Gov. Blagojevich Pages, part 2

Inching alongAn Illinois House panel,

chaired by

Barbara

Flynn Cur-

rie, inches

closer to

recommend-

ing

impeach-

ment of Gov.

Rod Blagojevich. “We’re

beating a dead horse here.

Let’s get moving on this,”

state Rep. Suzanne Bassi

said. Local A3

New FutureGen hopeTwo Illinois lawmakers

said the man nominated to

lead the Department of

Energy was positive about

FutureGen at a meeting

Wednesday. Money C1

Pause is over

After a three-hour lull to

let in humanitarian aid,

Israel resumed its Gaza

offensive Wednesday.

World C3

Lots to the gameThe Oklahoma Sooners

and speedy Florida meet

tonight for the BCS cham-

pionship, a matchup that

includes a pair of Heisman

Trophy winners, an SEC

vs. Big 12 debate and

more than its share of

trash talk. Sports B1

Delivery: 421-6990

Newsroom: 421-6979

Outside Decatur: 1-800-437-2533

Lake Decatur level watch

Normal winter pool level . . . .612.5

Normal summer pool level . . .614.4

Yesterday’s level . . . . . . . . .612.49

Herald Review&WWW.HERALD-REVIEW.COM

9 under $9.99Save on your pocketbook

and cook at home/D1

Quick swingMillikin deceives with

strong start, loses 63-55/B1

JANUARY 8, 2009

75 centsOur 137th year

Issue 8

Four sections

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: Partly sunnyTonight: Partly cloudy

Details/B6

H I G H

32L O W

21

THURSDAY

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . C3-5Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5Dear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D2Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D5Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-6Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1-2Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D2Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . D3Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . C4,5Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-5Television . . . . . . . . . . . . D6

INDEX

Obama backs Blagojevich’s pickTo avoid a fight, Democrats in Senate ready to accept manthey said they wouldn’t seat

By LAURIE KELLMANAssociated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats beat a hastyretreat Wednesday from their rejection of RolandBurris as President-elect Barack Obama’s successor,yielding to pressure from Obama himself and fromsenators irked that the standoff was draining atten-tion and putting them in a bad light. Burris said witha smile he expected to join them “very shortly.”

Though there was no agreement yet to swearBurris in, he posed for photos at the Capitol withSenate leaders, then joined them for a 45-minutemeeting followed by supportive words that bor-dered on gushing. The events came one day afterBurris had left the Capitol in the pouring rain in ascripted rejection.

Obama had spoken to Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid on Tuesday on the need to find a quicksolution to defuse the dispute, according to Democ-ratic officials. Reid was told by Obama that if Bur-ris had the legal standing to be seated, despite con-

troversy surrounding his appointment by IllinoisGov. Rod Blagojevich, it should be done “soonerrather than later,” an Obama transition aide said.

The dispute had taken on racial overtones aftercomments by some Burris supporters. The formerIllinois attorney general would be the Senate’sonly black member, with Obama’s departure.

BURRIS/A2

Associated Press

Roland Burris, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pick to fill Presi-dent-elect Barack Obama’s senate seat, talks with IllinoisSen. Richard Durbin and Senate Majority Leader HarryReid of Nevada on Capitol Hill.

Who getskidney indivorce?Husband wants backtransplanted organ

By CHAU LAM and RIDGELY OCHSMcClatchy-Tribune News Service Writers

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. —When his wife needed a kidneytransplant, Dr. Richard Batistagave her one of his, attorneyDominic Barbara said.

Now that Dawnell Batistahas filed for a divorce,Richard Batista wants his kid-ney back as part of his settle-ment demand. Or, Barbarasaid Wednesday, his clientwants the value of that kid-ney: An estimated $1.5 million.

The case is being heard inNew York Supreme Court.

Barbara said his client, a 49-year-old doctor fromRonkonkoma, N.Y., marriedDawnell Batista on Aug. 31,1990. The couple had threechildren, now ages 14, 11 and 8.

After she had two failedtransplants, Barbara said, hisclient donated a kidney to hiswife in an operation that tookplace in June 2001.

Richard Batista said hismarriage at the time was onthe rocks because of the strainof his wife’s medical issues.

“My first priority was to saveher life,” Batista said at a newsconference in Garden City,N.Y. “The second bonus was toturn the marriage around.”

Dawnell Batista, 44, of Mas-sapequa filed for divorce inJuly 2005, Barbara said.

Neither she nor her attor-ney, Douglas Rothkopf, ofGarden City could immediate-ly be reached for comment. Areceptionist at Rothkopf’soffice said he was in court.

Medical ethicists agreedthat the case is a nonstarter.Asked how likely it would befor the doctor to either get hiskidney back or get money forit, Arthur Caplan at the Uni-versity of Pennsylvania’s Cen-ter for Bioethics, put it as“somewhere between impossi-ble and completely impossi-ble.”

First and foremost, saidRobert Veatch, a medical ethi-cist at Georgetown Universi-ty’s Kennedy Institute ofEthics, “it’s illegal for anorgan to be exchanged foranything of value.” Organs inthe United States may not bebought or sold. Donating anorgan is a gift and legally“when you give something,you can’t get it back,” he said.

‘HERE’S 2 LOVE’

Leaders see Burris’ quietstyle in Senate showdown

By MIKE RIOPELLH&R Springfield Bureau Writer

SPRINGFIELD — Democrat Roland Burris hasstood in the middle of the political spotlight for thepast week in his quest to assume a seat in the U.S.Senate. But some who served with Burris when he wasstate comptroller and attorney general said he didn’tmake nearly as much noise as an officeholder.

After initially balking, Democratic leaders in Wash-ington, D.C., on Wednesday appeared more open to thepossibility of giving Burris the Senate seat Gov. RodBlagojevich appointed him to last week.

Burris, 71, left his last term as an elected officialmore than a decade ago, but his work then could sug-gest what his Senate term might be like if he gets toserve.

State Rep. Gary Hannig, D-Litchfield, served in theIllinois House throughout Burris’ time in office andsaid Burris “served honorably.”

STYLE/A2

By ALICIA SPATESH&R Staff Writer

ECATUR — The backroom of Castaways Bridal and Consign-ment Shop is not a secret that owner Bonnie Nelson is tryingto keep. Yet the backroom of the Pershing Road store often-times goes unnoticed.

“The first thing people say is, ‘I didn’t know you had all this stuffback here,’ ” said Lee Ann Pickerill, a sales associate at the shop.“People are more focused on the front area than the back area.”

H&R LINK:www.herald-review.com/

bridal

If you goWHAT: 29th annual

Decatur Bridal Expo.

WHERE: Decatur

Conference Center

and Hotel.

WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m.

Friday and noon to 4

p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9

and 10. Style show,

7:30 p.m. Friday and

2:30 p.m. Saturday.

ADMISSION: $5.

Herald & Review/Stephen Haas

From left, Kelley Ekiss, Angeline Jones and Kris Jones look for a dress for one of the models to wear at the Bridal Expo on Friday andSaturday. Castaways Bridal and Consignment Shop on Pershing Road in Decatur will be featuring its clothes at the style show.

Engaging showVendors prepare for 1,000 visitors to Decatur Bridal Expo

The backroom is filled with a cornucopia ofbridal gowns of many brands, styles, sizes andcolors.

Castaways Bridal will show off the bridalmerchandise it offers on the runway duringstyle shows at the annual Decatur Bridal Expo.

The 29th annual Decatur Bridal Expo will bepresented Friday and Saturday at the DecaturConference Center and Hotel.

The theme is “Here’s 2 Love.” The show willexemplify the story of an enchanted princesswho gets her prince, said Paul Schone-Knoll,the bridal show’s director. Miss Chicago 2006,Stephanie Sharp, will make a special appear-ance as the princess.

“This show is a little unique from othershows around,” Schone-Knoll said. “It’s moreperformance-driven in addition to fashion.”

More than 50 vendors, including florists, jew-elers, limousine services, wedding planners,sellers of wedding attire, DJs and hair andmakeup stylists, will have booths set up at thetwo-day expo. A prize of $500 will be given awayeach day, along with door prizes.

With an expected turnout of 1,000 people at theexpo, Castaways Bridal uses the annual event asa way to get the word out about its bridal attire.While Castaways has operated as a consignmentshop for more than 30 years, a majority of thebridal dresses it offers are new and unworn.

“Castaways is associated with consignment,”said Kellie Ekiss, who is a sales associate, “soa lot of people don’t know about the new dress-es we offer.”

EXPO/A2

D

STYLEContinued from A1

Hannig said Burris wasknown for being the firstAfrican-American to holdstatewide office in Illinoisbut often didn’t stand outmuch otherwise.

“He was someone who, Ithink, showed up every dayand got the job done,” Han-nig said. “I don’t know thathe was ever seen as thegreatest thing since slicedbread.”

Burris was perhaps mostlybehind the scenes because ofthe offices he held. Heworked as state comptrollerfrom 1979 to 1991, an officewhere the main job is to paythe state’s bills.

Former Gov. Jim Edgarremembers Burris wasreserved as the state’s attor-ney general. But he saidBurris might find a moreprominent voice as a mem-ber of the U.S. Senate.

“Of course, you neverknow,” Edgar said. “This isa whole different situation.”

Regarding policy, Edgarpredicted Burris wouldn’tbreak with his party.

“I think he’ll be prettymuch right down the linewith the Democrats,” Edgarsaid. “I don’t think he’dstray.”

Burris took a turn in lead-

ership of the DemocraticNational Committee in the1980s.

In a campaign for gover-nor in 1998, Burris supportedincreased gun control, andin a second attempt for gov-ernor in 2002, he called forthe state to pay more towardschools. Burris lost anothercampaign for governor in1996 and also lost bids forthe U.S. Senate and mayorof Chicago.

Former state Sen. DennyJacobs of East Moline saidBurris’ recent actions seek-ing out the Senate seatmight foreshadow things tocome.

“He’s not going to be outmaking lots of noise,”Jacobs predicted. “But ifthere’s something that’s trip-ping his trigger, you’ll hearabout it.”

[email protected]|789-0865

BURRISContinued from A1

“My whole interest in thisexperience is to be prepared”to lead Illinois, Burris, 71,said after meeting with Reidand assistant Democraticleader Dick Durban, himselfan Illinois senator. “Veryshortly, I will have the oppor-tunity to do that.”

Neither Reid nor Durbindisputed that, though theyhad declared with certainty aweek ago that Democratswould not seat a senatorappointed by a governor nowaccused of trying to sell theseat. Obama said then, “Iagree with their decision.”

On Wednesday, only wordsof goodwill, with photos,poured forth.

Obama told reporters thathe knew Burris, liked himand would be happy to workwith him.

The Democratic leadersbrought Burris in from therain and into Reid’s spaciouspersonal office just off theSenate floor. They invitednews photographers in to cap-ture the three — Burris in themiddle — laughing and chat-ting.

Reid and Durbin thenretreated from their won’t-be-seated rhetoric and cast thedispute as a procedural delaycaused by concerns about

why Blagojevich made theappointment.

“First of all, understand wedon’t have a problem withhim as an individual,” Reidsaid of Burris, calling him an“extremely nice” and “forth-right” man. “At this stage, theprocess is working out,” hesaid.

Added Durbin: “I’ve knownhim for such a long time. Weare friends and on a first-name basis.”

The embraces reflected agrowing expectation amongSenate officials in both par-ties that the former stateattorney general eventuallywould be seated.

As Reid and Durbindescribed it, the processdepends on two develop-ments: Burris securing theright signoff on his appoint-ment papers, plus a sworndeclaration that he didn’toffer anything to Blagojevichin exchange for the seat.

“There was certainly nopay-to-play involved, becauseI don’t have no money,” Bur-ris told reporters after hisSenate meeting, previewinghis sworn answer to thatquestion.

It’s a key issue in resolvingthe dispute.

Blagojevich is accused oftrying to get something forhimself in return for theappointment, an allegation hedenies. By appointing Burris,

he defied Senate Democratswho warned that a taint ofcorruption would strip credi-bility from anyone he namedto fill the vacancy.

Secretary of State JesseWhite also said he would notcertify the appointment withhis signature, giving SenateDemocrats another point ofobjection.

The entire Democratic cau-cus then declared they wouldnot seat Burris or anyoneappointed by Blagojevich.They also said they would notseat Burris without White’ssignature, which Democratssaid has been required by theSenate since the 19th century.

The scene Wednesday wasa reversal from the daybefore.

Burris showed up at theCapitol on Tuesday to besworn in with the rest of the111th Congress but wasturned away by Senate offi-cials who said his certifica-tion lacked the required sig-nature from White, as well asthe official seal of the state ofIllinois.

Senate Democrats refusedto let Burris talk to reportersinside the Capitol but clearedthe way for him to hold anews conference just outside.What followed was a bizarre,soggy procession in pouringrain as Burris, his advisersand dozens of news crewscrossed Constitution Avenue

to the news conference site.The spectacle, broadcast

live and repeated throughoutthe day, did not sit well withDemocrats eager to projectunity with Obama and tobegin work on an economicrescue package.

Several behind-the-scenesphone calls and public state-ments later, displeasedDemocrats had conveyed aclear message to Durbin andReid: Make this problem goaway.

And a public crackappeared in the Democrats’wall of opposition when RulesCommittee ChairwomanDianne Feinstein of Califor-nia said that Blagojevich,however sullied, had the con-stitutional authority to makethe appointment regardlessof any Senate rules.

Judicial Watch, a conserva-tive watchdog group, filed afederal lawsuit Wednesday,arguing that blocking Burriswas unconstitutional.

Further pressuring SenateDemocrats were the 41 mem-bers of the CongressionalBlack Caucus, who votedunanimously Wednesday thatBurris should be seated.

White, the Illinois secretaryof state, compared Reid’sactions to “strapping me in awheelchair and pushing (me)down four flights of stairs.”

“I have skid marks,” Whitesaid.

Events

Etc.“Healthy Eating on the Go,”

6:30 p.m., Decatur Public LibraryMadden Auditorium, Decatur, 424-2900 ext. 7.

Holiday Showcase, Schaub Flo-ral Display Center, Decatur, 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. 422-5911.

Rules of the Road ReviewCourse, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., LifeS-pan Center, Charleston. Free. 639-5150.

Nightlife“Stevie Ray” Kelton, 9 p.m.,

Curly’s, Decatur.Country Night with DJ

Halfdead, 8 p.m., Radmaker’sRock N Roll Tavern, Tolono. 485-3531.

David Lee the DJ, 10 p.m.,Lock, Stock and Barrel, Decatur.

DJ/Karaoke, 8:30 p.m., ElbowRoom, Decatur.

Greg Bickers Band, 7:30 p.m.,Doherty’s Pub & Pins, Decatur.

Jackie Lawson and Tad Freez-land, 6:30 p.m., Stoney’s Steak-

house, Dalton City.Karaoke/DJ with Ricky, 9:30

p.m., Shorty’s, Decatur.Open Mic, 7 p.m., AIW Hall,

Decatur. 875-2416.X Krush Unplugged, 8 p.m.,

Sliderz, Decatur.

On Stage“Funny Valentines,” 6 p.m.,

Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre,Goodfield, $31. (309) 965-2545.

HealthBlood Pressure Screening,

11:30 a.m. to noon, Dieterich CivicCenter, Dieterich.

Cardiac Rehab Orientation, 1 to3 p.m., Decatur Memorial Hospital,Decatur. Free. (Requires physicianreferral.) 876-2496.

Cholesterol and GlucoseScreening, 7 to 9:45 a.m., Well-ness Center, Forsyth. (Fasting for 10to 12 hours required; prescriptionmedicines should be taken as usualwith water.) 876-4377.

Diabetes Education Part I,noon to 4 p.m., Decatur MemorialHospital Wellness Center, Forsyth.

(Physician referral required.) 876-5378.

Labor & Delivery Class II, 6:30p.m., St. Anthony’s Memorial Hos-pital Auditorium, Effingham. 347-1529.

Pre-Postnatal Aerobics, DecaturFamily YMCA, Decatur, 5:30 to 6:15p.m. 872-9622.

Pregnancy Center, 8 a.m. to 4p.m., Macon County Health Depart-ment, Decatur, 423-3794, ext. 1303.

Pregnancy Testing, 9 a.m. to 3p.m., New Life Pregnancy Center,Decatur, 872-5555.

Prepared Childbirth Classes, 7p.m., Decatur Memorial HospitalClassrooms, Decatur, 876-3448.

Well/Sick Child Clinic, 8 to11:15 a.m., Macon County HealthDepartment, Decatur, 423-6988.

MeetingsAARP, 1:30 p.m., Decatur-Macon

County Senior Center, Decatur.Baby Talk, Decatur Public

Library Children’s Auditorium,

Decatur, 9:30 and 10:45 a.m..Decatur Area Women’s Net-

work, 5:30 p.m., Doherty’s Pub &Pins, Decatur, 422-3890.

Decatur Audubon Board Meet-ing, 7 p.m.,Rock SpringsNature Cen-ter, Decatur.

DecaturHigh SchoolClass of1942 Lun-cheon, 11:30a.m., TheMain Hangar,Decatur, 422-4976.

Decatur Public Library Boardof Trustees, 4:30 p.m., DecaturPublic Library, Decatur.

Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m.,Scovill Banquet Facility, Decatur.

Lincolnland AMBUCs, 6:30p.m., Easter Seals, Decatur.

Mature Resource Network,11:30 a.m., Decatur Club, Decatur.

Metro Decatur Home Builders

Association, 6 p.m., beach house,Decatur.

Metro Rotary Club, noon,Decatur Club, Decatur. 494-1543.

Suicide Knight Chess Club, 7p.m. to 10 p.m., Prairieland ABATE,Decatur.

Thursday Noon Toastmasters,noon, Barnes Citizens Buildingthird floor, Decatur. 855-3018.

SeniorsDecatur-Macon County Senior

Center, Quilters, 9 a.m., PossiblePets, 11 a.m., Cards, 1 p.m.,Decatur, 429-1239.

John’s Hill, Watercolor class, 9a.m., Decatur, 422-1509.

Support GroupsAl-Anon, 10 a.m., Central Christ-

ian Church, Decatur.Al-Anon, 8 p.m., First Presbyter-

ian Church, Mount Zion.Coalition Against Domestic

Violence, 6 p.m., First UnitedMethodist Church, Shelbyville. 1-888-345-3990.

Get High on Life Group, 8 p.m.,AFFAS, Decatur. 521-7204 or 620-3444.

Heart Helpers, 6:30 p.m., Dr.John Warner Hospital, Clinton. 935-8624.

Komen Breast Cancer SupportGroup, 6 p.m., Decatur Memorial

Hospital Women’s Health andBreast Center, Decatur. 876-4377.

Multiple Sclerosis SupportGroup, 7 p.m., Fayette County Hos-pital, Vandalia, (618) 349-8887.

Ostomy Support Group, 7 p.m.,St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital,Effingham. 258-4112 or 348-4112.

Parents Raising Awareness inSpecial Education (PRAISE), 6:30p.m., Decatur Public Library,Decatur, 876-8888.

Polio Survivors & Friends, 5 to6:30 p.m., Sarah Bush LincolnLumpkin Family Center for HealthEducation, Mattoon. 345-1549.

Seeing Our Way (low vision),10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Shelby CountySenior Center, Shelbyville, 774-4322.

Seeing Our Way (low vision),1:30 p.m., Elizabeth Titus MemorialLibrary, Sullivan, 728-3196.

United Ostomy Association, 7p.m., Lumpkin Family Center forHealth Education, Sarah Bush Lin-coln Health Center, Mattoon. 258-4112 or 348-4112.

Contact us

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Here are the winning

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Pick Three-Midday5-0-6

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Mega Millions jackpot

$16 million


Angeline Jones helps lace up the back of a dress for Jessica Kraemer, both 15, at Cataways Bridal and Consignment Shop inDecatur. Kraemer will be modeling dresses for the shop in this year’s Decatur Bridal Expo.

EXPOContinued from A1

“About 99 percent of our (weddingdress) inventory is new gowns,” addedsales associate Kris Jones.

The store is a full-service bridalshop that also sells jewelry, shoes,veils and tiaras, as well as flower girl,bridesmaid and mother-of-the-brideattire. It has been selling bridal attireand accessories for 10 years.

Nelson said she hopes to separatethe bridal portion of the store fromthe consignment shop one day, tohelp customers more easily differen-tiate the two.

“I think every bride should make ustheir first stop and their last stopbecause of our affordable prices,”Pickerill said.

Dawn Gates, president of the bridalexpo and owner of Zips Flowers bythe Gates, said she’s noticed couplesbeing more conscious with their wed-

ding expenses in light of the economictroubles.

“People do cut back, but weddingsare still an important part in people’slives,” Gates said.

“What people need to do is keeptheir dollars local,” Schone-Knollsaid. She said that is an objective ofthe bridal expo, which features most-ly local vendors. “Keeping the moneyin Decatur helps make the city’s econ-omy stronger.”


GOP: Special election would haveavoided questionsover nominee

By JASON NEVELH&R Springfield Bureau Writer

SPRINGFIELD — The spec-tacle of Roland Burris beingbarred from joining the U.S.Senate could have been avoid-ed, Illinois Republicans saidWednesday after Democraticleaders said they will hold offseating the former Illinoisattorney general until the Illi-nois Supreme Court rules onthe controversy.

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said the Democ-ratic actions Wednesday rein-force the claim Illinois Repub-licans were making all along:Illinois should have had a spe-cial election to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s vacantSenate seat.

“It’s not about Roland Bur-ris,” Brady said. “It’s not aboutanything other than a scan-dalous party whose governorhas been arrested and contin-ues to give him the power tomake this appointment.”

Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid said Wednesdaythat the Senate will wait tosee whether the signature ofIllinois Secretary of StateJesse White is needed for Bur-ris to take the seat. The highcourt’s decision could be madeby the end of the week.

White said Wednesday thathe is being unfairly blamed bythe Senate, and his signatureis “mostly ceremonial.”

Burris was appointed byGov. Rod Blagojevich in themidst of scandal surroundingthe embattled governor. The71-year old Democrat wasrejected by the U.S. Senate onTuesday but appears to beinching closer to becomingIllinois’ junior senator.

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld,R-Okawville, said he thoughtBurris would only fill theremaining two years ofObama’s Senate term. Headded that everything happen-ing in Washington this weekwas purely political.

“The political side of itchanged, and there was a lotof criticism from minoritygroups and criticism fromsome senators,” Luechtefeldsaid.

Illinois Republican PartyChairman Andy McKenna saida special election would elimi-nate reservations peoplemight have about a senatorwho was appointed by Blagoje-vich.

“When people hear sugges-tions of backroom deals, theywonder what is happening,”McKenna said. “We’re saying,take all of that away and go toa special election.”

Burris denied there wastalk from Democratic leaderson a commitment not to runfor a full term in 2010 inexchange for his seating thisyear.

Burris is scheduled to testi-fy today before the IllinoisHouse committee consideringimpeachment of Blagojevich.Reid said his testimony willfactor in to his chances atbeing seated by the Senate.


Illinois Republicans blameDems for Senate spectacle

Living history

Eisenhower High School

and Johns Hill Middle

School students talk about

what President-elect

Obama’s priorities should

be and how his election

changed their lives. Local A3

Renovating the HallFor Illini basketball fans,

the nightmare is the very

real possibility that the

Assembly Hall revovation

could force the Illini to play

a full season away from

Champaign. Sports B1

Kids among casualtiesChildren, who make up

more than half of Gaza’s

1.4 mil-

lion peo-

ple, are

the most

defense-

less vic-

tims of

the war

between Israel and Hamas.

As many as 257 children

have been killed and 1,080

wounded since Dec. 27.

World C3

Antiques for saleThousands of antiques are

for sale through Saturday in

the Kirkland Fine Arts Cen-

ter gallery. The show runs

from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today

and Saturday. Money C1

Delivery: 421-6990

Newsroom: 421-6979






WWW.HERALD-REVIEW.COM

Florida winsAimee Green moves

from Mondays to

Fridays/

D8

JANUARY 9, 2009


Issue 9

Four sections

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: Mostly cloudyTonight: Snow, rain early

Details/B8

H I G H

40L O W

23

FRIDAY

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . C3-6Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5Dear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D2Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D5Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-8Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1-2Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D8Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . D3,4Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . C4-6Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-7Television . . . . . . . . . . . . D7

INDEX

Top popsTim Cain picks the

best from 2008/D1

Herald Review&

Victory unlikely to end

BCS debate/B1

House nears impeachment

Associated Press

U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris, left, listensto his attorney, Timothy Wright III, while testifyingduring the Illinois House Impeachment Committeehearing Thursday in the Illinois State Capitol.

Committee votes21-0 to send issueto full House

By KURT ERICKSONH&R Springfield Bureau Chief

SPRINGFIELD — The Illi-nois House will vote today toimpeach Gov. Rod Blagoje-vich.

Capping three weeks of tes-timony and more than 1,000pages of documents, a specialcommittee voted 21-0 Thurs-day to recommend the fullHouse take the historic stepof impeaching the state’s topelected official.

Neither Blagojevich nor hisattorneys were present for thevote, in which lawmakersrepeatedly described the 52-year-old Chicago Democrat asa selfish man who stole thepublic trust with his behavior.

“The evidence is over-whelmingly damning,” saidstate Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet.

Armed with evidence rang-ing from his Dec. 9 arrest onfederal corruption charges tohis management of the stateover the past six years, manylawmakers said impeachmentof Blagojevich is inevitable.

“There’s no doubt that

By MIKE RIOPELL

H&R Springfield Bureau Writer

SPRINGFIELD — During a grilling by law-makers Thursday, Democrat Roland Burrisdenied any impropriety in his appointment tothe U.S. Senate by embattled Gov. Rod Blago-jevich.

U.S. Senate Democrats said Burris had toface the committee weighing the impeachmentof Blagojevich before Burris could assume theSenate seat in Washington, D.C.

“I feel I passed the test with flying colors,”Burris told reporters afterwards. “I have noth-ing to hide.”

Burris, a former state attorney general and

IMPEACH/A2 BURRIS/A2

IN FOCUS

Getting the picture

By ALICIA SPATESH&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — The mainmessage that Comcast offi-cials are trying to get acrossto its 24.6 million cable cus-tomers is to relax.

Whenthe gov-ern-ment-mandat-ed digi-tal tele-visiontransi-

tion occurs nationwide Feb.17, Comcast subscribers —and all cable customers, forthat fact — are covered, saidRich Ruggiero. After Feb. 17,television stations will notbroadcast analog signals.

“People who are connectedto Comcast don’t have to doanything,” said Ruggiero, thevice president of communica-tions and public affairs forthe Chicago and South Bend,Ind., areas.

“If you’re a Comcast cus-tomer and all your TVs (evenif they are analog televisionsets) are connected to Com-cast, even on a cable-readybasis, you’re all set for thedigital broadcast transition,”

he said. “The experience onFeb. 18, 2009, will be the sameexperience you’ll have Feb.17.”

Consumers who still havean analog TV set, whichmeans they only receive over-the-air signals via an anten-na, have three options if theywant to continue getting TVreception after Feb. 17. Indi-viduals must purchase a digi-tal TV, purchase a digital TVconverter box or subscribe toa cable or satellite service.

With a little more than amonth to go before the transi-tion, confusion is still wide-spread among consumers.

Retailers report being

approached with questionsranging from the more basic“Do I need a new televisionset?” or “Will I have to pur-chase a converter box to con-tinue receiving over-the-airbroadcasts?” to questionsaddressing specific situations.

Most of all, consumers arebaffled about whether thetransition will personallyaffect their television view-ing.

In most cases, the viewersare worried for no reason.

The Federal Communica-tions Commission estimatesthe transition will affectabout 11 percent of house-holds nationwide. This per-

centage appears low compared to the amount ofangst it has caused since thegovernment ordered the tran-sition.

Those with questions havea variety of sources, includinglocal retailers, from which toseek answers.

“We’re here to provide aservice, and service is knowl-edge,” said Art Warner, a 20-year salesman for B&C Tele-vision. “That’s what we’rehere for.”

Warner explains to his cus-tomers the benefits of thetransition and what it willmean for television viewing.He even shows them the dif-ference on the TVs in thestore.

“It’s a change for the bet-ter,” he said, “No ghostingpictures, no more snowy,grainy pictures.”

Plus, “Multicasting meansmore channels. Some peopledon’t like to change, but youget more channels on thespectrum.”

It’s a change that is sup-posed to be a win for all.

According to DTV.gov, theFCC’s Web site specifically

Conversion to digital TVsignal won’t affect most viewers at all

n Hold onPresident-elect

Obama asks Con-gress to delay theconversion.

Story/A4

Herald & Review photos/Kelly J. Huff

B&C Television Inc. salesman Art Warner has several versions of the analog-to-digital conversion box for sale at various prices. BELOW:Televisions that have antenna hookups that are attached by two screws to the spade clips seen here can purchase this conversion switch,which gives the TV a cable port to hook their cable service into.

TV/A2

Obama planruns intooppositionTax provisionscriticized by theleft and right

WASHINGTON (AP) —President-elect BarackObama implored Congresson Thursday to “act boldlyand act now” to fix an econ-omy growing perilouslyweaker.

Democraticand Republi-can lawmak-ers com-plained abouthis tax poli-cies, lettingObama knowthey intend toplace their own stamp onthe economic recoveryeffort.

Leading lawmakers setan informal goal of mid-February for enacting taxcuts and government spend-ing that could cost as muchas $1 trillion.

A call for a $3,000 taxbreak for job creation drewparticular criticism in a pri-vate meeting, and numer-ous lawmakers said Obamahad not ticketed enough ofhis tax proposal for energyprojects. The second-guess-ing came from the left andthe right: While someDemocrats said the incom-ing administration’s pro-posed tax cuts were toosmall, Republicans warnedagainst excessive newspending.

But there was little or nodispute about the need foraction, and Obama’sremarks coincided with apair of government reportsshowing fresh weakness inan economy already in cri-sis. An updated reading onunemployment was expect-ed to bring even more badnews today.

“If nothing is done, thisrecession could linger foryears,” with unemploymentreaching double digits,Obama said in a speech atGeorge Mason University insuburban Virginia. “A badsituation could become dra-matically worse.”

Less than two weeks fromtaking office as the 44thpresident, Obama hasbecome increasingly vocalin recent days about theneed for steps to revitalizethe economy, even thoughhe has continued to defer toPresident Bush on mattersof foreign policy.

Obama’s aides and con-gressional Democrats haveworked for weeks on

OBAMA/A2

Burris denies wrongdoing in committee testimony

Obama

The 21-member specialcommittee that recommend-ed Gov. Rod Blagojevich beimpeached discussed topicsthat include most of the gov-ernor’s six years in office.Here is some of the evidencethe House panel used tobuild a case for Blagoje-vich’s impeachment.

THE ARREST: The governor’sDec. 9 arrest drove theimpeachment inquiry. A fed-eral affidavit alleges Blago-jevich tried to sell the U.S.Senate seat President-electBarack Obama vacated.Most of the committee’searly action revolved aroundthe governor’s arrest, andthey’ve been delayed recent-ly in an attempt to get thewiretap recordings that thefederal government used tocharge Blagojevich.

ABUSE OF POWER: Last year,Blagojevich attempted toimplement a massive healthcare plan despite not gettingapproval from lawmakers.Those lawmakers took thegovernor’s move as anaffront to their authorityand argue that Blagojevichused powers he doesn’tlegally have to get his pro-grams rolling. “The gover-nor’s office did not follow

the law,” said state Rep. LouLang, D-Skokie.

HIRING PROBLEMS: A 2004report by the executiveinspector general revealedthat the Blagojevich admin-istration was bypassingstate hiring procedures forjobs that were supposed tobe nonpolitical. Zaldwayna-ka Scott, Blagojevich’s firstexecutive inspector general,said “this effort reflects notmerely an ignorance of thelaw, but complete and uttercontempt for the law.”

FLU VACCINES: During ashortage of flu vaccine in2004, Blagojevich lookedoverseas and paid $2.6 mil-lion to a European companyto get flu shots for Illinois.The FDA never approved thesale, and the vaccine wasnever delivered to the state.The shots eventually endedup in Pakistan.

CLOSED GOVERNMENT: Blago-jevich was accused offlaunting the state Freedomof Information Act, specifi-cally blocking the release ofsubpoenas his administra-tion received from federalinvestigators. After theimpeachment inquiry hear-ing on the issue, the admin-istration made the docu-

ments public.PAY-TO-PLAY: Campaign

finance advocates arguedBlagojevich showed a pat-tern of giving hefty cam-paign contributors state con-tracts or jobs on boards andcommissions. “This appearsto me to be far beyond coin-cidental,” said Cindy Canaryof the Illinois Campaign for

Political Reform.SENATE SEAT: The governor’s

appointment of Roland Bur-ris to the U.S. Senate wasn’tnecessarily a topic theimpeachment committeeused for its recommenda-tion, but Burris testifiedbefore them Thursday any-way, denying any wrongdo-ing.

BURRISContinued from A1comptroller, faced pointedquestions from Republicansasking him about his ties toBlagojevich, who wasarrested last month on fed-eral corruption charges.

Burris, often offering onlyshort answers, said Blagoje-vich simply offered him thejob, and he accepted afterconferring with friends.Blagojevich has beenaccused of trying to sell anappointment to the Senateseat, and the committeevoted to recommendimpeaching the governorafter Burris testified.

Asked if he provided

Blagojevich with any benefitin exchange for the appoint-ment, Burris said “absolute-ly, positively not.”

Burris said he hasn’ttalked to Blagojevich sincethe announcement of hisappointment in December.Burris, who was working asa lobbyist, has dropped hisclients in preparation for theSenate job.

Burris is in the middle ofa legal and political battleto claim the Senate seatBlagojevich gave him. Sen-ate Democratic leaders,including U.S. Sen. DickDurbin of Springfield, hadvowed to block any appoint-ment Blagojevich made.

But they have since relent-ed, and Burris now must get

the signature of Secretary ofState Jesse White in order totake the seat. That matter isbeing fought in the IllinoisSupreme Court.

White spokesman HenryHaupt said White doesn’thave any problem with Bur-ris, just Blagojevich.

“He has maintained thesame position all along,”Haupt said.

Burris arrived at Thurs-day’s hearing at the IllinoisCapitol among a throng ofmedia. He received similarattention earlier this weekwhen he was denied entry tothe U.S. Senate chamberand has remained in abright spotlight since.

Still, despite the attentionon him and Blagojevich’s

arrest, Burris said Thursday

he had not read the affidavit

used to arrest the governor.

“No,” Burris said. “I

haven’t read it at all.”


IMPEACHContinued from A1we’re going to impeach himtomorrow, and I think thevote will be unanimous,”said state Rep. BrandonPhelps, D-Harrisburg.

Some went a step furtherand suggested the Senatewill follow suit and removethe governor from office.

“I am very confident therewill be a new governor,” saidstate Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline.

Blagojevich, who was inChicago on Thursday, calledthe proceedings flawed andbiased and said his rightswere violated by the com-mittee’s rules.

“Today’s vote was not asurprise,” noted a statementfrom the governor’s pressoffice.

Although the full House isscheduled to vote on

impeachment today, repre-sentatives likely will have tovote again after a new Gen-eral Assembly is sworn inJan. 14, making Blagojevichnot only the first Illinoisgovernor to be impeached,but the first ever impeachedtwice in one week.

The question of whetherhe will be removed fromoffice will then move to theSenate. Preliminary planscall for the General Assem-bly’s upper chamber tolaunch a trial of the gover-nor Jan. 26, with a goal offinishing by early February.

“When the case moves tothe Senate, an actual judgewill preside over the hear-ings, and the governorbelieves the outcome will bemuch different,” the gover-nor’s statement concluded.

If Blagojevich is removedfrom office, Lt. Gov. PatQuinn would take over.

There have been rum-

blings of impeachment formore than a year, but HouseSpeaker Michael Madigan, alongtime Blagojevich neme-sis, said he wasn’t convincedBlagojevich’s oft-criticizedgoverning style was enoughto warrant the historic useof the impeachment clausein the Illinois Constitution.

“I didn’t feel that therewould be sufficient evidenceto justify moving on thematter of impeachment,”Madigan said.

Then came Blagojevich’sdramatic arrest by federalagents at his Chicago homeDec. 9.

Blagojevich is accused byfederal prosecutors of plot-ting to sell Illinois’ vacantU.S. Senate seat and shak-ing down businesses forcampaign contributions.

The impeachment commit-tee also levied charges ofabuse of power on the gover-nor, saying he repeatedly

tried to implement programswithout legislative approval.

“He has snubbed his noseat the oath of office,” saidstate Rep. Mike Bost, a Mur-physboro Republican whosat on the special panel.

“We are a government oflaws and not of men,” saidstate Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville.

While many members ofthe panel said it was a “sadday” for Illinois, others saidit was a positive step for astate mired in gridlock formore than a year.

“It is a good day in thefact that we’re moving for-ward,” Bost said.

On Thursday evening, fol-lowing the committee’s vote,Madigan left little doubtabout the outcome of today’ssession.

“I think the House willvote in favor of impeach-ment,” Madigan said.


SPRINGFIELD — Sincehis appointment to Illinois’vacant U.S. Senate seat,photos of Roland Burris’already completed tomb-stone have been widely cir-culated.

Carved with the words“TRAIL BLAZER,” it alsocontains engravings abouthis accomplishments,including being elected thefirst African-American offi-cial to hold statewide officein Illinois. Burris, 71, servedas state comptroller from1979 to 1991 and attorneygeneral after that until1995. It has space left formore recent achievements.

On Thursday after testi-fying before the Illinois

House committee consider-ing Gov. Rod Blagojevich’simpeachment, Burrisexplained to reporters thathis tombstone already isprepared because “I am aprobate attorney.”

“If I’m going to try tocounsel people on preparingto leave this earth, andcounsel them correctly, Ihave to also have to minealready prepared,” headded.

Burris was appointed byBlagojevich to fill the Sen-ate seat vacated by Presi-dent-elect Barack Obama.He still faces legal chal-lenges before he can takehis seat in Washington, D.C.

— MIKE RIOPELL

Burris builds monument to himself

Panel reviews governor’s perceived misdeeds

Events

DancingCentral Illinois Singles & Cou-

ples Dance, 8 to 11 p.m., VFWPost 755, Springfield, 546-9515.

Etc.Holiday Showcase, Schaub Flo-

ral Display Center, Decatur, 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. 422-5911.

Illini Farm Toy Show, HanfordInn & Suites, Urbana, 5 to 9 p.m.$3, $2. 893-4103.

MusicCounty Line Country, 7 p.m.

Herrick Community Building, Her-rick, Free.

Eric Gordan, 8 p.m., BementCountry Opry, Bement, 877-6499.

Shelbyville Twilighters Club, 2p.m., Shelby County Senior Center,Shelbyville.

NightlifeDancing with DJ Sean Michael,

10 p.m., Block’s Brewery, Decatur.Free Juke Box Party, 8:30 p.m.,

Mac’s Tackle Box, Decatur.House of Nasty, 9 p.m., AIW

Hall, Decatur. (Chance to win SkidRow tickets.) 875-2416.

Karaoke with Wiz, 8 p.m., 22ndStreet Discount Liquor, Decatur.

Karaoke/DJ Ricky, 9:30 p.m.,O’Malley’s, Sullivan.

Night Moves, 9 p.m., CJs, Mat-toon.

Open Jukebox, Korn Krib, Lath-am.

The Original HITMEN, 9 p.m.,Sliderz, Long Creek.

Repeat Offenders Band, 9 p.m.,Timbuktu Saloon, Long Creek.

Run for Cover, 9 p.m., Radmak-er’s Rock N Roll Tavern, Tolono,484-3531.

Stevie Ray Kelton-Oke, 9 p.m.,Curly’s Sports Bar, Decatur.

Variety Music DJ with Erica,9:30 p.m., Shorty’s, Decatur.



Comedienne AlexandraMcHale, 8 p.m., Illinois WesleyanUniversity Hansen Student Center,300 Beecher St., Bloomington, Freeand open to the public. (309) 556-3850.

HealthCardiopulmonary Education

Session, 1:30 p.m., DecaturMemorial Hospital Cardiac Rehabil-itation Department, Decatur, 876-2496.

Diabetes Education Part II,noon to 4 p.m., Decatur MemorialHospital Wellness Center, Forsyth.(Physician referral required.) 876-5378.

Health Screenings, 8:30 a.m. to4 p.m., Effingham County HealthDepartment, Effingham, 342-9237.

Mobile Mammography, SBLArcola Clinic, Arcola. Free. 1-800-639-5929.

Pregnancy Center, 8 a.m. to 4p.m., Macon County Health Depart-ment, Decatur, 423-3794, ext. 1303.


Tuberculosis Clinic and Test-ing, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., MaconCounty Health Department,Decatur. 423-1472.

MeetingsBaby TALK Lapsit, Decatur

Public Library, Decatur, 9:30 and10:30 a.m.

Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m.,Scovill Banquet Facility, Decatur.

Commodore Duplicate BridgeClub, 12:30 p.m., 422-0095.

Unitarian Universalist Men’sGroup, 1 p.m., Tuscany Steak &

Pasta House, Decatur.

SeniorsBingo, 1 p.m., Decatur-Macon

County Senior Center, Decatur, 429-1239.

FitnessClass, 10a.m.,Decatur-Macon Coun-ty SeniorCenter,Decatur, 429-1239.

Support GroupsAl-Anon, 8 p.m., St. Mary’s Hos-

pital, Room 561, Decatur.Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m.,

U.S. Bank Community Room, Tay-lorville.

La Leche League of DecaturMommy Hour, 10 a.m., Westmin-ster Presbyterian Church, Decatur.674-3580.

Reformers Unanimous (addic-tions), 7 p.m., Salem BaptistChurch, Decatur, 422-4274.

ExhibitsAbraham Lincoln Presidential

Library and Museum, Springfield.558-8934.

Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, 10a.m. to 5 p.m. $8, $4. (708) 485-0263.

Decatur Public Library Gallery,Second Floor, Decatur, Select worksfrom Macon County 4-H groups.424-2900.

DuSable Museum of AfricanAmerican History, Chicago, 10a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sat-urday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. $3,$2, $1. (773) 947-0600.

Field Museum, Chicago, 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. $14, $11 and $9. (312)665-7100.

Gallery 510 Arts Guild, Decatur,Closes at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday,Wednesday, and Friday; 11 a.m. to7 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Saturday. 422-1509.

Heritage in Flight Museum,Logan County Airport, Lincoln. Sat-urday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5p.m.

Hieronymus Mueller Museum,Decatur. 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdaythrough Saturday. 423-6161.

Illinois State Museum, Spring-field. 782-7386.

Krannert Art Museum andKinkead Pavilion, University of Illi-nois, Champaign. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Tuesday through Saturday (until 9p.m. Thursday), 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.Free ($3 donation suggested). 333-1861.

Lincoln College Museum, McK-instry Building, Lincoln. 9 a.m. to 4p.m. Monday through Friday; 1 to 4

p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closedmajor holidays. Free. 735-5050, ext.295.

Macon County History Muse-um, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Decatur. $2,$1. “The History of Baseball in Cen-tral Illinois.” 422-4919.

McLean County Museum ofHistory, Bloomington, “The Uncon-querable: Photos and History of theKickapoo Indians.” (309) 827-0428.

Moweaqua Coal Mine Museum,Moweaqua. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdayand Sunday. Free. 768-3019.

Museum of Funeral Customs,Springfield. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tues-day through Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m.Sunday. $3, $2, $1.50. Closed holi-days. 544-3480.

Shedd Aquarium, Chicago. 9a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Fri-day, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday andSunday. $23, $16. (312) 939-2438.

St. Louis Art Museum, ForestPark, St. Louis. Free. 10 a.m. to 5p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (until9 p.m. Friday). Closed Mondaysand major holidays. (314) 721-0072.

Under the Prairie Museum,Elkhart. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednes-day through Sunday. $3. 947-2522.

Contact us








WHAT’S HAPPENING

T O D A Y



MORE EVENTS:

Tomorrow’s

highlight:

Decatur BigBand, 4 to 6p.m., Lock,Stock and Bar-rel, Decatur.

A2 LOCAL FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2009 DECATUR, ILLINOIS www.herald-review.com












Herald&Review


numbers selected Thursday








Mega Millions jackpot$16 million

OBAMAContinued from A1legislation to create jobs,help the unemployed, cuttaxes and aid cash-strappedstates. Obama sent his chiefpolitical strategist, DavidAxelrod, and incoming chiefof staff, Rahm Emanuel, aswell as other aides to theCapitol for a series of meet-ings with lawmakers.

The measure probably willinclude a bewildering arrayof provisions — from subsi-dies to help the newly unem-ployed afford health care toa massive new effort toimprove the energy efficien-cy of federal buildings.

Obama said this week hehoped to be able to sign leg-islation by early to mid-Feb-ruary. House Speaker NancyPelosi, D-Calif., promisedlawmakers she would cancelnext month’s planned Presi-dents’ Day vacation if neces-sary.

“We are not going homewithout an economic recov-ery package,” she said at anews conference. SenateRepublican leader MitchMcConnell of Kentucky, at adifference appearance,agreed that allowed enough

time to get the job done.“But we ... don’t want to

make big mistakes that exac-erbate the — the problem wealready have, which is a dra-matic, eye-popping deficit,”he added.

Lawmakers in both partieswere digging into the details— few of which have beenmade public — and notalways liking what they saw.

Democrats emerging froma private meeting of the Sen-ate Finance Committee hadlittle positive to say aboutObama’s tax cut proposals.Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.,was critical of a proposedtax break for workers andtheir families.

“Twenty bucks a week.How much of a lift is thatgoing to give?” he said. Nordid he sound positive about aproposed tax break for busi-nesses to create jobs. “If I’ma business person, it’sunlikely if you give me a sev-eral thousand dollar creditthat I’m going to hire peopleif I can’t sell the productsthey’re producing,” he said.

Conrad and others saidObama’s blueprint includedabout $10 billion in tax incen-tives related to energy, out ofabout $300 billion overall — aslice they said was too small.

TVContinued from A1designed to inform con-sumers about the transition,switching to all-digitalbroadcasting will free upparts of the analog broad-cast spectrum for publicsafety communications, suchas the police and fire depart-ments. Also, some of thespectrum will be auctionedto companies to provide con-sumers with more advancedwireless services. In return,households get a better pic-ture and sound quality withdigital TV.

But determining if youhave a digital signal is not aseasy as looking at your setand antenna, because that isnot a sure-fire description ofan analog television.

“There’s no way to look atthe television and tell,” saidJustin McCarty, home essen-tials supervisor for Best Buyin Forsyth. “You may have todo some research online orthrough your TV’s manufac-turer to find out.”

He said if the televisionhas ATSC, or Advanced Tele-vision Systems Committee,the TV carries a digitaltuner.

Also, if the TV is a high-definition television (HDTV)or has a standard definitionTV (SDTV) format, it also isset for the transition. HDTVand SDTV are formats ofdigital TV.

Purchasing a televisionwith a digital tuner todayshouldn’t pose a problembecause analog televisionsare practically nonexistent.Since March 2007, all TVs aswell as VCRs and DVRs soldin the United States havebeen required to contain adigital tuner. Best Buy cur-rently only carries digitalTVs.

There are businesses thatare still selling analog televi-sion sets but are required bylaw to have a tag stating it isan analog TV and will needa converter box to continuereceiving over-the-air broad-casts after Feb. 17.

The converter box, whichconverts the digital broad-casting signal to analog TVsets, is the cheaper option togear up for the transitionand is readily available atlocal electronic retailers.

Comcast has been tryingto keep its customersinformed of changes andalso has offered discounts topeople to either sign up orupgrade. Comcast serves87,000 customers in Spring-field and Decatur and 1.9million in Illinois.

“We do want people to beready (for the transition),”Ruggiero said. “We don’twant anyone to lose their tel-evision cable.”


THE

NET

For more information on thedigital television transition:

n For questions about theoverall transition, call the Fed-eral Communications Commis-sion at 1-888-225-5322 or goonline to www.dtv.gov orwww.dtvanswers.com.

n To apply for the convertorbox coupon program, call 1-888-DTV-2009 or go online towww.dtv2009.gov.

n For information on anten-nas and the transition, goonline to www.antennaweb.org.

n Comcast Corp. offersinformation at www.comcast.com/dtv.

n WILL-TV also is offeringinformation on the transition atwww.will.illinois.edu. They canbe contacted at 333-1070 andby e-mail at [email protected].

Q: Who presides over an impeach-ment trial in the Senate?

A: Thomas Fitzgerald, the chief jus-tice of the Illinois Supreme Court.Fitzgerald, a native Chicagoan, waselected to the court in 2000.

Q: How many votes does it take toconvict?

A: It takes a two-thirds majority, or40 of 59 members of the Senate.

Q: What is the process?A: A special Senate committee on

impeachment procedures will recommend rules for the trial.The committee chairman is incoming Senate President JohnCullerton, D-Chicago. Other panel members include Sens.James Clayborne Jr., D-Belleville; Bill Haine, D-Alton; DonHarmon, D-Oak Park; Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago; Dale

Standing inJeff Deremiah retired from

teaching in 2003, but he’s

still in a

class-

room

most

days. A

lot of

those

days are

spent at

South

Shores School, where

Deremiah and fellow substi-

tute Martin Davis are part of

the family. Local A3

Looking aheadEighth grade is not too

early to start thinking about

your life’s work, organizers

of the annual career fair at

Richland Community Col-

lege say. Money A4

Saying no to vaccineThere are so many parents

in Ashland, Ore., who won’t

get their kids vaccinated

that federal researchers are

paying them to find out why.

