 901 Heitmann Drive. The store
includes a candy kitchen, which features hand-dipped candies, peanut
brittle and cookies. Lincoln was chosen as a location because it is
a town with highway access, a spokesman said. Russell Stover Candies
does not locate in major malls but prefers stores with direct access
to parking.
As a result of Weyerhaeuser Company's
takeover of Willamette Industries and a nearly completed addition to
the Lincoln facility, Joe Nemith, general manager of the corrugated
container plant, expects an increase in business. Nemith reported
the takeover has caused virtually no change to the local operation
so far. Meanwhile, he expects to occupy the 70,000-square-foot
warehouse, currently under construction, during the third week of
May. In response to the anticipated increase in business, he does
expect to add three new permanent employees to the work force of
approximately 100 by fall. He noted that employment at the Lincoln
facility is stable. Of two workers expected to retire in July, one
has worked here about 20 years and the other for 44.
"I'll miss (being a State Farm agent),"
says Woody Jones, who is retiring May 31 after 37 years of serving
the Lincoln community. "There are hundreds of people I consider
friends." Jones' retirement was celebrated at an open house May 23
from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at his agency.
Evangelical Deaconess Hospital and its
successor, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, commemorated 100 years
with an open house and reception at ALMH on Sunday, May 5. Members
of St. John Church of Lincoln established St. John Evangelical
Deaconess Hospital in 1902. In 1954, a new hospital was built next
to the Deaconess Hospital and was named Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital. Today Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital is a
community-based, not-for-profit general hospital and is an affiliate
of Memorial Health System.
The Knapp/Chesnut/Becker Historical
Society of Middletown will present the Smithsonian exhibits entitled
"Yesterday's Tomorrows" to the public from June 23 through July 28
at the library-museum in Middletown. Co-sponsor of the exhibits is
the Illinois Humanities Council.
History was made at this year's Lincoln
College commencement when Edward Rust Jr., CEO of State Farm
Insurance, and Steve Forbes, CEO of Forbes magazine, were awarded
honorary degrees from Lincoln College. Nineteen years ago the
fathers of Rust Jr. and Forbes received honorary degrees from the
college. The 135th annual Lincoln College spring commencement was
Saturday, May 11, at 2 p.m. in Davidson-Sheffer Gymnasium. Along
with Forbes and Rust Jr., the well-known economic forecaster Robert
J. Eggert Sr. and former state Sen. Robert A. Madigan received
honorary degrees. In lieu of a commencement speaker, all recipients
spoke about their accomplishments.
An Atlanta man lost his life in a
single-vehicle accident south of Atlanta at 12:15 a.m. Saturday
morning, May 11. The only occupant, 37-year-old John P. Harmon, was
driving on Old 66 just south of Lazy Row when his pickup truck left
the road and struck a main-line utility pole. Power was out about
three hours to Latham, McLean and Atlanta as CILCO replaced the pole
and transferred a high-energy power line carrying 34,500 volts.
Power was restored just after 7 a.m.
As part of the
state's 15th annual Emergency Medical Services Awards, the Illinois
Department of Public Health honored 32 individuals for acts of
courage. Two from Logan County were recipients of the 2002 Illinois
EMS Awards. Andrew Jones and Matt Wilham, both of Chestnut, were on
their way to school on Jan. 17, 2002, when they came upon a two-car
accident about a mile south of Chestnut. A woman failed to yield at
an intersection, and her car was broadsided by a Ford Bronco. Both
vehicles rolled into an adjacent farm field. The driver of the
Bronco suffered a broken arm but was able to get out of the vehicle.
However, her brother was trapped inside the vehicle. Jones and
Wilham pulled the boy from the vehicle before it burst into flames.
Sports
news
The 2002 IESA Class A state
track-and-field first-place team trophy went to the eighth-grade
girls from West Lincoln-Broadwell with congratulations to coach
Gordon Lanning. WL-B won the team title with 43 points, while Bureau
Valley South came in second with 32 points. In the competition for
eighth-grade girls, Christine Presswood of WLB won two individual
state championship medals with record-breaking performances in the
1,600-meter (5:19.14) and 800-meter (2:25.26) runs. Kylie
Courtwright of WL-B won her own individual state championship by
repeating as the state's best high jumper among the girls, clearing
5 feet, 2 inches in the end. Also, Kylie and her teammates Melissa Ramlow, Chelsay Browning and Hilary Hobler ran to a state
championship in 4x100-meter relay with a WL-B record-breaking time
of 54.43.
