Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 3

ments instead. Becky Sawyer-Spoon of rural Charleston, a member of the steering committee that developed the plan, wrote against county zoning. The plan doesn't make a recommendation on zoning itself but does ask that the County Board look at the issue. Charles Young of Mattoon wrote against zoning and also said the subdivision recommendations in the plan could be too restrictive. By DAVE FOMT Staff Writer CHARLESTON -There's still time to comment on Coles County's proposed comprehensive plan, but a county official is asking that it take place "as soon as possible" The deadline for written comments on the plan is Friday.

The Coles County Board is scheduled to vote on whether to adopt the plan at its meeting a week from today, "I urge people, if they have comments; to get them in as soon as possible," said Doug McDermand, executive direc "Just get them in as quickly as you can," he said. The commission provided much of the staff work to develop the plan and is the county group that voted to recommend its adoption to the board. A steering committee that developed the plan finished its work in September, and the County Board had been scheduled to vote on the plan last month. However, board Chairwoman Jan Eads decided to delay the vote for a month to give people a chance to look at the plan and make comments on it. tor of the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission.

'That way, the board members will be able to review them." Comments on the plan should be sent to the commission office in the courthouse, 651 Jackson Ave. Room 309, Charleston. The courthouse will be closed Friday in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. However, the actual holiday is Saturday and mail will be delivered Friday, so comments have to be postmarked no later than Friday, McDermand said. Copies of the.

plan are available at the commission office in the courthouse. The plan can also be seen on the newspaper's Web site at www.jg-tc.compdfextras2006l006Com prehensivePlan.pdf. The county board's meeting next week has been moved from its regular location to courtroom No. 1 on the courthouse's second floor, which has more seating in case interest in the plan draws a large crowd. There will be sheet for people to sign if they want to speak about the plan during the meeting, which starts at 7 p.m.

As of Monday, the commission office had received three written comments on the plan. Included was a letter from former Mattoon Mayor Wanda Ferguson who urged creation of a county tourism board and stated opposition to "remapping the county's boundaries." McDermand sent a response to Ferguson that said the plan makes no recommendation on a tourism board and doesn't call for changing county boundaries, but only changing certain areas under agreements between county govern VETERANS DAY CELEBRATIONS LOCAL POLL VETERANS ON Readers barely favcr teachers' ability to strike ISSION MARCHING Readers of the Journal gazetteTimes-Courier online poll were pretty split on whether or not teachers should be able to strike during the school year. When asked, "Do you think public school teachers should have the right to go on strike during the school 54 percent of those responding said yes. Forty-six of the respondents said no, teachers should not have the right to MATTOON Inquests to be held Inquests will be held Wednesday on two September shooting deaths that occurred in Mattoon and Cum-' berland County, Coles County Coroner Mike Nichols said. The inquests on the deaths of Freddie Thomas Kingery of Mattoon and Robert Donald Boviall Jr.

of Greenup start at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Mattoon City Council Chambers at City Hall. Kingery, 55, was pronounced dead at 4:55 p.m. Sept. 5 in his backyard.

A shotgun was found by his By HERB MEEKER Staff Writer Veterans have been marching on Veterans Day here for a long time. That should come as no surprise because Veterans Day is the successor to Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of World War I in 1918. And on Saturday morning, the community is invited to continue the tradition of the Veterans Day Parade, come rain or shine, prior to the annual ceremony for the holiday dedicated to all veterans. "Even when no one else wanted to do it, the Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars marched themselves in rain or snow, There's always been one," said parade Chairman Mike Smyser, a member of American Legion Post 88 in Mattoon and an Air Force veteran. But the Veterans Day Parade is open to all kinds of groups, civic, charity, educational or others.

"Anyone who wants to join us is more than welcome on Saturday," Smyser said. "I've been contacting some groups to get involved. They can bring marchers, a float or whatever they want to bring. Hey, having it open to anybody is what these guys fought for." To join the parade lineup on Saturday, call Bill Campbell at the American Legion at 234-7155. Spots in the parade lineup will be assigned Saturday for "walk-ons" to the lineup area near North 19th Street and Broadway Avenue Parade participants should be at the staging area by 9:30 a.m.

Saturday. The parade is scheduled to step off at 10 a.m., heading east down Broadway Avenue Parade marshal is Lee Oakley, a Vietnam veteran who earned three Purple Hearts and Legionnaire in Mattoon. The parade will end at Peterson Park by a war memorial near the corner of Sixth Street and Broadway Avenue in preparation for the Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. The parade organizers hope spectators will stay for the ceremony after the procession ends. "We'll need some time to get ready for the ceremony after the parade So we want everyone to stay after the parade," Smyser said.

Contact Herb Meeker at or 238-6869. CHARLESTON Domanfs co-owner says closure is temporary Contact Dave Fopay at dfopayjg tc.com or 348-5733. REPORT QUFSTI0H strike during the school year. The number of people weighing in on the question was the highest number of voters on our Web poll in four months? This week's question concerns the elections: "How negative were the election campaigns this year?" 1. Worse than ever 2.

