The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Healthdigest

aNNOUNCEMENTS Cortese adds service

Buildingpermits

The following building permits were issued last week for commercial and residential construction in McLean County. Bloomington

Dialysis Center Growing

LINCOLN -- Logan County's only outpatient dialysis center is planning to increase the number of patients it serves by expanding and remodeling its facility. DaVita Healthcare, formerly Gambro Healthcare, 2100 W. Fifth St., wants to increase from serving eight dialysis patients at one time to 14 patients, center director Barb Mangold said.

Magnetic Ribbons Benefit Families

Ribbon sales What: Magnetic ribbons: yellow, "Support Our Troops"; red, white and blue, "Freedom Isn't Free"; and camouflage, "Land of the Free ... Because of the Brave."

Retirement Home Adding Eight Spaces

BLOOMINGTON -- Owners of The Myerling intend to expand the independent living retirement home from 12 to 20 residents after a building project is complete in the spring. Ground has been broken for a 3,100-square-foot expansion to the south of the existing building at 2218 E. Lincoln St., said Darwin Steidinger, who owns The Myerling with his wife, Laurie.

The Eye On Saturn's Sky ; Teacher Worked On Nasa Craft

ROANOKE -- One of the presents Jerod Gross was hoping to get for Christmas will not be opened until Jan. 14, and it won't be found under a tree. The Roanoke-Benson High School math and science teacher is hoping to get a peek at what lies beneath the thick atmosphere of Saturn's biggest and mysterious moon, Titan.

Crafty Guys ; Time, Quality On Side of Specialty Furniture Makers

"In an age of fads, mass production and questionable quality, it is refreshing to savor those things which are timeless, unique and reflect the pride of craftsmanship." Harold Sawbridge, of Sawbridge Studios, wrote those words about the furniture that is handmade for his two upscale Chicago area stores, one downtown and one in Winnetka. Sawbridge Studios represents a handful of craftsmen who create furniture collections in areas such as contemporary, Shaker, farmhouse and historical.

Kindergarten Plans Up for Discussion

NORMAL -- Melissa Herter's son, Grant, attends full-day kindergarten at Northpoint Elementary school and she said he loves it. Herter said she hopes other Unit 5 families will have the same opportunity in the future. The topic also is up for discussion in the Prairie Central and Olympia school districts.

The Unusual Start ; Area Colleges Prefer Freshmen Begin in August

Pantagraph file photo/Lyndsie Schlink BLOOMINGTON -- High school seniors applying to their preferred colleges may have a better chance of admittance if they agree to delay their start until January.

Flickfact

Answer: It was comedian/TV star/violinist Jack Benny, whose TV program also had Bloomington-based State Farm Insurance as its prime sponsor. Question

Nominations Enter Final Month

BLOOMINGTON -- The annual Student of the Year college scholarship competition has nominated six students in its 10th week. The program, sponsored by The Pantagraph, includes 36 Central Illinois high schools. Each school will nominate students, who then are eligible to compete for one of two $5,000 Student of the Year awards.

Students Raising Money for Police Camera

GIBSON CITY -- The Gibson City Police Department could receive a new camera, thanks to the efforts of four eighth-grade students from Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Middle School. Lyndi Ferguson, Kate Schmitt, Cindy Overman and Liz Rickert, all members of the school's gifted program, will work toward a $2,000 goal needed to purchase the camera.

On the Record

Court notes DUIs

Daily Digest

GALESBURG Man, 19, charged in store shooting

On Duty

Army National Guard Alicia Collins

Deaths

Erma L. Askew PONTIAC -- Erma L. Askew, 88, a resident of Livingston Manor, Pontiac, formerly of Bloomington, died at 5 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 1, 2005) at Livingston Manor.

Deaths

Harley W. Beck Jr. ATLANTA -- Harley W. Beck Jr., 67, of Atlanta died Friday (Dec. 31, 2004) at Spohn Memorial Hospital, Beeville, Texas.

Deaths

Mark A. Ford CLINTON -- Mark A. Ford, 45, of Shawnee, Kan., formerly of Clinton, died Friday (Dec. 31, 2004) at his family residence.

Deaths

Marcella J. Forrest WENONA -- Marcella J. "Sally" Forrest, 87, of 407 First North St., Wenona, died at 3:35 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 1, 2005) at St. Mary Hospital, Streator.

Deaths

Raymond G. Huisinga Sr. DELAND -- Raymond G. Huisinga Sr., 64, of Monticello, father of a DeLand resident, died at 7:26 p.m. Friday (Dec. 31, 2004) at Kirby Hospital, Monticello.