Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 6

LOCALFROM PAGE ONELOTTERY MATTOON (ILL) JOURNAL GAZETTE A6 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2003 Soldiers honored at city ceremony Students deciy offensive graffiti EVANSTON (AP) The normally chatty Ester Young struggled to stay quiet in her African-American studies class Tuesday, but she did -as part of a student protest over offensive graffiti at Northwestern University. Two swastikas and an anti-Semitic racial phrase were found over the weekend on the campus just north of Chicago. The incident is the latest in a spate of such graffiti, frustrating school officials who have been pushing for more tolerance with a campaign launched last year. In response to the graffiti, several student groups organized a demonstration in which minority students were asked to wear all black and not speak in classes on Tuesday to show how integral they are to the campus. Minorities make up nearly 30 percent of the undergraduate population.

Young said in her class, the professor's questions about the Harlem Renaissance were often met with silence. "It was very difficult not to speak because I knew about these things," said Young, who is black, while finishing homework on campus. "But I knew it was serious and we had to make our absence felt." KEN TREVARTHANSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1592 Commander Jim Hood salutes as 'Taps' is played during the Veterans Day ceremony on the Coles County Courthouse lawn Tuesday in Charleston. I Ill'P HP and a half to sing the patriotic songs. They also learned lessons related to Veterans Day.

"We have been learning about what it means to be a veteran and what it means to have freedom and liberty," O'Dell said. The square was also filled with the sounds of the VFW Color Guard and Ladies Auxiliary, plus Eastern Illinois University ROTC Color Guard marching across the wet pavement, a VFW firing squad piercing the still air, Reginald Replogle playing "Taps," and the courthouse's bell ringing at 11 a.m. "Oh let freedom ring. Let those bells ring," O'Dell exclaimed. Holmes reminded those at the ceremony that Veterans Day was formally known as Armistice Day, a holiday that commemorated the armistice ending World War I at 11 a.m.

Nov. 11, 1918. Randy Jackson of Charleston, a World War I re-enactor, attended the ceremony in the uniform of a soldier from that era, complete with a steel pot helmet. Jackson said Veterans Day honors all veterans, but it is important to remember the holiday's World War I beginnings. "That is why I wore it," Jackson said of the uniform.

"They (aged World War I veterans) cannot be represented anymore very well." Contact Rob Stroud at or BY ROB STROUD Staff Writer CHARLESTON The presence of hundreds of children at the Veterans Day ceremony Tuesday on the courthouse square served as a reminder of why American soldiers have gone to war over the years. Bob Holmes, chaplain for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1592, said veterans have served so children can grow into adulthood and start their own families in a country that is free. "We fought for our country. You are our country, and we believe in you," Holmes told those who gathered for the ceremony.

The audience included fourth- through sixth-grade students from Jefferson Elementary School as well as a second-grade chorus from Carl Sandburg Elementary School. Coles County Christian School students were also present. Music teacher Lisa O'Dell's chorus sang "America the Beautiful," "God Bless America" and "The Star-Spangled Banner." They also used sign language during their rendition of "God Bless America." O'Dell said the performance on the square was a sample of Veterans Day programs students put on Tuesday morning and afternoon at Carl Sandburg Elementary School. She said the students had been practicing for a month 4i Www KEN TRF.VART1 IANSTAFF PI IOTOGR API tt.R A mixed chorus of Carl Sandburg Elementary second-graders perform 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Tuesday morning during the Veterans Day ceremony at the Coles County Courthouse In Charleston. Protesters continued from Al the district's funding in future years, Berg said.

The board needs to set the levy so the district can meet operating expenses, or it will have to go to the public for a referendum for increases, he said. The board allowed comments from the audience. Contact Krista Lewin at or Richard Berg. Standerfer said many residents in Mattoon just don't have the money to pay that. For many years, he has paid for the excess in taxes so he wouldn't have to increase rent, but this will change if the proposed levy is approved.

