Business

Monday, December 1, 2008

Video Game Gift Guide, Part One: Achieving console clarity

Video games – and video game consoles – are a great gift for the holidays, but the many choices on the market can make buying them a little confusing for the uninitiated.

In Part One of The News-Gazette's Video Game Gift Guide, we'll look at the ins and outs of the major systems – and the basic accessories you need to buy as well.

Web site offers comprehensive look at apartments for rent

CHAMPAIGN – Kevin Chang has developed a new way to find apartments on the Web, using University of Illinois research into how to conduct "deeper" Web searches.

The result is Cazoodle, a Web site that provides comprehensive listings of apartments in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and other metropolitan areas – including Champaign-Urbana.

Longtime neighborhood bar on the market

CHAMPAIGN – Fallon's Ice House, a neighborhood tavern that's been in business for 17 years, is for sale.

"I'm ready to get out of it," said Glenda Fallon, who co-owns the bar with her husband Tim. "It'll be 18 years in April, and I'm ready to see my grandkids in Richmond, Virginia."

Sunday, November 30, 2008

It's Your Business: Retailers spread word that downtown Champaign still open

Hey holiday shoppers: The downtown Champaign retailers clustered on a section of North Neil Street that was closed after a Nov. 7 fire have a message for you.

WE'RE OPEN!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Broken water main closes northbound lane of Prospect

CHAMPAIGN – A water main break has closed a lane of northbound traffic on Prospect Avenue near White Street.

The main break was discovered Friday morning and an Illinois American Water crew was expected to have the main fixed by early afternoon, said Barry Suits, operations manager for the water company.

Shoppers hit the pavement early to snag bargains

CHAMPAIGN – It was cold and dark out there.

The late night turkey and pie snacks were barely digested.

Nonprofit agencies find it tough to meet growing needs

Like most economic news of the day, the statistics are gloomy.

A 59 percent increase in people served by area food pantries, and a 20 percent drop in national food supplies. Nearly 270 school-age children homeless in Champaign County, even as day-care centers report vacancies because families can't afford to pay. More than 100 homeless women turned away from a local shelter, with demand up 50 percent over a year ago.

Even as the economy worsens, driving more families into crisis, nonprofit agencies find themselves unable to meet the need.

Economic woes put Carle expansion on back burner

URBANA – Carle Foundation Hospital says it will slow down its $236 million expansion project because of the downturn in the economy.

"The Carle Foundation and Carle Clinic are financially sound organizations. They are simply taking a conservative approach to financing the building project and believe it is in their best interest to wait until the financing environment improves," the hospital announced in a written statement.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Plastipak Packaging won't get Bondville's fire protection

CHAMPAIGN – The Bondville Fire Corp. has notified Plastipak Packaging Inc. that it will no longer provide fire protection services for its unincorporated Champaign plant as of Jan. 1.

As this point, Plastipak does not have replacement coverage lined up, according to city officials.

City officials have approached the company, which employs about 700 people locally, about the possibility of annexing the plant at 3310 W. Springfield Ave. and providing fire coverage, but have not yet gotten a response, said Craig Rost, deputy city manager for development.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Champaign County Salvation Army strikes gold for fifth year in a row

CHAMPAIGN – For the fifth year in a row, the Champaign County Salvation Army fished something special from a donation kettle.

A donor pushed an Austrian 4 ducat gold coin into the slot in the kettle stationed at the County Market on Kirby Avenue and Duncan Road on Monday, sometime between noon and 8 p.m., said Kettle and Volunteer Coordinator Melanie Hall. The coin is valued at $335.

Old National Bancorp to buy 65 Charter One branches

DANVILLE – Old National Bancorp, which has offices in Danville and Tilton, has agreed to acquire 65 Charter One branches in Indiana from Citizens Financial Group of Providence, R.I.

The acquisition gives Evansville, Ind.-based Old National the third largest branch network in Indiana. It's the largest bank based in Indiana.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Group urges shoppers to watch out for unsafe toys

CHAMPAIGN – A consumer watchdog group has a message for all would-be Santas this year: Buyer beware.

Hazardous toys still remain on store shelves across the country despite new laws to protect children and overhaul the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Illinois Public Interest Research Group says.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Carle Clinic lays off 21 employees to cut expenses

URBANA – Carle Clinic laid off 21 employees Monday, citing a need to cut staff expenses.

The affected employees were primarily in "manager-level" and support-service positions, according to a statement from the clinic. No employees providing hands-on patient care were affected, the statement added.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

News-Gazette owner turning dividends into charitable help

CHAMPAIGN – The foundation that owns The News-Gazette Inc. has begun making charitable contributions of dividends paid out by the newspaper.

The Marajen Stevick Foundation has distributed $190,000 to the University of Illinois Foundation for journalism-related projects and set aside an additional $50,000 for a potential project on campus.

Panel had busy year working out new foundation's basics

CHAMPAIGN – Members of the Marajen Stevick Foundation's governance committee say they've had a busy year hammering out basics of the new foundation.

Greg Cozad said members spent the initial months learning how a "Type 1 Supporting Organization" such as the Stevick Foundation works in conjunction with supported foundations – in this case, the University of Illinois Foundation and the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois.

Community Foundation looking for ways to help with its share

CHAMPAIGN – The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois is entertaining ideas about the best ways to spend $205,000.

That's how much the foundation has been given by the Marajen Stevick Foundation to improve the lives of seniors, promote reading and writing in the schools and improve the appearance of Champaign-Urbana.

It's Your Business: Chicken, fish to star at new restaurant

A new carryout restaurant called Big JJ Fish & Chicken will open in the former location of Seaboat at 1114 N. Market St., C.

The owner, Hisham "John" Rosoul, looks for it to open before the end of the month.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Champaign-based real estate firm growing in Florida

CHAMPAIGN – The Florida real estate market may seem bleak, given falling home prices and rising foreclosures. But Coldwell Banker Devonshire Realty senses opportunity there.

The Champaign-based real estate company on Friday announced it has acquired the assets of the Coldwell Banker residential affiliate in Jacksonville, Fla.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Paxton concrete plant to close until business improves

PAXTON – High Concrete Group LLC has announced it will close its Paxton facility in January, and 85 percent of the plant's 70-plus employees will lose their jobs.

The company says "customer demand will determine" how long the plant stays closed.

Need surgery? Carle Clinic will need a down payment first

URBANA – Whether it's your aching knee or your tonsils about to go under the knife, you may not see the surgeon these days unless your wallet appears first.

Carle Clinic has joined a growing number of physician groups now requiring patients to pay a deposit in advance of all non-emergency surgeries.

The policy, which excludes obstetrics and gynecology procedures, went into effect earlier this month, and so far, a clinic official said, most patients haven't complained.

Provena Health names new chief executive

MOKENA — Provena Health, the parent company of Provena Covenant Medical Center in Urbana and Provena United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville, has a new chief executive for the second time in less than two years.

The new president and CEO of the Catholic health care system, Guy Wiebking, replaces Steven Hunter, who was appointed president and CEO in April 2007.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Danville biofuels plant starting production process today

DANVILLE – After two years of construction, the new biodiesel facility adjacent to Bunge Milling in downtown Danville goes operational today and should start producing the first batch of biodiesel next month.

Urbana Business Association recruiting survey respondents

URBANA – The Urbana Business Association wants to bump up the response to its online survey before the survey period ends Friday.

The association is asking all Urbana residents and business owners – regardless of whether they're association members – to take part in the survey, located at www.ubasurvey.net.

Urbana Business Association seeking more survey respondents

URBANA – The Urbana Business Association wants to bump up the response to its online survey before the survey period ends Friday.

The association is asking all Urbana residents and business owners – regardless of whether they're association members – to take part in the survey, located at www.ubasurvey.net.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Champaign-based firm gets $10,000 in Innovate Illinois contest

CHICAGO – Judges liked the concept of Champaign-based Kim Laboratories so much they awarded the company a $10,000 runner-up prize in the Innovate Illinois entrepreneurial competition.

The company, which is developing testing kits for diagnosing norovirus, came in second Tuesday in the category for later-stage companies.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Salt Fork deer business thrives, but not all neighbors thrilled

ST. JOSEPH – A thriving deer-butchering operation on the Salt Fork River has been rezoned from family business to "major rural specialty business" after hearings that addressed some neighbors' complaints about odors.

River Bend Wild Game and Sausage Co., 1161 County Road 2400E, was started by a University of Illinois meat science worker, Charles Stites, as a family business.

Urban League's closure won't affect power-bill help in Rantoul

RANTOUL – Low-income residents in this city will still be able to get help paying utility bills after the closure of the Urban League of Champaign County.

Last week, the organization closed its doors after 45 years of service to the area.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Hazards from fire close section of Neil Street

CHAMPAIGN – A section of Neil Street is being closed due to possible hazards from a fire that destroyed one building and damaged others Nov. 7.

Champaign fire officials announced Monday that the closure was to be completed Monday afternoon.

Engineers take another look at shared wall

CHAMPAIGN – A fire truck was once again at the scene of downtown's Metropolitan Building Sunday, but only for a structural check.

Engineers hired by the law firm Dobbins Fraker Tennant Joy & Perlstein re-inspected the shared wall between the firm and the Metropolitan Building, which was destroyed in a Nov. 7 fire. The law firm's three-story building at 215 N. Neil St. was heavily damaged in the fire.

Community leaders mourn Urban League's shuttering

CHAMPAIGN – Community members black and white Sunday mourned the demise of the Urban League of Champaign County, which closed last week after 45 years.

