Scholarships the answer to economic growth?

March 3, 2006
Last week I mentioned Fire Station No. 2 not having a steady tenant since 2001. A-1 Fire Equipment Inc., a fire extinguisher sales and service company, has been in business at 313 Lakeland Blvd. (fire station # 2) for 2 months. The owner tells me they have had a very strong beginning and hopes to be in that location for years to come. This is a great second use for this building and as long as they are in business, a historic structure is a little bit safer. Good luck to A-1 and keep them in mind next time you need a fire extinguisher.

Now on to this weeks column;

I have said many times that if Coles County wants to turn the corner on economic development, they are going to have to think outside of the box. Any community can offer abatements and other tax incentives, but this puts an unfair advantage to new companies over existing competing companies. And more and more, developers are looking for more than a tax break when they choose their location.

Quality of life issues such as quality roadways, high technology infrastructure, educated workforce, comprehensive parks and bike system, and low crime rate are all things that more and more companies seem to like, and it seems like they are also factors in Economic Development.

The catch 22 is without business, it is hard to improve quality of life issues, and without a high quality of life, business will pass you by. So if a community is lacking in these departments, and traditional incentives fail to attract business, what can they offer to attract companies to the area?

Kalamazoo, Michigan has found a way to do such a thing. The Kalamazoo Promise gives every public high school graduate a chance to attend any State funded college or university. Every graduating student, regardless of grades gets free tuition to any Michigan State secondary school.

This promise is already seeing an increase in housing in the Kalamazoo School district. Increased demand for housing will improve housing values and make opportunities for infill housing. With more housing units and people in the City, there would be more opportunity for small businesses and other services.

Larger companies will look to Kalamazoo as a prime location for their business. The enticement of free college tuition for the children of its employees will bring is an incentive no other town gives them.

A similar program should be studied for Coles County. With Lake Land College and Eastern Illinois University being located in the County, maybe something on a smaller scale can be worked out with these institutions. If graduating students from Mattoon, Charleston, or Oakland were given an edge on the ever-rising tuition costs, the economic impact would be tremendous. We could expect similar results to those in Michigan.

An anonymous donor funded the Kalamazoo Promise. The amount was not disclosed. The interest from a $16 million trust could fund tuition for 200 graduates for 16 semester hours at Lake Land College. While this seems like a lot of money, Mattoon School District has spent close to $40 million in renovations and construction in the last 10 years. And as of the fall of 2004, they had $20 million in reserves.

The most effective economic development strategy is to create a community where businesses want to be. There are many factors, including economic conditions, desirable housing and neighborhoods, shopping and entertainment, quality schools, labor force, environment, and etc. that go into creating such a place. The promise of a college education is one incentive few communities can offer. Its value towards economic development is immeasurable.

Beautifying through Demolition - what is next?

February 24, 2006
Well, Central School is almost completely down, so its time to look towards the next project to revamping the city. The 1700 block of Broadway will be coming down soon. It has been empty long enough that people are starting to call for its demolition.

Other beautifying projects in recent years have been hugely successful. The new parking lot adjacent to the depot is one of the best I’ve seen. I wonder if the City has dust control in their budget for the rock surface come this summer.

The demolition of the restrooms in 2001 as part of the Broadway bridge project also did wonders to improving the looks of downtown. The orange construction fence protecting pedestrians from the tracks below is an excellent example of 21st century décor.

There are also excellent examples of modern architecture represented in town. The steel pole barn construction fits well in any neighborhood it’s used. This style looks so good; brick buildings are renovated to emulate steel construction.

So with so many wonderful projects proposed, in progress and completed, what other projects could possibly help with the refurbishing of downtown?

The demolition of the Coke plant would be a fine project for downtown. It is almost as old as Central School and has been empty much longer. And lets be honest, the Catholic Church could use more parking.

The old fire station on Lake Land Boulevard is another building that should be razed. It hasn’t had a steady tenant since the fire department abandoned the structure in 2001. The best solution to empty buildings is demolition.

1600 Broadway is another site that should be cleared. If we were serious about expanding the YMCA, this would be a grand place for additional parking. I know Century 21 is located here, but since this is in the TIF district, they can use TIF funds to relocate. And the best way to fill empty buildings is to displace businesses from occupied buildings and hope they move to the open ones.

How about traffic control? Doesn’t it take way to long to drive through town? We have successfully removed many stop signs and the stoplights at 17th and Broadway. But we need to do more. Removing, the remaining lights on Broadway would get you to your destination faster.

