Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 1

1 i i 1 (J' 1 "I 1 i JOURNAL GAZKNTE TLADiS-tX)UWEli MONDAY 11052012 i if i 4 Vj Hi hf by CMm to Did Brt tarn StM'i Mom) SERVING CHARLESTON, MATTOON SURROUNDING AREAS WWW.JG-TC.COM 75 CENTS HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED Rivals stress differences and bipartisanship hopes ney flew to Pennsylvania for his firstcampaign foray of the gefwral election. The state last voted for a Republican presidential candidate in 1988, and Obama's aides insisted it was safe for the president. Yet the challenger and his allies began advertising heavily in the campaign's final days, and public and private polls suggested the state was relatively close. The theme from "Rocky" blared from the loudspeakers as he stepped to the podium. "The people of America understand we're taking back the White House because we're going to win Pennsylvania," Romney told a large crowd that had been waiting for hours on a cold night.

Earlier, Romney launched a new television commercial, possibly his last of the campaign, as he appeared in Iowa, Ohio and Virginia as well as Pennsylvania. "He's offering excuses. I've got a plan" to fix the economy. "I can't wait for us to get started," he said. RELATED STORIES Obama has edge in electoral vote quest.

A6 Judge in Florida extends early voting hours. A6 from Romney's partisans turned to appreciative laughter when the Republican nominee began a sentence by saying, "If the president were to be elected," and ended it with, "It's possible but not likely." It was a rare public acknowledgement that despite expressions of confidence from him and his aides, defeat was a possibility. In a campaign that began more than a year ago, late public opinion polls were unpredictably tight for the nationwide popular vote. But they suggested at least a slim advantage for the president in the state-by-stateTompeti-tion for electoral votes that will settle the contest, including Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nevada. Conceding nothing, Rom- I.

i t'lty's. i to victims' misery Kevin KilhofferStaft Photographer Eric Debault, a Lake Land College student veteran, places flags along Lake Land Boulevard near Lake Land College on Sunday as part ot the college's Veterans Day Week. Schools, residents set to salute area's veterans People sort through blankets at an New Dprp section of Staten Island, At the same time, government leaders began to grapple with a daunting longer-term problem: where to find housing for the tens of thousands of people whose homes could be uninhabitable for BY DAVID ESPO and JULIE PACE Associated Press HOLLYWOOD, Fla. Two days from judgment by the voters, President Barack Obama raced through four far-flung battleground states on Sunday while Mitt Rom-ney ventured into traditionally Democratic Pennsylvania, seeking a breakthrough in a close race he mused aloud he might lose. Appearing before some of the largest crowds of the campaign, the two rivals stressed their differences on the economy, health care and more while professing an eagerness to work across party lines and end gridlock in Washington.

"You have the power," Obama, the most powerful political leader in the world, told thousands of cheering supporters in New Hampshire, his first appearance of a day not scheduled to end until after midnight in the East. Later, in Cleveland, boos Cold adds 'BY JENNIFER PELTZ and MICHAEL HILL Associated Press NEW YORK Shivering victims of Superstorm Sandy went to church Sunday to pray for deliverance as cold weather settling in across the New York metropolitan region and another powerful storm forecast for the middle of the week added to their misfortunes and deepened the gloom. With overnight temperatures sinking into the 30s and hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses still -without electricity six days after Sandy howled through, people slept in layers of clothes, and New York City officials handed out blankets and urged victims to go to overnight shelters or daytime warming centers. TOP THIS! Ex-mayor puts up statue to laud himself DAVISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) The former mayor of Flint, who resigned in 2009 while facing -a recall has erected a bronze statue of himself outside the gated entrance to his home.

The Flint Journal reports that the statue of Don Williamson in Genesee County's Davison Township, near Flint, is surrounded by six bronze lions. On the base of the statue are the words: "The Colonel's Inc. Founded by Donald J. Williamson May 10, 1984. His motto 'Success is the best revenge'" Williamson says the statue was made 20 years ago and was originally displayed at The Colonel's the auto parts firm where he made his fortune.

Williamson says the lions were imported by his wife Of the lion statues, he joked: "Careful, one of them is alive." INSIDE TODAY Advice A8 Classifieds Comics B7 Community A7 Entertainment A9 Local A3 Lottery A4 My Amish Home A8 Obituaries A10 Opinions A5 mil 1 35th Veterans Day week calendar of events Today a.m., Lake Land College Veterans Week opening ceremony, Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Erica Borggren will be the guest speaker for this ceremony in the Lake Land College Theater, refreshments will follow at Laker Point. 9 a.m.-noon, Military Order of the Purple Heart Moving Wall will be displayed at LLC's Laker Point. Tuesday 5-7 p.m., Eas'ern Illinois University student veterans to hold panel discussion on their experiences transitioning into campus life. A question-and-answer session will follow the discussion In the Doudna Fine Arts Center Lecture Hall. Wednesday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 'Hell and Back" film screening at Laker Point.

