Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 1

LIFESTYLES: One year later the wreckage is gone, but New York's aura remains. CI a nr Mattoon .311. ar i rfi 50 Cents bombings, suicide attacks and other strikes, linked to the Sept. 11 anniversary. Americans were urged Tuesday to be alert but unbowed -4 go to work, to school, on trips despite specific threats against U.S.

interests abroad and less credible concerns that terrorists might attack America again. After a hectic series of telephone calls and late-night meetings, President Bush's top advisers decided Monday to recommend raising the level from code yellow "significant risk" of attack to code orange a "high risk." Bush met twice with the advisers Tuesday morning, the last time in the top-secret Situation Room, before telling them, "Let's do it." Despite no evidence of a plot against the United States, the Sept. 11 anniversary and intelligence gathered in the last 48 hours some from a high-ranking al-Qaida operative prompted the decision. Tom Ridge, Bush's homeland security director, said plans Normalcy is back near attack sites, area natives say By The Associated Press WASHINGTON The Bush administration raised the nationwide terror alert to its second-highest level, closed nine U.S. embassies overseas and heightened security at federal buildings and landmarks in America as new intelligence warned of car PAYING TRIBUTE Jim McHugh and Adam Knox McHugh's Double Drive Thru 11 fi Wednesday September 11, 2002 12Sth Yeai; No.

175 OUTSIDE 7850 Mostly sunny during the day. Cooler and less humid. FuO report on All America Remembers Family, friends recall Navy pilot One year to the day after Capt. Jack Punches formerly of Tower. Hill, died in the attack on the Pentagon, those who love him celebrate his life and still agonize over his senseless, death, DetailsAll 3,008 crosses honor 911 deaths Three brothers have placed 3,008 small crosses on a hill in rural Casey to remind passersby of the enormous human loss causes by the Sept.

11 terrorist attacks. DetallsA6 In Your Words Readers' thoughts, feelings and impressions of the Sept 11 attacks. DetailsA9-10 LOCAL Neoga boy gets West Nile virus A 3-year-old Neoga boy has contracted the West Nile virus through mosquito bites, but he is reportedly recovering well. DetallsA7 CLASSIFIEDS ft 3 A Want to save a Otoe money? Read the Classified Ads. To place one, call 235-5656 3 2002 Mattoon Journal Gazette for multiple attacks on U.S.

targets in southeast Asia were in "an operational phase." Code orange is the highest alert level imposed since the system was established in March. The only higher status, code red, reflects a others, couldn't believe what they were seeing on CNN. "It was just beyond me to think that it was terrorism we were seeing. I thought it was a freak accident," Taylor said shortly after the attack. Initially, the area outside the Pentagon was chaotic and during the first few Weeks and months people living and working in the area remained Dnl anxious and N'e careful, wanted to fnio People fed Safe and wanted to feel safe and be be sate.

A safe, a lot of I i i ul faith was tot Of fastb placed in the Was placed hnds.f those uvu f0lks poWer in the hands at the time," he said, of tflOSe Regardless, Taylor, a 1996 TOIKS Mattoon High power at the time." son of Don and Mary Taylor Keith Taylor, of assistant to'' said he never assistant to threatened Rep. Phelps by the acts. He said allowing oneself to live in fear means one has given in to those who carried out the heinous attacks. Another native, Pat Arnett, 28, of Brooklyn said while he was getting ready for work he could see fire at the World Trade Center from his apart- Kenjl Nakano, second from left, lights some of hundreds of Japanese lanterns during an overnight vigil for peace Tuesday at Washington Square Park In New York. The vigil ended at 7 a.m.

on Sept 11. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO emergencies ardous materials released in Charleston. 1 Four of Charleston's police officers are certified responded, meaning they can use equipment to evaluate the threat of hazardous materials and biological agents. One officer is a certified technician at both the and levels, meaning he can actu- SrTK.IM;..8 KEN TREVARTHANSTAFF PI IOTOCRAP1 1KR secure the end of a line of American flags onto the side of the in Mattoon on Tuesday afternoon In preparation for the Sept BY DAWN SCHABBING Staff Writer Two Mattoon natives who both live in areas near last year's terrorist attacks said the first few months were grim, but by the start of 2002 normalcy had returned. The terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and what is believed to be an attempt to strike the White House before passengers overcame the hijackers causing a plane to crash into a field in Pennsylvania, affected millions of people- oh Sept.

11, 2001. That day started as a typical one for most people including Keith Taylor, 24, who works as a legislative assistant and system administra tor for U.S. Rep David Phelps in Washington, D.C. "When you consider the stress of the work environment in DC, you realize that folks in D.C. want to return to normality as quickly as possible.

There are just far too many things to concern yourself with in a given day, especially the possibility of a random terrorist attack," said Taylor. Taylor was at work in the Longworth House Office Building in Washington when the Pentagon was hit last year. The office is across the street from Capitol Hill, and only a few miles from the Pentagon. Initially, Taylor and then co-worker Sara Shumard of Strasburg among employees at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center also has trained for major emergencies, i Roger Cunningham, Charleston's assistant police chief, said every officer within the Charleston Police Department is certified in identifying hazardous materials. The officers were also trained to block off the.

perimeters of the lethal area to protect the public from haz 5656 STANDING VIGIL R0TC instructor keeps Afghan mementos close confusion as the World Trade Center was attacked. The 5th Special Forces Group later that morning held the first of many staff meetings to update its personnel about the attacks and start preparing for its role in the Unites States' response, he said. "We knew soon after we were the John chosen few to go in first," John said. A lot of work had to be accomplished before the 5th Special Forces Group could deploy to Central Asia, John said, adding he spent every night but one in his office until the early October deployment. The lifting of peacetime budgetary constraints made planning for the deployment easier, he noted.

"I was given everything I wnt; as BY ROB STROUD Staff Writer CHARLESTON Maj David John works a world away from Afghanistan, but he keeps reminders of his service there close by in his Eastern Illinois University ROTC office. A restored Afghan rug witness to the harsh, living conditions in that war-torn country. A wall hanging commemorates soldiers who served there. A map shows the points in Afghanistan where New York firefighters buried items from the World Trade Center site. However, John acquired one haunting memento on the university's campus, a photograph of the New York skyline before the World Trade Center was destroyed by the Sept 11 terrorist attacks.

"Everyone knows where they were when it happened," John said, adding he was no exception. John said he arid many other soldiers in a Ft. Campbell, cafeteria watched television news programs with utter disbelief and ONLINE Agencies train for public Inside BY HEATHER ROBINSON Staff Writer Officials representing some of the area's public response agencies say their departments have undergone extensive training since Sept 11 to better prepare them for various public emergencies. Charleston police and Mattoon fire officials say their departments have trained in hazardous materials while Advice C3 Classifieds C6-10 Comics C4 Lifestyles Local A3.6-7 Lotteries A12 Markets A5 Obituaries A12 Opinion A4 TV listings C5 at www.ig-tc.com or CONTACT US at (217) 235 4.