The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL back issues from December 2003:
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Kathryn Underkoffler BLOOMINGTON -- Kathryn J. Underkoffler, 75, of 1407 Windham HillRoad, Bloomington, died at 5:57 a.m. Sunday (Nov. 30, 2003) atBroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal. A private family service will be held. Burial will be in East LawnMemorial Gardens. East ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Trevis Jay Olsen HUDSON -- Trevis Jay "T.J." Olsen, 26, of 501 Marion St., Hudson,died at 9:35 a.m ....
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... C. Turner Stanger BLOOMINGTON -- C. Turner Stanger, 81, of 905 Mayflower Ave.,Bloomington, died at 4:40 a.m. Saturday ...
Eight more students named in annual scholarship contest
Dec 01, 2003; ... BLOOMINGTON -- The annual Student of the Year college scholarshipcompetition has nominated eight students in its fifth week. The program, sponsored by The Pantagraph, includes 36 CentralIllinois high schools. Each school will nominate candidates whoseprofiles will appear in The ...
AARP's interest in older residents eroding
Dec 01, 2003 ... I became a member of AARP in 1996 and receive their bulletins andmagazines. I took their advice as per buying homeowner and carinsurance. The insurance was good and at a good price. About two years ago, things began to change. I didn't notice itmuch at first, but this year, ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Judith M. Mills CLINTON -- Judith M. Mills, 51, of Clinton died at 4 p.m. Sunday(Nov. 30, 2003) ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... John J. Voytko STREATOR -- John J. Voytko, 81, of 1504 E. Hickory St., Streator,died at 3:02 a.m. Sunday (Nov. 30, 2003) at Ottawa CommunityHospital, Ottawa. Service: noon Wednedsay at Hagi Funeral Home, Streator. Burial: St. Stephen's Cemetery, ...
Program assists victims of rape
Dec 01, 2003; ... Last year, Pam Repyak discovered through therapy that she wasraped more than 20 years ago. She decided to deal with the trauma byhelping other sexual assault victims cope with their experiences. Repyak is a volunteer for Stepping Stones, a Twin City sexualassault response and ...
Purpose behind FOI Act thwarted by long delays
Dec 01, 2003 ... Federal agencies have 20 working days to respond to writtenrequests for documents under the Freedom of Information Act. Underunusual circumstances, a 10-day extension is allowed. So why are some people still waiting for information theyrequested years ago? Some requests date ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Kandy Ann Frye LINCOLN -- Kandy Ann Frye, 37, of Lincoln died at 5:39 p.m.Saturday (Nov. 29, 2003) at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Fricke-Calvert-SchraderFuneral Home, Lincoln, Tom Gerdts officiating. Burial: at a later ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Elmer C. Blessing EUREKA -- Elmer C. Blessing, 94, of Eureka died at 3:15 p.m.Friday (Nov. 28, 2003) at Maple Lawn Nursing Home, Eureka. Service: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Woolsey Funeral Home, Glasford, ...
Eureka College men win in OT
Dec 01, 2003; ... MEQUON, Wis. -- The Eureka College men's basketball rallied inovertime to knock off Lake Forest 75-71 on Sunday in the consolationgame of the Midwest Challenge Tournament. Eureka College (3-2) led 30-25 at halftime before Lake ...
State Farm given high marks for collision repair
Dec 01, 2003; ... State Farm Insurance Cos. placed first in a new consumersatisfaction study of insurance carriers just released by J.D. Powerand Associates. The J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Collision Repair SatisfactionIndex Study measures customer satisfaction with insurance carrierswhen ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Mary Swanstrom MORTON -- Mary M. Swanstrom, 84, of 935 E. Jefferson St., Morton,formerly of Pequot Lakes, Minn., died at ...
Get involved, help stop school tax hike
Dec 01, 2003 ... Do you want Unit 140 taxes increased by 9 percent? If you do wantto pay more in taxes, do nothing, do not even read the remainder ofthis letter. If you do not want to pay more taxes, call your Unit 140 boardmember and attend the "Truth in Taxation" meeting Monday, Dec. 8 at 7p.m ....
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Ethel Lee DWIGHT -- Ethel Marshall Lee, 85, a resident of Heritage Manor,Dwight, died at 4:20 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 29, 2003) at Heritage Manor. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hager Memorial Home,Dwight, the Rev. Brian Wood officiating. Burial will be in RoundGrove ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Milan E. Folkers MINONK -- Milan E. Folkers, 86, of 924 West Fourth St., Minonk,died at 5 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 29, 2003) at his residence. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Calvert & FroelichMemorial Home Minonk Chapel, the Rev. Connie Jenkins officiating.Burial will ...
