Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 3

Tuesday, June 6, 1989 Decotur, Illinois I si note Dansby mmmmni as ismpion of civ Front row 'promotion' long overdue In mid-May, my son Kent graduated from Illinois State University. Old school memories came pop 5, 1919 4, St Mi Decatur Died: June ary's Hospital- Education: Graduate of Decatur High School, attended Mifliktn University and Roosevelt College, Chicago. Military: Enlisted 1941 in the U.S. Army Air Corps and became the unit's first black master sergeant in the 99th Fighter Squadron, the country's first all-black fighting unit. The squadron fought in nine major Ellsworth Dansby In 1941 in bourn Atrk -cafond Sicity.

Dansby came from a middle class background. "He was an unusual kind of person because he didn't have to stick his neck out. He could have been a laid-back person but that wasn't good enough. He came down on the side of the underprivileged and have-nots," said Horace Livingston publisher of The Voice. Music man Born: Oct.

5 i.m i i i i i i k. ---s -o (y. By DAVE PETRINA Herald Review Staff Writer Decatur residents Monday eulogized a man who championed a drive against racial discrimination and served in the country's first all-black fighter squadron. 1 Ellsworth H. Dansby 74, was remembered for his accomplishments as a community leader, and member of the Decatur Board of Education and Decatur Human Relations Commission.

Dansby had been in ill health several years because of a heart condition but had been out to dinner Saturday. "He was in high humor Saturday night when we went out with members of a club that has been meeting about 30 years," said John Cheeks, his brother-in-law. "He was talking about fishing and we played cards later." Dansby suffered a heart attack early Sunday morning at home. He had fought racial discrimination most of his life. His major battle was as a Decatur Board of Education member from 1968 to 1971 during the height of a communitywide controversy on cross-busing for racial integration, a concept he supported.

However, in a 1981 interview, he said there was compliance with the letter of the law in Decatur but not in the spirit of the law prohibiting discrimination. Multiplier sends Areola taxes higher By JEFFREY RAYMOND Mattoon Bureau Chief ARCOLA In 1987, several properties in the township sold for more than the as-, sessor thought they were worth. Now, everyone in the township is paying more in property taxes to make up the difference. Mayor Jack Fishel said at Monday night's city council meeting that he has been getting calls from citizens upset that their property tax bills have gone up. Fishel insisted the increase was not because the city raised its rates.

He had Douglas County Supervisor of Assessments Harlan Henderson at the meeting to explain the increase. Henderson said the Illinois Department of Revenue figured property values based on property sales. When it looked at 1987's property sales, the department found property, on average, selling for more than its assessed valuation indicated it was worth. Assessed valuation is supposed to be one-third, or 33.3 percent, of the fair market value. But in 1987, based on a formula that compares sale price with assessed valuation, properties typically were underassessed.

Taxes paid this year are based on 1987 assessments. Henderson said the properties were so undervalued, in fact, that it brought the township's average assessed valuations over the past three years to about 31 percent. For the prior two years that figure was around 33 percent, but this year fell to 27.19 percent. To work out the discrepancy, Henderson had to multiply the assessed valuations on all the properties in Areola Township by 1.12. That, in effect, raised property taxes 12 percent.

Henderson said it was the first time he had given a multiplier that raised property taxes. Overall, Douglas County's multiplier is .9578, meaning the county's property is assessed slightly higher than its fair market value would indicate. "I've tried to be as fair about this as we could," Henderson explained. In other business, the council hired Deerfield-based consultant Fredi Beth Schmutte to help the city apply for and receive state and federal grant and loan money. Schmutte, who helped the city land money for the Libman Broom Co.

expansion and the Littelfuse Tracor plant a few years ago, has a six-month, $3,100 retainer to work for Areola. 1 lllllll LI 1 Hobbies: A licensed pilot, designed and restored vintage aircraft; former president of local Experimental Aircraft Association. Occupation: Technician at Dansby Dental Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory, contract administrator at Marvel-Schebler-Tillotson Division of Borg-Wamer Corp. state director for Project Equality of Illinois and Indiana. Religion: Deacon and elder of First Presbyterian Church, former state chairman of synod of Illinois Commission on Religion and Race.

Notable: He and his wife, the former Eunice Heideman, whom he married in 1949, participated in marriage counseling 'classes and worked with the National Council of Churches in explaining interracial marriages. "He was very prominent in the CCI study (Community Committee on Integration appointed by the school said Livingston, who grew up with Dansby. "He was a very fine citizen and a fine contributor to the school board," said T. W. "Ted" Schroeder, president of the board during Dansby's term.

