People

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Homer teen excited about opportunity to attend inauguration

HOMER – A local teenager will be among the more than 1 million people expected to descend Jan. 20 on Washington D.C.'s National Mall for the inauguration of the nation's 44th president – Barack Obama.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Georgetown-Ridge Farm FFA seeks Toys for Kids items

GEORGETOWN – The Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School FFA chapter is collecting toys and donations for its Toys for Kids program.

People can take toys for children up to 13 years old or money donations to the high school's ag department, 500 Mulberry St., Georgetown, through Dec. 12.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Champaign fire lieutenant gives students hands-on training

CHAMPAIGN – Earlier this month, on a chilly, windy and dark Thursday evening – during a burst of snow flurries, no less – a group of teenagers tended to a patient stuck on a roof.

It was a mock exercise, really, and the patient was actually a mannequin, and the mannequin wasn't placed on a high-pitched roof but behind Fire Station No. 5. Still, the students worked to "package the patient," strapping the mannequin to a backboard and placing it in a basket of sorts to prevent it from falling out while being taken down a ladder.

Through the lens: Photographer documents life on Illinois River

CHAMPAIGN – A man rows on the Illinois River at dawn, bathed in orange light.

Another, adventurer Steven Antonacci, kayaks across jagged ice covering the river, heading to his home near Chillicothe.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Fundraiser to help Korean group move to its own building

The Korean Cultural Center will host a dinner and benefit show featuring traditional music and dance on Dec. 6.

Currently housed in an office in the University YMCA building, 1001 S. Wright St., C, the group has its sights set on moving one day to its own house near Sixth and Daniel streets in Champaign.

Friday, November 28, 2008

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.

Former social worker starts to get her life back on track

CHAMPAIGN – A workplace injury led Sue Studnicka on a downward spir- al that eventually left her homeless.

The 54-year-old former social worker was one of the first clients at an overflow shelter set up at a Champaign church last January. She'd been living in her car and a Rantoul motel for about two months.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

A passion for hunting prompted his pursuit of pardon

MAHOMET – Richard Culpepper is living proof that good things come to those who wait. He has a renewed faith in his government to do the right thing. And he can't wait to go hunting.

The 52-year-old Mahomet man learned Monday from a television news reporter that he had received a pardon from President Bush for a 1987 federal conviction he received for making a false claim to the government.

And since then, he's been enjoying the limelight, sharing the story of his six-year quest to get a pardon because he wanted to be able to hunt with friends.

Infant loss support group's founders find their arms are full again

CHAMPAIGN – After their babies died, Meghan Drewes and Becky Ames grieved and prayed and wondered if their arms would ever feel full again.

This year, each mom had her answer.

Drewes and Ames – the co-founders of Empty Arms, a local infant loss support group – have their arms full once again, after each gave birth to a healthy son, Coby James Drewes, born May 24, and Trevor Alan Ames, born July 24.

Community generous with donations by the pounds

CHAMPAIGN – If you noticed more traffic than usual in downtown Champaign on Wednesday, the reason was probably generosity.

Scores of citizens stopped by The News-Gazette's downtown office to drop off food donations on the day before Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Cultures mesh at Urbana Adult Education's Thanksgiving meal

URBANA – About 400 years ago, European settlers and American Indians met, sharing both food and thanks.

In 2008, the tradition continued at the annual Urbana Adult Education Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday, where about 150 people from dozens of countries met to give thanks and eat a meal representing the joining of cultures in cooperation.

C-U residents past and present, neighbors offer their thanks

Thanksgiving couldn't come at a better time for a nation and a world that is hurting. This may be a gloomy time, but it's important to remember there are still many things to be thankful for. Again this year, I asked some of our neighbors what they are grateful for this Thanksgiving.

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.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Ex-Pesotum resident, teacher takes second in Ironman race

When Sandy Meneley asked her doctor if there was any reason she couldn't compete in an Ironman competition, he thought she was crazy. But he couldn't give her any medical reason not to.

Nine months later, the 61-year-old athlete finished second in her age group at the Ford Ironman Florida competition in Panama City, Fla., on Nov. 1.

Gold coin shows up in red kettle in Champaign

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 the Salvation Army's Melanie Hall. The coin is valued at $335.

Urbana High volunteers give reasons to offer thanks

URBANA – Got gobble?

If not, then Urbana High School students have a plan to fill your Thanksgiving calendar, at the UHS Student Senate's 37th annual Thanksgiving dinner.

The free meal – held from 5 to 7 p.m. at UHS – is open to everyone, from University of Illinois international students to elderly folks to anyone looking for a place that's "friendly, warm, inviting," said Yvonne Alvarez-Cortes, a UHS Spanish teacher and student senate adviser. The turnout, she said, is always "extremely diverse."

Monday, November 24, 2008

Life Remembered: Mittendorf gracefully laid residents to rest

CHAMPAIGN – Of funeral directors past and present, perhaps John P. Mittendorf was the epitome of the profession.