"It's a sad day for the community, not only for the African-American community, but the white community as well," said former Urbana Alderman Lonnie Clark. "It's a much-needed organization in Champaign-Urbana and the entire county. I think it's going to be terribly missed. I hope that it's not dead forever."

The league shut its doors Friday on the heels of mounting financial problems, state and federal investigations, and new audits questioning its ability to continue as a "going concern." The agency had debt totaling $850,000 and a $1 million annual budget.

Salvation Army toy drive aiming for 5,000 items by Dec. 12

CHAMPAIGN – Local organizations hope to brighten the holidays for needy children and teens by collecting 5,000 toys and gifts in less than a month. But they're going to need a lot of help from local donors to reach that goal, which is 600 more toys than were donated in Champaign-Urbana last year.

The toy drive for The Salvation Army, sponsored by Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Clinic and WDWS-AM and WHMS-FM radio stations, got under way today.

Eco-friendly Green Mill Village near Arcola gets under way

ARCOLA – A soybean field east of Arcola is being transformed by construction crews into an environmentally friendly resort and tourist attraction.

The developers of Green Mill Village, a partnership between Sullivan-based Agri-Fab and Bob McElwee of Charleston, say the 63.5-acre resort, hotel and conference center will cement Arcola's position as a tourist destination, especially for families from the Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis areas.

Hoopeston Public Library planning entrepreneurial seminars

HOOPESTON – Hoopeston Public Library Director Lou Graham wanted to supplement economic development efforts in this city.

Graham decided to apply for an Illinois State Library Grant. The money comes through the secretary of state's office from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

It's Your Business: A new twist for Vrinios' holiday tradition

It's nearly candy-cane-making time for Pete Vrinios and his family, and they plan to carry on their 110-year-old tradition in downtown Champaign for the holiday season.

You can see Vrinios candy canes made step by step in the front windows of Jim Gould Restaurant at Neil and Main streets, starting the first weekend in December. Kids can even hook their own candy canes, Vrinios said.

Olympic medalist, UI coach to be featured at Rantoul banquet

RANTOUL – Justin Spring of Champaign, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist on the U.S. men's gymnastics team and assistant gymnastics coach at the University of Illinois, will be the featured speaker at this year's Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet.

Spring, a UI graduate, will discuss the obstacles he overcame to help the U.S. team to a third-place finish at Beijing.

UI researchers using genetic relationships to track evolution

URBANA – The latest computer technology has buttressed a revolutionary look at how life evolved, while offering new potential for medicines.

Carl Woese startled the scientific world in 1977 by positing that there are three essential domains, or types of life. Before, there were thought to be two, bacteria and everything else: eukaryotes, whose cells contain membrane-coated parts, such as the nucleus.

2 Champaign firms headed for finals in business competition

CHAMPAIGN – Two Champaign-based businesses will be among 12 companies vying for top prizes of $40,000 in the Innovate Illinois business competition Tuesday in Chicago.

Representatives of Autonomic Materials Inc. and Kim Laboratories will make presentations to a panel of judges in hopes of taking honors in the early-stage and later-stage categories, respectively.

Business lets pet owners turn their friend into a 'dog person'

SADORUS – Kirby and Cindy Pringle introduced "dog people" to children's literature when they began their "Happy Tails" series five years ago.

The Pringles, who live near Sadorus, have published two books, "Earl and Pearl on The Farm" and "The Call of Nature." Both feature the adventures of Earl and Pearl, dogs that dress and behave very much as people do.

Ex-professionals rejuvenated by second career in teaching

"Why do I have to learn this stuff?"

If Lauren Heckelman hears that during the math class she teaches at B.T. Washington Elementary School in Champaign, she can tell students about how she used math in her prior job as an accountant.

When John Parks teaches how to write resumes in his business classes at St. Joseph-Ogden High School, he can refer to decades of working in business and hiring people.

The two teachers are part of the growing ranks of second-career educators, people who either started or completed jobs in other fields before they came to teaching.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Solo Cup Co. posts its first loss in five quarters

HIGHLAND PARK – Solo Cup Co. this week reported a net loss of $4.6 million in the third quarter after five straight quarters of profitability.

The Highland Park-based company, which has a manufacturing facility in Urbana, had operating income of $13.5 million in the third quarter, but that wasn't enough to offset a net interest expense of $14.7 million, plus losses on the foreign currency exchange.

Campustown Dunkin' Donuts to open on Dec. 15

CHAMPAIGN – Another Dunkin' Donuts shop will open in Champaign next month, in the heart of Campustown.

Local Dunkin' Donuts franchisee Sunil Modi said the new shop will open Dec. 15 at 607 E. Green St.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Universities now paying for ethics training program

A new ethics training program will be developed for University of Illinois employees, but at a cost to the university.

The Office of the Executive Inspector General, the state agency that oversees ethics training for tens of thousands of state employees, has asked the state's public universities to handle ethics training for the universities beginning in 2009.

Burnham 310 opens first six floors for tenants

CHAMPAIGN – Tuesday was Move-in Day: the Sequel, for University of Illinois sophomore Jessica Sturdy.

A tenant at the Burnham 310 development, Sturdy moved into her one-bedroom apartment after several months of temporary lodging at a Savoy apartment complex. She's happy finally to be there, but "it's kind of been a nightmare," said her mother, Teresa Sturdy.

Initially scheduled to open in August, then Oct. 31, the 18-story Burnham high-rise opened its first six floors this week. The city recently approved a partial occupancy permit for those floors, said Garry Bowman, Champaign's building safety supervisor.

County Market aims for March opening at Burnham 310

CHAMPAIGN – The County Market store going up next to the Burnham 310 development is slated to open by next March.

Gerry Kettler, spokesman for Niemann Foods, said the company initially hoped to open the 30,000-square-foot store by August, but delays on the Burnham project put the grocery store behind as well, he said. The store shares a wall with the high-rise's parking garage.

Green Street to get another high-rise

CHAMPAIGN – A new 11-story high-rise apartment building is likely going up on East Green Street.

Campus Property Management is planning to build a 112-unit apartment building at 201 E. Green St., with ground-floor commercial space and, below the ground floor, a fitness center, according to project architect Josh Daly of Henneman Engineering of Champaign.

Holiday sales projections are worsening

CHAMPAIGN – The outlook for retail spending this holiday season is getting worse, the president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association said.

A month ago, the association was projecting a 1.9 percent increase in holiday sales. But David Vite said Thursday the projection has since been revised to zero.

Vermilion County considers establishing wind farm rules

DANVILLE – Vermilion County economic development officials are in talks with at least four companies interested in building wind-turbine farms in Vermilion County.

The county has no zoning system, but county board officials are taking steps to regulate the construction and operation of the alternative-energy farms by writing an ordinance.

"It's a safeguard for the landowners and the windmill companies," said Vicki Haugen, president and CEO of Vermilion Advantage. She added that multiple companies that make the wind turbines are considering the county as a possible location for a manufacturing site.

Area employers discuss how not to get hired

CHAMPAIGN – When Sue Malenius was asked about the worst job interview she had conducted, it wasn't just bad, it was scary bad.

Malenius, the director of KinderCare Learning Center in Champaign, said a job applicant arrived 15 minutes late with holes in her jeans, a spaghetti strap and a chain that connected a nose piercing to an earring.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Chanute agency told Air Force pulling out of project

RANTOUL – The Air Force is likely pulling out of a proposed joint project with the village to improve drainage in south Rantoul and to backfill an excavation area.

As a result, the cost of developing land by the Rantoul airport for new industries has gone up – by as much as $600,000.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Ford County Board gives final clearance for wind farm

PAXTON – Ford County's first wind farm project has gained final approval for construction of 96 wind turbines in Rogers Township, the county's northernmost township.

Ford County Board members approved an application by K4 Wind Farm LLC for a special-use permit on Monday. The company, which has spent more than two years in the planning stages, previously gained approval from both the county's zoning and plan commissions.

Rezoning for ex-Pepsin site approved in Monticello

MONTICELLO – The city council is hoping a new zoning label will help create redevelopment interest in the former Pepsin property.

In a 6-0 vote, the council approved the rezoning of the Pepsin site from industrial zoning to a business zone. Council member Tim Hayes abstained. The property is located two blocks east of the downtown square. It is the former location of Sterling Drug Inc.

Villa Grove council will again pursue city sales tax

VILLA GROVE – After the defeat of the proposed Douglas County emergency services tax, the Villa Grove City Council is once again pursuing a 1 percent city sales tax to help fund emergency services in the city.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

SmartSpark announces selection of new president, CEO

CHAMPAIGN – SmartSpark Energy Systems has a new president and chief executive officer.

Ron Van Dell has been named to that position, the Champaign-based company announced Monday. Van Dell was most recently president and chief executive officer of Primarion, a mixed-signal integrated-circuit company based in Torrance, Calif.

Krispy Kreme expanding distribution network in C-U

CHAMPAIGN – Krispy Kreme Doughnuts plans to expand its distribution network in the Champaign-Urbana area before deciding whether to open a store here, representatives of the area franchise say.

The chain plans to begin making daily doughnut deliveries next Monday to 14 area Super Pantry convenience stores, said Tim Axarides, director of sales and distribution for Hot Light Brands, which has the Krispy Kreme franchise for Chicago, St. Louis and central Illinois.

Belgium board prepares to hear proposal to open tavern

BELGIUM – The Belgium village board will hear tonight from a man who wants to reopen the Top Hat nightclub as a tavern.