[to top of second column
in this article]
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The seventh-grade girls from
Chester-East Lincoln also had some pretty nice hardware on their bus
last night — the fourth-place team trophy in the Class 7A
competition. C-EL's victory came from a well-balanced team
performance and the strong performances of two of its athletes.
After its
Saturday win over Champaign Centennial in Champaign, the Lincoln
Railer baseball team brought home a regional trophy for the first
time since 1991. The boys in red and green once again came ready to
play, got on top early and held on for their 18th win of the year
(with 15 losses). The Railers got strong pitching from senior Matt
Boyer, banged out 11 hits and made several extraordinary defensive
plays in their 7-3 win.
June
LDC battle heats up
Early in June
Illinois lawmakers sent Gov. George Ryan a budget that included
funding to keep the Lincoln Developmental Center open. As most
observers expected, the governor vetoed the $35 million
appropriation. The Senate then failed to override the governor's
veto, so once again there was no funding to keep LDC open for the
next fiscal year.
In the meantime,
inspectors from the Illinois Department of Public Health notified
the Department of Human Services, which operates LDC and other
state-operated homes for the developmentally disabled, that LDC had
been cited for an "immediate jeopardy," failure to ensure the safety
and well-being of the residents. The IJ was the result of two
incidents involving a breach of supervision. One individual was left
unsupervised and walked away, and another indulged in self-abusive
behavior, according to the state inspectors. Neither suffered
lasting harm. According to the DPH, this was the eighth time LDC had
been cited for failure to meet federal client protection standards
in less than two years.
Citing the immediate
jeopardy, Gov. Ryan announced that he would completely close LDC
beginning July 1. "These new incidents are the last straw. I want to
make it clear that my decision was not influenced by the state's
revenue shortfall but out of concern for the health and safety of
residents at the Lincoln Developmental Center," he said.
A spokesperson for
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which
represents most of the LDC employees, called the timing of the
report of more safety violations "suspect," especially because it
came just before the Senate refused to override the governor's veto
of the additional funding for LDC. Roberta Lynch, deputy director of
AFSCME, said the incidents were relatively minor and would not
normally have risen to the level of calling in Public Health. "The
Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health
have hastened to put LDC back into immediate jeopardy just before
this special [legislative] session. That is the sign that the
governor and DHS want to discourage legislators from retaining this
increased level of funding," she said.
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Local AFSCME
officials also said they believed the charges were exaggerated and
LDC was "set up" to fail because of the state's budget crisis. "I
think for a long time the DHS and the state have been trying to get
out of the business of taking care of those with developmental
disabilities," said Don Todd, president of AFSCME Local 425. "In the
long run, it's just a plan to downsize and close developmental
facilities throughout the state."
Todd pointed out that
in spite of all the charges brought against the Lincoln facility
recently, the parents of the residents have supported the present
system. He also charged that LDC is "short-staffed" because of the
many technicians who have been transferred to other facilities. Many
staff members are working mandatory overtime and they are exhausted,
he said.
State Rep. Bill
Mitchell, R-Forsythe, said he believed shutting down LDC has been
part of the DHS plan for some time. DHS is the agency that oversees
the 11 state-operated facilities for the developmentally disabled.
"I do think these unelected people [in DHS] have had this mind-set
for several years. Their timing was perfect. It's a good way to save
$35 million. The DHS needs a "thorough housecleaning," he said.
"Closing LDC was
vindictive on the part of the governor," said state Sen. Larry Bomke,
R-Springfield. "He's targeted this facility all along and saw these
reductions as his way to close the facility once and for all,
without any regard to the Lincoln community or the residents and
their families."
The 4th District
Appellate Court heard arguments on June 26 about the legality of the
injunction handed down by Logan County Circuit Judge Donald Behle
but did not make an immediate decision. DHS then announced that it
would begin to move residents out of the facility early in July,
even though they did not yet have a permit from the Illinois Health
Facilities Planning Board and the appellate court decision was still
pending.
Attorney General Jim
Ryan, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, made a whirlwind visit
to Lincoln to assure members of this heavily Republican county that
if elected he would keep LDC open if possible or try to find another
use for it that would provide local jobs. Democratic candidate Rod
Blagojevich also pledged to reopen LDC.
The Lincoln Parents
Association, a group of about 250 parents of LDC residents, met to
affirm that they were not giving up the fight to save the
institution that, they said over and over again, was taking good
care of their children. They said the allegations of abuse and
neglect that led to the decision to close the 125-year-old facility
were blown out of proportion.