"He was the iconic funeral director," said Pete Tomaras. "He would set the example because of his kindness and his ability to relate personally to people. He knew everybody. Champaign was a much smaller town in the '40s and '50s, and people were comforted by him and counted on him."

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Residents going all out to see Obama inaugurated in person

Whether they get tickets or not, Fred and Lou Crockett will be in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20 for Barack Obama's inauguration as president of the United States.

But the Crocketts aren't the only East Central Illinois residents planning a trip to the nation's capital for the historic moment. Calls for inauguration tickets have been rolling in to all the Illinois congressional offices.

Democratic county board fixture riding off into Hawaiian sunset

URBANA – Jennifer Putman served three decades on the Champaign County Board. But she nearly didn't make it through her first term.

The Urbana Democrat was also the deputy Cunningham Township assessor, and county Republicans, who dominated the board, charged that it was illegal for her to hold two government jobs.

Danville principal burns candle on both ends in daily work

6:45 a.m. It's daybreak when first-year Principal DeMarko Wright arrives at Garfield Elementary School.

In four years, the Danville native has gone from fifth-grade teacher to administrative intern to the 1903 school's chief.

Video shows UI librarians' quest to settle the West in 1908

A timid, hair-wrapped-in-a-bun, pince-nez-wearing spinster.

Is that the image you have of a librarian from 100 years ago?

Try this one on instead:

Gun-toting, horseback-riding, walk-2-miles-to-work-in-a-blizzard type of woman.

Those were the kind of librarians who settled the West.

Around the turn of the 20th century, graduates of the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science (then called the Illinois Library School) headed to places like Texas, North Dakota, Idaho and Oregon.

Mission: to bring culture to the West.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Out in the cold, pastor draws attention to homlessness

SAVOY – Friday night's camp-out was a cold one for Pastor James McClarey.

The 48-year-old leader of Savoy United Methodist Church planned to spend 12 hours sleeping outdoors as a way to experience firsthand what many of the area's homeless do – outside without a home.

"I know we can't really duplicate what it really feels like to be homeless, but I thought, you know, let's try to enter into the experience," McClarey said.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Woman seeks help for Oakwood family after fire

OAKWOOD – An Oakwood woman is asking for donations for a family that lost all of their belongings in a house fire on Sunday.

The fire at 401 Scott St. started a little after 6 a.m.

Shane Wynn; his two sons, Adam and Scott; his girlfriend, Cassie Parker; and Parker's 2-year-old son, Wyatt, were home when the fire broke out. They escaped without injury.

But "the only thing they got out of there with was what they wore to bed," said Lori Meyers, Wynn's niece, who is collecting donations on the family's behalf.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Toys-For-Troops donation event set for Dec. 7 in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – Local charity Toys-For-Troops will sponsor a Christmas-gifts-for-soldiers event Dec. 7.

The event will be from 1 to 4 p.m. at Village Inn Pizza Parlor, at Springfield and Mattis avenues in west Champaign.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Metropolitan Building visitors revisit memories of 'grand lady'

We asked you to send us your memories of the Metropolitan Building after fire destroyed it on Nov. 7. Notes arrived from several eras – the late 1920s and '30s, the '50s and '60s, '80s and '90s.

From the popcorn wagon outdoors to the high ceilings upstairs, the building held a special place in the hearts of residents for a variety of reasons.

Here are excerpts (You can read more — or add your own — by clicking on this link):

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Lincoln's Challenge helping one cadet get his confidence back

Rantoul and Philo are only 21 miles apart, but to Lincoln's Challenge Cadet Robby Blaney, it seems the two are worlds apart.

Dressed in a bright-blue academy uniform, the cheerful, red-haired teen says the discipline he has learned on the former Chanute Air Force Base has completely changed his life around.

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.

World traveler's top pastime: Making people feel at home

CHAMPAIGN – Elizabeth Dickerson was in Paris last weekend and Moscow in September. She'll soon make one of her regular trips to India. And she'll likely be in Europe again, or Japan or Shanghai, in the next several months.

Dickerson loves the travel and adventure and seeing new sights that come with her career as an international flight attendant.

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

Urban League closes in wake of financial woes, investigations

CHAMPAIGN – The 45-year-old Urban League of Champaign County closed its doors Friday.

The closure comes on the heels of mounting financial problems, state and federal investigations and a soon-to-be-released audit for fiscal 2006-2007, according to a press release from the organization late Friday night.

Salvation Army issues urgent plea for volunteer bell ringers

Before the kickoff at today's Illinois-Ohio State football game, members of the Salvation Army of Champaign County's brass band will take Zuppke Field to kick off the organization's Red Kettle campaign.

"It's probably the biggest crowd the Band of the Heartland has ever played for," Envoy Mike Fuqua said, adding the musicians will join the Marching Illini to play "The Star Spangled Banner" during the pregame show.