Olympia tips Dunlap
Dec 01, 2003; ... Olympia High School's Phil Kieser had a game-high 21 points as theSpartans knocked off Dunlap, 57-44, Saturday night in the OlympiaThanksgiving Tournament at Stanford. Olympia led 12-10 after one quarter and 30-22 at the half beforeDunlap cut the deficit to 42-36 heading to the ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Arlane Reed STREATOR -- Arlane Reed, 69, of 1603 E. 23rd, Streator, died at1:55 p.m ....
ISU women fall to W. Michigan
Dec 01, 2003; ... NORMAL -- No one expected the Illinois State women's basketballteam to turn things around overnight despite an encouraging season-opening victory. The challenge became painfully obvious Sunday at Redbird Arenaagainst a physical Western Michigan squad which put on a ...
Griffin's anti-gang work warrants a vote
Dec 01, 2003 ... Having watched the effects of gangs and drugs on our community,there has been a familiar face working toward community resolutionsto the problems -- Teena Griffin. Through her trial and investigative ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Dutch Bockler METAMORA -- Willard "Dutch" Bockler, 80, of 120 N. Davenport,formerly of 320 W. Partridge St., Metamora, died at 1:10 p.m.Saturday (Nov. 29, 2003) at Snyder Village, Metamora. Service: Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's CatholicChurch, the Rev. John ...
Picking Up the Pace
Dec 01, 2003; ... NORMAL -- Twelve-hour days. A different sort of homework. Littletime with family and virtually no social life. Such is the life of a first-year teacher. But that life also includes plenty of joys, said AngelicaDelatorre-Im, who is a first-year teacher at Kingsley Junior ...
Chicago trims Titans
Dec 01, 2003; ... BLOOMINGTON -- A one-point halftime lead slipped away as theIllinois Wesleyan women's basketball team fell to the University ofChicago 83-77 Sunday at Shirk Center. The Titans (2-2) led 44-43 at the break, but were outscored 40-33in the second half. "This loss occurred ...
We need education about state's budget
Dec 01, 2003 ... Are you "buying into" Illinois' so-called budget crisis? Would you even know truth if you chanced upon it? Truth isstranger than fiction. Consider these interesting public records: Illinois' budget for fiscal year ending 1998 was approximately ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Franklin D. Partridge STREATOR -- Franklin D. Partridge, 70, of 1605 N. Shabbona St.,Streator, died at 5:15 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 29, 2003) at 5:15 p.m. atO.S.F St. Anthony's Medical Center, Rockford. Service: 1 p.m. Tuesday at Elias Funeral Home, Streator, ...
State to help transit center
Dec 01, 2003; ... SPRINGFIELD -- State officials will commit up to $1.3 million infunding to help Normal build its $31.2 million downtowntransportation center. A formal announcement is expected Wednesday, when Gov. RodBlagojevich visits Peoria to outline an economic stimulus plan for 10counties in ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Kari Johnson BLOOMINGTON -- Kari A. Johnson, 38, of 17 Drake Court,Bloomington, died at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 25, 2003) at St. Mary'sMedical Center, Rochester, Minn. An informal celebration of life service will be at 7 p.m. Tuesdayat Wesley United Methodist Church, ...
Ridgeview may consider raising property taxes
Dec 01, 2003; ... COLFAX -- The Ridgeview school board has been asked to considerraising the property tax levy by about 15 percent, but the wholeincrease may not be necessary if the district issues bonds. In addition to recommending a levy, the school board's financecommittee also discussed a ...
'Of Mice and Men' not much of a book
Dec 01, 2003 ... Since Bill Linneman is apparently "taking a walk" on the currentbook-banning controversy over John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," Ifeel compelled to take a side. The first question is obviously critical. Is it a book? Does 105pages constitute a book? David McCullough apparently ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Erroll L. Maggard LODA -- Erroll L. Maggard, 82, of rural Loda died at 8:15 a.m.Sunday (Nov. 30, 2003) at his home. Service: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ford-Baier Funeral Home, Paxton,Steven D. Bonk officiating. Burial: Maplewood Cemetery, Rantoul, with military ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Virginia B. Jenkins BLOOMINGTON -- Virginia B. Jenkins, 95, of Lakewood, Colo.,formerly of 2025 E. Lincoln St., Bloomington, died at 10:15 ...
Heads of the class
Dec 01, 2003; ... The 16th annual Pantagraph All-Area volleyball team isn't like itspredecessors. Instead of separate six-player Class A and AA teams, this year'sfirst team is a single-class, 12-player unit, which coincidentallyincludes six Class A players and six AA. The squad, made up of at ...
Ring in the season: Bell choirs more than music
Dec 01, 2003; ... FARMER CITY -- There's more to being in a bell choir than ringingbells, said a church's music coordinator. "There's a lot of technique involved. ... It's not asstraightforward as it sounds," said Marilyn Hirschman of Farmer City,the music coordinator and bell choir director at ...