"We had some rough times in those Photo by Larry Dailey But when the man returned at mid-day Monday and threatened to again commit a sexual act against her will she notified police. They found him ill in the apartment, the apparent victim of a drug overdose. He was treated at a local hospital and released to police custody Monday evening. director, does not dispute the Tax Foundation's findings on taxes per $1,000 of income, or the conclusion that by this measure Illinois' taxes are low. He says it's just that the measure is unimportant.

What matters, Bast says, is "tax effort" and "tax capacity" more complex measures used by the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, a research agency created by Congress in 1959. Tax capacity imagines that a state imposes a wide variety of taxes at nationally average rates. If these average taxes and rates would raise for a state less money than the national average, that state has a low tax capacity; if the state would raise more money than average with average rates its tax capacity is high. Illinois, the commission says, has a low tax capacity, despite its high ranking eighth in the nation in 1986 on per capita income. The primary reason for its low tax capacity is its 30th place ranking in terms of taxable property.

days, but it worked out in a more peaceable and satisfactory way than it has in many communities," he said of the busing issue. "I just visited with him a couple of weeks ago at a concert at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. I'm grieved that he has passed away." William F. Oliver, city council member, recalled supporting Dansby's campaigns for city council and school board. "He is a role model for this community who will be sorely missed.

It is a shame those of a younger age never got to know him. He was a unique individual who always bragged about his home town," said Oliver. Dansby had a lifelong interest in aviation. He launched himself from a hillside on a frame of bedsheets as a boy and then piloted an airplane for the first time in 1927 at age 12. He rebuilt airplanes and then joined World War II in the country's first all-black combat unit the 99th Fighter Squadron.

Cheeks was at the same Tuskegee (Ala.) Air Base as the 99th Squadron and recalled how one air crew praised the -ii it. t-v i il SKiu or tne uansoy crews miaoum mnca. "Thev said whenever they flew a mis- sion, they always found the 99th on the way back to stop for a tuneup because they were the only guys who knew how to do it," said Cheeks. Lake Land offers memory courses A Basic Memory Dynamics course is being offered by Lake Land College. The three-session evening course will be offered at the following times and locations: Arthur High School, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m., today and June 13 and 20; Crest-wood Elementary School, Paris, 6:30 to 8: 45 p.m.

Wednesday and June 14 and 21; and Effingham High School, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Thursday and June 15 and 22. Instructor Greg Endebrock of Effingham will discuss different memory systems and will use practical applications. The in-district tuition and fees for the course is $17.50. First-time Lake Land students must pay a $10 application fee.

For information, contact Judi Vaughn or Charlene Roy at 1-800-252-4121 or 235-3131, Ext. 301. Cash taken in burglary MATTOON Police are investigating a break-in reported early Sunday morning at the Twin Cities Animal Hospital. Veterinarian Bernard Bleem told police he was called to the hospital at 4 a.m. on an emergency.

When he got there, he discovered a glass window broken and cash missing from the register. According to police, an undetermined amount of cash was taken. Health forum planned EFFINGHAM Changes in medicine in Effingham will be the subject of a free health forum Thursday at St. Anthony's Hospital. The forum will be held at 7:30 p.m.

in the hospital auditorium. Dr. Peter Rumore, a consulting physician and general practitioner on St. Anthony's staff will present the program. State auctions set SPRINGFIELD Government surplus auctions will be held in Springfield the next two Saturdays.

"Each year the Department of Central Management Services holds auctions to allow the public to purchase government surplus items," state Rep. Mike Weaver, R-Charleston, said. "This year there are over 300 vehicles, plus office equipment, furniture, that will be sold to the highest bidder." This Saturday's auction will be held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds near Gate 11, beginning at 8 a.m. The June 17 auction starts at 8 a.m and will be held at the Federal Surplus Warehouse located at 3550 Great Northern Ave. Interested parties may call Weaver's office at 235-6033 for details on the sales.

Society to meet M0NTICELLO The Piatt County Historical and Genealogical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. today in the Resource Center. Jean Gordon will discuss items found in the Champaign County Historical Archives and Urbana Free Library. Church hosts 'messengers' King's Messengers of Owatonna, will minister at 7 p.m. Thursday in Union Baptist Church, Union School Road.

The quartet represents Pillsbury Baptist Bible College. CORRECTION: He was born 10-5-191. The squadron fought in North Africa. 6-7-89. By the news staff ping up as I watched him graduate.

I was born Marjorie Ruth Waddell in Tay-lorville and attended the Tay-lorville schools. With my surname beginning with I always sat in a seat near the back of the classroom. A rarely, if ever, Prairie Talk Marjorie W. Helgemo got to sit anywhere else. Of course, I realize the teacher wanted to learn our names and faces, and this made it easier for her or him.

