The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Downtown Delight

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Blasted with flavor Pepperidge Farms' new "Flavor Blasted Goldfish" snacks come in four new flavors -- Nothin' But Nacho, Xtra Cheddar, Xplosive Pizza and Burstin' Barbecue. Available in 7-ounce foil packets, the new cracker snacks have 140 calories in a 51-goldfish cracker serving, no cholesterol and less than 1 gram of sugar. Find them at Tom's Parkway Food in Bloomington for $1.99.

A Woman's Touch ; All-Female Habitat Crew Learning While Building New Home

BLOOMINGTON -- Sandra Yeager adjusted her sunglasses, choked up on her hammer and tapped lightly to start a nail. Some half-dozen strong strokes later, the nail was in place. "I missed my calling, right?" she asked.

Accreditation Group Chooses Isu for Training

NORMAL -- When Illinois State University passed its teacher education accreditation examination last fall, the examiners were so impressed that they chose the university as its national training site. Training for the National Council for Accreditation for Teacher Education, taking place this week, brings 54 examiners to ISU from across the nation to undergo a "pretend" accreditation examination.

Deaths

Anna Ruth Diemer PONTIAC -- Anna Ruth Diemer, 85, of rural Pontiac died at 6:30 p.m. Monday (July 19, 2004) at Tjardes Health Care Center, Pontiac. Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Lutheran Church, Pontiac, with the Rev. William Shields and the Rev. Dieter Punt officiating. Burial will be in South Side Cemetery, Pontiac. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Harris-Martin-Burke Funeral Home, Pontiac. The family suggests memorials be made to the First Lutheran Church.

Deaths

Frank Richard Edwards MINIER -- Frank Richard Edwards, 29, formerly of Minier, lost his life in an automobile accident June 25, 2004, in Granville, Tenn. He was born Dec. 26, 1974, in Normal. He is survived by his mother, Wandella Edwards of Sebring, Fla.; his father, Richard Edwards of Quincy; his brother, Robert D. Hendricks of Minier; his sister, Julie D. Edwards and brother-in-law, Russell Lester of Granville, Tenn.; and his maternal grandmother, Virgie Denham of Minier.

Deaths

Gary E. Egbers BLOOMINGTON -- Gary E. Egbers, 54, of 38 Country Club Place, Bloomington, died Monday (July 19, 2004) in Wheeling, W.Va. His memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. The Rev. Ted Pierce and the Rev. Peggy Vogelsinger will officiate. There will be no visitation. Private family inurnment will be at a later date. Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements.

Deaths

Avis E. Hilfinger BLOOMINGTON -- Avis E. Hilfinger, 89, of 44 North Country Club Place, Bloomington, died at 8:22 a.m. Sunday (July 18, 2004) at her residence. A private family service will be at Funk's Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Avis Hilfinger Youth Scholarship Fund at Evergreen Racquet Club, Bloomington; Illinois Symphony Orchestra; the Illinois Shakespeare Society; or the Allerton Foundation at the University of Illinois, in her memory. Kibler-Smith Memorial Home, Bloomingto...

Deaths

Dr. Harold McGinnes BLOOMINGTON -- Harold Proctor McGinnes, M.D., 84, of 17419 Old Colonial Road, Bloomington, died at 12:01 a.m. June 29, 2004, at McLean County Nursing Home, Normal.

Dans' Five-Run Fourth Sends Stars to Defeat

NORMAL -- The Twin City Stars dropped a 7-2 decision to the Danville Dans in Central Illinois Collegiate League baseball action at Redbird Field Tuesday night. The league-leading Stars (20-10) couldn't overcome a five-run fourth inning by Danville (16-14).

Normal Names Museum Board

NORMAL -- The Children's Discovery Museum's transition from private ownership to town ownership has taken another step with the creation of a board to oversee fund raising and choose exhibits. The city council appointed five people to the board on Monday. Terms will begin Sept. 1 when the town officially takes over the museum.

Heartland Board Oks Sale of Bonds

NORMAL -- The Heartland Community College board authorized the sale of $6 million in bonds Tuesday. The funding bonds will be used to pay outstanding bills and fund campus technology purchases, including equipping the Workforce Development Center.

Grades May Move to Old Junior High

CLINTON -- The Clinton school district is considering using the old junior high school for third-, fourth- and fifth-graders, the superintendent said Tuesday night. In another matter, the school board approved a new pay schedule for substitute teachers who work in Clinton schools next year. The new system is expected to cut costs and enable the district to bring in retired teachers as substitutes.

Final Plane Victims Named

BLOOMINGTON -- The last two names of the five people killed in the plane crash near Wheeling, W.Va., were released by the Normal company that owned the aircraft. Brian Bastion, 32, of Normal piloted the Piper Saratoga owned by Commercial Packaging, said Rachel Bowling, a company spokeswoman.

Local Soldier Injured in Iraq ; Family to Attend Funeral for Man Killed in Accident

NORMAL -- Jerry and Marilyn Williams of Normal will attend a funeral in Chicago on Thursday for a young soldier they never met. His name is U.S. Army Cpl. Demetrius Rice, 24, who died in the same traffic accident in Iraq last week that severely injured their son, Tim.

Former Loda Woman Hurt in Iraq Attack

FORT RILEY, Kan. -- A former Loda woman is recuperating from injuries suffered in a mortar attack on the outskirts of Iraq's Baghdad International Airport. Spc. Shannon Edenburn Rochwitz, 23, was serving in an Army Reserve unit deployed from Fort Riley, Kan. She was one of 11 people injured in the June 30 attack on a supply depot.

Deaths

Charles Waldrop BLOOMINGTON -- Charles Andrew Waldrop, 92, of Hot Springs, Ark., father of three area residents, died Monday (July 19, 2004) at a Hot Springs hospital.

Reeser, Bloomington Gold Open with Win Over Pontiac

The Bloomington Gold American Legion baseball team opened the 17th District Tournament with a 4-1 victory over Pontiac at Horenberger Field in Bloomington Tuesday. Ben Reeser (4-0) came out on top in a pitchers' duel with Pontiac's Kyle Buchanan.

Flickfact

Question Can you name the simple summertime pursuit that 70 years ago was an arrestable offense in Bloomington-Normal? (a) cooking meat in public; (b) men and women swimming together; (c) going to the theater wearing only sandals on your feet?

Daily Digest

MCLEAN Entrants sought for cycle tour