Flick Fact
Dec 01, 2003 ... Question State Farm Insurance's weekly in-house newspaper for employees --it's called the Alfi -- is one of the county's most widely ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Eloise Claire Enata BLOOMINGTON -- Eloise Claire Enata, 80, of Champaign, mother of aBloomington man, died at 12:40 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 29, 2003) ...
Sculptor: Call me a welder, not an artist
Dec 01, 2003; ... STREATOR -- Don Noon of Streator was brought up believing that theonly way a person can be involved in the fine arts is also to have a"real" job. His art work is readily visible to those traveling down Streator'sMain Street. His 10-foot-tall "War Dance" stands where some ...
Health Digest
Dec 01, 2003 ... AWARDS Rehab worker cited PEORIA -- Becky Gregory of Washington has been named outpatientrehab employee of the year at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center here. Gregory has been with Saint Francis for 10 years and wasrecognized for her work in rehabilitation services and ...
Many hope that Donewald will appear at event
Dec 01, 2003; ... Of all the letters I received concerning a recent column in whichI wrote that I doubted that former coach Bob Donewald would returnfor a planned Jan. 31 reunion at Illinois State, none was moreeloquent than the one written by Jeff Harris. The Illinois State University Redbird Club, ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Norma Boitnott BLOOMINGTON -- Norma Gibson Boitnott, 83, of Bloomington passedaway at 4:05 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 29, 2003) at her residence. She was born Sept. 5, 1920, in Bonnieville, Ky., the daughter ofThomas and Stella Hodges Gibson. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 ...
'We are proud' Second-place Hawks look back on first-rate season
Dec 01, 2003; ... FAIRBURY -- The only way a person could tell the Prairie Centralfootball team came in second was by the trophy. The fans, coaches and even the players celebrated the state Class4A second place finish like champions. The team was welcomed with a standing ovation Sunday at ...
DEATHS
Dec 01, 2003 ... Alice M. Hilliard MORTON -- Alice M. Hilliard, 89, of East Peoria, relative ofMorton residents, died at 2 p.m. Nov. 23, 2003, at ApostolicChristian Home, Eureka. Service and visitation were ...
Effort a positive for ISU in loss
Dec 01, 2003; ... LOGAN, Utah -- Porter Moser found himself in a tough pickleSaturday night following Illinois State's 89-84 nonconferencebasketball loss to Utah State at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Moser was disappointed with his team's second straight loss, butwas still pleased with its effort in ...
Secretary of state liaisons take taxpayers for a ride
Dec 01, 2003 ... The questionable billing practices and responsibilities of theIllinois secretary of state's business liaisons are another exampleof why taxpayers are convinced there is still fat to be cut in thestate's budget. The liaisons are paid by the hour to reach out to the ...
Flick Fact
Dec 02, 2003 ... Question In 1929, an ordinance was passed in Bloomington, making it a lawthat all cars in the city have what? (a) a heater; (b) headlights;(c) rear-view mirrors; (d) brakes that ...
Arts in Brief
Dec 02, 2003 ... THEATER Greek tragedy NORMAL - The classic Greek tragedy, "Electra," will be staged asa master of fine arts production in Illinois State University's AllenStudio Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and at 2 p.m.Saturday. All seats are $9. Reservations are ...
DEATHS
Dec 02, 2003 ... Marie E. Kauth STREATOR -- Marie E. Kauth, 81, of 802 S. OtterCreek St., Streator, died at 11:58 a.m. Monday ...
A championship season
Dec 02, 2003 ... Congratulations to the Iroquois West Raiders and coach R.J. Haineson their state title in football. They defeated top-ranked CarthageFriday in an upset victory for the Class 2A state championship. A tip of the helmet also goes to three state runners-up from ...
IWU JV games put on hold
Dec 02, 2003; ... BLOOMINGTON -- Illinois Wesleyan's long-standing tradition ofplaying junior varsity games before its men's varsity contests willtake a temporary hiatus this season. The Titans will not play junior varsity games in December and maynot play any the entire season. "Due to the ...
DEATHS
Dec 02, 2003 ... C. Turner Stanger BLOOMINGTON -- The memorial service for C. Turner Stanger, 81, of905 Mayflower Ave., Bloomington, will be at 11 a.m. Friday atMorningstar United Methodist Church, Normal, the Rev. Steve Hartmanand the Rev. Roger Grimmett officiating. There will be no ...
Ridgeview knocks off Chenoa in Midstate Conference opener
Dec 02, 2003; ... Ridgeview High School girls basketball team's offense proved to betoo much for host Chenoa to handle in a 95-25 Midstate Conferencevictory Monday. Ali Fairchild scored 31 points to pace the Mustangs (5-1), whotook a 30-6 first quarter lead and never looked back. Kayla Weier ...