Belgium Mayor Mitchell Valangeon said he understands that Carl Edwards wants to reopen the currently vacant building on Georgetown Road as a tavern but nothing more than that. Edwards could not be reached for comment.

The village board holds its regular meeting at 6:30 tonight at 20 Orlea St. in Belgium and expects to hear about what Edwards has in mind.

UI agricultural economist says prices reflect possible recession

CHAMPAIGN – Just as the rise of ethanol prices helped to fuel increased income for farmers over the past two years, a University of Illinois economist said the recent drop in ethanol prices may be leading to an agricultural recession that has already cut the prices of crops in half.

UI Professor of Agricultural and Consumer Economics Scott Irwin said his studies indicate that the fortunes of farmers are now more closely connected to the prices paid at the gas pumps than to changes in prices paid at the grocery stores.

Monday, November 10, 2008

American Legion launches Web site to explain new GI Bill

INDIANAPOLIS – The American Legion has launched a new Web site to help veterans and their families understand the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which takes effect Aug. 1, 2009, and how it compares with other federal education benefits for veterans.

The site, www.mygibill.org, includes explanations of the different GI Bill benefits, news alerts and updates, frequently asked questions, state-by-state benefits and online application opportunities.

Provena planning workshops for bereaved near holidays

Worried about coping with the holiday season because you're mourning the death of a loved one?

The Provena Hospice Center for Grief, Loss and Hope says it can help.

The organization is offering two free workshops in Champaign and Westville to help provide holiday coping skills for those feeling overwhelmed and saddened by a loss.

Being 'science-y' pays for Uni High senior in competition

Richard Wang skipped school Friday.

But it was OK, he said. The University Laboratory High School student's teachers knew where he was – at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., competing as one of 15 regional finalists in a science competition with a $100,000 scholarship as its national prize.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

It's Your Business: New downtown store focuses on ecology

B. Lime, a new store in downtown Champaign focusing on earth-friendly living, is now open.

And, true to the theme of recycle/reuse, owners Wendi and Bart Lindsay chose to place their store in a newly redeveloped building at 12 E. Washington St., at the corner of Hickory and Washington streets.

Feeling the Pinch: Backyard bounty can lower grocery bills

CHAMPAIGN – In tough economic times, a garden harvest can help a family get through the winter.

On the east side of Champaign, 79-year-old homemaker Nina Sibley estimates she saves more than $300 a year by freezing vegetables grown in her gardens.

Season of hope: Retail consultant thinks holiday sales will increase

Despite some predictions that holiday sales will drop this year, a Chicago retail consultant predicts they'll rise 1.7 percent.

That's less than last year's 2.2 percent increase or the long-term average of 4 percent, said John Melaniphy III, executive vice president of Melaniphy & Associates.

Five businesses looking to grow

Panelists outlined expansion plans for five companies at an International Council of Shopping Centers program last week.

Here's what Jimmy John's, CVS, Busey Bank, Aldi and Verizon Wireless are planning.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Fire-ravaged site's co-owner: 'I would love to rebuild'

CHAMPAIGN – One of the co-owners of the building destroyed by fire early Friday said he hopes to rebuild on the downtown site.

Jeff Mellander was painstakingly renovating and redeveloping the 1870s-era building – which has been called variously the Metropolitan Building and the Bailey-Rugg building – with his partners, Bob Ballsrud and George Grubb.

Now the building is in ruins, and an adjacent building at 215 N. Neil St. that houses the Dobbins Fraker Tennant Joy & Perlstein law firm is heavily damaged on its third floor.

Downtown Champaign suffered a similar blow 21 years ago

CHAMPAIGN – "Big fire, big water." That's what the current Champaign fire chief, Doug Forsman, says about putting out Friday's fire downtown.

Twenty-one years ago, on Dec. 27, 1987, the date of the last big downtown fire, it was the same thing, big water, recalls the chief at that time – Doug Forsman.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Roads open, cleanup finished at site of downtown fire

CHAMPAIGN —  Neil and Main streets were reopened just after 8:30 p.m. Friday following an early morning fire. No injuries were reported.

Church Street, however, will remain closed between Randolph and Neil streets as a fire crew mans the site overnight.

The Metropolitan Building, located at the southwest corner of Church and Neil streets, was consumed by fire shortly after 5 a.m. Friday and was a total loss. The building, built in the 1870s, was undergoing an extensive renovation.

Metropolitan owners shocked over loss of 'jewel'

The owners of the Metropolitan Building had put their "heart and soul" into the renovation that was just months from completion, until the building collapsed today.

Bob Ballsrud, who owns the building with George Grubb and Jeff Mellander, said he learned of the fire by phone at about 6:10 a.m.

One Main worker becomes firefighter

CHAMPAIGN – Tim Kauffman was one of the heroes of this morning's downtown fire.

Kauffman is an assistant building and operations employee at One Main, across the street from the Metropolitan Building that was destroyed by fire this morning.

Danville panel agrees to leave some zoning alone

DANVILLE – The planning and zoning commission agreed Thursday with the wishes of two residents who asked that the current zoning of their properties remain the same, even though city officials recommended a change in the overhaul of the city's zoning ordinance.

Farmers, firefighters work to save grain from blaze

THOMASBORO – Nearly 30 firefighters spent more than eight hours Thursday saving thousands of bushels of corn from a fire after a dryer unit malfunctioned in a grain bin.

Thomasboro firefighters were called out at 1:30 p.m. to 1473 County Road 2500 North, where a grain bin owned by Ehler Brothers was on fire.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Danville school board delays decision on ex-Walgreens site

DANVILLE – The Danville school board voted Wednesday to postpone a decision on whether to accept the donation of the old Walgreens Accounting building for four months to allow a yet-to-be-formed committee a chance to develop a specific plan for how the building would be used.

"I think it will play a prominent role no matter what we do" with it, said board member Bill Dobbles, who favors accepting the property "with a plan."

Realtor training firm's CEO added to Danville Wall of Fame

DANVILLE – Nina Cottrell never got a college education.

But she had smarts, an "extraordinary" work ethic and a drive to succeed, which took her from a secretary to chief executive officer of the largest nonprofit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors, her older brother said.

"She's an example of what you can do if you put your mind to it," said Wilbert A. Cottrell, who nominated his sister for Danville High School's Wall of Fame.

On Wednesday, Nina Cottrell was announced as this year's inductee. Cottrell was selected by a committee representing a cross-section of the community, including two high school students.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Village laments plans to close car dealership

RANTOUL – Rantoul Mayor Neal Williams said the community is "still reeling" from Tuesday's announcement that Rogers in Rantoul will close by year's end.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

WCIA to air UI College of Law show on 'Economy in Crisis'

The University of Illinois College of Law is partnering with WCIA Channel 3 to broadcast a live one-hour broadcast called "Economy in Crisis: A Local Look" on Wednesday.

The show will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. and broadcast from the Max L. Rowe Auditorium at the College of Law, 504 E. Pennsylvania Ave., C, in front of an audience.

Rogers in Rantoul to close by end of year

RANTOUL – Longtime auto dealer Rogers in Rantoul will close by the end of this year, with some of its staff likely to be transferred to dealerships in Champaign, Savoy and Tilton, its owner said today.

Charlie Shapland, the dealer principal for Rogers in Rantoul, said the market area was "not able to sustain the margins and the volume needed to consistently maintain profitability."

UI flash index shows state economy flirting with contraction

URBANA – University of Illinois economist J. Fred Giertz has grim words about the state's economic prospects.

Giertz, who compiles the monthly UI flash economic index, said the index fell to 100.6 in October, the lowest reading since 100.5 in August 2004.

Sports Publishing LLC releases details about bankruptcy

CHAMPAIGN – Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is listed among dozens of creditors of Sports Publishing LLC, the Champaign-based company that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month.

The company, which filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy Oct. 15 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Central District of Illinois, submitted further information last week outlining its situation.

UI alumnus describes new vehicle venture in Cozad lecture

CHAMPAIGN – After 35 years of working for huge corporations, University of Illinois alumnus Mark Hogan is trying his hand at managing a startup.

He's the president and chief executive officer of The Vehicle Production Group, a company that's planning to design and market taxis for the mobility-impaired.

Danville school board mixed on taking ex-Walgreens property

DANVILLE – Greg Hilleary doesn't doubt that the old Walgreens Accounting building could make a good school. It's structurally sound, sits in a good location and was offered as a donation this spring.

"I think it's a good opportunity," said Hilleary, a Danville school board member. "My only concern is as of today, I'm not sure we know what we want to do with it. We've talked about several things, but there's no definitive plan that's ready to go. And I don't think we should spend any money on it until we have that."

Crystal Lake neighborhood plan sent back for more discussion

URBANA – The city council on Monday sent a proposed Crystal Lake neighborhood plan back to the committee of the whole for further consideration after a Carle Foundation Hospital official objected to proposed wording about replacement housing in the plan.

The delay will give aldermen more time to consider whether wording in the plan should "encourage" or "require" Carle to support one-to-one replacement housing when its medical campus expands into the Crystal Lake neighborhood. Mayor Laurel Prussing wants to require it; Carle officials favor the "encourage" wording, which they worked out previously with city planning staff.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Catholic group eyeing former Sager Campus for senior living

DANVILLE – For 70 years, Hubert Doan, 91, has lived on Bryan Avenue across the street from what was once St. Elizabeth Hospital, later became Provena United Samaritan Medical Center's Sager Campus and is now a grassy, empty lot.

