The Decatur Daily Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 44

PAGE FORTY-FOUR THE DECATUR REVIEW Decatur, Illinois, Wednesday, August 17, 1 City Replies To Police Union Richland Community College New Site Pro sals po 'Hard. ook Daily Review, fi font iftfh nr W. ELDORADO GT. i lu-iAIj i-i WILLIAM ST WILLIAM Jyl VI. PRAIRIE Si E.

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Riebock was not taking all the information back to the city. Parker requested that City Manager Leslie T. Allen join the negotiations, an issue which was not addressed in today's statement. The statement did say the city's bargaining effort "is most serous and objective and is aimed toward reaching a working agreement with the union that is within the fiscal constraints of the city." Meanwhile, Riebock said he believed progress had been made Tuesday during talks with the firefighters' union. "The city made a significant change in its position in a good faith effort to achieve a settlement," he said, although declining to outline the change.

He said the city's bargaining team was favorably inclinced toward the union's request for federal mediation. A definite answer to the union was expected this afternoon, he said. Firefighters' union President Robert Sullivan said Tuesday he thought no progress was made. Related Story, Page 27 The City of Decatur's collective bargaining team released a statement today, saying it "regrets any misinterpretations cf its actions" during negotiations with the police union. The statement was in response to remarks made Tuesday by police union President James Parker that he was 'very upset that one member of the city's negotiating committee walked out of the meeting (Tuesday) and another was laughing during it." Parker said, "Due to this treatment, I can't vouch for what happens from this time out." According to the statement released today, "The city's collective bargaining team, after considerable study, made a serious attempt to respond to police union proposals and it will continue to bargain in a good faith effort to achieve a settement." The statement goes on to say that there exists "full and complete communications among the bargaining team, the city manager and the city council." Parker charged Tuesday that chief city negotiator Thomas At a Glance Decatur Local square foot facility ranging from $50 to $60 a square foot." "We most certainly are going to take a good hard look at it," Richland Board Chairman Donald G.

Baird said today. The board accepted the report Tuesday night but took no action on it. Baird estimated that it could be at least a month before the board would be ready to decide whether it wanted either site for a permanent campus or would stay with its earlier choice of the suburban Wilcox property. "I don't mean to sound as though we're not anxious. We aren't going to sit on this," Baird said.

"The clock is running. Our time in the old First National Bank Building (at 100 N. Water, the college's present, temporary location) is running out." Walton Signs Application For Law Building Study sites recommended for new Richland campus. Were Studied Kopetz Favors Northern Map locates ites At one point in its search for a downtown Richland Community College site, the committee considered as many as 13 different packages of land, according to Jerry Breakstone. Breakstone, cf Hellmuth, a 1 1 a Kassabaum, St.

Louis, said the committee narrowed its considerations to three clusters of sites. 13 road tracks and north of East Prairie. The third cluster (C-l, C-2 and C-3) is bounded on the east by the Illinois Central Gulf tracks, is south of East SWood Street and North of East Decatur Street. The committee's first choice was the A-l site. Its second choice was a site that would combine B-l and B-2.

An application for $150,000 in federal funds for a four-phase study on the possibility of constructing a joint Decatur-Macon County law enforcement building has been signed by a Elmer Waiton and County Board Chairman Roy R. Suzewitz. The document will be submitted to the Illinois Law En-1' or cement Commission, through which the federal funds would come, by James Stevens, executive director of the Central Illinois Regional Commission for Law Enforcement. Woman Charged With Murder Marion Johnson, 31, of 602 E. Marion St.

was arraigned on two counts of murder in Circuit Court this morning. It is charged that she shot her father, Claudis Morton, 54. in their home early Monday during a family argument. Bond has been set at $50,000. Mr.

Morton died about 5 a.m. Monday in St. Mary's Hospital after undergoing surgery for a chest wound. Girl Hurt in Mishap Angela Minix, 4, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

Robert Minix of 1258 Churchill was in Many Own Land in Site Proposals To Get By Linda Doherty No timetable has been set for a decision on a permanent campus site for Richland Community College but work that could lead to that decision is expected to begin as soon as possible. Richland trustees heard a report Tuesday night from the special committee they had appointed to search for possible downtown campus sites. The committee recommended two possible sites an area of about nine acres north of Landmark Mall and south of the Norfolk Western Railroad tracks (A-l on map) and another area of about eight acres to the south and east of the Decatur Civic Center site (B-l and B-2 on map). Including acquisition and demolition, the costs of the sites were estimated to be about $2.5 million for Site A-l and about $2.3 million for Site B-l, B-2. Land acquisition costs for the Wilcox property northeast of Decatur, the college's original choice for a permanent campus site, have been estimated at about $359,065.