Some of his renters can barely pay their rent now and the rent is below what it of the meeting. He said if a hearing is scheduled for a levy increase, his work and others have just begun. He plans on helping educate the public about the potential tax increase and lobbying school board members to vote against any potential increase in the levy. "People told me thank you for calling them and they said they would attend the meet ing tonight," Standerfer said. "I am unaware of one person who wasn't for coming out here tonight." Because of the increase in the amount the school was levying, Assistant Superintendent Tom Sherman estimated the projected tax rate, set by the county, would increase from the current 2002 rate of $4.21 per $100 of Equalized Assessed Valuation to an estimated $4.79 per $100 of EAV.

Bond and interest are figured into these projections. This means a taxpayer owning a home with a market value of $60,000, assessed at $20,000, which is 13 increase in taxes, would pay an estimated additional amount of $115.60 per year, according to calculations from School Superintendent should be, he said. Berg explained the levy set by the school district indicates how many dollars the local board has determined it needs for each of its established funds. Because of the approval by voters of Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), the levy the school board sets in December will determine the base-line year determining of I gets $2.65 million gift for music education Understand theDifference fig 1 Marilyn Pflederer Zimmerman Foundation donated $1.65 million to the School of Music and $1 million to the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, according to a statement from the university. The gift will fund an endowed chair and fellowships in music education.

The staff at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home understands the needs of our families and the importance of providing the highest quality of selection. We also understand the importance of affordability. See the difference and T-V- ill come visit with us in person or online www.mitchelljerdan.com and be a part of our community Our families deserve only the best. CHAMPAIGN (AP) The University of Illinois School of Music and performing arts center has received a $2.65 million donation from a foundation named for two former university faculty members, officials announced Tuesday. The Vernon K.

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ESTIMATED LOTTO JACKPOT: $3.5 million. ESTIMATED MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT: $70 million. KEN TREVARTHANSTAFF PI lO'lXXIRAPI UK Veterans on one of the many parade entries toss candy and greet the crowd gathered along Broadway Avenue in Mattoon Tuesday morning during the Veterans Day parade. li'I MitcheU-JerdM 'z Funeral Home Ltd. 1200 Wabash Mattoon, IL 61938 Tel: 217.234.8828 Fax: 217.258.0799 E-Mail: contactoiinitchelljerdan.com Ceremonies continued from Al mm your newspaper cmnsTMA.

i is better when from the audience. The service also featured an invocation by Pastor Don Pankey of the Mattoon Christian Church who asked the audience to pray for the veterans and the active duty soldiers. Mayor Dave Carter led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. He thanked everyone for attending and honoring the veterans. Contact Krista Lewin at or Vietnam veteran Bill Highland envisioned what the first Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, would have been like.

He described it as being a beautiful day on the battlefield and a beautiful day for the people because the war was over. He reminded the audience that U.S. soldiers are the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. "God Bless America," Highland said, and received applause you plan for it. JIV' nce icyoiei iui uui Got 5 minutes? Look 10 years younger Are you active.

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What's alleged in the complaint could result in criminal charges against Dotson, but that probably won't happen, State's Attorney Steve Ferguson said. Ferguson said his office got police reports on the alleged incident in Dotson's office. Ferguson said he didn't think he could prove criminal charges because of a lack of witnesses and the results of similar cases that came down to the word of the alleged victim against the word of the suspect. He said he also knew the woman was going to file a complaint with the state commission, and noted that type of complain wouldn't be as diffl- cult to prove as a criminal case. "Quite honestly, I thought that was the better forum," Ferguson said.

Assistant State's Attorney Duane Deters, who prosecutes criminal sex cases, said the second woman spoke with him, but he didn't think she ever contacted police. He said he didn't think she wanted criminal charges filed and he advised her to contact the state commission. Dotson has three weeks to file a response to the complaint, and a hearing will be scheduled after that. Dotson said his response to the commission will be to deny the allegations because "it's not true." Contact Dave Fopay at dfoparJg-tcxom or rJst THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK Mattoon Community Banking Centers "Community Banking Since 1 904 NOW IN TWO LOCATIONS 5 1 1 Lake Land Boulevard 1121 Broadway Avenue East P.O. Box 437 Mattoon, 1L 61938 Tel.

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