Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 1

3P 3 Bowl Mollis' What went wrong with the A ftiend, indeed Cancer advocate trains for hospital chaplain roleDl rj ini and WWW Critics say proposal will only scratch the surface of the problem By ALAN ZIBEL AP Real Estate Writer WASHINGTON Once again, the government has offered another plan to help troubled homeowners. Once again, critics say it doesn't go far enough. is there Sheila Bair, chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance said the plan "falls short of what is needed to achieve wide-scale modifications of distressed mortgages." With the government spending billions to aid distressed banks, "we must also devote some of that money to fixing the front-end problem: Too many unaffordable home loans," Bair said. Democrats on Capitol Hill aren't satisfied, either. "When the loan is Army Sgt.

1st Class Troy Nailer presents Robinson with his medal and a folded American flag for his service during the Iraq war. beautiful place to be," Mitchell said. While Mitchell and other speakers at the ceremony paid tribute to America's veterans, the fate of Weldon Springs State Recreation Area was on everyone's minds. It is among PARKA2 totJ.J'-- The plan announced Tuesday by federal officials and mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac sounds sweeping in its approach: Borrowers would get reduced interest rates or longer loan terms to make their payments more affordable. But there's a catch.

The plan focuses on loans Fannie and Freddie own or guarantee. They are the dominant players in the U.S. mortgage market but represent only 20 percent of delinquent loans. VETERANS DAY can Legion Post 117 and music from the school band and choir, was how Cerro Gordo joined the minority of public school districts in Macon County and Illinois on Tuesday by having school on Veterans Day. District officials decided it was the best way to honor veterans and ensure students understood and appreciated what the day is all about, Robinson said.

Second- and third-graders gave those veterans who came forward dozens of poppies made of paper and plastic, then one of them stepped up to give back to the school district in return. Army Sgt. Troy Nailer, who has served in Iraq and whose 14-year-old son, Andrew, is an eighth-grader at Cerro Gore a Middle School, H0LI0AYA2 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2008 Clip play Mega Moolah! In today's paper $50,000 Not interested State Sen. Dale Righter of Mattoon said family issues trumped greater political aspirations when he considered taking over Frank Watson's job as the head of Illinois Senate Republicans. Local A3 Refresher course A two-day defensive driving course was arranged for Monsanto employees at Richland Community College.

About half spent their day indoors, brushing up on regulations and newly passed laws. The other half spent the day outdoors driving. Money C1 Back to the basics At almost every level, last week's election was a stinging defeat for the anti-abortion movement, and its leaders sound more defiant than deflated as they brace for a future with fewer friends in high places. Nation A6 Lake Decatur level watch Normal winter pool level 612.5 Normal summer pool level .614.4 Yesterday's level 613.8 YOUR WEATHER Today: Cloudy, milder, with rain Tonight: Cloudy DetailsB8 INDEX Classifieds C4-8 Comics D5 Dear Abby D2 Horoscopes D5 Life D1-8 Money C1 ,3 Movies D2 Obituaries Opinion A4 Puzzles Sports B1-7 Television D6 7 "00001 75 cents lssue317 Our 136th year Delivery: 421-6990 Newsroom: 421-6979 Outside Decatur 1-800-437-2533 HIGH LOW chopped up into a million pieces and any investor can block a modification from happening, a program like this will only scratch the surface of the mortgage crisis," said Sen. Charles Schumer, The economic crisis is still unnerving Wall Street.

Stocks fell again as investors found few industries safe from the consumer spending slump. With Starbucks Corp. and luxury AIDA2 7atient rackim Raised funds to buy Care Trak bracelets By RON INGRAM Staff Writer DECATUR The compassion of a Decatur family is leading the Decatur Police Department to implement a program that uses electronic tracking bracelets to give families more peace of mind in keeping tabs on family members with Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, autism or tms 0f 'Our goal dela- was to Care Trak bracelets make it available fjQQ ye locally were pur- didn't chased with want it to money from a be another fund that sisters jili iinancial Lorentz of Denver, burden on and r- -i- sue Kin- families. ney of Decatur Ji" Lorentz set up in the name of their mother, Delores P. Fleming, through the Community Foundation of Decatur and Macon County, said Deputy Police Chief Ed Smith.

During a telephone interview Tuesday, Lorentz said the Care Trak system is used throughout Colorado. "I realized Decatur and Macon County had no way to find a person with memory loss who wanders off," Lorentz said. She and her sister discussed the possibility of implementing the pro- gram with the Decatur Police Department and Macon County Sheriff's Office in 2006. "They agreed to implement it if we would raise the money," Lorentz said. "We solicited corporations and the general public, and we're finally ready to go.

Our goal was to make it free. We didn't want it to be another financial burden on families." While she and her sister, Sue, have been the primary movers for the program locally, two other sisters and a brother also are supportive of the effort, Lorentz said. The Care Trak system uses a wristwatch-size radio transmitter attached to the wrist or ankle to emit a steady signal that can be read with monitoring equipment for up to one mile on the ground or five miles in the air. If a person is missing, TRACKINGA2 boosted by sisters fc 1 '-M Herald Review photosKelly J. Huff Members of the honor guard from Cerro Gordo American Legion Post 117 enter Cerro Gordo High School gymnasium to post the colors during an all-school assembly in honor of Veterans Day.

AT TOP: Left, Jim Burns and Mike Baker of Post 117 demonstrate the proper way to fold the American flag as school Superintendent Brett Robinson explains the meaning of each fold. Right, Post 117 member Ramona Henrick stands at attention with some of the Cerro Gordo High School students during the National Anthem. Cerro Gordo School District marks holiday with classes, assembly, curriculum on meaning I By THERESA CHURCHILL Senior Writer CERRO GORDO The sight of a dozen military veterans gathered around the podium brought scores of adults in the high school gymnasium and all 600 students enrolled in Cerro Gordo schools to their feet not once, but twice. Their applause lasted nearly a minute the first time and more than 30 seconds the second time. "It is a great honor and a privilege for me to be here with these great Americans who have served our country," Superintendent Brett Robinson said into the microphone.

"Today in your classes, you will learn more about the history of Veterans Day, but I'm going to point out a few key elements." An opening ceremony, featuring a color guard by members of Ameri a Thanks Despite cold and rain, veterans and community members gather at Lincoln Square Theatre for tribute celebration. StoryA3 Crowd Park's fate uncertain as list of sites By KEVIN Lee News Service CLINTON As people huddled gathers at Weldon Springs memorial remains it's on to close BARLOW Writer hundreds of under canopies in an attempt to escape the cold, driving rain during a Veterans Day ceremony Tuesday at Weldon Springs near Clinton, state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, found a silver lining. "Even on a day as dreary as this one, the Veterans Memorial at Weldon Springs is still a.