"Considering a total budget of $12.5 million, less approximately $2.5 million for site costs, and approximately $1 million for fees, site perimeter work and contingencies, there remains approximately $9 million," the committee's report said in part. "This amount appears ade quate to construct a 150,000 Size Was Major Factor In Selection The committee seeking possible sites for a downtown Richland Community College campus used the following criteria to evaluate suggested locations: Size of site was considered to be most important. Three acres was the minimum with 9 to 15 acres most desirable. Must have future expansion potential, with, contiguous land to be a minimum about 5 acres. Surface parking considered most desirable and remote parking least desirable.

Site could be developed into a campus design with which students would identify. Accessible to existing and currently planned highways or streets. Must be reasonably available for purchase. Have a potential for sharing existing facilities. Be easily accessible to all areas of the district.

Adjacent land use would need to be compatible with the college. Have an impact on the community's image by providing public space and visual improvements. Time Trigona on his right and to the rear were the steps. Accepting the unavoidable, Rupp continued chatting with the candidate. Then he spied Taylor.

"I want you to meet Skinny Taylor," Rupp said, pointing out the subject to Martin-Trigona. Smile beaming once more, Martin-Trigona took his long strides across the wide sidewalk and greeted Taylor by saying: "Are you the famous "Skinny" Taylor?" Taylor blushed. Another politician wandered upon the scene state Rep. John Dunn, D-Decatur. I'm a state representative," he told Martin-Trigona.

Noting all the Republicans attending a Democrat's press conference, Dunn added, "I wanted you to meet one Democrat while you were here." There was more talk about U.S. 51. Then it was time to leave. Martin-Trigona would have to hurry if he was to beat the odds again and drive his red and white van into Bloomington by 11:30 a.m. He roused Grumpy, took hold of her leash and they walked toward the parking lot where the van waited.

Just before he opened the van door and put the dog in, he turned to a reporter. "Could I ask you just one thing?" he said. "How do I get to U.S. 51?" lin and Eldorado streets. According to county officials, the new telephone company offices hold a long-term lease on the property held in a First National Bank of Champaign trust.

In the B-l area, where the Decatur Civic Center Authority approved purchase of three lots this morning, county land records list the following owners: City of Decatur; Sol Tick; Trinity M.E. Church; a Citizens National Bank trust. Douglas Johnson and Paul Weidenbacher; Douglas Johnson and Downing; Dean Butts; James Van Praag; Clarence Bowman; Tim Dole; Edna Bunn; David Scott, and the Gebhardt estate. In the B-2 area, the land is owned by Paul Weidenbacher; Lindsay-Schaub Newspapers, Inc. and Sol Tick.

By Earl Merkel Potential downtown sites for the proposed Richland Community College campus used as one criteria land that would be "reasonably available" lor purchase. According to land ownership records in the Macon County recorder of deeds office, any large-scale purchases in the suggested areas is likely to involve a relatively large number of separate negotiations. Landowners in the A-l area are, according to the county records: Jack Y. and Bessie I. Loeb; Charles and Winona Witts; Frank E.

and Helen Pest; Leiby S. Hall; the McFadden estate. Wait estate, including Wait property held in trust by the Citizens National Bank: Irene V. Condit; Morgan Powell, My Report But Baird explained that the board wanted some time to study the committee's proposals and probably would request that the college staff "try to develop the cost estimates a little more closely by getting in touch with the owners and seeing what we cSn do with them." He said he expected some discussion on the report next Tuesday during a continuation of the board's regular monthly meeting. The board will probably also schedule a special study session at a later date to go over the report, Baird said.

If the trustees should decide on the B-l, B-2 site, they would have to work in cooperation with the Civic Center board, since the B-l area has already been designated by the center for parking and spin-off development. The north half of the block bounded by North, Jackson, William and Mill streets. Purchase price was $155,000 from T. Douglas and Theresa Johnson. A small parcel in the northeast corner of William and Jackson streets.