Nation A6

“Screwtape Letters”Max McLean, well-known

in Christian circles for his

nationally syndi-

cated radio

program and

three audio

versions of the

Bible, is a hit in

C.S. Lewis’

“The Screw-

tape Letters”

at the Mercury

Theatre in

Chicago. Life

D8

Delivery: 421-6990

Newsroom: 421-6979







Moving onWoodland Chapel members

celebrate new home/D1

Generals marchMacArthur holds off

hot-shooting Urbana/B1

JANUARY 10, 2009


Issue 10

Four sections

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: Morning flurriesTonight: Seasonably cold

Details/B8

H I G H

30L O W

15

SATURDAY

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . C1-8Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D7Dear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D2Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D7Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-8Lottery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D2Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . D3Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . C2-4Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-7Television . . . . . . . . . . . . D6

INDEX

Blagojevich impeachedGovernor vows tofight; Senate probebegins Jan. 26

By KURT ERICKSON and JASON NEVELH&R Springfield Bureau Writers

SPRINGFIELD — Onemonth to the day after Gov.Rod Blagojevich was arrestedon federal corruptioncharges, the Illinois Housevoted overwhelmingly Fridayto impeach the disgracedChicago Democrat.

The 52-year-old chief execu-tive vowed to fight his ousterwhen the matter is taken upby the Senate later thismonth, saying he was beingvilified for using “creative”ways to help people who need

cheap prescription drugs andinexpensive health insurance.

“Is that an impeachableoffense?” said Blagojevich ata Chicago appearance Fridayafternoon.

The Senate is expected tolaunch its inquiry Jan. 26. Itwill be the first time since1833 the Senate has held animpeachment trial.

“We’ve done our job in theHouse. The Senate now hasthe duty looking at that evi-dence and conducting a trial,”said state Rep. John Bradley,D-Marion.

Blagojevich took office in2003 and was re-elected in2006. Although he fought withlawmakers throughout histenure, it was his Dec. 9arrest on federal corruptioncharges that triggered the

House’s action.Blagojevich, always an

aggressive and prodigiousfundraiser, is charged withplotting to sell Illinois’ vacantU.S. Senate seat, as well asattempting to shake downindividuals for large cam-paign contributions.

A special House impeach-ment committee said Blagoje-vich’s governing style alsowas cause for his removal.The panel, which met overthe course of three weeks,reviewed evidence that Blago-jevich tried to expand govern-ment without legislativeapproval. He also was criti-cized for alleged hiringimproprieties.

“It took handcuffs on the

What’s next for impeachment?

IMPEACHED/A2NEXT/A2

CASHING IN

Jobless facecripplinghealth costsSome could pay80% of benefits

WASHINGTON (AP) —Newly unemployed Ameri-cans will have to spend about30 percent of their joblessbenefits on average to payfor health insurance throughtheir former employer,according to a new report.

And if they want coveragefor their families, the reportby Families USA says it willtake more than 80 percent oftheir unemployment check.

Unemployment hit a 16-year high last month asanother 524,000 jobs werecut. For all of 2008, govern-ment says the economy losta net total of 2.6 million jobs.

When workers lose theirjobs, they are usually eligibleto maintain their healthinsurance coverage throughtheir old employer if theypay the premiums, plus a 2 percent administrative fee.The benefit is referred to asCOBRA insurance, becauseof the law that established it.

As part of his economicstimulus package, President-elect Barack Obama is pro-posing to spend about $80 bil-lion dollars to extend unem-ployment benefits and to sub-sidize health care for peoplewho have lost their jobs.

Families USA, a liberaladvocacy group says it’sreport comparing averageCOBRA costs and unemploy-ment benefits shows the needfor the subsidy proposed byObama.

At present, paying forCOBRA borders on unrealis-tic for most people who losetheir jobs. The cost cuts toodeeply into their govern-ment-paid jobless benefits.

Continuing health cover-age through former employ-ers is particularly difficultfor families. Indeed, in ninestates, the average premiumfor family coverage equals orexceeds their unemploymentbenefits, the Families USAreport said. Those states areAlabama, Alaska, Arizona,Delaware, Florida,Louisiana, Mississippi, SouthCarolina and West Virginia.

COBRA coverage is moreaffordable for individuals,but in six states, joblessworkers would have to spendmore than 40 percent of theirunemployment insurance onCOBRA premiums for indi-vidual coverage. Those statesare Alabama, Alaska, Ari-zona, Louisiana, Mississippiand West Virginia.


Client Thaddeus Bond prepares to unload another bag of plastic bottles from the Decatur Women’s Correctional Center at MaconResources Inc. The agency is preparing to open a second collection site Monday as part of an expanded recycling program in partnershipwith Dove Inc.’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program. BELOW: Bond helps Rich Hamilton, coordinator of shipping and receiving for MaconResources, load cardboard.

Recycling program expandsDove Inc., Macon Resources team up to open a second site

By THERESA CHURCHILLH&R Senior Writer

DECATUR — Recyclingaluminum cans has paid fornew tables and chairs in thedining room of the DisabledAmerican Veterans ChapterHouse in Decatur, as well as aflat-screen TV for the bar.

That’s because Mark York,commander of Chapter 17,has been taking cans to DoveInc.’s recycling center down-town for the past year and ahalf. “It’s a big reward for asmall effort,” York said.

Come next week, however,York will have a second col-lection site to choose from asthe agency’s Retired andSenior Volunteer Programpartners with MaconResources Inc. for an expand-ed recycling program thatwill accept more items, makemore pickups and possiblyprovide job training opportu-nities down the road forclients of both agencies.

“I could go either direction,so that’s terrific,” York said.“It’s a win-win situation foreverybody.”

To be launched by the open-ing of a collection site Mon-day at Macon Resources, thepartnership between the twosocial service agencies grewout of the volunteer pro-gram’s search for a new loca-tion.

The Decatur School Districthad allowed volunteers to useits building at 130 W. CerroGordo St. free of charge eversince the recycling center

opened in 1984, but last year,the district notified Dove thatit would like to use the prop-erty for additional parking.

“Macon Resources wasalready doing some recycling,too, and had gotten a balerthat can bale all kinds ofmaterials,” said Ray Batman,executive director of Dove.“So it seemed like a greatopportunity for both organiza-tions to get together and get

even more accomplished.”Dreux Lewandowski, execu-

tive director of MaconResources, saw things thesame way. “I was intrigued bythe idea and thought it wouldbe a natural fit,” he said.

The partnership also allowsboth centers to begin accept-ing donations of plastic, tinand cardboard, in addition topaying for aluminum.

The new collection site willshare space on the east sideof the Macon Resources build-ing in the receiving area forJan-Pro, the agency’s janitor-ial and lawn care business,with an open house plannedthere for Jan. 30 and 31.

The partnership also plansto find another location for itsdowntown collection site andadd to the pickup routes eachagency had already devel-oped, with many customerssimply donating their alu-minum.

The agencies also want toexpand their recycling pro-gram to the point where theycan offer their clients jobs to

RECYCLE/A2

IMPEACHEDContinued from A1governor to convince peoplethat something needed to bedone,” said state Rep. RogerEddy, R-Hutsonville. “Thegovernor is a unique combi-nation of stupidity, arroganceand evil.”

Blagojevich has denied anywrongdoing but continued tovex his critics when, in themidst of his problems in mid-December, he appointed for-mer Illinois Attorney GeneralRoland Burris to President-elect Barack Obama’s vacat-ed U.S. Senate seat.

He said Friday he was notsurprised by the House’saction because members havepreviously blocked hisattempts to help the citizensof Illinois.

The governor did notanswer questions after ashort news conference inChicago.

The vote in the House cameafter a number of speechesby lawmakers, who said thegovernor betrayed the trust ofthe people of Illinois. Theentire session last less than 90minutes.

“The governor has failed touphold his oath of office,”said House Majority LeaderBarbara Flynn Currie, aChicago Democrat who over-saw a special committee thatinvestigated the governor’s

actions.“He’s failed in his responsi-

bility as governor,” addedHouse Minority Leader TomCross, R-Oswego. “You oughtto be mad as hell. I am mad.I am angry. This is an embar-rassment. This is about asbad as it gets.”

State Rep. Milt Patterson,D-Chicago, was the lone “no”vote. He said the evidenceagainst Blagojevich wasn’tstrong enough.

“I do not feel comfortablevoting based on what I’veheard or read, simple as that.I went by my own gut feel-ing,” Patterson said.

State Rep. Elga Jefferies,D-Chicago, was the lone“present” vote. She said thecharges against the governorhave been “blown out of pro-portion.”

“I think a lot of it is person-al,” Jefferies said.

Lawmakers who sat on thespecial investigative commit-tee disagreed.

“The evidence was over-whelmingly damning,” saidstate Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet.

Following the vote, therewas hope the possibleremoval of Blagojevich couldput an end to the gridlockthat has plagued Illinois gov-ernment for the past twoyears.

“This begins to reverse thedamage that’s been done tothe people of Illinois,” said

state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington.

“He can’t govern anymore.We need to get rid of him andmove on,” said state Rep.Shane Cultra, R-Onarga.

Some lawmakers believethe governor could leavebefore the Senate kicks himout.

“Knowing him like I do, Ithink he will try and fight ituntil the end. But, I think ifhe gets the chance he will try

and make some type of dealand resign,” said state Rep.Patrick Verschoore, D-Milan.

If Blagojevich is removedfrom office by the Senate, Lt.Gov. Pat Quinn will take overas governor.

Quinn, 61, is in his secondterm as lieutenant governor.He also served as Illinoistreasurer.

[email protected]|789-0865;

[email protected]

Events

DancingCountry Dancing, 7 to 9 p.m.,

Odd Fellows Hall, Arthur, $2. Central Illinois Singles & Cou-

ples Dance, 7:30 p.m., CommunityBuilding, Tuscola, 253-5858.

Etc.“Resume Writing and Interview

Skills,” 1 p.m., Decatur PublicLibrary Madden Auditorium,Decatur, 421-9771.

Cross-Country Ski Workshop,4 p.m., Rock Springs Nature Cen-ter, Decatur. $12, $4. 423-7708.

Full Moon Hike, 6 p.m., RockSprings Nature Center, Decatur,423-7708.

Illini Farm Toy Show, HanfordInn & Suites, Urbana, 9 a.m. to 5p.m. $3, $2. 893-4103.

Kris Schmitz Benefit, withmusic by Battle Creek, 5 p.m.,

Shelby Christian Church, Shel-byville.

SAIL Signed Story Times, 11a.m., Children’s Auditorium,Decatur Public Library, Decatur.Free.

Second Saturday Book Sale,9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., DecaturPublic Library Annex, Decatur, 424-2900, ext. 100.

MusicDecatur Big Band, 4 to 6 p.m.,

Lock, Stock and Barrel, Decatur.Dulcimer Club, 10 a.m., Rock

Springs Nature Center, Decatur,423-7708.

Hootenanny, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.,Eastern Illinois University GrandBallroom, Charleston. $5, $6. 581-5956.

Sam Lacy, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.,George’s Candy Shop, Taylorville.

Susan Werner, 8 p.m., BlueMoon Coffeehouse, Illinois Wes-

leyan University, Bloomington.

NightlifeAutumn Zero, Daddy-O’s,

Decatur.Benefit for Margaret Boone,

featuring The Hitmen, D.D.T.,Bad Seed and Charger, 4 p.m.,AIW Hall, Decatur.

Big Daddy Frank Karaoke &DJ, 8:30 p.m., Da Burg Bar & Grill,Warrensburg, 672-3608.

Cadillac Ranch, 8:30 p.m.,Newts, Springfield, 528-0868.

Charmed DJ & Karaoke, 8 p.m.,Mac’s Tackle Box, Decatur.

Dancing with DJ Sean Michael,10 p.m., Block’s Brewery, Decatur.

DJ/Karaoke, 9 p.m., ElbowRoom, Decatur.

Exit, 8 p.m., Bullseye Bar andGrill, Hammond.

Good Times D.J., 9 p.m., The

Pour House, Decatur, 330-6292.Hoggwild with Rantucky Head-

hunters, 9 p.m., Radmaker’s RockN Roll Tav-ern, Tolono,485-3531.

ImagineThat, 9 p.m.,Lock, Stockand Barrel,Decatur.

JustonVanCleve, 9p.m., Tim-buktuSaloon, LongCreek.

Karaoke with Wiz, 8 p.m., 22ndStreet Discount Liquor, Decatur.

Kilborn Alley, 9 p.m., AIW Hall,Decatur, 875-2416.

Legends Entertainment, 9 p.m.,Korn Krib, Latham.

Night Moves, 9 p.m., AmericanTap, Taylorville.

Odd Couple Karaoke and DJ, 9p.m., Curly’s, Decatur.

Stevie Ray Kelton-Oke, 9 p.m.,Curly’s, Decatur.

TeKeLa DJ, 8 p.m., Buds onGreen, Decatur.

Variety Music DJ with Mike,9:30 p.m., Shorty’s, Decatur.

Whiskey and a Pickle, 9 p.m.,Sliderz, Decatur.



HealthNew Brother/New Sister Class,

10 a.m., St. Anthony’s MemorialHospital Auditorium, Effingham.347-1529.

MeetingsFreedom By Choice ABATE, 6

p.m., D.A.V. Chapter 17, Decatur.

SeniorsJohns Hill Senior Center, Club

Continental, 11:30 a.m., Decatur.

428-7893.

Support GroupsAlcoholics Anonymous, 6 p.m.,

First United Methodist Church,Decatur, 422-3766.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m.,First Presbyterian Church, Tay-lorville, 824-3028.

Narcotics Anonymous, , St.Thomas Community Center,Decatur, 1 and 6 p.m. 1-800-539-0475.

Narcotics Anonymous, mid-night, 2520 E. William St., Decatur,1-800-539-0475.

Overeaters Anonymous, 10:30a.m., St. Mary’s Hospital, Room561, Decatur.

Project Read, 9 a.m. to noon,Knapp Library, Middletown, 445-2050.

Contact us








WHAT’S HAPPENING

T O D A Y



MORE EVENTS:

Tomorrow’s

highlight:

“Mezz’anno- One-Half Yearin Italy,” 2 p.m.,Decatur PublicLibrary MaddenAuditorium,Decatur, 424-2900 ext. 7.

A2 LOCAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009 DECATUR, ILLINOIS www.herald-review.com












Herald&Review

Here are the winning numbers selected Friday in the Illinois State Lottery:






Mega Millions23-25-30-45-50

Mega Ball8



I F YOU GO

WHAT: Community recyclingprogram of Dove Inc., Retiredand Senior Volunteer Programand Macon Resources Inc.

HOURS: 8:30 a.m. to noon,Monday through Saturday

COLLECTION SITES: 2121Hubbard Ave. and 130 W.Cerro Gordo St. in Decatur

ACCEPTS: aluminum, plastic,tin and cardboard (pays foraluminum only, price currently30 cents a pound)

NOTABLE: More routes arebeing planned to pick up frombusinesses and other organi-zations.

FOR MORE: Call 428-6616 forDove or 875-8809 for MaconResources.

RECYCLEContinued from A1prepare them for otheremployment. “Down theline we have some greathopes,” said Joan Meeder,director of Dove’s Retiredand Senior Volunteer Pro-gram.

Dove operates a domesticviolence shelter and is thelead agency for HomewardBound, a program workingto put homeless people intopermanent housing.

Macon Resources, mean-while, serves people withdevelopmental disabilitiesand their families. Thepoint person for the com-munity recycling programthere is Rich Hamilton,coordinator of shipping andreceiving.

Both agencies credit sup-port they have receivedfrom the Macon CountySolid Waste Department,which provided funding forMacon Resources’ balerand containers for the vol-unteer program.

“This is a partnershipI’m excited about,” saidDeb Garrett, the depart-ment’s environmental edu-cator. “They’re poised totake some great steps for-ward.”

As the result of a conver-sation at The DecanterFine Wines last monthbetween co-owner JayEmrich and Lewandowski,that business already hashad one load of cardboardpicked up by a truck fromMacon Resources thatcame downtown to pick uprecyclables at Macon IceCream, another businessoperated by the agency.

Emrich said that beforethis, he and the other twoowners had been loadingup their cars once a monthto take cardboard to anoth-er recycling center.

“It wasn’t such a terribleimposition, because wewant to do what we can toprotect the environment,”Emrich said. “But now it’sjust one less thing we haveto worry about.”

[email protected]|421-

7978

NEXTContinued from A1Righter, R-Mattoon; DanRutherford, R-Chenoa; MattMurphy, R-Palatine; andKirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale.

Q: Who was the last per-son impeached in the stateof Illinois?

A: Circuit Court JudgeTheophilus W. Smith. Smithwas charged with selling aclerk’s office, suspending alawyer for requesting achange of venue away fromhis court and “for tyranni-cally committing to jail inMontgomery County aQuaker who entertainedconscientious scruplesagainst removing his hat inopen court.” Smith’s triallasted from Jan. 9 to Feb. 7,1833. The Illinois Senateacquitted him of the

charges. Smith served as ajudge until 1842.

Q: Who was the last gov-ernor impeached in theUnited States?

A: Evan Mecham, gover-nor of Arizona, wasimpeached in 1988.Mecham, who died lastyear, was charged with vio-lating campaign financelaws as well as obstructionof justice. The ArizonaHouse impeached him inFebruary 1988, and he wasremoved from office thatApril.

Other states that haveimpeached and removedgovernors include Ken-tucky, Louisiana, Nebraska,North Carolina, New Yorkand Oklahoma.

— QUAD-CITY TIMESSource: Illinois Historical Society,

1970 Illinois Constitution,

Connecticut General Assembly

Durbin to fight Burris appointmentSenator insistssecretary of statesignature needed

CHICAGO (AP) — Sen. DickDurbin threw a sizable road-block in Roland Burris’ path tothe U.S. Senate on Friday, say-ing firmly the former Illinoisattorney general cannot beseated without a missing sig-nature certifying his appoint-ment.

“There has never in the his-tory of the Senate been a waiv-er of the requirement that thesecretary of state’s signaturebe part of the appointmentprocess — never,” Durbin, theSenate’s second-ranking Demo-crat, told a news conference.

It was a fresh twist in Bur-ris’ campaign to be replacePresident-elect Barack Obamain the Senate despite claimsthat his appointment by Gov.Rod Blagojevich is tainted.Blagojevich is facing federalcorruption charges thatinclude allegations he tried tosell or trade the seat for per-sonal or political favors. Hewas impeached Friday by theIllinois House.

Still, Burris attorney Timo-thy Wright said he planned totravel to Washington to speakwith Senate leaders Monday.Wright said he did not know ifBurris also would go.

“The appointment of RolandBurris is an effective appoint-ment,” Wright said.

Durbin said efforts to fill theSenate seat vacated byObama’s election should go onhold until after the Senateholds an impeachment trial.

If Blagojevich is removed asgovernor, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinnwill take over and can addressthe problem then “in a clean,legal and respectable way,”Durbin said.

Illinois Secretary of StateJesse White has refused to signdocuments certifying Burris’sappointment to the Senate, cit-ing Blagojevich’s problemswith the law.

The Illinois Supreme Courton Friday said in an unani-mous opinion from all fourDemocratic and three Republi-can justices that White didn’tneed to sign the certificationpapers for Burris’s appoint-ment to become official. Thecourt said Democratic leaderson Capitol Hill who have beenwaiting for White’s signaturecould go ahead and swear inBurris as a senator without it.

The high court said no fur-ther action by state officialswas necessary.

Durbin said what might begood enough for the court wasnot good enough for the Senateand that without White’s signa-ture efforts to seat Burrisshould stop.

“I think it’s best to suspendactivities in the filling of thatvacancy until that impeach-ment trial in the Illinois Senateis concluded,” Durbin said. Hesaid that if as many lawmak-

ers expect Blagojevich is oust-ed Quinn would have a freehand.

“I think that’s the best wayto turn the page,” Durbin said.

Wright, Burris’ attorney,later came forward with a doc-ument signed by White certify-ing that Blagojevich’s appoint-ment had been filed by the sec-retary of state’s office.

Wright told a news conferencehe already had sent the docu-ment to the Senate along withan attached Blagojevich lettersaying he had appointed Burris.

“The secretary of the stateof Illinois has certified theappointment of Roland Bur-ris,” Wright told reporters. “Wehave the signatures.”

“There’s nothing they (theSenate) can do to reverse this,”he said.

Actually, the paper withWhite’s signature on itappeared to be a certificationthat the secretary of state’soffice had registered thearrival of the appointment.

David Druker, a Whitespokesman, said that form,available to anyone for a $2 fee,was different from the official

U.S. Senate forms White hasrefused to sign.

Nathan Maddox, senior legaladviser to White, said White’sletter registering Blagojevich’smessage “is not the officialSenate appointment docu-ment.”

On Capitol Hill, seniorDemocrats said they wanted towait and see before offeringany opinion on what the new-found document from White’soffice meant.

“The Senate parliamentari-an, the secretary of the Senateand Senate legal counsel areadvising Senate leadership aswe consider a way forward,”said Jim Manley, a spokesmanfor Senate Democratic LeaderHarry Reid of Nevada.

The squabble over the Sen-ate appointment has been rag-ing for two weeks now withRepublicans hoping for a spe-cial election at which theymight just grab off a seat inthe Senate.

Democratic leaders hadappeared this week to be soft-ening to the idea of seatingBurris, though Burris has losta string of statewide electionsand hasn’t won anything sincethe early 1990s — somethingthat has to be on Democrats’minds as they look ahead.

Durbin acknowledged thestate’s high court had foundthere was no reason why thelack of White’s signatureshould stop the appointment.

“That is of course the IllinoisCourt’s right and responsibilityto reach that conclusion,”Durbin said. “However, there ismore to the story. It isn’t just aquestion of whether Illinois lawis met. It isn’t a question ofwhether the Illinois Constitu-tion has been served butwhether the actions taken aresufficient for the person to beappointed to fill the vacancyunder the rules of the UnitedStates Senate where I serve.”

Associated Press

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., holds a news conference Friday to dis-cuss the latest developments in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeach-ment and the appointment of Roland Burris to the Senate.

Blagojevich timeline

n Dec. 10, 1956: Blago-jevich is born in Chica-go.

n 1979: The would-begovernor graduates fromNorthwestern University.

n 1983: Blagojevichearns a law degree fromPepperdine University inCalifornia. He wouldlater joke about being aC student in constitution-al law.

n 1992: He is elected tothe Illinois House fromChicago.

n 1996: Blagojevichwins a term in Congress,representing Illinois’ 5thDistrict.

n March 2002: Blagoje-vich wins a three-wayDemocratic primary forgovernor, taking 36 per-cent of the vote, edgingPaul Vallas and RolandBurris.

n November 2002:Blagojevich wins hiscampaign for governorafter running againstthen-Attorney GeneralJim Ryan. He took 52percent of the vote.

n January 2005: Blago-jevich’s father-in-law,Chicago Alderman DickMell, said the governortraded campaign contri-butions for spots onboards and commissions.Mell would later recantthose comments, butthey sparked the interestof investigators into thegovernor’s administra-tion.

n October 2006: MajorBlagojevich fundraiserAntoin “Tony” Rezko isarrested. He would laterbe found guilty of cor-ruption.

n November 2006:Blagojevich wins a sec-ond term, defeating for-mer state TreasurerJudy Baar Topinka.

n Dec. 8, 2008: Furthertrailed by questionsabout the federal investi-gation, Blagojevich tellsreporters “I don’t believethere’s any cloud thathangs over me; I thinkthere’s nothing but sun-shine hanging over me.”

n Dec. 9, 2008: Blagoje-vich is arrested in Chica-go by federal agents oncorruption charges.

n Dec. 15, 2008: A Illi-nois House committeebegins weighing whetherBlagojevich should beimpeached.

n Dec. 30, 2008: Blago-jevich appoints RolandBurris to Illinois’ vacantU.S. Senate seat.

n Jan. 8: The impeach-ment inquiry committeerecommends Blagojevichbe impeached.

n Jan. 9: Blagojevichis impeached by a 114-1vote in the Illinois House,setting up a trial in theIllinois Senate.

— H&R SPRINGFIELDBUREAU

By HUEY FREEMANH&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — When a young Massachu-setts senator was preparing to announcehis White House run, he expressed a desireto give a speech somewhere in rural Illi-nois.

Robert McCarthy, a 35-year-old staterepresentative, heard about Sen. John F.Kennedy’s request from the state Democ-ratic Party chairman during a caucus atthe State Capitol in the summer of 1959.

The ideareceived achilly recep-tion.

“Paul Pow-ell, speaker ofthe house, said,‘We don’t wantany Catholicsin here. StuartSymington ismy candi-date,’ ” Mc-Carthy re-called in aphone inter-view from hiswinter home inFlorida. “AllenLucas, a staterepresentativefrom Spring-field, said, ‘Mypeople will notsupport aCatholic if wehad a rally.’ ”

McCarthy, anadmirer ofKennedy, whohad witnessedhim in action atthe 1956 Democratic Convention in Chica-go, stepped to the plate.

“I said I believe the people in Decaturwill be receptive to putting on a rally forhim,” said McCarthy, now 84.

Kennedy did come to Decatur, where 700people turned out to hear him speak at theMasonic Temple on Oct. 26, 1959.

McCarthy accompanied Kennedy on hisDecatur visit, meeting him at the airport,riding in a limousine with him to theOrlando Hotel, attending his cocktail partyand sitting at the head table at the dinner.

Thumping IndianaTrent

Meach-

am

helps

make

sure

this Illi-

nois-

Indiana

clash is

not the typical nail-biter. He

hits seven 3-pointers en

route to a 76-45 victory.

Sports C1

Plan to saveWith inflation rising

faster than their incomes,

families have to dig deeper

to afford groceries. But with

careful planning and family

cooperation, you can shave

$400 a year off the grocery

bill. Money F1

‘Schoolhouse Rock’About 120 young people

will spend Saturdays

through-

out the

winter

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ing for

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Live” on

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cious stage in a former

auto showroom. Local B1

Israel may spread warIsrael drops bombs and

leaflets on Gaza, pounding

suspected rocket sites

used by Hamas militants

and warning of a wider

offensive despite diploma-

cy to end the fighting.

World A7

Delivery: 421-6990

Newsroom: 421-6979






JANUARY 11, 2009

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: Partly cloudyTonight: Mostly cloudy

Details/B6

H I G H

34L O W

22

SUNDAY

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . E4-10Comics . . . . . . . . . . . insideDear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D6Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D5Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-6Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1-4Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . D3,4Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . B5Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . E6,8Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1-8Television . . . . . . . . . . . . C7

INDEX

$1.75137th year

Issue 11

Six sections

n GIRLS TOURNEY: Central A&M holds off Warrensburg-Latham for title/C1


LifebloodDecatur plasma donors

help keep people alive/D1

Winter’s herbsSome varieties continue

to flourish off-season/E1

PRESIDENTIAL VISITS

H&R file photos

Robert McCarthy, then a state representative, boldly broke with other downstatepoliticians to invite John Kennedy to Decatur in October 1959. Kennedy, a Catholic,had not yet announced that he was running for president and seemed like anunlikely choice to represent the Democrats. This Herald & Review photograph ofMcCarthy and Kennedy at Decatur Airport was first published after Kennedy waskilled in November 1963.

1903: President Theodore Roosevelt gave the main address atthe dedication of Millikin University. After his train stopped atthe West Main Street crossing, he walked with Dr. A.R. Taylor,president of the new university, to the speakers platform.

VISITS/A2

1984: President Ronald Reagan shakes hands with professor C.Richard Decker during a stop at Millikin University that includedan agribusiness forum. N. Duane Noland, pictured at center, thena 27-year-old farmer, was invited to speak at the forum. Thatevent led Noland into a political career as a state legislator.

1931: President HerbertHoover is shown aboard histrain as he visited Decatur.

Readers share their stories and photos about

meeting Barack Obama atwww.herald-review.com/

brushwithobama/

Area residents vividly recall brushes with menwho would occupy Oval Office

Unforgettable

Storm circles over General Assembly‘Horrible’ financialproblems lurk inimpeachment shadow


SPRINGFIELD — The swearing-inceremony for Illinois lawmakers usu-ally can be seen as a calm before thestorm.

It’s an event every two years, filledwith pomp and tradition, duringwhich lawmakers celebrate with theirfamilies, knowing the big battles overcontroversial legislation likely are

still weeks or months away.But with the 96th Illinois General

Assembly set to be sworn in Wednes-day, the stormalready is cir-cling Spring-field.

The IllinoisHouse on Fridayimpeached Gov.Rod Blagoje-vich, and theSenate’s trial ofthe governorcould begin in

earnest very soon.“The best thing for the state of Illi-

nois is to get this sad period done with

and let’s move on,” said state Rep.Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth. “We’ve got alot of problems we have to work withthis year.”

Blagojevich is sched-uled to preside over theIllinois Senate’s inaugu-ral ceremony Wednes-day, and the way he’sreceived by the state’s59 senators could givean indication of thetenor of his eventualtrial there.

Since his arrest Dec. 9 on federalcorruption charges, state officials’reception of the governor has beenmostly cold. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn on

Friday echoed many of his colleaguesby calling for Blagojevich to stepdown because others in governmentdon’t trust him.

“I think he needs to look in the mir-ror and realize that,” Quinn said.

Quinn would take over if Blagoje-vich leaves office, but no matter whois governor, lawmakers sworn inWednesday face the daunting task oftrying to fix deeply troubled statefinances in deeply troubled economictimes.

“The state’s financial crisis is horri-ble,” state Rep. John Bradley, D-Mari-on said. “And we are in a state of

Obama vowseven morejobs in planAdmits narrowingof economic scope

WASHINGTON (AP) —President-elect BarackObama countered critics withan analysis Saturday by hiseconomic team showing thata program of tax cuts andspending such as he has pro-posed would create up to4.1 million jobs, far more thanthe 3 mil-lion he hasinsistedare neededto lift thecountryfromrecession.

Congres-sional Republicans reactedskeptically, just as Obamaacknowledged that he wouldbe forced to recant some ofhis campaign promises, giventhe economic crisis facing thecountry. Even the president-elect’s own economistsacknowledged their two-yearestimates could be wrong.

The 14-page analysis, whichwas posted online, says esti-mates are “subject to signifi-cant margins of error” —because of the assumptionsthat went into the economicmodels and because it is notknown what might pass Con-gress.

Eternal flameflap flares upin Arizona

BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz.(AP) — An “eternal” flame atBullhead City’s new veteransmemorial park that only last-ed until city officials receiveda $961 gas bill has been re-litfollowing complaints by veter-ans groups.

The Medal of Honor Memo-rial at the Arizona VeteransMemorial Park alongside theColorado River was lit on Vet-erans Day in November. Whenthe bill arrived in late Decem-ber, city officials werestunned.

“It caught us by surprise,”City Manager Tim Ernstersaid Thursday. “What wedecided to do for the timebeing is to turn the flame on... for special events, for Vet-erans Day, Fourth of July,Memorial Day — those typesof activities.”

The flame was extinguishedMonday. The Mohave ValleyDaily News published a story

STORM/A2

JOBS/A2

FLAME/A2

Inside

n Prospectsbrighten for ethicsreform

nAnalysis: Gov-ernor’s prospectsgrim in Senate

Stories/B3

Blagojevich

THE

NET

Transition site:www.change.gov

VISITSContinued from A1

“He was just a tremendousguy,” McCarthy said, addingthat Kennedy talked with himabout politics, whether hecould receive support fromdownstate leaders. “He wasjust as natural as a personcould be. After the press con-ference at the hotel, we werestill in the bedroom. He said,‘You don’t mind if I shower,do you?’ He kept talking fromthe shower. He left the doorajar. I was his equal. Any-thing that was on his mindcame out. No doubletalk.”

As Barack Obama preparesto take his oath of office, theHerald & Review invited itsreaders to share their memo-ries of encounters with for-mer presidents who havecome to the region.

Decatur, an important cityin the life and political careerof Abraham Lincoln, has beenvisited by many presidentsduring their terms, beginningwith Rutherford B. Hayes in1880. William McKinley,William Howard Taft, HarryTruman and Ronald Reaganall gave speeches in Decaturwhile in office. Theodore Roo-sevelt addressed a crowd onthe occasion of the dedicationof Millikin University in 1903.

Dwight Eisenhower,Richard Nixon and JimmyCarter came to Decatur dur-ing their election campaigns.Ulysses Grant visited the cityin 1880, a few years afterleaving office. Franklin Roo-sevelt visited the A.E. StaleyMfg. Co. plant during hisunsuccessful campaign forvice president in 1920.

The man Roosevelt laterdefeated, Herbert Hoover, vis-ited Springfield in 1930 tospeak at the dedication of theremodeled Lincoln’s Tomb.

Jack Allen, 84, a Decaturresident, recalls that he sawHoover in a motorcade, one ofhis earliest memories.

“We were living two blocksfrom Abe Lincoln’s home,”Allen said, adding he wasstanding on the porch of thefamous house to see the presi-dent. “Herbert Hoover camealong in a big four-door opensedan. He had on one of thoseold, round hats.”

‘Scared to death’Stories of Ronald Reagan’s

visit on Aug. 20, 1984, still arefresh in the minds of manypeople.

N. Duane Noland was a 27-year-old farmer who recently

had won a debate contest at astate Farm Bureau meeting.He received a call from Mil-likin’s president, inviting himto speak at an agribusinessforum on the university’scampus with Reagan.

“At first, I thought it was agag call; I thought someonewas spoofing me,” Nolandsaid. “The next thing youknow, they are doing back-ground checks on me.”

The other speakers, besidesthe president, included corpo-rate and agricultural bigwigs.

“I was scared to death,”Noland said. “They had anational press corps there. Iwas out of my league. I wasjust a rank-and-file farmer.”

He broke the ice by leadingwith a joke, a risky gambitbecause of the potential forembarrassing silence.

“I feel like the little boywho fell into a vat of choco-late and said, ‘O Lord, makemy tongue adequate for thistask,’ ” Noland told the crowd,as numerous cameras flashedand whirred.

The audience paused, andthen there was a roar oflaughter.

“Up until that point, I wasnervous,” Noland recalled. “Irelaxed and got though it.Reagan laughed; he had ahearty laugh.”

Noland, who went on toserve five terms in the statelegislature, credits Reagan’svisit with giving him theexposure that led to his politi-cal career.

Denene Wilmeth was run-ning for state representativewhen she received an invita-tion to join other female candi-dates at a White House lunch-eon. She was greeted by nameby Reagan and his wife, Nancy,as well as Vice PresidentGeorge H.W. Bush and hiswife, Barbara. At lunch, hertable was next to the Bushes.

“It was exciting,” Wilmethrecalled. “Reagan had theability to be friendly, that spe-cial aura about him that drewpeople in. He engaged you inconversation. It couldn’t havebeen more perfect. The presi-dent said, ‘We will be visitingDecatur before too long. Wehope to see you there.’ ”

When Reagan arrived, Wil-meth was on the receivingstand at Decatur Airport. Shelater lost her election butregards her presidentialmemories as a wonderful con-solation prize.

Russel Wright will neverforget his meeting with Rea-gan, when the presidentstopped at Archer DanielsMidland Co. during that same

visit. Wright, a truck driverwho carried grain fromBement to ADM, was selectedas one of four drivers whowould meet the president.

“We had an armed guardescort us to Decatur andparked our trucks in a securelot at the East plant,” Wrightsaid. “The next day, we had tohave our trucks in line infront of the corn dumps by acertain time. Of course, mytruck wouldn’t start, but afterjumping it, it fired up, and Ijoined my place in line.

“We were instructed to notspeak, only if spoken to. Mr.Reagan approached andasked me a question. I thinkhe asked about my family andhauling to ADM. He was realdown to earth. He was reallynice to talk to.”

Jimmy Who?Reagan’s predecessor,

Jimmy Carter, visitedDecatur at an early stage ofhis campaign.

Larry Klugman, a RichlandCommunity College politicalscience professor, received acall from a Democratic Partyleader, asking if he would liketo have a presidential candi-date from Georgia visit hisclass.

Klugman agreed, movinghis class to the library toaccommodate nonstudents.

“He had a very unusual cam-paign, in that he would shunhotels. He would stay in peo-ple’s homes,” Klugman said.“He had essentially a singlemessage he was running on,early in the game: ‘I promiseyou this: I won’t lie to you.’ ”

Klugman said Carter’s visit

especially fired up one of hisstudents, Shirley Moore, whoworked in Carter’s campaignand hosted members of theCarter family in her home.Moore later served in theDecatur City Council.

Jeff and John Deremiah,brothers who have been col-lecting presidential autographsand artifacts for decades, wereat that Carter campaign event.

“He was classified as‘Jimmy Who?’ at the time,”Jeff Deremiah said. “Therewere only about 25 or 30 peo-ple there.”

John Deremiah, who haslived in Georgia the past 40years, has come to knowCarter, seeing him at leastonce a year at the Plains,Ga., Peanut Festival in Sep-tember.

“He’s just like a regularperson to me,” John Deremi-ah said.

Jeff Deremiah, 12 years oldat the time, met Nixon inDecatur in 1960, presentinghim with an 8-by-10 glossyphotograph. After signing it,Nixon, not known for his mod-esty, said, “I know you’lltreasure this, especially if Ibecome president.”

Deremiah later met hisdaughter, Julie Nixon Eisen-hower, when President Nixoncame to Springfield in 1971 toauthorize the Lincoln Homeas a national historic site.

“She was extremely acces-sible and friendly,” JeffDeremiah said, adding theyboth were 23. When he toldher he would like to send herlocal newspaper stories onNixon’s visit, she said, “I willtreasure those, to rememberthis time with my father.”

When he sent the clippings,Julie Eisenhower sent him areturn letter, expressing herdeep appreciation.

When Nixon’s successor,Gerald Ford, was running forre-election in October 1976,Jeff Deremiah saw him at acampaign stop in Lincoln, onhis Whistlestop Train Tour.

“He said, ‘I’m glad to behere in Galesburg,’ ” Deremi-ah said. “When he got off thetrain, I shook his hand.”

R.C. Smith, of Long CreekTownship, saw PresidentHarry Truman speak fromtrains twice in Decatur, whilecampaigning for himself in1948 and for Adlai Stevensonin 1952.

“On both occasions, Presi-dent Truman made outstand-ing and inspiring speeches,”Smith said.

Smith shook hands withJohn Kennedy and his sister,Eunice Shriver, during the1960 campaign, after hearinghim deliver a speech at theUniversity of Illinois.

At the height of his popular-ity, in 1962, President Kennedywas serenaded by a talented15-year-old Decatur singer ata rally at the Illinois StateFairgrounds in Springfield.

Linda Burke Grammer hadbeen singing since she was 10with the Marty Roberts Band.After Roberts was asked toentertain the rally, he invitedLinda to sing a solo, “PT-109,”a top 10 hit about Kennedy’swartime exploits.

“I was both thrilled andscared to death at the sametime,” said Grammer, whowent on to become a profes-sional singer. “All I couldthink of was how great anhonor it would be, but howscary it would be to be face toface with the president of theUnited States, with himwatching and listening.”

Wearing a white sailor hat,Grammer began singing to thecrowd, then remembered shehad been told to sing directlyto the president, who was sit-ting just a few feet away.Besides being an importantman, the teenager also noticedhe was very good looking.

“He just sat there andsmiled,” she said. “He had areal pleasant expression, likehe thought I was cute or nice.”

After Grammer surprisedherself by completing thesong without a hitch, thepresident stood up andapplauded. Then he shook herhand and told her, “Thankyou, you did very well.”

“I was in some kind ofheaven,” Grammer said.


Events

Etc.“Mezz’anno - One-Half Year in

Italy,” 2 p.m., Decatur PublicLibrary Madden Auditorium,Decatur, 424-2900 ext. 7.

Dinosaurs Mini Camp, 2 p.m.,Rock Springs Nature Center,Decatur, $10. Registration required.423-7708.

Illini Farm Toy Show, HanfordInn & Suites, Urbana, 9 a.m. to 2p.m. $3, $2. 893-4103.

MusicMusic Jam, 1 to 4 p.m., Rock

Springs Nature Center, Decatur,423-7708.

School of Music Tour Finale

Concert, 7:30 p.m., Central Christ-ian Church, Decatur.

On Stage“Funny Valentines,” noon, Con-

klin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre, Good-field, $33. (309) 965-2545.

MeetingsCommodore Duplicate Bridge

Club, 1:15 p.m., 2560 E. FederalDrive, Decatur, 422-0095.

VFW Post 99, 2 p.m., Post Hall,Decatur.



Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, 10

a.m. to 5 p.m. $8, $4. Free days,Tuesdays and Thursdays throughFebruary. (708) 485-0263.

Decatur Public Library Gallery,Second Floor, Decatur, Select worksfrom Macon County 4-H groups.424-2900.

DuSable Museum of AfricanAmerican History, Chicago, 10a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sat-urday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. $3,$2, $1. Sundays, free to all. (773)947-0600.

Field Museum, Chicago, 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. $14, $11 and $9. (312)665-7100.

Gallery 510 Arts Guild, Decatur,Closes at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday,

Wednesday, and Friday; 11 a.m. to7 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Saturday. 422-1509.

Heritage in Flight Museum,Logan County Airport, Lincoln. Sat-urday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5p.m.

Hieronymus Mueller Museum,Decatur. 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdaythrough Saturday. 423-6161.

Illinois State Museum, Spring-field. 782-7386.

Krannert Art Museum andKinkead Pavilion, University of Illi-nois, Champaign. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Tuesday through Saturday (until 9p.m. Thursday), 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.Free admission, but $3 donation

suggested. 333-1861.Lincoln College Museum, McK-

instry Build-ing, Lincoln.9 a.m. to 4p.m. Mondaythrough Fri-day; 1 to 4p.m. Satur-day and Sun-day. Closedmajor holi-days. Free.735-5050,ext. 295.

Macon County History Muse-um, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Decatur. $2,$1. “The History of Baseball in Cen-tral Illinois.” 422-4919.

McLean County Museum ofHistory, Bloomington, “The Uncon-querable: Photos and History of theKickapoo Indians.” (309) 827-0428.

Moweaqua Coal Mine Museum,Moweaqua. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdayand Sunday. Free. 768-3019.

Museum of Funeral Customs,

Springfield. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tues-day through Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m.Sunday. $3, $2, $1.50. Closed holi-days. 544-3480.

Shedd Aquarium, Chicago. 9a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Fri-day, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday andSunday. $23, $16. (312) 939-2438.

St. Louis Art Museum, ForestPark, St. Louis. Free. 10 a.m. to 5p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (until9 p.m. Friday). Closed Mondaysand major holidays. (314) 721-0072.

Under the Prairie Museum,Elkhart. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednes-day through Sunday. $3. 947-2522.

Contact us








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“Selling oneBay,” 7 p.m.,Decatur PublicLibrary MaddenAuditorium,Decatur, 424-2900 ext. 7.

A2 LOCAL SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2009 DECATUR, ILLINOIS www.herald-review.com












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Chuck Hippler, a young reporter for WSOY, interviews Sen. JohnKennedy of Massachusetts as he arrives at Decatur Airport on Oct.26, 1959.

STORMContinued from A1complete and utter fiscalcrisis, and that’s somethingthat kind of gets overlookedin all this impeachmentstuff.”

The spring session couldinclude deep cuts in stategovernment spending, simi-lar to those felt in therecent closing of some stateparks and historic sites.Others say a tax increasemight be an option.

Republicans put theblame on Democrats for thestate’s budget woes.

“You can’t continue tohandle the budget the waythey have,” said state Sen.Dale Righter, R-Mattoon.

The struggling economycould stand in the way of astatewide construction pro-gram, too. Officials want tospend billions of dollarsbuilding roads and bridgesto create jobs.

But money concerns thathave held up public worksprojects in the past could beeven more pronounced thisyear.

“It’s even easy to vote forone,” state Sen. DaveLuechtefeld, R-Okawville,said of a construction plan,“but it isn’t easy to pay forone.”

The last time lawmakerswere inaugurated in 2007,they missed their deadlineto approve the state budgetby months amid squabbleswith Blagojevich. The out-come was the possibility ofa state government shut-down.

Only time will tell if 2009will be any easier.

“We need to be able tostart doing our business,”said state Rep. Patrick Ver-schoore, D-Milan.

[email protected] or 789-0865

FLAMEContinued from A1Friday quoting city officialsand disgruntled veteranswho had worked to pay forand build the memorialbefore turning it over to thecity.

The flame was back on bymidmorning Friday follow-ing a meeting of city offi-cials.

“What happened wasreally a miscommunica-tion,” city spokesman SteveJohnson said. “The issuecame up one day, and it wasnever intended to be shutoff.”

Johnson said the flame isimpressive, but city parksofficials are looking at waysto put a smaller burner inplace and only use the larg-er one at special events.

“We’re looking at alterna-tives, because $1,000 amonth in these economictimes is certainly a consid-eration,” Johnson said.

Archives and researchCall the Herald&Reviewlibrary for information

421-7964

JOBSContinued from A1

“These numbers are a starkreminder that we simply cannot con-tinue on our current path,” Obamasaid in his weekly radio and YouTubebroadcast address.

“If nothing is done, economistsfrom across the spectrum tell us thatthis recession could linger for yearsand the unemployment rate couldreach double digits — and they warnthat our nation could lose the compet-itive edge that has served as a founda-tion for our strength and standing inthe world,” he said.

Obama has provided few details ofhis $775 billion plan. This fresh reportdoes not include the specific construc-tion of his tax cuts, the amounts dedi-cated to state aid or public works —key questions that Obama aides haveclosely held.

On Saturday, economic aides andadvisers declined to lay out evenrough estimates for the plan’s compo-nents. They said they worked withbroad instructions from Obama butdidn’t want to limit negotiations withcongressional leaders by outliningtheir limits in public.

“I want to be realistic here. Not

everything that we talked about dur-ing the campaign are we going to beable to do on the pace we had hoped,”Obama told ABC’s “This Week” for aninterview set to air today.

For a second time since his elec-tion, Obama increased the number ofjobs his jobs program would create,taking the number to as many as 4.1million jobs saved or created — abenchmark his critics charge cannotbe measured. During the campaign,he promised only 1 million new jobs.

The analysis came out one dayafter news the unemployment ratehad jumped to 7.2 percent, the highestin 16 years. The nation lost 524,000jobs in December, bringing the totalloss for last year to 2.6 million, thelargest since World War II.

GOP lawmakers have insisted oncarefully targeting any aid and on apolitically popular tax cut for the mid-dle class, as well as loans to states.

“We want to make sure it’s not justa trillion-dollar spending bill, butsomething that actually can reach thegoal that he has suggested,” said Sen.Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, theSenate’s top Republican.

Obama’s plan has met with luke-warm support from lawmakers in gen-eral, despite economic news that hasdominated the new administration

even before it begins. In hopes of having the new presi-

dent gain immediate access to bailoutmoney already approved by Congresswhen he takes office Jan. 20, his eco-nomic team and the Bush administra-tion have discussed the possibilitythat Treasury Secretary Henry Paul-son would ask lawmakers soon foraccess to the $350 billion remaining inthe Wall Street rescue fund.

The transition team also has askedthe head of the rescue program at theTreasury Department to remain inthat position for a short time after theinauguration to help assure a smoothtransition, according to an Obamaofficial.

If Congress fails to enact a big eco-

nomic recovery plan, Obama’s advis-ers estimate that an additional 3 mil-lion to 4 million jobs will disappearbefore the recession ends. Obama’steam also noted that with or withoutthe plan, the jobless rate by 2014would be the same.

The president-elect agreed Fridayto modest changes in his proposed taxcuts. Democratic congressional offi-cials said his aides came under pres-sure in private talks to jettison or sig-nificantly alter a proposed tax creditfor creating jobs, and to include relieffor upper-middle-class families hit bythe alternative minimum tax.

The new report is likely to intensifydebate as economists outside theObama team begin delving into theanalysis. The report, for example,estimates that the unemployment rateat the end of 2010 would be 1.8 per-centage points lower if the plan isenacted.

Top Democrats on Capitol Hill saythere is far more agreement than dis-agreement on the major parts of therecovery plan: aid to cash-strappedstate governments, $500-$1,000 tax cutsfor most workers and working cou-ples, and a huge spending packageblending public works projects withaid to the poor and unemployed and avariety of other initiatives.

‘We want to make sureit’s not just a

trillion-dollar spendingbill, but something that

actually can reach the goalthat he has suggested.’

Sen. Mitch McConnell

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Ethics reform finally may get full airing in legislatureGovernor’s troublesbring campaignfinance to forefront


SPRINGFIELD — In the wake ofFriday’s impeachment of Gov. RodBlagojevich, tightening up campaigncontribution laws is expected to be ahot topic after the new legislature issworn in Jan. 14.

State Rep. Harry Osterman, D-Chicago, said he has made the issuehis No. 1 priority, and his peers havebegun to take a closer look at theissue as well.

“My colleagues and I are going towork hard to push this through, andpeople who may have resisted in thepast will take a look at it,” Oster-

man said. He is sponsoring a Housebill that would put caps on contribu-tions similar to federal law.

Blagojevich was impeached Fri-day by the House by a vote of 114-1.

One factor leading to the gover-nor’s impeachment was the allega-tion he engaged in pay-to-play poli-tics. Campaign finance advocatesargued the 52-year-old governorshowed a pattern of giving statecontracts or seats on boards andcommissions to hefty campaigncontributors.

Legislating ethical behavior is dif-ficult, said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington. However, he said thecircumstances facing Illinois couldbe enough to trigger campaignfinance legislation getting passed.

“Sometimes, change is slow tocome, but what has occurred withthe governor may be the catalyst totake a serious look at things,”

Brady said.Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9

on federal corruption charges. Oneof the claims in the federal affidavitwas that Blagojevich allegedlyattempted to pressure a horse rac-ing official for a $100,000 campaigncontribution in return for the gover-nor’s signature on legislation benefi-cial to the horse racing industry.

Supporters of campaign financereform point to instances like this asa need for change. David Morrison,deputy director of the Illinois Cam-paign for Political Reform, said con-

tribution limits would eliminate con-tribution schemes from occurring.