Ethanol was knocked out by liability over MTBE
Dec 02, 2003 ... Midwest corn and soybean farmers have lost again to the oilindustry and its money and power in the nation's capital. An energy bill that would have required doubling the use of grain-based ethanol within 10 years made it through the House but wasdefeated in the Senate. The defeat ...
Daily briefing
Dec 02, 2003 ... STATE McDonald's consolidates worldwide media buying OAK BROOK --McDonald's Corp. plans to have OMD Worldwide, a division of OmnicomGroup Inc., handle all of its advertising strategy in an effort tocut costs and improve long-term planning. A company representative wasn't available ...
Park district official faces theft charge
Dec 02, 2003; ... LINCOLN -- A preliminary hearing is set for today for a LincolnPark District member accused of taking money from a youth footballprogram. Gregory Curry, 50, of Lincoln is charged with theft of more than$300 from the Lincoln Youth Football League. Authorities said as muchas $5,000 ...
Let's delay arena vote and answer questions
Dec 02, 2003 ... The mayor and council members have worked hard to build an arena.Some of us, including me, didn't attend meetings and have questionsthat may have been answered. The Pantagraph probably gave us answers as well. Many of us havequestions and concerns such as: - How can we ...
Illini face challenge from Tar Heels
Dec 02, 2003; ... Illinois vs. North CarolinaWhen: 8 p.m. todayWhere: Greensboro,N.C.Records: Illinois 3-0; North Carolina 3-0Television: ESPNRadio:WTRX, 93.7 FM CHAMPAIGN -- On its trip to Philadelphia this pastweekend, the University of Illinois basketball team took a visualhistory lesson. The Illini ...
Twin City shoppers on target
Dec 02, 2003; ... BLOOMINGTON -- Twin City shoppers were in line with consumersacross the country during the Thanksgiving weekend: They werespending -- but they wanted bargains. "It was wonderful," said Jeff Tornow, store manager at Bergner'sin Bloomington's Eastland Mall. "They were definitely out ...
Lincoln deck reopens Parking downtown should be easier
Dec 02, 2003; ... BLOOMINGTON -- Phyllis Bruce walked briskly on Monday from hercourt clerk job in the McLean County Law and Justice Center towardher car three blocks away. "I didn't realize it (the Lincoln parking deck) was reopened,"said Bruce. So, on a cold and windy day, Bruce wore ...
DEATHS
Dec 02, 2003 ... Arlane J. Reed STREATOR -- Arlane J. Reed, 69, of Streator diedSunday (November 30, 2003) at her home. Funeral: 11 a.m. Thursday at Elias Funeral Home, Streator, withMonsignor John Prendergast of Immaculate Conception Churchofficiating. Burial: Riverview Cemetery, ...
The heart you save... Project assists Heart & Lung Foundation
Dec 02, 2003; ... BLOOMINGTON -- The Illinois Heart & Lung Foundation has put up aChristmas tree in Eastland Mall in the foundation's latest effort toreduce the number of deaths by sudden cardiac arrest. Foundation executive director Dave Selzer announced Monday a newprogram called Holiday ...
Bigger vehicle no answer in gas-guzzling world
Dec 02, 2003 ... In a recent Pantagraph column, "Shrinking the car size doesn'tcurb deaths," Charli Coon, Heritage Foundation analyst, accuses TheNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration of misleading thepublic. This governmental agency rates cars based on information fromfrontal, side and rollover ...
You name it -- these towns aren't Normal
Dec 02, 2003; ... Bill Flick has the day off but left behind this column, originallypublished in 1989. To his credit, when last he visited, Gerald Ford held off foralmost 19 hours, which is not that bad. Ronald Reagan could only wait 15 minutes back in 1980. Lee Iacocca went about an ...
Balanced attack carries Olympia
Dec 02, 2003; ... Four players scored in double digits for host Olympia en route toa 66-51 victory over LeRoy in an Olympia Thanksgiving Tournamentmakeup game at Stanford. Senior Tyler Thornton scored 12 points to lead the Spartans, whoheld a 27-19 lead at the half ....
$400,000 headed to Illinois State Governor to reveal projects Wednesday
Dec 02, 2003; ... SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois State University will receive more than$400,000 to replace a leaky roof on Fairchild Hall as part of Gov.Rod Blagojevich's plan to boost the Central Illinois economy. News of the additional state funding trickled out Monday asBlagojevich aides prepared for a ...
Tuggle named to Okaw Valley team in football
Dec 02, 2003; ... CLINTON -- Clinton High School's Sam Tuggle was named to the OkawValley Conference football first ...