Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 3

HeraldReview LOCAL Tuesday, November 12, 2002 Dili taAi Number of early retirees compounds staffing challenge By NICOLE ZIEGLER DIZ0N Associated Press Writer the year's end, taking with them decades of management experience. As Blagojevich seeks to fill those positions, he must choose between party loyalists who have been waiting a generation for state jobs and current employees who know how their agencies work. "I think his first big challenge is not the budget. His first big challenge is to put together a staff," said former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar.

Lawmakers approved an early retirement program this spring that lets workers buy up to five years of service time, boosting their pensions and shortening or eliminating the wait for retirement benefits. More than 7,200 of the 20,000 employees eligible already have applied. Workers must decide by Dec. 31 whether they want to participate. Edgar, who would have led Attorney General Jim Ryan's transition team had he beaten Blagojevich, said his first task would have been an assessment of the employee roster: who's left, who's leaving and who can be talked into staying.

Edgar began his first term by sweeping out Gov. James R. Thompson's Cabinet, but left in place many deputy directors to keep things running. Blagojevich will have a harder time keeping experienced managers, Edgar said, because of the plum retirement package and their fear of the unknown. "Politically, they'd be far better off to put people in there who can run these agencies even if they don't have the five-star political credentials," Edgar said.

Blagojevich has named David Wil-helm, former head of the Democratic National Committee, to lead his transition team and is expected to start announcing key appointments early next week. The governor-elect promised Thursday he would reach out to Republicans and consider current state employees for his team. Even so, his staff hints that the man who campaigned on a message of change is unlikely to keep any holdouts from Gov. George H. Ryan's administration in the highest-ranking positions.

Blagojevich and his advisers aren't saying where they will find their team. The governor-elect pledges to consider people from both inside and outside the state for top jobs. CHICAGO After 26 years, Democrats are eager to take over the personnel department of one of the state's largest businesses its government. But finding the right team to keep the state running may not be an easy task for Democratic Rod Blagojevich. Thousands of state workers are expected to take early retirement by VETERANS DAY ALUTING VICE Ummj mli iotSt prate! Man collapses on sidelines during Civic Center game By STEPHANIE POTTER Staff Writer DECATUR DMH prenatal clinic slates move Decatur Memorial Hospital's prenatal clinic is moving from the third floor of the hospital to Physicians Plaza East on the DMH campus, beginning next year.

The clinic is still accepting new patients, according to Mike Cassell, DMH spokesman. Hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesday by appointment. DECATUR Veteto to announce second council bid April Veteto is planning another run for a seat on the Decatur City Council.

The 37-year-old, who ran two years ago for a council position, will announce her candidacy at a 10 a.m. news conference Thursday at the Decatur Civic Center. Veteto said if she's elected, she wants to be known as "the member that listens to everyone," and someone who investigates an issue before she votes on it. The election is April 1. DECATUR St.

Mary's sets survivors' program People of all faiths who have lost a loved one through death are invited to a special program on handling the holidays from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at St. Mary's Hospital Forum. St.

Mary's chaplain Mary Handley and a panel of those who have lost loved ones will share suggestions. There also will be a prayer service. Registration is suggested by calling 464-2046. DECATUR Juvenile advocate official to speak Ruth Hawkins of the Court Appointed Special Advocate program will speak at the American Association of University Women meeting at 7 p.m. today in the east room of Richards Treat University Center at Millikin University.

The program has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice as a model juvenile delinquency prevention program. DECATUR Neighborhood group offers raffle tickets The Neighborhood United Association will be selling raffle tickets outside the Fairview Plaza Kroger store today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The group is raffling holiday hams and other prizes as a fund-raiser for their activities.

mmm Recycling Center to mark annual event The RSVP Recycling Center will celebrate America Recycles Day by extending its hours to 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, and paying an additional 5 cents over the daily market price for cans. The center is at 130 W.

Cerro Gordo St. and only recycles aluminum beverage cans. Normal hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday. fX.

rA i if 1 hi A fh ti ri Bf i ii in ri irfimrrrnriinrnm mn-'iiii i Herald Review photosKelly J. Huff PLEDGE: Vietnam War veteran Al Sheppard of Decatur salutes with pride Monday as he and others gathered at the Barnes Citizens Building for a Veterans Day ceremony. Below, Buck Langford, a member of the Decatur VFW Post 99 and the Macon County Honor Guard, stands at attention as the American Flag unfolds down the side of the Barnes Citizens Building. Barnes Building, Lincoln Theatre ceremonies draw hundreds By MIKE FRAZIER Staff Writer DECATUR Authorities are investigating the death of a 21-year-old man who collapsed while taking a break from playing hockey Sunday night. Jordan M.

Street, 21, was pronounced dead at 10:35 p.m. at Decatur Memorial Hospital after collapsing in the bench area of the ice rink at the Decatur Civic Center, said Macon County Coroner Michael Day. Street's parents said he was physically fit and had no health problems they knew about. Street recently had completed eight months of active duty with the National Guard in Germany and had attained the rank of sergeant last week. Day said an autopsy would be scheduled late Monday or early today at Springfield Memorial Medical Center to determine the cause of death.