And stop signs can be welded to the empty stoplight stands. This attractive style is common in town, and by reusing the stoplight pedestals; more money is available for street sign replacement.

And why don’t we extend Charleston Avenue west out of town. I’m sure the businesses along Marshall Avenue won’t mind the traffic being diverted away from their locations. (Oh wait, that one is already in the works)

If you detect sarcasm in my type, you are correct. These projects are as ridiculous as the ones being implemented. But there are some who will see them as good ideas.

And now its time for an Olympic break

February 17, 2006
Its Winter Olympic time again. It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since Salt Lake City. For two weeks every four years, we become skiing, skating, and hockey fans. We also become experts in the sports that we haven’t watched in four years. Well maybe some watch hockey, but were even without that last year.

Then there are some obscure sports that we never hear about except for the Olympics. Bobsleigh, biathlon, luge, and my new favorite, curling are all winter sports seldom heard of save the Olympics.

Curling has been an Olympic sport since 1924. It originated in Scotland in the 1500’s. I suppose I like it because its one of the few sports I could be proficient at. It is kind of like bowling on ice. Too bad there is no place locally to play.

The luge has got to be the craziest sport in the Olympics. Sliding through a chute of ice in a wetsuit with little protection at speeds nearing 70 miles per hour takes nerves few have. Even though the Vikings ran luge sleds as early as AD 800, it didn’t become an Olympic sport until 1964.

The original bobsleds resembled skeletons, so the sport was given that name. It has been an Olympic sport since the inception of the winter games in 1924.

Biathlon is one of the more difficult sports in the games. Cross-country skiing is physically demanding and being able to shoot a rifle with accuracy under such physical duress takes great skill. It became part of the Games in 1960.

Skating is the oldest sport in the winter games. The earliest form of skates, bone strapped to sandals, has been dated near 20,000 BC. It first became an Olympic sport in 1908, before the summer and winter games were separated. There are two disciplines of skating in the Games; figure skating and speed skating. The 2002 Olympics were tainted with scandal when the Canadians and Russians ultimately shared the gold medal for pairs figure skating. A new scoring system this time around is supposed to be fairer.

Skiing has more disciplines than any other sport. Alpine, Cross Country, Ski Jumping, Nordic combined, Freestyle and Snow Boarding all fall under the sport of skiing. Many forms are as old as the Winter Games with Free Style being added in 1992 and Snowboarding in 1998.

The origins of Hockey are unclear, but the first organized games and set of rules were created by a group of college students in Montreal in 1879. The Olympics first included Hockey in 1920, the last Games to be held before the Winter and Summer Games were separated. The best Olympic Hockey moment has to be USA beating the Russians in 1980.

The games have changed over the years. From the splitting of the seasonal games in 1924 to the staggering of the Winter and Summer games starting in 1994. And different sports have been added throughout the years. But they are still fun to watch. Good luck to the athletes. And if you are not a fan, regular programming returns February 27.

Columnist offers alternative ideas regarding Mattoon street signs

Februaury 10, 2006
$45,000 to replace all of the street signs in Mattoon. Since they are non-reflective and many are in disrepair, or missing, the City is proposing to replace 1500 street signs throughout the City. This comes out to about $30 per sign.

It has also been stated the black lettering on white background is not the best contrast for maximum visibility. The new signs will be yellow letters on green background. According to The Sign User's Guide by James and Karen Claus, black letters with white background is the second most visible color scheme. Black on yellow is number one. Yellow on green is not in the top sixteen combinations.

For $30 you can buy an additive for paint to make it reflective. Small glass beads mixed with the paint will make objects shine brightly when illuminated by headlights. This is what is used to make pavement markings shine at night.

The existing signs are heavy embossed steel signs. They can easily be sandblasted and repainted with reflective paint. A very poor looking sign can be made to look new again for a fraction of the cost of replacement. This type of maintenance has been done on the signs by the Public Works Department in the past.

Even though, I’m partial to the existing color scheme, it can be changed. Signs could be painted differently throughout town; green and gold along Marshall close to the high school, blue and gold along ninth towards the middle school. But overall, the existing signs could be reused at a far cheaper price than replacement.

I would like to see a complete survey of the condition of the existing signs. Intersections with missing signs should be recorded. The standing signs should be rated on their condition as well as the condition of the poles. Once this is done, a maintenance program can be implemented addressing the worse signs first. The city has only done a cursory check on a few signs and decided they all need replaced.

A few short weeks ago, the City Council announced that the departments will have to do with less this year since payment increases into the pension funds were greater than the maximum tax levy increase allowed under PTEL (property tax extension limits). Taking the maintenance approach to the signs would be less expensive than replacement.