“If you can’t take big money fromanybody, than you’re not going toshake down a contractor for thatmoney because they could not giveit to you,” Morrison said.

Campaign finance is discussedregularly in the General Assembly,but little has been done to regulateit. Kent Redfield, professor emeritusof political science at the Universityof Illinois at Springfield, is hesitantto get enthusiastic about potentialreform because of past failures.

“There will be a huge push forethics reform, but what actually willget signed into law is always a ques-tion,” Redfield said.

Redfield said there is a strongpossibility Illinois will get somecontribution limits in place thissession because lawmakers willwant to respond to the Blagojevichscandal.

In May, the House and Senatepassed “pay-to-play” legislation ban-ning people who have state con-tracts worth $50,000 or more fromgiving campaign donations to theofficeholder who oversees the con-tract.

Currently, individuals, corpora-tions, unions and political actioncommittees can contribute as muchas they want to candidates. Illinoisis one of five states with no limitsfrom any source on contributions.


Blagojevich faces grim prospects in SenateBy CHRISTOPHER WILLSAssociated Press Writer

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Rod Blagojevichwill face long odds, and perhaps some legaltwists, in the Illinois Senate trial to decidewhether he’ll keep his job or be tossed out of

office.It may be called a trial

and involve the trappingsof a courtroom, from a judge to exhibits toobjections, but experts say the event will bepolitical, not legal. The senators are free tobase their decision on old feuds and popularopinion if they want, rather than fine points ofthe law.

Yet the Democratic governor will be held toa stricter standard than the senators, as someof the charges against him involve very tech-nical points. Did a prescription drug programviolate pharmacy inspection laws? Did stateagencies properly account for money theytransferred to another state agency?

If Blagojevich loses the trial, he stands littlechance of getting the verdict overturned bythe courts, which traditionally shy away fromtinkering with the impeachment process.

And if he testifies to defend himself, Blagoje-vich could find his words used against him byfederal prosecutors pursuing criminal charges.

“What does somebody do as an advocate forthe accused? It’s very, very difficult,” saidattorney Donald MacPherson, who represent-ed Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham when heappealed his impeachment conviction to thestate’s Supreme Court.

Blagojevich was impeached Friday by theIllinois House, 114-1. Now the Senate will holda trial. If Blagojevich is convicted, he’ll beremoved from office.

The allegations against Blagojevich includesome of the criminal charges behind his Dec.9 arrest by the FBI: scheming to benefit frompicking President-elect Barack Obama’sreplacement in the U.S. Senate, using stateprograms to pressure people into giving himcampaign money and bullying the Tribune Co.to fire editorial writers.

They also include management decisions. Aninspector found Blagojevich circumvented hir-ing laws to give jobs to political allies. Heexpanded a health care program that had beenrejected by lawmakers. He spent $2.6 millionon foreign flu vaccine the state didn’t need and

couldn’t bring into the country.Blagojevich said the past week that the

House impeachment process was biased.“When the case moves to the Senate, an actualjudge will preside over the hearings, and thegovernor believes the outcome will be muchdifferent,” his office said.

Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald of the Illi-nois Supreme Court will preside. But there arelimits on what he can do. Under the rules likelyto be adopted, the judge can rule on questionsof evidence, but the senators can overrule him.

The House chose to lump all the allegationstogether under a single, broad category: “apattern of abuse of power.” That meant aHouse member might think this or that partic-ular allegation didn’t merit impeachment butstill conclude other charges were strongenough to justify a “yes” vote.

If the Senate adopts a similar approach, sena-tors will have the flexibility to reject some alle-gations — perhaps even some of the biggest andmost colorful — but still vote to convict. Thatcan’t be easy for the governor’s lawyers to fight.

Like so much of politics, the Senate trialwill boil down to numbers. Conviction requiresa two-thirds majority, or 40 of the 59 senators.That means Blagojevich will need 20 senatorson his side to keep his job.

That’s a tall order for a governor who hasbickered and battled with lawmakers for yearsand is seeing his top Senate ally, PresidentEmil Jones, retire before the trial gets underway. Blagojevich is disliked and mistrusted bymany senators, so they’re not likely to go outon a political limb for him.

“If you look at it politically, what is theupside of somebody voting not to remove RodBlagojevich from office? The public sentimentis pretty clearly, ‘Legislators, why are youdragging your feet on this guy?’ ” saidCharles Wheeler, a former Statehouse reporterwho now teaches journalism at the Universityof Illinois at Springfield.

If the Senate convicts Blagojevich, expertssay, an appeal to the courts is unlikely to work.

“This is entrusted by the Constitution to the leg-islative branch, and a healthy respect for the sep-aration of powers suggests there is no role for thecourts,” said Andrew Leipold, a law professor atthe University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Christopher Wills has covered Illinois government and politics

since 1990.

ANALYSIS

‘There will be a huge push for ethics reform, but what actually will get signed into law is

always a question.’Kent Redfield, University of Illinois at Springfield

Tuesday marks the six-yearanniversary of the day Gov. RodBlagojevich took office.

Given everything that’s happened inbetween then and now, he arguablycould be considered the worst gover-nor in Illinois history.

Sure, the disgraced chief executivecould miraculously emerge from themess he’s created, but no governorbefore him has ever been impeached.

By that measure alone, Blagojevichstands at the bottom, ready to be

kicked tothe curbby the Illi-nois Sen-ate, whichwill takeup hisousterJan. 26.

Whileit’s easyto point tohis Dec. 9arrest as

the tipping point for his downfall, thegovernor’s behavior has been vexingto most observers since he took officein 2003.

Rather than smoothly trying tobuild consensus after 26 years ofRepublican rule, the governoremployed an in-your-face policy onnearly every action he’s taken.

HIS SOMETIMES BIZARRE style of gov-erning, which now has put him in thehistory books, started at the verybeginning.

On his first day in office, he walkedinto the Capitol and fired a number ofRepublican holdovers from GeorgeRyan’s administration. That wasn’t ashock.

What was a surprise was the way itwas handled. Among those on thechopping block was the governor’sown advance man, who provides logis-tical support during gubernatorialappearances.

It was interesting to see the look onhis face when the governor’s newpress aides handed out the list of peo-ple who were being fired that day. Theman who had helped set up the newsconference had just gotten the ax.

Blagojevich never looked at theman. Blagojevich never looked back.

Soon after, the governor’s officewould become a bunker. He installedlocks on the doors of his Capitoloffices as if he was hiding something.He began sneaking in the Capitolthrough basement tunnels. He refusedto live in the Executive Mansion,instead commuting between Chicagoand Springfield at taxpayers’ expense.

Among his first major acts in officewas to tap into the state’s employeepension funds to cover state operatingcosts. It should be noted that lawmak-ers, most of whom are now lined upagainst him, went along with thescheme.

YET, EVEN AFTER THAT multibillion-dol-lar arbitrage scheme went through,the state’s money problems didn’timprove. The state now faces a horrif-ic backlog of bills and the possibilityof ending the year with a record-set-ting deficit.

Observers agree his whole adminis-tration has been shaky from the start.Some people noticed this right away.Among them was House SpeakerMichael Madigan, D-Chicago, who

Blagojevich has tried to blame fornumerous pitfalls the state hasendured since he took office.

As early as 2004, Blagojevichthought it might be a good idea to tryto smooth over differences with hisfellow Democrats by meeting withmore than 50 of them in a private,three-hour question-and-answer ses-sion.

Among items on the agenda was atape of a radio interview in whichBlagojevich called state Rep. JohnBradley, D-Marion, a “wallflower ofMadigan” for supporting the speakerin that year’s budget standoff.

SUFFICE IT TO SAY, fences went un-mended, even at that early juncture.

In 2007, Blagojevich tried his magicon state Sen. Mike Jacobs, an EastMoline Democrat.

Hoping to muster enough votes toget a massive expansion of healthinsurance programs on track, hecalled Jacobs into his office for somehorse-trading.

Jacobs emerged from the meeting

in a rage, saying “bring it on.” “If this governor would have been in

East Moline, Illinois, at one of mylocal taverns, I would have kicked histail end,” Jacobs said.

In the end, the health insuranceproposal went down in flames. In fact,most of the governor’s initiatives havefallen apart. Now, his administrationand his future are in tatters.

For those who believe his downfallis more about his governing style thananything criminal, here’s this:

In his first term, he tried to takeover the state’s Board of Education.He demonized it as a Soviet-stylebureaucracy at the very same time hewas centralizing the state’s pressoffices so his taxpayer-paid publicinformation officers would speak onhis behalf with one voice.

Perhaps Blagojevich didn’t realizethat by trying to gather up all thepower in his hands, he would beblamed for everything that wentwrong.

[email protected]| 789-0865

OPINIONHerald Review&

OPINIONS?CONTACT US:

FAX:421-7965

PHONE:421-6979

or 421-7980

WRITE:Herald & Review

Letter to the editor

Box 311,

Decatur, IL 62525-0311

E-MAIL:ddawson@

herald-review.com

IT’S NOT clear whether Democrats in the U.S. Sen-ate are confused, befuddled or just can’t get their sig-nals straight. Maybe it’s all three.

Whatever the reason, they seem to change courseon a daily, or hourly, basis.

The latest course change came last week when sud-denly it was decided that it’s likely Roland Burriswill become the junior senator from Illinois.

Sen. Dick Durbin and Majority Leader Harry Reidhad said that while they had nothing against Burrispersonally, they would not accept any nominationmade by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. After all, they said,Blagojevich had been arrested on charges alleging hetried to crassly gain financially from the Senate seatheld by President-elect Barack Obama.

That was until Wednesday, when Reid and Durbinmet with Burris and everyone emerged with smilesand said the only thing keeping Burris from being asenator was a court challenge back in Illinois. TheSupreme Court said Friday that the Burris nomina-tion did not need the signature of Secretary of StateJesse White. The Supreme Court basically put thedecision back in the U.S. Senate’s lap.

Durbin apparently changed his mind again Friday,saying that despite the Illinois court ruling, the Sen-ate still needed a signed certificate from White.That’s either the third flip or the fourth flop, we’velost track.

This series of course reversals began the dayBlagojevich was arrested. Durbin and other IllinoisDemocrats said the state should have a special elec-tion to fill Obama’s seat instead of leaving the deci-sion up to the governor.

They quickly backed away from that idea whenthey realized that a special election would put asure Democratic seat at risk. Democrats in the Illi-nois legislature did not approve legislation requir-

ing a special election, giving Blagojevich thechance to make the selection and further embarrassthe state.

That’s what the governor did.There are some practical reasons for allowing Bur-

ris to take the Senate seat.Legally, it’s questionable that a challenge would

hold up. The governor clearly has the authority tomake the decision, and even though Blagojevich isunder the cloud of federal charges and impeachmentfrom office, he’s still the governor, for now.

An extended flap over whether Burris should be asenator also would be a distraction at a time whenObama is pressing for an economic stimulus packageand other legislation. Does Washington really want toget in the middle of the Illinois sideshow?

Also, Blagojevich was impeached by the House onFriday. If he’s removed from office, as expected, andnow-Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn appoints a senator or decidesto hold a special election, where does that leave theBurris nomination?

In addition, Burris does not have a reputation as atroublemaker. His decision to allow Blagojevich toappoint him to the Senate shows judgment that isquestionable for a senator. But Burris is known as ateam player. It’s likely he’ll follow the lead of theDemocratic leadership in the Senate and cause fewproblems. He will be low on the seniority list, some-where between 98 and 100, so he’ll have little pull.

It remains to be seen whether Burris will run in2010, but competition for that seat is expected to beheavy.

The bottom line is that Democrats handed the deci-sion to Blagojevich and he made it. Changing thatwill be difficult, and it may be that Democrats, theSenate and the state of Illinois are going to have toaccept the Burris appointment.

We’ll giveyou historic

coverageAs we all gear back up

from the holiday season, it’simportant to take a momentand realize we are about towitness history.

The inauguration ofBarack Obama, our firstAfrican-American president,will be a celebration of howwe’ve progressed as a coun-try. For Illinois citizens, thepossible removal from officeof Gov. Rod Blagojevich willbe a more somber occasion.

Obama’s inauguration isexpected to be the biggestever — some have estimatedas many as 2 million peoplewill attend. There are manywho feel Obama will leadthe nation in a new, morefulfilling direction.

The Herald & Review willpresent unprecedented cov-erage of the inauguration.We’ll begin a week fromtoday with a special four-page pullout section thatwill focus on Obama’s riseto the White House andwhat we all can expect tosee on Inauguration Day.The coverage will wrap upwith another four-page pull-out section in the Jan. 21paper that will feature theObama inaugural speech,swearing in and parade.

IN ADDITION TO those two spe-cial features, each day’spaper during that span willcontain several Obama-relat-ed stories. Kurt Erickson,chief of our bureau in Spring-field, will be our eyes andears in Washington and willreport back on events leadingup to and including Inaugu-ration Day. We also will fea-ture stories on what theObama inauguration meansto people in Central Illinois,and we will chronicle themany people who have metObama. We also will haveextensive coverage of theevents surrounding the inau-guration on our Web site,www.herald-review.com.

These will be papers youwill want to save, so we’ve puttogether a special packagewith which you can receivecopies of all four papers,including both special pulloutsections, in a plastic bag forsafe keeping for $5. Details onhow to order these keepsakepackages are featured else-where in today’s paper.

We’re confident you willwant to read these editionsbut will want a second,undisturbed, set to showfuture generations.

IT WON’T DETRACT fromObama’s inauguration, butit appears that shortly afterwe witness the highlight ofObama’s political career,we’re going to watch thefinal episode of Blagoje-vich’s career.

It’s certainly not amoment to celebrate, exceptin the sense that removingBlagojevich from officemight allow the state gov-ernment to begin addressinga host of issues.

The Illinois Senate soonwill be called into session toact as a jury and to hear theimpeachment charges againstthe governor. The chargeswill revolve around abuse ofpower, using the state’s hiringsystem for political purposesand, perhaps, an inability togovern. The impeachmenttrial will proceed with onlycursory mention of the feder-al charges that led to Blagoje-vich’s arrest Dec. 9. If allgoes as planned, and thereare no guarantees that willhappen, it’s likely Blagojevichwill be out of the governor’soffice in early February.

THE HERALD & REVIEW alsowill continue to cover theseevents, which represent thefirst time an Illinois gover-nor has been impeached.Since his arrest, the newspa-per and our Web site consis-tently have presented thelatest news.

Although significant eventsin Obama’s and Blagojevich’spolitical paths will happenwithin a few days, there isone significant difference.

Obama has the opportuni-ty to leave his mark on thisnation, to demonstrate howleadership and charactercan create change.

Blagojevich has left hismark, and his lack of char-acter has been revealed.


OUR VIEWS

The Herald & Review welcomes letters to the editorfrom readers on topics of general interest.

Letters must be signed with the writer’s full name andcontain a current mailing address and telephone number(daytime and evening) for verification purposes. Lettersmust contain 300 words or less. Writers are limited toone letter every 30 days. Letters that are libelous, of limit-ed interest or in poor taste will be rejected. Letters maybe sent via mail, fax, e-mail or hand-delivered.

The Herald & Review reserves the right to edit, con-dense or reject any letter.

Unsigned editorials are opinions reached by consensusof the Herald & Review Editorial board. All other articleson this page are the opinions solely of the authors. Weencourage readers to offer opinions on information pro-vided by the Herald & Review.

The First Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an

establishment of religion, or prohibiting the

free exercise thereof; or abridging the free-

dom of speech, or of the press; or the right of

the people peaceably to assemble, and to

petition the Government for a redress of

grievances.”

Blagojevichhas made

his own bed

Sunday,

January 11,

2009

Herald Review&EDITORIAL BOARD

David DawsonManaging Editor

Gary SawyerEditor

Democrats have bungled Senate decision

Todd NelsonPublisher


GARY SAWYER

KURT ERICKSON

Speak upSeventy-nine percent of those respond-

ing to a Herald & Review online survey

believe that Roland Burris should not be

seated in the U.S. Senate, although it

appears at this point that is likely to happen.

Nearly 700 people responded to the survey.

Today’s question:

Should the state of Illinois approve an 8-cent

gas tax and use the additional money to fund

road construction and repairs?

You can let us know your opinion by logging

onto www.herald-review.com.

LocalHerald&Review

A3BRIEFS


Tuesday, January 13, 2009

News from Central IllinoisVeteran of the Month

Decatur man to receive

prestigious state award

Wednesday

Questions or comments regarding this section? Contact Night Editor John Reidy at 421-6973

By KENNETH LOWEH&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — As another winterthreatens the city with unexpectedweather disasters, residents don’thave to feel as if they’re going italone.

The city council has approved aplan to join with the Illinois PublicWorks Mutual Aid Network, a groupof public works agencies that worktogether to provide aid to residentsin their communities when a weath-er-related emergency happens.

City Manager Ryan McCrady saidDecatur’s membership in the net-work means it will have the opportu-

nity to receive help from surround-ing communities, as well as be atthe ready should any neighbors needassistance.

“This agreement provides assis-tance both for the city of Decaturand other communities which mayfind themselves in times of need,”McCrady said.

Rick Marley, engineering andinfrastructure director for the cityand the interim president of the net-work, collaborated with other publicworks directors to organize the plan.

He said the network would pro-vide member communities withaccess to aid resources not just inthe immediate area but from allover the state, and it would makedetailed plans for disaster or emer-gency response available to memberorganizations.

Marley noted some of the difficul-ties that faced city staff in the wakeof the severe ice storm that blewthrough Central Illinois in Decem-ber 2006. Questions arose at the timeabout who should seek reimburse-ment from whom.

“The whole goal behind this is toestablish a business relationshipwith neighboring communities sothat the fundamental questions ofwho pays for what are handled atthe outset, and that a neighbor cancall upon a neighbor for any kind ofaid that they may need,” Marleysaid.

According to the agreement, thefirst five days’ worth of costs associ-ated in emergency response wouldbe covered by the agency thatresponds to the call for help, andmember organizations are given

information on how to seek reim-bursement from the Illinois Emer-gency Management Agency or itsfederal counterpart.

Marley said the Federal Emer-gency Management Agency requiresthat there be mutual aid agreementsin place in order for a community toask for reimbursement, and theagreement was put in place in partto address that requirement.

He said even though Decatur islarge and well-staffed compared tosome of the surrounding communi-ties, the past has shown that it hasreceived help as well as given it.

“When we needed help, the sur-rounding townships helped us,” Mar-ley said. “We have a moral obliga-tion to help them. Will it be dispro-portionate? I don’t think it will.”


City joins mutual aid network for emergencies


SPRINGFIELD — When Gov. RodBlagojevich goes on trial in the Illi-nois Senate later this month, hisclosest ally in the legislature in

recent years won’t bethere to back him up.

Senate PresidentEmil Jones, who hasstood with Blagoje-vich throughout hisbattles with the Gen-eral Assembly, ends a36-year career instate government

when he retires today.On Monday, Jones urged his col-

leagues to be cautious when theytake up the issue of Blagojevich’simpeachment Jan. 26.

“Maybe all the evidence maypoint in one direction, but it may bethe wrong person,” Jones said. “We

don’t have all the facts.”His comments come in the wake

of Friday’s 114-1 vote in the House toimpeach the governor for abuse ofpower.

Jones said the House vote was nota surprise, given the governor’slong-running problems with thatchamber. He said he hopes the Sen-ate trial will be an evenhanded

affair.“I trust that those who are in the

process of running it will look atfairness and look at equal represen-tation on all sides of the issue andnot just play to something that’sgoing to get them headlines in thepress,” Jones said.

Jones, a Chicago Democrat, com-pared Blagojevich’s situation to for-mer Gov. George Ryan’s decision toimpose a moratorium on the deathpenalty out of concern that an inno-cent man or woman could be execut-ed.

“What happened to most of thosewrongfully convicted individuals,they were rushed through aprocess,” Jones said.

A special committee has spent thelast few weeks setting out a blue-print for how the governor’simpeachment trial will be handledin the Senate.

When the Senate convenes thetrial, Illinois Supreme Court ChiefJustice Thomas Fitzgerald willserve as the head of the proceed-ings. Each senator will serve as ajuror and judge at the same time. Atwo-thirds majority vote, or 40 of 59senators, will be required to find thegovernor guilty and remove himfrom office.

Blagojevich on Monday signedone piece of legislation and went fora jog, a spokesman said. The gover-nor is due in Springfield on Wednes-day to preside over the swearing-inof the Senate.

Jones said he had no apologies foroften siding with a governor whohas been impeached and is chargedwith federal corruption.

“Through it all, I have fewregrets,” Jones said.


Jones urges state Senate to go slow on impeachment

DECATUR

MacArthur Booster ClubThe MacArthur High School

Booster Club will meet at 7 p.m.

Wednesday in the school cafeteria to

receive the final audit report for

2007-08 and information on 2009

PSAE testing. The second half-hour

of the meeting will be devoted to

community-related updates.

Parents and guardians of Mac-

Arthur students, as well as communi-

ty members, are invited to attend.

DECATUR

West Main road workCity crews will be working in the

500 block of West Main Street,

between Monroe and College

streets, repairing water service today.

The block will be partially closed

from 8 a.m. to about 3 p.m.

DECATUR

ADM wins education awardArcher Daniels Midland Co. has

been named Corporate Leader of

the Year by Jobs for America’s Grad-

uates.

Michael D’Ambrose, senior vice

president of human resources,

accepted the award on behalf of the

company in Washington, D.C., last

month.

“At ADM, we believe we have a

responsibility to our communities, and

we are committed to making Decatur

a better place to live and work,” said

Mirinda Rothrock, ADM’s community

engagement manager. “That means

investing in our community’s youth so

we can be successful.”

Jobs for America’s Graduates and

the state affiliate, Jobs for Illinois

Graduates, provides public school

students a program designed to pro-

vide them with the skills and motiva-

tion to finishing high school and pur-

sue higher education and careers.

Eisenhower High School and

MacArthur High School each has a

class of about 40 students in the pro-

gram.

MOUNT ZION

Scholarships availableThe Mount Zion Odd Fellows

Lodge and Rebekah Lodge have

several scholarships available for the

2009-10 school year.

The grants will be awarded based

on financial need and academic abil-

ity. Applicants must have a “C” grade

point average, be residents of Illinois

and U.S. citizens and plan to attend

an accredited college or trade

school.

The application is available from

until Sunday, Feb. 15, at www.ioof-

il.org. Completed applications must

be received before Sunday, March 1,

in Grand Lodge Office, 845 Wyatt

Ave., Box 248, Lincoln, IL 62656-

0248. Recipients will be notified by

June.

DECATUR

Developmental screeningsDevelopmental screenings for chil-

dren birth to 3 will be 9:30 a.m. to

2:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at Persh-

ing Early Learning Center, 2912 N.

University Ave.

Each child will receive a free book.

The screening takes about 45 min-

utes. Drop-ins are welcome. For an

appointment, call 876-8329.

DECATUR

United Way volunteersThe United Way of Decatur and

Mid-Illinois is recruiting volunteers to

help review programs applying for

the 2009-10 funding cycle.

Fund distribution volunteers serve

on a panel with 10 to 15 other peo-

ple, attend seven meetings from Jan-

uary through April and review pro-

grams that improve access to health

care, develop youth or help people in

the community meet basic needs.

Contact the United Way at 202 E.

Eldorado St., Suite B, in Decatur or

422-8537.

DECATUR

Arts Council grantsThe deadline for schools and non-

profit organizations to receive grants

from the Decatur Area Arts Council

is Sunday, Feb. 1.

Applications can be picked up at

the Decatur Area Arts Council, 125

N. Water St., or printed from

www.decaturarts.org. Call 423-3189.

‘Maybe all the evidencemay point in one

direction, but it may bethe wrong person. We

don’t have all the facts.’Retiring Senate President Emil Jones

Jones

Agencies work togetherduring weather disasters

Shelbyville nears end of

$125,000 driveBy SHARON BARRICKLOWFor the Herald & Review

SHELBYVILLE — Shelby County’sLincoln Heritage Inc. has spent morethan four years in a quest for almost$125,000 to place a statue and story-boards commemorating Lincoln atthe Shelby County Courthouse.

The group has staged re-enact-ments of Abraham Lincoln’s debatewith Shelbyville attorney AnthonyThornton, bagged groceries, held foodfundraisers, raffled items and soldChristmas decorations. Anotherfundraiser they’ve had collected$473.50 in pennies from Shelby Countystudents and others.

With less than $5,000 to go, thegroup is planning its final round ofevents.

Coming this weekend is “Mrs. Lin-coln’s Attic,” a rummage sale. Thegroup is hoping donated items willgenerate donated funds. Items to besold include household items, holidaydecorations, clothing, books, toys andvideos.

“We’ll have a lot of things avail-able,” Lincoln Hitage President Whit-ney Hardy said.

Other upcoming events include asoup supper and a celebration of Lin-coln’s birthday. The re-enactors holdperformances at which amateuractors play notable Shelbyville resi-dents who witnessed the debate.

The goal is to promote tourism.“We want Shelbyville to be a desti-

nation, not a drive-through,” Hardysaid.

Others with the group agree.“There is so much to see here and

so much to learn,” Marie Robinsonsaid. “When I moved here, I had noidea there was so much history inShelbyville.”

Lincoln Heritage hopes the life-sizebronze statue and storyboard willremind people of that history.

[email protected]

I F YOU GO

WHAT: “Mrs. Lincoln’s Attic,” commu-nitywide sale.

WHERE: Lions Club Building, ForestPark, Shelbyville.

WHEN: 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16,and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17.

PRICES: Items are for sale by dona-tion.

SCULPTURE PRESENTED

Herald & Review photos/Stephen Haas

Decatur sculptor John W. McClarey, left, stands for a group photo beside the new bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln,‘Prairie Lawyer — Master of Us All,’ along with Illinois Supreme Court Justices, from left, Lloyd A. Karmeier, Thomas L.Kilbride, Charles E. Freeman, Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald, Robert R. Thomas, Rita B. Garman and Anne M.Burke and Jack C. Carey, president of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Lincoln goes to courtBy JASON NEVEL


SPRINGFIELD — The IllinoisSupreme Court received a bust ofAbraham Lincoln from the IllinoisState Bar Association on Mondayto honor Illinois’ most famouslawyer.

The bronze bust was sculpted byJohn McClarey of Decatur. Theretired teacher is well-known forhis work depicting the 16th presi-dent.

“I think this is a wonderfulremembrance, and I am justimpressed by the character thatshows in his face,” Illinois SupremeCourt Justice Lloyd Karmeier said.

The country is celebrating the200th anniversary of Lincoln’sbirth this year. The statue dedica-tion was one of a series of eventsin Springfield and across Illinoisthat will observe the Lincoln bicen-tennial.

McClarey has been sculpting for25 years and has done nearly adozen Lincoln portrayals. Some ofhis work can be seen in Springfieldat the Lincoln Home National His-

toric Site and the Abraham LincolnPresidential Library and Museum.Other Lincoln statues by McClareyare located in Decatur, Taylorville,Vandalia and Charleston.

Lincoln rode the old 8th Judicial

Circuit in Central Illinois duringhis time as an attorney when helived in Springfield.

The sculpture presented to thehigh court was called “PrairieLawyer, Master of Us All.” Thetitle comes from a line out of aVachel Lindsay poem.

“All Illinoisans can cherish inthe history of Lincoln,” McClareysaid.

The sculpture will be displayedpermanently at the Supreme Courtbuilding across from the StateCapitol.

McClarey began working on thestatue in February and startedcrafting the project from memory.

“I like to start from scratch tokind of get a feel for it,” he said.

McClarey was the 2005 recipientof the Richard Nelson CurrentAward of Achievement at the Lin-coln Forum in Gettysburg, Pa., thefirst “visual historian” to receivethis award.

A Millikin University graduate,he earned a master’s degree in his-tory in 1971 from Illinois State.


McClarey’s bust of Lincoln

Honored for aid

The Illinois Department

of Veterans Affairs honored

Gordon Brenner of

Decatur, who was wound-

ed in the Vietnam War, for

his work on behalf of veter-

ans since returning from

combat. Local A3

Deficit up in smoke?State Sen. Jeff Schoen-

berg proposed a $1 per

pack boost in the state’s

portion of the cigarette tax

as a way for cash-strapped

Illinois to raise money. The

increase could bring in

$320 million. Money C1

Illini’s second shotIllinois gets

a second

chance

tonight at

the

Assembly

Hall, less than

two weeks after dropping a

74-64 decision at Michi-

gan. Sports B1

Cold chills MidwestTemperatures crashed

to arctic levels Tuesday as

a severe cold wave rolled

across the upper Midwest

on the heels of another

snowstorm, closing

schools and making peo-

ple think twice before

going outside. Nation A6

Delivery: 421-6990

Newsroom: 421-6979







Calling all losersHerald & Review’s weight

loss program wants you/D1

Play of perfectionWarrensburg-Latham beats

St. Teresa in last seconds/B1

JANUARY 14, 2009


Issue 14

Four sections

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: Blowing snowTonight: Windy and cold

Details/B8

H I G H

23L O W

1

WEDNESDAY

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . C4-6Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5Dear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D2Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D5Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-8Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1,2Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D2Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . D3,4Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . C4-6Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-7Television . . . . . . . . . . . . D6

INDEX

HAIL TO THE NEW CHIEF

Lawyer says verdict up to senators

Associated Press

Retiring Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, left, and Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, talk on the Senate floor during asession at the Illinois State Capitol.

Attorney presentingimpeachment case sayssituation hard to believe


SPRINGFIELD — David Ellisjoked Tuesday that he was not sure ifhis publisher in New York wouldbelieve the predicament that hasplagued Illinois government the pastmonth.

“I’m not sure anyone would believeit if I put it in the book,” Ellis said.

The lawyer for the House Democ-rats has been chosen to present thecase against Gov. Rod Blagojevich in

the Senate trial,expected to begin Jan.26. The Democraticgovernor is the firstIllinois governor to beimpeached.

Ellis, 41, is a part-time novelist who haswritten five mysterybooks. He oversaw thelegal work of the state

House committee that recommendedthe move against Blagojevich. Thereport Ellis helped draft led to a 114-1

vote in favor of impeachment.“It was an honor to serve on the

committee,” Ellis said. “It’s a solemnhonor to have the chance to repre-sent the House before the Senatetrial.”

Ellis was an attorney in Chicagofrom 1993 to 2006, after graduatingfrom Northwestern University Schoolof Law. He has been legal counsel toHouse Speaker Michael Madigan forthe past two years.

Ellis has no prior experience incriminal court. However, the Senatetrial is not criminal. The 59 senators

Ellis

Items bearing President-elect Obama’s likeness, slogan fly off the shelves

Herald & Review photos/Ralf Pansch

Jae Choi, right, owner of U-Top Fashion and Beauty in Decatur, and his wife, Soo, show a customer one of the many T-shirtsfeaturing the image of President-elect Barack Obama for sale at the shop.

Soo Choi organizes the rack of Barack Obama women’s T-shirts, including one that depicts the nation’s new first family.

Watson’sleadershipearns kudosRepublican praisedby Senate colleaguesas he steps down

By MIKE RIOPELL

and KURT ERICKSONH&R Springfield Bureau Writers

SPRINGFIELD — Todaymarks the end of Republi-can Frank Watson’s sixyears as Senate MinorityLeader.

TheGreenvillepharmacist’stime leadingthe Senate’sRepublicanswas spent inthe minorityparty whilethe state facedsignificant budget challengesand political strife.

On Tuesday, Watson’s Sen-ate colleagues praised whatthey said was often his bluntand honest assessments ofpolitics and government.

“Frank Watson was exact-ly the leader that the Repub-licans in the Senate neededwhile Rod Blagojevich wasgovernor,” said state Sen.Dale Righter, R-Mattoon.

Watson wasn’t in Spring-field on Tuesday, as he con-tinues to recover from astroke he suffered last year.The stroke and his rehabili-tation eventually led to hisdecision to step down asleader, though he plans tocontinue serving in the Sen-ate.

In a telephone interview,Watson said he was proud ofleading Senate Republicansin their opposition to thespending plans pushedthrough the chamber byDemocrats.

“We opposed the spendingthat got us into the troublethat we’re in today,” Watsonsaid. “Over the years, wewere right.”

Observers know Watsonfrom emotional and animat-ed speeches on the Senatefloor that included, at leastonce, tossing a stack ofpapers. State Sen. MikeJacobs, D-East Moline, saideven Democrats appreciatedthat passion.

Well-attended Decatur Township caucuses yield party candidates


ECATUR — Traditionally,politicians are not likely candi-dates to command the kind of

popularity that sends racks of clothingand other merchandise flying out ofstores.

But Barack Obama has separated himself from thepack on the issue of T-shirts, sweatshirts, photo buttonsand coffee mugs.

Throughout the nation, Obama is selling merchandiseat a rate normally associated with preteen celebritiessuch as Hannah Montana.

“Obama-inspired products have been hot since theprimaries,” said Karen DeMarco, spokeswoman for Zaz-zle, a California-based online store that offers morethan 10 billion custom-designed products. “There are112,251 Obama-inspired products available today, andthat number continues to grow.”

Local merchants also are stocking a wide variety ofitems bearing the image of the president-elect, alongwith slogans celebrating his candidacy and victory.

ATTORNEY/A2

Watson

WATSON/A2

In stylein the White House

D

At U-Top Fashion and Beauty on the Decatur’s north-west side, an entire wall at the rear of the spacious storeis devoted to Obama T-shirts for men, while racks nearthe front are packed with smaller, feminine versions.

STYLE/A2

Many Democraticincumbents fail inbid for April 7 spot

By RON INGRAM

and KENNETH LOWEH&R Staff Writers

DECATUR — Incumbentsfared poorly Tuesday eveningin the Decatur TownshipDemocratic caucus, as about

250 residents showed up tosupport one of two slatesseeking nomination to run forthe four-year township officesin the April 7 consolidatedelection.

Township Republicans alsohad a strong turnout on thesecond floor of Bizou atWilliam and Main streets,with about 80 people attend-ing. Precinct committeemanJim Gresham said the

turnout was outstanding.“I was very pleased with

the turnout,” Gresham said.“It’s the largest turnout we’vehad in a long time for a town-ship caucus. It indicates tome that we’re on the righttrack.”

Neither Democratic slatesaw all its candidates nomi-nated.

Supervisor Vicki Sheets, aformer trustee who was

appointed to the post in 2007,was defeated by TownshipClerk Arthur Lee Walker by avote of 132-103 in the contestfor the party’s nomination forsupervisor.

Trustee Ada Owens, amember of the slate headedby Sheets, was nominated fortownship clerk, defeating for-mer Assistant State’s Attor-ney Ken Boles by a tally of149-90.

Denita “Dee” Matthews,manager of the Illinois Secre-tary of State Driver’s Ser-vices Facility and a memberof Sheets’ slate, received thenod for assessor over MaconCounty Supervisor of Assess-ments Daysa Miller by a voteof 157-77.

Highway CommissionerGordon Brenner, a Walker

TOWNSHIP/A2

WATSONContinued from A1

“I think he would havemuch rather worked with theDemocratic caucus to makeIllinois a better place thanthrow papers in the air,”Jacobs said. “But sometimesyou’re reduced to throwingpapers in the air in the legis-lature.”

Watson acknowledged hisemotions had gotten the bestof him that day but has noregrets.

“I made a big fool ofmyself,” he chuckled. “But inthe end, we were vindicated.”

Watson has been a statelawmaker since 1979 andserved in the Senate since1983. He leaves the Republi-cans’ top spot as the only leg-

islative leader from down-state Illinois. Watson’splanned successor, state Sen.Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, is from the Chicagosuburbs.

During his term as leaderstarting in 2003, Watson hasseen his group of Republicanlawmakers shrink as Democ-rats have fared better inrecent elections. As leader,Watson controlled the flow ofcampaign cash to candidates,but colleagues argued Tues-day that those losses weren’this fault.

“Given the environmentnationally, I think, strategi-cally, Frank did as good a jobas anyone could have done,”said state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.

Locally, leaders said Wat-son’s position helped win vic-

tories in his 51st District.Fayette County RepublicanChairman Randy Pollardpointed at Blagojevich’s effortin 2004 to close Vandalia Cor-rectional Center.

“I think his leadership rolehelped save the prison in Van-dalia,” Pollard said.

Watson also points to long-running efforts by Nebraska-based Tenaska to build a coal-fired power plant in Tay-lorville, which he has support-ed. On Monday, Blagojevichsigned legislation that is seenas a step forward for thatproject.

Among his regrets is thefailure of the legislature toagree on a statewide con-struction program, but hesaid that plan could still cometogether.

“We may see that someday.

I hope we do,” Watson said.Watson’s departure as

minority leader comes atsame time as Senate Presi-dent Emil Jones is leavingthe General Assembly alto-gether. He’s been a membersince 1973.


Events

Etc.“Ready, Set, Go, Digital!,” 6

p.m., Decatur Public Library Mad-den Auditorium, Decatur. 424-2900,ext. 7.

NightlifeAll Request DJ, Radmaker’s

Rock N Roll Tavern, Tolono. 485-3531.

Karaoke, 8:30 p.m., Breakers,Clinton.

Open Mike Night, 8 p.m.,Block’s Brewery, Decatur.

HealthFlu Shot Clinic, 1 to 3:30 p.m.,

Macon County Health Department,Decatur. 423-6988, ext. 1333.

Immunization Clinic, 9 a.m. to 6p.m., Effingham County HealthDepartment, Effingham. 342-9237.

Immunization Clinic, 9 to 10:30a.m., Moultrie County HealthDepartment, Sullivan. 728-4114.

Labor & Delivery Class III, 6:30p.m., St. Anthony’s Memorial Hos-pital Auditorium, Effingham. 347-1529.

Mobile Mammography, 9 a.m.to 2:30 p.m., Decatur MemorialHospital Family Medicine, MountZion, 876-1111.


Pregnancy Center, 8 a.m. to 4p.m., Macon County Health Depart-ment, Decatur. 423-3794, ext. 1303.

Pregnancy Testing, 9 a.m. to 3p.m., New Life Pregnancy Center,

Decatur, 872-5555.Tuberculosis Clinic and Test-

ing, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., MaconCounty Health Department,Decatur. 423-1472.

MeetingsAll States Bowling, 9:15 a.m.,

Spare Time Lanes, Decatur, 877-0764.

Business Network Internation-al, 11:30 a.m., Decatur Conferenceand Hotel, Decatur, 420-8714.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon,Scovill Banquet Facility, Decatur.

Golden K Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m.,Scovill Banquet Room, Decatur.

Prairie River Historians, 7 p.m.,Argenta-Oreana Public Library,

Argenta.Staley Retirees Club, 11:30

a.m., AIW Hall, Decatur.

SeniorsLifeSpan Center, AARP Safe

Driving Class, 1 to 5 p.m.,Charleston. $12 A.A.R.P., mem-bers; $14 non-members. 639-5150.

Decatur-Macon County SeniorCitizen, Fitness Class, 10 a.m.,Bunco, 1 p.m., Decatur, 429-1239.

Johns Hill Center, CeramicsClass, 1 to 4 p.m., Decatur, 429-7750.

Salvation Army, CeramicsGroup, 8 a.m. to noon, Decatur.

Decatur-Macon County SeniorCitizen, Decatur, 429-1239.

Mattoon YMCA, Mattoon Area

Senior Center Tai-Chi Classes,10:30 a.m., Mattoon.

Support GroupsAlcoholics Anonymous, 5:30

p.m., St.John’s Epis-copalChurch,Decatur. 521-7205 or 855-8312.

AlcoholicsAnonymous,8 p.m., FirstPresbyterianChurch, Tay-lorville, 824-3028 or 824-3676.

Autism Society Parent SupportGroup, 7:15 p.m., The Autism Pro-ject, Springfield, 1-877-311-7703.

Choices, 4:30 p.m., Dove Inc.,DeWitt County office, Clinton. 935-6072.

Drug/Alcohol Education, DoveInc., Decatur, 1:30 and 5 p.m. 428-

6616.Facing Cancer Together, 1

p.m., Decatur Memorial HospitalRehab Conference Room, Decatur.876-2380.

Lighthouse Group (relation-ships), 7:30 p.m., Sarah Bush Lin-coln Health Center, Lumpkin FamilyCenter for Health Education, Mat-toon. 348-4040 or 258-4040.

Narcotics Anonymous, noon,AFFAS, 2520 E. William St.,Decatur, 1-800-539-0475.

Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m.,Westminster Presbyterian Church,Decatur, 1-800-539-0475.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 5:15to 6:30 p.m., Unity Church, Decatur,358-4222.

Contact us








WHAT’S HAPPENING

T O D A Y



MORE EVENTS:

Tomorrow’s

highlight:

School ofMusic StudentRecital, 1:45p.m., PerkinsonMusic CenterKaeuper Hall,Decatur.

A2 LOCAL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2009 DECATUR, ILLINOIS www.herald-review.com












Herald&Review

Here are the winning numbers selected Tuesday in the Illinois State Lottery:






Lotto jackpot$3 million

Mega Millions22-25-33-36-48

Mega Ball40


Herbal remedy salesrise with medicine,insurance increases

By LINDSEY TANNERAP Medical Writer

CHICAGO — The choicebetween $75 prescriptionsleeping pills or a $5 herbalalternative is a no-brainer forCathy and Bernard Birleffi,whose insurance costs haveskyrocketed along with thenation’s financial woes.

The Calistoga, Calif., coupleseem to reflect a trend. Withmany Americans putting offroutine doctor visits and self-medicating to save money, useof alternative treatments is onthe rise, even though evidenceis often lacking on their safe-ty and effectiveness.

Climbing sales of herbalmedicines have paralleled thetanking economy, accordingto an Associated Press reviewof recent data from market-watchers and retailers.

One prominent example:Austin, Texas-based WholeFoods Market Inc. says itsstores nationwide have seenan increase in sales of nutri-tional supplements andherbal products in the pastseveral weeks. That’s “note-worthy” given the retailindustry’s financial slump,said Whole Foods spokesmanJeremiah C. McElwee.

While winter usually is abusy time for herbal medicinesales because it’s the seasonfor colds and flu, “more peo-ple are value shopping” nowbecause of the economy,McElwee said.

Cathy Birleffi says she’samong them.

“The doctors are so muchhigher (in cost), the insur-

ance isn’t paying as much,”said the 61-year-old self-employed bookkeeper andnotary. Her husband, a retireddispatcher, has high bloodpressure and seizures. Recentchanges in their health insur-ance coverage resulted in$1,300 in monthly premiums,double what they used to be.

Until they tried herbalalternatives, including valer-ian for insomnia, “every timeI turned around, it was $50here, $75 there” for prescrip-tions, Cathy Birleffi said.

High costs of conventionalhealth care and worries aboutthe economy also led KristenKemp of Montclair, N.J., toalternatives.

“Just going to the doctor

will cost me $20 per kid, and Ihave three kids,” said Kemp,34. Prescriptions are $20 each,too, under the family’s insur-ance plan, so Kemp said she’sbeen giving her kids tea withhoney for sore throats and var-ious Chinese herbs for coldsand stomachaches. At $10 for abig bottle, the herbs are cheap-er even than regular over-the-counter medicines, Kemp said.

“I’m trying to save money,”said Kemp, an editor for CafeMom, a social networkingWeb site for mothers. Herhusband is in the shaky bank-ing industry.

“Just in case somethingbad happens to our jobs, Iwant more money in thebank,” she said.

A government survey reportco-author Richard Nahin ofthe National Institutes ofHealth’s National Center forComplementary and Alterna-tive Medicine offered caution-ary advice on the topic.

People taking herbal andother supplements should lettheir doctor know whatthey’re using, said Nahin, act-ing director of the center’sbranch that oversees outsideresearch the agency funds.

Supplements and otheralternative treatments don’trequire rigorous testing andgovernment approval. Theyalso can interfere with pre-scription drugs and can belife-threatening in rare caseswhen combined, Nahin said.

ATTORNEYContinued from A1will act as jurors, judgingthe evidence presented byEllis and Blagojevich’sattorney.

“It will be up to each indi-vidual senator to determineif I have made my case,”Ellis said. “What level ofproof they may need is goingto be up to the discretion andconscience of each individ-ual senator.”

There are no plans to callsenators as witnesses, Ellissaid. He added that he wouldcontinue to seek the releaseof four audiotapes offered byU.S. Attorney PatrickFitzgerald that are the sub-

ject of legal arguments inU.S. District Court in Chica-go.

“It would be helpful tohave them, but by no meanswould it be the end-all, be-all,” Ellis said.

The trial will be similar toPresident Bill Clinton’s triala decade ago, but it will onlyhave a single prosecutorinstead of using severalHouse managers to try thecase.

Supreme Court Chief Jus-tice Thomas Fitzgerald willpreside over the trial. TheSenate has set aside ninedays, although it could takelonger, to hear each side ofthe case.


STYLEContinued from A1

Soo Choi, co-owner of U-Top, said she has beenordering large batches ofvarious T-shirts, which soldespecially well before Christ-mas. Baseball caps andlapel buttons also are avail-able.

One shirt proclaims“Barack Obama, Comman-der-in-Chief,” anotherdeclares him “The Leader ofHope.” On another shirt,Obama, in boxing trunksand gloves, stands over adefeated foe lying on thecanvas, and the shirt pro-claims that Obama is “TheNew Champ, The People’sChoice.”

The most popular seller atU-Top carries a photo of theentire Obama family.

“The ones with the pictureof the Obama family are allgone,” Choi said. However,there were a few still avail-able on the women’s rackearly in the week before theinauguration.

Choi said most of theObama clothes apparentlywere purchased to wear atspecial events, rather thaneveryday attire.

Naomi Johnson, a U-Topcustomer, said she and hersister each bought anObama T-shirt during thecampaign to wear toObama’s speech in Spring-field where he announced hisvice presidential choice.

“It’s just exciting,” Naomisaid. “I was interested in thecampaign. I’ve never beeninterested before.”

U-Top employee BrittanyBoyce said Election Daywas one of the biggest shop-ping days for Obamaclothes.

“The same day, we had alot of people come in to buyshirts to celebrate the factthat we had a new presidentcoming in,” Boyce said.

She said she has not seenObama in person yet, butshe would love to someday.

“I really do think he’sgoing to do everything hesaid he’s going to do andmake our country a better

place,” Boyce said.At Fashion Divine in

Fairview Plaza, the store’sselection of Obama attireincludes T-shirts carryingimages resembling maga-zine covers. One shirt bearsan Obama Time magazinecover, while another con-tains an imitation cover con-sisting of several images,including a wedding photo ofBarack and MichelleObama.

Store Manager DamianShin, a Fashion Divineemployee since it openedeight years ago, said he hasnever seen any other personhonored with so many differ-ent products.

He said the sales are slowright now, but he expectsthem to pick up after Obamabecomes president.

At CafePress, a Califor-nia-based company that pro-duces customer-designedproducts, the demand forObama items has notslowed.

“It is definitely a phenom-enon,” spokesman MarcCowlin said.

During the holiday season,Obama merchandise outsoldall rivals at the company,which sells about 200 millionproducts.

“Obama merchandise wasmore popular than SantaClaus during the holiday sea-son,” Cowlin said. “It reallyhasn’t tapered off. We’vedone an amazing businesswith this election and otherelections. Obama has outsoldevery other politician thatwe’ve seen.”

The company noticed in2004 that most of the request-ed items were about GeorgeW. Bush, positive and nega-tive. Wondering if there wasa correlation between salesand election results, thecompany monitored the 2008election.

Once again, the salesleader went on to victory.

“During the entire year,Obama had 51 percent ofthe cumulative sales,” Cowl-in said. “The next closestwas John McCain at 18 per-cent.”


TOWNSHIPContinued from A1slate member, received 121 votes and thenomination to seek a third term. He waschallenged by Mark D. Wickland, whoreceived 82 votes, and Jerry Potts, whoreceived 30 votes.

Of the three remaining incumbenttrustees, only Hilda Walker, Arthur LeeWalker’s sister, won nomination to seek athird term, with 151 votes. IncumbentsGary Brennan and Gary Minich weredefeated. Nominated to run for trusteefrom the Walker slate were Lisa Joneswith 132 votes and Raushana Penderwith 126 votes. They will be joined on theDemocratic ballot by Rene Verry, amember of the Sheets slate, who gar-nered 114 votes.

The brief speeches by candidates priorto the balloting were mostly positive.Only Boles took time to attack Sheetsand the majority of the township boardfor its treatment in the last two years ofthe Walkers, particularly Arthur Lee

Walker. While stating that he was dis-gusted with that treatment, Boles did notspecify it.

The board recently cut the clerk’ssalary for the new term by about $12,000and previously removed townshiprecords from his office to a general stor-age area.

At the GOP caucus, Gresham said tax-ation will be one of the biggest issuesRepublican candidates will speak about.

“From the assessment standpoint,there have been some gross assessingerrors,” Gresham said. “The taxpayershave been abused by what’s going on inDecatur Township in the last four years.”

Local business owner Duane Potterwas nominated to run for townshipsupervisor in April. Potter beat formercircuit court Judge John L. Davis in a53-26 vote.

Potter, who held the same positionfrom 1993 to 1997, said a lot has changedsince he last acted as supervisor, and itwill take some investigation to find out afull list of issues that need to be workedout.

“We were in very good financial shape,and our operation was clean as we couldmake it at that time,” Potter said of hisprevious tenure as supervisor. “A lot ofthings have happened since then thatneed to be addressed. In a township, youseldom know what all those things are.”

Potter said one issue he hopes toaddress is the movement of the asses-sor’s office to a different building thanthe county building.

“I believe that was a mistake andneeds to be addressed. I was not in favorof the new building they are building, butI don’t know at this stage how to reversethat,” Potter said. “It’s not right to makeour recipients have to get out to thatlocation.”