Street is the son of David and Starla Street of Decatur. The couple described their son as hardworking and said he had many friends. He was working at the Bunn-O-Matic Co. in Springfield, doing computer work and thinking of transferring from Western Illinois University to Millikin University. Starla Street said her son was studying lighting and set design for theater with a minor in computer science Starla Street said her son played soccer for years, but just recently had taken up hockey.

"He scored the only goal they had last night," she said. The Streets said they don't know if their son's death was related to heart trouble He had apparently told his girlfriend he didn't feel good earlier in the day, she said. His parents said Street had been an Eagle Scout since he was 13 and would talk his friends at Western Illinois into playing sports, rather than going out to party. The family had adopted Street when he was 11. He had three brothers with the Street family and two sisters who had been adopted by other families.

"It's like he had been here forever," David Street said. "He was a great kid." Street was playing in an informal hockey league for men in their 20s to 40s, his parents said. Russ Driver, general manager for the Civic Center, said a nurse who is the wife of one of the Civic Center employees happened to be at the rink Sunday night. He said there normally is not medical personnel on hand during games. "The fire department response time is so unbelievably good, we have not considered it," he said.

He said this was the first time he could remember someone collapsing during a game "If I was here for another 30 years, I don't expect this to happen again," Driver said. Andrew Miller is an organizer of the hockey league, which plays on Sunday and Wednesday nights. He said he did not know Street. "We're basically in absolute shock," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his familv jf -A Guard fired a 21-gun salute and a large flag was unfurled at 11 a.m.

The time the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month originally marked the close of World War I. A cannon blast and gunshots rang through downtown Decatur to mark the solemn occasion. At the evening observance, Paul Osborne, editor and publisher of the Decatur Tribune, spoke of his pride in veterans who have served this country. The evening was filled with stirring and patriotic music as 7-year-old Blake Thomson accompanied The Rev. Roger Olson of Faith Baptist Church; Miss Decatur Shon-na Bonds sang country-western songs; and the Decatur Municipal Band performed.

Jerry Brenner, superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Macon County, is a member of the "greatest generation" and a World War II veteran. "We are dying," he said. "We must stay together and bring our message to the younger people." "The most important thing DECATUR Melissa Reed was in boot camp when terrorists smashed planes into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. But the attacks didn't deter her from becoming a Marine they only strengthened her resolve.

Being a Marine is something of a family calling for Reed. Her grandfather, Frank Callaway of Decatur, served in the Marines in World War II and was part of the American occupation force in Japan after the war. "She said, 'If grandpa can do it, I can do recalled her grandmother, Yvonne Callaway. Frank and Yvonne Callaway were among the dozens of Decatur area residents who came to the Barnes Citizens Building for the annual Veterans Day observance Monday morning. Several hundred residents also were on hand at the Lincoln Square Theatre for a Monday evening event full of music and remembrance.

The Macon County Honor ing to Kathy Kracht of Decatur, president of the Macon County unit of the Marine Corps League Auxiliary. Her husband, Harry Kracht, is a Marine Corps veteran, and her daughter, Michelle, 14, was born on Veterans Day. "Every day, another man or woman becomes a veteran," Kathy Kracht said. "It's not just those who served in World War Korea, Vietnam or the Gulf War. Every single day, someone signs up to become a service member." Mike Frazier can be reached at or 421-7985.

is to remember the guys who didn't come back," said Bernard Johnson of Decatur, a World War II veteran and a member of the Macon County Honor Guard. "They're the real heroes." After Sept. 11, Johnson saw a surge of patriotism across the country he hadn't seen since America entered World War II. And that feeling still is alive today, according to Johnson. "911 broke everybody up," he said.

"I'm sorry something that bad had to happen to bring (the patriotism) back." Veterans Day isn't just about honoring those who served in wars past, accord NOTICE The Herald Review strives for accuracy. Readers who think an error has been published are encouraged to call the Herald Review newsroom at 421-6979. When an error is found, a correction will be published. 7-month-old Pana girl put in intensive care after lung collapses PANA The family of a 7-month-old Pana girl who was rallying to buy a machine that could extend her life is now praying that she'll be able to use it. Gabrielle Cox is in intensive care at St.

Louis Children's Hospital. One of her lungs collapsed when she was there Oct. 27 for a sleep apnea study, and she was placed on a ventilator. "This was a nightmare," said Penny Brown, Gabrielle's grandmother, from the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit. "It's just one big thing that happened that shouldn't have happened." Gabrielle suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disease that causes progressive degeneration of cells in the spinal cord.

The disease causes weakness and wasting of voluntary muscles, such as those used for crawling, walking, head and neck control, coughing and swallowing. The family was able to raise enough money to buy an in-exsuffla-tor or coughing machine for her, with a $6,000 donation from the Andreas family of Archer Daniels Midland Co. The machine has been ordered and will assist her weakened muscles in clearing mucus from her airways. But right now, the family's focus is on moving Gabrielle off of the ventilator. "If she can't come off of it, they'll put her on a (tracheotomy tube)," Brown said.

"That's what we're working so hard to prevent." Doctors may try to remove Gabrielle from the ventilator today. Brown said if Gabrielle can't breath on her own after trying twice to take her off the machine, then they'll have to consider the tracheotomy. A tracheotomy is the surgical insertion of a tube in the trachea, or windpipe, that limits the ability to speak. Stephanie Potter can be reached at spotter or 421-7984 i A.