Purchase price was $30,000 from the First National Bank of Decatur as a trustee. Douglas Johnson was the sole beneficiary of the trust. The south hall' of the block bounded by Mill, William, Broadway and North streets. Purchase price was $240,000 from the First National Bank of Decatur as executor of the estate of Lynn H. Gebhart.

Board Secretary Richard J. Lutovsky said he believes the board will have acquired all the property planned for parking and spin-off development by November. In other action, the board authorized that bids be taken for demolishing the former Stephen Decatur High School. The board is expected to have possession of the school Aug. 26, when the sale of the property by the Decatur School District is closed.

Staff Photo by Doug Gaumon interviewed by electronic media Site Tributes, Record Sales Follow Death of Presley Martin-Trigona Stumps for Congress fair condition this morning in St. Mary's Hospital after a Monday morning accident at the loading dock of the Decatur Herald and Review. The youngster reached out at a moving conveyor as newspapers were being loaded into vehicles for delivery, according to initial reports. Her arm became caught in the equipment and she sustained a broken arm and shoulder dislocation, the reports said. Local Report The three-day Blue Mound Fall Festival starts Thursday.

PAGE 26 The assessed value of all Macon County farm land will be changed because of a new state law revising assessment procedures. PAGE 27 More local news on PAGES 28 and 38. and several features on Presley prepared by CBS were broadcast, according to Program Director Larry King. "We had a number of callers Tuesday wanting to know details about his death and wanting to hear his records," said King. Meanwhile, many of Presley's fans are descending on record shops and record departments of department stores, quickly snapping up the available discs and placing orders for more.

"There were several persons at the door waiting for the store to open at 8:30 this morning," said Helen Wagner, owner of Ed's Record Shop, 861 N. Water St. "They grabbed the records almost before I- turned the lights on." Mrs. Wagner said she had sold $90 worth of Presley records almost immediately after his death was announced. "We had 45 different Elvis albums Tuesday, with two or three copies of each.

Now we're down to 11 or 12 total." At mart, 1155 E. Pershing record department Manager Steve Taylor said he had sold "almost all the Presley records we had." "There was a big rush last night, and I sold four or five in just the few minutes after we opened at 9:30 a.m. today," said Taylor. "I've placed an order for 500 more records and tapes." When Presley's death was announced, many regular customers of the Spin Shop, 215 N. Main jammed the phone linos to the store, according to employe Susan Siefferman.

"It's odd, because we had put up a display wall with Presley's picture and his records earlier Tuesday," she said. Related Stories on Pages 1 and 4. Arrive on Candidate, One cluster (shown as A-l and A-2 on the accompanying map) is north of Eldorado Street and south of the Norfolk Western Railway tracks. The second cluster (E-l, B-2 and B-3) is to the south and east of the civic center location, south of East North Street, bounded on the east by the Illinois Central Gulf Rail- ron Sholem and Stanford ho-lem. Sarah Ann Holmes; Louis and Eva Greenberg, including Greenberg property held in trust by the Citizens National Bank; the Jacob Melnik estate; Joanne Hornstein.

Decatur Transfer Tap, Carrie A. Suffern estate; Ira B. Barnes; Lewis V. Hogan property in trust of Citizens National Bank. Arthur and Fao Wait: Jean V.

Morin; James and Robert Chippendale; Liquor, Henry C. Bledsce, and Gaika Cabinet, Inc. The area contains a large number of small shops and businesses, many of which ans on property leased from the owners of record. Some buildings are relatively new, including the Illinois Bell Telephone Co. offices at Frank Off The Beat With Bob Sampson Republican Sen.

Charles Percy in 1978. This is the latest in a series of candidacies for the Chicago man. Nearly 10 years ago he ran for the state legislature. Since then he has tested the water for governor, secretary of state and appellate court judge. "This is actually the official starting point of the campaign as far as highways are concerned," he began, only to stop when Grumpy slipped off the leash and made for some nearby shrubbery.

With the dog back at his side, Marti n-Trigona outlined his plan. A new U.S. 51 is needed, he said. Previous improvement plans have been stymied for a variety of reasons. Now he's figured out a way to get around all the roadblocks.

