Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 3

LOCMBBE www.j3-tc.com Tuesfey, March 21, 2SC3 0 A3 LOCAL Report Building experts, public weigh in on safety of Casey-Westfield school 1 By ROB STROUD Staff Writer CASEY Building professionals and the public offered differing opinions on the structural integrity of Casey-Westfield High School's east wing Monday evening during a special school board meeting. Nevertheless, district architect Michael Baysinger pointed out the fact remains that the Regional Super intendent of Schools shut down the east wing to usage and an architect from the Illinois State Board of Higher Education has found reason to be concerned about the approximately 85-year-old building's structural integrity. Baysinger, based in Marion, said the school board must begin the long process of working with its building committee on options for the east wing. "We do have a lot of facts to sift through," said board President Jerome Williams at the close of a special meeting in which the board heard reports from building professionals. Earlier, Williams assured those in an audience that filled two-thirds of the Arts Hall auditorium the board does not have all the answers yet and there would be more public meetings dealing with the east wing.

"We are not going to make a decision without consulting the community," the board president said. Classes from the east wing have been shifted to sections of the school building since it closed. officials reportedly became concerned about wing's structural integrity after portions of fixed book shelves began separating from a second-floor library. Structural and civil engineer Norman Brown of Springfield was brought in to examine the library, which is located above the school's old gym. He said he took readings of the floors elevation, plus examined some of its supports.

He estimated the wood In the floor was a moderate-level pine "My concern here is the floor, based just on the wood alone, is not suitable for any activity," Brown said. "Our concern is the floor is not adequate for use, certainly not as a library and not even as a classroom." Civil engineer Robert McClintock of Paris, who also examined the floor, said the lumber used in the building's construction before 1920 is higher in quality, thicker and deeper than lumber commonly used McClintock said the library area could be shored up for use as a classroom without regret and could still be used as a library if the book shelves were arranged properly, along the west wall and on the floor's steel support beams. Baysinger responded that building codes used by the Illinois State Board of Higher Education state that all floor area in a room must be able to handle the same pressure per square inch, so a library floor would need to be able to support book shelves at any location. One woman in the audience asked if Brown and Baysinger were implying the east wing could not be repaired. Baysinger replied he was just giving a report on his findings and the board would have to discuss possible repairs with its building committee Contact Rob Stmud at or 348-5734.

Ken frevarthanStaff Photographer Students work on a computer In a up In the Casey-Westfield gymnasium this week. The high school's library, as well as the entire east wing of the building, has been shut down due to safety Demand for ethanol increasing, expert says Ly ttf L.J f. tax credits give fuel blenders 51 cents for every gallon of ethanol blended with gasoline A gallon of 10-percent ethanol fuel would be rewarded with a 5.1-cent credit. He also touched on the net energy balance of ethanol, which he pegged at 10 to 30 percent, citing several studies. That means more energy is derived from corn than is put into making the fuel.

Many of these facts were known by those who attended the event, though the promise of more ethanol production which will require more corn is the kind of news that doesn't get old to farmers. "If not for ethanol, corn prices would be a lot lower," said Mike Stacey, president of the Macon County Farm Bureau. "We've got to keep pushing for renewable fuels, that's all there is to it," seconded Patrick Malone, assistant secretary-treasurer of the organization. The extra ethanol production could have another side effect, pointed out Duane Jackson of Argenta. A byproduct of ethanol production is used in animal feed, and more production of the feed could drive down the cost of raising livestock, keeping costs down at the consumer's dinner plate, he said.

Amy Hoak can be reached at or By AMY HOAK Staff Writer DECATUR Ethanol, that corn-based rising star of a renewable fuel, took the spotlight on Monday at the annual Ag Day Breakfast sponsored by the Macon County Farm Bureau. Speaking on the topic as well as issues of biodiesel and biodegradable plastics was Greg Webb, vice president of public affairs for Archer Daniels Midland Co. "For the first time in history, we have petroleum products higher in cost per barrel than vegetable oils," Webb said, partially explaining the reason for ethanol's recent rise Another reason demand for ethanol is increasing is due to a number of states using the fuel to replace another fuel additive, MTBE, he said. MTBE is a possible carcinogen. The growing demand inspired ADM as well as other companies and farmer-owned co-ops to invest in ethanol plants.

