The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Deaths

Frances F. Fisher BUCKLEY -- Frances F. Fisher, 96, of Buckley died at 2:50 p.m. Wednesday (July 7, 2004) at ASTA Care Center, Paxton.

Camaraderie Lures Former Titan Star Back to Football

BLOOMINGTON -- Shawn Emerson didn't end his three-year retirement from football just because he loved the game. It took more than that for the former Illinois Wesleyan star receiver to suit up for the semi-pro Twin City Storm this summer.

Keeping Up to Speed ; Bloomington's Smith Driven to Stay Competitive in Late Model Competition

UMP Summernationals - When: Today

Dna Request in Murder Case Dropped ; 44-Year-Old Evidence Mishandled

OTTAWA -- In a surprise move Thursday, the lawyer for the man convicted of murdering a hiker in Starved Rock State Park 44 years ago withdrew her request for DNA testing, citing misuse of trial evidence over the years. Saying the evidence had been the subject of "show and tell" over the years, Donna Kelly of the state appellate defender's office dropped her request on behalf of Chester Weger, 65.

Iraq Advice Aims to Prolong 'Til Death Do Us Part'

All the rest of the news. What follows is our latest edition of News Is Stranger Than Fiction, a compilation of recent stories, gleaned from the wires and leading papers.

Affordable Housing Should Be Local Priority

The Bloomington City Council recently endorsed a compromise reached between Southwest-side Parkview residents and John Tornquist, builder/developer, by unanimously voting for the annexation, rezoning and preliminary planning for an affordable housing subdivision called Woodbury Estates. But it took two years of planning; eight meetings with resistant neighbors; countless work hours from city planning, development, engineering and management staffs; approval from the Planning and Zoning Commis...

Thanks to Those Who Support Tennis Clinic

On behalf of the Bloomington-Normal Tennis Association, I partner with HEROH Sports University to host a free tennis clinic for youths in the Bloomington-Normal area. Many of these youths would not have the opportunity to gain exposure to tennis without this clinic, due to their economic disadvantage. Heading into the third summer of hosting this clinic, the BNTA has been fortunate to receive donations from a variety of sources. This letter is in recognition and appreciation of those sources:

Homeowners Replant After Storm ; Large Storms Hit Area 1 Year Ago

NORMAL -- Anyone driving past Arthur and Dorene Montague's yard in Normal a year ago would have seen what appeared to be a disaster area -- about 22 downed trees, some from the neighbor's yard, some hanging on the telephone wires, all destroyed. It was a year ago this week that Bloomington-Normal was hit two nights in a row by a string of unusually damaging back-to-back storms -- the first accompanied by wind clocking in at up to 100 mph, the other by water drenching the Twin Cities. Almost 8...

Investigators: Pilot Error Caused Crash

PONTIAC -- Pilot error caused the airplane crash that killed two men last year near Pontiac, federal investigators said. The National Transportation Safety Board released a report last month that said a 1991 Air Tractor 503A crop duster crashed on May 5, 2003, because the pilot was unable to maintain the speed needed for an aerial maneuver

B-N Air Traffic Climbs

BLOOMINGTON -- The Central Illinois Regional Airport saw an increase of 14 percent in passengers from June 2003 to June 2004, the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority Board learned Thursday. Mike La Pier, airport director, told the board that 199,880 passengers passed through the airport in June 2003, and that increased to 228,184 in June 2004.

B-N Man Faces Child Sex-Crime Accusations

BLOOMINGTON -- A Bloomington man is accused of molesting a young child. Matthew Cook, 38, of the 2400 block of 23rd Street, was charged with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and jailed in lieu of $10,000. He's scheduled to appear in court July 16.

Deaths

Clara A. Jones SAYBROOK -- Clara Aschenbrenner Jones, 95, of Saybrook died at 10:55 p.m. Wednesday (July 7, 2004) at Gibson Area Hospital Annex, Gibson City. Her funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John's Lutheran Church, Anchor, with Pastor David Pavisec officiating. Burial will be at St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, Anchor, or Gibson Community Hospital Annex...

Deaths

Mary Elva McClellan COLFAX -- Mary Elva McClellan, 98, of St. Petersburg, Fla., formerly of Colfax, died Tuesday (July 6, 2004) at Largo Health Care Center, Largo, Fla. Graveside service: 3 p.m. Saturday, Wiley Cemetery, Colfax.

Deaths

Ruth B. Swanson GIBSON CITY -- Ruth B. Swanson, 95, of Gibson City died at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday (July 7, 2004) at the Gibson Area Hospital Annex in Gibson City. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the United Methodist Church in Gibson City, with the Rev. Scott Henley officiating. Burial will be in Drummer Township Cemetery in Gibson City. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday at the church. Lamb Funeral Home in Gibson City is in charge of arrangements.

Deaths

Lela Lucille Whitler TOLUCA -- Lela Lucille Whitler, 96, of Beulah Land Christian Home, Flanagan, formerly of Toluca and Pontiac, died at 7:02 a.m. Wednesday (July 7, 2004) at Beulah Land Christian Home, Flanagan.

Deaths

Thomas Fisherkeller BLOOMINGTON -- Thomas Joseph Fisherkeller Sr., 66, of Skokie, formerly of Bloomington, died Tuesday (July 6, 2004) at his home in Skokie.

Deaths

Allan Gawthorp BLOOMINGTON -- Allan H. Gawthorp, 69, of 8 Zephyr Drive, Bloomington, died at 5:54 a.m. Thursday (July 8, 2004) at McLean County Nursing Home. A private memorial service will be at a later date with inurnment at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery Bloomington. Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements.

Deaths

Alfred Gilliam BLOOMINGTON -- Alfred C. Gilliam, 73, of 31 Partner Place, Bloomington, died at 7:33 p.m. Wednesday (July 7, 2004) at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal.

Deaths

Willa Mae Lee PEORIA -- Willa Mae Lee, 73, of Peoria, died at 12:49 p.m. Tuesday (July 6, 2004) at Methodist Medical Center, Peoria.

Receiver White Nets All-American Status

BLOOMINGTON -- Illinois Wesleyan wide receiver Eric White has been selected to the Division III Preseason All-American team chosen by Street & Smith's National College Football Magazine, which is available on newsstands. A 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior, White set an IWU season record with 1,215 yards receiving in 2003. He finished with 74 catches and 14 touchdowns while being chosen as the Titans' Most Valuable Offensive Player and a first-team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin se...