The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Lincoln Road Work On Hold

LINCOLN -- While lamenting the prospect of lost federal funds, Lincoln city officials have put a major street project on the back burner. The Lincoln City Council weighed its options recently to fund the renovation of Fifth Street. Mayor Beth Davis said the project would be tied to future developments but declined to give specifics.

Be Willing to Share Credit

"The way to get things done is not to mind who gets the credit for doing them." Those are the words of a 19th century British professor, Benjamin Jowett, but they could easily be applied to politics today. Whether one is looking at Springfield or Washington, D.C., it frequently seems that a major roadblock to getting things done is the battle between individuals or political parties to get the credit for the latest program, tax break or solution to the crisis of the day.

Deaths

Christopher Kent NORMAL -- Christopher Jackson Kent, 35, of Normal, formerly of Memphis, Tenn., died Sunday (May 30, 2004) at St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis.

Weak Twister Still Hit Hard Near Lincoln

LINCOLN --- It wasn't the tornado itself that smashed parts of a mobile-home park south of Lincoln Sunday evening, but the accompanying winds that came along for the ride. A F-0 tornado, sometimes called a "gale tornado" with wind speeds of 70 to 75 mph, struck a treeline at Morningside Trailer Park south of Lincoln off Primm Road Sunday evening, said Dan Fulscher, head of the Logan County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency.

Residents Still Reeling at Mobile-Home Park

LINCOLN -- Dorothy Crawford's mobile home collapsed when hit by 70-mph winds. "But ninety percent of my aunt's angels were not broken, and she had some china that made it," said her niece, Michelle Fletcher of Lincoln. "She was out at Bonanza -- she would not have made it (had she stayed home)," Fletcher said Monday night. "The Lord was watching over her." Her aunt's little white poodle died in the storm, and they buried it behind the demolished home.

Deaths

Emily C. Goldie Emily C. Goldie, 88, of Dwight, died at 5:15 a.m. Sunday (May 30, 2004) at Heritage Manor, Dwight.

Deaths

Merle Gene Goode MANSFIELD -- Merle Gene Goode, 74, of Mansfield died at 9:45 a.m. Sunday (May 30, 2004) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Deaths

James Hodgman DWIGHT -- James "Hodge" Hodgman, 75, of 118 E. Seminole, Dwight, died at 9 p.m. Sunday (May 30, 2004) at Joliet Hospice House.

Deaths

James Mounce STREATOR -- James "Jim-Shoe" Edward Mounce, 21, of Streator died at 12:47 a.m. Sunday (May 30, 2004) at Skaggs Community Health Center, Branson, Mo.

Deaths

William M. Noe EL PASO -- William M. Noe, 68, of Indianapolis, died at 2 a.m. Sunday (May 30, 2004) at Community Hospital North, Indianapolis.

Deaths

Emma B. Pavlick STREATOR -- Emma B. Pavlick, 96, formerly of 111 Ponderosa Drive, Streator, now residing at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Streator, died at 6:20 p.m. Saturday (May 30, 2004) at Heritage Manor.

Deaths

Marjorie Peasley HUDSON -- Marjorie Ann Peasley, Oct. 27, 1934 -- May 29, 2004, a loving wife, mother and friend, passed away in her sleep after seven months with cancer. For those whose life she touched with her grace, she will live forever in our hearts.

Deaths

John R. Rogers MAROA -- John R. Rogers, 68, of Maroa died at 7:08 a.m. Sunday (May 30, 2004) at his family residence in Maroa.

Deaths

Maxine A. Wilson PAXTON -- Maxine A. Kinney Wilson, 88, of Paxton died at 10:20 p.m. Sunday (May 31, 2004) at Heartland Health Care, Paxton, where she had been a resident for 3 1/2 years.

Deaths

Joyce P. Zapf LeROY -- Joyce P. Zapf, 80, of LeRoy passed away at 2:55 a.m. Monday (May 31, 2004) at ManorCare Health Services, Normal.

Deaths

Violet H. Espy BLOOMINGTON -- Violet H. Espy, 79, of 1309 Eastholme, Bloomington, died at 6:55 a.m. Monday (May 31, 2004) at her residence.

House Oks Education Bill

SPRINGFIELD -- The radically retooled version of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's education overhaul breezed through the House on Monday, but some lawmakers said the measure is little more than "window dressing." Strong supporters say the reform holds the governor accountable for the happenings in Illinois classrooms. But, it is a far cry from his original plan to replace the State Board of Education with a department directly under his control.

Draw Clear Line Between Pranks and Vandalism

The recent vandalism at Tri-Valley and Clinton high schools, unfortunately, were not isolated instances of so-called senior "pranks" gone awry. Similar incidents have happened across the nation, and there probably were others in Central Illinois that didn't gain the notoriety of the actions in Downs and Clinton.

Can Being Nice Pay Off?

If airline analysts are correct and Delta Air Lines' low-fare carrier, Song, does not gain much extra business by rewarding "nice" passengers with free tickets, so what. We still like Song's idea of having flight attendants give away a total of 5,000 round-trip tickets this month to passengers who help other people or stay positive in nasty situations.

Veterans Honored ; Ceremony, Parade Draw Area Residents

BLOOMINGTON -- Dark foreboding clouds and brisk winds didn't stop crowds from lining the Memorial Day Parade route Monday in Bloomington. More than 150 people moved to the Miller Park Bandstand after the 9 a.m. parade to hear veterans and community leaders reflect on the sacrifices Americans have made.