In 2005, 3.9 million gallons were produced in the United States, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. Thirty-four ethanol plants are currently under construction in order to meet demand, Webb said. The ADM executive also shared other statistics about ethanol during his speech, including the fact that federal Cifcns predicted wedgofcriher University of Illinois basketball fans were overly optimistic in responding to last week's Journal GazetteTimes-Courier Web poll question. Seventy percent of poll respondents thought the Fighting lllini would advance to the Sweet 16 or go even further. Illinois, however, lost to Washington Saturday in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Thirty-five percent of respondents said Illinois would advance to the Sweet 16 while 20 percent said the lllini would go no farther than the second round. Sixteen percent said the lllini would go to the Elite 8, 9 percent predicted a Final Four berth and 10 percent said they would win it all. This week's poll question asks: "Should the state allow Carle Foundation's Mattoon-Charieston Clinic to add a surgical center after rejecting the plan for a freestanding surgical center?" To vote, go to www.jg-tc.com. CHARLESTON DU student dies taeto over break Staff Report An Eastern Illinois University student died while visiting her family over spring break last week, while another student was seriously hurt in a car accident, said EIU officials on Monday. Glorivette Alegria, 21 a senior from Aurora, died Friday in the hospital after collapsing the day before while exercising at her home, said Vicki -Woodard, EIU spokeswoman.

EIU officials and more than 50 students traveled Monday to Alegria's visitation in Naperville, Woodard said. A funeral was scheduled for Wednesday in Aurora. Meanwhile, the name of a student involved in a car accident March 13 in Schaumburg has not been released, although the student was "critically injured," Woodard said. MATTuON school freshman orientation planed Mattoon High School will host the 16th Annual Freshman Orientation at 7 p.m. Thursday.

All Mattoon eighth-grade students and their families are welcome to attend. The program will begin with a welcome in the gymnasium by Ken Reed, principal; Trevor Arnholt, freshman class president; Larry Lilly, school superintendent; Lori Nottmeyer, school nurse; Gerald Temples, athletic director; and Rox-anne Lilly, guidance counselor. Students will have the opportunity to talk with teachers, guidance counselors, coaches and sponsors of clubs and activities. Students will receive free T-shirts in graphic arts Room 404. Refreshments will be served in the commons.

AKCGLA (Kiickls did not endorse election ccr.dates City Administrator Bill Wagoner and Police Chief Mike Phillips said they and other city officials have not endorsed either of the Douglas County Sheriff's candidates nor any of the candidates vying in today's primary. A paid advertisement appealing in a couple of weekly papers last week made it appear that Phillips supported one of the sheriff's candidates, which is not the case, Phillips said. The city or the police do not endorse political candidates, said Wagoner. Submitted Photo The Sectional-winning Group Interp cast included front row: Ben teddy, Kaltlin Lampley, Shailee Weber, Zoe Corso, Karl Walden, Kaitlyn Ryan, Andy Hudson, David Giffin. Back row: Kevin Giffin, Taran Funk, Nick Niemerg, Dan Shick, Corey Schultz, Brian Hardy.

Speech team places first at sectional temporary library set approved last year, McRaith approved the rates that ISMIE, which covers nearly 70 percent of the state's malpractice insurance market, proposed for the current year. Those rates were overall the same as the year before But he ordered the company to freeze its rates for next year and to try to cut them by 3.5 percent if that is financially possible He also required them to give discounts for doctors who take steps to avoid injuring patients and to provide rebates for excess premiums the company collects over a three-year period. The state's increased control over insurance rates is part of a law passed last year in response to complaints that malpractice lawsuits were driving up insurance costs and forcing doctors out of business. The new law includes lawsuit limits such as cap on some lawsuit awards and restrictions on expert witnesses and lawsuit filings. Democ-.