Like other Rabbittown residents, Doan is happy to hear that Mercy Housing, a nonprofit organization sponsored by Catholic Sisters, is considering the former hospital property as the site for a new senior-citizen housing complex.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

It's Your Business: Urbana farmers' market gets ready to heat up

The farmers' market at Urbana's Lincoln Square Village will move indoors for the holiday season, starting Nov. 15.

And it will have more merchants than last year's holiday market, according to Susan Toalson, Urbana Business Association executive director.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Economics prof puts current crisis into perspective

CHAMPAIGN – America, I don't know if you remember Recession. It's been almost eight years since you last met, and I'd like to reacquaint you, just in case you meet again.

That, in short, is what University of Illinois economics Professor Anne Villamil did for about 75 people as she discussed America's economic climate Friday at a University YMCA forum.

Friday, October 31, 2008

UI students pitch ideas for next big business

URBANA – The next YouTube may have been born on Thursday night.

In a business version of speed dating, nearly a dozen University of Illinois students weighed in with their ideas for the next big business. Possibilities ranged from a music networking site to a travel agency for Americans to get medical care in other countries.

Christmas Food Basket, Toys For Tots sign-ups set

DANVILLE – The Salvation Army will hold sign-ups for both its Christmas Food Basket program and the Toys For Tots program, shared with the Marine Corps League, from Nov. 3 through 26 at its facility, 855 E. Fairchild St.

Signup times are from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, except Nov. 11, when the Salvation Army facility will be closed for Veterans Day.

Power blitz for assistance with bills set for Saturday

DANVILLE – East Central Illinois Community Action Agency will conduct a power blitz between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the David S. Palmer Arena, 100 W. Main St.

The event offers income-eligible customers one-time payment assistance with their power bill.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Students simulate trials, tribulations of adult finances

DANVILLE – Jayci Nichols was feeling the pinch.

She spent most of her monthly income – $1,811 after taxes – on day care, utilities, groceries, a truck payment and a new winter coat for her daughter. But she still had to pay for housing, insurance and other expenses.

"This is stressful," Nichols said, frowning at her checkbook balance of $375. "I'm going to have to get a second job."

Champaign County chamber not taking side on sales tax for schools

CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce won't support or oppose the school sales-tax proposal on Tuesday's ballot.

In a statement to its members, chamber officials said the decision was made because its membership is "clearly divided" on how to pay for school-facilities needs, and many were undecided on the issue.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

ZF Boge sued by UAW over closure of facility in Paris

URBANA – The United Auto Workers have filed suit against auto supplier ZF Boge, claiming the company's decision to close its Paris manufacturing plant is a breach of contract.

"We had a very straightforward agreement with the company," said Gary Abernathy, bargaining chairman for UAW Local 2343, in a news release. "If they agreed to keep our plant open, we would modify our contract."

Sales at Pages of All Ages to benefit local ensemble

SAVOY – Through Sunday, supporters of the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana, better known as BACH, can support the ensemble by making purchases at Pages for All Ages bookstore in Savoy.

Pages for All Ages will donate 15 percent of each purchase to BACH when the buyer mentions the ensemble at checkout. This donation applies to both online and in-store purchases. A news release from BACH suggests that supporters start their Christmas shopping early while supporting BACH at the same time.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

ADM, ACH announce joint venture

CHAMPAIGN – The ACH Food Companies plant in Champaign will be affected by the Memphis, Tenn.-based company's decision to form a joint venture with Decatur-based Archer Daniels Midland.

State Universities Retirement System's director stepping down

The head of the State Universities Retirement System will be leaving by the end of the year.

Dan Slack, who has been the association's executive director since 2005, has accepted a job to be chief executive officer of the Colorado Fire and Police Pension Association.

Monday, October 27, 2008

UI study-abroad students learning to reduce carbon footprint

PHILO – The Vienna Woods it isn't, but Jim Evans' walnut grove gave participants in the Austria Illinois Exchange Program a lesson in conservation.

Seven students and two University of Illinois faculty members pedaled bikes from campus to the Evans' home near Philo on Sunday to get ideas of how to make Champaign-Urbana a greener place.

Altrusa donating products to Developmental Services Center

CHAMPAIGN – The Developmental Services Center today was expecting two truckloads of cleaning products from Altrusa International of Champaign-Urbana.

Altrusa, a service organization of business and professional leaders, collected some $2,000 worth of things like detergent and anti-bacterial wipes for the center as part of Make A Difference Day.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Wolfram Research founder projects further growth

CHAMPAIGN – While some companies scale back, Wolfram Research continues to swell in what founder Stephen Wolfram calls a "rapid expansion phase."

"We've added 24 new people in the last two months," Wolfram said on a visit to Champaign last week. "We're hiring lots of technical research-and-development people and adding strengths in business and marketing."

It's Your Business: Danville kids' shop reopens temporarily

Remember Kid Konnection, the children's clothing store in Danville that closed a couple of years ago?

Owner Nanci Latinovich has reopened it, temporarily, to sell out her inventory while she also tries to sell the store buildings – two gray houses.

Area business wins new car in planetarium raffle benefit

CHAMPAIGN – Central Illinois Manufacturing in Bement won a 2009 Saturn Sky on Friday night as part of a raffle by the Parkland College Foundation.

The event raised $45,900 to help pay for a new digital video system at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium.

Paxton resident hears, answers call for wild animals

PAXTON – Ken Walker lives in a two-story house on Paxton's east side and keeps two cats and a dog as pets.

But his online business offers a pair of white rhinos or tiger cubs, and about 30 kinds of other unusual animals.

Walker is an exotic animal broker, a middleman between the people who want to sell exotic animals and those who want to buy them. Almost none of the animals come through Paxton.

Be forewarned: Exotic animals need special care, owners

When it comes to the sale of exotic animals, opinions abound.

Some people will tell you keeping exotic animals in captivity is just plain wrong. Others will say people have the right to choose whichever pets they please.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Local County Markets are going green

QUINCY – Niemann Foods, the owner of local County Market stores, is giving a whole new meaning to the term greengrocer.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Neighbors of new Meijer in Urbana complain about noise

URBANA – Megan Repking is a graduate student in veterinary medicine at the University of Illinois. She spends a lot of time studying and she needs her sleep.

But Repking and other neighbors in the 1700 block of Lydia Court in southeast Urbana, part of the Ridge at Stone Creek subdivision, say they are having a hard time getting that sleep since the new Meijer store opened nearby earlier this month.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Busey CEO tells of merger plans for Illinois, Florida subsidiaries

URBANA – First Busey Corp. plans to consolidate its Illinois and Florida banking subsidiaries, the Urbana-based company revealed this week as it reported third-quarter earnings.

"It makes sense for us from a strategy standpoint and a cost standpoint to merge our banks into one bank," First Busey President and Chief Executive Officer Van Dukeman said. "The resulting bank will be larger and, we believe, more efficient due to the lack of duplicate costs and processes."

New Mathematica version coming soon

CHAMPAIGN – Wolfram Research founder Stephen Wolfram plans to announce today that a new version of the company's flagship product, Mathematica, will be released this fall.

Wolfram, in town for the annual International Mathematica User Conference, said Mathematica 7 will have about 2,700 functions, or roughly 500 more than the previous version.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Former workers'-comp group official: State hunting out fraud

CHAMPAIGN – Illinois is taking a more aggressive approach to pursuing workers'-compensation fraud, the former chairman of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission said.

Dennis Ruth, who resigned this month to prepare to become a judge in Madison County, said the state investigated 102 cases of possible fraud last year, with 58 of those complaints referred to state's attorneys for prosecution.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Prof, son reveal keys to happiness

CHAMPAIGN – Money isn't everything, but according to happiness expert Ed Diener, it certainly is something.

"Our research shows money is, in fact, related to happiness," Diener told about 200 people attending a Busey Wealth Management seminar Monday in Champaign.

National experts to discuss energy policy at UI event

The Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois will bring three national experts together to discuss the challenges of crafting energy policies in light of the nation's economic crisis and the threats of global climate changes at the sixth annual Craig S. Bazzani Lecture in Public Affairs on Wednesday.

The free event begins at 4 p.m. in the auditorium of the Beckman Institute, 400 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Get to know the manager of Common Ground Food Co-op

13 things to know about Jacqueline Hannah, general manager of the Common Ground Food Co-op in Urbana

1. Today is her birthday. She turned 35.

2. She's a working mother, married to Michael Hannah, a stay-at-home dad who cares for their nearly 2-year-old son, Eli. They live in east Urbana.

Most area credit unions report profits in second quarter of 2008

CHAMPAIGN – There was a slight increase in the number of area credit unions reporting losses during the second quarter of 2008, according to statistics filed with federal regulators.

Of 34 credit unions in East Central Illinois, seven reported losses during the second quarter, compared with five during the first quarter.

It's Your Business: Christian shop open; coffee bar in plans

Gina Myrick first started a Christian bookstore at her church, and now she's in business at a retail store of her own called Gathering Place Christian Bookstore at 308 N. First St., C.

Myrick said she is selling Christian books, gift items and greeting cards and also plans to have a small coffee bar.

Next step for county courthouse project: Waiting for funding

URBANA – Urbana and Champaign County are embarking on a public art program together, taking baby steps.

In this case it's not the controversial Giant Lincoln Head proposed by a distinguished local artist, Frank Gallo, but something more modest and functional.