Occasionally, I would hear of someone lucky enough to have a teacher who would reverse this seating. The teacher would put the "Z's" and "W's" in the front row and the "A's" and "B's" and so on in the back row. But I never got that lucky! I always had to sit in the rear of the room. I am a twin. So my sister shared the same fate as we were always placed side-by-side like Siamese twins.

Now some people might think there was an advantage to sitting in a back row seat. For example, you might not be called on to "recite" by the teacher quite as often. But it seems teachers could always find me if they needed to call on me. I literally "came up in the world" when I married a man with the surname "Helgemo." I became an "H's" got to sit near the middle of the classroom. One might think I was through with school by the time I married.

I had received a bachelor of science degree at Eastern Illinois University in 1951. But in 1973, 1 decided to go to the University of Illinois to get my master's degree in education. This was after I had partially raised two sons, ages 11 and 15 at the time. Classroom seating had changed by this time. We were allowed to sit where we wanted, so if I chose to sit in the first row, I could.

The instructor or professor sent around a seating chart with squares to be filled in with our names. This chart served the instructor's purpose very well. It occurred to me one day in the classroom that after all those years of sitting in the back row, it took me 47 years to make it to the front row! Marjorie W. Helgemo of Decatur makes her Prairie Talk debut today. She is a tax examiner with the Illinois Department of Revenue in Springfield.

Among her interests are writing, sewing and collecting Depression glass. Woman arrested in shooting CHARLESTON A rural Coles County woman posted $200 bail Monday after being arrested and accused of shooting a man at a Mattoon High School graduation party. The 37-year-old woman was arrested by Coles County sheriff's deputies early Saturday morning at a house near Cooks Mill, north of Mattoon. According to Sgt. Edmund Parker, she shot a man at the party in the lower left leg, resulting in a minor wound.

The man, whose name was not released but whose age is believed to be in the mid-to-late 20s, was treated and released from Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Though the party celebrated the graduation Friday night at Mattoon High School and students are believed to have been at the party, Coles County State's Attorney Nancy Owen said, "This incident did not involve any kids." Parker said the woman was arrested on suspicion of reckless conduct, unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault. She faces an initial appearance in Coles County Circuit Court June 19. Formal charges will be brought later this week, Owen said. It was not clear Monday if the shooting was at the woman's house or at someone else's house.

SHi -If 1 ft Jeff Jacoby of Springfield assembles one of 17 Yamaha Clavinovas in the Richland Community College piano laboratory, while instructor John Young, background, inspects the merchandise Monday. The new equipment will allow students to play music into headphones they wear. The teacher, also wearing headphones, will be able to selectively listen to students playing, or converse with them electronically. Alleged assailant in police custody tax? Low tax? disagree Decatur police Monday night were expecting to question a man who overdosed oi drugs in the 400 Block W. Prairie Ave.

He allegedly threatened a 52-year-old woman living there. The woman said she was first forced to have sexual relations with the man Saturday morning. She did not make a formal complaint to police then. nois Tax Foundation an affiliate of the non-partisan, business-supported Taxpayers Federation of Illinois titled "Illinois Tax Climate." Its first paragraph reads: "Illinois' state and local tax structure continues to reflect a moderate total tax burden per $1,000 of personal income. (It) is 5.5 percent lower than its Great Lakes neighbors (and) 8.6 percent lower than its top industrial competitors.

Ulinoisans pay $106.15 in state and local taxes per $1,000 of income, or 7.5 percent less than the national average of $114.79, the report says. The second study, a 114-page report titled "Taxes and Economic Growth," looks at taxes and their effects on the economy from a decidedly conservative angle. It was compiled by the Heartland Institute, a conservative, Chicago-based think tank created in 1984 to study and publicize "free market alternatives" to state and local government issues such as business regulation and prisons. Joseph L. Bast, Heartland's executive Studies By HARVEY BERKMAN Herald Review Springfield Bureau SPRINGFIELD Illinois is a high-tax state.

Illinois is a low-tax state. A House-approved proposal to raise the state's income taxes 18.4 percent brings those opinions under renewed scrutiny. The proposal is currently before the Senate. Two reports, one due out today and one released last week both heavily documented and thick with statistics and graphs come to significantly different conclusions. In one study, Illinois' mix of state and local taxes is said to place the state in the "moderate" category, ranking it 33rd nationally down from 29th in 1978 and 12th among 15 neighboring and other industrial states.

The second study concludes that Illinois residents are heavily taxed, saddled with the 11th highest burden in the country. The first is a 90-page study by the Illi.