In other uncontested votes, Tom Grea-nias was slated for township assessorand John Bollutta, Michael Sexton, ChrisSiudyla and Mark Younker were nomi-nated for the four trustee positions. Anominee has not yet been named fortownship clerk.


Alternatives are popular in a tough economy

Herald & Review/Ralf Pansch

Soo Choi, co-owner of U-Top Fashion and Beauty in Decatur,inventories the store’s stock of Barack Obama buttons.

Associated Press

Kristen Kemp, left, has a cup of herbal tea with her 3-year-old twin daughters, Annabelle, right, andEstelle at their home in Montclair, N.J. To cut costs, Kemp uses home remedies and herbal medicinefor her children’s sore throats and colds instead of prescription medications.

On the opening day of Congress, theelevator deposited me on the fifth floorof the Longworth House Office Build-ing, where, as I expected, the parties

celebratingthe hard-foughtNovemberelection vic-tories hadspilled out ofthe officesand filled thecorridor withrevelry wor-thy of NewYear’s Eve.

The fifth floor of Longworth is notwhere you find the spacious suitescommandeered by committee chair-men and senior members. The officeshere are small, cramped and occupiedby freshmen who draw numbers in alottery and try to snag quarters closeto the elevators. But on opening day,friends and families who have arrivedto launch the freshmen into their newcareers self-consciously mix and min-gle with folks from other states doingthe same thing. It’s a wonderful day, areminder of all the hard work andsacrifice it takes to win a House seatwhen you’re not an incumbent.

Every new member has his ownstory. Walt Minnick’s is more unusualthan most.

FOR ONE THING, he is only the secondDemocrat to hold his House seat inthe last 42 years and the first in 14years to come to Washington from thefamously Republican state of Idaho.For another, he is, at 66, much olderthan most of the other freshmen, butran and finished the Boston Marathon

last year. Finally, he is the only for-mer Nixon White House staff memberto win election to this Congress. Heresigned in protest immediately afterthe “Saturday night massacre,” whenRichard Nixon ousted his attorneygeneral to remove Archibald Cox asthe Watergate special prosecutor.

Minnick told me he had just comeout of the Army when a Harvard LawSchool classmate who was a WhiteHouse fellow suggested he apply for avacant job on Nixon’s staff. Not yet30, he was working anonymously ondrug-control issues when Watergatebroke. “I realized I was not comfort-able serving that kind of president,”he said, “so I became the second per-son on the staff to resign.”

A NATIVE OF eastern Washington andlover of the outdoors, he chose Boiseas his home and joined a forest prod-ucts company, eventually becoming itspresident. Later, he started a success-ful nursery business.

Then politics came along. In 1996,Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, thenhead of the Democratic SenatorialCampaign Committee, recruited Min-nick to run against Republican Sen.Larry Craig. “I was an independent,and I told him I wanted to run as anindependent. He had no problem withthat, but Cecil Andrus (the formerIdaho governor and interior secre-tary) phoned me and said that if thatwas my plan, they’d run anotherDemocrat against Craig and see that Ifinished third. So at that point Ibecame a Democrat.”

But Minnick still sees himself assomeone who straddles party lines.

Last fall, he found Idahoans “so fedup with the partisanship in Washing-

ton” that his message resonated. Hehad the advantage of being up againsta highly partisan Republican, Rep.Bill Sali, who had feuded even withother Republicans and carved out oneof the most conservative records inthe House.

“MY WHOLE campaign was aimed atpersuadable Republicans,” Minnicktold me. Fueled by $900,000 of his per-sonal funds (“twice what I planned toput in”), Minnick closed his campaignwith a series of ads in which Idahoanssaid, “I’ve been a Republican all mylife, but I’m voting for Walt Minnick.”It worked, but barely. Minnick wonwith less than 51 percent of the votes.

This means, of course, that he willbe high on the Republican target listfor 2010. “Chris Van Hollen (the chair-man of the Democratic CongressionalCampaign Committee) told me that Isit in the 14th-most Republican dis-trict in the country, and the other 13are all held by Republicans,” Minnicksaid. “So he wants me home everyweekend.”

Minnick is following orders. He hastaken a small apartment on CapitolHill while his wife and childrenremain in Boise. He says he is readyto show his new constituents a differ-ent style of representation, one notmarked by partisanship.

He has joined the Blue Dog caucusof conservative Democrats and, onopening day, co-sponsored with Rep.Mike Simpson, the Republican fromthe neighboring district, a bill to pro-tect an Idaho wilderness area.

His is one story of many, and that’swhat makes opening day on Long-worth Five a good place to be.

[email protected]

City should have consideredusing Regions building

How can the present city councilmake an informal decision to move for-ward on the architectural firm for thenew police building without taking bidson an approximately $1 million con-tract? This council is basically agreeingto spend $15.5 million to $17.5 million forthe new building. Although, I would ven-ture a guess that this new building actu-ally will cost closer to $23 million.

Why did this council eliminate theprospect of leasing and remodeling theRegions Bank building for about $6 mil-lion? We understand the owners of theRegions building agreed to give it to thecity at the end of the 20-year lease. Theupper floors are available immediatelyfor storage of the records and othermaterials that are taking up a lot ofspace and free up space for room desper-ately needed by the police department.

We personally pay real estate taxeson nine properties in the city ofDecatur, and we are very concernedabout the taxpayers’ cost for publicbuildings and continued rising costs forinsurance and pension plans. We won-der if any other taxpayers are con-cerned or upset at the decision not toinsist the Regions building be at leastreviewed again. Why did the staff andthe past city manager recommend theRegions building so strongly? Why not?

We are asking anyone concerned todayabout the cost of this project to contactcouncil members immediately to be sureall options have been reviewed.

Jim and Susie PeckDecatur

Obama likely made hisposition clear on Senate job

B.A. Buttz, in a Dec. 29 letter to theeditor, asks us if it is absurd to think Gov.Rod Blagojevich and President-electBarack Obama did not talk to each otherabout the vacated Illinois senate seat.

I am sure everyone heard Obama’sstatement on the question. He wasquick to claim he didn’t have conversa-tions with Blagojevich. I didn’t believeBlagojevich for a minute, but I believeObama. He has always told us thetruth, hasn’t he? Well, OK, but I stillbelieve him this time.

I also believe Obama told RahmEmanuel exactly what to say when hecalled his good friend Blagojevich onhis behalf. Obama gets his messagesent without getting his hands dirty.

Kent NewtonMount Zion


A5

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GOV. ROD Blagojevich will be in Springfieldtoday to swear in the new General Assembly, justdays after the Illinois House voted 114-1 toimpeach him.

While it will be interesting to note the recep-tion Blagojevich receives, today is largely cere-monial. Although no one can predict what thisgovernor will do, nothing unusual is expected.

Today also marks the first day in 30 years for-mer Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago,hasn’t been in the General Assembly to protectthe governor.

Jones didn’t leave quietly, warning his col-leagues to move slowly on impeachment. TheSenate is scheduled to begin the impeachmenttrial Jan. 26.

“Maybe all the evidence may point in onedirection, but it may be the wrong person,’’Jones said on his last day as a legislator. “Wedon’t have all of the facts.”

Jones also echoed a comment made by Blago-jevich that the House impeachment vote wasexpected because of the governor’s long-runningproblems with House Speaker Michael Madigan,D-Chicago, and the House in general. Jones saidhe hopes the Senate trial will be an evenhandedaffair.

“I trust that those who are in the process ofrunning it will look at fairness and look at equalrepresentation on all sides of the issue and notjust play to something that’s going to them aheadlines in the press,” Jones said, guaranteeinghimself headlines.

Jones also suggested Blagojevich is like the

death row inmates who later were found to beinnocent, which led to Gov. George Ryan’s mora-torium on the death penalty. “What happened tomost of those wrongly convicted individuals,they were rushed through a process,” Jones said.

The impeachment trial, however, is not a crim-inal proceeding. While the impeachment processbegan after Blagojevich was arrested andcharged by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, theburdens of proof are totally different.

In fact, the impeachment decision approved bythe House speaks more to Blagojevich’s floutingof the Constitution by setting up health insur-ance programs that were not approved by theGeneral Assembly, by his inability to lead bothnow and in the past and by charges that he usedthe state’s hiring practices for political purposes.The case for impeachment must have beenstrong, only one representative voted against it.

It takes 40 of the 59 Illinois senators to removea governor from office, and it’s hard to see howthe governor will avoid removal from office.

Of course, the governor could resign and savethe state, himself and his family the embarrass-ment of a public impeachment trial. To date, thegovernor has shown no willingness to resign, butinstead, has been defiantly saying he’s the victim.

Jones, who has stood by the governor for thepast six years, apparently doesn’t feel remorsefor his role. He’s been an enabler, a powerful allywho allowed the governor to operate outside thebounds of the constitution. Jones said he has“few regrets,” a statement that reveals a gooddeal about his view of public service.

Panetta ispoor choice

for CIAWho knew Leon Panetta

was really James Bond? The70-year-old former congress-man is considered a verynice guy in the politicalworld, a world that is any-thing but nice. But nowPresident-elect Obama hastapped Panetta to be atough-guy spy, the head ofthe CIA.

The choice is perplexing.Panetta is very smart buthas absolutely no intelli-gence experience, unlessyou count his days as BillClinton’s White Housechief of staff. Some oldhands inside the CIA arereportedly aghast at thechoice. Michael Scheuer, aformer member of the CIAwho headed the agency’sbin Laden unit, put it suc-cinctly: “I think theypulled his name out of ahat.”

BESIDES HIS lack of experi-ence, Panetta opposes manyof the CIA’s anti-terrormeasures. He’s against anykind of coerced interroga-tion, wants the ForeignIntelligence SurveillanceAct overseas wiretap lawrepealed and would com-pletely disband the rendi-tion program whereby theCIA sends captured terrorsuspects to be held andinterrogated in other coun-tries.

Without those tools, whichformer CIA Chief GeorgeTenet and others say havebeen very effective in uncov-ering terror plots, theagency’s ability to disruptpotential attacks would begravely damaged. In fact, itwas just last February when68 senators, some of themDemocrats, voted the For-eign Intelligence Surveil-lance Act wiretap strategyinto law. For the record,Obama declined to vote onthe issue.

BUT NOW, Obama can’t sitthese things out. He mustdecide how to wage thewar on terror, and byselecting Panetta as hispoint man, he’s taking ahuge gamble. If terroristsagain attacked the UnitedStates, Obama’s soft intel-ligence-gathering approachalso would come underattack. Simply put: A suc-cessful terror missioncould bring Obama down.

So why is Obama puttinghimself in this position?The media have convincedmany people that the Bushadministration degenerat-ed into a bunch of criminaltorturers, people who per-secuted innocent Muslimsworldwide. Now the com-mitted-left media aredemanding Obama rejectany experienced intelli-gence people who havesupported President Bush’sterror initiatives. That’swhy Panetta was chosen,to appease the left-wingzealots.

It seems to me that com-mon sense, not ideology, isvital in preventing terror-ists from killing us. CouldPanetta learn on the job torun the CIA? Certainly.Should he be in chargewhen we are fighting twowars and terrorist bombsare going off all over theworld? No way.

AS FOR TAPPING calls tosuspected terrorists over-seas, come on. Judgeshave to see the data afterthe fact, and federal lawstill applies to any abuse.A private detective namedAnthony Pellicano just gota harsh prison sentencefor violating the wiretaplaw.

It’s the same thing withcoerced interrogation. Thepresident should have thepower to order it when livesare in imminent dangerfrom a terror threat. Howev-er, Panetta recently told anewspaper that all interro-gations should abide by theArmy Field Manual, whichprohibits making any cap-tured person “uncomfort-able.”

Well, that kind of restric-tion should make youuncomfortable. Because inthe war on terror, a lack ofquick intelligence couldmake you dead.

www.billoreilly.com

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grievances.”

Wednesday,

January 14,

2009



Gary SawyerEditor



Jones’ parting statements not a surprise

Minnick’s story stands out, even in Longworth

DAVID BRODER

BILL O’REILLY

Governor returns to Capitol topreside over group that coulddecide to put him out of office


SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Rod Blagojevich wasgreeted with hushed silence Wednesday on hisfirst foray to the Capitol since his Dec. 9 arrestand subsequent impeachment by the IllinoisHouse.

Presiding over the swearing-in ceremony for theIllinois Senate, the disgraced governor entered theSenate chambers from a rear door with no fanfareand impassively presided over the hour-longevent.

While normally a day of backslapping and goodhumor, Blagojevich and his travails muted themood of the chamber, which scheduled hisimpeachment trial to begin Jan. 26.

Blagojevich has been absent from the state-house since federal agents arrested him at hishome in Chicago on federal corruption charges.

As part of the first day of the new GeneralAssembly, newly sworn-in members of the Illinois

Roll ’em up

Red Cross officials

recently said that blood

supplies are dwindling to

critically low numbers.

Blood types O negative

and B negative are need-

ed most. Local A3

Energy accoladesLake Land College’s

energy saving and educa-

tion efforts have sparked

the interest of Barack

Obama’s transition team. It

also received national

recognition for its technolo-

gy efforts. Money C1

Hopes for peace

Egyptian and Hamas

officials expressed opti-

mism that an agreement

for a temporary halt in

fighting can be presented

to Israel soon. World C4

Stimulus in jeopardyStates are trying to bal-

ance budgets by raising

taxes, chopping programs

and cutting spending in

2009, but some worry

those steps could under-

cut efforts to stimulate the

economy. Nation A8

Delivery: 421-6990

Newsroom: 421-6979







Hot second halfIllinois rolls over Michigan

in Champaign rematch/B1

Skillet skillsCelebrity chefs, including

Paula Deen, share recipes/D1

JANUARY 15, 2009


Issue 15

Four sections

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: Partly sunny and frigidTonight: Clear and bitterly cold

Details/B6

H I G H

4L O W

-9

THURSDAY

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . C4-7Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5Dear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D2Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D5Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-6Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1,2Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D2Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . D3,4Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . C5,7Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-5Television . . . . . . . . . . . . D6

INDEX

Swearing-in takes solemn tone

SOLEMN/A2

HEADED FOR D.C.

Money, budget top newGeneral Assembly’s agendaFirst up for Senate willbe impeachment trial

By MIKE RIOPELL and JASON NEVELH&R Springfield Bureau Writers

SPRINGFIELD — Many of theIllinois lawmakers sworn into the96th General Assembly onWednesday said their top priorityfor the spring is dealing with thestate’s serious money problems.

By the end of the legislature’sspring session, lawmakers couldhave to weigh proposals for deepcuts to state services and variouskinds of tax increases to shoreup the state’s books.

“We’re going to be looking atcutting off some arms and legsbefore this thing is over,” saidstate Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East

Moline.But the battle over the budget

might not come to a head untilMay, after the impeachmentprocess currently under wayagainst Gov. Rod Blagojevichhas ended.

Members of the Illinois Housetook their oaths of office outsidetheir ornate Capitol chamber,opting instead for a large audito-rium at nearby University of Illi-nois at Springfield.

Before they left the crowdedauditorium, the Houseimpeached Blagojevich again,formalizing what they did in theprior General Assembly for thecurrent one. The governor, mean-while, presided over the Illinois

Checklisthelps cutsurgicaldeath rateStudy: System aidsin avoiding mistakes

By MIKE STOBBEAP Medical Writer

ATLANTA — Scrawl onthe patient with a perma-nent marker to show wherethe surgeon should cut. Askthe person’s name to makesure you have the rightpatient.Countspongesto makesure youdidn’tleave anyinside thebody.

Doctors worldwide whofollowed a checklist of stepssuch as these cut the deathrate from surgery almost inhalf and complications bymore than a third in a largeinternational study of how toavoid blatant operating roommistakes.

The results, most dramat-ic in developing countries,startled the researchers.

“I was blown away,” saidDr. Atul Gawande, a Harvardsurgeon and medical jour-nalist who led the study,published in today’s NewEngland Journal of Medi-cine.

U.S. hospitals have beenrequired since 2004 to takesome of these precautions.But the 19-item checklistused in the study was farmore detailed than what isrequired or what many insti-tutions do.

The researchers estimatedthat implementing thelonger checklist in all U.S.operating rooms would saveat least $15 billion a year.

“Most of these things hap-pen most of the time formost patients, but we needto make it so that all thesethings happen all the timefor all patients, becauseeach slip represents anopportunity for harm,” saidDr. Alex Haynes of the Har-vard School of PublicHealth, one of the study’sauthors.

The checklist was devel-oped by the World HealthOrganization and includesmeasures such as these:

Herald & Review photos/Stephen Haas

Tim Singer of Arthur pushes a mower featuring a photo of Barack Obama across U.S. 45 near the Arcola Community Center.The photo of Obama used on the mower as a decoration was taken in Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2003.

Mowing new groundBy TONY REID

H&R Staff Writer

ARCOLA — Those magnificentmen and their mowing machinessaddled up Wednesday, ready tocut a swath through presidentialhistory.

The Arcola-based LawnRangers, per-haps the world’sonly precisionmower marchingteam, have beenchosen by Presi-dent-electBarack Obamato grace hisinaugural parade on Tuesday.

In an emotional and yet com-pletely ridiculous ceremony, themowers were solemnly gatheredtogether, ready for the trip toWashington, D.C. Historians can’tbe sure, but it seems almost cer-tain the 56th inauguration paradewill be the first ever to feature a

mower fitted with a toilet stool.Pat Monahan, the Arcola busi-

nessman who helped found theRangers in 1981, was clearly emo-tional. Standing close by anothermower that features a stuffed

beaver swaying onthe end of a longspring, he struggledto find a sense ofhumility: “We’rehonored and sur-prised to be invitedto this inauguralparade,” he said.

“Not that wedon’t deserve it.”

It turns out that the politiciansoon to become the leader of thefree world and the men whomarch with tricked-out mowershave crossed paths before. Theyfirst encountered each other inthe 2003 St. Patrick’s Day Paradein Chicago. Obama was a young

The second Lawn Rangers’encounter withObama will be to celebrate his inauguration

THE

NET

New EnglandJournal: nejm.org

Associated Press

Gov. Rod Blagojevich applauds ashe presides over the Illinois Sen-ate on Wednesday in Springfield.Blagojevich is required to overseethe swearing-in of the state Sen-ate, which will decide whether tothrow the two-term Democrat outof office after he was impeachedFriday by the House.

‘We’re honored and surprised to be invited to this inaugural parade. Not that we don’t deserve it.’

— Pat Monahan, Arcola Lawn Rangers founder

AGENDA/A2

MOW/A2

One of the mowers to be used by the ArcolaLawn Rangers in the inauguration parade inWashington, D.C., waits to be loaded up atthe Arcola Community Center. CHECKLIST/A2

MOWContinued from A1hopeful, working the crowds as a can-didate in the Democratic primary fora seat in the U.S. Senate, and theRangers were there doing their stuff.

Monahan was impressed withObama but warned him he wouldnever get anywhere unless hechanged that last name. However, hisRanger colleagues deigned to snap apicture of the politician holding a toi-let plunger aloft in triumph — eliteRanger “Plunger Men” carry them inparades as symbols of their highoffice — and that distinctive lastname did stick in Ranger collectivememories, often sullied by largeamounts of liquid refreshment.

When the formation mowers sawthe smiling young man eventuallyhad made something of himself afterall, they naturally wrote to him offer-ing to grace his parade in triumph

down Pennsylvania Avenue. “We usedthat picture we had of him as part ofour application,” said Monahan. “Ithink he remembered.”

And, as this is a presidential inau-guration parade, the Rangers arepulling out all the stops. Their totalcontingent will be 57-strong, includ-ing 48 Rangers, two Plunger Men andseven “Banner Abes,” who arewomen dressed as Abraham Lincolncarrying banners saying things suchas “Congratulations, President Mow-Bama.”

Even Dave Barry, the humorcolumnist and author who hasmarched with the Rangers before, iscoming out of retirement to performagain. He and the rest of the Rangersare augmenting their characteristiceye mask and cowboy hat outfits withflowing red graduation robes suppliedby local Collegiate Cap & Gown storeand American flag suspenders donat-ed by Decatur-based Perry’s Sus-penders.

Mower decorations also have takena patriotic turn. One has a 5-foot-highreplica of the Washington Monumentand another has a 5-foot-tall papiermache bust of Lincoln.

Terry Overman, a contractor fromGibson City, will be pushing the fauxLincoln. On Wednesday, his moweralso sported a banner with a pictureof Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich andthe phrase “This is xxxxing valu-able,” but he says he will probablychange that on the grounds of publicdecency come parade day eventhough it comes from an actual quoteby the governor.

“We’ve done a lot of differentparades,” said Overman, 52 — actual-ly, more than 200 of them — “But thisis the ultimate. I mean, where do wego from here?”

The wider question remains, ofcourse, as to whether the Rangerscan pull off the big one and help res-urrect the sullied image of Illinois asa naughty state populated by politi-

cians who think the grass is alwaysgreener on the shady side of thestreet.

Monahan ponders the image ques-tion for a while and then smilesbrightly. “Well,” he said. “I don’t seehow we can make it any worse.”


AGENDAContinued from A1Senate’s inauguration at theCapitol. The state Senate willget to work on a trial todetermine whether to kickhim out of office.

In the meantime, the 177lawmakers sworn in Wednes-day will soon begin workingon legislation intended todeal with a myriad of otherissues. Among them is a pushto enact an expensive capitalconstruction program meantto fix the state’s roads,bridges and university andprison buildings.

“When you get down to it,the capital bill and the budg-et will be the most importantthing we do,” said state Sen.Gary Forby, a Benton Demo-crat sworn in after winning aclose election in November.

People already are throw-ing out ideas to accomplishboth of those goals. State

Rep. John Bradley, D-Mari-on, has floated an idea toraise the state gas tax to payfor road construction.

State Rep. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga, has embraced a planthat would trade an increasein sales taxes for a decrease

in property taxes. State Rep.Dan Brady, R-Bloomington,said he’s mulling legislationto help local school districts.

State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, said he’s consider-ing ethics legislation thatwould prohibit a lawmaker’s

spouse or child from workingfor the state.

Other lawmakers mightfocus on often-controversialissues, such as gun control.State Rep. David Reis, R-Wil-low Hill, said he’ll probablypush to allow citizens tocarry concealed firearms.State Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said he wants toallow people to better defendthemselves against gettingerrant traffic tickets on theChicago-area tollway system.

State Rep. Patrick Ver-schoore, D-Milan, said he hastoyed with the idea of allow-ing rural school districts tohave four-day weeks to savegasoline. State Rep. MikeBoland said he wants to givestudents money toward com-munity college if they per-form well in high school.

“If kids follow straight andnarrow path for four years,they would be given freetuition at a community col-lege,” Boland said.

But the fact is, thousands ofideas are proposed as legisla-tion every year, and only afraction of them are approved.Some of those plans could befurther hampered by the econ-omy, leaving little moneyavailable for new ideas.

“The task before us is tofind the discipline to bringthat spending under control,”said state Sen. Dale Righter,R-Mattoon.


Events

MusicSchool of Music Student

Recital, 1:45 p.m., Millikin Universi-ty, Perkinson Music Center KaeuperHall, Decatur.


Curly’s, Decatur.David Lee the DJ, 10 p.m.,

Lock, Stock and Barrel, Decatur.DJ/Karaoke, 8:30 p.m., Elbow

Room, Decatur.Jackie Lawson and Tad Freez-

land, 6:30 p.m., Stoney’s Steak-house, Dalton City.

Karaoke/DJ with Ricky, 9:30p.m., Shorty’s, Decatur.

Live DJ, TouChe’, Decatur.Open mic night, 7 p.m., AIW

Hall, Decatur, 875-2416.The Road Hammers with Matt

Poss, Radmaker’s Rock N Roll Tav-

ern, Tolono. 485-3531.Tom Fuller Band, 9 p.m., Slid-

erz, Decatur.



HealthBlood Pressure Screening, 2 to

3 p.m., Lake Towers, Shelbyville.Free. 1-800-879-3212.

Cardiac Rehab Orientation, 1 to3 p.m., Decatur Memorial HospitalCardiac Rehabilitation Department,Decatur. Free. 876-2496.

Cholesterol, Blood Glucoseand Blood Pressure Clinic, 8 to9:30 a.m., Senior Center, Sullivan.Cholesterol test ($20), blood glu-cose test ($3), blood pressurecheck (free). 1-800-879-3212.

Cholesterol, Blood Glucoseand Blood Pressure Screenings,

8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Dick’s Pharma-cy, Arthur. Cholesterol test ($20),blood glucose test ($3), blood pres-sure check (free). 1-800-879-3212.




Prepared Childbirth Classes, 7p.m., Decatur Memorial Hospital,Decatur, 876-3448.


MeetingsDecatur Area Women’s Con-

nection, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Ban-

quet Facility, Decatur.Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m.,

Scovill Banquet Facility, Decatur.Fans Field

Neighbor-hood Associ-ation, 6:30p.m., DecaturHousingAuthority,Decatur.

Lincoln-landAMBUCs,6:30 p.m.,Easter Seals,Decatur.

MetroRotary Club,noon, Decatur Club, Decatur. 494-1543.

Suicide Knight Chess Club, 7p.m., Prairieland ABATE, Decatur.

Thursday Noon Toastmasters,noon, Barnes Citizens Building,Decatur, 855-3018.

United Commercial Travelers,Scovill Banquet Facility, Decatur,429-4511.

SeniorsLifeSpan Center, AARP Safe

Driving Class, 1 to 5 p.m.,Charleston. $12, $14. 639-5150.

Decatur-Macon County SeniorCenter, Quilters, 9 a.m., TRIAD, 10a.m., Cards, 1 p.m., Decatur, 429-1239.

John’s Hill, Watercolor class, 9to 11:30 a.m., Decatur, 422-1509.

Support GroupsAl-Anon, 10 a.m., Central Christ-


ian Church, Mount Zion.Alzheimer’s Association Sup-

port Groups, 1 p.m., Oasis SeniorCenter, Lincoln, 726-5184.


Parkinson’s Disease SupportGroup, 1:30 p.m., St. Paul’s Luther-an Church, Decatur, 877-2664.

Polio Survivors & Friends, 5 to6:30 p.m., Sarah Bush LincolnLumpkin Family Center for HealthEducation, Mattoon, 345-1549.

United Ostomy Association(Short Circuit Chapter of Decaturand Area), 7 p.m., Decatur Memor-ial Hospital, Decatur.



Decatur Public Library Gallery,Second Floor, Decatur. 424-2900.

Gallery 510 Arts Guild, 11 a.m.to 7 p.m. 422-1509.

Hieronymus Mueller Museum,Decatur, 1 to 4 p.m. 423-6161.

Macon County History Muse-um, 1 to 4 p.m., Decatur. $2, $1.“The History of Baseball in CentralIllinois.” 422-4919.

Contact us








WHAT’S HAPPENING

T O D A Y



MORE EVENTS:

Tomorrow’s

highlight:

A Taste forChange, 6:30 to10:30 p.m.,Lock, Stock andBarrel, Decatur,$10 includeappetizers, beersamples andkaraoke. 429-3855.













Herald&Review

Winning numbers selected Wednesday in the Illinois State Lottery:Lottery numbers online:

www.herald-review.com/

lottery/





Lotto1-14-21-25-32-42


Lotto jackpot$3 million


SOLEMNContinued from A1House voted 117-1 Wednesdayto impeach the governor,making their 114-1 impeach-ment vote last week in theold General Assembly officialfor the current one.

This time around, the lone“no” vote in the House camefrom state Rep. DeborahMell, a Chicago Democratwho is the governor’s sister-in-law. Mell later said in astatement that she’s knownBlagojevich for 20 years, andthe impeachment charges“were difficult to reconcilewith the man and brother-in-law I know.”

Many of the speeches atthe House’s swearing-in cere-mony included a reference toBlagojevich and his recentimpeachment.

In fact, one Republicanlawmaker called Secretary ofState Jesse White a “profilein courage” because of hisattempt to block Blagoje-vich’s appointment of RolandBurris to the U.S. Senate.The comment drew a stand-ing ovation from the newlysworn-in lawmakers andtheir families, who were look-ing on.

In the Senate, it wasBlagojevich’s fellow Democ-rats who brought up theissue of his possible ousteras he stood watching. StateSen. Louis Viverito, D-Bur-bank, said the new GeneralAssembly and the Senate’supcoming impeachmenttrial would be a chance tobegin “the process ofrestoring the public’strust.”

Blagojevich had little tosay on the issue, only not-ing at the end of his role aspresiding officer the troublehe faces in his upcomingtrial.

“These are challengingtimes,” Blagojevich said.

“Find the truth and sortthings out.”

He then urged the Senateto follow the words of Abra-ham Lincoln, saying, “Withmalice toward none and char-ity toward all.”

Blagojevich, who is the

first Illinois governor to beimpeached, left the chamberswithout speaking toreporters. He later slippedout of the building after hisattorney accepted paperworknotifying him of the Senate’supcoming impeachment trial.

It all made for an odd dayat the Capitol.

“I think the people in thisstate have been shaking theirhead for a long time over thisgovernor,” said newly electedSenate Minority LeaderChristine Radogno, R-Lemont. “He probably didn’tneed to make a speech.”

State Sen. Dan Ruther-ford, R-Chenoa, said the

awkward situation was han-dled appropriately by thegovernor and members ofthe Senate.

“I really felt that this wasabsolutely the right way to doit. He was very nonrespon-sive,” Rutherford said.

Following the governor’sexit, newly elected SenatePresident John Cullerton,D-Chicago, said it is his jobto try and bring a fracturedlegislature together to solvethe problems facing thestate.

“The atmosphere here hasdeteriorated,” Cullerton said.“Things today are not goingwell. The people of Illinoiswant solutions.”

He said he shook Blagoje-vich’s hand, but acknowl-edged it was an odd meeting.

“I said hello to him. Thatwas it. Certainly, it’s uncom-fortable,” Cullerton said.

Radogno said senatorsshould be prepared for apotentially emotional trial ofthe governor.

“It is truly regrettable thatthis chapter has to be writ-ten,” Radogno said.

Other lawmakers said thenew General Assembly couldset itself apart from the pastone, which was mired in grid-lock for two years because ofpolitical divisions and per-sonality fights amongDemocrats.

“Democrats and Republi-cans need to be workingtogether, not like the last fewyears,” said state Sen. JohnJones, R-Mount Vernon.

That test of unity beginsJan. 26, when the Senate putsBlagojevich on trial.


CHECKLISTContinued from A1n Before the patient is given

anesthesia, make sure the partof the body to be operated on ismarked, and make sure every-one on the surgical team knowsif the patient has an allergy.n Before the surgeons cut,

make sure everyone in the oper-ating room knows one anotherand what their roles will be dur-ing the operation, and confirmthat all the needed X-rays andscan images are in the room.n After surgery, check that

all the needles, sponges andinstruments are accounted for.

That checklist was tested in2007-08 in eight cities aroundthe world: Seattle; Toronto;London; New Delhi; Auckland,New Zealand; Amman, Jordan;Manila, Philippines; andIfakara, Tanzania. (Heart andpediatric cases were excluded.)

Before the checklist wasintroduced, 1.5 percent ofpatients in a comparison groupdied within 30 days of surgeryat the eight hospitals. After-ward, the rate dropped to 0.8percent, a 47 percent decrease.

The biggest decreases werein developing countries, withthe combined death rate forJordan, India, Tanzania andthe Philippines falling 52 per-cent. There was no significantdifference in deaths in thewealthiest countries.

Overall, major complica-tions dropped from 11 percentto 7 percent. Again, thebiggest decreases were in thelower-income countries.

“What we’re seeing is thebenefits of good teamwork andcoordinated care,” Haynes said.

The results were so dramat-ic that Dr. Peter Pronovost, aJohns Hopkins Universitydoctor who proved in a highlyinfluential study a few yearsago that checklists could cutinfection rates from intra-venous tubes, said he wasskeptical of the findings.

One possible flaw, he said,is that “you had people whobought into the system col-lecting their own data.”

The researchers acknowl-edged it is possible that theresults were partly because peo-ple perform better when theyknow they’re being watched.

However, the 19-point check-list already is being adopted.Ireland, Jordan, the Philip-pines and Britain recentlyhave established nationwideprograms to use the checklistin all operating rooms.

In the United States, the JointCommission, which accreditsmost hospitals and sets theirstandards, said it is consideringadopting more of the steps. Theagency already requires threeof them, including marking theincision site and pausing beforesurgery to make sure every-thing is in place.

At least one patient in thestudy at the University ofWashington Medical Center inSeattle welcomed the checklist.

Darrell McDonald, 63, had ahernia operation in March. Alongtime bush pilot in Alaska,he followed a checklist beforeevery takeoff, including check-ing the controls and walkingaround the propeller-drivenplane “to make sure nothing isgetting ready to fall off.”

So McDonald was fine withhis doctor writing on his bodywhere the incision would be.He had no problems withrepeated inquiries about whohe was and why he was there.He applauded measures suchas a poster-size checklisthanging from an IV pole inthe operating room.

“It eliminates the little bitthat could possibly go wrong,”he said.


Larry Harper of Urbana listens to fellowmembers of the Arcola Lawn Rangersduring a gathering at the Arcola Com-munity Center.

Associated Press

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, top center, presides Wednesday over the Illinois Senate in Springfield. Blagoje-vich is required to oversee the swearing-in of the state Senate, which will decide whether to throwthe two-term Democrat out of office after he was impeached Friday by the House.

Associated Press

Newly seated Rep. Debra Mell, D-Chicago, is greeted by Rep.Michael Connelly, R-Lisle, after the House conducted an impeach-ment vote Wednesday in Springfield. Mell, the governor’s sister-in-law, was the lone vote against impeachment.

‘I think the people in this state have beenshaking their head for a long time overthis governor. He probably didn’t need

to make a speech.’Newly elected Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont

LocalHerald&Review

A3BRIEFS


Tuesday, January 20, 2009

News from Central IllinoisThe big day

Obama takes the oath/Wednesday and online atwww.herald-review.com


MATTOON

Coles Centre moves aheadThe Mattoon City Commission

will consider a development agree-

ment for a multi-hotel and conven-

tion center project with a price tag

of $26 million over the next decade.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m.

today at city hall.

The council is expected to vote on

several ordinances for the Coles

Centre hospitality proposals

designed to construct hotels and

retail businesses on several acres

east of Interstate 57.

The development agreement with

Chuck Keller, an Effingham develop-

er, and Agracel Inc. of Effingham

County would establish city and

developer responsibilities relating to

this first project in the I-57 east tax

increment financing and business

districts.

The council will consider eight

ordinances relating to this next step

in the Coles Centre project.

SPRINGFIELD

Mautino joins leadership teamState Rep. Frank Mautino,

D-Spring Valley, was named to

House Speaker Michael Madigan’s

leadership team last week.

Mautino will serve as the assistant

majority leader for the Democrats.

The Democrats have a 70-48 majori-

ty in the House.

Mautino, 47, has served in the

House since 1991. He chaired the

Committee on Insurance and was

the vice-chair for Committee on Rev-

enue.

The promotion comes with a pay

raise. Mautino will make an addition-

al $18,067 on top of the $67,836 that

all lawmakers earn.

SPRINGFIELD

Knop among pageant finalistsMackenzie Knop of Forsyth, Miss

Decatur-Macon County Fair for

2008, was among the dozen finalists

in the 2009 Miss Illinois County Fair

Pageant.

Other area finalists included

Sabea Boyd of Logan County, Lauri-

an Brankey of Coles County and

Kaitlin Weitekamp of Montgomery

County, who was named second

runner-up at the contest last week-

end in Springfield.

Morgan Metz of Sangamon Coun-

ty was crowned queen at the pag-

eant.

DECATUR

Registration ends todayToday is the last day to register for

a new Macon County 4-H Junior

Master Horseman program. The six-

week course runs 6 to 7 p.m. Tues-

days from Feb. 3 through March 10.

Classes, which are open to all

youth of high school age, will be held

at the University of Illinois Extension

office, 2535 Millikin Parkway. After

completing the course, participants

will be asked to share their knowl-

edge of horses with grade school

children.

A $30 registration fee is required.

Register online at web.extension.

uiuc.edu/macon. Call 877-6042 for

information.

DECATUR

$1,000 in items takenItems valued at more than $1,000

were taken Saturday from a house

in the 800 block of South 21st

Street, a woman reported to

Decatur police.

The woman returned home to find

the items missing about 11 p.m. Sat-

urday, according to police reports.

Among the items were a Samsung

32-inch, flat-screen television, a

Toshiba laptop computer, a Sam-

sung DVD and VCR combination

player and a Microsoft MP3 personal

audio player.

DECATUR

Retirement meeting setMacon-Piatt Regional Office of

Education will offer a Teachers

Retirement System telephone con-

ference Thursday, March 5.

To register, call Dick Shelby,

regional superintendent, at 872-

3721, or e-mail him at dshelby@

roe39.k12.il.us no later than Thurs-

day, Jan. 29.

‘Tough times ahead for Illinois’Legislators say state willhave difficult decisionseven if governor removed

By RON INGRAMH&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — Two state legisla-tors who voted to impeach Gov. RodBlagojevich told members of theDecatur Rotary Club on Mondaythat the state facestough times, even ifthe governor isremoved from office.

State Reps. BillMitchell, R-Forsyth,and Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, twicevoted to impeach thegovernor, once Jan.9, and againWednesday, aftermembers of the new96th Illinois GeneralAssembly took theiroaths of office.Blagojevich faces atrial in the IllinoisSenate, which couldfind him guilty of the charges theHouse leveled against him.

If that occurs, the senate thenmust decide his sentence, Mitchellsaid. Likely, the governor would beremoved from office, he said.

The senate trial is a political

process not a criminal one, Mitchellsaid.

He predicted Lt. Gov. Pat Quinnwill be the state’s governor by mid-February.

“The important thing is where wemove on to,” Mitchell said. “Thestate of Illinois is in bad shape. Wein the General Assembly have totake responsibility for what was

allowed to happen.”Medicaid is a basic expenditure

in the state budget and now exceedsthe amount the state spends annu-ally on education, Mitchell said.The legislature appropriated $7.5 billion for Medicaid last yearbut knew that its cost would beabout $9 billion, he said.

As a result, payments to Medic-

aid services providers are 120 daysor more in arrears, Mitchell said.

Flider said while “I don’t alwayssubscribe to the pile on theory,” inthe case of Blagojevich, severalthings caused him to vote forimpeachment. He said chief amongthem were some of the governor’sdecisions and their effect on the101st District.

Blagojevich created new pro-grams he did not have the authorityto create and to fund them cut pro-grams locally in retaliation for hisnonsupport of aspects of the gover-nor’s agenda, Flider said. Exam-ples were the loss of funds for theCeaseFire program in Decatur’sinner-city neighborhoods and cutsin coal redevelopment funds ear-marked for Decatur that insteadwound up being spent on rapidtransit in Cook County, he said.

“Blagojevich came into govern-ment as a white knight, saying hewas going to clean up government,”Flider said. “Now, we have an oppor-tunity to pass real reform laws andsweep the governor out with them.”

Mitchell said he predicts the harshfiscal situation Illinois finds itself inwill prompt the legislature to pass“the mother of all tax increases” inthe spring session. He said he oppos-es raising taxes in hard times andbelieves the state needs to be morefiscally conservative.


Flider

Mitchell


SPRINGFIELD —When Gov. Rod Blago-jevich’s impeachmenttrial begins Monday,lawmakers say therecould be at least someseats available somembers of the publiccan watch.

Senators will weighaccusations thatBlagojevich tried tosell President-electBarack Obama’s seatin the U.S. Senate,among other allega-tions, and they’ll even-tually decide whetherthe governor should beremoved from office.

State Sen. DaleRighter, R-Mattoon,said the rules of thetrial don’t specify anyguidelines on who canattend and watch fromthe Senate gallery. Sogeneral Senate ruleswill likely be in effect,he said. That means,as long as there areseats, people canattend.

“It’ll be really inter-esting to see if we geta crowd, if you will,”Righter said.

Most of the hearingswill take place duringthe day, so any crowdcould have to taketime off work if theywant to see the his-

toric hearing.What they see,

though, may not bethat exciting. The trialcould end up being afairly dry andreserved proceedingfilled with legaldetails, said state Sen.Mike Jacobs, D-EastMoline.

But it doesn’t hap-pen very often, Jacobssaid, and it’s unclearwhen fireworks mighterupt during theimpeachment trial.

“This is a very polit-ical act, and one mostpeople have never seenbefore,” he said.


Seats available for governor’s trial

Continuing King’s march200 people walk toremember man whopaved way for Obama

By SHEILA SMITHH&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — The snow- and slush-filled streets of Decatur and tempera-ture at about 15 degrees did not stopthe marchers commemorating thebirthday of Martin Luther King Jr. onMonday.

Almost 200 people turned out tohonor the memory of the man who setthe tone for a new vision for America.They marched from Hess and Muellerparks down Martin Luther King Jr.Drive, filled with pride that King’sdream has come to pass on this nation-al holiday.

“This is really a symbolic march,and he would probably be a bit madthat we were just marching just forhim,” said Jeffrey Perkins, president ofthe local branch of the National Associ-ation for the Advancement of ColoredPeople.

“We came out to march for whatKing stood for,” said Perkins, who ledthe march from Mueller Park.

Burl Stoner, who opened the facilityat Mueller Park for march participants,told everyone in the crowd, “I didn’tthink I would live long enough to seehistory in the making. You young peo-ple should remember this day and pre-serve it — the dream has become areality.”

Jeff Roth said he was inspired byKing.

“I grew up in the ’60s as a youngchild and never witnessed rioting andother things going on. But I watchedtelevision and saw what was going on,”Roth said. “King had a beautiful visionfor America. Today, with the election ofa new president, this is confirmationhis vision is real. I am so proud to bean American.”

Decatur Police Chief James Ander-son has been marching for the past fiveyears.

“King’s commitment was towardpeaceful change. That is what thepolice department is about,” Andersonsaid. Deputy police chiefs Todd Walkerand Ed Smith joined him in the marchthis year.

While leading the march from HessPark, the Rev. James Wills of Love Fel-lowship Christian Church called thisyear “unbelievable” because of the feel-ing in the air about the election ofBarack Obama.

“This is a commemorative march buta historical one,” he said. “We aremarching on Martin Luther King Dayand on the day before the inaugurationof our first African-American presi-dent.”

As Wills’ group marched, they sang,“We shall overcome.” Those who leftfrom Mueller Park filled the air withshouts of “M-L-K” until the two groupsconverged.


MAKING IT POSSIBLE


Area residents gathered in Mueller Park to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. in the 23rd annual march. That groupmarched toward another group that left Hess Park at the same time. A total of about 200 people took part in the marchthat met at North Street.

By SHEILA SMITHH&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — KateShields took severalyouths from First UnitedMethodist Church out tolunch Monday.

She talked to themabout the importance ofthe day being a nationalholiday in honor of slaincivil rights leader Mar-tin Luther King Jr.

“I talked to themabout the nonviolenceof King and how he wasa peaceful man. Hemade an impact in theworld,” said Shields, thechildren, youth andfamily director at FirstUnited MethodistChurch.

The church opened itsdoors for the first Mar-tin Luther King Jr.memorial service Mon-day and invited severalAfrican-Americanchurches in the commu-nity to participate.

“We had talked abouthaving churches gettogether and worshiptogether. We knew Mar-tin Luther King Day wascoming up, so we all

wanted to get togetherand celebrate and thinkabout where we are as apeople,” said the Rev.Kent Nobles-King ofFirst United Methodist.

Other ministers whoattended were the Revs.C.D. Stuart, Wesley ToddDawson and LelandLabrador of AntiochMissionary BaptistChurch; the Revs. Her-bert T.J. Jackson and

Tom Garmon of BrightMorning Star; the Rev.Tyrone Oldham of NewSalem Missionary Bap-tist Church; and the Rev.Patricia Havis of TrinityC.M.E. Church.

The speaker for theprogram was ElderFranklin Dotson of NewHope Temple and Deliv-erance Church.

Dotson’s message wasabout how one person

can make a difference.He pointed out individu-als in the Bible who Godused to make a differ-ence and changed thecourse of history.

“Martin Luther KingJr. stood for everyone,and now, we stand hereat the eve of historybeing made with thefirst black president,”Dotson told the crowd.

“I’m glad that we allcame together as one, nomatter what race orcolor we are,” saidSonya Bratcher, a mem-ber of Antioch. “Kingeven dreamed that wewould come together asone.”

“There was a wonder-ful spirit in this church,”Doris Lewis said aboutFirst United Methodist.

Helen Hancock, 88, amember of First UnitedMethodist who has livedin Decatur since 1956,sat in a pew and listenedto a recording of King’svoice as he gave his “IHave a Dream” speech.

“Dr. King was wonder-ful,” she said.


Church hosts service to honor civil rights leader

Some marchers wear pictures of Barack Obama on theirbacks with the words, “The Dream Has Come True,”above it. The remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. tookon special significance this year with today’s inaugurationof the first black president of the United States.

Democrats can condemn, impeach,convict, evict and excommunicateGov. Rod Blagojevich, but Republicanswill make sure they have a devil of a

time exorcis-ing him.

After all,Democratshave runagainst for-mer Gov.George Ryanin contestsfor everypost fromcounty clerkto governor

since he left office in disgrace and hisparty in shambles six years ago. Wouldit not be poetic justice if the verse-smitten Blagojevich ended up rescuingRepublicans from the devastation thatgreased his way to the governorship?

Over and over again, we will hearthe bill of particulars for removingDemocrats from power:

HOUSE SPEAKER Michael J. Madiganco-chaired Blagojevich’s re-electioncampaign, even after challenging hisintegrity, fiscal policies and manage-ment capability.

Democratic leaders and their min-ions denied Illinoisans the right to fillBarack Obama’s Senate seat,enabling Blagojevich and Roland Bur-ris to further embarrass us.

While campaigning as Blagojevich’srunning mate in 2006, Governor-in-wait-ing Patrick Quinn discounted criticismof the governor’s conduct and ominousinvestigations into wrongdoing.

Democratic lawmakers abetted Blago-jevich in borrowing billions, reneging onpension funding, ballooning a deficit heinherited from Ryan and taking Illinoisto the precipice of financial collapse.

Many Republicans believe they canrecapture the state House and elect aU.S. senator in 2010 simply by Blago-bludgeoning Democrats who Ryanizedthem. A re-energized state party lead-ership has been effectively holdingDemocrats accountable. But Republi-cans likely cannot and should not winif they fail to make a case for theirown stewardship.

OUR STATE’S fiscal health deteriorateseach day. It will not recover withoutspending cuts and tax increases, espe-cially distasteful medicine during aharsh recession. Meanwhile, we needto enact and responsibly fund a publicworks program that would employthousands in the short term while pro-viding the long-term transportationand other infrastructure advancesrequired to entice and retain jobs.

The new governor and the substan-tial Democratic majorities in the Gen-eral Assembly must step out in front,but Republicans should be prepared tojoin hands on solutions, even as theypoint accusing fingers.

They cannot oppose additional rev-enues without being challenged. Ifthey favor a capital improvementsplan, how will they pay for it? Precise-ly where and how much would theycut to dry up an ocean of red ink?

Health care? Education? Pensionfunding? Law enforcement? Services forthose with disabilities? Those areas

make up more than 90 percent of spend-ing supported by income and salestaxes. How can they be spared, let aloneenhanced, by those who advocate bal-ancing the budget without more income?

MOREOVER, THE Republican gubernato-rial hopeful in 2010 must offer blueprintsinstead of bromides on state finances,ethics reform and education issues, suchas closing the academic achievementgap between whites and minorities andassimilating the youngest of our bur-geoning immigrant population, mattersvital to Illinois’ economic destiny.

The political profile today is notexactly the mirror reflection of theRyan debacle.

Although Blagojevich and the Bur-ris appointment may have kick-start-ed a Republican resurgence and sig-nificantly improved GOP chances togarner the governorship and the U.S.Senate seat, the demographics stillfavor Democrats. In addition, SpeakerMadigan and rising Democratic starsmay have mitigated voter vengeanceby pressing for Blagojevich’s ouster.

Republicans cannot rely solely onBlagojevich backlash.

They must field outstanding candi-dates with mainstream views andsomehow protect them from being can-nibalized in primary-election holy warsby right-wing fanatics. Witness theinternecine thrashing that left guber-natorial nominees Jim Ryan and JudyTopinka bloodied as they entered battlewith Blagojevich in 2002 and 2006.

It is fair for Republicans to attack.But they also must attract.

[email protected]

Donate used items, food to help Decatur’s homeless

Just a reminder to folks that thereare homeless people in Decatur.

With the subzero temperatures, theysure could use your old coats, hats,scarves, gloves, bags, backpacks andfood. Imagine being homeless when it’sthis cold outside! I sure wouldn’t want towalk in those shoes. It doesn’t take longto take old clothes out of your closet ordresser and bring them to the Oasis DayCenter on Cerro Gordo Street.

With all of the layoffs that have hap-pened locally, I would imagine thehomeless rate has increased. Eventhose of us who have lost jobs can givetheir old items to the homeless. Thoughwe may not have jobs, we still haveriches beyond what the homeless have.

Additionally, Good Samaritan Inn canalways use food in their pantry to feeda hot meal to the masses of hungry,downtrodden people. For some people,the meals Good Samaritan offers arethe only meals these people receive.

It is in times like these, when theeconomy is so low, people are out ofwork and it is so cold outside that weall need to stick together, that we real-ize the blessings we have in our ownlives and reach out to help those whoneed it most.

Tammy BledsawWarrensburg

Organ donors help others with their own tragedy

Recently, I was standing in line torenew my driver’s license, and theyoung man in front of me was asked ifhe would like to be an organ donor. Hisreply was no.

If, in the near future, he found out heneeded an organ transplant to stayalive, I wonder how far up the list hethinks he should be?

