The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Deaths

Rev. John F. O'Connor EL PASO -- Rev. John F. O'Connor, 83, of River Forest, and a pastor of St. Mary's Parish in El Paso, died at 1:30 p.m. Friday (Dec. 24, 2004) at his home.

Deaths

Eugene Petri MINONK -- Eugene I. Petri, 87, of 201 Locust St., Minonk, died at 2:05 a.m. Monday (Dec. 27, 2004) at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Minonk.

Council Approves Arena Budget

BLOOMINGTON -- The Bloomington City Council Monday unanimously approved a $739,000 pre-opening budget for the downtown arena now under construction. John Butler and Mike Nelson of Central Illinois Arena Management, who are contracted to handle sales and marketing for the $37 million arena, submitted the budget and will work under its financial terms for the coming 12 months. The pre-opening budget covers staffing and office expenses from January to December 2005 for the arena as preparations ...

Hunger Strike Law May Help Prisons

SPRINGFIELD -- On any given day, two or three of the state's more than 44,000 prison inmates is on a hunger strike. The impromptu protests can be about anything from the conditions of the prison to the length of their sentences.

Clinton Feeling Right at Home

CLINTON -- Staying home for the holiday tournament proved to be a good move for the Clinton High School boys basketball team on Monday. The Maroons opened the Clinton Holiday Tournament with a 55-34 win over Tri-Point in the second game of the day.

Ridgeview Survives High-Scoring Second Half

Ridgeview High School's basketball team withstood a 62-point second half by Macon Meridian to post an 88-78 victory Monday in a first-round Gold Pool game of the Sages Holiday Hoopla at Monticello. The Mustangs (6-1) led at halftime, 39-16, before a high-scoring second half saw Meridian (7-2) outscore Ridgeview 62-49, including 39-32 in the fourth quarter.

Disability Program Opening Learning Center

Mary Beth Taylor Learning Center What: Open house for new developmental training center for people with severe and profound disabilities and a reception to honor Taylor, for whom the building is named, for 30 years of service to people with disabilities.

Trial Date Set in Hit-and-Run in Which Police Officer Died

BLOOMINGTON -- A Feb. 7 trial date has been set for a man accused of trying to conceal evidence from a hit-and-run accident that killed a police officer on Interstate 55. The trial date was set for Jenry Hernandez, 28, of Waukegan during a brief hearing Monday in McLean County Circuit Court. He faces a felony count of obstruction of justice in the November crash that killed Patrick Barnard, a suburban Chicago police officer who'd stopped to help a stranded motorist.

Look at the Lights

School Considering Naming Gym After Basketball Star

Vance at U of I To commemorate the 100th year of basketball as a varsity sport this season, the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics unveiled its All-Century Team this fall. The 20-man team includes Gene Vance of Clinton.

Deaths

Richard E. Burgess PONTIAC -- Richard E. Burgess, 70, of Pontiac, died at 12:10 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 26, 2004) at OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.

Deaths

Kristi E. Fryman PEKIN -- Kristi E. Fryman, 26, of 1301 Koch Street, Pekin, died at 7:25 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 25, 2004) in Mackinaw Township, Tazewell County.

Deaths

George A. Ingraham PONTIAC -- George A. Ingraham, 94, a resident of ASTA Care Center, Pontiac, died at 6:18 a.m. on Sunday (Dec. 26, 2004) at ASTA Care Center.

Isu Building Open for Business ; Classes Set to Start in New Facility Jan. 18

College of Business Features:

Top Girls Teams in a Prevail

NORMAL -- The first round of the Girls Class A State Farm Holiday Classic went according to form Monday at Redbird Arena, with all of the higher seeds prevailing. Many of the favorites breezed, none easier than top-seeded defending champion Central Catholic High School which crushed 16th- seeded Stark County 56-27.

Purple Raiders Upend Tourney Host Pontiac

PONTIAC -- Bloomington High School's basketball team got what coach Ron Rose was expecting and worried about Monday in the opening round of the 74th annual Pontiac Holiday Tournament. Host team Pontiac used a patient offense and steady defense to keep the No. 2-seeded Purple Raiders at bay most of the night before falling 52-42 at Crowley Gymnasium.

Now at Last -- Resolutions You Can Even Keep

Editor's note: Bill Flick has the day off but left behind this column. His regular column returns later this week.

Deaths

Paul Scheets BLOOMINGTON - Philip Paul Scheets, 90, of Bloomington died at 6:15 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 25, 2004) at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

Deaths

Donald Rasmus LODA -- Donald G. Rasmus, 84, of Loda, died at 6:40 a.m. Monday (Dec. 27, 2004) at the Illinois Knights Templar Home, Paxton.

Deaths

Emil Tomevi Dorothy Tomevi CREVE COEUR -- Emil S. Tomevi, 88, and Dorothy O. Tomevi, 78, both of 208 Maywood Ave. in Creve Coeur, died as a result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Mr. Tomevi was pronounced dead at 8:46 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 25, 2004) at the accident scene in Normal. Mrs. Tomevi died at 11 a.m. Sunday (Dec. 26, 2004) at OSF Saint Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington .