The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Gospel Festival has Honored Martin Luther King Jr. Since 1991

BLOOMINGTON - Corine Sims launched the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Gospel Festival in 1991 and it's been going strong ever since. The 16th annual version will be unveiled Monday (on Martin Luther King Jr. Day) in Westbrook Auditorium of Presser Hall at Illinois Wesleyan University. Sims, 76, of Bloomington, expects some 1,500 people to attend the event, which runs from 3 to 9 p.m. and will celebrate King's civil rights legacy and teachings.

You Aren't Only One Affected by Smoke

Since the first of the year, both mayors of Bloomington-Normal have made comments about smoking in public areas.A, I have comments as well about lighting up before looking around at your surroundings. A, A couple of months ago, I was leaving a doctor's office when the person in front of me lit up a cigarette in the breezeway before actually being outside.A, After following their secondhand smoke for a few feet, I went around them to my car.

A Round of Applause

Roto-Rooter Man Goes Toilet Diving in B-N!

A deep sea-toilet Just what can your Roto-Rooter man find in a drainpipe? Take Michael Woggon.

Here's Your Chance to Suggest Banished Words

Lake Superior State University's annual list of words and phrases that should be banished for "mis-use, over-use and general uselessness" has survived for 30 years. The small Michigan school's list lives on because it strikes a chord with the public (even though we wouldn't be surprised if "strikes a chord" is on the banishment list somewhere.)

Conference Targets Dewitt County Poverty

Poverty priorities Following are six top priorities targeted for DeWitt County residents who live in poverty, according to participants in the Helping Others Help Themselves conference.

Normal Hotel No Longer a Holiday Inn

NORMAL - After a troubling 2005, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Normal changed names Thursday. The building at 8 Traders Circle is now the Staywood Inn Hotel & Conference Center, a new brand developed by building owner and operator Albanese Development Corp. of Springfield.

'Excited' Barrett Likes Cubs' Moves

NORMAL - Veteran Chicago Cubs catcher Michael Barrett doesn't have to report to spring training for another month. He can't wait.

Heyworth Nets First Win in Midstate ; Springer, Wood Help Hornets Top Lexington

Audie Springer scored 16 points and Rachel Wood added nine points and four assists as Heyworth High School earned its first Midstate Conference girls basketball win of the season with 38-30 triumph over Lexington at Heyworth. Heyworth (7-11, 1-5 Midstate) held a 20-18 lead at halftime before a 14-4 scoring burst in the third quarter boosted the advantage to 34-22.

Baby Jesus Figurine Taken From Epiphany Church Nativity Scene

NORMAL - Baby Jesus was stolen from the manger scene at Epiphany Catholic Church shortly before the Nativity scene was to be taken down for the season. The plastic figurine was stolen from church grounds in the 1000 block of East College Avenue, according to a Normal police report on file Thursday.

Prosecution Lists 56 Witnesses in Gibson City Murder Case

PAXTON - Ford County State's Attorney Tony Lee listed 56 potential prosecution witnesses Tuesday in a discovery hearing for the first-degree murder trial of a Gibson City man. Robert T. Osborne, 28, of the 600 block of Nelson Avenue, is charged with the death of his wife, Danyelle, 26. He has pleaded innocent. If convicted, Osborne could be sentenced from 20 to 60 years or life in prison, depending on whether the jury would rule the case was brutal and heinous.

Cause of Cullom Death Undetermined

PONTIAC - The cause of death of a Cullom woman who died when her house burned was declared undetermined by a Livingston County Coroner's jury. The body of Gertrude R. Sikora, 85, was found on Nov. 23 in the rubble of her home, which was destroyed by a fire on Nov. 22.

Bloomington Man Acquitted of Motel Party Shooting

BLOOMINGTON - A Bloomington man was acquitted Thursday of shooting another man at a motel party last year. Pierre Smith, 19, said "justice was served" minutes after a jury acquitted him of shooting 33-year-old Rodney Harris in the back and shoulder during a Feb. 26 party at the Roadway Inn motel. The defense argued that Smith wasn't at the party when the shooting occurred.

Students Help Make-a-Wish

Chili and euchre What Tremont High School student council's chili cook-off and euchre tournament

Turns Out It Was Hall Good in 1984 Classic

The image is burned in the minds of Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals fans: a young Ryne Sandberg drilling two Bruce Sutter pitches into the Wrigley Field bleachers on June 23, 1984. Sandberg rescued the Cubs from defeat both times, dazzling a capacity crowd and a national television audience. Chicago went on to win the extra-inning game, sending the Cubs on their way to the National League Eastern Division title, and Sandberg to the NL Most Valuable Player award.

Board Oks Wind Farm Zoning

PONTIAC - Wind farms will be allowed in Livingston County. Despite several concerns, the Livingston County Board approved a zoning amendment Thursday that will allow wind energy conversion systems to be built in the county.

Gm's Goal: Bring Cubs Fans a Winner ; Hendry Uses Offseason to Revamp Team's Bullpen, Outfield Situations

Outfield overhaul The Chicago Cubs will have an entirely new starting outfield in 2006 after general manager Jim Hendry acquired Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones in the offseason. Here's a look at how the new starting outfield fared in 2005 compared to the Cubs' opening-day starters:

Illness Hitting Local Dogs Hard ; Strain Resistant to Vaccinations

Kennel cough Symptoms Dogs with kennel cough appear to have a head cold.

Kaisner, U High Net Victory Over Olympia

Senior Krissa Kaisner hit four 3-point baskets for a game-high 12 points to lead the University High School girls basketball team to a 48-26 victory over Olympia in a Corn Belt Conference game at Stanford. U High (10-9 overall, 6-2 in league games) led 8-6 after one quarter and 20-14 at the half before limiting Olympia (7-10, 2-6) to six points in each of the final two periods. The Pioneers pulled away by outscoring the Spartans 15-6 in the third quarter to take a 35-20 lead.

Ex-Illinois, Nchs Kicker Higgins Signs with Extreme

BLOOMINGTON Former University of Illinois and Normal Community High School kicker Doug Higgins was among six more players to sign this week with the Bloomington Extreme of the United Indoor Football League. Higgins ranks third on the Illini's career scoring list with 230 points. He kicked 39 field goals and 116 extra points, including a school-record 56 straight at one point, from 1987-90. Higgins shares the Illinois record for field goals in a game with five.