Petitions have been signed and presented to the council for the repair of the tennis courts at Lawson Park. The new parking lot adjacent to the Illinois Central Railroad Depot has yet to be paved. The rock surface does not meet the City’s redevelopment plan passed last year. These projects should be completed before such an expense is reserved for an unnecessary project.

It would seem that in a year the City Council has called for the departments to hold the line on expenses, and citizens have requested other projects, such a project would not be proposed. The existing signs need maintained, not replaced. The style of the old signs has character; the new signs will resemble those marking rural roads in the county. The goals stated for the signs can be met by repainting the old ones.

City managers should have staying power

February 3, 2006
When a City Manager of City Administrator position is created, it is thought that the person who holds the position will be a stable figure across several administrations. They will be someone who can help shorten the learning curve when new Councils are elected.

More often than not, it is just the opposite that is true. Richard Underkofler served just over four years as Mattoon’s administrator. Before he came to Mattoon, he held jobs in Arizona, Alaska and Iowa. Maybe he will land a job in another vowel state, maybe Indiana.

When Charleston voted for the manager form of government, they had seen five mayors in 12 years. There was a need for a consistent leader. This was to be found in a City Manager. The City of Charleston has had seven City Managers since the position was created nine years ago. Paul Nicholson, Bill Riebe, Dean Barber, Alan Probst, Ted Ghibellini, Bill Riebe (again), and Scott Smith have all served as City Manager.

The leading candidates for Underkofler’s replacement have also worked several places. Alan Gilmore spent the last five years as City Administrator for the City of Paris. Before that, he was in Flora for five years, and Tuscola for nine years before that. Ronald Niebert seventeen-year career has taken him to Vandalia, Mount Carmel, Fairview Heights and Albion.

So what is it about these positions that make them so volatile? When a new council is elected, they often want to fill this position with a choice of their own. Not only does this displace the outgoing administrator, but it also attracts those from other towns looking to make a step up. Then their town is without. This is a vicious cycle; the lack of job security must be very stressful for those in this line of work.

There has been a lot debate in the past about hiring from within. Promoting someone within the ranks to fill the vacant position. This often creates different controversies. Another debate often argued in recent years is that of the “good ole boy club”. There are many advantages to promoting from within, but care must be taken to assure you are still getting the best man for the job.

Maybe I have the wrong view on these positions. Maybe they are meant to have a high turnover. Maybe that is what is best for a community. Maybe the needs of a town change so rapidly, that they need to replace such staff. But it seems to me; everyone would be better served if one person could stick around longer.

What constitutes violation of open meetings act

January 27, 2006
While statutes allowing members of the public to attend meetings of public bodies can be traced to the 1860s, the Illinois Open Meetings Act, formally entitled "An Act in relation to meetings," was enacted on July 11, 1957, and modified by amendments in 1967, 1981, 1994, and 2003.

In its present form, the Act is designed to ensure that public business is conducted in public view, by prohibiting secret deliberations and actions on matters that should be discussed in a public forum. It also balances the competing interests of government officials to discuss sensitive matters candidly with the public’s right to be informed about how its government operates.

In order to know if the act has been violated, first we must define what constitutes as a public meeting. According to the act, "Meeting" is defined as "any gathering of a majority of a quorum of the members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing public business."

The closed meeting to discuss the results of the survey conducted on the future of the YMCA definitely included a quorum of the City Council since all four of Mattoon’s Council members were in attendance. The fuzzy area is whether the purpose of the meeting was to discuss public business.

The YMCA is a private entity, but there is certainly public interest there. The study was partly funded with public funds. And the YMCA sits on land owned by the City. The City has entered into negotiations to purchase additional land for the YMCA expansion, an expansion that will rely on this study to meet the public’s demands.

So a quorum of the City Council was present at a meeting where public interests were on the agenda. But the Council members were there only as observers and did not participate in the meeting. This is the argument put forth by the City. And it must be determined if this makes a difference in the interpretation of the Open Meetings Act.

According to Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, the phrase "discussing public business" refers to an exchange of views and ideas among public body members. If the public members don’t speak, are they still exchanging views? This is what must be decided to determine if a violation has taken place.

So what if a violation has taken place? The Open Meetings Act provides for both civil and criminal enforcement. Any person can file a civil complaint within 60 days of the violation. These types of complaints could result in the city being required to hold the meeting again, this time open to the public, or simply the minutes of the meeting being released for public review. But it also may result in the courts voiding any final action taken as a result of the closed meeting.

