Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 1

hi: JOURNAL GAznyrrE eo rmn tttio nrvtm i .1 1 C9 XJLiYUliD-VJUilULLiJl SATURDAY 11122011 SHOWCASE, Dl iT 1 SERVING CHARLESTON; MATTOON SURROUNDING AREAS Hill WWW.JG-TC.COM 75 CENTS -'Li I 1 A 5 I I I Parade, ceremony honors veterans II Kevin KilhorferStaff Photographer Aubrey Storm, American Legion 19th District chaplain, salutes during the Veterans Day ceremony at Peterson Park Lawmakers punt on fixing pension woes BY TAMMY WEBBER AND CHRISTOPHER WILLS Associated Press SPRINGFIELD The state's biggest bill, already at $85 billion, will keep growing. Civic and business groups had hoped lawmakers would cut government pension costs during the fall legislative session. But those hopes ran smack into the reality of union strength, politics and the Illinois Constitution. The session ended without any decisions, either on reducing benefits or making up for state government skimping on past pension contributions. Unions remain firmly opposed to reducing retirement benefits for current government employees, and they're inundating legislators with emails and phone calls from angry constituents.

The Illinois Constitution says pension benefits "shall not be diminished," raising legal questions about the whole issue. And as primary elections draw closer, lawmakers will grow more skittish about controversial votes. On the other side of the ledger, there's no extra money available to make up for state government's history of not contributing its full share of pension costs. And there's no will in Springfield to come up with extra money so soon after raising income taxes. So the state's pension systems will continue falling deeper into the hole, at least for now.

It's unlikely lawmakers will address the problem in the one-day session they have scheduled for Nov. 29, meaning they have no way to address it again for six more months, until BY HERB MEEKER JG-TC Staff Writer MATTOON The colors of Veterans Day on Friday were not just from flags. People of all ages were showing their colors as veterans or for veterans. During the Veterans Day parade, Miss Cumberland County Fair Queen Brittaney St. John was wearing a dark jacket with many foreign flags lining one of the arms.

It was her tribute to a veteran. Some Vietnam War veterans had caps decorated with ribbons noting their service in that war. Flag bearers among the veteran contingent in the parade wore uniforms or jackets of khaki, brown and green camouflage, olive drab with unit patches, bright red or black. After the parade, a little girl was wearing a dark blue sailor's shirt with a white cap, while a golden retriever was loyally carrying its bright blue leash in its mouth. Special headgear of some veterans, a green beret and a black-brimmed calvaryman's hat, stood out near the Vietnam War monument under a tree with bright yellow and orange leaves fluttering in the wind in Peterson Park.

The crowd had brought out these colors for Veterans Day, but Bill Highland, a Vietnam War combat veteran, said honoring veterans should be a year-round duty. "Veterans Day is everyday. It is 365 days a year, every day," Highland said. He explained Veterans Day is not just about honoring veterans of the past, but veterans facing sacrifices today. Some military personnel have served two or three tours of duty overseas during America's recent wars.

"Veterans are unselfish. They give up their time home with families. They do that for everybody. They need your support. Without that support from Americans veterans are nothing," Highland said.

The Mattoon Veterans Day parade and ceremony at Peterson Park has a true family element to it each year Many people were introducing Kevin KllhoffarStafr Photographer Three-year-old Ky Dulaney and his sister, Skyler, both of Murphys-boro, listen during the Veterans Day ceremony at Peterson Park In Mattoon on Friday. say it all: Thank You Soldiers' 7 I Vi i veteran relatives or talking about how deceased relatives had served their country. Children and grandchildren were in the crowd as well. The Mattoon High School JROTC cadets once again joined in the parade along with band members from the high school and middle school. Highland recognized some of the young people during his remarks.

"This is our future. They might be serving their country one day," Highland said. Even if they don't go into the military, the young people will have a greater appreciation for Veterans Day by joining in. Contact Meeker at or 238-6869, The assembly was awesome I have been looking forward to it ever since they said we were going to have a Veter- ans Day assembly," Brianna said. Having served in the Army from 1979 to 1987, Robinson said be appreciated being able to take part in this year's assembly alongside his da ugh- ter and a previous assembly alongside his son, Andrew.