In August 2007, French artist Frederic Beaugeard, who lives in Urbana, won a competition for a "Downtown Newspaper Rack Project, which entails designing a newspaper rack structure to be located in front of the Champaign County Courthouse on Main Street in downtown Urbana," as the city described it.

Beaugeard, 40, was educated at Paris' top art school and has exhibited in France, Egypt, South Korea, Slovakia, Sweden and Kuwait. His design, called "Urbanastand," incorporates both functional news racks and an etched-glass background featuring famous news stories from The News-Gazette and the Urbana Courier, which printed its last edition in 1979.

The city's Web site notes "This project is still in the design stage. Look for the installation of this multifunctional piece in the fall of 2008."

As the fall days tick away, though, nothing has gone further than paper on the project. It could take a couple of years, or more, for "Urbana-stand" to be constructed just west of the courthouse entrance, says Anna Hochhalter, Urbana's public arts coordinator.

Credit Union 1 happy with private insurance

RANTOUL – With $516 million in assets, Credit Union 1 is easily the largest credit union based in East Central Illinois. It's also the only one whose deposits are insured by a private company, rather than by the National Credit Union Administration, the federal agency that insures many credit unions.

But Paul Simons, president and chief executive officer of the Rantoul-based credit union, said there's been no clamor from members to switch to NCUA coverage.

Champaign firm has grown to full-scale cabinetry shop

CHAMPAIGN – A couple years ago, Gary Hentges' home-based business was doing award-winning kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects in Champaign-Urbana.

Now the business has expanded to a full-scale cabinet production shop, making cabinetry for apartment complexes in several cities as well as handling custom remodeling projects in suburban Chicago.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Appeals court upholds judge's decision on Salt Fork

SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois Appellate Court ruling in favor of St. Joseph-area landowners could have an effect on drainage districts statewide.

Last December, Judge Holly Clemons denied a request by the Upper Salt Fork Drainage District to raise the annual tax levy permanently from $1.15 to $5 an acre for landowners. She allowed a one-year increase for the district to pay consultants, Midwest Streams Inc., to study the best way to maintain the flow of the river, then for any actions to adjust its course.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Architects discuss design of UI Business Instructional Facility

Native Argentinian and University of Illinois alumnus Cesar Pelli is the architect behind the new Business Instructional Facility, a $64 million building at the corner of Sixth Street and Gregory Drive in Champaign.

Considered one of the campus's first "green" buildings, the Business Instructional Facility features a literal green roof, complete with plants, solar panels to provide energy to the building and sophisticated lighting and air-handling systems. And its design features, such as floating staircases and a commons area lit naturally by four stories of windows, has turned a few heads.

UI forum participants think capitalism in fragile condition

CHAMPAIGN – In a room full of people enthusiastic about free markets, entrepreneurship and economic growth, the topic was a surprisingly somber one: Can capitalism survive?

Three weeks of turmoil in the financial markets led Carl Schramm, the so-called "evangelist of entrepreneurship," and a panel of University of Illinois professors to discuss on Thursday what Schramm called "the fragile condition of capitalism" and what can be done to save it from "what is likely to be a fatal reaction."

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Miller's Dry Goods near Arthur offers treasure in every aisle

ARTHUR – Rosemary Scott wanders the narrow aisles of Miller's Dry Goods as if trolling for buried treasure.

What the part-time Floridian seeks in this little shop may be on that top shelf, between the hundreds of bolts of fabric. Or maybe it's by that glass pitcher, or the rows of kitchen timers, or the wooden money banks.

Then she spots her find, a game, Phase 10. "I've been looking for this forever," she says, clutching it in her hand along with a pink-and-white bib that's perfect for her granddaughter.

Down the row and minutes earlier, Sharleen Walker made a similarly serendipitous discovery, iron-on transfers to emblazon clothes.

Walker and her husband, Charlie, drove 70 miles or so from Kincaid to visit Amish country. They were looking for transfers downtown, Charlie said, when someone told them that if they were anywhere, they'd be at Miller's.

Food banks in area seeing increase in first-time clients

URBANA – Two young moms pool their food to make dinner for their families, but lately they've come up short. A husband gets a raise that pushes his family above government-assistance levels. A senior citizen on Social Security just can't keep up with rising food prices.

They were among the first-time clients Monday at the Stone Creek Church food pantry in Urbana, which has seen demand more than double in just a year.

Rotary seeks participants for India exchange program

CHAMPAIGN – Today is the last day for young professionals to apply to take part in a 30-day visit to India as part of a Rotary Group Study Exchange program.

Rotary District 6490 is seeking four young professionals to visit India for 30 days. The four-person team, led by a Rotarian, will leave in late December. For four weeks, they will experience the way of life, customs and vocational practices of India, while sharing information about their home country.

Conference to assist social agencies set Oct. 28 in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – A best-selling author will be the featured speaker for a leadership conference sponsored by the Mental Health Center of Champaign County.

Robert K. Cooper, author of "The Other 90 Percent: How to Unlock Your Vast Untapped Potential for Leadership and Life," will lead morning and afternoon sessions at the Oct. 28 conference in Champaign.

'Day of Play' to help family of Danville girl struck by car

DANVILLE – The Danville Jaycees and friends of a couple whose 6-year-old daughter, Aneya Dye, was fatally struck by a car are hosting an event to remember her and raise money to help cover the family's medical expenses.

"A Day of Play" is planned for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln Park, 900 W. English Ave., Danville. It is open to the public.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Stock market shows moderate decline; Dow down 76 points

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street ended a relatively calm day with a moderate decline Tuesday, with the Dow Jones industrials falling about 76 points as profit-taking set in after Monday's massive advance. It's the first time in nine sessions that the Dow hasn't closed up or down in triple digits.

After some early gyrations, stock prices fluctuated during the day, but the Dow and the Standard & Poor's 500 index were often in the plus column. Investors were optimistic about the government's plans to spend $250 billion to buy stock in private banks, but they also decided to collect profits from the surge that sent the Dow up 936 points.

3 individuals, Rotary Club to receive humanitarian honors

CHAMPAIGN – Three area professionals and a civic club will be honored at the Champaign-Urbana International Humanitarian Awards dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the "I" Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign.

Individuals to be recognized are Mohammad Al-Heeti, for trade and business; and Paul McNamara and Madhubalan Viswanathan, both for research and education.

Deadline to file for economic stimulus checks looming

CHAMPAIGN – Nearly 5,000 retirees and veterans in East Central Illinois haven't yet filed for their economic stimulus checks, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The deadline to file is Wednesday. Single people who file can get an economic stimulus payment of up to $300, while married people filing jointly can qualify for up to $600.

Vermilion County panel to take on copier controversy

DANVILLE – When the issue of the new copier contract comes before the Vermilion County Board this evening, DTI Copy Solutions representative Greg Wolfe plans to express his displeasure at how the bidding process was handled.

Wolfe said in a letter he plans to read to the board that his company was originally asked for a proposal to be submitted on June 2 and DTI of Danville had the lowest proposal at the time. In September, the county asked vendors to submit a second proposal with two changes – that the new proposal be based on the total copy volume, which was lower, and eliminate one desktop copier. They were also asked for an option, according to Wolfe's letter, to make all copiers color machines.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Name picked for proposed medical center in Monticello

MONTICELLO – The brand-new hospital planned for Monticello will bear a brand-new name, the hospital board has decided.

But not all of the time-honored old name will vanish.

The John and Mary E. Kirby Hospital would open in its new location and new building as Kirby Medical Center if the state Health Facilities Planning Board approves the building-replacement project.

Scitec Inc. leaves Urbana for site in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – Scitec Inc., which supplies phones for hotels, hospitals, schools and businesses, has moved to Champaign's Apollo industrial park after 11 years in Urbana.

The company, which employs 15 people locally, moved its office and warehouse to 301 E. Mercury Drive, C, in mid-September, vacating its previous location at 1212 E. University Ave., U.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

It's Your Business: Antiques store is open in St. Joseph

A new antiques store has opened in St. Joseph, just off Interstate 74.

Precious Antiques & More at 810 N. Third St. has a gift shop up front with candles, food and bath and body products for the season. The rest of the 2,500-square-foot space contains antiques from several periods, said owner Vicki Collins of Urbana.

Officials mull future of Urban League of Champaign County

CHAMPAIGN – The 45-year-old Urban League of Champaign County is shrinking fast.

Mounting financial problems have prompted the league to sell off property, jettison programs, cut staff and even consider closing altogether. Once a $5 million operation with 60 employees, it's down to nine workers and counting.

Sandra Jones, the interim director and former board chairwoman – who works for free because the agency can't afford to pay a director – said an internal audit to be released soon will again raise questions about the agency's financial viability. Board members are actively discussing the Urban League's future, and Jones expects to know in a month if it will continue at all.

News-Gazette publications win slew of awards

CHAMPAIGN – The News-Gazette and News-Gazette Community Newspapers received several awards in recent journalism competitions.

The News-Gazette received 17 awards in the large daily newspaper division of the Illinois Press Association contest, including four first-place awards. The newspaper also received nine awards in the Illinois Associated Press Editors' Association contest, including three first-place awards in news and three first-place awards in photo.

Volition counting on success for 'Saints Row 2'

CHAMPAIGN – When "Saints Row 2" goes on sale Tuesday, Volition Inc. employees in Champaign will be eager to hear how it's received.

More than three years of work went into the high-action video game, and stores are expected to sell "millions and millions of dollars' worth," though company President Mike Kulas wouldn't be more specific about projections.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Symposium speakers map route from profits to peril

CHAMPAIGN – A system that promised "unimaginable personal wealth" to investment bankers has left the world "teetering on the brink of what may be a severe recession," a U.S. bankruptcy judge says.