A few years ago, I lost a grandson in acar accident. My daughter and son-in-law were thoughtful enough to donatehis organs to someone in need. It wassome comfort to know someone wasbeing helped. However, my grandson leftmore than his organs; he left his smile.For some, their misery and sadness wastransformed into joy and exultation.

When I finish this letter, I am goingto say a sincere prayer for all thosethoughtful people who care enough tobe an organ donor.

W.G. WilliamsDecatur


A5

LETTERS


FAX:421-7965

PHONE:421-6979

or 421-7980



Box 311,


E-MAIL:ddawson@

herald-review.com

GOV. ROD Blagojevich’s defense teamannounced last week that it would not representthe governor in his impeachment trial before theIllinois Senate.

The team, headed up by Edward M. Genson, ismaking a lot of noise that the governor cannotreceive a “fair trial” in the Senate. Genson saidthe rules of the impeachment trial are “extraor-dinarily unfair” and meant the governor wouldbe convicted. “It’s a foregone conclusion,” Gen-son said. Other members of the Blagojevichdefense team compared the trial to a “lynching.”

If you look past all the sound bites Blagoje-vich’s lawyers are spewing, it’s clear that theyare trying to confuse the public into believing theSenate impeachment trial is similar to the feder-al criminal trial that Blagojevich probably willface later. It’s a telling sign that while the attor-neys withdrew from the impeachment trial, theyare still very much involved in the criminal pro-ceedings.

In trying to keep their client out of prison, thelawyers are stretching credibility.

To start with, the impeachment trial rulesadopted by the Illinois Senate are nearly exactlythe same rules the U.S. Senate used in Bill Clin-ton’s impeachment trial. Genson and his teamconveniently leave that fact out and also forgetto mention that Clinton was acquitted.

In addition, an impeachment trial is much,much different than a criminal trial. A criminaltrial uses a standard of “reasonable doubt,” andthere are very specific rules that have to be fol-lowed.

The Illinois Constitution doesn’t lay out suchrules for an impeachment and trial. The consti-tution basically says that if the House votes toimpeach and 40 out of 59 Senators vote to removea state official from office, he or she is gone.Genson can complain all he wants, but those arethe rules. It’s worth noting that Blagojevich isthe first state official to stand trial for impeach-ment in Illinois history.

One of Blagojevich’s attorneys, Sam Adams,told a Chicago TV station over the weekend thatBlagojevich’s lawyers talked to him about theimpeachment process and he agreed with theirdecision to withdraw from the impeachment trial.“He’s appalled. The governor is shocked that hecan be removed so easily. He doesn’t believe thatthis can happen in his state. He cannot believethis is the state of Illinois,” Adams said.

That’s the problem. In Blagojevich’s Illinois,the governor is allowed to ignore the Constitu-tion, sell state contracts to the highest bidder,discuss how he can make money from a Senateappointment and ignore the wishes of the peopleand the General Assembly. In Blagojevich’sstate, he is accountable to no one.

The Blagojevich legal team can yell and stompits feet all they want, but their client has abusedhis position for too long. He may or may not beguilty of the alleged crimes that led to his arrest.

But he is undoubtedly guilty of abusing hisposition and failing to lead the state in a produc-tive way.

The state should be glad that “Blagojevich’sIllinois” may be about to meet its end.

They aredeparted,

but not gone“My soul looks back and

wonders how I got over.”

— Clara WardAnd I wish Rosa was here.She made history by

refusing to give up her seat.It was just over 53 yearsago, on a cold Decembernight in Montgomery, andsomething got into her thatsaid: Enough, no more.

No more giving up a seatshe had paid for with U.S. cur-rency earned from the sweatof her own brow, just becausethe man who wanted the seatwas white and she was not. Nomore. Call the police, bus driv-er. Rosa would be sitting therewhen they arrived.

I wish Rosa could be hereto see Barack Obama seatedbefore the Capitol, waitingfor history to call his name.

CALL IT a lament for thelong departed. Ever sincethat day in November whenwhat could not happen did,I’ve repeatedly had occasionto catch myself in the act ofwishing so-and-so could behere to see what has tran-spired. Some of the namesare personal; I keep wishingMom could be here.

Most of the names are his-torical, heroes of the civilrights years, both sung andunsung. I wish Mother Pol-lard, the old woman who saidduring the Montgomery busboycott, “My feets is tired,but my soul is rested,” couldbe here. I wish Fannie LouHamer, whose heart, butnever her spirit, was brokenby Mississippi intransigence,could be here. I wish EmmettTill, Jimmie Lee Jackson,Goodman, Chaney and Schw-erner, Viola Liuzzo and allthe other martyrs were here.

And I wish Malcolm andol’ Bull were here.

Theophilus Eugene Connor— they called him Bull —was the commissioner of pub-lic safety in Birmingham,Ala., who brought tanks,police dogs and high-pressurehoses to the streets becausehe didn’t believe America’spromises ever should beextended to all Americans.

MALCOLM X was a prophetof black rage who rejectedracial integration becausehe didn’t think America’spromises ever would beextended to all Americans.

I wish those men, whoagreed on America’s limita-tions if on nothing else,could be here to see thatthey were wrong, here forthis startling moment whenAmerica affirms her defin-ing promise, the one thatbegins with truths held self-evident. And yes, as wehonor his memory and hismartyrdom, I wish MartinLuther King Jr. were here tosee a Dream coming true.

Did he expect this moment?Did he feel it coming as heprophesized from the steps ofthe Lincoln Memorial? Couldhe see it from where he stoodon the Mountaintop?

I suppose it’s only naturalto be caught looking back asAmerica plunges forwardupon a milestone. Only natu-ral to think of how muchand how many and how longit took to get here. Only nat-ural to be thankful for whatyou have lived to see andlament those who did not.

ALL THOSE years of struggle,all those hymns and promisesand prayers and days whenyou didn’t know where to goor how to get there, but onlythat you had to move. Andnow look where it has led.

You mourn those who didnot get to see, but you alsorealize the gospel song iswrong, because your soullooks back and knows exactlyhow you got over. You gotover because of Fannie’s gritand Malcolm’s rage, becauseof Rosa’s stubbornness andEmmett’s blood. You got overbecause of Martin’s dream.

They are dead now, butthose things they gave aredeathless. They live throughyou, passing down to gener-ations not yet born; some-thing to keep you movingwhen you don’t know whereyou’re going or how, onlythat you have to go. Youclose your eyes, wishing allthose people were here.Then your eyes come open,and you realize.

They are.

[email protected]

OUR VIEWS












grievances.”

Tuesday,

January 20,

2009



Gary SawyerEditor



LEONARD PITTS JR.

MIKE LAWRENCE

It’s not enough just to be the ‘other’ party

Defense team puts spin on impeachment

100 years of work

Jessie Stanberry’s mother

died when she was only

17, so someone had to

take care of the large fami-

ly of 17 children. Stanberry

has been working hard for

the 83 years since and will

turn 100 Tuesday. Local A3

Calling on themA Decatur businessman

challenged a group of

young professionals gath-

ered for the Decatur 501

Club meeting to become

more involved in their com-

munity and give back.

Money C1

Confirming ClintonThe Senate voted 94-2 to

confirm Hillary Rodham

Clinton as

secretary

of state

Wednes-

day as

President

Obama

moved to

make his imprint on U.S.

foreign policy. Nation A4

A leader rememberedJean Reid died Monday

after a long battle with

cancer, but she kept her

job as principal at Parsons

School until October, when

her health forced her to

quit. Local A3

Delivery: 421-6990

Newsroom: 421-6979







Adding optionsSearch for a specific yogurt

leads to food co-op/D1

To the endMount Zion seals 59-58

win in final seconds/B1

JANUARY 22, 2009


Issue 22

Four sections

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: Mostly cloudy, milderTonight: Increasing cloudiness

Details/B6

H I G H

46L O W

25

THURSDAY

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . C3-5Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5Dear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D2Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D5Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-6Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1,3Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D2Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . D3,4Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . C3,4,5Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-5Television . . . . . . . . . . . . D6

INDEX

Obama hits the ground running

Associated Press

Vice President Joe Biden looks on as President Obama signs execu-tive orders during a meeting with their senior staff at the EisenhowerExecutive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington.

Pack yourbags; dealsare waitingEconomy may keeptravel offers around

By RYAN NAKASHIMAAP Business Writer

When the economy goesinto the tank, people stay athome. But for those still will-ing to see what’s out there,there are stupendous deals tobe had.

Hotels, resorts and cruiselines are offering rock-bot-tom rates and doing every-thing they can to fill rooms,including teaming up withairlines to offer jaw-droppingpackage deals. And savvyconsumers can reap the ben-efits.

A case in point: Thisreporter recently booked aWaldorf Astoria suite in thePalm Springs, Calif., areathrough Priceline.com forabout $130 after taxes — inthe middle of a holiday week-end, no less. Although wedidn’t know where we’d endup, the 900-square-foot “SpaVilla” where we ended upstaying is listed next week-end for $679 a night.

The Walt Disney Co. is alsooffering a seven-night stay atits Walt Disney Worldresorts, including seven daysof park tickets, for the priceof four nights and four daysof tickets. And it’s throwingin a $200 gift card that canbe spent on food and mer-chandise.

According to one travelagency Web site’s spokes-woman, travel deals haven’tbeen better since the after-math of 9/11.

Here are some questionsand answers about what kindof deals are out there andhow to snag them.

Q: Why are companiesoffering such cut rates now?

A: Around the world, occu-pancy and room rates aredown as business travel hasfallen and vacationers arestaying at home because ofthe recession. According toSmith Travel Research, occu-pancy in North Americanhotels was down 10.3 percentin November from a yearago, to 52.3 percent. Theaverage daily rate was down3.3 percent, to $101.84, whilethe revenue per availableroom was down 13.3 percent,to $53.28.

In other words, hotels areabout half-full these days.And if you are a paying cus-tomer, management is will-ing to cut you a deal.

Q: Why are a hotel’s official,posted rates often so muchhigher than what you can findthrough a travel agent ortravel Web site?

TRAVEL/A2

Office tells callers to contactDurbin if they need help


SPRINGFIELD — Just as PresidentBarack Obama was checking out his newdigs in the White House on Wednesday,another African-American Democrat fromIllinois was getting into the swing of hisnew job on Capitol Hill.

With the nation’s capital winding downfrom the hubbub of Tuesday’s inaugurationfestivities, Sen. Roland Burris engaged inseveral meetings with fellow Democratsand constituents.

On the fifth floor of the Dirksen SenateOffice Building, temporary staffers tried toget his office up and running.

As a testament to his newfound positionand his lack of staffing, a call to the officeat 9 a.m. was answered by a recording that

said the voice mailbox was full.Burris was sworn in Jan. 15 by former

Vice President Cheney. He cast his firstvote that day in favor of the release of thesecond half of the $700 billion financialbailout.

His rise to a seat in the Senate cameafter more than a decade of failed attemptsto win statewide public office. Burriscaused a firestorm of controversy byaccepting the appointment to Obama’svacant Senate seat from impeached Gov.Rod Blagojevich.

Burris’ fellow Democrats initially balkedat letting him have the seat because ofBlagojevich’s legal woes.

Now that Democrats have dropped theirpublic opposition to the former state comp-troller and attorney general, Burris ispoised to serve out the remaining two yearsof Obama’s term.

BURRIS/A2

Herald & Review/Kurt Erickson

Sen. Roland Burris was mobbedby Illinoisans when he madeappearances during the inaugura-tion festivities this week. Here heis surrounded by well-wishers at aCapitol Hill reception Monday.

FORCED TO MOVE

Entire neighborhood evicted

Burris seeking to hire a staff

By KENNETH LOWEH&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — Mary Fetrow has livedin her double-wide mobile home at 2284N. 36th St. in the Garfield Estatesmobile home park for the past 19 years.

She and her late husband, Bill, put thesort of work into the property that makesit a home rather than just a house: a longdeck, a shed and a rocky pathway herhusband dug himself. Fetrow hosted 27people there for Christmas Eve.

“Bill’s put so much work into it,” shesaid, sitting in the kitchen of her house,surrounded by the possessions she andher husband accumulated over a longlife. “This is our home. We’ve lived herefor 19 years.”

Soon, she will need to leave it allbehind.

Fetrow was watching television thismonth when she heard a knock at thedoor. She answered it to find the proper-ty’s maintenance worker holding a let-

ter that informed her the property own-ers were selling Garfield Estates. Theproperty will cease operations in Janu-ary 2010.

The property, owned by Michigan-based Choice Properties, is immediatelynorth of Faries Parkway off Brush Col-lege Road. Representatives of ChoiceProperties would not disclose who haspurchased the property.

EVICTED/A2

Longtime residents given 2 days to accept mobile home park’s relocation offer


Mary Fetrow wonders where she will be this summer. Management of Garfield Estates Trailer Park sold the grounds and gave residentsuntil July to get out. They offered a relocation package, but tenants were told they only had two days to accept it.

At the end of busy firstday, president retakes fumbled oath of office

By DAVID ESPOAP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON — In a first-day whirlwind,President Barack Obama showcased effortsto revive the economy Wednesday, sum-moned top military officials to the WhiteHouse to chart a new course in Iraq andeased into the daunting thicket of MiddleEast diplomacy.

“What an opportunity we have to changethis country,” said the 47-year-old chief execu-tive, who also issued new ethics rules for hisadministration, hosted a reception at thepresidential mansion for 200 inauguration vol-

unteers and guests selected by an Internet lot-tery and even took the oath of office againafter it was flubbed Tuesday.

After dancing at inaugural balls with firstlady Michelle Obama past midnight, Obamaentered the Oval Office for the first time aspresident in early morning. He read a goodluck note left behind by President George W.Bush, then began breaking cleanly with hispredecessor’s policies.

Aides circulated a draft of an executiveorder that would close the detention facility atGuantanamo Bay, Cuba, within a year andhalt all war crimes trials in the meantime.

Closing the site “would further the nationalsecurity and foreign policy interests of theUnited States and the interests of justice,”read the draft prepared for the new presi-dent’s signature.

OBAMA/A2


SPRINGFIELD — Presi-dent Barack Obama says hewants to gain Republican sup-port for his plans, but someIllinois members of Congressalready are critics of the newpresident’s first major eco-nomic proposal.

Obama has proposed boost-ing the economy with an esti-mated $825 billion stimulusplan that would includerepairing roads and bridgesas well as helping states, butsome Illinois Republicans saythat’s too much.

Although the stimulus pack-age has not been finalized,Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, said he is not infavor of nearly a $1 trillionstimulus package.

“If the rumors are as we’rehearing, I think you canexpect me to vote no,”Shimkus said.

Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, echoed his colleague.

“I think a trillion dollars isalmost inconceivable to mostpeople,” Johnson said. “I can’timagine a circumstancewhere I would support a levelof spending that high.”

Both Shimkus and Johnsonvoted against the first bailoutpackage.

Serving in the minority,Republicans in Congress havehad little input on key issuesthe past two years. Obamahas said he wants to work tochange that.

Reaching an agreement,though, is easier said thandone.

“I don’t think it’s talk on hispart,” Robert Bradley, politi-cal scientist at Illinois StateUniversity, said of Obama. “Ithink one of his biggest hur-dles is not necessarily reach-

ing out to the Republicans butgoing beyond what some ofthe people in his own partywant to do.”

How to spend the moneyallocated is also an area ofRepublican concern. Notenough of the money beingproposed will go to publicworks construction projects,Shimkus said.

According to The Associat-ed Press, $92 billion of the $825billion will head towards infra-structure.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, does favor a stimuluspackage but wants the moneyto be spent judiciously.

“This is not a time for beau-tification projects or bikepaths to nowhere,” Schocksaid. “Given the amount ofmoney being proposed, it’sabsolutely crucial the Ameri-can taxpayer is protected byensuring funds are beingspent sensibly.”

The Illinois General Assem-bly tried but failed to approvean up to $34 billion construc-tion program last year. SenatePresident John Cullerton, D-Chicago, has said Illinois law-makers might try again thisyear but will wait to see whatObama and Congress do first.


OBAMAContinued from A1

Some of the 245 detaineescurrently held at Guantanamowould be released, while oth-ers would be transferred else-where and later put on trialunder terms to be determined.

Obama’s schedule for theday included separate ses-sions on the economy and thewars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new president haspledged to take bold steps torevive the economy, which isstruggling through the worstrecession since the GreatDepression. Last week, hewon approval to use $350 bil-lion in leftover financial indus-try bailout funds.

He presided over the WhiteHouse meeting on the econo-my as the House Appropria-tions Committee movedtoward approval of $358 billionin new spending, part of theeconomic stimulus packagemaking its way to his desk.

The new commander inchief held his first meeting inthe Situation Room, where he,Vice President Joe Biden andsenior military and foreignpolicy officials discussed thewars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Obama campaigned on apledge to withdraw U.S. com-bat forces from Iraq within 16months and to beef up thecommitment in Afghanistan.Obama asked the Pentagon todo whatever additional plan-ning necessary to “execute a

responsible military draw-down from Iraq.”

Also, there was no doubtthat the new president meantto fulfill his campaign prom-ise of change.

“As of today, lobbyists willbe subject to stricter limitsthan under any ... otheradministration in history,”Obama told reporters as hesigned the new rules. Therestrictions included a ban ongifts by lobbyists to anyoneserving in the administration.

He also imposed a payfreeze for about 100 WhiteHouse aides who earn $100,000or more. Its implementationwas unclear, since none ofthem was on the payrollbefore Tuesday’s noontimeinauguration.

On Tuesday, within hours ofObama’s inauguration, hisadministration froze last-minute Bush administrationregulations before they couldtake effect.

On Wednesday night, ChiefJustice John Roberts adminis-tered the oath to Obama at theWhite House — a rare do-over.The surprise moment came inresponse to Tuesday’s stumble,when Roberts got the words ofthe oath a little off, whichprompted Obama to do so, too.

The White House reassuredthat Obama has still beenpresident since noon on Inau-guration Day. But Obama andRoberts went through the drillagain out of what White Housecounsel Greg Craig called “anabundance of caution.”

Events

Etc.National Tour of Antiques and

Collectibles Roadshow, 10 a.m. to7 p.m., Best Western Gateway,Monticello. No admission. Bringcollectibles. 243-6418.

The Interurban Railroad, 7p.m., Vespasian Warner PublicLibrary, Clinton, Free and open tothe public. 935-5174.

MusicSchool of Music Student

Recital, 2 p.m., Millikin UniversityKaeuper Hall, Decatur.

Stefan Milenkovich, violin,Rohan De Silva, piano, and AniAznavoorian, cello, 7:30 p.m.,Krannert Center Foellinger GreatHall, Urbana. $4 to $10. 333-6280.


Curly’s, Decatur.David Allen Coe with Feudin’

Hillbillys, 7 p.m., Radmaker’s Rock

N Roll Tavern, Tolono. $25 inadvance. 485-3531.

David Lee the DJ, 10 p.m.,Lock, Stock and Barrel, Decatur.

DJ/Karaoke, 8:30 p.m., ElbowRoom, Decatur.

Jackie Lawson and Tad Freez-land, 6:30 p.m., Stoney’s Steak-house, Dalton City.


Live Karaoke Band, 8 p.m., Slid-erz, Decatur.

Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., AIWHall, Decatur, 875-2416.

On Stage“Funny Valenntines,” 6 p.m.,


Russian National Ballet The-atre – “Giselle,” 7:30 p.m., Univer-sity of Illinois at Springfield, Sanga-mon Auditorium, Springfield. $32 to$37. 206-6160.

HealthCardiac Rehab Orientation, 1 to

3 p.m., Decatur Memorial HospitalCardiac Rehabilitation Department,Decatur. Free. Requires physicianreferral. 876-2496.

CPR for Family & Friends, 6:30p.m., St. Anthony’s Memorial Hos-pital Auditorium, Effingham, Call toregister. 347-1529.

Mobile Mammography, SBLSullivan Clinic, Sullivan. Free forwomen who qualify. 1-800-639-5929.

Mobile Mammography, 9 a.m.to 2:30 p.m., Moweaqua FamilyPractice, Moweaqua, 876-1111.



Pregnancy Testing, 9 a.m. to 3p.m., New Life Pregnancy Center,

Decatur, 872-5555.Prepared Childbirth Classes, 7

p.m., Decatur Memorial Hospital,Decatur, 876-3448.


MeetingsBusiness After Hours, 5 to 7

p.m., DMH Express Care North,Decatur.

Decatur Area Education Coali-tion, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Madden ArtsCenter, Decatur, 429-3000.

Decatur Camera Club, 7 p.m.,First United Methodist Church,Decatur.

Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m.,Scovill Banquet Facility, Decatur.

HSAC Senior Division Meeting,11:30 a.m., Decatur-Macon CountySenior Center, Decatur, 429-1239.

Korean War Veteran Associa-

tion, 7 p.m., DAV Club, Decatur.Metro Rotary Club, noon,

Decatur Club, Decatur. 494-1543.Suicide Knight Chess Club, 7

to 10 p.m., Prairieland ABATE,Decatur.

ThursdayNoon Toast-masters,noon, BarnesCitizensBuilding thirdfloor, Decatur.855-3018.

SeniorsDecatur-

Macon Coun-ty SeniorCenter, Quil-ters, 9 a.m.,ComputerBasics Class“Surfing theWeb,” 9 a.m., Cards, 1 p.m.,Decatur, 429-1239.

John’s Hill, Watercolor class, 9to 11:30 a.m., Decatur, 422-1509.

Support GroupsAdult Bereavement Group, 11

a.m., Jefferson Street ChristianChurch, Lincoln, 732-2161.

Al-Anon, 10 a.m., Central Christ-


ian Church, Mount Zion.Coalition Against Domestic

Violence, 6 p.m., First UnitedMethodist Church, Shelbyville. 1-888-345-3990.


Illinois Bariatric Center Sup-port Group, 7 p.m., Medical OfficeBuilding, Dr. John Warner Hospital,Clinton.

Ostomy Support Group, 7 p.m.,St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital,Effingham. 258-4112 or 348-4112.

Polio Survivors & Friends, 5 to6:30 p.m., Sarah Bush LincolnLumpkin Family Center for HealthEducation, Mattoon. 345-1549.

St. Mary’s Widowed SupportGroup, 6 p.m., HomeTown Buffet,Forsyth.

Contact us








WHAT’S HAPPENING

T O D A Y



MORE EVENTS:

Tomorrow’s

highlight:

NationalTour ofAntiques andCollectiblesRoadshow, 10a.m. to 7 p.m.,Best WesternGateway, Monti-cello. No admis-sion. Bring col-lectibles. 243-6418.













Herald&Review

Winning numbers selected Wednesday in the Illinois State Lottery:

Lottery numbers online:

www.herald-review.com/lottery/






Lotto9-10-11-27-40-45



TRAVELContinued from A1

A: Hotels are averse to cutting theirposted rates because some people arewilling to pay that price — and those peo-ple help the bottom line.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, hotelsslashed rates and suffered for years after-ward, according to Smith Travel Researchspokesman Jeff Higley. Now they aremore likely to throw in freebies to keepcustomers happy.

“Rather than lowering their rates, theytry to put packages together to add valueto the rate,” Higley said.

So, if you can’t score a rate cut, Higleysaid, look for free valet parking, freeInternet access or a free breakfast —hotels may be willing to throw these free-bies in.

Q: Back to the bottom line: How do Isnag a cheap rate?

A: Some Web sites are offering extremediscounts on hotel rooms. Priceline.com isnow offering hotel rooms in New York at3-star establishments for $99 and in Wash-ington, D.C., for $59.

The catch is that users have to submittheir price and credit card informationbefore knowing which exact hotel theywill be staying at.

“Occupancies are under pressure andprices are generally coming down,” saidPriceline.com Inc. chief executive JeffreyBoyd.

Because hotels and airlines remainanonymous until after the purchase, theycan maintain their posted rates, whileselling empty inventory at the last minutefor big discounts — up to 50 percent offfor hotel rooms up to 60 percent off air-fare.

Spokeswoman Jeanenne Tornatore ofOrbitz Worldwide Inc., which ownsCheaptickets.com and Orbitz.com, saideven openly posted hotel rates are falling.In Las Vegas, rates are down in somecases more than 50 percent, and inHawaii, about 40 percent since late lastyear.

“Some of those 4-star Las Vegas hotelsthat used to go for $200 to $250 are in the$80 to $120 range,” she said.

Vegas.com, owned by the GreenspunFamily of Companies, said room rates inJanuary have declined 33 percent from ayear ago, to $92 from $138 a night on aver-age.

“There are some unbelievable valuesright now,” said Bryan Allison,Vegas.com’s vice president of marketing.“There are food and beverage credits,gambling credits. It is definitely stimulat-ing demand.”

Cruise lines are also slashing prices. Afive-night Caribbean cruise from CarnivalCorp., leaving from Mobile, Ala., is onoffer at Orbitz for $249 with a $200onboard coupon booklet — 75 percent offthe brochure price.

Q: How can companies offer such dealsand survive?

A: In many cases, hotels benefit just byyour presence, in case you spend moneyon something else, like room service, ameal at a restaurant or spa treatments.

Disney Chief Financial Officer TomStaggs said last month that the seven-for-four deal was “a good trade-off.” Presum-ably, once at the resorts, guests spend allday in the park buying hot dogs, icecream, bottled water and souvenirs.

The discount amounts to about 25 per-cent off, Staggs said, and really was nobetter than a deal the company offeredback in 2003. What’s more, he said,advance bookings in the six months tothis coming March, which at one pointhad been down 10 percent from a yearearlier, were down just 6 percent by earlyDecember, thanks in large part to thedeal.

Q: Will prices bounce back — and thedeals evaporate — much like after 9/11?

A: That’s not likely.Oppenheimer & Co. hotel and casino

analyst David Katz points out that the cir-cumstances behind the travel deals arevery different this time around.

After 9/11, Katz said, “It was a situationalmost solely driven by a fear of flying.”This time, consumers have lost trillions ofdollars in home equity and stock holdings— not to mention, in many cases, theirjobs.

“This is entirely different,” he said. “It’san economic matter rather than a fearmatter. Post-9/11, people and companieshad the money. Now they just don’t.”

BURRISContinued from A1

It’s not clear what kindof senator he’ll be becauseBurris has had little oppor-tunity to explain his politi-cal philosophies amidst thecontroversy over hisappointment and the atten-tion on Obama’s inaugura-tion.

As a former statewideofficeholder, the 71-year-oldformer lobbyist didn’t haveto vote on issues as he willas a senator.

Millikin University politi-cal scientist MarkWrighton said the lack of avoting record on key issuesfacing the new Congresscould be an argument forending the appointmentprocess and instead hold-ing special elections to fillvacant seats.

“With an appointment,you have to rely on thejudgment of the sittinggovernor,” Wrighton said.“That is what engenderedthe controversy in the firstplace.”

At noon Wednesday, Bur-ris’ sparsely furnishedoffice was occupied bythree staffers, at least twoof whom were there on atemporary basis.

The blue-carpeted suitewas formerly occupied byFred Thompson, a formersenator from Tennessee,who made a short-lived bidfor the Republican nomina-tion for president in 2008.

Interviews for employeeswere under way, and areceptionist was referringcallers with problems toIllinois U.S. Sen. DickDurbin’s office.

Along with casting hisfirst few votes, Burris ispoised to be named to com-mittees on homeland secu-rity, veterans affairs andarmed services.

Burris was seen at sever-al inaugural events but did-n’t stop to talk long withreporters. On Wednesday,no one from his officeresponded to repeatedrequests for an interview.


EVICTEDContinued from A1

The Jan. 8 letter from man-ager Kamal Shouhayib informsresidents of an opportunity torelocate at the landlord’sexpense.

“It is the landlord’s objectiveto improve both economicallyand physically, the living situa-tion of each resident who takesadvantage of this unprecedent-ed proposal,” the letter reads.

Meeting with representativesof the company, Fetrow foundherself with few options.

“Some of the things theythrew at us, they were just try-ing to ramrod us,” she said.

The relocation agreement,which promises residents a$400 cash incentive and up to$2,000 in moving costs for amobile home or $4,000 for adouble-wide, comes with condi-tions that Fetrow said gaveresidents little time to think.The deadline for signing uporiginally was set for Jan. 20but has been extended to Sat-urday, said John Rogosich,Choice Properties seniorregional manager.

The relocation agreementstates that the incentives areonly granted if, among otherthings, mobile home ownersopt to move to either the ParkCity or Hyde Park mobilehome communities, both ofwhich are owned by ChoiceProperties.

Residents had only untilTuesday to sign the agreement,giving them less than a weekto decide if they would opt intothe deal. The deal alsorequires that the move be com-pleted by July 15.

“I can adapt, but that’s notthe point; it’s just that they’retrying to rush us through,”Fetrow said. “This is just sucha blow to me, because it’s noteven a week. I ordinarily canhandle things pretty well, butthis had been something else.”

There are other difficultiesfor people who have invested agreat deal of effort into theirmobile homes. Fetrow saidmovers will not transportthings such as her deck andshed, which she and her hus-band spent time, effort andmoney installing.

Sheila Clinger is anotherhomeowner at Garfield Estateswho feels unfairly treated bythe sudden announcement. Sheand her husband, Frank, havelived at Garfield Estates since1974.

Frank Clinger said Wednes-day that he and his wife wouldnot be signing the agreement.Sheila Clinger said the agree-ment came up too quickly, andshe felt forced into making adecision that would benefit theproperty owners.

“They expected you to signwithin two days,” she said.“They weren’t going to giveyou time to think about it ornothing. The only way they’regoing to help you is if youmove to one or the other oftheir two trailer parks or, ifyour trailer is not good enoughto move, buy through them. If

you want to do anything else,you’re on your own.”

Rogosich said efforts arebeing made to try to accommo-date the needs of GarfieldEstates residents.

“We understand that a lot ofpeople have lived here 10, 15, 20years.” he said. “The presidentof our company and founder ofour company, him and myselfhave spent the whole week lastweek here talking with people,making explanation. We willhelp them in the best way possi-ble so they will have less pain.”

Rogosich said the deadlinefor opting into the relocationagreement could be extendedagain in the interest of helpingresidents.

“We are proud to be provid-ing affordable housing for low-income people,” he said.


Herald & Review photos

Frank and Sheila Clinger have been told they have to move fromGarfield Estates Trailer Park, where they have lived for 34 years.

Heather Fetrow hands out fliers about a meeting for residents todiscuss their options after being told they have to leave by July.

Illinois Republicans hesitantof embracing Obama’s ideas

It is the curse of the journalistalways to be present, but never reallythere.

The job requires that we standslightly apart, seeing but not believ-ing; hearing without being seduced.We jot down the words, careful not to

let them getunder ourskin. Likesurgeons inthe operat-ing room,we can’tafford tobecomeemotionallyinvolvedlest wenotice the

blood and let the scalpel slip.Then comes the rare instance that

penetrates the armor, when somethingcauses you to put down the pad, turnoff the camera in your head, andbecome part of the moment. The shortlist in recent history includes theassassinations of John and RobertKennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.,the signal marches on Washington, theterrorist attacks of 9/11. To those wemay now add Inauguration Day 2009.

IT WOULD be nice to have just the rightwords to sum up what happened Tues-day.

The days preceding had tested Wash-ington’s tolerance for the prosaic.

Think Disney World and Mardi Grascombined. Add subfreezing tempera-tures, impossible traffic and madden-

ing security. Throw in helicoptersbuzzing, sirens wailing, interminablelines and, oh yes, battalions of porta-potties standing sentry along theperimeter of America’s Paris.

Despite confusion and frustration,the mood suggested that those helicop-ters were dropping fairy dust into theozone. All aggravations seemed to fadeas the sun rose on the event that drewperhaps millions to be part of theswearing-in of the first African-Ameri-can president of the United States.

WE KNEW it was coming. We hadalready exhausted the story before itwas fully written. And yet, when thehour finally arrived and Obama raisedhis right hand, his presidency wassomehow not quite imaginable.

Sitting on the steps of the LincolnMemorial, extremities numb despitelayers of wool, and seeing so manygathered to witness this thing theycalled “change” was, dare I say it, awe-some. That most-annoying hipster termfor anything remotely acceptable is sud-denly useful for its intended purpose.

For awe is the truest word todescribe what transpired and what wasinspired.

It is not only awe for Obama’s mete-oric rise to the highest human power. Itis not only that so many trekked so farto be present for the moment. It is noteven awe for the peaceful transfer ofpower for which Americans aredeservedly proud.

It is awe for what is, in fact, notchange, but the natural, if difficult, pro-gression of an ideal that is true and

good and transcendent through time.Barack Obama’s presidency isn’t achange from, but a continuation of theAmerican experiment toward its hoped-for destination.

Obama hinted at this in his speechby invoking American values of hardwork and honesty, courage and fairplay, tolerance and curiosity, loyaltyand patriotism. In honoring all thosewho came before, who fought and diedfrom Concord and Gettysburg to Nor-mandy and Khe Sanh, he reminded usthat change is not a single event onElection Day, but an evolutionaryprocess.

The change we’ve been waiting for?No, the goal we were always aiming for.

AMERICANS REALLY do believe in thedreams of our Founding Fathers, whoenvisioned and articulated what is atour human core — the profound desirefor a more perfect union. The vastmajority of Americans really dobelieve, as Obama said Tuesday, in the“God-given promise that all are equal,all are free and all deserve a chance topursue their full measure of happiness.“

And so, Barack Obama, biracial off-spring of the American dream, came tobe president.

It is now the day after. Work awaits,bills remain, wars persist. The after-glow is hard to sustain as the promiseof yesterday becomes tomorrow’s chal-lenges. Armor on, cameras whirring,pens poised. The march toward a moreperfect union continues.

Good luck, Mr. President.

[email protected]

It’s time to return values,education to America

What a mess!Citizens everywhere are asking:

How did we get in this fix? How couldwe let this happen? Remember, folks,all it takes is for a few good men andwomen to do and say nothing.

If we fail to wash the dishes, sweepthe floors, do the laundry and cleanthe house, after awhile, we live in adump. If we stop teaching the threeRs, reading, writing and arithmetic,after awhile, we have adults who can’tread or put their thoughts into writingand won’t know if two times two equalsfour or six.

We must not take away our familyvalues, respect for ourselves and others,parents who are in charge and give sup-port and direction, believe in a higherbeing and practice those beliefs or thepuzzle called life is a confused mess.

We must take back our country,schools and families before we are alldoomed to never-ending confusion anddespair. Let the change begin with youand me, each of us American citizens.

Evelyn StrongDecatur

God is the way to findpeace amid world chaos

I have seen the world change beforemy eyes. I have seen cities being wipedout. I have seen countries destroyed. Ihave seen lives being taken away bysome of their own people. Most of all, Ihave seen my life changed over theyears.

The Bible speaks about the thingsthat are happening in the world thatmust come to pass. There are some peo-ple who don’t believe in the Biblebecause they never read it. If you readthe 23rd chapter of Matthew, you willsee why God will destroy this world. Ifyou turn your life over to God, he willtake care of his own in the midst oftrouble.

Man is destroying the world everyday, trying to find better ways to live.We can’t get around what’s going tohappen, no matter what scientists do.We need to have faith that Jesus isfighting our battle.

I know, for some people, it seems likethe weight of the world is on their shoul-ders, but hold on for a little while andGod is going to give you peace forever.

Janet BondDecatur


LETTERS


FAX:421-7965

PHONE:421-6979

or 421-7980



Box 311,


E-MAIL:ddawson@

herald-review.com

UNTIL GOV. ROD Blagojevich’s impeach-ment trial is complete, the General Assemblywill be focused on that issue and not much else.

But sometime in early February it’s expectedthat the trial will be completed, and barringsomething unforeseen, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn willreplace Blagojevich.

At that point, Quinn and the legislature willhave to turn their attention to some seriousissues facing the state.

The state’s budget, which is a mess, willundoubtedly be a top priority. In addition, legis-lators should focus on a capital improvementprogram that will create jobs, but not crippletaxpayers in the process.

But the General Assembly should not adjournunless it also addresses the most important eth-ical reform: changing the state’s campaignfinance laws.

Illinois is one of five states that allow unlimit-ed campaign contributions. Most states, andthe federal government, limit the amount ofmoney candidates can receive from any indi-vidual, corporation, political action committeeor other source.

Limiting campaign contributions may be thebest and quickest way to limit “pay to play” pol-itics. If contributions are limited, candidateswould be less willing to dangle lucrative statecontracts in exchange for contributions.

Ethical changes in Illinois government havebeen notoriously slow. The General Assemblydid approve, and the governor did sign, reforms

during the last session that prohibit state con-tractors from donating to state officeholdersthat oversee those contracts.

But that step — significant, but not nearlyenough — only occurred after public sentimentreached a fever pitch and then presidentialnominee Barack Obama intervened to convinceSenate President Emil Jones to allow a vote onthe issue.

Many state politicians talk about the need forcampaign finance reform but also enjoy amass-ing huge campaign war chests built on unlimit-ed contributions. In Illinois at least, it’s alwaysdifficult to get legislators to vote for somethingthat they don’t believe is in their own self inter-est.

It will also be easy, as the Blagojevich messfades from the front pages, to talk a lot aboutcampaign finance reform and do very little.

That’s why Kent Redfield, professor emeritusin political science at the University of Illinoisat Springfield, can’t get too excited aboutpotential reform. “There will be a huge push forethics reform, but what actually will get signedinto law is always a question.’’

What should get signed into law, as a mini-mum, is a policy that is similar to the federalgovernment contribution limits.

During the next few weeks, there will be a lotof talk about ethical reform. What votersshould really pay attention to is what has beensigned into law when the legislature’s work isdone.

Takepride in

first black president I am proud of and excited

by the fact that we have inau-gurated the first black presi-dent of the United States. Hewasn’t my first choice, but heis nonetheless my president.And if ever there were a won-derful consolation prize inpolitics, shattering the racebarrier in the White House issurely it.

Conservatives who try toohard to belittle the impor-tance of this milestone aremistaken on several fronts.First, this is simply a won-derful — and wonderfullyAmerican — story. Anypolitical movement that isjoyless about what this rep-resents risks succumbing tobitter political crankery.

For instance, you will notsoon see a German chancel-lor of Turkish descent. Norwill a child of North Africanimmigrants soon take thereins of power in France. Itwill be a long time before aPakistani or Indian last nameappears on the mailbox at 10Downing Street. And yetthese countries bubble overwith haughty finger-waggerseager to lecture backwardand provincial America aboutrace and tolerance. Why notenjoy rubbing Barack Obamain their faces?

OF COURSE, there’s a parti-san angle to Obama’s presi-dency: He is the head of theDemocratic Party, after all.But his success comes onthe heels of a bipartisanracial success story of Pres-ident Bush’s appointment ofthe first African-Americansecretaries of state.

More important, opponentsof racial quotas and otherchampions of colorblindnesson the right should be pop-ping champagne nearly asmuch as racial liberals are.Yes, yes, Obama’s a passion-ate defender of affirmativeaction and the like, but thesymbolism of his presidencycannot be contained withinnarrow liberal agendas.

“There is an entire gener-ation that will grow up tak-ing for granted that thehighest office in the land isfilled by an African-Ameri-can,” he said last week. “Imean, that’s a radical thing.It changes how black chil-dren look at themselves. Italso changes how white chil-dren look at black children.And I wouldn’t underesti-mate the force of that.”

NEITHER WOULD I. The mediaunderstandably, if tediously,focus on how Obama’s presi-dency is a deathblow to thelegacy of official discrimina-tion and racism. Trueenough. But the fact that ablack man can become pres-ident of the United Statesmay also be transgressive toall sorts of more relevantracial orthodoxies on theleft and in the black com-munity.

Obama’s personal exam-ple is only part of the equa-tion. He has voiced anadmirable disdain for thenotion that academic excel-lence is nothing more than“acting white.” His famousFather’s Day speech in 2008showed that Obama waswilling to lend his voice tothe effort to fight black ille-gitimacy and absenteefatherhood.

This puts Obama behindthe two most importantingredients for black suc-cess, at least according tomost conservatives: a reded-ication to the importance ofeducation at an individuallevel and the restoration ofthe black nuclear family.

If Obama lives up to thedreams of his supporters inwriting a new, post-racialchapter for America, he willhave at once done more forAmerica than any Democra-tic president in generations.But he also will have cut theknot holding much of theleft together. As an Ameri-can and as a conservative, Icertainly hope that’s thecase. He’s already made agood start of it just by get-ting elected.

[email protected]

OUR VIEWS












grievances.”

Thursday,

January 22,

2009



Gary SawyerEditor



State needs to tackle ethics reform

JONAH GOLDBERG

American dream kept alive in inauguration

KATHLEEN PARKER

Respected firm represents variousDemocratic leaders

CHICAGO (AP) — A part-ner in a prominent, Washing-ton-based political consultingfirm is among those secretlyrecorded discussing ways Illi-nois Gov. Rod Blagojevichcan cash in on PresidentBarack Obama’s old Senateseat.

Frederick S. Yang, a topexecutive at Peter D. HartResearch Group Associates,is identified by prosecutors inthe Blagojevich criminalcomplaint as “Advisor B,”Michael D. Ettinger, a lawyerrepresenting the governor’sbrother, said Thursday.

Robert Blagojevich, who hasnot been charged with acrime, runs his brother’scampaign fund.

The Hart firm has repre-sented dozens of Democraticgovernors and members ofCongress. The revelation thata key executive at the compa-ny was captured on FBI wire-taps working with the gover-nor could embroil one of thenation’s most respected andinfluential polling and con-sulting groups in the Blagoje-vich scandal.

Blagojevich is accused ofusing his elected office toexchange official actions forfavors, including offeringObama’s Senate seat to thehighest bidder.

The intercepted discus-sions between Yang, who has

not been charged, and thegovernor involved ways tosecure Blagojevich a high-paying union job or persuadeObama to name him secre-tary of Health and HumanServices in exchange forValerie Jarrett’s appointmentto succeed Obama in the Sen-ate.

Blagojevich, charged withtwo counts tied to fraud andbribery, has long been aclient of Peter D. HartResearch and its politicaldivision, Garin-Hart-YangResearch Group. PartnerGeoff Garin served as chiefstrategist for Hillary Clin-ton’s unsuccessful presiden-tial run. Hart and Garin alsohave declined repeatedrequests for comment fromthe AP since mid-December.

In a Nov. 7 recorded con-versation characterized byprosecutors, Yang told Blago-jevich he “should leveragethe President-elect’s desire tohave ‘Senate Candidate 1’(Jarrett) appointed to theSenate seat in order to get ahead position” with a unionorganization called Change toWin.

Between 2001 and 2006, Blag-ojevich’s campaign paid PeterD. Hart Research $1.3 million,according to the Illinois StateBoard of Elections.

Sullivan nativejoins other relativeswith oath Thursday


SPRINGFIELD — Servingtheir country is beginning tobecome a family traditionfor the Petersons.

Spc. Lalita Laksbergs ofthe Army National Guardwatched her son, Sullivannative Jacob Peterson, besworn into the Illinois AirNational Guard on Thursday.Her daughter, Alyssa Peter-son, is in Afghanistan withthe Illinois Army NationalGuard’s 33rd InfantryBrigade.

“I’m proud of the amazingpeople they’ve become,”Laksbergs said.

Laksbergs’ father servedin the Army during WorldWar II. Both of her brothersare retired from the Marinesand the Air Force.

“Now, we have all the serv-ices except the Coast Guardin the family,” Laksbergssaid.

Jacob, 20, will head to SanAntonio, Texas, to beginbasic training, which willrun for eight weeks. Afterthat, he said he wants to goto a technical school in Mis-sissippi and focus on workwith computers.

Alyssa Peterson was thefirst to join the Guard, andLaksbergs has been servingfor two years. Surprisingly,mom was hesitant to let herson follow the family tradition.

“My junior year in highschool, I asked my mom if Icould, and she said no becauseshe wanted me to go to col-

lege,” Jacob Peterson said.After signing up and expe-

riencing the Guard first-hand, Laksbergs changedher mind.

“Seeing the family andcommunity side of it wasmore than I anticipated,”Laksbergs said. “It wasn’t asdifficult for me to say yes.”

Laksbergs doesn’t have toomuch time to get caught up inthe moment. She said she willbe going to Iraq later this year.

“The plan is she will comeback from Afghanistan, andI’ll come back from Iraq,”Laksbergs said


A4 LOCAL/STATE FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2009 DECATUR, ILLINOIS www.herald-review.com

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While the contribution themefor the Herald & Review’s 2009Outlook edition is being called“A Penny for Your Thoughts,”participation won’t cost you adime.

We want to hear from you soyou can be a part of our annualOutlook which will carry thetheme, “Links to Lincoln.” Theeditions will explore the manyconnections Central Illinoiscommunities have to AbrahamLincoln.

We’d like to hear from read-ers about your thoughts on our16th president and what hemeans to you and to Illinois. Wealso would be interested inhearing any individual storiesabout why you take pride inyour job, home, school or com-munity.

Our goal is to include asmany stories from people in thecommunities we serve in ourOutlook sections, which publishSunday, March 22, and March29.

Send your essays to: DaveDawson, Managing Editor, c/oHerald & Review, 601 E.William St., Decatur, IL 62523,or e-mail it to [email protected].

Essays should be less than300 words long. They shouldbe in our possession by 5 p.m.Monday, March 9. Include daytime and evening phonenumbers.

BRIEFSDECATUR

Teens grab woman’spurse in parking lot

Four juveniles, ages 13 to15, were arrested Wednesdayevening in the area of theBrettwood Village ShoppingCenter after they allegedlygrabbed the purse of a 49-year-old woman as she wasleaving a store.

The woman told police shefelt a bump from behind as sheexited the store and then amale in front of her grabbedthe purse and ran away, alongwith the youth behind her andtwo other teenagers, police Lt.David Dickerson said.

Officers responding to theshopping center spotted thefour juveniles and detainedthem, Dickerson said. Thewoman’s purse was foundnearby, he said.

DECATUR

Items reported taken from garage

Power tools and hand toolswere among items taken froman unattached garagebetween Dec. 30 and Tuesday,a 41-year-old woman reportedto Decatur police.

The missing items were aCraftsman rear-bagging lawn-mower, a blue wheelbarrow,assorted hand tools, a bur-gundy colored bicycle with nohand brakes and a 100-foot rollof new electrical wire.

DECATUR

15-year-olds soughtin video game theft

A DVD player, a videogame console and a numberof video games were takenbetween 11:15 a.m. and 3:25p.m. Wednesday during a bur-glary to a house in the 1000block of Lincoln Avenue, a 31-year-old woman reported toDecatur police.

Officers were seeking three15-year-old males for ques-tioning in connection with thebreak-in.

ILLINOIS

Tuberculosis patientcould go to jail

CHAMPAIGN — A Cham-paign tuberculosis patient willbe tracked by GPS and couldgo to jail if he violates courtorders that he remain isolatedwhile being treated.

Health officials and prosecu-tors said Clasance Botembefailed to take precautions toavoid spreading the disease.

Ventilation was closed inthe room at the county healthdepartment where Botembeappeared. Botembe, the judgeand others in the room woremasks.

ILLINOIS

Commission sayscorruption rampant

CHICAGO — Emotionalwarnings that corruption isrampant across Illinois poli-tics filled the air as Lt. Gov.Pat Quinn’s new reform com-mission launched its crusadeagainst a culture of payoffs,patronage and entrenchedpower.

Quinn has given the IllinoisReform Commission 100 daysto come up with a blueprintfor cleaning up Illinois gov-ernment.

ILLINOIS

Ryan nominatedagain for Nobel

CHAMPAIGN — A Univer-sity of Illinois professor hasmade his sixth nomination ofGeorge Ryan for the NobelPeace Prize.

Despite the former gover-nor being imprisoned on cor-ruption charges, Francis A.Boyle, a professor of Interna-tional Law and HumanRights, believes Ryan’s mora-torium on executions in Illi-nois is worthy of the prize.

ILLINOIS

Blagojevich’s wife fired

CHICAGO — A Chicagohomeless agency has fired Illi-nois’ first lady from her$100,000-a-year job as its chieffundraiser.

The Chicago Christian Indus-trial League’s board exerciseda termination clause of PattiBlagojevich’s contract.

Interim Executive DirectorMary Shaver said she couldnot discuss personnel issues.

The company hired PattiBlagojevich in August. Shehas not been accused of anywrongdoing, although hervoice is heard in the back-ground of some wiretaps.

Blagojevich’s lawyermay sue to stop trial in state Senate


SPRINGFIELD — Theprosecutor in the upcomingstate Senate impeachmenttrial of Gov. Rod Blagojevichwants to have more than adozen witnesses testifyagainst the governor, butBlagojevich on Thursdaydenounced the trial as a“sham” and one of his attor-ney said he’s considering alawsuit to stop the trial.

Prosecutor David Ellis sub-poenaed 13 witnesses to testifyMonday, including lawmakers,state officials and an FBIagent who was involved in thefederal corruption caseagainst the embattled gover-nor.

But while Ellis met aWednesday deadline to filewitnesses, Blagojevich missed

it and decried the entireprocess.

“You can’t possibly defendyourself when they say youdid something, and they don’tlet you call witnesses to sayyou didn’t do it,” Blagojevichsaid.

Samuel E. Adam, an attor-ney for Blagojevich, said thathe may file a lawsuit to stopthe proceeding within a fewdays. He said the process forcalling witnesses and mount-ing a defense are unfair.

However, Adam and anotherof Blagojevich’s lawyer, Ed

Genson, say they will boycotthe event, and Blagojevichspokesman Lucio Guerrerosaid it’s unclear if the gover-nor will attend himself or haverepresentation. Genson couldnot be reached for comment.

Lawmakers have arguedthe trial rules are fair. Aspokeswoman for SenatePresident John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said Blagojevichwas confusing the rules onpurpose.

“This is an attempt tomuddy the distinctionbetween the criminal trial

and the Senate impeachmentproceeding,” spokeswomanRikeesha Phelon said.