Pretty civil, actually To cast your vote, go to www.jg-tc.com for Kingery, Bovia.1, Jr. body. He suffered a head wound. Boviall, 15, suffered a single gunshot wound to the right side of his nose in a residence near Greenup on Sept. 21 He was pronounced dead at 6:04 p.m.

in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. This was reported by authorities in September as an accidental shooting. Inquests are conducted in the counties where a person is pronounced dead, not the site of the incident that led to death. Thanksgiving," Boksa said. The restaurant posted a "closed temporarily" sign late last week.

Michael Domani's, located in the former E.L. Krackers building, has a menu of fine-dining entrees, sandwiches and salads. The restaurant is located about a block north of Eastern Illinois University's campus. The restaurant opened about 11 months ago. The United Way of Coles County has kicked off Its 2006-07 fund-raising drive.

The goal is to collect $305,000. This is one in a series of profiles of some of the agencies that receive funding from the United Way. Mattoon Bowl. $1 games, $1 beers. Wed.

only! Mattoon Bowl N.RL 45 217-234-3735. YMTA A EIU to honor veterans at ceremony A weather, the service will be held in Cougill Foyer in Old Main. The event is planned in observance of Veterans Day; Nov. 11, and National Veterans Awareness Week, Nov. 5--11.

All area residents are invited and encouraged to attend. be put on by high school and junior high students. AHS students are hoping to have a video prepared of taped interviews with local veterans to show during the assembly. For more information contact Areola High School at 268-4962. call.

Veterans who prefer to visit with the students during lunch only are also welcome, she said. The assembly will feature Power Point presentations on World War and e-mails and photographs from people in the mUitary. There will also be a presentation on flag etiquette and performances by the school's band and chorus. celebration graders have been researching their "Veteran Family Tree as well as reading their findings in music class. A "Quilt of Honor" made up of red, white and blue cards created by the students will also be on display in the school's lobby.

For more information con-, tact Peggy Reeder at Michael Domani's restaurant is temporarily closed due to the need for building and mechanical repairs, co-owner Michael Boksa said Monday. The temporary closure of Michael Domani's, 1405 Fourth also will provide an opportunity for restructuring and a "change up" for the business, he added. "We hope to open up again sometime right around CHARLESTON Eastern Illinois University will honor past and present members of the military at a veterans ceremony on Friday. Refreshments will be served in Old Main's Cougill -Foyer starting at 11:30 a.m., followed by a ceremony at the Old Main flag pole at noon. Areola plans Veterans Day reception Veterans invited to attend CMS program Friday Speakers are to include EIU President Lou Hencken; Major Larry G.

Coblentz, a professor of military science at EIU; and Charleston Mayor John Inyart. The ceremony is also to include a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps. In the case of inclement mingle with local veterans, partake of refreshments, view class projects and register in the local database. From a.m., an assembly will take place in the school's north gym. Valet parking will be available and people can park in the north parking lot.

The assembly will ods to visit with the students: a.m., 11:30 a.m. to noon, p.m. and p.m. The assembly is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. Wilson also said veterans have the option to speak to groups of students a half-hour before the lunch periods and can let the school know if they want to do that when they possible by students who will bring in the uniforms of their loved ones as well as a display of memorabilia and artifacts belonging to loved ones.

Students from the lower grades have been creating cards for veterans in the Veteran's Association Hospital in celebration of the day. Fourth graders have been writing patriotic essays and 3-5 CHARLESTON -Local military veterans are being invited to share their experiences and stories with middle school students Friday. Part of Charleston Middle School's Veterans Day program will be1 having veterans visit with students during lunch periods Friday, CMS Principal Sandy Wilson said. The veterans will also be ARCOLA Areola High School students will hold a public reception and assembly Thursday in honor of Veteran's Day and local veterans. The event begins at 9 a.m.

with a reception in the high school's new foyer. The reception, which lasts until 10 a.m., will provide an opportunity to asked to stay for the school's annual Veterans Day assembly that afternoon. Veterans interested in meeting with the students should call CMS at 639-6000 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. today or Wednesday or between 7 a.m.

and noon Thursday, Wilson said. Visiting veterans can choose one of four lunch peri be asked to sing during the song corresponding with their branch. A local color guard group will present the colors at the beginning of the program and will also do a 21-gun salute at the end of the program as the flag is raised and the Star Spangled Banner is sung. Those in attendance can view a uniform display made Mattoon Area F-xfyOl YMCA provides before- and after-school child care at Mattoon elementary schools, membership and programs that strengthen the spirit, mind and body of children, seniors and families with limited financial resources. Donations to United Way of Coles County may be sent to the United Way office at 114 N.

16th P.O. Box 868, Mattoon, IL 61938. For more information call 234-8022. Sullivan elementary students to host NOTICES SULLIVAN Students at Sullivan Elementary School will be hosting their ninth annual Veterans Day Celebration at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Fifth graders have sent personal invitations to local veterans. K-5 students will be singing songs of all five branches of the military during the program. Veterans of each respective branch will EATON'S UPHOLSTERY Now open 10 5th St, Charleston IL 217-345-6699.