Parents are also
unhappy with the lack of communication with DHS. "DHS is masterful
at keeping information from our association as well as from the
public," said Pat Brown, co-president of the parents association.
"They use confidentiality rules as an obstructive tool. We can't get
information about what was actually reported to upper-echelon DHS
bureaucrats or to the governor, so there is no way we can refute any
charges. We can get information about our particular loved one but
not anything else," he said.
County board news
In June the
Logan County Board received fiscal 2001 and midyear 2002
financial updates and approved a zoning ordinance change. Finance
committee representative Roger Bock said the county's revenues for
the first six months of the fiscal year that began Dec. 1, 2001, are
$273,000 less than budgeted. This amounts to 12 percent less than
the anticipated income. Included in the total are shortfalls of
about $128,000 in taxes, $98,000 in fines and $47,000 in interest
earned. Not quite offsetting the 12 percent that revenues are down,
expenditures are also under budget. Dale Voyles, also on the finance
panel, announced that expenditures for the first six months are 9
percent below budget expectations. If revenues were on target, about
$2.9 million would remain to be spent.
Provisions in the
state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 bring more bad
news on the revenue side. Finance chair Rod White said he has heard
reports that the state will quit paying counties a percentage of the
photo use tax. In the 2002 budget, the county projected income from
the photo use tax of $134,000. To date it has received only 36
percent of that, or about $48,240. If the state stops paying a
percentage of the photo use tax on July 1, revenues for the current
year will be down another $55,000. The final audit report shows a
general fund deficit of $257,025, with $4,168,736 in revenue. In
2000, by comparison, revenues were $4,408,661 and positive balance
$585,752. The county general fund balance was $3,071,187 on Nov. 30,
2000, and $2,812,516 on Nov. 30, 2001. The May 2002 cash statement
shows $1,934,444.
The board voted to
delete a paragraph from the county zoning ordinance requiring the
county engineer to guarantee that a proposed building site has an
adequate and safe water supply. Tom Hickman said at the May board
meeting he only recently became aware of the provision, and
consequently he has not followed it.
A committee chaired
by Phil Mahler, director of the Regional Planning Commission, is
currently working on a revision of the county zoning ordinance.
![](../images/ads/house/kevinjones.gif)
Lincoln city news
A lawsuit has
been filed in federal court against the city of Lincoln for alleged
violations of the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with
Disabilities Act. Plaintiffs in the suit, filed May 2 in U.S.
District Court in Springfield, are Community Services Foundation,
Inc., and Charleston Transitional Facility, Inc. Charleston
Transitional Facility develops and operates Community Integrated
Living Arrangements, or CILAs — group homes designed for up to eight
people with developmental disabilities. The suit stems from a
request by David Krchak, an attorney for Charleston Transitional
Facilities, that the city change its zoning on a lot in Stonebridge
purchased by the Charleston firm so that firm can build a CILA
there. The firm applied for a building permit on April 4 and on
April 17 received a denial of the permit because the city's zoning
code does not permit that use in areas zoned R-1.
The city council
voted to approve a change in the hours liquor can be served on
Sundays, moving the time from 1 p.m. to 11 a.m. Liquor license
holders had petitioned for the earlier Sunday hours last year when
the ordinance committee was discussing changes in the city's liquor
code. According to license holder Sean Taylor of Logan Lanes, sports
fans who come to watch televised events want to buy liquor before 1
p.m., and restaurants that serve brunch want to be able to serve
wine. Alderman Benny Huskins voted against the change, and the other
six aldermen present, Steve Fuhrer, Dave Armbrust, Pat Madigan, Verl
Prather, George Mitchell and Bill Melton, voted for it. Alderman
Glenn Shelton, who was not present, objected to the earlier hours at
a previous meeting.
In spite of its newly
instituted hiring freeze, the city council also voted 8-2 to hire a
new police officer to replace Chris Carmichael, who will leave the
department to join the state police. Carmichael has represented the
Lincoln Police Department on a six-county drug task force.
Carmichael is the second officer to leave the force this year. The
other officer will not be replaced.
School news
The mid-June
rainstorms caused considerable damage at Lincoln Community High
School because the construction firm that was in the process of
repairing the 50-year-old roof did not seal the roof to make it
watertight, according to Superintendent Fred Plese. Fortunately the
leads occurred during the daytime, when people were in the building,
and the custodians were able to catch the water and prevent major
damage. Crews worked two days and nights catching the water, and
supplies and furniture in most rooms were not damaged.