The trial is scheduled tostart Monday, and state Rep.Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, isscheduled to give testimony.Rose served on the Houseimpeachment committee thatput together a report that ledto the governor beingimpeached.

“We are probably morefamiliar with all the evidencethat was presented,” Rosesaid.

The Senate has the powerto overrule any witnessescalled with a majority vote.

“The reason that’s in thereis to prevent either side fromturning this into a show andto prevent redundancy,” stateSen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoonsaid. “All I can say is thatanyone who has read therules and views them objec-tively would not come to thatconclusion (that the processis unfair).”


Prosecutor to call 13 witnesses in impeachment

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chica-go radio station is offeringGov. Rod Blagojevich a job.

During a show earlyThursday, the program direc-tor at WLS-AM announcedthat if Blagojevich resigns,the station will offer him hisown weekly radio programfrom noon to 2 p.m. Sundays.

Program director Bob

Shomper said the station isasking the governor to sparethe state the embarrassmentand expense of forciblyremoving him from office.

The Senate starts a trial toremove him Monday.

Shomper said the station’soffer reflects the will of thepeople, who he said want thegovernor gone.

Radio station offers Blagojevich a job

Herald & Review/Jason Nevel

Jacob Peterson, who wassworn into the Air NationalGuard on Thursday, stands withhis mother, Lalita Lacksberg.

Military service becomes a family tradition

Consultant allegedly discussed selling Obama’s Senate seat

Governor compares arrest to Pearl HarborBlagojevich says Senatejust trying to get him out ofway so they can raise taxes

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois’ embattledbut defiant governor turned to the histo-ry books on Thursday to describe theemotional strain on him and his family,comparing his arrest last month toJapan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.

“Dec. 9 to my family, to us, to me, iswhat Pearl Harbor Day was to the Unit-ed States,” he said in an interview withThe Associated Press. “It was a com-plete surprise, completely unexpected.And just like the United States prevailedin that, we’ll prevail in this.”

The two-term Democrat, speaking ona snowy Chicago sidewalk outside theoffice of one of his attorneys, said therewas no chance that he will resign beforethe start of the impeachment trial in the

state Senate next week.“I’m going to fight this to the very

end,” he said.But that fight, he said, most likely

won’t include his appearance at thetrial. The governor, along with hislawyers, say the trial rules are unfairbecause they bar him from calling anywitnesses who are likely to be called inany criminal trial later.

“I’m not going to be a party to thatprocess,” he said. “That would be a vio-lation of my oath of office. That, to me,would be an impeachable offense.”

He said his decision comes from whathe called a “bigger principle,” which hesaid includes the principles of dueprocess and the right to call witnesses.

“In some respects it’s an honor to fallon principle on behalf of the people,” hesaid.

Blagojevich, wearing a black leatherjacket and gripping a blue legal folder,also accused legislators of “a rush to

judgment,” saying they wanted himgone so they could pass tax legislation.

“The reason they’re doing this isbecause they can’t wait to get rid of meso they can raise taxes on the people ofIllinois,” he said. “This is as much about atax increases as it is about anything else.”

Blagojevich is accused of scheming toswap President Barack Obama’s vacantSenate seat for personal gain.

He said of all the pressures on him,being the butt of jokes on late-night showswasn’t among them. The governor said hehas not seen any of the parodies andasked if they were any good.

“People can criticize and vilify, theycan do skits on ‘Saturday Night Live’ —I think that goes along with the territo-ry,” he said. “But what I won’t do is cavein and sacrifice the people of Illinois andbe party to some phony farce, someunconstitutional process that’s designedto remove me from office so these law-makers can raise taxes on people.”

What’s it worth?The Internet has a wealth

of information about

antiques,

including

the

value of

some of

them.

But a lot

of it is on

paid

sites,

which is

why several people turned

to appraiser Ed Walker for

assistance Saturday at the

Macon County History

Museum. Local B1

High heatThe recent cold snap has

resulted in record natural

gas usage in Central Illi-

nois, and some Ameren

customers may get hot

under the collar when they

open their bills. Money F1

Getting startedIt may be the dead of win-

ter, but

lots of gar-

deners

are

preparing

for spring

by starting plants from

seeds indoors. Home E1

Going to the pollsIraqis vote Saturday in the

first nationwide election in

three years, choosing

provincial leaders in what

amounts to a test of Iraq’s

stability. In contrast to the

three previous ballots since

the U.S. invasion, this one

is strikingly open. World A8

Delivery: 421-6990

Newsroom: 421-6979






JANUARY 25, 2009

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: Mostly cloudyTonight: A bit of snow early

Details/B6

H I G H

22L O W

11

SUNDAY

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . E3-10Comics . . . . . . . . . . . InsideDear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D6Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D5Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-6Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1-4Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . D3,4Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . B5Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . E6,7Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1-8Television . . . . . . . . . . . . C7

INDEX

$1.75137th year

Issue 25

Six sections

n DOUBLE DUTCH: Decatur teen knows the ropes/D1


Saving livesPet food company sponsors

event at Homeward Bound/B1

The hard wayIllini win another bruising

battle with the Badgers/C1

Legislature counting down to historyBarring resignation,governor’s trial beginsMonday in state Senate


SPRINGFIELD — Six years ago,Gov. Rod Blagojevich won election,based on a promise to end corruption.

Former Gov. George Ryan was in

trouble with the law, so Blagojevich’spitch to voters that he’d clean up stategovernment was an effective one.

“That was the issue,” said Jay Stew-art, director of the Chicago-based Bet-ter Government Association. “That’swhy he got elected.”

Now, the Illinois Senate is prepar-ing to begin Blagojevich’s impeach-ment trial, a proceeding in which he’llbe accused of political corruption andmismanagement of government. Sen-ate leadership said the trial, set to

begin at noon Monday, will go on asplanned, unless Blagojevich resignsfirst.

The defiant governor has denied theaccusations, which include claimsarising from his Dec. 9 arrest on fed-eral corruption charges.

Among the litany of allegations,Blagojevich is accused of trying tosell President Obama’s then-vacantU.S. Senate seat, withholding statemoney from a children’s hospital andexpanding state health care services

without lawmakers’ consent.Stewart said that given the gover-

nor’s campaign promise to reformgovernment six years ago, the eventsthat could transpire next week werehard to see coming.

“He’ll have to at least try,” Stewartsaid he thought. “History has shown Iwas utterly wrong.”

Blagojevich’s lawyers have saidthey won’t participate in the

A STITCH IN TIME

Herald & Review photos/Lisa Morrison

Carol Siempelkamp uses a sewing machine to combine the different materials. TOP: Janet Bricker works on a blanket stitch around theoutside while Joan Lucas sews on ties to complete the sleeping bag. BELOW LEFT: Piles of sleeping bags to be completed are stacked tothe side of the room. BELOW RIGHT: Nancy Messmore works on tying the sleeping bag so the layers stay together.

IMPEACH/A4

By ARLENE MANNLEINH&R Staff Writer

INDLAY — The journey began inthe basement of Findlay UnitedMethodist Church, when CarolSiempelkamp pieced together

enough fabric to make a 7-foot square.The journey ended when

that fabric square, nowcrafted into a sleeping bag,was helping keep warmeither one of Mike Pheri-go’s two daughters, ages 11and 14, or his 11-year-oldnephew.

Pherigo said he almostcould not believe his goodfortune when he went to

Northeast Community Fundin Decatur and receivedthree sleeping bags toreplace bedding destroyedin basement flooding lastyear.

“I ain’t never seen noth-ing made like that before,”Pherigo said.

F

Warm HeartsLittle Ole Bag Ladies’efforts keep

the chill off Decatur’s needy

HEARTS/A2

Children’s health bill returns to haunt RepublicansOpposition doesn’thave the numbersto stop expansion

WASHINGTON (AP) —Republicans appear to haveoverplayed their hand whenblocking the expansion of achildren’s health care pro-gram last year.

They face the likelihoodthat Democrats in the comingweeks will pass a bill that

they dislike even more.With more Democrats in

Congress and PresidentBarack Obama in the WhiteHouse, GOP lawmakers don’thave the numbers or a vetothreat to do anything about it.

The Senate planned tobegin debate as early as Mon-day on a bill that wouldincrease spending on theState Children’s Health Insur-ance Program by $31.5 billionover the next 4½ years.

Congress approved a simi-

lar bill in late 2007 that for-mer President George W.Bush vetoed. The House fellabout 15 votes shy of overrid-ing the veto. But the currentlegislation contains someimportant changes.

It is friendlier to states thatwant to cover children in fam-ilies with incomes exceedingthree times the federal pover-ty level — $63,600 for a familyof four.

Also, the bill calls for cov-ering children of legal immi-

grants now barred from gov-ernment-sponsored insuranceuntil they have been in thecountry at least five years.

The two provisions haveangered Senate Republicans,including some who disagreedwith Bush and worked closelywith Democrats on expandingthe program in 2007. Democ-rats have countered that 90percent of the bill to be debat-ed in the week ahead is basedon legislation that previously

HEALTH/A2

Financial aidfor collegeharder to getScholarships,grants may be cutat many schools

CHICAGO (AP) — Find-ing financial aid for collegethis year promises to betougher than any finalexam.

The quest for money thatbegins for students and par-ents every January hastaken on new urgency in2009 amid fears that loansand grants will be scarcerthan in the past due to therecession.

“The financing system forcollege is in real crisis,”said Barmak Nassirian,associate executive directorof the American Associa-tion of College Registrarsand Admissions Officers.“Every one of the partici-pants in the system is expe-riencing hardship — highereducation institutions,states, aid donors and fami-lies all are cash-strapped.”

Federal student loansremain readily available —with some funding evenincreased recently by Con-gress. But the prospect thatgrants and scholarshipsmay be cut at manyschools, combined with theshrinking availability of pri-vate loans, has fueled wide-spread angst at a timewhen more people than everare seeking help. Applica-tions for federal aid for thecurrent academic yearalready are running 10 per-cent above last year’srecord pace, according tothe Department of Educa-tion.

Savings held in Section529 plans — the state-spon-sored investment funds forcollege that are popular fortheir tax breaks — havebeen depleted by the worstbear market in decades andhome equity values haveplummeted. That hassapped two sources mosttapped by parents to fundtheir children’s higher edu-cation. Colleges’ endow-ments have been similarlywalloped.

Private student loans areespecially hard hit. Lastyear, 60 private lenders pro-vided $19 billion to students.Now, 39 of those havestopped lending to studentsand the remaining firmshave made it harder to bor-row, according toFinaid.org, a Web site thattracks the industry.

“The stress level is high,”said Rod Bugarin, financialaid adviser for the NewYork-based college consult-ing firm IvyWise.

Numerous revenue-shortstates are likely to considercutting aid in one way oranother, and public collegesand universities are expect-ed to raise tuition — in

AID/A2

A4 STATE SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2009 DECATUR, ILLINOIS www.herald-review.com

The Blagojevich impeachment trialNow that Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been impeached by the Illlinois House, the Illinois Senate will conduct

a trial to see if the governor should be removed from office.The trial is slated to begin Monday. The 59 members of the Senate will act as jurors. If

40 of those members decide the Democratic governor’s actions are worthy of hisbeing removed from office, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn would take over the state’s top post.

The trial could last into the first week of February, orlonger. Here are some of the key people who could

play a major role in the trial’s drama.

Gov. Rod Blagojevichn Democrat

n Age 52

n Serving his second term as governor

n Impeached by the House in January, he is accused of, among other

things, attempting to sell Barack Obama’s then-vacant U.S. Senate seat and

withholding state money from a children’s hospital.

One month after Blagojevich was arrested for his alleged attempt to sell thevacant Senate seat of Obama, he was impeached by the House 114-1. The gov-ernor has steadfastly claimed he is innocent of any criminal wrongdoing. Blago-jevich does not have to be present in Springfield during the trial.

In addition to the impeachment trial, Blagojevich faces separate criminalcharges.

It is unclear if Blagojevich will be represented by counsel at the impeach-ment trial.

David Ellisn Special prosecutor of the

case against Blagojevichn Age 41n Day job: Attorney for the Illi-

nois House Democratsn On the side: Author of five

mystery novels

Ellis oversaw the legal work of

the state

House commit-

tee that recom-

mended

Blagojevich be

impeached.

Now, he’ll try to

make a case to

the Senate that

they should convict the governor.

Ellis has been legal counsel to

House Speaker Michael Madi-

gan, a longtime Blagojevich foe,

the past two years.

Thomas Fitzgeraldn Illinois Supreme Court Chief

Justicen Democratn Age 68n Elected to the Supreme

Court in 2000

Fitzgerald will preside over the

Senate trial after becoming chief

justice last

year. The jus-

tice will ask all

questions the

prosecutor

and governor's

defense have

for witnesses.

The Chica-

go native graduated from Loyola

University before enlisting in the

Navy. Fitzgerald attended The

John Marshall Law School. He

has been a judge since 1976.

John Cullertonn Senate president n Democratn Age 61

The Senate president is respon-

sible for making the schedule.

Cullerton set aside nine days, start-

ing Jan. 26, for the trial. Cullerton

can also decide what evidence will

be permitted. Senators can vote to

override

Fitzgerald dur-

ing the hear-

ing.

Cullerton

ascended just

weeks ago to

lead the Illinois

Senate, which

has 37 Democrats compared to

22 Republicans. Cullerton has

served in the Senate since 1991

and served in the House from

1979 to 1991.

H&R chart/J. Zerfowski

Governor not giving informationto person who might take over

By DEANNA BELLANDIAssociated Press Writer

CHICAGO — The man whomay soon be Illinois’ next gov-ernor knows he quickly needsto get up to speed on fixing astate budget deficit that’s pos-sibly as high as $5 billion,especially since the trial toremove Gov. Rod Blagojevichis just a day away.

If Lt. Gov. Pat Quinnbecomes governor, he wouldpromptly ask the GeneralAssembly to push back theannual budget address amonth to March to give himsome breathing room. Law-makers did that for Blagoje-vich in his first year when heinherited a multibillion-dollardeficit from his predecessor,convicted former Gov. GeorgeRyan.

“That would give us about30, 40 days maybe more toreally size things up, come upwith a plan, lay it out for themembers of the legislatureand the public and then exe-cute the plan,” Quinn said.

Quinn could soon find him-self in charge of the state ifthe impeached Blagojevichresigns or is booted fromoffice in a Senate trial set tobegin Monday. Quinn’s ascen-sion is almost inevitablebecause Blagojevich hasopted not to defend himself,claiming the impeachmenttrial is rigged against him.

Poised to take over, Quinnbemoaned on Friday thatany transition would be a farcry from the peaceful onebetween President BarackObama and former PresidentGeorge W. Bush.

After not talking to Blagoje-vich for more than a year,Quinn said he has had nomeaningful contact with thegovernor’s office about a pos-sible transition since Blagoje-vich was arrested on federalcorruption charges last month.

“President Obama made itvery clear that he was grate-ful to President Bush for histotal cooperation, all theinformation that the newincoming president neededwas provided to him. Well,we haven’t seen any of thatfrom Gov. Blagojevich he hasstonewalled everything,”

Quinn said.But Quinn also hasn’t

asked, said his spokesmanBob Reed.

“The governor has shownno inclination to resign or toleave office so why would hebe open to any discussionregarding the transition?”Reed said.

Although Quinn has beenthe state’s No. 2 since 2002, heand Blagojevich don’t worktogether because they’ve beenon the outs for years. Blagoje-vich insisted in a radio inter-view last year that Quinn was-

n’t part of his administration.They didn’t even run

together by choice. In Illinois,governor candidates don’tpick their running mates.They are paired after the lieu-tenant governor candidatesare selected in party primar-ies. The two then run togetherin the general election.

If he becomes governor, oneof the first things Quinn saidhe has to do is get his armsaround the size of the state’sdeficit that he guesses isbetween $4 billion and $5 bil-lion.

Quinn sees budget as top priority

Associated Press

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn talks amid papers in his Chicago office.

By KARI ANDRENLee News Service Writer

SPRINGFIELD — Veteransorganizations in Southern Illi-nois have blasted Gov. RodBlagojevich for comparing hisDec. 9 arrest to the Japaneseattack on Pearl Harbor.

In an interview with TheAssociated Press, Blagojevichsaid his arrest was to him andhis family “what Pearl Har-bor Day was to the UnitedStates. It was a complete sur-prise, completely unexpected.And just like the UnitedStates prevailed in that, we’llprevail in this.”

Blagojevich’s impeachmenttrial in the state Senate is setto begin Monday. He said Fri-day he won’t appear for it.

Since his arrest last monthat his Chicago home on federalcorruption charges, Blagoje-vich has taken to quoting poet-

ry and short stories, but hislatest analogy to a very realattack landed him in hot water.

“It’s disgusting if he actual-ly believes that,” said BobGraham, commander ofAmerican Legion Post 365 inCollinsville.

“Personally, I think the manneeds help,” said Graham, aVietnam veteran. “My adviceto him would be to stand upand admit to what he’s doneand go on with his life and not

try to compare his life to theentire nation.”

State Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Highland, called the remarks“just ridiculous.”

“Here’s a guy on his wayout the door, with regard onlyfor himself, and he decides toinsult the entire veteran com-munity,” Stephens said.“When you’re in a hole, get ridof the shovel. Stop digging.”

[email protected]

Governor’s Pearl Harbor analogy offends veterans

SPRINGFIELD — SamAdam Jr. and Samuel E.Adam, attorneys for Gov.Rod Blagojevich, have saidthey won’t represent the gov-ernor during his impeach-ment trial, citing what theycall unfair rules.

And former Blagojevichattorney Ed Genson, said hewon’t help the governor onhis criminal case, either.

So as the governor faces ahistoric impeachment trialbeginning Monday, it’sunclear if Blagojevich willhave any legal support.

Genson and the Adamsesare prominent Chicagolawyers whose clientsinclude R&B star R. Kelly.

Genson has practiced lawfor 44 years and suffers froma degenerative disease thatcauses him to walk with acane. He was the governor’skey support as the IllinoisHouse considered hisimpeachment.

Sam Adam and Samuel E.Adam are father and son.

They, along with Blagoje-vich, argued the impeach-ment trial wouldn’t be fairbecause the governor doesn’thave the ability to call wit-nesses.

Lawmakers have counteredthat rules for the proceed-ings are fair and mirrorthose used against formerPresident Bill Clinton.

Patrick Fitzgerald, 44, theU.S. attorney based in Chica-go since 2001, had Blagoje-vich arrested in Decemberon federal corruptioncharges

The criminal complaint byFitzgerald’s office startedBlagojevich’s troubles thathave led to his impeachmenttrial.

A federal judge in Chicagoruled that four tapes ofBlagojevich wiretaps can bereleased to Illinois lawmak-ers.

Fitzgerald’s office willprosecute Blagojevich in hiscriminal case.

—MIKE RIOPELL

Lawyers won’t take on ‘unfair’ trialIMPEACHContinued from A1impeachment trial, perhapsleaving the governor withouta lawyer as the prosecutorpresents evidence to lawmak-ers. The governor and hislegal team have argued thatthe trial’s rules are unfair anddon’t presume innocence.

In an impassioned plea Fri-day, Blagojevich asked Senateleaders to change the rulesand allow him to call witness-es, including members ofPresident Obama’s adminis-tration. He even compared thesituation to the Wild West,where a horse thief might bepunished without a fair trial.

“They’re just hanging me,”Blagojevich said.

The Senate’s rules do allowhim to call witnesses, butnone that might interfere withthe federal corruption case heis facing. He has missed dead-lines for making thoserequests.

And he might be correct inhis criticism that many sena-tors, who serve as the jury inthe impeachment trial,already have made up theirminds.

In Washington on Monday,U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, aCrete Democrat, had noreservations about talkingabout Blagojevich’s fate.

Halvorson, who was stateSenate majority leader untilwinning her seat in Congressin November, said she would-n’t hesitate to convict him ifshe were still a senator.

“He’d be gone in 30 sec-onds,” Halvorson said.

The Senate has set asidenine days for the trial, but ifBlagojevich doesn’t have anylawyers arguing his side ofthe case, some lawmakers andobservers have questionedwhether the trial would takemore than a few days.

“Common sense would dic-tate that if two parties canboth put on a case, and one

party chooses not to, thenthat would by default makethe proceedings shorter,” saidstate Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon.

Blagojevich on Friday saidhe didn’t plan to attend thehearings because he wasn’tbeing allowed to call witness-es. The governor didn’t defendhimself at the House’simpeachment hearings, either.

Some lawmakers said thegovernor’s absence made hisimpeachment an easier vote.Lawmakers impeached Blago-jevich by a 117-1 vote earlierthis month after new Housemembers were sworn in.

“If I contended all the timeI was innocent, I sure wouldhave been there, telling peopleI was innocent,” said stateRep. Pat Verschoore, D-Milan.

Blagojevich has made

statements to others, though,to argue for his innocence.Shortly after the IllinoisHouse first impeached him,Blagojevich said his healthcare ideas were meant to helppeople and were not animpeachable offense, even ifhe angered lawmakers by try-ing to implement them with-out legislative approval.

Friday, though, Blagojevichsought to make differentpoints, saying that future gov-ernors will be crippled if theysee lawmakers can impeach agovernor and oust him fromoffice with relative ease.

“This is much bigger thanme,” Blagojevich said.

“This will have a chillingeffect on every governor inthe future,” he added.


‘Here’s a guy on his way out the door,with regard only for himself,

and he decides to insult the entire veterancommunity. When you’re in a hole, get rid of the shovel. Stop digging.’

State Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Highland

While the contribution theme for the Herald& Review’s 2009 Outlook edition is beingcalled “A Penny for Your Thoughts,” partici-pation won’t cost you a dime.

We want to hear from you so you canbe a part of our annual Outlook which willcarry the theme, “Links to Lincoln.” The

editions will explore the many connectionsCentral Illinois communities have to Abraham

Lincoln.We’d like to hear from readers about your

thoughts on our 16th president and what he means toyou and to Illinois. We also would be interested in hearing any indi-vidual stories about why you take pride in your job, home, school orcommunity.

Our goal is to include as many stories from people in the commu-nities we serve in our Outlook sections, which publish Sunday,March 22, and March 29.

Send your essays to: Dave Dawson, Managing Editor, c/o Herald & Review, 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL62523, or e-mail it to [email protected].

Essays should be less than300 words long. They shouldbe in our possession by 5p.m. Monday, March 9.Include daytime andevening phone numbers.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Serving a fundraiser

Serving trays are one of

the works of art to be fea-

tured at the Holy Family

Dinner Dance and Auc-

tion, with each piece creat-

ed by a class. The event

also includes live and

silent auctions. Local A3

Grim job reportTens of thousands of

layoffs were announced by

some of the biggest

names in business. More

pink slips, pay freezes and

other hits are expected to

slam workers in the

months ahead. Money C1

Bond set on DUIWilliam L. Reid, 60,

had bond set in Macon

County Circuit Court for

his arrest

on investi-

gation of

aggravated

DUI with great

bodily harm.

His blood-alco-

hol level allegedly

was four times higher than

the legal limit. Local A3

Tragic deathA 93-year-old man froze

to death in his home just

days after the municipal

power company restricted

his use of electricity

because of unpaid bills,

officials said. Nation A4

Delivery: 421-6990

Newsroom: 421-6979







1,000 miles of jazz34th annual festival expands

its musical horizons/D1

Tough tourneyWarrensburg-Latham loses,

Central A&M advances/B1

JANUARY 27, 2009


Issue 27

Four sections

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: 1 to 2 inches of snowTonight: Cloudy and frigid

Details/B6

H I G H

22L O W

8

TUESDAY

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . C4-6Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5Dear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D2Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D5Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-6Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1,2Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D2Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . D3Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . C4-6Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-5Television . . . . . . . . . . . . D6

INDEX

IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

CAT cuts personnel, productionNo estimate of effect onDecatur factory; workforce worldwide is hit

By TONY REIDH&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — Sinking profits and adismal economic outlook saw Cater-pillar Inc. announce 5,000 job losses

and a series of production cuts Mon-day that will affect its Decatur facto-ry.

The job cuts target white-collarworkers and not union production lineworkers, the company said. Caterpil-lar did not offer an estimate of howmany Decatur employees might beinvolved, saying only that the cutswere spread among the company’sworldwide work force, which numbersmore than 112,800 overall.

The production cutbacks are likelyto hurt Decatur’s United Auto Work-ers Union work force, however, as thecompany responds to falling ordersand the world continues to sink intorecession.

“It could include temporary layoffsor partial plant shutdowns for a weekor two,” said Caterpillar spokesmanJim Dugan. “A variety of those thingsare going to happen, and it will varyfrom location to location.”

The latest job losses and a packageof job cuts announced previously addup to some 20,000 Caterpillar workerswho have been or will be laid off.These include 200 job losses at theDecatur plant that were filled byemployees from outside contractors,along with company-wide cuts inmanagement and other white-collarsalaries. Caterpillar also announced

‘The fix is in’

Associated Press photos

House prosecutor David Ellis stands on the Senate floor, left, as he speaks on the first day of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s impeach-ment trial. A desk where Blagojevich and his counsel would sit is empty at right. The Illinois Senate has convened a historicimpeachment trial that will determine whether Blagojevich is removed from office. Blagojevich is refusing to take part in thetrial, claiming its rules are so biased that he can’t present a defense.

Senate starts sifting evidence in proceedingBy MIKE RIOPELL


SPRINGFIELD — The firstday of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’simpeachment trial in the IllinoisSenate began Monday with asomber attitude from thoseinvolved but empty chairs whereBlagojevich or his lawyers

would sit for the defense.“This is a solemn and serious

business we are about to engagein,” Illinois Supreme Court ChiefJustice Thomas Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald presided over thehistoric proceedings for aboutfive hours Monday. It’s the firsttime in Illinois history that a

governor has been impeached.Senators on Monday began

weighing evidence that likely willlead to a vote on whether toremove Blagojevich from office.Blagojevich spent the day in NewYork doing television interviews


SPRINGFIELD — Illinois taxpayers are footingthe bill for at least two security officers to accom-pany disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich on hisnational media tour Monday.

A spokesman for the impeached chief executivesaid the two Illinois State Police bodyguards usu-ally travel with Blagojevich, calling their presencewith him at TV appearances in New York City“normal.”

“He gets detail when he goes on vacation oreven campaign events,” said spokesman LucioGuerrero.

The governor launched a media blitz Monday,aimed at trying to convince the public that hisimpeachment trial in the Senate is unfair.

He appeared live on “Good Morning America”and “The View,” in which he proclaimed he is an“innocent man.”

He finished his blitz Monday night on “LarryKing Live” on CNN.

“I’m here in New York because I can’t get a fairhearing in Illinois,” Blagojevich told an AssociatedPress reporter between TV appearances.

Deal savescoach’spositionCentral A&M keepsMorrow, but otherswill lose their jobs


ASSUMPTION — In a dra-matic last-minute move, theCentral A&M school boardannounced a deal Mondaynight that spared the job ofpopular coach and teacherBrianna Morrow.

Morrow, 28, had been fac-ing dismissal at the end ofthis schoolyear becauseof a fundingcrisis. Parentsin tears hadpleaded withthe schoolboard to savethe job of theelementaryphysical edu-cation teacher, who hasfound success coaching thehigh school girls’ basketball,volleyball and track teams.

Other teachers and staffwere not so fortunate Mon-day night, however. Theboard announced at its meet-ing in Assumption that fourteachers and 12 teachingassistants would lose theirjobs at the end of the schoolyear.

The crisis was sparked bya policy difference betweenthe Kemmerer Village homefor troubled children nearAssumption and the state’sDepartment of Children andFamily Services. CentralA&M supplies staff who workat Kemmerer to teach chil-dren, and the district is reim-bursed by the state; but whenthe policy change promptedKemmerer to cut back on thenumber of DCFS child refer-rals it would accept, theresuddenly weren’t the fundsavailable to pay the samenumber of teachers.

Six teachers were to belaid off from Kemmerer,along with the 12 teachingaides. At least one teacherhad enough seniority rightsto transfer back to the schooldistrict and bump a lessexperienced teacher fromtheir job, which is why Mor-row’s position was in danger.

Central A&M Superinten-dent Randy Grigg said a dealhad been worked out, withKemmerer’s cooperation, bywhich the teacher with sen-iority will now stay at Kem-merer, saving Morrow’s job.He said crafting a solutionhad involved countless hoursof effort from the schoolboard and the school dis-trict’s principals.

Grigg said Morrow’s posi-tion was safe for at leastanother year and probablylonger.

“We’ll see what happensout at Kemmerer after nextyear. But I think this (thedeal) is long-term,” he added.

Grigg said four other Cen-tral A&M teachers will

Morrow

Fitzgerald

CUTS/A2

Blagojevich takes hisclaims of unfairness tothe national media

LEFT: Blagojevichleaves the buildingand wades througha crowd ofreporters after tap-ing ‘Good MorningAmerica.’

TOP LEFT: Blagoje-vich is interviewedby Diane Sawyeron ‘Good MorningAmerica’ in NewYork.

TOP MIDDLE:Blagojevich speaksto Geraldo Riveraafter leaving ‘TheView.’

TOP RIGHT: Blagojevich speaksduring an interviewwith Barbara Wal-ters on ‘The View.’

FIX/A2

SENATE/A2 COACH/A2

COACHContinued from A1remain employed at Kemmerer,along with a “shared” principal.But he said there was nothing thatcould be done to save the remain-ing four teachers and the teachingassistants who work at Kemmerer.The home has said, however, thatit will be looking to hire one ormore teachers itself and probablyfour or five teaching assistants.

There is a chance another ofthe laid-off teachers at Kem-merer could bump one moreCentral A&M class teacher out

of a job, depending on classsizes next year. But Grigg saidMonday that it was likely therewould not be enough students toemploy either the Kemmererteacher or the regular classteacher next year, addinganother job casualty to the list.

School board President KenZindel said he didn’t want peopleto get the wrong impression aboutCentral A&M’s priorities after theboard’s unanimous decision thatsaved Morrow’s job. He said mem-bers had done what they thoughtwas in the school district’s bestinterests, but the board was notvaluing sport above academics.

“Just to let you know, on thisboard, education is still our firstpriority,” he added.

But for Morrow’s fans in theaudience Monday night, theboard’s decision was sweeterthan any big game win.

“We’re very happy,” said herfather, Michael Williams, whosat through the meeting with hiswife, Sandy. Their daughter was-n’t there; she was in Decatur,coaching a basketball game atSt. Teresa High School.

“Somebody will be callingher soon,” her father said witha smile.


MusicAltamont Opry Country Blue-

grass Night, 7 p.m., Altamont Liv-ing Museum, Altamont, $3. (618)483-6401.

HealthBlood Pressure Reading, 9:30

to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon,LifeSpan Center, Charleston. Free.639-5150.

Blood Pressure Screening, 8 to9 a.m., Senior Center, Shelbyville.Free. 1-800-879-3212.

Blood Pressure Screening, 10to 11 a.m., Newton Jasper CountySenior Center, Newton.

Cardiac Rehab Orientation, 1 to3 p.m., Decatur Memorial HospitalCardiac Rehabilitation Department,Decatur. Free. Requires physicianreferral. 876-2496.

Clinical Pastoral Orientation, 6to 9 p.m., Decatur, 876-4322.

Geriatric Assessment Clinic,12:30 to 5 p.m., Decatur MemorialHospital Kenwood Medical Building,Decatur. 876-2191.

Pre-Postnatal Aerobics, Decatur

Family YMCA, Decatur, 5:30 to 6:15p.m. 872-9622.



Tuberculosis Clinic and Test-ing, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., MaconCounty Health Department,Decatur. Medicaid or $10 each test.423-1472.

MeetingsBaby TALK Lapsit, 7 p.m.,

Decatur Public Library, Decatur.Central Illinois Decorative

Artists, 6:30 p.m., Grace BaptistChurch, Decatur, 423-4155 or 877-7229.

Christian County TRIAD, 9a.m., Taylorville Senior Center, Tay-lorville.

Coalition of NeighborhoodOrganizations (CONO), 7 p.m.,Decatur Public Library, Decatur.

Commodore Duplicate BridgeClub, 7 p.m., 2560 E. Federal Drive,

Decatur, 422-0095.Decatur AMBUCs, noon, Tus-

cany Steak & Pasta House, Decatur.Decatur Building Construction

Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEWLocal 146, Decatur.

Decatur Optimist Club, 7 a.m.,Webster Cantrell Hall, Decatur.

Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., HickoryPoint Golf Course, Forsyth.

Kiwanianne Club, 9:30 a.m.,Scovill Banquet Facility, Decatur,877-1758.

Noon Kiwanis Club of Decatur,noon, Decatur Club, Decatur.

Noon Sertoma Club, noon, Tus-cany Steak & Pasta House,Decatur.

Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m.,Decatur Civic Center, Decatur.


Center, Driver Safety Program,8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Cards, 9a.m., Bingo, 1 p.m., Decatur, 429-1239.

Salvation Army, Chair Exercises,10 a.m., Decatur.

Johns Hill Center, Game Night,6 to 8 p.m. (75 cents), Decatur. 429-7750.

Salvation Army, Line Dancing,noon to 2 p.m., Decatur.

Support GroupsAl-Anon, 7 p.m., First Congrega-

tional United Church of Christ,Decatur.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m.,First Congregational United Churchof Christ, Decatur, 422-3766.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m.,Pana United Presbyterian Church,Pana.

Baby TALK, 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.,Decatur Public Library, Decatur.

Caregiver Support Group, 10a.m., Macon County Health Depart-ment, Decatur. 423-6550.

Central Illinois Prostate CancerSupport Group, 4:30 p.m., CancerCare Specialists, Decatur.

Domestic Violence Support, 5

p.m., Dove Inc., Moultrie Countyoffice, Sullivan, 728-9334.

Drug/Alcohol Education, 5:30to 6:30 p.m., Dove Inc., Decatur,428-6616.

Hepatitis C Support Group,6:30 p.m., Macon County HealthDepartment, Decatur, 423-6988.

Livingwith Dia-betes, 2:30to 3:30 p.m.,Sarah BushLincolnHealth Cen-ter METSLab, Mattoon.348-4808,238-4808, 258-2199 or 348-2199.

M&M (Mother to Mother)Breastfeeding Support Group, 7p.m., Lumpkin Family Center forHealth Education, Mattoon, 258-2229 or 348-2229.

Miracles in Progress, noon to 2p.m., House of Miracles Pente-costal Church, Decatur, 423-4694.

Narcotics Anonymous, 8 a.m.,St. Mary’s Hospital, Room 561,Decatur, 1-800-539-0475.

Narcotics Anonymous, noon,2520 E. William St., Decatur, 1-800-539-0475.

Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m.,St. Thomas Community Center,

Decatur, 1-800-539-0475.

National Multiple Sclerosis

Society, 7 p.m., St. John’s Luther-

an Church, Bloomington, 1-800-

922-0484 or (309) 838-6760.

Project Read, 2 to 5 p.m.,

Knapp Library, Middletown, 445-

2050.

Stroke/Head Injury Support

Group, 7 p.m., Sarah Bush Lincoln

Health Center, Lumpkin Family

Center for Health Education, Mat-

toon, 348-2397.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 9

a.m., Trinity Lutheran Church,

Decatur, 428-7078 or 428-8066.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6

p.m., Main Street Church of the Liv-

ing God, Decatur, 424-0783.

Unshackled (Christian Support

for Addictions), 6 p.m., Church of

the Living God CWFF, Decatur.

Us TOO, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Cancer

Care Specialist of Central Illinois,

Decatur. Prostate cancer group.

876-2370.

Contact us








WHAT’S HAPPENING

T O D A Y



MORE EVENTS:

Tomorrow’s

highlight:

CountryIdol, 6:30 p.m.,AIW Hall,Decatur.

A2 LOCAL TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2009 DECATUR, ILLINOIS www.herald-review.com












Herald&Review

Winning numbers selected Monday in the Illinois State Lottery:Lottery numbers online:


lottery/






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CUTSContinued from A1Monday that 2,500 employees fromits white-collar work force in theUnited States had accepted volun-tary separation packages.

“And there are some people inDecatur who took the voluntary sep-aration program,” Dugan added.

Adding to the uncertainty inDecatur, Caterpillar is now in theprocess of transferring most of itsmotor grader production and 600jobs to a plant it’s establishing inNorth Little Rock, Ark. How much ofa net loss of jobs that will be for theDecatur plant, which now employs5,000 workers, isn’t clear, as the com-pany says it is moving the graders to

ramp up mining truck production.The latest corporate figures show

orders are slumping all around, butCaterpillar says mining companiesare generally delaying rather thancanceling expansion plans.

“In general, we still think we willneed that capacity (the extra miningtruck build capacity in Decatur) aswe move forward for our long-termstrategic plan,” Dugan said,although he said the ramp-up planscould be delayed. “A lot depends onwhat happens in the economy.”

Caterpillar said Monday that itsfourth-quarter profit dropped 32 per-cent, far worse than many industryanalysts had been expecting. Cater-pillar, an economic bellwether andcomponent of the Dow-Jones Indus-trial Average, posted fourth-quarter

earnings of $661 million, or $1.08 pershare, down from $975 million, or$1.50 per share, a year earlier. Rev-enue rose 6 percent to $12.92 billion.

Analysts, on average, had expect-ed earnings of $1.31 per share onrevenue of $12.84 billion.

Shares finished Monday down$2.99, or 8.38 percent, at $32.67.

Amid the gloom, Caterpillar saidit still had record sales and revenuesof $51.324 billion in 2008, up 14 per-cent from 2007. Profit per sharecame in at $5.66, up 5 percent, butafter-tax profit of $3.557 billion wasflat, compared to 2007.

The company scaled back expec-tations for 2009, with revenue andsales now projected at about $40 bil-lion and profit at $2.50 per share.

Caterpillar chairman and chief

executive officer Jim Owens said2008 had started out well, but a wheelhad come off as the year came to aclose and the world’s economicmalaise hit home.

“We were whipsawed in the fourthquarter as key industries were hit bya rapidly deteriorating global econo-my and plunging commodityprices,” Owens said. “In anticipationof lower demand, we encourageddealers to align inventory withdeclining volume, and they respond-ed with significant order cancella-tions, particularly in December.”

Dugan said the world economy for2009 promised to get worse before itgot better. “We think 2009 could bethe worst economic growth globallyin 60-plus years,” he said. “It’s goingto be a challenging year.”

Jim Minton, a retirement plannerwith Decatur-based InvestmentPlanners, has followed Caterpillar’sups and downs and recently coun-seled some Caterpillar workersthinking of accepting the voluntaryseparation package.

“When the economy fell off a cliffin October, Caterpillar went with it,”he said.

“If there is a bright spot here, it isthat the company is taking ratherquick and decisive action to get itscosts in line with the reduction theyare going to have in revenues. Iwould expect Caterpillar to recoverwhen the economy recovers, and asof right now, there are no signs ofwhen that might be.”

[email protected]|421-7977. The Associat-

ed Press contributed to this report.

FIXContinued from A1

“I’m talking to Americansto let them know what’s hap-pening in the land of Lin-coln,” Blagojevich said duringhis media blitz. “If they cando this to a sitting governor,deny me to bring witnesses into prove my inno-cence ... they cando it to you.”

During inter-views, Blagoje-vich largelystuck to hisscript, repeatedlysaying he haddone nothingwrong and blast-ing the impeach-ment trial asunfair. Blagoje-vich was impeached by theHouse, and his trial in theSenate began Monday. Sena-tors act as jurors in decidingwhether he should beremoved from office.

The governor is not pre-senting a defense at the trial.Rather, he told ABC’s DianeSawyer that he is convincedhe will be convicted in theSenate.

“The fix is in,” Blagojevichsaid.

Among topics covered on“The View” was his salty lan-guage on federal wiretaps, inwhich he discusses filling thestate’s then-vacant U.S. Sen-ate seat.

“Had I known someone was

listening, I wouldn’t haveused language like that,”Blagojevich said.

He also continued to ham-mer home his accusation thatIllinois lawmakers want tooust him so they can raisetaxes.

“It’s all about raising theincome tax,” he said.

And, despite transcripts ofwiretaps thatseemed to indicateotherwise, he con-tends he wasn’t try-ing to benefit per-sonally from theappointment ofsomeone to thestate’s then-emptyU.S. Senate seat.

“Under no cir-cumstances was Itrying to sell theSenate seat,”

Blagojevich said.Guerrero said taxpayers

aren’t being billed for thetrip, beyond the cost of thesecurity personnel.

“I believe the networks paidfor everything. The onlycharge, and not sure if thenetwork reimbursed or not,was one plane ticket for theone advance detail that has togo out before the governor tocheck things out,” Guerrerosaid in an e-mail.

“Other than that, no oneelse from the state is on thetrip, including me!” Guerreroadded.

[email protected]|789-0865; The

Associated Press contributed to this

article.

SENATEContinued from A1with “The View” and othernetwork programs.

“I frankly can’t imaginewhy he wouldn’t at leastmake a statement about howhe feels about this,” state Sen.Bill Brady, R-Bloomington,said.

The Chicago Democrat andhis attorneys were nowhere tobe seen in the quiet Senatechamber, as prosecutor DavidEllis began his efforts tomake the case against thesecond-term chief executive.Ellis’ opening statementmade clear that evidence pre-sented in the trial will fullyfollow accusations made bythe Illinois House when theyimpeached the governor.

“He is no longer fit to gov-ern,” Ellis said. “He should beremoved from office.”

Blagojevich is chargedwith, among other things, try-ing to sell President Obama’sthen-vacant Senate seat andwithholding state money froma Chicago children’s hospital.

Because Blagojevich wasn’tin attendance, a plea of notguilty automatically wasentered for him.

Senators will take frequentbreaks this week to ponderquestions they want to pose to

witnesses. State Sen. DaleRighter, R-Mattoon, wasamong those asking Ellis whymore witnesses aren’t beingplanned.

That process could drawthe trial out, even though the

governor apparently plans tomount no defense. Ellis andlawmakers have expressed adesire to be thorough, but it’sclear the trial is a major dis-traction from lawmakers’other state business.

“I’m ready to get it overwith so I can go back to beinga senator rather than ajuror,” said state Sen. GaryForby, D-Benton.

Ellis questioned his firstwitness, former U.S. AttorneyJohn Scully, who explainedhow federal authorities goabout obtaining wiretaps.Ellis wants to play tapes ofsome of the wiretaps investi-gators placed on Blagoje-vich’s phones.

The conversations allegedlyshow Blagojevich trying togain campaign contributionsin exchange for a signatureon legislation that would ben-efit the horse-racing industry.

Similar evidence will bepresented this week, as Ellisruns through the witnesseshe’s planned to call.

Throughout the first day ofthe trial, senators sat quietlyin their desks as a publicgallery full of onlookers andat least a dozen TV cameraslooked on. Some senators arereserving talking about evi-dence in an attempt to appearimpartial.

Some are less guarded.“I listened to the evidence,

and it didn’t sound all thatstrong to me,” said state Sen.Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline.

“I’m going to reserve judg-ment and try and make upmy mind late in the trial,” hesaid.

Since his arrest last monthon federal corruption charges,Blagojevich has ignored callsfor his resignation. He’s con-tinued to work and make pub-lic statements, even as law-makers have pushed throughhis impeachment.

State Sen. Frank Watson,R-Greenville, said the trialcould have been avoided.

“He should have resignedand done the thing that wouldhave been good for the state,”Watson said.


Springfield Bureau report

SPRINGFIELD — The manin line to replace Rod Blago-jevich if the governor isremoved from office was notactively watching Monday’sSenate impeachment trial.

Rather, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinnwas at the James R. Thomp-son Center in Chicago in ameeting.

Quinn spokeswoman Mar-lena Jentz said the next possi-ble governor of Illinois was

continuing business as usualas the historic trial got underway at noon.

Jentz added that Quinn, aformer state treasurer whohas been elected lieutenantgovernor twice on the sameticket with Blagojevich, isstaying abreast of the trialvia a television feed of theproceedings.

Blagojevich was not at thetrial. He was in New York mak-ing the rounds on talk shows.

Associated Press

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrives at his hotel after making an appearance Monday on ‘The View’ inNew York.

CentralA&M Lady

Raidershead coach

BriannaMorrow

prepares tolead her

team ontothe court at

St. Teresaas theschool

board wasdeciding

the fate ofher job.

Herald & Review/Kelly J. Huff

Herald&ReviewPrinted with environmentally safe

water-based ink

‘Under no circumstanceswas I tryingto sell the

Senate seat.’Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Business as usual for Quinn

FBI agent is next witnessBy JASON NEVEL


SPRINGFIELD — Two wit-nesses could be called for daytwo of the Senate impeach-ment trial of Gov. Rod Blago-jevich, which gets under wayat 10 a.m. today.

FBI special agent DanielCain will be the first witness totestify before the 59 senatorswho will decide whether toremove Blagojevich from office.

Depending upon how long ittakes to question Cain, stateRep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet,also will take the stand.

Cain helped lead the feder-al investigation of Blagoje-vich. His signed affidavitaccompanied the criminal

charges filed against the gov-ernor before his Dec. 9 arrest.

Rose served on the HouseImpeachment Committee andsaid he has been called becausehe is more familiar with theevidence than some senators.

It’s not clear how manydays the trial will consume.Senators are set to meetevery day except Sunday forthe time being.

State Sen. Dan Rutherford,R-Chenoa, said frequent meet-ings among senators to comeup with questions for witness-es could slow the trial down.

“I’ve got my hotel bookedthrough next week, as well,”he said.


The dynasties are disappearing.The latest proof came when Caro-

line Kennedy, the only daughter ofJohn and Jackie Kennedy, dramatical-ly removed herself as a possiblereplacement for Hillary Rodham Clin-

ton, from adynasty bymarriage, inthe Senateseat fromNew Yorkonce held byher UncleBobby.

Kennedy’sannounce-ment camejust two days

after a seizure in the Capitol served asa reminder that her surviving uncle,Ted Kennedy, the veteran senator fromMassachusetts, is battling a serious ill-ness, a malignant brain tumor.

And it came just two weeks afterthe heir apparent to the Bush familydynasty, former Gov. Jeb Bush, hadtaken himself out of consideration forthe Senate seat that will becomevacant next year in Florida.

JEB BUSH IS young enough that hecould have another bite at the apple,running in 2012 or a later year to suc-ceed his father and his brother as pres-ident.As for the Kennedys, where thereonce seemed to be a limitless supply ofthem, they can count only one federalofficeholder in the younger generation,Sen. Kennedy’s son Patrick, a con-gressman from Rhode Island. Patrick

Kennedy is enormously popular athome, but his reputation has beenshaped more by his personal problemsthan his political accomplishments.

These two families have written theirway into the history books, along withsuch tribes as the Adamses, the Lees,the Roosevelts, the Tafts, the Harrisons,the Byrds and the Frelinghuysens.

My friend Stephen Hess, a politicalhistorian who has written a fine bookabout these and other “leading fami-lies,” offers no sweeping generaliza-tions about their rise and fall.

There is almost always an ancestorwith the talent and drive to lift hissights beyond what others can envi-sion. Until now, those pioneers havemostly been males. Joseph P.Kennedy and Prescott Bush madetheir fortunes on Wall Street beforeturning to government service andinstilling the ambition in their sons.

BUT IT WILL not be long before theinheritance shifts to the maternal line,given the pace with which women aremoving into higher office in both fed-eral and state governments.

For now, though, women and menalike are inheriting the political genemainly from their fathers, as witnessKansas. Nancy Landon KassebaumBaker, its former Republican senator,is the daughter of Alf Landon, thestate’s former governor and the 1936Republican presidential nominee.

Kathleen Sebelius, now the Democ-ratic governor, learned politics fromher father, John Gilligan, who wasonce the governor of Ohio.

I see no inevitability in the fading ofparticular dynasties. Some childrenmay receive too close a view of thecosts of public life, the wear-and-tear onmarriages and families. But others areunfazed. Jerry Brown, the former gover-nor of California, saw the father whosename he bears, Edmund G. “Pat”Brown Sr., defeated in his third-term bidfor governor by Ronald Reagan. ButBrown keeps running, currently servingas state attorney general and likely try-ing for governor again next year.

AND SPEAKING of ambitious attorneysgeneral, New York’s Andrew Cuomo,the son of Mario Cuomo, the formergovernor, has been poised to swoop inand claim the New York Senate seatthat had seemed to be ticketed forCaroline Kennedy.

Mario Cuomo, like Pat Brown, sawhis career end in defeat, something hisson desperately wants to avenge. ButAndrew was passed over for the Senateseat Friday when Gov. David Patersonpicked Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand.

My favorite surviving dynasty is Markand Tom Udall, the Democratic cousinsjust elected to the Senate from Coloradoand New Mexico, respectively. They arethe sons of Morris “Mo” Udall, thecourageous and marvelously humorouscongressman from Arizona, and hisbrother, Stewart, who left the House tobecome John Kennedy’s secretary ofinterior; two of the best friends the envi-ronment and public lands have ever had.

That’s the kind of legacy we canalways use.

[email protected]

More people should knowabout, use Decatur Airport

The Decatur Airport is the city’sbest-kept secret.

We used it recently and had anextremely pleasant experience. Therate was just slightly more thanBloomington, but more reasonablethanSpring-field.Our tripto theairport was less than 10 minutes. Giventhe treacherous conditions of the roadthat morning, we knew we’d made theright decision to not use an out-of-townairport.

Parking, of course, is free, with noproblems finding a spot close to thedoor. We walked right up to the ticketcounter and checked in, then went tothe dining room to have breakfastwhile we leisurely waited for theplane.

The staff at the airport is amazing.After about five minutes, the agentshowed up at our table to tell me that ashampoo bottle was leaking inside myziplock bag and asked if I wanted herto open the bag to tighten the lid. Trygetting that kind of service at anotherairport.

