The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Alderman's Skepticism Doesn't Make Sense

I was very interested to read Alderman Michael Sprague's comments on the Bloomington Cultural District's budget at the April 25 Bloomington City Council meeting. As a longtime area resident, a member of the Cultural Commission and co-chair of the Cultural District capital campaign, I've been puzzled by his ongoing attacks on this wonderful project, which will benefit so many families across Bloomington-Normal, including those in his ward.

Bolton Would Make Good Choice for the U.N.

While I agree that there are concerns about the appointment of John Bolton as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, your stated evidence is pretty thin gruel, ("Bolton wrong choice for U.N. ambassador," OurViews, April 27). I believe the question concerning the appointment is encapsulated in the following proposition: Should the U.N. continue with business as usual or not?

Sex Offenders Leave Victims Scarred for Life

In regard to the letter of April 15, "Sex offender label sometimes too severe," sent in by Mr. Hobbs. I am a 60-year-old survivor of sexual abuse. At 9 years of age, I was sexually abused by my father. There are no words to describe what I went through each time it occurred. This was my father, someone I trusted and loved.

Clinton Receives Keys to Nursing Home

CLINTON -- The city of Clinton has to formally accept a gift it already owns on paper so it can start the process of disposing of it. City officials accepted the keys to the former Crestview Healthcare Center on Wednesday. The council is expected to vote on Monday to accept the building and adjoining acreage, but the city has had the deed for more than two weeks.

Baby's Death Ruled a Homicide

BLOOMINGTON -- A Normal woman accused of killing her 3-month-old son confessed to smothering, shaking and throwing the infant after he became agitated, a detective said Thursday. McLean County jurors ruled the Feb. 7 death of Erik L.M. Williams a homicide during a coroner's inquest. His mother, Sheila Palma -- also known as Sheila Williams -- faces murder and aggravated battery of a child charges in the baby's death.

Eye-Care Worker Going Abroad

BLOOMINGTON -- Except for a honeymoon trip to the Bahamas, Dewey Beck has never been out of the country. That will change May 8 when Beck, manager of LensCrafters in Bloomington, begins a 10,000-mile trek to Romania, where he and 29 others hope to hand out 26,000 pairs of eyeglasses to residents of two cities -- Oradea and Zalau.

Deaths

Lova Joy Konetski PONTIAC -- Lova Joy Konetski, 75, of Pontiac died at 8:32 p.m. Tuesday (April 26, 2005) at her residence.

Deaths

Thomas J. Pavlick STREATOR -- Thomas J. Pavlick, 59, of 908 N. Ottercreek St., Streator, died at 3 p.m. Tuesday (April 26, 2005) at St. Mary's Hospital, Streator.

Deaths

D.W. Ronna LODA -- D.W. Ronna, 57, a lifelong Loda resident, died at 1:36 p.m. Wednesday (April 27, 2005) at the Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City.

Hopefully, He'll Not Walk Away From Microphone

The academic world knows him as an innovator, a guy who has dedicated his life to educating, motivating and empowering those in his classroom. Students and fellow teachers applaud his methods and the manner in which they are delivered, citing his ability to connect with every generation, and lend global perspective to geography, history, social studies.

Cutting Back On Coaches ; Unit 5 Schools Nchs, West to Make Do with Fewer Paid Assistants, Smaller Staffs

BLOOMINGTON -- Normal Community High School won its first Big 12 Conference All-Sports Trophy for the 2003-04 school year. The Ironmen are positioned to capture their second straight title this year as the league's best overall athletics program. Keeping the streak alive might be tougher to accomplish beginning in the fall.

Breaking Barriers ; Spanish Interpreters Aid County Health Clients

By the numbers 9.6 Percentage of McLean County Health Department clients in February 2000 who spoke Spanish only

Mesarchik Case has New Lead

PONTIAC -- Authorities are looking into a new lead in the case of a Streator boy who was beaten to death with a hammer more than two years ago. A new "person of interest" has been identified in the Dalton Mesarchik case, Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Ben Halloran said Thursday.

Deaths

Brinece Hesteen Gray NORMAL -- Brinece Hesteen Gray, 12, of 300 N. Coolidge St., Normal, died Tuesday (April 26, 2005) at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal.

Deaths

Rae Anne Kaiser BLOOMINGTON -- Rae Anne Margaret Niesen Kaiser, 63, of 2 Independence Square, Bloomington, died at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday (April 27, 2005) under the care of the most amazing team of professionals on the third floor at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

Riding the Rail ; Hobos Often Mistakenly Thought of As Lazy, Uneducated

"Ingenious tramps and hobos rode everywhere. They learned to ride a train "the way an Indian brave could ride his horse: They could hang onto belly, back, neck or rump, and get there." "The whistling of a locomotive on a still night had a lure, unexplainable, yet strong, like the light which leads a moth to destruction."

Flickfact

Question True or false? If you were not born in Illinois, you are a minority in Bloomington-Normal?

Dailydigest

NORMAL ISU, districts look to expand project

Tazewell Co. History On Display at Museum

PEKIN -- From woolly mammoth teeth and the gravesite of one of Napoleon's guards to World War II toilet paper, the woman running the new Tazewell County Museum and Education Center in Pekin has bits and pieces of local history to show off. Crystal Dagit, the museum's president and curator, plans to talk about the museum Monday at the 87th annual meeting of the Tazewell County Association for Home and Community Education. The meeting will be at 9 a.m. at the Methodist Church in Tremont.

Note Worthy ; Post-It Sticks It Out 25 Years

Aisle 13 of OfficeMax is among the many oases for Post-it lovers. There is a display area 6 feet wide and 8 feet high with products filling five shelves plus hangers above the shelves. The Bloomington OfficeMax store carries about 50 varieties of Post-it products, counting the different color variety packs of the standard 3-by-3- inch notes. It is but a nibble in the Post-it banquet. The Post-it brand makes more than 1,000 items worldwide.