Speaking at the University of Illinois College of Law on Friday, Judge Thomas Perkins of Peoria said nonbank lenders, investment bankers and credit rating agencies are all to blame for the mortgage mess that resulted in a global credit crunch.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Teens attempt to sell grave marker at scrap yard

DANVILLE – Recyclers have seen it all lately when it comes to what is carried in just to pick up a few dollars. Police reports show wiring stripped from vacant buildings, air conditioners stolen right out of windows, manhole covers taken from city streets.

On Monday, volunteer Mike Mains made his usual trip to Bryant's Auto Parts and Recycling, 1406 Warrington Ave., Danville, to deliver aluminum cans. Mains is the primary caretaker for collecting cans from bins around the area. The money is designated for upkeep of the war monuments around Danville.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Busey's chairman confident about banks' overall health

URBANA – Busey Bank Chairman Van Dukeman says he believes the current financial situation is closer to the savings-and-loan crisis of the late 1980s and early '90s than it is to the Great Depression.

But increased public awareness of markets has made the situation seem worse, he said.

Village Mall management reassures vendors it won't close

DANVILLE – For 10 years, Floyd Parr has run BC Collectibles, a sports-novelty store at the Village Mall.

He has seen larger anchor stores come and go, but the mall has survived.

Mall officials told Parr and representatives from other stores during a meeting at the mall Tuesday night that nothing has changed. And although the tough retail climate that's affecting the country has closed some anchor stores locally, the mall continues to move forward.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Power should be back in central Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – Electricity should be back on in the central part of Champaign, after about 1,800 customers losts power this morning.

 

Foreign trade zone in Rantoul could attract, benefit firms

RANTOUL – A portion of the former Chanute Air Force Base could become a foreign trade subzone as soon as January 2009.

Rantoul Economic Development Director Robert Bruce said Tuesday he had returned from Washington, D.C., where he delivered the village's application to the Federal Foreign Trade Zone Board to establish a subzone in Rantoul as part of the Peoria-based Foreign Trade Zone 114.

Police issue 51 tickets in bar checks

CHAMPAIGN – Police issued 43 tickets Friday for underage drinking during checks of campus bars in Champaign.

State troopers and Champaign police conducted a joint Operation Campus/Tap detail Friday, resulting in a total of 51 citations, including 43 for possession or purchase of alcohol by a minor ages 18 to 20, along with six for possession of alcohol on public property and two for public urination.

CVS pharmacy gets proper zoning for new Danville store

DANVILLE – The city council approved a zoning change Tuesday night, clearing the way for the development of a new CVS pharmacy store at the intersection of Bowman Avenue and East Main Street.

Cedarwood Development Inc. in Ohio re-quested that properties from 7 S. Bowman Ave. to 11 S. Bowman Ave. and 902 E. Main St. to 908 E. Main St. be changed from R-2 single family residential to B-2 highway business.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Economic downturn yields decrease in area crop prices

URBANA – Uncertainties caused by the nation's recent economic downturn have begun to cause corn and soybean prices to fall in the United States, according to a University of Illinois marketing specialist.

Darrel Good said the current meltdown of the U.S. credit markets, combined with a sharp decline in stock prices, falling housing prices and increased unemployment rates have hurt ag commodity prices.

Bunge fire out; firefighters guard against flareups

DANVILLE – Danville firefighters continued to check for hot spots Tuesday morning following a fire at Bunge Milling Inc., 321 E. North St.

"The initial call came in at 1:43 a.m.," said Deputy Director Bobby Lillard of the Danville Fire Department. "At that time, there were flames on the south side of a long-term storage building for product processed by the company."

Finance director wants Champaign to buy its own bonds

CHAMPAIGN – The national credit crunch is starting to squeeze the city.

The interest rate on $1.75 million in variable-interest-rate bonds the city sold in 2004, to help redevelop the old Burnham Hospital site, has jumped from below 4 percent to as high as 9.4 percent.

At the 9.4 percent rate, the city would have to pay an additional $8,000 per month in interest costs. That fact has city Finance Director Richard Schnuer recommending to city council members that they use $1.75 million in city cash reserves to buy their own bonds – which are variable interest, have an indefinite term, are taxable and, as short-term debt, are bought and sold frequently.

Rating services classifies Illinois National Bank as 'problematic'

FAIRMOUNT – A Springfield-based bank that has a branch in the Vermilion County community of Fairmount has received a "2-star" – or "problematic" – rating from BauerFinancial.

Illinois National Bank got the second-lowest rating among 76 banks with a presence in East Central Illinois. It was erroneously omitted from a listing of banks and their ratings that appeared in Sunday's News-Gazette.

Christie announces plans to buy half of Danville surgery center

DANVILLE – Unable to win state approval to build an outpatient surgery center of its own in Champaign, Christie Clinic now hopes to buy half of an existing one in Danville.

The clinic has notified the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board that it plans to file an application seeking permission to buy about half of Danville HealthCare, an outpatient surgery center at 26 W. Newell Road, Danville.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Christie wants to buy share of Danville surgery center

DANVILLE – Unable to win state approval to build an outpatient surgery center of its own in Champaign, Christie Clinic now hopes to buy half of an existing surgery center in Danville.

The clinic has notified the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board that it plans to file an application seeking permission to buy about half of Danville HealthCare, an outpatient surgery center at 26 W. Newell Road, Danville.

UI, Academy on Capitalism go separate ways

The University of Illinois and a group of conservative donors have parted ways.

Founders of the Academy on Capitalism and Limited Government Fund and UI officials announced Monday they would terminate an agreement that created the academy fund and that would have provided money for teaching and research on capitalism and limited government.

Kraft to cut about 400 jobs in North America

NORTHFIELD – Kraft Foods announced plans today to cut about 400 jobs in North America, primarily at management centers.

Precisely how the cuts might affect Kraft's plant in Champaign was not immediately known, as Kraft spokeswoman Cathy Pernu said the company is not providing specific numbers by site.

Burger King franchisee to open store on Philo Road in Urbana

URBANA – The King is coming to Urbana.

Burger King plans to open a restaurant in the former Centrue Bank building on Philo Road, possibly in December, according to Maruti Seth, the franchisee who operates Burger Kings in Danville, Tuscola, Rantoul and Tilton.

Danville Bumper Works plant closing by end of October

DANVILLE – Officials at Flex-N-Gate in Urbana are closing the Danville Bumper Works plant by the end of this month, according to a letter that company officials distributed to employees.

The letter stated that the plant at 647 Section St. will close by Oct. 22 and cited the downturn in the auto industry as the reason. The plant has been downsizing for some time, according to a longtime employee, Larry Thompson, and Vicki Haugen, president and chief executive officer of Vermilion Advantage, the local economic development office.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

It's Your Business: A sweeter strategy for Fithian restaurant

When Tom and Sue Panepinto bought a restaurant in Fithian, they decided it would be out with the alcohol and in with the sweets.

The couple recently bought what used to be the Fithian Main Street Restaurant and Bar at 109 N. Main St., and changed the name to Fithian Main Street Restaurant.

Feeling the Pinch: Volunteers trade time for free entertainment

So by now, it's clear how the economy's doing: not well.

If you're like most people, you've realized that high grocery prices and higher gas prices don't exactly leave your wallet much wiggle room.

But some area residents are learning that tighter cash flows don't have to stop entertainment and fun. A few have found out that volunteering their time with various area organizations has resulted in the perk of free entertainment.

 

Strategic Capital rated 'troubled'; two others downgraded

CHAMPAIGN – A bank rating service has sharply lowered its evaluation of Strategic Capital Bank and downgraded the ratings of two other area banks.

BauerFinancial Inc. dropped its rating of Champaign-based Strategic Capital Bank from "3 stars" to "1 star" in a report issued last month. The "3 star" rating is described as "adequate," while "1 star" is deemed as "troubled."

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Chamber honors food cooperative for its massive growth

CHAMPAIGN – A food cooperative that moved to a new location this year has won the Small Business of the Year Award from the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce.

The award, presented at the chamber's annual meeting Friday, recognized how much Common Ground Food Cooperative has expanded in the past year.

Champaign scuttles proposed increase in developers' fees

CHAMPAIGN – The city is backing away from a proposal to increase building permit and other development fees.

Following a contentious meeting Tuesday with about 20 local developers and builders, city officials sent an e-mail Thursday to those developers saying that "we are deferring action on this item until we have more internal consideration of the issues and options."

Friday, October 3, 2008

Store plans fundraiser to support Kickapoo State Park

DANVILLE – Employees' interest in saving a local state park is behind a fundraiser set for Wednesday at a local department store.

Elder-Beerman will host Kickapoo Day from noon to 9 p.m. to benefit Kickapoo State Park, with "celebrities" on hand to help at the store in the Village Mall, 2917 N. Vermilion St.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

72 Carle Foundation workers lose jobs in cost-cutting

URBANA – The Carle Foundation has eliminated the jobs of 72 of its 3,060 employees.

The job cuts were largely management and professional nonclinical positions, though a few of those managers headed clinical departments, according to Carle spokeswoman Gretchen Robbins.

UI flash index's September reading is lowest since 2004

URBANA – The University of Illinois flash economic index has fallen to its lowest point since 2004, reflecting further slowdown in the Illinois economy.

The monthly index fell to 101.1 in September, down more than a point from its August reading of 102.3.

