The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Price of Gas Soars, Drops

BLOOMINGTON -- The price of gasoline hit a record high in the Twin Cities this week before retreating to about $2.08 Thursday. Several stations in Bloomington-Normal sold regular unleaded gas at $2.35 a gallon Wednesday, breaking the previous Bloomington record of $2.32 a gallon on April 7, according to AAA-Chicago Motor Club.

Golf Course Off to Glowing Start ; 18-Hole Adventure Played in Darkness

Glowing Greens What: An 18-hole, indoor, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course

Unemployment Rate Drops 0.2 Percent in Mclean County

BLOOMINGTON -- Fewer McLean County residents were unemployed and seeking jobs in May, according to an Illinois Department of Employment Securities report released Thursday. The county's unemployment rate dropped to 4 percent in May, from 4.2 percent in April, according to the report. The May rate was the eighth lowest in the state.

Natural Gas Firm Settles with State

BLOOMINGTON -- A Chicago natural gas supplier settled a lawsuit Thursday with the Illinois attorney general's office to allow consumers to opt out of contracts by July 29. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan sued Illinois Natural Gas Corp. in April alleging deceptive marketing practices. A story about the company's marketing campaign appeared in The Pantagraph after residents received mailings from the company asking them to sign natural gas contracts.

Future Clouded at School Offices

NORMAL -- Two years ago today, three Central Illinois regional school superintendents started their new jobs not knowing if money would be available to run their offices. Today, the immediate future for regional education offices looks brighter, but the long term remains cloudy.

Retired Isu Professor Joins Editorial Board

BLOOMINGTON -- Phares G. O'Daffer, a professor of mathematics emeritus at Illinois State University and a native of Weldon, will join The Pantagraph editorial board today as its community representative. Representatives are selected for three-month terms to give more community perspective to issues. O'Daffer, who succeeds retired McLean County Chief Judge John P. Freese, will serve until Sept. 30.

Interesting People Keeps Bus Driver Rolling Along His Routes

BLOOMINGTON -- Roy Rickert, 31, of Bloomington has driven a Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System bus for about three years and enjoys the job because he meets interesting people and is able to help them get where they're going. How did you get your start as a bus driver?

Defense, Pitching Key Blue's Victory

The Bloomington Blue played strong defense and Paul Kabbes combined with three relievers to shut down Prairie Central, 5-0, in a National Amateur Baseball Federation game Thursday night at O'Neil Park. Kabbes struck out three batters in three innings, scattering two hits and one walk. Dexter Peek gave up one hit and struck out two in two innings of relief, with Jake Nord and Matt Caslow working one inning apiece.

Flickfact

Question While the island of Aruba has figured largely in the news lately as site of the missing Alabama high school senior Natalee Holloway, it is actually rather small. Which is bigger -- Aruba or McLean County?

Pantagraph has New Publisher ; Lee Tabs Lindus to Lead Paper

BLOOMINGTON -- Linda Lindus has been named publisher of The Pantagraph newspaper and president of Pantagraph Publishing Co., it was announced Thursday. She has been serving as publisher of the Decatur Herald & Review since 2002. Lindus also oversees Lee Enterprises Inc. newspapers in Carbondale, Mattoon and Charleston as well as Park Hills, Mo.

Bird Hired to Head Newspaper Group's Indiana-Based Division

BLOOMINGTON -- Henry Bird, publisher of The Pantagraph, was named Thursday as vice president of the Midwest Division for Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., in the suburbs of Indianapolis. "This has been a privilege for me to serve as publisher of this newspaper. I will miss the staff and the community a great deal." Bird said.

Daily Briefing

STATE 3M chief named Boeing's new CEO

Deaths

Vincent 'Cap' Ey LINCOLN -- Vincent "Cap" Ey, 91, of 6 Meadow Lane, Lincoln, died at 10:30 p.m. Sunday (June 26, 2005) at Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.

Deaths

Barbara Grogg BLOOMINGTON -- Barbara J. Grogg, 77, of Tucson, Ariz., formerly of Bloomington, passed away Monday (June 27, 2005) in Tucson, Ariz.

Hard Work, Sweat Don't Discourage Fund-Raisers

Adverse conditions -- whether it's heat, rain or what most would consider grueling boredom -- barely seem to slow down people committed to raising money for a cause. If anything, it seems to give them a greater understanding or appreciation of the suffering of those for whom they are raising money. And the commitment of these fund-raisers strikes a chord with those ready to open their wallets.

Heeding Lessons of 9/11 Could Help in Other Fires

The number of security-related steps that have been taken since the 9/11 terrorist attacks are too numerous to count. But action also is needed to make high-rise buildings safer, not only from terrorist attacks but also fires triggered by other causes.

Trust in Nuclear Energy Technology

Without nuclear energy we would not exist. God put a nuclear power plant in just the right place to make every form of life possible on Earth. It is called the sun. Man was given the ability to learn to use this great source of energy that is stored in those tiny pieces called atoms. As with everything else, we were also given the choice to use it for good or evil.

Talk About a Month Being On Cruise Control!

COLUMN DIARY 2005, a check of big headlines, small wonders and other worldly events: June 2005

Bird Brains ; Interactive Shows Provide Educational Lessons

Miller Park Zoo Bird Shows What: An audience interactive show with native Illinois birds and foreign birds.

Firefall Out, but There's Still Plenty to Do July 4

First Assembly of God's Firefall event at the Interstate Center the past two years instantly became the premier place to be in Central Illinois to mark Independence Day and watch fireworks crackle across the sky. So last week's announcement that Firefall won't be back this year (with future prospects uncertain) left jaws dropping. Now that those jaws are back in place, their owners are left scouting remaining options for the Fourth.