Event also will include presentation from Give an Hour organization that provides free mental health services to military BY ROB STROUD JG TC Staff Writer The upcoming Veterans Day holiday will be marked this week by several events that will give the public opportunities to honor area miliary veterans and learn about how these individuals have served their country. Veterans Day is always on Nov. 11, which falls on a Sunday this year. Some local commemorations, such as Mattoon's annual Veterans Day parade, will take place Sunday. Other events will be held Nov.

12 while local schools are in session and students can take part as a group. Today, Lake Land College's -Veterans Week will begin with an opening ceremony featuring a presentation by Illinois Department of Veterans' -Affairs Director Erica At Embarras film rest, Eastern coach personnel and families. 5-7 p.m., EIU female student Hi veterans to hold panel discussion student veterans on campus by letting everyone know that" they, too, are EIUV Stephen Knotts, coordinator of veterans and military personnel "student services at EIU, "said-" in a press release. The public is also invited to' a pair of panel discussions See SALUTE, A2 Casey-Westfield heads to Elite 8 A 50-49 overtime victory over Carlinville propels the Warriors forward. B1 'Assassin's Creed' is fresh.

A9 on their experiences in military service. A question-and-answer ses- sion will follow the discussion in the Doudna lecture hall. Thursday 11 a.m. -2 p.m., Collegiate Veterans Alliance Christmas Care Packages for Troops to be assembled in LLC's Laker Point 11 a.m.-4 p.m.. Red Cross blood drive sponsored by Lake Land "College Student Government AssociationrWebb Halt Room 081 1:30 p.m.

and 7 p.m., Stewardson-Strasburg school district's "We the People" Veterans Day program featuring high school drama club and 4th-6th grades in the high school gymnasium. Free-will donation will be taken at the door to raise money for Honor Flight program for World War II veterans for the drama club. 7:30 p.m., EIU "Call to Duty: A Veterans Day Tribute concert featuring the EIU Wind Symphony with the Springfield-based 144th U.S. Army Band's Five Star Trombone Ensemble as special guests. Admission is $12 for the general public, $10 for EIU facultystaff and senior citizens, and $5 for EIU students.

Seth WenigAssociated Pres aid station Sunday in the New York. weeks or months because of a combination of storm damage and cold weather. Mayor Michael Bloomberg See MISERY, A2 'Hoosiers' been a basketball picture that worked before Hoosiersand I'm not sure-there has been one since," Spoonhour said. "A lot of times that's because when you get a sports movie before the '80s it never really looked right because you're trying to attract sports fans and the guys can't play and if it doesn't look authentic then you're almost going to get ridiculed." "Hoosiers" is a movie that takes place in the 1950s and centers around Hackman's character, Norman Dale, who coaches an Indiana high school basketball teanv The movie was released in 1986 and Spoonhour said he "remembers seeing the film when he was 16 years o.ld playing high school basketball. See 'HOOSIERS', A2 Find out how the team is doing OK) See EVENTS, A2 qUQUes Up BY SAMANTHA BILHARZ JG-TC Staff Writer CHARLESTON When Embarras Valley Film Festival committee members asked Eastern Illinois University basketball coach Jay Spoonhour to introduce the film "Hoosiers" on Saturday, he jumped at the chance.

Spoonhour, a self-proclaimed movie buff, said he has seen "Hoosiers" about 30 times and enjoys the work of Gene Hackman, featured in this year's EVFF. "Gene Hackman Is one of my all-time favorites," Spoonhour said. "I think he's one of the top two or three character actors ever." Hackman's famous role as Coach Norman Dale in as well as the various actors portraying basketball players was believable for those watching the film, Spoonhour said. "There has really never TODAY'S WEATHER 4832 Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain See page A4 for the four-day outlook. COME BACK TOMORROW: Borggren from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.

in the college's theater. In addition, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Moving Wall will be displayed from 9 a.m. to noon today in Laker Point as the Mattoon campus gears up for a week full of commemorations. "We have a lot of great activities planned for this year's celebration and we hope to get as many community members, veterans and their families as to celebrate," Blake Leitch, AmeriCorps VISTA veteran support officer at Lake Land, said in a press release One of these activities will "be a showing of the film, "Hell and Back," from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday in Laker Point. This screening will be followed by a presentation from representatives of Give an Hour, an organization LOCAL Meth busts send 13 In area to Jail In separate actions, Shelby and Clark officials make meth arrests. A3 in "S.O.R. Losers," Chapter 10. that provides free mental health services to military personnel and their families.

At Eastern Illinois University In Charleston, a series of educational events for and about veterans will culminate with the annual Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 12 in front of Old Main. "We want to support our SPORTS Rochester ends Trojans' season Charleston falls 42-14 1 exit the second round of football playoffs. B1 ENTERTAINMENT: Review: Year, Number 244 BREAKING NEWS, COMMENTARY, MULTIMEDIA AND MORE: wVWV.JG-TC.COM CONTACT THE NEWSROOM: 21 7-235-5656 "1813V 06001.