The target date for
opening the new 47,000-square-foot Central School has been moved
from Jan. 1 of 2003 to at least March. Construction has been slowed
because of the need to cut costs on the approximately $6 million
building. The District 27 board voted in a slightly stricter dress
code for junior high students, which will ban sagging pants with
legs dragging on the ground for safety reasons and will require that
shirts be long enough to cover the waistband. They also approved
somewhat stricter rules for participation in extracurricular
activities, especially athletics.
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Other June news
The Salvation Army
of Lincoln and Logan County kicked off a capital building
program for a transitional housing shelter at 307 N. Kickapoo St.
There is no homeless or emergency shelter anywhere in Logan
County, and the need just keeps growing, officials said.
Former Railer Jon
Barton distinguished himself and Lincoln by graduating from West
Point on Saturday and shaking hands with the president.
At the Healthy
Communities Partnership's semiannual report to the community June
20, Dick and Marsha Logan donated $2,287 to the Alcohol, Tobacco and
Other Drug Task Force of HCP in memory of their son. The money came
from donations given in memory of 16-year-old Daniel Joseph Logan, a
junior at Lincoln Community High School, who died March 30 this year
in a single-vehicle accident.
The travel magazine
Illinois Now! selected the Lincoln College Museum as one of the 10
best Lincoln-related sites in Illinois. Curator Ron Keller said that
photos and descriptions of the sites would appear in the fall issue
of the magazine. "We're pretty excited about it," Keller told
Wednesday night's meeting of Looking for Lincoln. "When you think of
how many Lincoln-related sites there are in Illinois, this is really
a great honor."
June 23 was the first
of six special Sundays for the "Yesterday's Tomorrows" Smithsonian
exhibits in Middletown, co-sponsored by the Knapp/Chesnut/Becker
Historical Society and the Illinois Humanities Council. Middletown
was one of the six sites in Illinois to receive the exhibits. The
day also marked the official opening of the Knapp Library/Museum,
101 S. Clinton in Middletown.
On June 30 Franz
Express and Coffee with Einstein celebrated their new location in
the historic Lauer building at 201 S. Sangamon St. with a
ribbon-cutting and congratulations to owners Kevin and Karin Franz.
Photographer Adam May of AMP Studios also celebrated the opening of
his business in the historic building, restored by Bassi
Construction.
An online service to
simplify and speed up the retrieval of data for residential,
agricultural, industrial and commercial properties was unveiled June
12 by Logan County Treasurer Mary Burns, County Clerk and Recorder
Sally Litterly, and Supervisor of Assessments Rosanne Brosamer. The
system will allow real-estate agents, appraisers, banks, title
companies, taxpayers and other interested parties to access Logan
County's tax information via the Internet.
State police are investigating an
accident that took the life of a well-known Lincoln resident,
businessman and family man, 34-year-old Andrew Pettijohn. Pettijohn
was traveling east on Route 136 just east of east of Interstate 55
when a westbound car crossed into his lane. The 15-year-old
unlicensed driver had lost control of her car when the right front
tire left the roadway, and she overcompensated to the left,
colliding with the right front of Pettijohn's car. Pettijohn was
declared dead at the scene at 5:21 p.m. June 14.
[Joan Crabb]
|
Making your vehicle winter ready
During the winter
your vehicle should be in top condition because if it stalls when
you are on the road, you could become involved in a life-threatening
situation. To minimize the possibility of a breakdown, winterize
your vehicle following the suggested maintenance schedule included
in the owners manual or have your vehicle serviced by a reputable
dealer, garage or mechanic.
Because winter is so rough on equipment, you should regularly check
the wipers, tires, lights and fluid levels (radiator, windshield
washer, power steering, oil and brakes). Make sure the brakes and
transmission are working properly. If you suspect trouble, check it
out. It is better to be safe than sorry!
Survival kit
Your vehicle
should be equipped with a winter emergency survival kit. The
following items are recommended:
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Pre-trip planning
During a winter storm
the very first question you must ask yourself should be: "Is this
trip really necessary?"
If you decide the
trip cannot be delayed, check on weather conditions along your
travel route. This will give you an idea of what to expect, and you
will be able to prepare accordingly. Listen to weather forecasts on
TV, local radio stations or NOAA Weather Radio.
Current road
condition reports are available for Illinois' interstate and freeway
systems by calling 1 (800) 452-IDOT. Information is updated every
two hours during a storm. You can also get this information at
www.dot.state.il.us and at computer monitors located at
interstate highway rest areas.
Tell someone at home,
a friend or a co-worker that you are taking a trip, where you are
going and when you expect to get there. When you reach your
destination make a phone call to report that you have arrived.
