The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Soy Targets Additional Markets

URBANA -- Soy foods aren't just about a burger for lunch and barbecue soy nuts at snack time anymore. Soy sausage now stars at breakfast and tofu along with textured soybean protein plays a major role in cutting carbohydrates, according to the Illinois Center for Soy Foods.

Here's a Little Good News On Income Tax Return Day

For all you procrastinators out there, today is the ultimate day of dread: April 15, the day taxes are due, the day you must file a tax return -- or at least a request for an extension. Even for those who have long since filed and perhaps even received a refund, April 15 is no cause for celebration. It is a reminder of all the money we send to Washington, D.C., and Springfield for someone else to spend.

Nation in Desperate Need of Change

I think it's time we should acknowledge our country is in great danger -- considering the fact our President Bush knew the terrorists were going to enter the United States and he did nothing about it and told no one about it. And also our nation lies in great financial and economic hardship -- debt. Our president only cares about his own neck and all the money he can make from our taxes and especially he loves those tax cuts he gives himself.

Editorial Misses Point of Homeless Series

Thank you for the recently completed series on local people experiencing homelessness. It was well done and informative; vividly portraying that human distress has spiritual, sociological and economic components. I was surprised that you seemed not to consider any of this in the editorial of March 28 addressing the "living wage" proposed by the Central Illinois Organizing Project.

If 18-Year-Olds Can Go to War, Let Them Buy Guns

Let me begin by saying I am 87 years old, so I have seen many changes in this country. In regard to the editorial on April 7 regarding the law to allow 18 year olds to secure an FOID (Firearm Owners Identification) card and buy and own a firearm: Our national leaders do not hesitate to send these same 18-year-olds to fight and die in defense of this country. Do you think these same young people do not have a right to buy and own a firearm?

Seconds

A fresh look at a restaurant we highlighted a year ago. Panera

Weekly Wine

Bridgeview 2003 Oregon Riesling As the weather warms and people think of eating outside, Bridgeview 2003 Oregon Riesling -- about $8 a bottle -- is a great sipping wine. Bridgeview's trademark wine, in its blue bottle, is quite tart, tangy and lemony. It jams the fruit and acid together in a luscious, food-friendly style. Bridgeview is Oregon's largest Riesling producer and could sell more if they had more.

2 Area Soldiers Hurt in Iraq ; Bloomington Man's Injuries Very Serious

BLOOMINGTON -- Two soldiers from McLean County serving in Iraq have been injured, one seriously. Capt. Troy V. O'Donley, 33, of Bloomington remains on a ventilator and has two broken legs, his mother, Carol O'Donley, said Wednesday. Doctors at Landstuhl Army Hospital in Germany have been unable to stabilize him enough to operate, she said.

Reservist Eager to Return to Unit

SAYBROOK -- Saybrook native Spc. Shawn Kirkpatrick of the U.S. Army Reserve wants to return to his platoon as soon as he recovers from wounds suffered in combat last week in Iraq. "I want to go back. I want to be with my unit," Kirkpatrick, 26, said during a phone interview Wednesday from Washington, D.C., where he's undergoing treatment.

Hamm Seeks Second Lawyer ; Change of Venue Also Requested

CLINTON -- The attorney for murder suspect Amanda Hamm asked the court on Wednesday to appoint a second defense lawyer and to move her trial away from DeWitt County. DeWitt County Circuit Judge Stephen Peters did not rule on either of attorney Steve Skelton's requests Wednesday. A hearing on May 21 will deal with those motions and possibly determine Hamm's trial date.

Unit 5 President Says He May Have Erred ; Lack of Input On Freeman Vote the Question

NORMAL -- Unit 5 school board President Rick Percy believes he may have been wrong in not allowing public comment at a controversial meeting last month, but he said action taken at the meeting is valid. "It appears I probably erred in being too cautious in trying to protect the confidentiality of an individual," Percy said Wednesday night after the board's regular meeting.

No-Confidence Resolution Presented to District 87 ; Demotion of Administrator Still a Hot Issue

BLOOMINGTON -- The controversy surrounding District 87's elimination of the job held by the district's highest-ranking minority administrator continued at Wednesday's school board meeting. Superintendent Bob Nielsen and District 87 school board members listened as details of a resolution of "no-confidence" against them were read during the meeting.

El Paso Annexation Vote Scheduled for April 29

El PASO -- El Paso is poised to grow by 27 acres. The El Paso City Council is expected to vote April 29 on a final plat to annex 27 acres north of the existing Kaufman subdivision between Pine and Adams streets. The council approved the preliminary final plat this week.

Flick Fact

Question There's a lot of road kill along Central Illinois roads. But what happens to it after it gets removed from the roads?

Scholar-Athletes to Be Honored

Five high schools are represented by male and female scholar- athletes on this year's team, a first in the 10-year history of the event that recognizes senior athletes who have excelled in athletics and academics during their four-year careers. The 20 seniors from the 46 high schools in The Pantagraph's circulation area will be honored April 25 during a banquet at The Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington.

Isu Left Without Foster, Batista

NORMAL -- It was a somewhat frustrating day for Illinois State's basketball coaching staff Wednesday. Top potential recruit J.P. Batista informed the staff he was choosing Gonzaga over ISU, while reports are point guard recruit Je'Kel Foster is leaning toward Ohio State.

A Real Marathon Man ; Vance Runs Past Injuries to Boston Marathon Berth

A year after Josh Vance almost quit, his running career started to click. Now the 24-year-old Normal Community High School graduate is hoping his injury plagued career reaches new heights in Monday's Boston Marathon, where he wants to lower his best time of 2 hours, 39 minutes, 54 seconds to something under 2:35:00.

Kelley Sends Nchs to Win Over U High

Illinois State recruit Mike Kelley made himself comfortable at his future home Wednesday, firing a three-hitter to lead the Normal Community High School baseball team to a 6-0 win over University High at Redbird Field. NCHS backed Kelley with an 11-hit attack and improved its record to 6-3. U High dropped to 10-5-1.

Tri-Valley Turns Back Central Catholic Rally

The Tri-Valley High School softball team jumped out to a 6-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings Wednesday and held off a late Central Catholic rally en route to a 6-4 nonconference win at O'Neil Park in Bloomington. Tri-Valley, which scored three runs in the first and second innings, improved to 8-6. Central Catholic (2-7) rallied with two runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Crowd Pleasers

Baseball Chris Smock had four hits, including two triples, and drove in five runs to lead Ridgeview past Flanagan 15-5.