The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Deaths

Wallace E. Gauger TREMONT -- Wallace E. "Wally" Gauger, 82, of Tremont died at 5:55 p.m. Thursday (May 19, 2005) at Hallmark House Nursing Center in Pekin.

Deaths

Wilmer Griffith RANSOM -- Wilmer "Bill" Griffith, 87, of 110 N. Garfield, Ransom, died at 6:50 p.m. Thursday (May 19, 2005) at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Streator.

Deaths

Marjorie L. Lewis BLOOMINGTON -- Marjorie L. Lewis, 80, of 2025 E. Lincoln St., Bloomington, died Wednesday (May 11, 2005) at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal.

Deaths

Margaret 'Peg' Rector NORMAL -- Margaret Jean "Peg" Rector, 84, of 901 Karin Drive, Normal, died at 12:50 a.m. Friday (May 20, 2005) at McLean County Nursing Home, Normal.

Heartland Bank in Gibson City Robbed

GIBSON CITY -- Heartland Bank in Gibson City was robbed Friday afternoon. A man entered the bank about 12:20 p.m. and a gave a teller a note demanding money, Gibson City Police Chief Chris Decker said. He did not say a word, Decker said.

Police Searching for Sexual Assault Suspect

BLOOMINGTON -- Crime Stoppers of McLean County needs the public's help to find a man accused of sexually assaulting a girl between the ages of 13 and 16. Debracey J. Malone, born in 1983, is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 185 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He last lived in Bloomington. He was indicted on charges of criminal sexual assault (force) and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He is named on unrelated warrants charging him with two counts of making cocaine and contempt of court.

Farm Briefs

Golf fund-raiser Illinois 4-H and FFA members will benefit this summer from a golfing fund-raiser scheduled by Farm Credit Services of Bloomington and Champaign.

New Logo Another Step in Downtown Progress

I was delighted when I opened the paper this morning, the morning of Keep the Bloom in Bloomington, to see the article about the finalization of the new downtown Bloomington logo, ("New logo completes merger," Page A12, May 14). As a past member of Uniquely Bloomington, the interim transition team of the merger of the two organizations -- Downtown Bloomington Association and Uniquely Bloomington! -- and the search committee that hired Catherine Dunlap, I cannot express the good feeling it gav...

Lay of the Land ; Lawn Edging Cuts Out Time Spent Trimming

The edge Lawn edging keeps rocks and mulch in place and when it's level with the ground, eliminates the need for trimming. Here are some types to choose from:

The Race Is On

Graduate: Heartland Offers Hope

NORMAL -- Rejected in high school as the "crazy girl," Anne Finch felt lost in the darkness of mental illness and failure until Heartland Community College offered a ray of light that led her out. "I came to Heartland because nobody wanted me," Finch told the hundreds of people gathered Friday to watch about 200 Heartland students graduate. "Heartland has given me my life back."

Eureka President Ready to Learn

EUREKA -- J. David Arnold, newly named Eureka College president, told faculty and staff at the private college that he feels blessed to lead the school at this point in it's 150-year history. "We are poised for greater recognition. ...We have the team. We're on the bus," he said at an afternoon news conference at the campus' Cerf College Center.

Expo Gives Information to Seniors

BLOOMINGTON -- Education and entertainment were the highlights of Friday's Senior Expo-Flair at the Interstate Center. The event, emphasizing active lifestyles for seniors, drew about 2,000 attendees, said show manager Roland Garton. It offered information on a array of subjects, including recreation, volunteering, health care, housing and social services.

Habitat Cyclist Hits Halfway

BLOOMINGTON -- An Illinois Wesleyan University professor biking across America to raise money for Habitat for Humanity has passed the halfway point. In a telephone interview Friday from Eric, Kan., Greg Shaw said he's shaved a day off his schedule, thanks to tailwinds across New Mexico that helped him ride 150 miles each day for three days in a row. He is averaging 103 miles a day.

Bill Limits Holidays for Sex Offenders

SPRINGFIELD -- Registered sex offenders would be barred from dressing up as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny or participating in Halloween trick-or-treating under legislation heading toward the governor's desk. Without debate, the Illinois Senate voted unanimously Friday in favor of the proposal, which was floated by state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, last year.

Deaths

Elnora Barker COOKSVILLE -- Elnora Barker, 92, of 510 Broadway, Normal, formerly of Cooksville and Bickford House, Bloomington, died at 11:20 a.m. Thursday (May 19, 2005) at ManorCare Health Services, Normal.

Deaths

Harry 'Butch' Harris Verna Harris EL PASO -- Memorial services for Harry "Butch" and Verna Harris of Goose Creek, S.C., formerly of El Paso, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Secor United Methodist Church. The Rev. Dick Piscatelli will officiate. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday before the service at the church. Burial of ashes will be in Secor Cemetery. Argo-Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in Eureka is in charge of arrangements.

Deaths

Helen Kensel PAXTON -- Helen L. Kensel, 92, of Paxton, formerly of Galesburg, died at 11:15 a.m. Friday (May 20, 2005) at Asta Care Center, Paxton.

Deaths

Raymond Pfeifer DWIGHT -- Raymond H. Pfeifer, 69, of 115 N. Clinton St., Dwight, died at 2:32 a.m. Friday (May 20, 2005) at Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee.

Deaths

Ernest Boyd Sapp FAIRBURY -- Ernest Boyd Sapp, 76, of Fairbury died at 9:50 a.m. May 10, 2005, on I-20 West, mile marker 82, near Columbia, S.C.