We saw our plane arrive, and soonthe agent was back, telling passengersthat we could come through security ifwe wished. We were so relaxed, withnone of the rushing, fighting heavytraffic and crowds as we normally do.

My only wish is that the airport bepromoted more vigorously. It is a verypositive aspect of our city.

Linda EnglandMount Zion

Thanks to Bush for service;welcome to new president

I would just like to thank PresidentBush for his service.

I am grateful he did not treat thepresidency like a popularity contestand took the steps necessary to take onterrorism and keep this country safefrom sea to shining sea for the pasteight years. At the same time, I wishour new president, Barack Obama, allthe best.

Kevin MillerDecatur


A5

LETTERS


FAX:421-7965

PHONE:421-6979

or 421-7980



Box 311,


E-MAIL:ddawson@

herald-review.com

Even though his Senate impeachment trialbegan Monday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich is still put-ting his imprint on state government.

And it’s not a good one.A few weeks after being impeached by the House,

Blagojevich announced that former state represen-tative Kurt Granberg would be the new chief of thestate’s Department of Natural Resources.

The announcement, which had been expectedfor months, appears to be an award forGranberg’s loyalty to Blagojevich. Granberg wasone of the governor’s few allies in the House, andhe resigned his House seat shortly before theimpeachment vote came before that chamber.Granberg didn’t run for re-election, so his “resig-nation” seemed aimed at avoiding a vote on theimpeachment.

Granberg also will benefit personally from theBlagojevich appointment. As a retired legislator,Granberg was eligible for an annual pension of$73,000, or 85 percent of his $85,900 legislativesalary. With his new job, his retirement will bebased on the higher salary, and he will be eligi-ble for a $113,280 annual pension with a 3 percentincrease each year.

The Carlyle Democrat will apparently receivethat pension bump, even if he’s only in the jobfor a short period of time. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn,who would take over if Blagojevich is removedfrom office, didn’t say he would dismissGranberg. But he said the Department of Natur-al Resources needed a professional at the top ofthe organization, not a retired politician.

Granberg said that while he didn’t take the jobfor the increased pension and he’s supportedefforts to keep ex-lawmakers from receiving simi-

lar pension bumps, he’d probably take the money.That should be enough to keep Granberg from

heading up the department. He avoided a crucialvote by resigning and showed bad judgmentwhen he accepted the appointment by animpeached governor and when he said he’daccept the higher pension. If Granberg reallywanted to serve the state as head of the Depart-ment of Natural Resources, he’d turn down theincreased paycheck.

There are other questions about whetherGranberg is the best choice to head up the depart-ment. Although he’s generally supported conser-vation issues during his time as a representative,Granberg’s sole vision for the departmentappears to be a “golf trail” in Southern Illinois.Other parts of the country have established golftrails, which promote courses in close proximity.

Shouldn’t the head of the Department of Nat-ural Resources also have a plan for hunting andfishing in the state? Or a plan to ensure parksstay open in this time of deep budget cuts?

Granberg is the third political appointee Blago-jevich has named to be head of the department.Democrat Joel Brunsvold headed the departmentfor Blagojevich until his retirement, and the act-ing director since then has been Sam Flood, whostarted in Blagojevich’s patronage office.

The Department of Natural Resources is anarea of state government that affects a greatmany taxpayers directly. The departmentdeserves a professional at its helm, not a retiredpolitician being rewarded with an increased pen-sion. The Senate should not confirm Granberg,and if Quinn becomes governor, he shouldremove him from office.

True colorsare shining

through“I hope he fails.” — Rush

LimbaughIt is, of course, a calculat-

ed outrage.Meaning, it was spewed by

a clown in the media circusto kick a familiar sequenceinto motion: angry denuncia-tion by bloggers, pundits andsupporters of PresidentObama (the “he” whose fail-ure is hoped), followed byLimbaugh refusing to retracta word, a courageous truthteller who will not be moved.

And, trailing behind, likethe folks with brooms trail theelephants in the circus parade,Limbaugh devotees, complain-ing that their hero has beenmisquoted, misunderstood orotherwise mistreated.

A calculated outrage.And knowing this, knowing

how frequently and adroitlymedia are manipulated byself-promoting media clownswho defame conservatism bycalling themselves conserva-tive, one is tempted to let thestatement pass, to make itsway unimpeded to the dust-bin like so many other manu-factured controversies. Butoccasionally, it’s necessaryto intercept one of them andhold it up to the light.

THIS IS ONE of those times.Not because what Limbaughsaid on his program a fewdays before the inaugurationwas an outrage — outrage isthe point, remember? — butrather, because of what thething he said says about himand his fellow clowns.

“I hope he fails.”Do you ever say that about

your president if you are anAmerican who loves yourcountry? Would you say itabout George W. Bush, whowas disastrous, about Bill Clin-ton, who was slimy, aboutJimmy Carter, who was inept,about Richard Nixon, who wascrooked? You may think he’sgoing to fail, yes. You maywarn he’s going to fail, yes.

But do you ever “hope” hefails? Knowing his failure isthe country’s failure? Isn’tthat, well ... disloyal?

The irony is that Lim-baugh and the other clownswould have you believe theyare bedrock defenders ofthis country, that they loveit more than the rest of us.

That’s a lie. Limbaughjust told us so, emphatically.

It’s not the country theylove. It’s the attention.

AN OBSERVER might point outthat it’s counterproductive togive them attention whiledecrying their love of atten-tion. But the clowns occasion-ally spew something that can-not, and ought not, be ignored.

Ideological division isnothing new to politics. Buthas ideology ever takenquite the seat of prominenceit now enjoys? Have peopleever been quite so prone toregard their ideologicalidentity as more importantthan their national identity?The last 30 years are rare inthat regard, if not unique.

“I hope he fails?!”So that, what? The defama-

tion of conservatism Lim-baugh represents will standvindicated? The Republicanswill pick up a few seats in themidterm election? Limbaugh“side” — his word — willscore points?

Is this only a game, then?No lives at stake, no futureon the line, no planet in thebalance? Just a game?

I hope he bricks this freethrow.

I hope he fumbles that pass.I hope he fails.And to hell with the coun-

try.THE COUNTRY doesn’t mat-

ter. The “side” does. Obama was elected in large

part on a promise to carrythe nation past anger, pastthe notion that either partyhas a monopoly on wisdom,past the belief that ideology isidentity. He was electedbecause people want a senseof mission that makes themfeel like Americans again.

If he is successful, Lim-baugh and the other clownswill face tough sledding in aradically different world.Small wonder he is so eagerto strangle this presidencyin its infancy. And need iteven be said?

I hope he fails.

[email protected]

OUR VIEWS












grievances.”

Tuesday,

January 27,

2009



Gary SawyerEditor



Granberg pick does disservice to state

READ LETTERS TO THEEDITOR ONLINE:


Political office is less and less all in the family

DAVID BRODER

LEONARD PITTS JR.

Economy puts pets

Real life options

Holding a career fair for

elementary students may

seem a bit like jumping the

gun, but Durfee Magnet

School teachers said they

hoped to give children a

wider variety of options to

think about now. Local A3

Failing gradesThe basic physical

backbone of American

society is barely above

failing, a report by top

engineers says, which

includes roads, public

transit, aviation, water and

sewage. Nation A5

Big Ten in fluxIn college basketball, a

sport that values

its stability, it

seems every

conference is

in a state of

perpetual transi-

tion. By design,

players come and go. But

anymore, coaches seem to

as well. Sports B1

Breakfast tipsT. Scott Gross will

explain how to stand out

as a business, not just be

outstanding, when he

speaks at the Decatur

Community Leaders

Breakfast. Decatur City

Manager Ryan McCrady is

the other scheduled

speaker. Money C1

Delivery: 421-6990

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WWW.HERALD-REVIEW.COM

‘Life is good’Tough Meridian team

steamrolls Central A&M/B1

JANUARY 28, 2009


Issue 28

Four sections

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: Partly sunnyTonight: Partly cloudy and cold

Details/B6

H I G H

24L O W

18

WEDNESDAY

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . C4-6Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5Dear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D2Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D5Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-5Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1,2Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D2Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . D3,4Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . C5,6Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-5Television . . . . . . . . . . . . D6

INDEX

Herald Review&

G RedoBusinesses push healthy hearts/D1

TOUGH TIMES

Senators hear wiretap recordingsFBI agent testifies in second day of theimpeachment trial


SPRINGFIELD — On the secondday of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’simpeachment trial, prosecutors gaveIllinois senators a review session onthe accusations that led to the gover-nor’s arrest last month, as well as ataste of the wiretap recordingsobtained by federal agents.

The governor’s arrest in Decemberled to his historic impeachment trialin the Illinois Senate.

The FBI agent who signed the affi-davit detail-ing federalcorruptionchargesagainstBlagojevichsaid Tuesdaythat he hadno doubt

wiretapped conversations recordedthe voice of the governor.

And later in the day, the IllinoisSenate, which is weighing whether to

remove Blagojevich from office, gotto hear some of those recordings.

Prosecutor David Ellis questionedagent Daniel Cain about the accura-cy of the criminal complaint used toarrest Blagojevich at his home lastmonth.

Ellis spent much of Tuesday morn-ing reading the accusations, pausingoccasionally to ask Cain if the docu-ment was “true and accurate.” Cainresponded diligently saying “yes” or“yes, it was.”

“This is a bit of a review for me, andI suspect for some of my colleagues,”

Shelters see an increase in owners forced to give up their animals

Herald & Review photos/Lisa Morrison

Courtney Pritchell, left, and Linda Clary hold an assortment of pets ready to be adopted from Homeward Bound. The strug-gling economy has shelters, especially no-kill shelters, filling with pets waiting for new homes. AT TOP: These puppies arepart of a litter of Labrador and boxer puppies waiting to be adopted at Homeward Bound.


DECATUR — The recent epidem-ic of economic woes has brought aflood of pets into local shelters,some with pedigrees normally asso-ciated with well-to-do owners.

“About 15 dogs and cats have comein the last few months from ownerswho have lost their homes from fore-closures or evictions,” said TeresaWeybright, manager of Macon Coun-ty Animal Control and Care Center,which holds about 250 pets. “Whenpeople lose homes, the animals areoften the first ones to pay.”

Weybright explained that somehomeowners who undergo foreclo-sures are unable to find rental prop-erties they can afford that also wel-come their animals.

“Many landlords will not allow

pets,” Weybright said. “Some land-lords will charge an additionaldeposit and even additional rent.”

At Homeward Bound Pet Shelter,a nonprofit center that holds about60 cats and dogs, there has been amarked increase of owners relin-quishing pets for economic reasons.

“In the last six months, we’veheard more than 10 times, ‘I just

can’t afford their care,’ ” said Court-ney Pritchett, the shelter’s leadtechnician.

Linda Clary, Homeward Boundshelter supervisor, said she hasbeen hearing that some people arerelinquishing their pets partlybecause they cannot afford the vet-erinary bills.

“You can average $300 a year innormal veterinary upkeep,” Clarysaid.

But she is optimistic about thechances of the Homeward Boundanimals to live up to the shelter’sname.

“I haven’t seen a huge downturnin adoptions,” Clary said, addingthat the shelter adopts out 750 ani-mals each year. “People in Decatur

Line worrieslocal, arealandownersQuestions of access,value arise at the firstAmerenIP open house


OREANA — Forever is a longtime.

And farmer Don Westermandoesn’t relish an endless futureof maneuvering lumbering com-bine harvesters and tractorsaround a long row of steelpower poles marching acrosshis property or bequeathingthat fate to his descendants.

Westerman came to look atwhat might be his family’s des-tiny Tuesday, when AmerenIPstaged an open house in theArgenta-Oreana ElementarySchool gym to show off its plansto build a new 345,000-volt powerline to serve Decatur.

The $15 million project pro-poses to run the eight-mile-longline from a substation near Ore-ana to an existing power linerunning east and west of Maroa;the new line will feed Decaturwith power generated by theClinton Power Station nuclearplant. Ameren says it could saveDecatur from being blacked outin the event a storm takes downthe existing main feeds fromClinton.

The exact route of the linehas still to be worked out, andAmeren is looking at an 81-square-mile box from west ofU.S. 51 to east of Oreana andjust north of Maroa. Wester-man, 71, who farms more than3,000 acres in that general area,said there is a good chancesome of his land will end up ona route for the new line.

“We buy all this big machin-ery and clear out fence rowsand try to buy the groundadjoining so we can be moreefficient as farmers,” he said.“And then they go and want toput these dang things in, and Idon’t care what they say aboutkeeping the weeds down: Whenthey put these things in yourbackyard, it’s up to you to main-tain it.”

Westerman, who visited theopen house with his wife, Elsie,also worries about the future ofhis land. What happens when heor a descendant wants to sell

Associated Press

FBI agent Daniel Cain testifies duringGov. Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment trialon the Senate floor.

Carportsbuckle under

a heavysheet of iceand damage

vehicles atShady Hollow

Apartmentsin Muskogee,

Okla.

Ice, snow storm rolls across country, knocking out powerAt least 19 deathsblamed on severewinter weather

By DANIEL SHEAAssociated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Treelimbs snapped with a sound likegunshots, blacking out thou-sands of homes and businesses,and schools and government

offices were closed Tuesday asa major storm spread a glazeof ice and snow from the south-ern Plains to the East Coast.

At least 19 deaths had beenblamed on the weather.

Highway crews fought tokeep up with slippery roadsand, in some places, wereblocked by fallen tree limbsand power lines. Ice had builtup 3 inches thick in sections ofArkansas and Oklahoma.

The National Weather Ser-vice posted ice and winterstorm warnings Tuesday alonga broad swath from Texas andOklahoma through the Missis-sippi and Ohio valleys, all theway into northern New Eng-land. Radar showed smears ofsnow and freezing rain stretch-ing from Texas to Pennsylvaniaduring the evening.

TRIAL/A2

down and out

TO HELP

n Macon County Animal Control and

Care Center, 2820 Parkway Drive, just

south of Caterpillar Inc., 425-4508.

Some of the animals mentioned in

this story may no longer be available

n Homeward Bound Pet Shelter, 1720

Huston Drive, 876-1266.

PETS/A2 LINE/A2

Associated Press STORM/A2

n Next in lineLieutenant governor

would inheirit state’sbudget mess, but he’snot moving in yet.

Story/A3

STORMContinued from A1

Broken tree limbs weighteddown by ice crashed ontopower lines, cutting serviceto at least 165,000 homes andbusinesses in hard-hitArkansas, utilities said.

“I think we are about to goover the cliff,” said Mel Cole-man, CEO of the NorthArkansas Electric Coopera-tive in Salem.

Arkansas utilities warnedcustomers that their powercould be out for at least threedays.

“We fully expect this to beone of the largest outages

we’ve ever had,” said Coleman.“Right now, we’re just hopingit’s days and not weeks.”

Kentucky state officialsreported more than 80,000customers with no electricity,as ice up to 1.5 inches thickbroke tree limbs.

“You hear the popping — itsounded like gunfire — andit’s limbs from trees break-ing,” said Hopkins County,Ky., Judge-Executive DonaldCarroll, who was among thosewith no power. He said crewsin his western Kentucky coun-ty were busy trying to clearbroken branches from roads.

“It’s a serious situation,”said Kentucky TransportationSecretary Joe Prather. “Our

crews are working nonstop,but the snow in many areasis falling faster than we canclear, so it will take time tomake headway.”

Emergency shelters wereset up in several westernKentucky communities.

About 25,000 customerswere blacked out in Okla-homa as temperatures hov-ered in the teens and 20s.More than 42,000 outageswere reported in southernand eastern Missouri.

“Lines are still breaking,”John Campbell, operationschief for Missouri’s Emer-gency Management Agency,said Tuesday night. “All thereports we are getting is they

are losing the battle rightnow just because precipita-tion is still falling.”

Kentucky Gov. SteveBeshear declared a statewideemergency Tuesday; Okla-homa Gov. Brad Henry didthe same Monday.

Hundreds of public schools,colleges and universitiescalled off classes Tuesday inparts of Arkansas, Okla-homa, Ohio, Indiana, Ken-tucky, Illinois, Missouri andMaryland.

“Playing in the snow ispretty much the thing to dotoday,” said student SarahBonham at Marshall Univer-sity in Huntington, W.Va.

Every county reported

school closings in West Vir-ginia, where snow on hillyroads changed to sleet andrain in places. As much as 6inches of snow fell in someareas.

TRIALContinued from A1said state Sen. Dale Righter,R-Mattoon.

Senators heard for the firsttime Tuesday afternoonrecordings of phone conver-sations between Blagojevichand his former chief of staff,Lon Monk.

Prosecutors allege the con-versations show Blagojevichsetting up a plan to get cam-paign contributions inexchange for his signature onhorse racing legislation.

“I’m telling you, he’s gonnabe good for it. I got in hisface,” Monk said on the tapes.

“Okay, good,” Blagojevichresponded.

There was scant detail inthe recordings, but senatorslistened closely as Blagoje-vich’s voice could be heardfrom the Senate speakers.

“I certainly felt, as most ofthe colleagues did, that itwas not a pleasant conversa-tion to hear,” said state Sen.Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.

The recordings were highlyanticipated, but Ellis in largepart stuck to the contents ofthe complaint.

It accuses Blagojevich of,among other things, trying totrade President Obama’s for-mer U.S. Senate seat for per-sonal gain and attempting toget campaign donations inexchange for his signature onthe horse racing measure.

While reading for abouttwo hours, Ellis avoided pro-fanity alleged in Blagoje-vich’s wiretapped conversa-tions, substituting “blank” ora shortened version of partic-ular words.

Cain said FBI agents knewBlagojevich’s voice becausehe’s a public figure. Cain saidthey also were sure it washim because it was hisphones that were bugged,and the context of conversa-tions made it clear Blagoje-vich was on the line.

“We were very confident itwas the governor’s voice inthose conversations,” Cainsaid.

Blagojevich has deniedwrongdoing, but he againskipped his trial and, there-fore, failed to defend himselfin court.

Instead, while the Senate

conducted its second day ofhearings, the Chicago Democ-rat embarked on a second dayof national media appear-ances in New York City.

State Sen. Dale Risinger,R-Peoria, said it wasn’t sur-prising that the governor wasspending time on TV inter-views rather than in Spring-field.

But, Risinger said, the gov-ernor wasn't doing himselfany favors.

“Obviously, he’s hurtinghimself in the Senate by notbeing here,” Risinger said.

For their part, senatorsasked Cain questions, tryingto figure out who else wasinvolved in the investigationinto Blagojevich and whatsome of the other recordedphone conversations mightreveal.

But Cain rebuffed nearlyevery question, saying he was-n’t authorized to say becauseBlagojevich’s criminal case isongoing. Some senators foundthat frustrating.

“Very much so,” said stateSen. Frank Watson, R-Greenville. “But we under-stand, I guess, the criminal

case takes precedent.”Some lawmakers have been

generally critical of Blagoje-vich in their comments out-side the Senate chamber, per-haps indicating that Blagoje-vich might not fare well in aneventual vote.

The Senate gets to decide,perhaps this week, whetherBlagojevich should remain inoffice. In fact, the governor,in his media appearances,has said he expects he’ll losehis job.

Some senators, though, say

they’re reserving judgment.

“I do not make my mind

up till we’re done,” said state

Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton.

Kurt Erickson and Jason Nevel con-

tributed to this article;

[email protected]|789-0865.

Etc.What’s in the Sky? Mini Camp,

1 p.m., Rock Springs Nature Cen-ter, Decatur, $10. Reservationsrequired. For ages 3 and 4. 423-7708.

MusicCountry Idol, 6:30 p.m., AIW

Hall, Decatur.Interval: Small Potatoes, noon,

Krannert Center Lobby, Urbana.Free. 333-6280.

Sherban Lupu, violin withEnescu Ensemble, 7:30 p.m.,Krannert Center Foellinger GreatHall, Urbana, $4 to $10. 333-6280.

NightlifeAll Request DJ, 8 p.m., Rad-

maker’s Rock N Roll Tavern. 485-3531.

Karaoke, 8:30 p.m., Breakers,

Clinton.Open Mike Night, 8 p.m.,

Block’s Brewery, Decatur.On Stage

Worldfest, 12:30 to 4 p.m., Uni-versity of Illinois Spurlock Museum,Urbana, $5 donation. 333-2360.

HealthBlood Pressure Checks, 11

a.m., Charleston Area Senior Cen-ter, Charleston, Free. 348-5355 or234-3311.

Blood Pressure Screening,10:30 to 11 a.m., Clay City Commu-nity Building, Clay City.

Flu Shot Clinic, 1 to 3:30 p.m.,Macon County Health Department,Decatur. $25, $10. Medicare Part Baccepted. 423-6988, ext. 1333.

Immunization Clinic, 9 a.m. to 6p.m., Effingham County HealthDepartment, Effingham. 342-9237.

Pre-Postnatal Aerobics, ,Decatur Family YMCA, Decatur,6:40 to 7:40 p.m. 872-9622.



Tuberculosis Clinic and Testing,7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Macon CountyHealth Department, Decatur. Medic-aid or $10 each test. 423-1472.

MeetingsAll States Bowling, 9:15 a.m.,

Spare Time Lanes, Decatur, 877-0764.

Business Network Internation-al, 11:30 a.m., Decatur Conference

Center and Hotel, Decatur, 420-8714.

Decatur Area Education Coali-tion, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Madden ArtsCenter, Decatur. Kindergarten readi-ness data meeting. 429-3000.

Decatur Day Quilters Guild, 10p.m., Soy Capital Bank, Decatur.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon,Scovill Banquet Facility, Decatur.

Golden K Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m.,Scovill Banquet Room, Decatur.

Mount Zion Chamber Board, 4p.m., Mount Zion Village Hall,Mount Zion.


Citizen, Fitness Class, 10 a.m.,Bunco, 1 p.m., Decatur, 429-1239.

Johns Hill Center, CeramicsClass, 1 to 4 p.m., Decatur, 429-7750.

Salvation Army, CeramicsGroup, 8 a.m. to noon, Decatur.

Mattoon YMCA, Mattoon AreaSenior Center Tai-Chi Classes,10:30 a.m.,Mattoon, $40per month,$30 forYMCA mem-bers.

BarclayPublicLibrary,Senior Citi-zens Day,9:30 a.m.,Warrensburg. Special program, freecopies up to $1, classes and Inter-net help. 672-3621.

Support GroupsAlcoholics Anonymous, 5:30

p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church,Decatur. 521-7205 or 855-8312.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m.,First Presbyterian Church, Tay-

lorville, 824-3028 or 824-3676.Autism Society Parent Support

Group, 7:15 p.m., The Autism Pro-ject, Springfield, 1-877-311-7703.

Choices, 4:30 p.m., Dove Inc.,DeWitt County office, Clinton. 935-6072.

Drug/Alcohol Education, DoveInc., Decatur, 1:30 and 5 p.m. 428-6616.

Narcotics Anonymous, noon,AFFAS, 2520 E. William St.,Decatur, 1-800-539-0475.

Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m.,Westminster Presbyterian Church,Decatur, 1-800-539-0475.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 5:15to 6:30 p.m., Unity Church, Decatur,358-4222.

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PETSContinued from A1are some of the most givingpeople.”

For those who are seekingpets, the good news is thatthere are some available atthe shelters that may be pur-chased for a fraction of thecost on the open market.

“There are a lot of purebreddogs in here,” said Weybright,as she begins a tour of theMacon County facility. “I havetwo beautiful German shep-herds in here. One is totallyhouse-trained, too.”

There also is a Welsh corgi,which Weybright believes ispurebred, that was picked upby animal control in theForsyth area.

“We have a lot of fantasticanimals in here right now,”Weybright said, adding that aPersian and two declawedSiamese cats are available.

Of course, not all animalsleave their families because ofeconomic woes.

“We get a lot of animalsfrom seniors who go intonursing homes,” Weybrightsaid. “Every animal in everyshelter has a sad story orthey would have a family, theywould have a home.”

Lucy, a reddish Labradorretriever mixed breed, about 3years old, has been at theshelter since June.

“She is the sweetest dog,”Weybright said. “Her ownershad to move for economic rea-sons. She is already spayed.All she needs is a rabies shot,and she can go home.”

A purebred, 3-year-oldchocolate and white Brittanyspaniel named Sparkle hasrecently arrived at the shelter.

“She’s a very gentle, lovingdog,” Weybright said, addingthat she is housebroken andextremely good with people.“She barks when she wants togo outside.”

A light-colored, 1-year-oldAmerican foxhound stands inhis cage, poised to get out andgo for a run.

“He’s fast, almost like agreyhound,” Weybright said.“He’s a hunter. When he’s out-side, his nose is to the ground.”

To adopt this purebred dogat the shelter would cost $94or $144, depending on itsweight. That includes neuter-ing, a rabies vaccination,other veterinary care and amicrochip. Breeders arecharging about $250 to $350 forpuppies of the same breed.

American bulldog puppiessell for about $800, but theDecatur shelter has taken in a2-year-old male that would becontent to go home with anowner who does not have thatkind of money.

“He’s an unbelievable dog,”Weybright said of the largewhite animal with brown spotsand a pink snout that sits per-fectly quiet in his enclosure.

But Weybright, who hasworked at the shelter for 21/2years, believes his attitudewill turn around quickly ifsomeone takes him home.

“Within a week, he wouldbe the best dog ever,” shesaid. “He would be so appre-ciative that someone came tolove him.”


LINEContinued from A1one day? “How attractive will the landbe if it’s got these wires?” he asked.

AmerenIP, which offered free cook-ies and coffee at the four-hour openhouse, did its best to make the atmos-phere a little less electric. Companyrepresentatives said the steel poleswould occupy a very small footprint,and farmers can farm right up to thebase of them. Landowners will beoffered one-time compensation pay-ments based on the value of theirland, which the company is willing tohave assessed. Easement payments

typically work out at about 50 percentof the cost to buy a portion of theland outright.

At the end of the day, AmerenIPcould take off its velvet gloves anduse legal action to force owners tosurrender an easement, but the com-pany has stressed that it wants toavoid confrontation and play fair.

“We’ll hire an appraiser to do amarket study,” said Roger Nelson,real estate supervisor for AmerenIllinois utilities.

“We might have agricultural land,we might have commercial, we mighthave residential. We know we’ve gotto value all those differently; youcan’t just put one blanket value on all

of that,” he added.The company had charts and dia-

grams explaining the new line andeven brought in samples of the wiringand insulators. Other charts outlinedthe lengthy process to get the newline approved by the Illinois Com-merce Commission, which regulatesthe power industry.

After Tuesday, another open housemeeting in March or April will lookat the development of proposed alter-native routes for the line, and a thirdround of meetings in August or Sep-tember will present two or possiblythree route choices. When the finalroute selection is made in the fall, theIllinois Commerce Commission could

then take 12 to 18 months to decidewhether it will approve the project.

Oreana resident Leon Jackson, 50,isn’t sure yet whether he’ll join thenot-in-my-backyard group or if hecan live with the line. But he isn’tkidding about his backyard: His homeis about 1,000 feet from the Oreanasubstation. He told AmerenIP hedoesn’t want the new poles impedingaccess to his property and said he’sgoing to write his concerns on a formhe was given to fill out.

On the question of whether a newline is needed, he can see the powercompany might have a point. “Every-body needs a backup,” he said.


Herald & Review/Lisa Morrison

Bud is at Homeward Boundbecause his owner died. Heobeys commands well and hasbeen trained to shake hands.

Associated Press photos

One of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s quotes is displayed as evidence during the second day of hisimpeachment trial in the Illinois Senate. Senators listened to secretly recorded conversations inwhich Blagojevich appears to talk about pressuring people for campaign donations.

SPRINGFIELD — Daythree of the Senate impeach-ment trial of Gov. RodBlagojevich will move awayfrom allegations of corrup-tion and into his controver-sial management of stategovernment.

After spending Tuesdayhearing about the federalcorruption case pendingagainst the governor, sena-tors who are to decide hispolitical future will listen totestimony from state offi-cials that Blagojevich over-stepped his authority on poli-cy and budget issues.

Auditor General WilliamHolland is set to testifyabout the governor’s plan to

import flu vaccine fromoverseas in violation of fed-eral law.

The botched plan was criti-cized because the $2.6 millioncontract to purchase the vac-cine wasn’t inked until threeweeks after the agreementwas reached. The vaccinelater was donated to Pakistan,which eventually destroyed itbecause it had expired.

Also on tap is testimonyfrom the Joint Committee onAdministrative Rules. Blago-jevich came under fire fortrying to ignore the legisla-tive panel when he tried toexpand state health insur-ance programs.

— KURT ERICKSON

Day three to focus onstate management

Lawmakertestifies onpay-to-playallegationsSPRINGFIELD — The 59

senators who will decideGov. Rod Blagojevich’s polit-ical future heard Tuesdayfrom a member of the Illi-nois House regarding pay-to-play allegations that havedogged the governor’sadministration.

As part of the evidencebeing gathered in the Senateimpeachment trail, state Rep.Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet,outlined the governor’s rela-tionship with Ali Ata andJoseph Cari.

Rose, an attorney, testifiedbefore the Senate because heserved on the 21-memberHouse impeachment commit-tee. As a member of thatpanel, he was familiar withthe evidence used earlier thismonth to help deliver a 117-1vote in the House to impeachthe governor.

Ata was given a $127,000state job as head of the Illi-nois Finance Authority afterhe contributed to Blagoje-vich’s campaign fund.

Cari, a former DemocraticNational Committee financechairman, testified in a federalcorruption trial that the gover-nor offered him state businessif he helped Blagojevich raisemoney on a national level.

Both men have pleadedguilty in connection with cor-ruption in state government.

Rose will be back on thestand this morning answeringquestions from senators abouthis testimony.

— KURT ERICKSON

AUDIO AND TRANSCRIPTS: www.herald-review.com

LocalHerald&Review

A3BRIEFS


Wednesday, January 28, 2009

News from Central IllinoisChronic kids

Students with persistent illnesses learn to cope during

school/Thursday


DECATUR

Autopsy on gunshot deathAn autopsy Tuesday at Memorial

Medical Center in Springfield found

a 54-year-old Decatur man’s cause

of death was massive destructive

brain trauma from a single gunshot

wound to the head.

The man was discovered Monday

morning in a garage in the 1000

block of East Pearl Street by a ten-

ant of a nearby building who noticed

a door standing open and went to

investigate.

Macon County Coroner Michael E.

Day said because of family consider-

ations, the man’s identity was not

being released. He said toxicology

screening and related medical stud-

ies were under way.

The investigation by Decatur

police and coroner’s office is contin-

uing, and the death has not been

classified as a homicide or suicide,

Day said.

DECATUR

Feed the ChildrenMaranatha Assembly of God is

hosting a Feed the Children program

from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31.

There will be 400 boxes of food and

other miscellaneous items provided

free to the public.

You must have a ticket to qualify

to receive the food and other

items. Tickets are available at the

information desk in the foyer at the

church, 555 W. Imboden Drive, or

for more information, call 423-

2452.

The program is sponsored by

Archer Daniels Midland Co., in con-

junction with Feed the Children.

FORSYTH

Personal care assistantThe Education and Training Cen-

ter in Hickory Point Mall will offer a

personal care assistant workshop

from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan.

31, conducted by Alpha Care Health

Professionals. Call 876-7100.

GED registration is 10 a.m. every

Monday and 5 p.m. every Tuesday.

Classes are free. Call 875-0061.

CERRO GORDO

Lincoln birthday partyHope Welty Public Library will hold

a birthday celebration Thursday, Feb.

5, for former President Abraham Lin-

coln. Actors will portray Lincoln and

his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.

The party starts at 6 p.m. Guests

will be served ice cream and cake

and have a chance to speak with the

Lincolns.

DECATUR

Free Children’s Museum dayWal-Mart is sponsoring a free day

at the Children’s Museum of Illinois

from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday,

Jan. 31. Free activities include face

painting, make-and-take museum

slime, art, story time and visits to the

Starlab Mobile Planetarium. Call

423-5437.

DECATUR

Microsoft Word seminarA two-day seminar on using

Microsoft Word will be 5:30 to 8:45

p.m. Monday and Wednesday, Feb.

9 and 11, at Richland Community

College’s Hope Academy Center,

1050 E. Sangamon St. Cost is $30.

Call Diana Watts, 421-6565.

DECATUR

Balloons aid Relay for LifePink or red Valentine’s Day bal-

loon bouquets are available from

Donna Munson, Area One Realtors

to benefit the American Cancer Soci-

ety Relay for Life.

Bouquet cost is $10 for small and

$20 for large, plus $2.50 delivery

free. Call 872-9000.

MOUNT PULASKI

‘Cast-Iron Tombstone Trial’“The Abraham Lincoln Cast-Iron

Tombstone Trial,” a re-creation of a

historical trial, will be 2 p.m. Sunday,

Feb. 8, in the upstairs courtroom of

the Mount Pulaski Courthouse State

Historic Site.

Admission is free, but donations

will be requested. Front-row tickets

may be reserved for $5 by calling

792-5442. Seating is limited.

Quinn would inherit state’s budget messSenate impeachmenttrial of governor couldwrap up this week


SPRINGFIELD — If Gov. RodBlagojevich is convicted by thestate Senate and removed fromoffice, the transition of power isdesigned to be virtually seamless.

Under the Illinois Constitution,Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn automaticallybecomes the state’s 41st governor ifBlagojevich is ousted, but he wouldnot be able to execute the powers ofchief executive until he signs a for-mal oath of office.

That document likely is preparedand ready to be forwarded to Quinnfrom the Illinois Attorney General’sOffice.

The possibility of Quinn becom-ing governor in thecoming days contin-ues to loom overstate government asmembers of the Illi-nois Senate hear tes-timony in Blagoje-vich’s impeachmenttrial.

With the governorchoosing to spend his

time on television talk shows inNew York City rather than defend-ing himself in Springfield, somesenators have said the proceedingscould be wrapped up by week’s end.

“I think probably Thursday,maybe Friday,” said state Sen. DanCronin, R-Elmhurst.

Even Blagojevich has said hebelieves the Senate will convicthim.

Under the state constitution,Quinn wouldn’t have to be formallysworn into office by a judge butcould choose to do so as a ceremo-nial gesture.

Quinn, who has been monitoringthe trial, contends he’s ready tolead the state.

“By virtue of being lieutenantgovernor, he’s prepared to be gover-nor,” spokesman Bob Reed saidTuesday.

Quinn is not yet publicly identify-ing specific initiatives he will tackleif he becomes governor. Reed said it

would be presumptuous to beginmaking such plans while Blagoje-vich remains as governor.

But it’s clear the economy willplay a key role in the early days ofa Quinn administration.

Not only would he oversee anyfederal dollars that could come tothe state via an economic stimuluspackage, but he will inherit a mas-sive backlog of bills that, at thestart of the year, was estimated at$1.9 billion by the comptroller’soffice after the state took out a $1.4billion loan to speed up payments.

The budget deficit also could beas much as $2 billion, according toestimates from the governor’soffice at the beginning of the year.


Quinn

LEARNING ABOUT JOBS


Durfee Magnet School student Breshauna Cliff looks at her classmates with a smile as she begins a magic trick withDecatur Fire Marshal Lyle Meador and his friend Sherlock Bones, as Quincey Murray watches. Meador and other pro-fessionals were taking part in the school’s career fair.

Within reachBy VALERIE WELLS

H&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — Kids who con-stantly get scolded for talking toomuch, take heart.

“My dad used to ask me, ‘Doyou ever shut up?’ ” said TaraNickerson, station manager forthe Cromwell Radio Group thatincludes WEJT, WZNX, WZUS andWYDS in Decatur. She also does amorning show with Tim Dudley onWEJT (105.1 FM, Decatur).

Her job involves a lot of talkingto thousands of listeners every day,she told students at Durfee MagnetSchool, where she was one of sev-eral speakers for Career Day.

That’s not the only skill sheneeds to do her job. She writescommercials and looks after thebusiness of the stations, too.

“My alarm rings at 3:30 in themorning,” she told students.“Luckily, when I get up at 3:30, I’mlooking forward to going to my

job. Not everyone can say that.”Holding a career fair for ele-

mentary students may seem a bitlike jumping the gun, but teacherSusan Barnes, who organized it,said the faculty hoped to give chil-dren a wider variety of options tothink about now.

“They say, ‘I’m going to be anNBA basketball player’ or ‘I’mgoing to be an actress,’ and someof them might,” Barnes said. “This(career fair) is more realistic.”

The teachers chose people withcareers the students would findinteresting but also within reach.Among the speakers, in addition toNickerson, were employees ofAmerenIP, a forestry worker andLyle Meador, a firefighter.

With the young children, Meadorsaid, he tailors his talk more tofire prevention and stories aboutcalls he’s been on, using a puppetfor the little ones and magic tricksto entertain the older students. He

wants children to realize fightingfires isn’t all firefighters do.

“We never know what we’regoing to have to do,” he said.

When someone calls 911 and it’snot a police matter, it’s firefight-ers who are dispatched to answer.They answer medical emergencycalls, assist with car crashes, andonce they rescued a pet lizard whohad gone up a tree.

Career day was a success as faras Kenyatte Brown is concerned.Fourth grade is none too young tobe thinking about a career, hesaid. He already knows he wantsto be an educator, specifically aschool principal.

Classmate Zaria DeBerry is stilldeciding, but she’s narrowed itdown.

“I want to be a doctor,” she said.“If I can’t be a doctor, I’ll be ateacher.”


Durfee Magnet School students get peek at career possibilities

City of Decatur touts new Web site, online accessibilityBy KENNETH LOWE

H&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — The city governmentunveiled a new Web site Tuesdaywith an easier-to-remember URLand some new features to aid thosewho want to stay on top of the citycouncil’s business.

“This is the first of many steps weare taking to improve our communi-cations with the citizens of Decatur,”City Manager Ryan McCrady said.

The new site at www.decaturil.govfeatures a redesigned look, with idyl-lic photographs of local sites over atranquil blue background. The frontpage has a news feed and regularlyupdated weekly features.

City council bios and departmentalcontact information are available, aswell as a listing of property demoli-tion court cases containing con-demned properties and their owners.

Residents also can view past citycouncil meeting videos and get avideo breakdown of the agenda ofupcoming meetings. An online mapof the city, called the Decatur DigitalAtlas, is available that can display

different layersto mark neigh-borhood bound-aries or highlightroads and rail-ways, amongmany others.

McCrady saidhe hopes the sitewill give a posi-

tive impression to families and busi-nesses considering relocation to theDecatur area.

“I am especially excited about ourcustomer service survey that is avail-able with this new Web site,”McCrady said. “It is the first achieve-

ment toward an improved customerservice initiative for city govern-ment, and I hope citizens utilize thesurvey to give us valuable feedbackon how we are performing.”

Residents also are given a means tocontact the mayor, city manager, coun-cil members and police and fire chiefs.Information also is available shouldcitizens wish to commend or complainabout the conduct of police officers.

The site’s unveiling comes during arecent push on the part of city staff tobring public information into theonline era. The city recently startedup its own YouTube channel atwww.youtube.com/accessdecatur andalso put together a cable TV stationcalled ACCESSDecatur on channel 18.

City staff said more Web site fea-tures are scheduled to become activein the coming weeks.


Education

coalition

hires new

directorBy THERESA CHURCHILL

H&R Senior Writer

DECATUR — The DecaturArea Education Coalition haschosen a native of El Paso,Texas, as its second executivedirector.

Irma Brooks,director for thepast two yearsof MagnetSchools andSmaller Learn-ing Communi-ties with theYsleta Indepen-dent SchoolDistrict in ElPaso, startswork Monday in Decatur.

Her husband Gary Brooks,who retired in December as alongtime professor of educa-tional leadership at the Uni-versity of Texas at El Paso, isa graduate of Millikin Univer-sity and served as dean ofmen at Millikin in 1967 and1968.

“I was hungry for achange,” Brooks said in atelephone interview from heroffice in El Paso. “I’m lookingforward to working witheveryone there to improve thequality of education for allchildren in Macon County.”

Brooks replaces Barb Beck,a former operations managerfor AmerenIP, who resignedJuly 28 after four monthsleading the coalition becauseof a change in her jobdescription.

“Irma is a standout in manyways,” said Lucy Murphy,executive director of the Com-munity Foundation ofDecatur/Macon County.“She’s a highly qualified edu-cator and a successful leaderof community/school initia-tives that make sure studentssucceed in careers and higherlearning.”

Brooks works closely withthe community in her cur-rent job to help ensure stu-dents at 11 middle schoolsand seven high schools go onto succeed in a job or col-lege.

She previously served asexecutive director of the Rad-ford School in El Paso, theoldest private pre-K through12th grade school in Texas,and has a doctorate in educa-tional leadership and adminis-tration from the University ofTexas at El Paso.

The foundation organizedthe education coalition inOctober 2007 after 13Decatur leaders and ArcherDaniels Midland Co. split thecost of a $2 million endow-ment fund to match dona-tions 1 to 2.

The coalition’s goal is tomake the Decatur area one ofthe most educated communi-ties in Illinois by making surepreschoolers are ready forkindergarten, students per-form at grade level and everyhigh school graduate has theskills to succeed.


Brooks

THE

NET

n www.decaturil.gov n www.youtube.com/accessdecatur

I do not know what ultimately per-suaded Caroline Kennedy to withdrawher name from consideration for theU.S. Senate.

Maybe it was something about taxesor a housekeeper, the two rumors that

seem to havethe most“juice” as Iwrite this. Tobe honest, Idon’t care. AllI know is thatit’s too bad. Ibelieve shewould havebeen a won-derful senator— committed,

compassionate and inspirational. Ibelieve we desperately need morewomen like her, women of stature,women who command attention, whocould do and be anything in the worldbut choose public service.

I am certain she isn’t perfect. I amcertain that if you dig long and hardenough, you would find mistakes ofsome sort.

The sad part is that it should, would,did disqualify her from doing what shemight have done to help people andinspire a generation of women — girlstoday — to walk in her footsteps.

I DO NOT begrudge her the decisionshe made. At a time when the processof “vetting” people for public officehas mushroomed into 100-page ques-tionnaires that few people who havelived outside a convent could pass, itnever surprises me when a high-pro-

file person takes their name out ofcontention. What is surprising, in away, is when they don’t.

Tim Geithner, Treasury secretarydesignate, has some unpaid tax prob-lems, as well. He is, presumably, some-thing of an expert in tax matters. Thereis an even better case, as to him, thathe should have known better. I have nodoubt his taxes will be paid (theyalready have been) and the “delinquen-cy,” if that’s what it was, will haveabsolutely no impact on his fulfillmentof his official responsibilities. But Ihave to wonder whether he would havebeen picked in the first place if the taxproblems had been known then. Some-how, I doubt it. Too bad.

I DON’T THINK I know anybody who hasnever done anything wrong. I don’tthink I know anyone who has nevermade a mistake, had one made as tothem or trusted someone they should-n’t have. Some of these people, luckilyfor them and us, go on to become pres-ident. Some of them are forced to giveup their dreams. Usually, it has moreto do with how they “handle” the mis-take, whether they succeed in gettingout front of it and spinning it awaybefore it blows up in their face.

Both George W. Bush and BarackObama became president notwith-standing admissions of drug and alco-hol use. Doug Ginsburg was denied aseat on the Supreme Court because hewas witnessed smoking marijuana at aparty. Zoe Baird was denied the top jobat Justice because she didn’t pay SocialSecurity for her housekeeper. KimbaWood was denied the same seat, even

though she did; as a matter of fact, shewas the one who taught me how to do itand explained to me why it would be soimportant to the recipient in the futureto have the Social Security paid in. Myhousekeeper will be retiring in a fewyears, and she can thank Wood for thefact that she will receive full benefits.But somehow, it cost Wood the joblawyers spend a lifetime dreaming of. Ican’t even remember why.

KENNEDY WILL be just fine. She will go onto work for the causes she cares about,to be a loving wife and mother andcousin and aunt to her family. But whena little girl walks into the gallery of theUnited States Senate, she will have ahard time recognizing anyone who lookslike her as she looks down on the assem-bled senators. There are strong andsmart women there, but none who wouldinspire in that little girl the same dreamKennedy could inspire, none who willmake her feel, as Obama today makescountless young African-Americans feel,that they can do anything, and nothingthey could do matters more than servingtheir fellow Americans.

I wanted Kennedy to serve in theSenate, not because she deserves thejob more than any other contender —doubtless, there are others who haveworked harder to be there — or becauseshe knows the issues better. I wantedher to serve because her very presenceon that floor, the presence of a womanwho has throughout my life been largerthan life, might inspire so many othergirls to dream the sort of dream ourcountry’s future depends upon.

www.creators.com

Unwanted pets do notbelong in the garbage

I recently received a call from afriend saying someone had dumped asmall teacup poodle down by the dam.It was in a small crate, no hair, blindand hardly any teeth.

Its owner apparently did not wantthe dog any longer and decided todump it with the rest of the garbage.The dog was left to die in freezing tem-peratures. I am reminding people thatthere is no need for this type of cruel-ty. If you cannot care for an animal,please contact the Macon County Ani-mal Care and Control Center, south ofCaterpillar Inc. on Parkway Drive.They will take unwanted animals andtreat them in the proper fashion, get-ting them medical help and findingthem a kind and caring family. No ani-mal is ever turned away. No one shouldhave to die alone in the cold.

Please report animal cruelty or wel-fare checks to 425-4508. If someone isabusing an animal, chances are itdoesn’t stop there.

Shelley PhillipsDecatur

Steve Daniels would makea strong mayor for Decatur

It appears Decatur will have twochoices for mayor in the coming elec-tion. I think it is important that peopleget to know the candidates very wellbefore they make a choice.

I have known Steve Daniels since wewent to Eisenhower High Schooltogether during the 1970s in Decatur’sgood days. At that time, Danielsworked at Tolly’s Markets, his family’sgrocery stores. He graduated from Mil-likin in accounting, earned a CPA andworked as an executive and chieffinancial officer for large and smallcompanies all over the United States.

Daniels returned to Decatur, gotmarried, expanded his family andbecame involved in local growth-ori-ented policies. He re-establishedfriendships with many and has beenoutspoken about trying new ideas tomake Decatur better.

While his detractors focus on sillythings, his calls for economic growth,lower taxes, safer neighborhoods andbetter schools are the keys toDecatur’s future. He says regularlythat he believes Decatur should getgrowing again. We can learn fromother cities and apply their best prac-tices here.

I know Daniels is committed to mak-ing Decatur better, and he will be astrong advocate for our city and allwho live here. I hope others get toknow him. He will make a strongmayor for Decatur.

Holly MowryDecatur


A4

LETTERS


FAX:421-7965

PHONE:421-6979

or 421-7980



Box 311,


E-MAIL:ddawson@

herald-review.com

WHEN THE Illinois Senate opened its historictrial over whether to remove the governor fromoffice, where was Rod Blagojevich?

Talking to Barbara Walters, Geraldo Rivera,Larry King and Diane Sawyer.

If that doesn’t make sense, you must be new toIllinois.

Blagojevich, who will most likely be removedfrom office by the end of the week, decided totake his show on the road. He started with anews conference Friday in Chicago, then appear-ances on “Good Morning America,” “The View”and “Larry King Live” on Monday. The mediablitz continued Tuesday.

The governor didn’t appear on Judge Judy, butshe undoubtedly would find his complaints with-out merit.

Blagojevich is complaining that the Senatetrial rules are not fair. He wants to be able to callwitnesses, such as President Barack Obama’schief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, mentioned in thefederal case against him. Blagojevich said that’sthe only way he can prove he wasn’t trying to sellObama’s Senate seat, although he’s captured onFBI tapes talking about how much he can gainfrom appointing someone to the seat.

Blagojevich also said the impeachment is polit-ically motivated. He claims Lt. Gov. Pat Quinnand other Democratic leaders want him out ofthe way so they can raise taxes. He said Republi-cans want a tax increase so they can use itagainst the Democrats in the next election.

The governor also has mixed in some oddmetaphors: comparing the situation to a cowboymovie and himself to Nelson Mandela, MartinLuther King Jr. and Ghandi.

When he avoids those insane comparisons,Blagojevich’s complaints can sound credible.Until you look at the facts.

The impeachment trial rules were determinedby a Senate committee and are largely drawnfrom the U.S. Senate rules when it tried Presi-dent Clinton. Blagojevich or his lawyers had achance to be involved in setting the rules butnever said a word.

In addition, both sides are restricted on whothey can call as witnesses. We’re sure there areplenty of witnesses involved in the federal casewho would have a lot to say about Blagojevich’sactions.

It also is possible that the state will imposesome sort of tax increase this session. That’sbecause Blagojevich and his fellow Democratshaven’t taken care of the budget business cor-rectly for the past six years. The state is in sucha dire financial straits right now that a taxincrease may be the only way out.

The governor could have been in Springfieldthis week, defending himself against thesecharges. But he, along with his lawyers, decidednot to mount a defense. Instead, he’s decided tolaunch a media campaign complaining he’s thevictim. That’s fitting for a governor who has con-sistently proven he’s more interested in publicitythan actually governing the state.

Blagojevich treating the impeachment triallike a criminal trial is a smokescreen. The Sen-ate impeachment trial is about whether the gov-ernor is fit to serve as the leader of the state.

Maybe that’s why the governor isn’t defendinghimself. The evidence that he is no longer fit toserve this state is overwhelming.

Left-wingmedia is

taking a hitThere is much irony in the

fact that while liberals havewon power in Washington,big time, left-wing media arecollapsing all over the place.In the last couple of weeks,the Seattle Post-Intelli-gencer, the Minneapolis StarTribune and the mother ofall liberal publications, TheNew York Times, each hasissued SOS announcements.

The Seattle paper willcease publication in Marchunless a buyer is found. Eventhough it can’t pay its bills,the Post-Intelligencer shouldhave been inducted into theleft-wing hall of fame after itspublisher told the FBI to buzzoff when the agency asked formedia help in locating twopossible terror suspects.

