New businesses         

Editor,

I just read of the great news that Lincoln has secured two new businesses. Jeff Mayfield is to be congratulated for an excellent job in "selling" Lincoln.

Now it is up to everyone who wants those stores and jobs to stay in Lincoln to support the new stores. Don't go out of town for goods and services when they can be obtained locally, and remember, sales taxes paid in Lincoln stay in Lincoln and benefit Lincoln.

Let's all hope this is just the tip of the iceberg!

Ed Stanfield Sr.
Glenn Brunk Stationers
511 Broadway
LINCOLN, IL

[posted 10-9-03]

Second charge surfaces regarding judge         

To the editor:

I refuse to become involved in the petty personal attacks by the people opposing my views regarding Logan County Judge Donald Behle's bartending duties. Remember, what is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular.

For the record, to this date, the count stands 27 callers and letters favoring my position and five letters opposing it and no callers.

Where there is smoke, there is usually fire. My first letter of complaint last week has now brought to my attention a second and much more serious charge, in my opinion, outlining alleged gross misconduct and unethical practices involving Logan County Judge Donald L. Behle. This complaint came by way of a phone call to me last weekend, from an unnamed city police officer, as a direct result of my previous letter of complaint to the letter box.

I will now provide you with the written requirements of the State Of Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board, an agency that oversees the conduct of judges, and they also provide the standards for all state and local judges.

Rule 62 - Canon 2: A judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge's activities.

Judicial misconduct is any violation of the prevailing standards of judicial conduct, which includes impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.

[to top of second column in this letter]

Sorry, but Logan County Judge Donald L. Behle working as a public bartender and serving beer to the public on the street in downtown Lincoln fails to meet this standard, in my opinion.

That issue, however, is minor when compared to the most recent complaint (see above) of alleged misconduct, in my opinion, regarding Judge Donald L. Behle's alleged involvement with one of the two litigants involved in our local divorce court both during and immediately after their divorce. This sad story had surfaced earlier by one of the callers to my organization, Citizens for Justice Inc., and was confirmed by the unsolicited call to me from a local police officer this past Saturday.

In spite of the letters of support for this local judge, the citizens of Logan County have a very low opinion of the law, lawyers and the courts in Logan County, in my opinion. Because I have received at least one complaint regarding these three agencies from local residents each week throughout the 15-year history of Citizens For Justice Inc.

By the way, if the public demands that the critics be silenced, then who will be available to speak out during their time of need or when their call for help comes? Remember what happened to the Jews in Europe during the war after they remained silent. Improving the courts is my only reason in bringing these two complaints to the public.

Les Van Bibber
"The Watchdog"
Lincoln

[posted 10-9-03]

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Response to Les Van Bibber's letter         

To the editor:

I can't even believe people have that much time on their hands to stick their nose where it doesn't go. The fact that a judge was participating in a community event right among the public speaks highly of the position. It shows interest in the community and, hey, maybe it was even fun.

People enjoy seeing people in office among them. Judge Behle hasn't forgotten that he is still a citizen of Lincoln. Maybe Mayor Beth Davis should step down because she sang a Joan Jett song at the karaoke tent at the festival downtown.

Get Real, Les! I think it's great when we see these officials out there right alongside of us. I don't think Judge Behle served underage drinkers, and, as was stated in other letters, there is no law against serving beer to someone who is of age. It was a special event. Get over it, Les, and find something else to do.

Malisa Rankin

[posted 10-9-03]

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Judge should be allowed a private life         

To the editor:

I would like to reply to Mr. Les Van Bibber's letter about the judge Donald L. Behle. I would like to ask: Why does Mr. Van Bibber take it upon himself to comment on other people's private lives?

This is a free country and, yes, you are entitled to your opinions. However, when they become detrimental to other people, then it's time to take a look at you. The old adage "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" I think might apply here. I wonder if your private life would like to be aired for all to scrutinize over. I think NOT.

Mr. Van Bibber, I think you should climb down off your soapbox and let people be! I agree with Jennifer Harris: Judge Donald L. Behle is a good judge doing a fine job, and he deserves to live his private life just like all the rest of us.

Bonnie Schulmeister

[posted 10-7-03]

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Judge can still uphold the law,
regardless of volunteer bartending activity         

To the editor:

This letter is in response to the one I just read that was written by Les Van Bibber.

First of all, why is it any of his business if Judge Behle was serving as a bartender on a WEEKEND, when he was not at his regular position as a judge? The last time I heard, there was no law against being a bartender! As long as it was not during the work week or work hours that he was to be on the bench, why does it matter to ANYONE what a person does with their personal time and private life??

Is it now against the law for a judge to have a personal life outside the courtroom?? As far as I am concerned, it is none of Les Van Bibber or anyone else's business what Judge Behle or any other judge does with their personal time. Maybe Mr. Van Bibber needs to realize that it is none of his concern what people do in their private lives.

[to top of second column in this letter]

Just because he [Behle] is a judge, doesn't mean he isn't a regular person, just like anyone else, once he leaves his courtroom. I personally think Judge Behle does a very! good job, is a great judge, and has not done anything wrong by volunteering his time as a bartender! Just because he did this does not change the fact that he has to uphold the law, and if someone he served beer to that weekend ends up in his courtroom on alcohol-related charges, IT WAS NOT JUDGE BEHLE'S FAULT just because he served that person a beer or two!!

GET REAL, Les!! Are we really becoming that petty that we have to butt into people's personal lives and try to cost them their career, just for having a little fun during their time off??

Judge Behle DEFINITELY DOES NOT deserve to lose his job for simply having a little fun and serving a few beers!!

Jennifer Harris

[posted 10-3-03]

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LCHS band and color guard working hard         

To the editor:

I was wondering why Lincoln Daily News doesn't do any articles about the Lincoln Community High School Marching Band?

What are you doing during the halftime show at the football games? Watching the BAND, of course. We are the entertainment during that time. This is what we have been doing at a glance:

The band (everyone, including flags and all percussion) has been coming to band at 7 o'clock in the morning, not to mention all of the after-school practices that the flags and percussion do.

We have been performing at all of the football games, and we will be starting Pep Band for the basketball team in the fall and winter months.

The band now has its own field, located in the church's softball field. This is the field that we practice on all of the time, unless the white lines don't get painted for us on a regular basis.

So I just wanted to say: Good luck to the band at the homecoming game (if we don't get rained out, that is) and at the competition next weekend at Olympia!

Go, band!

Jillian Kimberlin

[posted 10-3-03]