Volunteers got a head start ringing bells at 30 kettle locations in Champaign County on Friday. Salvation Army of Danville volunteers will begin doing that at Vermilion County locations on Nov. 21.

Area advocates for the disabled hail ruling on housing

URBANA – For years Lester and Barbara Pritchard have campaigned for more rights for people with disabilities.

They know something about the topic. Lester Pritchard has cerebral palsy, which affects his speech and keeps him in a wheelchair. Barbara is visually impaired.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Urban League of Champaign County closes after 45 years

CHAMPAIGN – The 45-year-old Urban League of Champaign County closed its doors Friday.

The closure comes on the heels of mounting financial problems, state and federal investigations and a soon-to-be-released audit for fiscal 2006-2007, according to a press release from the organization late Friday night.

"From a financial standpoint, it was a very simple decision. There was no alternative. From an emotional perspective and a loss to the community, it was an incredibly difficult decision," said interim Executive Director Sandra Jones.

Urban League's announcement

Release from the Urban League of Champaign County issued at 11 p.m. Friday.

"The Board of the Urban League of Champaign County announces its decision to close the League as of November 14, 20008. The Board recognizes the import of the decision for the community and arrives at this juncture with the deepest regret over the loss of an organization devoted to equal rights and individual skill and opportunity development. It wishes to thank those agencies, organizations and governmental entities who have worked to help transition services for those citizens served by the League. It is in the best interest of the community and the clients served to maintain viable programs in settings that can adequately sustain such programming. The transfers arranged collaboratively with every agency and funding entity accomplish this important objective, a top priority of the Board.

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.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Candlestick Lane's future doesn't look so bright

It wouldn't seem like Christmas without the bright and colorful Candlestick Lane display in east Urbana. But the residents of Grant Place in east Urbana say they're dialing down their holiday celebration this year.

After 45 years, there no longer will be a lighting ceremony on the opening night (Dec. 6) of the display.

Large crowd gathers in Danville to honor veterans

DANVILLE – A slight drizzle fell, an icy breeze chilled to the bone and cold wet leaves left the feet nearly numb, but that didn't stop 200 people including a large group of students from coming out for a half-hour Veterans Day ceremony.

Edison Elementary School fourth- and fifth-grade students joined the service at the World War II Memorial on Hazel Street.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Want to play in the leaves? Get to Urbana, but be quick

From Robin Kearton, artistic director of Community Center for the Arts:

Crane Alley, on the north side of Main Street in downtown Urbana, just east of the Cinema Gallery, 120 W. Main, is hosting the city's largest collection of intentionally placed leaves. This display is at your disposal for dragging feet, breathing fabulous fall smells and generally having fun.

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.

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

Residents astounded, ecstatic about Obama's election victory

John Jennings cast the first vote in his Champaign precinct Tuesday, and he surprised himself by how emotional he'd felt.

"I was thinking about my grandparents and how I came up in Mississippi in this rural, painfully impoverished fashion," he said. "My grandparents were illiterate – they couldn't even have read a ballot – and I'm about to vote for the first African-American president.

"It moved me to tears."

Activist 'works tirelessly when he believes in a cause'

CHAMPAIGN – Randall Cotton has closely cropped hair, wears serious wire-rim glasses and dresses somewhat conservatively. He speaks precisely and succinctly, like the computer engineer he is.

Abbie Hoffman he's not.

But Cotton, a 43-year-old Champaign resident, is every bit the committed, decidedly left-wing citizen activist.

Area World War II veterans' tales keep historical event alive

With each year, World War II survivors become an ever-more precious commodity. To mark Veterans Day this year, The News-Gazette's Paul Wood visits with three World War II veterans.

Bill Karr tells us about watching for snipers on the Pacific island of Guadalcanal. Ralph Langenheim describes the early dawn of D-Day from a small landing craft. And Art Leenerman tells the tragic story of the USS Indianapolis, which was sunk out of radio contact, leaving hundreds of sailors trying to stay alive in shark-infested waters.

A letter sent by Langenheim gives a taste of the times; just days after D-Day, he sent a letter to his family that doesn't even mention the Allied invasion of France because censorship was so stringent.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Battling blaze from on high proves taxing

CHAMPAIGN – It's easy for some to minimize what firefighters do.

Hey, they get two days off out of three, are paid fairly well and get a great pension, right?

Then a major fire erupts.

And for Wally Worley, a Champaign Fire Department engineer on Ladder Co. 161, doing his job meant he was climbing a ladder eight stories high in the air, wearing gear and an air pack that weighs about 70 pounds total, and directing water into an inferno.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Spokesfamily for Tree of Hope thrilled with help that they got

CHAMPAIGN – Bouncing around the auto showroom, tussling with his big brother over their toy cars, Mark Davis is the epitome of a busy 3-year-old.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

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.