If your trip will be
in unfamiliar area, plan to travel during daylight hours and carry
up-to-date maps of the areas where you'll be traveling. Consider
alternate routes. Make sure you have proper personal identification,
registration and insurance information for your vehicle.
Before you leave
town, fill your gas tank. While you are traveling, frequently refill
the gas tank. The stops will relieve tense muscles. When you stop,
don't flaunt large amounts of cash. Keep valuable items out of
sight. Avoid talking with strangers. Stop at well-lighted,
well-traveled facilities.
Vehicle operation
Winter driving is
often the most difficult due to blowing snow, icy slick spots and
fewer daylight hours. When you are on the road:
Buckle those seat
belts! (It's the law)
Be prepared to turn
back or seek refuge if conditions become threatening.
In RAIN, drive with
your headlights on dim.
In FOG, drive with
your headlights on dim, or use fog lights.
If the fog is too
dense, pull off the roadway and stop. Do not drive at less than 10
miles per hour.
In RAIN, FOG, SNOW or
SLEET, do not overdrive your headlights.
Stay within the
limits of your vision.
Keep your windows
clear of snow and ice. Do not start until your windshield is
defrosted.
Drive slower and
increase your following distance. Your speed should be adjusted for
the conditions and match the flow of traffic.
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Roadway conditions
may vary depending on the sun, shade or roadway surface. Watch for
slick spots, especially under bridges, on overpasses and in shaded
spots. Be prepared to react physically and mentally.
If the pavement is
snow- or ice-covered, start slowly and brake gently. Begin braking
early when you come to an intersection.
If you start to
slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes. Steer into the direction of
the skid until you feel you have regained traction; then straighten
your vehicle.
When you approach a
snowplow from behind, pass with care and only when you can see the
road ahead of the plow. You should not try to pass in blowing snow.
There may be a vehicle in that cloud of snow! Allow more distance
between you and the plow, which may be spreading salt.
Be alert when you
approach a cloud of snow which covers the road, especially on
passing lanes of interstates or freeways. Slow down and approach
with caution. A snowplow may be at work clearing the lane or
preparing to turn around.
Be careful after a
minor rear-end accident. If you are bumped from behind and you do
not feel comfortable exiting your vehicle, motion to the other
driver and drive to the nearest police station, 24-hour store,
service station, hospital or fire station.
Stranded
If your vehicle
breaks down, pull as far off the road as possible. Your greatest
personal danger at this point is that of being hit by passing
vehicles. Don't panic. Common sense could be critical to survival.
Do not overexert yourself, especially when shoveling snow or pushing
a stalled vehicle. This physical activity may be more strenuous than
your body can tolerate.
You'll have to use
your best judgment to determine whether or not you should leave your
vehicle and walk for help or wait to be rescued. Stand outside for a
few moments to consider how cold it really is before you start to
walk for help. When the temperature is 20 degrees and the wind is
blowing 30 miles per hour the wind chill "feels like" the
temperature is 18 degrees BELOW zero. You could suffer severe
complications from exposure after walking a short distance for help.
Stay in your vehicle if you are not dressed for extremely cold
weather.
If you are stranded
in a sparsely populated area, it may be a while before help arrives.
Stay in your vehicle. When you feel cold, move around in the vehicle
as much as possible, clap your hands, shake your legs and stomp your
feet. Exercise will help maintain body heat and will relieve tense
muscles. Sit close together and cover up with blankets or extra
clothing to conserve body heat. Do not permit all occupants of the
vehicle to sleep at once.
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Melt snow for
drinking water. If you eat snow, your body will be even colder.
If the engine will
start, run it and the heater only for short time periods. Partially
open a downwind window to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Make
sure the exhaust pipe is free of obstructions and the windows are
not sealed by snow or ice.
If you are stranded
on a well-traveled road, wait for assistance from police or other
emergency service providers. Resist the temptation to accept
assistance from a stranger. Raise the hood, turn on the dome light
and flashers to make your vehicle more noticeable, and attach a
cloth to the antenna or window indicating you need help.
Car telephone owners
who see stranded motorists can do them a favor by calling and
reporting the exact location and description of the vehicle. Mobile
amateur radio operators and CBers can help by relaying messages to
base stations, which in turn will call the police.
Back home
When you return home
from a long trip, wash your vehicle to remove dirt and road salt. A
coat of wax could help protect the finish from the effects of salt.
Lubricate door and trunk locks with lock lubricant to prevent them
from freezing.
We hope these tips will help make your
trip safe and enjoyable.
[Illinois
Department of Transportation] |