The Minneapolis paper,dubbed the Red Star by somein Minnesota, filed for bank-ruptcy after its earningsdropped more than 50 percentin one year. That, despite thepresidential vote and a viciouselection between Sen. NormColeman and Al Franken.

AS FOR THE New York Times:It is Twilight Zone time. Thepaper already was trying touse equity in its Manhattanoffice building to pay debts,and now has borrowed $250million from Mexican billion-aire Carlos Slim Helu. And getthis: The Times is paying oldCarlos an astounding 14 per-cent interest. What, was TonySoprano not available? Doesthe description “loan shark”mean anything to the ideo-logues running the Times?The prime lending rate inAmerica is 3.25 percent, andthese guys are paying CarlosSlim 14 percent. Wow.

On the TV front, the uber-liberal, Bush-hating MSNBCnetwork ranked 31 in total dayratings for the first two weeksof January. I think that’s rightbehind the “Roller DerbyChannel.” General Electric,which owns NBC, has taken asharp turn to the left in itscorporate philosophy and, atthe same time, is watching itsstock price decline from about$50 a share to around $13. Thefact that General ElectricCEO Jeffrey Immelt still hashis job ranks up there withthe miracle of the US Airwayswater landing.

Why are the liberal mediataking a pounding when theleft now controls Congressand the Oval Office? It maybe because of the economy.After the recession blind-sided the folks last fall, angerfilled the air. Why weren’t wewarned that the financialindustry was awash in badhousing loans? PresidentBush and Sen. John McCainhad no answer. So the folksvoted for the Democrats.

BUT THAT doesn’t mean theAmerican people becameliberals overnight. In fact,some folks became evenmore conservative with theirspending and lifestyles. Theimages of left-wing mediapeople gloating over the fail-ure of the Bush administra-tion did not cheer many peo-ple up. In fact, I believe itteed a lot of them off.

Despite the power shift inWashington, America remainsa traditional country thatlargely rejects big governmentand radical social change. Theformer hippies running thecrazy-left media will never getthat. They believe most Amer-icans want gay marriage,political correctness andunfettered abortion. Theybelieve everyday folks thinkponytails and pierced ears onold guys are cool.

Well, these Abbie Hoff-man wannabes are sadly outof touch. And soon, maybeout of work.

www.billoreilly.com

OUR VIEWS









grievances.”

Wednesday,

January 28,

2009



Gary SawyerEditor



BILL O’REILLY

The Herald & Review wel-comes letters to the editor fromreaders on topics of general inter-est and public policy.

Letters must be signed withthe writer’s full name and containa current mailing address andtelephone number (daytime andevening) for verification purposes.Letters must contain 300 words orless. Writers are limited to one let-ter every 30 days. Letters that arelibelous, of limited interest or inpoor taste will be rejected. Lettersmay be sent via mail, fax, e-mailor hand-delivered. Contacts arelisted at the bottom of the page.

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Take the show off the road, governor

READ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ONLINE:


Senate loses with Caroline Kennedy’s withdrawal

SUSAN ESTRICH


SPRINGFIELD — Gov. RodBlagojevich has planned a show-down today, on what could be thelast day of his administration.

Reversing course on an earlierdecision to boycott his impeach-ment trial, Blagojevich is sched-uled to make a rare visit to thestate Capitol this morning to makea closing argument before the Illi-nois Senate.

His pleas could be one of the lastthings the Senate’s 59 membershear before they vote on whetherto remove him after six tumul-

tuous years as chief executive.Until now, the Chicago Democrat

has declined to appear at the his-toric trial,instead trav-eling the NewYork mediacircuit mostof the weekto denywrongdoingand deride

the proceedings as unfair.Blagojevich’s appearance was

announced as prosecutors in theimpeachment trial called theirfinal witness Wednesday afternoon,

setting up closing arguments forthis morning.

The Senate will convene at 9:15a.m. Prosecutor David Ellis willhave an hour for his remarks, andBlagojevich will have 90 minutes tomake his case. A vote on the gover-nor’s fate could come soon after.

If senators remove him, Lt. Gov.Pat Quinn would take over thestate’s top office immediately,sending the 52-year-old governorpacking in the midst of his secondterm. Quinn, a Chicago Democratwho also served as state treasurer,

Seeking new trialMaurice LaGrone Jr,

who is serving a life sen-

tence for the drowning

deaths of his girlfriend’s

three children, is asking for

a new trial on the grounds

that his lawyer didn’t ask a

judge to consider child

endangerment. Local A3

Gopher huntingIllinois’ 20-game win-

ning streak over

Minneso-

ta will be

a hot

topic

tonight at

Williams Arena.

And a road victory tonight

could be a crucial step

along the way for an Illinois

team in the Big Ten cham-

pionship hunt. Sports B1

House passes planThe Democratic-con-

trolled House approved

by a 244-188 vote a histori-

cally huge $819 billion

stimulus bill, filled with

new spending and tax

cuts. Money C1

Mideast peace efforts

President Obama’s

new Mideast envoy prom-

ised a vigorous push for

peace, saying Gaza mili-

tants must end their

weapons smuggling and

blockaded borders must

be open. World C3

Delivery: 421-6990

Newsroom: 421-6979





Yesterday’s level . . . . . . . . . .611.9


Look ma, no handsSimple game time snacks

that don’t require utensils/D1

Titans on topMillikin men lose to Illinois

Wesleyan University/B1

JANUARY 29, 2009


Issue 29

Four sections

YOUR

WEATHER

Today: Mostly cloudyTonight: Mostly cloudy and cold

Details/B8

H I G H

33L O W

16

THURSDAY

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . C4-6Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5Dear Abby . . . . . . . . . . . D2Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . D5Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-8Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1,2Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D2Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . D3Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . C4,5Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-7Television . . . . . . . . . . . . D6

INDEX

TRIAL/A2

ENOUGH, ALREADY

n Say, what?Lawmakers react

to the news of the governor’s trialappearance.

Story/A2

Herald & Review/Kelly J. Huff

Robert Runyen of Maroa was outside performing good deeds Wednesday after Mother Nature blanketed the area with 6 inchesof snow Tuesday. But the angle of his trusty snow blower turned his full head of grey hair into a snow-capped wonder.

Weather story/A3

Blagojevich plans about-face

Associated Press

Mike Kasper, assistant impeachment trial prose-cuting attorney, asks questions during Gov. RodBlagojevich’s impeachment trial on the Senatefloor at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield.

U.S. PostOffice maydrop a dayPostmaster generalseeks end to six-daydelivery mandate

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMIDAssociated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — Massivedeficits could force the postoffice to cut out one day ofmail delivery, the postmastergeneral told Congress onWednesday, while askinglawmakers to lift the require-ment thattheagencydelivermail sixdays aweek.

If thechangehappens, that doesn’t neces-sarily mean an end to Satur-day mail delivery. Previouspost office studies have lookedat the possibility of skippingsome other day when mailflow is light, such as Tuesday.

Faced with dwindling mailvolume and rising costs, thepost office was $2.8 billion inthe red last year. “If currenttrends continue, we couldexperience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscalyear,” Postmaster GeneralJohn E. Potter said in testi-mony for a Senate HomelandSecurity and GovernmentalAffairs subcommittee.

Total mail volume was 202 billion items last year,about 9 billion less than theyear before, the largest sin-gle volume drop in history.

And, despite annual rateincreases, Potter said 2009could be the first year since1946 that the actual amountof money collected by thepost office declines.

“It is possible that the costof six-day delivery may sim-ply prove to be unafford-able,” Potter said. “I reluc-tantly request that Congress

Mt. Zion enrollment rise spurs changePrimary schoolswill switch toattendance centers

By VALERIE WELLSH&R Staff Writer

MOUNT ZION — At atime when many school dis-tricts are watching enroll-ment decline, Mount Zionschools are seeing steadyincreases, so many that inthe 2009-10 school year,administrators expect toneed nine kindergartenclassrooms.

In the past two years, 85new students have enrolled,Superintendent DarbeBrinkoetter said.

To accommodate theincreased numbers and keepclass sizes down, the board

voted Monday to change theprimary buildings into atten-dance centers, assigning allpreschool, kindergarten andfirst-grade stu-dents toMcGaugheySchool, whilesecond- andthird-graderswill be atMount ZionGrade School.The change willtake effect inAugust. Busroutes will notbe affected, andnothing willchange for stu-dents at the intermediate,junior high or high schools.

One concern parents haveexpressed is how childrenwill adjust to moving to new

buildings so often.“We talked about transi-

tions, and the research isdated,” Brinkoetter said.

“There’s not alot of researchout there. Mostof it has to dowith moving tomiddle school.”

District offi-cials contactedother districts,Charleston,Monticello,Mahomet andEffinghamamong them,that have atten-dance centers,

and all of them are happywith their arrangements, shesaid.

The shift to attendancecenters will balance class

sizes and ease overcrowding,as well as allow teachers atsimilar grade levels to col-laborate more easily, shesaid.

“The parents were sent outa letter in December andprovided with commentforms, and if they had ques-tions, we’ve answered those,”Brinkoetter said. “We justsent a letter to all our fami-lies, prekindergartenthrough third grade, lettingthem know. Principals willvisit students who will bemoving and hold tours of thenew building.”

Not all parents receivedthat letter, said Cathy Ander-son, who has children inthird grade at McGaugheyand in the intermediate

Lincoln museum wants to address a world recordPlan is to have thousandsread famous speech on 16th president’s birthday


SPRINGFIELD — Abraham Lin-coln’s most famous speech couldmake the Guinness Book ofWorld Records for the numberof people simultaneously read-ing from the same document.

On the 200th anniversary ofthe 16th president’s birth, the

Abraham Lincoln Presidential

Library and Museum in Springfield isattempting to get more than 223,363 peo-ple to read the Gettysburg Address in uni-son.

The reading will occur at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 12.

The old record was organized by Walden-books throughout its stores nationwide,said David Blanchette, spokesman for theIllinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The idea of reading “The GettysburgAddress” already was planned, butBlanchette said he wanted to up the ante.

“I decided, ‘Why don’t we pursue aworld record?’ ”

The reading will be done via live Webcast on www.presidentlincoln.org. Forms

to participate in the reading can beaccessed through the Web site, beginningFriday. The information received fromthe forms will be used to determine if therecord is broken.

“We’re hoping anyone that doesattempt the record fills out the form andsends them to us,” Blanchette said. “It’sgoing to be a long process of document-ing people who did this.”

President Obama has been invited toattend the bicentennial celebration, butBlanchette said the president would notbe able to participate in the reading.Obama has not verified if he will be com-ing to Springfield for the celebration.


THE

NET

U.S. PostalService: www.usps.com

Governor says he will speak today at his Senate impeachment trial

MAIL/A2

‘There’s not alot of researchout there. Mostof it has to do

with moving tomiddle school.’

Superintendent DarbeBrinkoetter

CHANGE/A2

Events

Etc.

Lions in Winter Reading Series,

Eastern Illinois University, Doudna

Fine Arts Center’s Black Box,

Charleston. Free. 7 p.m. 581-3110.

Music

Greater Decatur Chorale, 7:30

p.m., Decatur Civic Center, Decatur,

422-8535.

Kris Kristofferson, 7:30 p.m.,

Rosebud Theatre, Effingham. $42

to $82. 540-2787.

School of Music Student

Recital, 2 p.m., Millikin University

Kaeuper Hall, Decatur.

Nightlife

“Stevie Ray” Kelton, 9 p.m.,

Curly’s, Decatur.

Country Night with DJ

Halfdead, 8 p.m., Radmaker’s Rock

N Roll Tavern, Tolono. 485-3531.

David Lee the DJ, 10 p.m.,

Lock, Stock and Barrel, Decatur.DJ/Karaoke, 8:30 p.m., Elbow

Room, Decatur.Jackie Lawson and Tad Freez-

land, 6:30 p.m., Stoney’s Steak-house, Dalton City.

Joe Stamm Acoustic, 8 p.m.,Sliderz, Decatur.


Open Mic, 7 p.m., AIW Hall,Decatur, 875-2416.

On Stage“Funny Valenntines,” 6 p.m.,


HealthCardiac Rehab Orientation, 1 to

3 p.m., Decatur Memorial Hospital,Cardiac Rehabilitation Department,Decatur. Free. Requires physicianreferral. 876-2496.

Cesarean Section Class, 6:30p.m., St. Anthony’s Memorial Hos-

pital Auditorium, Effingham. 347-1529.

Mobile Mammography, SBLArthur Clinic, Arthur. Free for womenwho qualify. 1-800-639-5929.

Pre/Postnatal Aerobics, DecaturFamily YMCA, Decatur, 5:30 to 6:15p.m. 872-9622.



Prepared Childbirth Classes, 7p.m., Decatur Memorial HospitalClassrooms, Decatur, 876-3448.


MeetingsDecatur Area Education Coali-

tion, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Richland Com-munity College Boardroom,Decatur. Young Scholars and Work-ers Meeting. 429-3000.

Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m.,Scovill Ban-quet Facility,Decatur.

MetroRotary Club,noon,Decatur Club,Decatur. 494-1543.

SuicideKnightChess Club,7 to 10 p.m.,PrairielandABATE, Decatur.

Thursday Noon Toastmasters,noon, Barnes Citizens Building,

855-3018.

Seniors

Decatur-Macon County Senior

Center, Computer Basics Class

“Surfing the Web,” 9 a.m., Quil-

ters, 9 a.m., Cards, 1 p.m.,

Decatur, 429-1239.

John’s Hill, Watercolor class, 9

a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Decatur, 422-

1509.

Support Groups

Al-Anon, 10 a.m., Central Christ-

ian Church, Decatur.

Al-Anon, 8 p.m., First Presbyter-

ian Church, Mount Zion.

Get High on Life Group, 8 p.m.,

AFFAS. 521-7204 or 620-3444.

Ostomy Support Group, 7 p.m.,

St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital,

Effingham. 258-4112 or 348-4112.

Polio Survivors & Friends, 5 to

6:30 p.m., Sarah Bush Lincoln,

Lumpkin Family Center for Health

Education, Mattoon. 345-1549.

Exhibits

David Erlanson Gallery, 10 a.m.

to 3 p.m., Richland Community Col-

lege, Decatur. Robyn Rognstad,

“Relating to Fluorescence.”

Decatur Airport Gallery, 6 a.m.

to 10 p.m., Decatur. Watercolors byJoyce Matteson. 422-1509.

Decatur Public Library Gallery,Second Floor, Decatur. Pastel draw-ings by Helen Hamilton. 422-1509.

Gallery 510 Arts Guild, Decatur,Fiber Art by Brenda Bunch. 11 a.m.to 7 p.m. 422-1509.

Hieronymus Mueller Museum,Decatur. 1 to 4 p.m. 423-6161.

Macon County History Muse-um, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Decatur. 422-4919.

Madden Arts Center, Decatur. 9a.m. to 7 p.m. Solid art exhibit: Hey-duck, Boshart, and Griffin. 423-3189.

Perkinson Gallery, noon to 5p.m., Millikin University, KirklandFine Arts Center Lobby, Decatur.Abraham Lincoln Inspirational Invi-tational. 424-6318.

Contact us








WHAT’S HAPPENING

T O D A Y



MORE EVENTS:

Tomorrow’s

highlight:

Central Illi-nois Jazz Fes-tival, DecaturConferenceCenter andHotel, Decatur,5 p.m. to mid-night. 546-6091.













Herald&Review

Winning numbers selected Wednesday in the Illinois State Lottery:Lottery numbers online:


lottery/






Lotto5-19-26-34-42-45



TRIALContinued from A1was expected to arrive at theCapitol this morning in prepa-ration for the possible trans-fer of power.

During the third day of thetrial, prosecutors sought todisplay what they argued wasthe governor’s abuse of powerand mismanagement of stategovernment.

“The sad thing is that thisis news we knew existed sev-eral years ahead,” state Sen.Bill Brady, R-Bloomington,said.

The final witness in the tri-bunal, Illinois Auditor Gener-al William Holland, testifiedabout several unflatteringaudits of agencies underBlagojevich, including one inwhich a politically connectedcompany spent taxpayer dol-lars on a celebratory dinnerafter winning a lucrativestate contract.

“This is pretty soberingstuff today if you listen to it,”said state Sen. Dave Luechte-feld, R-Okawville.

Vicki Thomas, director ofan administrative agencyknown as the Joint Commit-tee on Administrative Rules,was asked whether shethought Blagojevich’s effortsto expand health care pro-grams against lawmakers’wishes violated state law.

“Yes, I do,” Thomas said.But Republicans in the Illi-

nois Senate raised someobjections Wednesday to theproceedings, arguing thatthey should get to hear frommore witnesses.

Ellis originally planned for13 witnesses but whittled itdown to six as the trial playedout.

Republicans said senatorsshould hear as much testimo-ny as possible before votingon whether Blagojevichshould remain in office.

“He is entitled to a fair andthorough process,” said Sen-ate Minority Leader ChristineRadogno, R-Lemont.

The GOP objections provid-ed a glimpse of partisan bick-ering in a trial where mostlawmakers had said theywanted to avoid such fighting.

“The trial shouldn’t be driv-en by a time schedule,” addedstate Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon. “It should be drivenby the evidence.”

Republicans also wanted toknow whether it was properto consider evidence againstBlagojevich dating to beforehis 2006 re-election.

State Rep. Chapin Rose,serving as a witness at thetrial, said yes.

“There appears to be a pat-tern of abuse that began evenbefore he was elected,” theMahomet Republican said.

Although talk of impeachingBlagojevich has been rumblingin the statehouse for morethan a year, Blagojevich’s Dec.9 arrest on federal corruptioncharges triggered the historicproceedings. The IllinoisHouse impeached him on a117-1 vote earlier this month.

Witness testimony in thetrial took a little more thantwo days. Ellis questioned wit-nesses, but they were notcross-examined becauseBlagojevich and his lawyersdeclined to participate in theproceedings.

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, said there wasenough evidence presented tomake a decision aboutwhether Blagojevich is fit tohold office. He said the legalthreshold being used by theSenate is not the same as acriminal trial.

“We’re just finding himincompetent,” Forby said.“We’re just saying the peopledon’t have his confidence,anymore.”


MAILContinued from A1remove the annual appropri-ation bill rider, first added in1983, that requires the PostalService to deliver mail sixdays each week.”

“The ability to suspenddelivery on the lightest deliv-ery days, for example, couldsave dollars in both ourdelivery and our processingand distribution networks. Ido not make this requestlightly, but I am forced toconsider every option, giventhe severity of our chal-lenge,” Potter said.

That doesn’t mean it wouldhappen right away, he noted,adding that the agency isworking to cut costs, and anyfinal decision on changingdelivery would have to bemade by the postal govern-ing board.

If it did become necessaryto go to five-day delivery,Potter said, “we would dothis by suspending deliveryon the lightest volume days.”

The Postal Service raisedthe issue of cutting back ondays of service last fall in astudy it issued. At that time,the agency said the six-dayrule should be eliminated,giving the post office, “theflexibility to meet futureneeds for delivery frequen-cy.

A study done by GeorgeMason University last yearfor the independent PostalRegulatory Commission esti-mated that going from six-day to five-day deliverywould save the post officemore than $1.9 billion annu-ally, while a Postal Servicestudy estimated the savingat $3.5 billion.

The next postal rateincrease is scheduled forMay, with the amount to beannounced next month.Under current rules thatwould be limited to theamount of the increase inlast year’s consumer price

index, 3.8 percent. Thatwould round to a 2-centincrease in the current 42-cent first class rate.

The agency could requesta larger increase because ofthe special circumstances,but Potter believes thatwould be counterproductiveby causing mail volume tofall even more.

Dan G. Blair, chairman ofthe Postal Regulatory Com-mission, noted in his testimo-ny that cutting service alsocould carry the risk of lossof mail volume. He suggestedCongress review both deliv-ery and restrictions itimposed on the closing ofsmall and rural post offices.

The post office’s problemis twofold, Potter explained.

“A revolution in the waypeople communicate hasstructurally changed theway America uses the mail,”with a shift from first-classletters to the Internet forpersonal communications,billings, payments, state-ments and business corre-spondence.

To some extent that wasmade up for my growth instandard mail, largely adver-tising, but the economicmeltdown has resulted in adrop there also.

Potter also asked thatCongress ease the require-ment that it make advancepayments into a fund tocover future health benefitsfor retirees. Last year, thepost office was required toput $5.6 billion into thefund.

“We are in unchartedwaters,” Potter said. “Butwe do know that mail vol-ume and revenue, and withthem the health of the mailsystem, are dependent onthe length and depth of thecurrent economic reces-sion.”

He proposed easing theretirement prefunding foreight years, while promisingthat the agency will coverthe premiums for retirementhealth insurance.

At the same hearing, theGeneral Accounting Officeagreed that the post office isfacing an urgent need forhelp to preserve its financialstrength. But the GAO sug-gested easing the prefundingrequirement for only twoyears, with Congress todetermine the need for morerelief later.

Potter noted that theagency has cut costs by $1billion per year since 2002,reduced its work force by120,000, halted constructionof new facilities except inemergencies, frozen execu-tive salaries and is in theprocess of reducing its head-quarters work force by 15percent.

CHANGEContinued from A1school. A younger daughterwill begin kindergarten nextyear. She thinks she didn’treceive a letter or surveybecause her younger child isnot yet enrolled.

“I know that my otherdaughter that went fromthird to fourth grade (mov-ing to the intermediatebuilding) had adjustmentissues,” Anderson said. “Shehad difficulties with a big-ger school, different staff.She really had trouble get-ting up and going to schooland got really worked upabout it.”

Anderson fears heryoungest will have similarproblems.

“I feel that a first-grader is

way too young to throw theminto somewhere new,” shesaid. “I especially don’t likethe fact that they’ll have somany little kids in one build-ing.”

She has written toBrinkoetter with her objec-tions, she said.

“From everything I’veheard, nobody’s thrilled,”said Chris Frederick, whosedaughter is in first grade.

Frederick did receive asurvey, which he filled outand e-mailed to the districtoffice. He also has written aletter to the superintendentsince the decision Monday togo forward with attendancecenters.

“I told her I was dis-pleased with the decisionand think (children) needmore stability,” he said.


Associated Press

From left, U.S Postmaster Gen.John Potter, Postal RegulatoryCommission Chairman Dan G.Blair and Phillip R. Herr of theGeneral Accounting Office tes-tify before the Senate Govern-mental Affairs subcommitteeon Capitol Hill in Washington.

Watson: Trialattendanceis important


SPRINGFIELD — Thoughhe’s still recovering from astroke he suffered last year,state Sen. Frank Watson hasattended theimpeachmenttrial of Gov.Rod Blagoje-vich.

TheGreenvilleRepublicanskipped his ownswearing-inceremony earli-er this month as he continuedhis recovery. That meantmissing his last days as Sen-ate minority leader, a post heheld for six years.

Those six years aligned withthe Blagojevich’s term so far,and Watson said it was impor-tant for him to attend, even ifit meant wading through hoursof often-dry testimony at theimpeachment trial.

“I wanted to be here to bepart of this,” the 63-year-oldlawmaker said.

Watson has submitted mul-tiple written questions ofimpeachment witnesses,though many go unansweredbecause of the nature of thetrial.

Senate Minority LeaderChristine Radogno, R-Lemont,has taken over for Watson asthe top GOP member in theSenate.

For now, Watson said heplans to serve out his currentterm.

“I’m getting a lot of rest,and I’m getting a lot of exer-cise,” Watson said. “I need todo that.”

Watson has served in theIllinois Senate since 1983.


Some say they wouldn’tbe shocked if Blagojevichresigned, despite denials


SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakershad mixed reactions when they heardGov. Rod Blagojevich would be inSpringfield today for the Senateimpeachment trial.

State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon,was surprised by the governor’s decisionto come to the state Capitol.

“He’s kind of made it clear up to thispoint he didn’t want to have anything todo with this process,” Righter said.

Yet some senators were not surprisedBlagojevich was planning an appearanceto make his case to stay in office.

“This is it. This is the swansong,” saidstate Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa. “Ifhe doesn’t give his last pitch, it’s goingto be to the winds of fate then.”

“I think, with the governor, you can

never be surprised,” said state Sen. DaleRisinger, R-Peoria.

Risinger said it makes sense for thegovernor to make an appearance afterspending two days on the national talkshow circuit.

“I think the governor needs to make astatement to us rather than the NewYork press. He went out there and didthe PR stuff. He should be here becauseit’s serious for him, it’s serious for us,but it’s serious for the state of Illinois,”said Risinger.

State Sen. Frank Watson, R-Greenville, said he didn’t know what thegovernor might say in his own defensetoday.

“Maybe he’ll announce he’s going toresign,” Watson said.

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld. R-Okawville, said he would not be shockedif the governor stepped down.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if at the endof his speech if he would say ‘I quit’ or ‘Iresign,’ ” Luechtefeld said.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-EastMoline, said he didn’t think the governorwould voluntarily leave office, but if he

did, it may benefit him.“I think if he resigned, it would delay

the criminal trial,” Jacobs said.Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guer-

rero said the governor has no plans toresign today.

“He can say whatever he wants to say,whether it be defending himself, whetherit be apologizing, whether it be resigning,”said state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.

Watson added that there is little Blago-jevich can say today to save himselffrom being kicked out of office.

“After today … it’s criminal. There arepeople beyond the governor who ought tobe held accountable for what has beendone to the taxpayers,” Watson said.

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, wasamong those who isn’t sure Blagojevichwill change many minds.

“Will it make a difference? I doubt it,”Forby said.

Rutherford said he was keeping an openmind about the governor’s appearance.

“I think to be fair, we want to hearwhat the governor has got to say,”Rutherford said.


Watson

Associated Press

Illinois Sen. Louis Viverito, D-Burbank, bottom right, confers with fellow senators during Gov. RodBlagojevich’s impeachment trial on the Senate floor at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield.

Senators say governor unlikely to alter outcome

‘We’re just findinghim incompetent.We’re just sayingthe people don’t

have his confidence, anymore.’

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton

RELATED VIDEO: www.herald-review.

com

Details/B8

PostcardsLincoln quotes turn

into art/D1

IlliniOffense fades vs.

Minnesota/B1


Issue 30

Four sections

H I G H

26L O W

20

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2009 | DECATUR, ILLINOIS

Classifieds . . . . . . C3-6Comics . . . . . . . . . . D5Dear Abby . . . . . . . . D4Horoscopes . . . . . . . D5

Life . . . . . . . . . . . D1-8Money . . . . . . . . . C1,2Movies . . . . . . . . . . D2Obituaries . . . . . . D3,4

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . A5Puzzles . . . . . . . . C3,5Sports . . . . . . . . . B1-7Television . . . . . . . . D6INDEX

Answer BookBig bundle of names,

numbers/Inside


CONVICTEDBlagojevich’s fatesealed by senators’unanimous vote;impassioned pleamoves no one

By KURT ERICKSON and JASON NEVELH&R Springfield Bureau Writers

SPRINGFIELD — Illi-noisans sat down to supperThursday evening with a newgovernor at the helm of stategovernment.

In an unprecedented, butnot unexpected, move, the Illi-nois Senate voted 59-0 to con-vict Rod Blagojevich of theimpeachment article present-ed by the House and strip himof his powers as chief execu-tive. They also voted unani-mously to ban a man withpresidential ambitions fromholding public office in thefuture.

The 4:50 p.m. vote automat-ically made Lt. Gov. PatQuinn the state’s 41st gover-nor. He will serve out theremaining two years of Blago-jevich’s term.

“The ordeal is over,” Quinnsaid.

The dramatic transfer ofpower could signal a new erain the Democrat-controlledstatehouse, which has beenmired in gridlock for morethan a year because of con-flicts between the legislativeand executive branches.

“We must lift this heavydark cloud over our state. Theonly way this cloud can begone is when Gov. Blagojevichis no longer the governor,”said state Sen. Dan Ruther-ford, R-Chenoa.

Blagojevich, accused ofabusing his power, was not inthe Capitol to hear the belltoll on his political career. Heappeared in the Senate earlier

New governorQuinn accepts‘honor,’ diresituation


SPRINGFIELD — Gov.Pat Quinn’s history in Illinoispolitics has been a decades-long effort to craft his imageas a populist politician, aman working in governmentbut often trying to petition itfrom the outside.

On Thursday, Quinn stoodat the podium of the IllinoisHouse and swore the oathof office to become the 41stgovernor of Illinois.

“It’s a very great honor tobe here in the people’sHouse,” Quinn said.

“If all of us, the people ofIllinois, are cheerful, andearnest, cooperative, frankand honest, we can achievegreat things in the Land ofLincoln,” he said.

The conviction of formerGov. Rod Blagojevich min-utes before in his IllinoisSenate impeachment trialtransferred power to Quinn.He immediately went fromdirecting obscure govern-ment programs such as theBroadband DeploymentCouncil to taking his placein the state’s highest elect-ed office.

In that role, Quinn willhave to deal with the stag-gering problems of thestate’s dire financial situa-tion and divisive politics,responsibilities that far out-weigh his duties in a termas state treasurer and near-ly two terms as lieutenantgovernor.

In his first hour as gover-nor, he didn’t rule out taxincreases in the months tocome, refusing to adopt thepledge Blagojevich made toavoid raising income andsales taxes.

Some observers sayQuinn’s climb up the politicalpecking order could repre-sent a stark change from theleadership style of Blagoje-vich, who was often at oddswith lawmakers about issuesmajor and minor.

“This is a guy whoseword you can count on,”said Charles N. Wheeler III,who oversees the PublicAffairs Reporting Programat the University of Illinois

Associated Press

Illinois senators, including Frank Watson, center, react after the removal of Gov. Rod Blagojevich at the Illinois State Capitol.

‘Jurors,’ other elected officials sound off on historic eventH&R Springfield Bureau staff

Following are what some Illinoisofficials were saying about removingRod Blagojevich as governor Thurs-day:

n “These are not words and deeds

of a public official who understands

or comprehends what public trust

means.” State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoonn “I have not seen in three gover-

nors anyone blatantly abuse the

process of shared government as

what I’ve seen happen by Rod Blago-

jevich.” state Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa.

n “If this doesn’t change anything

in this state then it really hasn’t been

worth it.” State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville

n “Corruption in this state is a

cycle that we must learn to avoid.”

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomingtonn “We didn’t have to be here today.

This should have been done before

now.” State Sen. John Jones, R-Mount Ver-non

n “I don’t think the governor was

so guilty on the criminal charges, but

I think he is guilty in one area and

that is being derelict in running the

state.” State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-EastMoline

n “We now have an opportunity to

restore integrity to not only state gov-

ernment but to the state of Illinois as

a whole.” Illinois Secretary of State JesseWhite

n “Good riddance. The Blagojevich

scandal has been a national embar-

rassment. I hope and pray that

today’s decision by the Illinois Senate

will give our state the fresh start it so

desperately needs.” U.S. Rep. Phil Hare,

D-Rock Island

n “It was very sobering. It was a

surreal experience.” Illinois Treasurer

Alexi Giannoulias

n “We find no pleasure in today’s

outcome. We acted in the best inter-

est of the people of this state.” State

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago

CONVICTED/A2

Probe of 1993 Lockmiller murder to continue, despite disimissal of Beaman charge Prosecutor notes notime limit exists forbringing charges

By EDITH BRADY-LUNNYLee News Service Writer

BLOOMINGTON — The dismissalof murder charges against AlanBeaman on Thursday does not meanprosecutors have called off theirinvestigation into the 1993 death of

Jennifer Lockmiller, who was fromDecatur.

Beaman’s lawyerswere handed a one-page dismissal byAssistant State’sAttorney Mark Mess-man, minutes beforewalking into courtfor an 11:30 a.m.hearing to review the

status of the case. The reason listedfor the dismissal was “pending fur-

ther investigation.”After the 10-minute hearing, Mess-

man said the dis-missal should not beconstrued as aproclamation fromthe state that Bea-man is innocent.

“That’s not whatwe’re saying,” Mess-man said.

In a statement released after thehearing, McLean County State’s

Attorney Bill Yoder said: “The inves-tigation into the death of Miss Lock-miller will continue in an effort tobring her killer to justice, and thepublic is reminded that there is nostatute of limitations as to the crimeof murder. All options for futureprosecutions remain available.”

Yoder was not in the courtroomfor the hearing, which was handledby Messman and prosecutor BillWorkman.

Lockmiller’s family declined to

comment about Beaman or thecourt actions earlier in the day.

Beaman was released on bondafter the state Supreme Courtreversed his 1995 murder convictionin a May decision that cited weakevidence against the former IllinoisWesleyan University student. He hadbeen accused in the stabbing andstrangling death of Lockmiller, hisex-girlfriend, while she was a stu-dent at Illinois State University. He

Beaman Lockmiller


Gov. Rod Blagojevich speaks during closing arguments in hisimpeachment trial.

Associated Press

Pat Quinn is sworn in as governor by Illinois Supreme Court JusticeAnn Burke, while his son Pat Quinn IV looks on.

QUINN/A2

BEAMAN/A2

CONVICTEDContinued from A1in the day and delivered a 50-minute speech, saying theallegations against him didn’tmerit his ouster.

“I never ever intended toviolate any law,” said Blago-jevich, who ran for the officeon the promise of fighting thekind of corruption that senthis predecessor, RepublicanGeorge Ryan, to prison.

Blagojevich, 52, became thefirst Illinois governor to beremoved from office.Although he’d had a troubledrelationship with lawmakersfor years, his problems snow-balled Dec. 9 when he wasarrested at his Chicago homeon federal corruptioncharges.

He was in Chicago whenthe vote was taken, choosingto fly in and out of SpringfieldThursday — a practice forwhich he often was criticized.

Blagojevich had shunnedthe impeachment proceed-ings, instead scurryingthrough a marathon series oftelevision interviews designedto show the trial rules wereunfair.

Impeachment prosecutorDavid Ellis called thoseclaims unfounded and toldsenators to focus instead onBlagojevich’s alleged attemptto sell the state’s then-vacantU.S. Senate seat.

“It’s an f-ing valuablething,” Ellis said, quoting thegovernor as alleged by feder-al prosecutors.

Senators said they convict-ed Blagojevich because of thecriminal proceedings underway against him, as well ashis failure to abide by therules and laws of the state.

“He’s trampled on our Con-stitution with his behavior,”said state Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon.

State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, called Blagojevich a“devious, cynical, crass andcorrupt politician.”

State Sen. Frank Watson,R-Greenville, said Blagoje-vich would have been betterserved if his aides had some-times told him “no.”

“Who was there to say,‘Whoa. Wait a minute?’ ” Wat-son said.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, had expressedsome doubt about the evi-dence in the early going ofthe trial, but he joined his col-leagues in voting to get rid ofthe governor.

“The one thing that mademe vote ‘yes’ was that thegovernor was not to be trust-ed and didn’t seem to be ableto move Illinois forward,”Jacobs said.

State Sen. Bill Brady, apotential candidate for gover-nor, said Blagojevich’s ousteris yet another sign that cor-ruption remains a problem inIllinois.

“Although we’re closing thischapter today, our work is notdone,” said Brady, R-Bloom-ington.

Blagojevich acknowledgedhe’d had a rocky relationshipwith the legislature.

“I know sometimes I pushtoo much and prod too much.I confess, maybe I fight toomuch,” Blagojevich said.

But, he said his effortswere aimed at helping people.

“I believe in all of the evi-dence that has been present-ed to you … you haven’tproved a crime. How can youthrow a governor out of officewith insufficient and incom-plete evidence?” Blagojevichsaid.

Senators said Blagojevich’sspeech was masterful, but itdidn’t alter the outcome.

“Obviously, he’s somewhatdisillusioned,” Brady said.

“Much like his entertain-ment hero, Elvis Presley, thisgovernor puts on a goodshow,” Righter said.

Quinn, a 60-year-old attor-ney, said he’s ready toassume the duties of gover-nor. Along with serving aslieutenant governor for sixyears under Blagojevich, theChicago Democrat was statetreasurer from 1991 to 1995.

Quinn takes over at a timewhen Ilinois faces a massivebacklog of bills a projected $3billion budget deficit, and aslew of policies and initiativesimposed by Blagojevich butreviled by lawmakers.

Analysts say he will havehis work cut out for him.

“You can’t overstate theproblems we have,” said Uni-versity of Illinois at Spring-field political scientist KentRedfield. “It’s a terrible timeto become governor.”


BEAMANContinued from A1was sentenced to 50 years inprison.

Beaman, now 36, served 13years in prison.

Normal Police Chief KentCrutcher said the decision todismiss the charges does notchange the nature or pace ofthe investigation.

“We will continue to investi-gate as we have done sincethe court’s reversal,” Crutch-er said.

Crutcher said police andprosecutors developed a listof things to follow up in thecase, and officers continue to

go work through that list.The joy of the dismissal

was tempered by the angerdefense lawyers expressedover how the case wasresolved.

“It’s not a nice way for it toend,” said Karen Daniel, withthe Bluhm Legal Clinic atNorthwestern UniversitySchool of Law in Chicago.Daniel, added that shebelieved Beaman and his fam-ily were owed an apology andan acknowledgement that aninjustice had been done.

The defense lawyer said shehopes Beaman’s case does notend with the dismissal.

“Alan Beaman is not theonly person this has hap-

pened to. We need to examinethis and figure out how tostop it from happeningagain,” Daniel said.

Defense lawyer Jeff Urdan-gen was blunt in his criticismof prosecutors and police whohandled the case.

Urdangen started withJames Souk, a former prose-cutor who is now a judge.

“James Souk disregardedhis obligation as a prosecu-tor” by withholding evidenceof a second suspect, saidUrdangen, also of the BluhmLegal Clinic.

Former State’s AttorneyCharles Reynard, also now ajudge, supervised andapproved of Souk’s conduct,

Urdangen said.Finally, Urdangen criticized

Yoder “who could and shouldhave listened” to the defenseabout dismissing the case.

Urdangen also disclosedthat Beaman was offered adeal by prosecutors severalmonths ago — dismissal inexchange for time served inprison.

“Alan broke the world’srecord for saying ‘no,’ ”Urdangen said.

During the court hearing,Urdangen lashed out at Mess-man over the return of Bea-man’s $25,000 bond. His fami-ly had to post the bond inJune so Beaman could bereleased from custody while

prosecutors evaluatedwhether to retry him.

Urdangen asked that JudgeScott Drazewski to exercisehis discretion and return thefull bond. Usually the courtsystem keeps 10 percent ofany bond posted, even in anacquittal.

Drazewski told Urdangenthat a motion should be filedin writing and set for a hear-ing, a process that gives thestate a chance to respond.

Messman said he wanted toreview the law on the matter.

“Read some law? Please,”Urdangen responded sarcasti-cally to Messman.

Drazewski suggested thatthe courtroom was not a

place for theatrics, and the

hearing ended.

[email protected]

M.K. Guetersloh contributed

to this report.

Events

DancingCentral Illinois Singles & Cou-

ples Dance, 8 to 11 p.m., VFWPost 755, Springfield, 546-9515.

Etc.Hot Chocolate Hob Knob Paja-

ma Party, 5 to 9 p.m., The PinkPoodle, St. Joseph. 840-2243 or202-4419.

MusicCameron Matthews, 8 p.m.,

Hansen Student Center, Blooming-ton. Free. (309) 556-3584.

Central Illinois Jazz Festival,Decatur Conference Center andHotel, Decatur, 5 p.m. to midnight.546-6091.

Country Music Show, 7 to 10p.m., Lion’s Club, Shelbyville. Free.

East Village Opera Company,7:30 p.m., Krannert Center StudioTheatre, Urbana, $14 to $30. 333-6280.

Greater Decatur Chorale “Shed

a Little Light: Songs of the Moonand Stars,” Decatur Civic Center,Decatur, $10. 422-5911.

Simon Webb, 8 p.m., BementCountry Opry, Bement, 877-6499.

NightlifeC-4, 8 p.m., Bullseye Bar and

Grill, Hammond.Dancing with DJ Sean Michael,

10 p.m., Block’s Brewery, Decatur.Dirty Ernies, 9 p.m., Sliderz,

Decatur.Free Juke Box Party, 8:30 p.m.,

Mac’s Tackle Box, Decatur.Karaoke with Wiz, 8 p.m., 22nd

Street Discount Liquor, Decatur.Karaoke/DJ Ricky, 9:30 p.m.,

O’Malley’s, Sullivan.Lost Boys, 9 p.m., AIW Hall,

Decatur, 875-2416.Mobile Soundz DJ & Karaoke,

8:30 p.m., Korn Krib, Latham.Repeat Offenders Band, 9:30

p.m., Prairie Rush Saloon, Tallula.Rock of Ages, 8 p.m., Decatur

Conference Center and Hotel,

Sports Zone, Decatur.Runnin’ on Empty, 9 p.m., Rad-

maker’s Rock N Roll Tavern,Tolono, 485-3531.

Stevie Ray Kelton-Oke, 9 p.m.,Curly’s Sports Bar, Decatur.

TeKeLa DJ, 9 p.m., Whit’s End,Decatur, Julie Clifton.

Variety Music DJ with Erica,9:30 p.m., Shorty’s, Decatur.

Whiskey Briar, 9 p.m., Timbuk-tu, Long Creek, 855-8083.



“Goodnight Moon” and “Run-away Bunny,” 7 p.m., SangamonAuditorium, Springfield, $25. 206-6160.

HealthBlood Pressure Screening, 11

a.m. to noon, Herrick Cafe, Herrick.Free. 1-800-879-3212.

Cardiopulmonary Education

Session, 1:30 p.m., Decatur Mem-orial Hospital, Cardiac RehabilitationDepartment, Decatur, 876-2496.

Health Screenings, 8:30 a.m. to4 p.m., Effingham County HealthDepartment,Effingham,342-9237.

PregnancyCenter, 8a.m. to 4p.m., MaconCountyHealthDepartment,Decatur, 423-3794, ext.1303.

PregnancyTesting, 9a.m. to 3p.m., NewLife Pregnancy Center, Decatur,872-5555.

Tuberculosis Clinic and Test-

ing, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., MaconCounty Health Department,Decatur. 423-1472.

MeetingsBreakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m.,

Scovill Banquet Facility, Decatur.Commodore Duplicate Bridge

Club, 12:30 p.m., 2560 E. FederalDrive, Decatur, 422-0095.

Unitarian Universalist Men’sGroup, 1 p.m., Tuscany Steak &Pasta House, Decatur, Visitors wel-come.


Center, Fitness Class, 10 a.m.,Bingo, 1 p.m., Decatur, 429-1239.

Support GroupsAl-Anon, 8 p.m., St. Mary’s Hos-

pital, Room 561, Decatur.Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m.,

U.S. Bank, Community Room, Tay-lorville.

Reformers Unanimous (addic-tions), 7 p.m., Salem BaptistChurch, Decatur, 422-4274.



David Erlanson Gallery, 10 a.m.to 3 p.m., Richland Community Col-

lege, Decatur.Decatur Airport Gallery, 6 a.m.

to 10 p.m., Decatur. 422-1509.Decatur Public Library Gallery,

Second Floor, Decatur. 422-1509.Gallery 510 Arts Guild, Decatur,

422-1509.Hieronymus Mueller Museum,

Decatur. 1 to 4 p.m. 423-6161.Lincoln College Museum, Mc-

Kinstry Building, Lincoln. 9 a.m. to4 p.m. 735-5050, ext. 295.

Macon County History Muse-um, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Decatur. $2and $1. 422-4919.

Madden Arts Center, Decatur. 9a.m. to 4 p.m. 423-3189.

Perkinson Gallery, noon to 5p.m., Millikin University, KirklandFine Arts Center, Decatur. 424-6318.

Under the Prairie Museum,Elkhart. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 947-2522.

Vespasian Warner PublicLibrary, Clinton. 935-5174.

Contact us








WHAT’S HAPPENING

T O D A Y



MORE EVENTS:

Tomorrow’s

highlight:

SMT GolfDay and LongDrive Contest,9:30 a.m. to3:30 p.m.,Decatur IndoorSports Center,Decatur, $30entry fee, $10golf room hittingfee. 421-7468.

A2 LOCAL FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2009 DECATUR, ILLINOIS www.herald-review.com












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Winning numbers selected Thursday in the Illinois State Lottery:

Lottery numbers online:

www.herald-review.com/lottery/







Mega Millions$40 million

Quinn vows state parks reviewBy JASON NEVEL


SPRINGFIELD — The openingof shuttered state parks and his-toric sites could be one of severalchanges Pat Quinn will enact asthe new governor of Illinois.

In his first hour as governor,Quinn told reporters he wants toreopen state parks, as well asreview the fate of the Pontiac Cor-rectional Center, which formerGov. Rod Blagojevich identified forclosure.

Quinn also pledged to review themove of about 100 Illinois Depart-ment of Transportation employeesfrom Springfield to Harrisburg.

As part of a budget cuttingmaneuver last year, Blagojevichclosed seven state parks and 14 his-toric sites, including WeldonSprings State Park near Clinton,Wolf Creek State Park near Wind-sor, Hidden Springs State Forestnear Strasburg, Bryant Cottage inBement and Lincoln Log Cabinnear Lerna.

Quinn would not say how thecash-strapped state can afford toreopen the facilities.

But, he said, “Our state parksare precious. I think it’s veryimportant that we open the stateparks.”

“I look forward to Pat Quinnopening the state parks,” said stateSen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline.

That might be a popular decisionwith some of thestate’s taxpayers,but later decisionson the state’s finan-cial situation couldmean some upunpopular choicesfor the populist gov-ernor.

Quinn also raisedthe prospect of a short tenure forformer state Rep. Kurt Granbergas director of the Illinois Depart-ment of Natural Resources. TheCarlyle Democrat was named tothe post in one of Blagojevich’s lastofficial moves before his impeach-ment conviction Thursday.

“I believe there should be a natu-ral resources professional in theDepartment of Natural Resources,”Quinn said.


QUINNContinued from A1at Springfield.

As senators deliberated about Blago-jevich’s fate in the Illinois Senate onThursday, Quinn’s family gathered athis Capitol office. His nieces playedring-around-the-rosy on the marblefloors. And a television showing theimpeachment trial could be seenthrough Quinn’s glass office doors.

His reception, though, won’t neces-sarily be a thoroughly warm one. AsBlagojevich has been scrutinizedbecause of a federal investigation, hiseventual arrest and impeachment,Quinn has had to answer as to why heremained on the ticket as the governor’srunning mate in 2006.

“He’s got some serious problems try-ing to govern the next two years,” saidstate Sen. John Jones, R-Mount Vernon.

“Quite frankly, there are several peo-ple around this building that endorsedthe governor two years ago,” Jonesadded.

Republicans have worked quickly totie Quinn to Blagojevich, including inthe weeks following the former gover-nor’s arrest last month.

While several Republican officialshad harsh words for Quinn, someappeared ready to give him some bene-

fit of the doubt, even before theimpeachment vote.

“I see him being a very fair states-man-type individual,” said state Sen.Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa. “If he wereto become the governor of Illinois, hewould be a good person to work with.”

Quinn’s foray into Illinois politicsbegan with petition drives in the 1970s,and he eventually led the 1980 push thatreduced the size of the Illinois GeneralAssembly from 177 members to 118.

That kind of populist, grassrootsaction has come up frequently inQuinn’s career, from the establishmentof an organization to help people withtheir utility bills to pushes in recentyears to stifle pay raises for lawmakersand other top state officials.

“We will make the will of people thelaw of the land,” Quinn said at his firstnews conference as governor.

Besides serving as lieutenant gover-nor, Quinn’s public career includes fouryears as state treasurer, starting in1991.

Both offices can be seen as relativelylow-profile jobs in the grand scheme ofIllinois politics, leaving few clues as tohow he might function in the state’shighest-profile job.

“This is probably the most trying, dif-ficult time in the history of our state,”Quinn said.


Associated Press

State worker Derek Needham removes a board containing the photoof Rod Blagojevich after Blagojevich was removed as governor.

Granberg

Blagojevich losessecurity protection

CHICAGO (AP) — NewGov. Pat Quinn has can-celed former Gov. RodBlagojevich’s securitydetail.

Quinn said Blagojevich’ssecurity detail ended whenhe arrived home from thestate Capitol on Thursday.

Former Republican Gov.Jim Thompson has said it isthe custom in Illinois toextend security to a formergovernor for one year toease their transition back toprivate life. The detail pro-vides protection and drivesthe ex-governor around.

Quinn says the superin-tendent of the Illinois StatePolice agrees with his deci-sion.

Under the circumstancesof Blagojevich’s removal,Quinn says it is the “appro-priate way” to go.

Obama notes‘painful episode’

WASHINGTON (AP) —President Barack Obamasaid the removal of RodBlagojevich has ended a“painful episode for Illi-nois.”

“Today ends a painfulepisode for Illinois,” Obamasaid Thursday night in astatement. “For months, thestate had been crippled by acrisis of leadership. Nowthat cloud has lifted.”

Last-minuteclemency granted

CHICAGO (AP) — For-mer Gov. Rod Blagojevichgranted clemency to aChicago developer and aformer drug dealer justhours before the IllinoisSenate voted to throw himout of office.

Blagojevich ordered thecriminal conviction of Fred-erick Scott Latsko expungedfrom public records. Latsko,who develops residentialproperties, served one yearof probation after beingsentenced in 1985 on theftand forgery charges.

Blagojevich also pardon-ed Jimmie L. Beck, convict-ed in Cook County on drugand battery charges. Beckserved a one-year sentenceon a drug charge afterbeing sentenced in 2001.

Blagojevich also orderedBeck’s records expunged.

Beck said he met Blago-jevich's wife, Patricia,while the two worked at theChicago Christian Industri-al League, a West Sidehomeless shelter; she wasfired last week.

Gov. Blagojevich Pages, part 2

Documents

senate ready

rod blagojevichs

yesterdays level

obamas departure

capitol hill

obama transition aide

burris supporters

normal summer pool level