UI forum panelist dissects causes of economic crisis

URBANA – A University of Illinois finance professor said several factors combined to produce the financial crisis that brought down several banks last month and prompted a proposed $700 billion fix from the federal government.

George Pennacchi said interest rates that were kept low too long, the practice of securitizing mortgages and federal policies subsidizing housing all contributed to the crisis.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Carle Foundation cuts dozens of jobs

URBANA – The Carle Foundation has eliminated jobs for 72 of its 3,060 employees.

The job cuts were largely management and professional, non-clinical positions, though a few of those managers headed clinical departments, according to Carle spokeswoman Gretchen Robbins.

Many don't feel affected by financial crisis

CHAMPAIGN – Despite the pleas of bankers, economists and officeholders, some folks in Champaign-Urbana say they don't feel they've been greatly affected by the banking crisis of the last few weeks and they're in no rush for a federal bailout package.

"We have money in the stock market, and that's gone down, but no, I'm not particularly worried about our situation," said Nancy Egner, who described herself as a homemaker from Savoy. "I worry about other people – people who work in the banks that have failed."

Expert: Credit crunch hasn't reached area yet

Commercial real estate market likely to be first to feel pinch

CHAMPAIGN – The immediate past chairman of the Illinois Bankers Association said he has seen no signs yet of a credit crunch in East Central Illinois.

Developers object to proposed fee hikes

CHAMPAIGN – City fees for constructing a new single-family home would rise by about $220 under a proposal put forward Tuesday by city officials.

But the local development community – saying it's under extreme pressure because of the faltering economy – told two city officials now is not the time to be boosting building permit and other development fees by 25 percent to 30 percent.

High-rise residents happy to be settling into apartments

CHAMPAIGN – The pool and fitness center aren't quite finished, the entrance is a construction zone and the lone elevator is finicky – not so fun when you live on the ninth floor or above.

All in all, though, University of Illinois junior Molly Boyd is happy with her new loft-style high-rise at 309 E. Green St.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Urbana Meijer store to open on Wednesday

URBANA – The new Meijer store at the northeast corner of Philo and Windsor roads is expected to open for business Wednesday following a 7 a.m. ribbon cutting.

 

Economy, other problems force closure of Papa George

CHAMPAIGN – Valerie and George Pyle got the word to some of their 30 employees Sunday. The rest would see the sign when they came in Monday.

The Pyles' restaurant, Papa George, at 505 S. Neil St., C, is closing. Its last day open is expected to be Friday, Valerie Pyle said.

Rossville group plans first Business After Hours

ROSSVILLE – The Rossville Community Organization's first Business After Hours will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The gathering will feature two of the newest members of the organization: Art's Paperbacks and Crafts, 103-105 S. Chicago St., and Village Art & Culture, 111 S. Chicago St. Light refreshments will be served.

Monday, September 29, 2008

House defeats $700 billion bailout plan; Dow falls 777 points

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a stunning vote that shocked the capital and worldwide markets, the House on Monday defeated a $700 billion emergency rescue for the nation’s financial system, ignoring urgent warnings from President Bush and congressional leaders of both parties that the economy could nosedive without it. The Dow Jones industrials plunged nearly 800 points, the most ever for a single day.

Congressman Timothy Johnson, R-Urbana, voted against the legislation.

Democratic and Republican leaders alike pledged to try again, though the Democrats said GOP lawmakers needed to provide more votes. Bush huddled with his economic advisers about a next step. The House was to reconvene on Thursday instead of adjourning for the year as planned.

Papa George restaurant to close Friday

CHAMPAIGN – Valerie and George Pyle got the word to some of their 30 employees Sunday. The rest would see the sign when they came in Monday.

The Pyles' restaurant, Papa George, at 505 S. Neil St., C, is closing. Its last day open is expected to be Friday, Valerie Pyle said.

Agency: Gill expansion to boost local economy by $17.8 million a year

CHAMPAIGN – Gill Athletics' recently announced expansion in Champaign is likely to boost the local economy by $17.8 million a year, according to projections by the Champaign County Economic Development Corp.

Besides moving 85 jobs to the Champaign area, the expansion is expected to create 56 other jobs in the community as a result of products and services bought by Gill and its employees, the development group said.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Do-it-yourself approach yields successful businesses

DANVILLE – On a hot day in 1950s Detroit, a young Jim Darby had just finished digging a grave by hand in Gethsemane Cemetery when he sat down on the cool clay at the bottom of the massive hole and contemplated his future.

"I wonder if this is what I'm going to do my whole life?" he thought.

Turns out, the answer was "yes" and "no."

"I've never been out of the cemetery since," says "Big Jim" Darby, now 70.

While he hasn't spent much time digging graves in the last 50 years or so, Darby has built, along with family and dedicated employees, a successful cemetery and funeral-home business that's branched out over the years in some high-tech ways.

It's Your Business: El Toro Bravo offers Mexican dining for 374

El Toro Bravo, the new and larger restaurant built by the owners of El Toro restaurants, is open for business at 2561 W. Springfield Ave., C, near Kaufman Lake.

It is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, and eventually the bar will be open later, said Victor Fuentes, an owner of the family owned group of Mexican restaurants.

Restaurant supply runs in blood of KECdesign's founders

CHAMPAIGN – Dan Proctor grew up in the restaurant-supply business. So perhaps it's no surprise his company today is furnishing the kitchens of restaurants, hotels and day care centers nationwide.

KECdesign, based in Champaign's Apollo Industrial Subdivision, supplies kitchen equipment for the Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches chain. The company also supplied equipment for such high-profile local projects as the Memorial Stadium renovation, Houlihan's Restaurant and the I Hotel and Conference Center.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Friends of late Po' Boys owner to host 'Arnie Tailgate'

CHAMPAIGN – Old times at Po' Boys are not forgotten. To prove the point, some of the late proprietor's friends are resurrecting the barbecue house for homecoming weekend at the University of Illinois.

"A group of us who were regulars thought it might be a nice idea to have something in Arnie Yarber's honor to coincide with UI homecoming," said Dan Hamelberg, a Champaign real estate investor who was a close friend of Mr. Yarber.

Forum on economy set for Wednesday on UI campus

URBANA – The University of Illinois' Institute of Government and Public Affairs will sponsor a forum on the economy Wednesday morning on the UI campus.

The forum will bring together nationally known experts on the economy, tax policy and the financial markets to analyze the situation facing the financial system, the proposals before Congress and prospects for the future.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Jobless rates rise in East Central Illinois in August

Unemployment rates throughout East Central Illinois rose in August – and in a few cases were a couple percentage points higher than they were a year earlier.

Champaign County's unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in August, up from 6.4 percent in July and 4.9 percent in August 2007.

Downtown Paxton apparel store set to close doors

PAXTON – After 54 years in business, Wilma Gibson has plans to close the doors of Laybourn's Apparel in downtown Paxton.

The store's final sale will start Oct. 1, and Gibson has hopes of closing the doors for good by Dec. 1.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

County can bill Covenant for '07 property taxes, judge rules

URBANA – Champaign County taxing authorities can bill Provena Covenant Medical Center for 2007 property taxes, Champaign County Judge Michael Jones ruled this morning.

Jones vacated his order of this past spring that had protected the hospital from being billed for 2007 taxes based on a Sangamon County court decision that found the hospital to be tax-exempt.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Solo Cup to close Highland Park plant; Urbana to gain 47 jobs

URBANA – Solo Cup Co. will add 47 full-time positions at its Urbana plant as a result of closing a plant in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, company spokeswoman Angie Chaplin said Monday.

The positions are expected to move to Urbana late this year, and Chaplin said it's likely many of the jobs will be available to area residents.

Chain gives no reason for Champaign restaurant closing

Boston's The Gourmet Pizza at 2501 N. Prospect Ave., C, is closed.

The Dallas, Texas-based chain didn't give reasons for the closing.

Developer, Danville agree to tax trade

DANVILLE – As contractors build the Social Security Administration's new downtown site, the city has made an agreement to give back to the developer half of the property taxes collected, and in return, the developer will make some extensive exterior improvements, including sidewalks and drainage work.

According to the Tax Increment Financing agreement, which the city's public services committee will consider Tuesday night, more than 50 percent of the property taxes collected over the next 10 years would be reimbursed to the developer, LGK Development in Boulder, Colo.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Urbana store giving women a hand

URBANA – Monique Phagan knows firsthand about homelessness and domestic violence. She fled an abusive relationship years ago and lived at A Woman's Place in Urbana. Later, she worked at the Center for Women in Transition, which helps homeless women get back on their feet.

Now she's running a new resale store at Lincoln Square, called "Transitions," which will hire residents from the Center for Women in Transition and train them for retail sales jobs.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

UI's station plans to 'air' on the side of more content

UI-7, the long-underutilized cable station owned by the University of Illinois, is poised to undergo a bit of revitalization.

For the first time in its existence, the channel has a staff – of one – and although the international news programs are no longer airing on the channel, there are plans to add more programming to the rotation.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Fundraising drive under way for Danville United Way

DANVILLE – When the United Way of Danville Area campaign began this year, there was already some money in the coffers.

A new Pacesetters campaign saw two local companies educating their employees on what services the United Way agencies furnish to the community and the opportunity to donate or complete a pledge card. NACCO Materials Handling Group held a United Way Agency Fair Aug. 1 and reached just more than $30,800 in donations and pledges, which officials call a great start toward the $800,000 goal for this year. The amount includes the employees' contributions and a corporate gift.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Carle donates $100,000 to Parkland to help elder care

CHAMPAIGN – Carle Foundation Hospital is giving $100,000 to Parkland College to improve the health care of elderly residents.