"I want to make it a federal interstate highway so it can qualify for federal funding," he said. og By Jan Gilarski The chairman of the Decatur Civic Center Board said today he would prefer that Richland Community College trustees, if they decide on a downtown campus site, choose a recommended parcel north of Eldorado Street (Site A-l on map). But Robert Kopetz also said that the board would be willing to cooperate with Richland if the trustees decide to choose the site adjacent to the proposed civic center. Kopetz said the site north of Eldorado "is a better site. It's larger." "It would do more for the city," he continued.

It would be taking from downtown a lot of buildings that would be in disrepair in a few years." Kopetz also is a member of the college site committee, which outlined two potential downtown locations for a permanent campus Tuesday night. The second potential site includes land the civic center panel has slated for parking and potential spin-off development. The Civic Center Board, in fact, approved land purchase agreements this morning for three parcels in the B-l area of the map. They are: Martin-Trigona and Grumpy are rih ftm i By George Castle The death of Elvis Presley on Tuesday has prompted tributes tc the rock superstar at two Decatur radio stations and a rush on his records at several Decatur stores. At WDZ, a rock station, an afternoon-long tribute to Presley was planned today on disc jockey Larry Limbach's show.

At least one Presley record every 15 minutes was to be played on Limbach's show, which runs from noon to 6 p.m. Limbach said he had received a number of calls from persons Tuesday during his show when first reports of Presley's death were circulated. "I called radio station WHBQ in Memphis to confirm the tact that he died," said Lim-' fcach. "That's the station which helped launch Elvis to stardom." After Limbach announced Presley's death on the air, he said he received more calls from grieving Presley fans. John Love, WDZ's morning disc jockey, said he spent most of his show today reminiscing about Presley's activities in Memphis.

Love had worked at a Memphis production company for nine years. "Elvis was a helluva citizen," said Love. "He con-Iributed a lot of money to local charitable organizations, but kept a low profile. Often, a contribution would come from a supposedly mysterious source, but everyone knew it was Elvis." Love said he had never worked with Presley. "But my secretary in Memphis dated him for a little while." At WSOY, a number of Presley records were played on Stephen B.

Hall's all-night show From there it was a quick step to a general verbal pummelling of the Chicago Democratic machine, and Republican Percy. The candidate says they are robbing Downstate. "We have to get to the point where the needs of Downstate are being met in Washington and in my opinion they're not," he said. During the denunciation, Grumpy plopped onto the sidewalk and stretched out at her master's feet. Jockeying to gain the best position for their tape recorders and cameras aome of the re-porters found themselves stepping carefully over the dog.

All the while, more politicians were starting to gather. First came state Sen. James Rupp, R-Decatur, and then H. G. "Skinny" Taylor, Macon County GOP chairman.

Not one to waste a collection of reporters, Taylor quickly stole Martin-Trigona's thunder by announcing Ronald Reagan would be in Decatur Nov. 15 to speak at a fundraiser. As the questioning ceased, Marti n-Trigona approached Rupp and started discussing U.S. 51 and all the cameras began focusing on the men. Rupp's eyes shifted back and forth between Martin-Trigona and the cameramen.

He seemed to be looking for some way to get out of any pictures. There was no way. Another man was on his left, Martin- All the smart money Tuesday moriung was being put on the proposition that Anthony Rob-ert Martin-Trigona surely would be late. The apparent successor to Lar "America First" Daly as the state's perennial candidate was scheduled to arrive at 10:15 a.m. by car after a 9 zrn press conference Champaign.

But the television and radio reporters and the "lead pencil boys," as a former colleague used to describe newspapermen, hardly had time to exchange more than one or two gripes as they sat on the Macon County Building steps wiien Martin-Trigona came striding up Wood Street. "He's one second late," one man remarked, determined to be right. In Martin-Trigona's hand was a leash. Attached to the other end was a large St. Bernard dog, his campaign companion "Grumpy." Smiling and waving, Martin-Trigona strode up the steps, pausing only for a moment while Grumpy made a deposit.

"Oh, Grumpy," Martin-Trigona said through an embarrassed smile. Then he got down to business. He was here as part of his campaign to gain the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and the chance to oppose.