rats and trial lawyers opposed other School the east certain wall in the Members of "The David Giffin, Aryainejad, Kari Walden. The casts of their performances were responsible makeup, Johnson, Noah Becky Adams; Colin In addition performers individual had to be the five judges Students Giffin, Corey Shick, Brian and Kevin Giffin. the drama cast, which performed Misanthrope," were Ben Leddy, Brian Hardy, Zoe Corso, Elena Dan Shick, Nick Niemerg and both shows were assisted in by crew members, who for sets, lights, sound, costumes, and transportation: Michael Gent, Angad Mathur, Jordy -Blitz, Baird, Michael Bower, Taylor Roberts and Brian Bower. to the group awards, some CHS received special recognition for performance To be selected, students nominated by at least three of who judged their events. selected were Ben Leddy, David Schultz, Nick Niemerg, Dan Hardy, Zoe Corso, Kari Walden CHARLESTON The Charleston High School speech team's group interpretations squad took first at sectional competition Saturday The CHS team's drama squad took third place at the event, missing second place by one point.

The sectional took place in Belleville and the group interpretations performance means the team qualifies for the state tournament Thursday and Friday in Springfield. That means this is the 23rd consecutive year CHS has qualified one or more squads in the group state tournament. The group interpretations cast performed "Spamalot." Cast members were Ben Leddy, David Giffin, Corey Schultz, Nick Niemerg, Dan Shick, Kevin Giffin, Brian Hardy, Andy Hudson, Taran Funk, Shailee Weber, Kaitlin Lampley, Kaitlyn Ryan, Kari Walden.and Zoe Corso. i Kansas school closes for use as polling place in election Insurance director says malpractice order will help lower rates for doctors KANSAS Predicted snowy weather did not play a role in the Kansas school district's decision to cancel classes today. Superintendent Chris Long said the district decided to use one of its nonattendance days today while the Kansas school building's new gym is in use for the first time as a polling place during the primary election.

All of the district's kindergarten through 12th-grade students attend classes in the same building and use that gym. Voters from Kansas and Grandview townships are scheduled to cast their ballots today at the gym, which is serving as a consolidated voting center. The Edgar County Clerk's Office consolidated some of the county's polling places into voting centers as part of its implementation of new optical scan and touch screen voting systems. VOTE TODAY FOR Steve Darlmont for Sheriff (Leadership for a Safer Community) Paid for By Maria Graztano For election results, visit www.jg-tc.com those measures but, under political pressure, agreed to go along if the law also cracked down on insurance practices they blame for the higher costs. Last week's decision came after McRaith and his staff oversaw two lengthy public hearings last fall and pored over hundreds of pages of data.

A former lawyer who worked on behalf of insurers in finance-related lawsuits before being appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to run the division a year ago, McRaith took a familiar approach to tackling the complex issue "As soon as I took this job, I looked at all of that stuff just like I was getting ready for a trial," McRaith said. McRaith put ISMIE's top officials under intense questioning for hours, covering everything from their recent history of financial losses to how and why they charge doctors different rates depending on their specialty and SPRINGFIELD(AP) Illinois' first shot at lowering malpractice insurance rates for thousands of doctors is drawing criticism from key players, but its chief architect promises it will provide much-needed relief Michael McRaith, director of the state's Division of Insurance, said doctors will see "real, meaningful benefits" from the order he issued last week. In an interview with The Associated Press, he said it will provide relief from insurance costs that doctors say are driving them out of business while not devastating the bottom line of ISMIE Mutual Insurance the state's major malpractice insurer. "We had to find kind of the balanced, measured approach," McRaith said Thursday.

"It is a process we undertook very seriously to accomplish it professionally, without a predetermined result." Using a new state law NOTICES CM badan BRIAN'S PLACE S1COORS Lt $3 shrimp fry $9Ribeye Jo place a Classified Ad: Catl' -8003-2527 A.