Kris Young, Parkland's vice president for academic services, announced the gift to Parkland's board of trustees at their Wednesday night meeting.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Attorney general warns of scams involving home repairs

Those hit by recent storms may face a hazard other than damaged roofs or flooded houses.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan warned in a press release Monday that home-repair scam artists are known to prey on people scrambling to make repairs on flood-damaged properties.

Study: Ethanol supporting rise in grain prices

CHAMPAIGN – A study released Monday by two University of Illinois farm economists shows that grain prices are likely to remain high as a result of ethanol, marking the first sustained increase in corn and soybean prices in Illinois in more than 30 years.

Darrel Good, a professor of agriculture and consumer economics, said that the use of corn in ethanol will likely mean Illinois corn will likely average $4.60 a bushel. That's nearly twice the average price of $2.42 a bushel paid between 1973 and 2006.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Champaign on road to utilizing natural gas for fleet

CHAMPAIGN – Those commercials with Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens touting compressed natural gas as a cheaper, cleaner alternative fuel for vehicles? Count city of Champaign officials among those who are interested.

The city council last week signed off enthusiastically on a "fleet sustainability pilot program" that will have the city buying a Honda Civic GX this fiscal year for the public works department. The car will operate on compressed natural gas. A public works pickup truck will also be retrofitted to run on compressed natural gas.

Stopping By: Get a trim, study Lincoln at St. Joe mayor's salon

ST. JOSEPH – B.J.'s Beauty Shop is more than a place to get a perm or a haircut.

The downtown St. Joseph shop is also a mini-museum dedicated to the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Owner (and St. Joe Mayor) B.J. Hackler spends a lot of time on the phone conducting village business while giving a perm or trimming a teen boy's hair.

Local Honda dealer seeks permission to sell natural-gas car

SAVOY – Twin City Honda BMW isn't selling the Honda Civic GX that runs on compressed natural gas yet, but the dealership will likely ask Honda for approval to sell it locally within the next few months, according to the dealership's sales manager.

The Civic GX is the only car powered by natural gas made by a major automaker in the country. The Champaign-Urbana area seems like a natural market for it, said Chris Rogers, Honda sales manager at Twin City Honda, 100 Burwash Ave., Savoy.

Report predicts lower yields for corn, soybeans in area fields

A report released over the weekend indicates that corn and soybean yields in East Central Illinois are expected to be lower than a year ago.

According to a new crop-production report released by the Illinois Department of Agriculture's national statistics service on Friday afternoon, corn yields are expected to be as much as 18 bushels an acre below a year ago, while soybean yields have fallen as much as 9 bushels an acre below 2007.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

It's Your Business: Estate Sale ready to open new location

The Estate Sale, a home furnishings and antiques shop that opened in downtown Champaign last year, is nearly ready to open at its new location at the former Champaign-Urbana Public Health District headquarters.

The building at 710 N. Neil St. has been under extensive remodeling since store owner Bob Grossman bought it last spring, and the store is set to open there Sept. 27, according to manager Cib Johnson.

Feeling the Pinch: Finding ways to wed in style, on budget

Using heirloom jewelry and tunes on iPods, today's wedding couples are finding ways to marry in style – but on a budget.

"The wedding industry is in good shape despite economic slowness," says The Wedding Report, a research company based in Tucson, Ariz., that tracks and forecasts weddings and spending.

That is good news for the vendors and bad news for families planning nuptials.

In tight money times, practical families need to decide what is most important – pampering the guests, high fashion clothing or an abundance of flowers – and then compromise on the rest.

Residents throwing support behind sites slated for closure

About 12,000 of DeWitt County's 17,000 residents signed petitions that were delivered to state Rep. Bill Mitchell's office last week.

"When you consider that we only have 17,000 people living in DeWitt County, it shows the overwhelming support we have to keep Weldon Springs and the other state parks open," said Ruth Stauffer, director of the DeWitt County Development Council. "Weldon Springs improves our quality of life so much. It is absolutely silly for the governor to close it."

Fairmount vineyard set to uncork first Salt Fork Art Festival

FAIRMOUNT – In addition to bottling wines produced from grapes grown outside its doors, Sleepy Creek Vineyards continues to expand the musical and artistic events being held in and around the tasting room.

Owners Joe and Dawn Taylor will hold their inaugural Salt Fork Art Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 27 and noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 28. They already have more than 25 artists committed to participating, but will accept more.

Governor's budget cuts reach beyond closure of state parks

CLINTON – Every day, dozens of area residents and out-of-town visitors head to Boondocks II restaurant at Weldon Springs State Park near Clinton for meals of hand-cut ribeyes, Boonburger cheeseburgers and sizzling biscuits and gravy.

On Fridays, the waterfront restaurant draws large crowds to sample breaded-walleye dinners.

But restaurant owner Kayla Wilson-Koons says she'll have to close the popular eatery by Nov. 1, the date Gov. Rod Blagojevich has set to close the state park.

"I don't want to close, but the governor is giving me no choice," said Wilson-Koons, who employs 14 people at Boondocks II. "It's like a nightmare when you invest your life into a business only to have somebody pull it out from under you."

Friday, September 12, 2008

Owners of former Dom's to open restaurant at new location

CHAMPAIGN – Vicky and John Buttitta used to worry about their regular customers when they wouldn't see them in a while.

Now, after their longtime family restaurant, Dom's Patio Villa, has been closed for nine months, the Buttittas are making plans to welcome all those customers back in a brand new place – the former Jillian's.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Provena Covenant Medical Center stands pat on tax refund

URBANA – Provena Covenant Medical Center's attorney says the hospital will hang onto the $6.1 million property-tax refund it received from Champaign County earlier this year – at least for now.

The county is demanding the money back after the 4th District Appellate Court last month came down against the hospital and overturned a 2007 circuit court decision that had found Covenant tax-exempt.

United Way launches fund drive in Champaign County

CHAMPAIGN – With unemployment at its highest level in five years, it might be a curious time to raise fundraising expectations.

But the slow economy means there are more people who need help, even as the state slashes funding for nonprofit agencies, fundraisers say.

Illinois treasurer visits UI to warn about credit card offers

URBANA – University of Illinois student Joanna Zahn thought she'd outsmarted a credit card solicitor when she supplied a fake address and Social Security number – all in the quest to get the free Subway sandwich promised in a coupon.

She never got the card, but to her surprise the information showed up on her credit report, and she had to make the effort to close the account and get it off her record.

Carle earns accreditation from Society of Chest Pain Centers

URBANA – Carle Foundation Hospital has become one of 15 hospitals in the state to receive accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers, an international nonprofit organization devoted to reducing heart fatalities.

Accredited chest-pain centers show they can reduce the time it takes for a potential heart-attack patient to see a doctor, according to John Snyder, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Carle.

Candidates field environmental queries

URBANA – Local politicians had to answer some interesting questions relating to the environment – including why the federal government doesn't urge its citizens to become vegetarians and the environmental effect of war.

Audience participants at a Tuesday political forum submitted these questions to those seeking election and re-election this fall, as did the Prairie Group of the Sierra Club. Participants also fielded questions from moderator Kirstin Replogle that included topics such as offshore drilling.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Ameren pleased with gas plant site investigation

CHAMPAIGN – Contamination from a former manufactured gas plant at Fifth and Hill streets has spread off site in all four directions, but generally by less than 100 feet and only 150 feet at its furthest point, according to AmerenIP.

Ameren officials said they were pleased with the findings of their latest site investigation report, which came after they drilled 45 new soil borings around and on the 3.5-acre site this past April and May. Results showed that the contamination has not spread far and most of it is at least three feet underground, where the public is less likely to be exposed through inhalation of dust or direct contact with soil, said Brian Martin, an Ameren consulting environmental scientist.

Officials working on final details to make Zipcars available

CHAMPAIGN – The first Zipcar in town is a burgundy box on wheels called a Scion xB.

Its driver is Jenny Larios Berlin, the hourly car rental firm's general manager for universities.

Provena wants to keep $6.1 million tax refund

URBANA – Provena Covenant Medical Center's attorney says the hospital will hang onto the $6.1 million property tax refund it received from Champaign County earlier this year – at least for now.

The county is demanding the money back after the 4th District Appellate Court last month came down against the hospital and overturned a 2007 circuit court decision that had found Covenant tax-exempt.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Stopping By: Good sleep, wealth of history at Pestoum inn

PESOTUM – I was greeted at the front door of Sweet Dreams Bed and Breakfast Inn by proprietor Cheryl Smitley. Her friendly greeting set the tone for my visit with her and Fred, her husband of 31 years. However, I was not prepared for the beautiful elegance of the home they showed me.

The Smitleys say they fell in love with the original woodwork and fine craftsmanship when they first saw the 1902 Victorian-style home at 300 East Adams Street in Pesotum.

Feeling the Pinch: Experts say nest is rickety, but egg will be OK

CHAMPAIGN – As prices rise at the gas pump and grocery store, those counting on their nest egg to grow have been sorely disappointed.

Stocks tumbled this year, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 13 percent since Jan. 1. For people whose retirement plans and portfolios are stock-heavy, it's been a dismal time as folks watch their savings shrink.

People who depend on their nest egg for income are particularly troubled. Do they withdraw more money to cover expenses, or simply try to cut back on living expenses? And when will the market turn around?

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Foreclosed properties proving not to be worth risk right now