Robinson said he also appreci- ated receiving one of the thank you cards that the CMS students sent to the U.S. Veterans See CMS, AX I SPORTS Fcrtbcll playoffs Charleston Trojans get another chance at Mount ZiOILBI CftTJnAIN 'Jack and Ken IravarthanStaff Photographer Charleston Middle School student Marian Plunkett, right, and her lather, U.S. Army veteran Vaughn Plunkett, wait for their turn during the veterans recognition portion of the Charleston Middle School Veterans Day program Friday. Students proud of their veteran family members Students BY ROB STROUD JG-TC Staff Writer CHARLESTON Carl Sandburg Elementary School second-graders gave voice to the feelings of those in attendance on Friday at Charleston's Veterans Day ceremony when they sang "Thank You Soldiers. This was a new addition to the patriotic songs that the second-graders, under the direction of music teacher Lisa O'DelL have performed for several years at the ceremony held by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1592 on the courthouse square.

"Thank You Soldiers" was 0 "Dell's swan song at the cer- emony. Veterans Day 2012 will -fall on a Sunday, when O'Dell and her second-graders will be out of school and unable to take part as a group in the ceremony. She plans to retire at the end of the 2012-13 school year. O'Dell said she felt sad as Friday's ceremony conclud- ed "I really look forward to their performance. I really look forward to bringing the kids and teaching them about Sitriotism and what Veterans ay means," O'Dell Army veteran Gary Hawker of Charleston said he turns out every year he can for the mony and has been pleased to see a growing number of chil- dren taking part in this event.

Students from Carl Sandburg and from nearby Jefferson Elementary School helped fill up the northeast corner of the quart on Friday. 4 Hawker, who served In Viet- nam, said he appreciates the support of the students and hopes they learn lessons about the service of veterans during INSIDE TCOAY Advice D2-3 Classifieds Cl-6 Comics r. C7 Entertainment D4 5 Local A3 Lottery A 4 I'irkcts 5 T5 'i-ns A5 -r See PENSION, A2 TOP THIS! Ex-NBA center riding high after stolen bike found MURRAY, Utah (AP) -At 7-foot-6, former NBA center Shawn Bradley needs just about everything custom-made, from clothes and chairs to countertops and doorways. It's why he was bummed when his custom-build Trek road bicycle, complete with an 80 centimeter carbon fiber-aluminum frame, was stolen last Friday. "There's no way they could have ridden it away," Bradley said Thursday morning.

"It's kind of baffling. I think it will turn up." He was right. A random search of a residence by state probation and parole officials turned up the bike Thursday afternoon in the town of Murray, where Bradley has a home, police said. Joshua Carter, 34, was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and felony theft The bike is about SO percent larger than what a normal-sized person would ride. "I'm guessing ha Just walked tt away," Wright said of the suspect, who stands Just Moot MARKETS Wall Street Stocks surge as Italy and Greece, allay debt 1 fears, BS JUT is proudly tovbro D4 Kan twmtmfSaH Photographer Veterans of Foreign Wars Poet 1S82 Past Commander and U.S.

Marina Corps veteran Row Krokewttt speaks of the sacrifices of American veterans Friday morning during the Veterans Day ceremony on the Coles County Courthouse square in Charleston. BY ROB STROUD JG-TC Staff Writer CHARLESTON Seventh-grader Brianna Robinson beamed with pride Friday afternoon as she walked across the Charleston Middle School gym floor with her father Army veteran John Robinson." Robinson was one of dozens of veterans with ties to CMS students who were recognixed during the school's annual Veterans Day assembly. Brianna said she is proud to tell everyone that her father served his country in the Army, LOCAL. Old Main ock EIU staff waits see If historic tree survives -the winter. AJ this day of remembrance.

Hopefully, an they will -have to do with wars is read about them in history books, Hawker said. -On Friday, Hawker stood on TODAY'S Vi'CATTtTR 6052 sunny, brrcry with fasts up to SD mph. See i A4 for four-day outlook. A thor the square alongside his friend Randy Jackson of Charleston. Jackson, who dressed in a Civil War Union army uniform, Sea VETERANS, AS 1 e.

at Charleston Lbrary.