In addition to civil penalties, violators of the Open Meetings Act are subject to criminal penalties. Violation of the Act is a Class C misdemeanor (5 ILCS 120/4), which is punishable by a fine of up to $1500 and imprisonment for up to 30 days.

Whether a violation of the act occurred or not, the controversy has put this issue in the limelight. Public boards and councils across the county will be watching how and when they meet with the Open Meetings Act in mind. And that is to the benefit of the public.

Governor goofs in grant to church

January 20, 2006
Built as Kehilath Anshe Ma' ariv synagogue in1891, the building has housed the Pilgrim Baptist Church since 1922. During the 1930s, this congregation and its longtime music director, Thomas A. Dorsey, were instrumental in the development of gospel music. The site was designated as a Chicago Landmark in 1981.

On Friday, January 7, 2006, the building was gutted by fire. The church, designed in the late 1800s by architects Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, had been in the midst of a renovation project. An elevator was being installed, and roofers were adding copper gutters.

The fire was started by the roofers who were using torches that ignited the roof timbers. The roof and steeple collapsed, leaving the stone shell. Many of the churches artifacts tied to Thomas Dorsey, the father of gospel music, were destroyed.

Donations have been pouring in since the fire. Churches all across the city and state held special collections for the rebuilding of the church. The Pritzker Family Foundation announced it would match private donations up to $500,000 to help rebuild the church and restore its artifacts. And every taxpayer in the State of Illinois made a generous donation by way of a one million dollar pledge by Governor Blagojevich to the church from the states capitol fund.

I would think that between private donations, the church’s insurance, and the contractor’s bond, public money wouldn’t be needed for the church. And if it were, a low interest loan would be much more in order than a hand out.

Not only is this a blatant use of public funds to pander to voters in the African American community that were devastated by the loss of the church, but it betrays the Illinois Constitution, which states no public funds can be used for sectarian purposes, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary… controlled by any church or sectarian denomination whatever. (Article 10, Section 3, Illinois Constitution)

Where was the Governor’s generosity after the Blair Hall fire at Eastern in April of 2004? Just three weeks after the fire, the Governor ordered EIU to return one million dollars to the State. EIU is a State institution, dependant on state funds to operate. Instead, it is used to balance the state budget in their greatest time of need.

There are many reasons to criticize the Governor’s use of public funds to the Pilgrim Baptist Church. But by taking away from a downstate public university when they are faced with the exact situation as a private Chicago church, he shows he doesn’t hold the voters in the same light. He forgets he is governor for the State of Illinois, not the State of Chicago.

Not a good idea to fill vacancy with non-candidate

January 13, 2006
Its not that I don’t think Joe McKenzie is a good choice for Commissioner. He is definitely qualified and will serve the City honorably. As Commissioner Schilling said, Joe’s experience in the Public Works Department will serve the City well with the upcoming projects proposed for the following year.

It was Commissioner Cline’s reasoning behind the appointment that troubled me. Part of the reason the Council chose Mr. McKenzie is he has no intention on running for the seat in 2007. This essentially makes him a placeholder until the real replacement is chosen over a year from now.

One of the first decisions to be made is a replacement for the outgoing City Administrator, Richard Underkofler. The final replacement for the open seat will have had no say in the choosing of said replacement. And the temporary replacement will view the choice in the eyes of the other sitting Commissioners since they will be the ones working with the new Administrator.

I understand whomever the council chooses stands a chance of being outvoted in 2007, but any of the other candidates that expressed interest would have filled the seat with the thought of being there for rest of the term.

I was reviewing my notes from the past election. All the candidates campaigned on serving the people, listening to what they want. After all, it was they who elected them. So what did the people say in this case? 1623 of them stated whom they wanted last April. And 200 of them told the council they still wanted that candidate to fill the open seat. Does this satisfy the Council’s promise to follow the “will of the people”?

And speaking of “will of the people”, how is the newly elected school board doing on their promise to change the attitudes of past boards? These members were elected because the past members failed to listen to the will of the people.

Well when it comes to holding the line on property taxes, the school board has followed through with their promise. But they seem to have forgotten the other issue the citizens were fed up with was the quick decision to demolish the old grade schools.

The board stated they would much rather sell (or even give away) Central School before demolition. But they made little effort in doing so. As the school slowly disappears, we are all reminded of the memories it held; memories as recent as last fall. I have spoke to no one who believes razing this building was what is best for the community. It certainly wasn’t the will of the people.

So once again, we are left at the mercy of a Council and School Board who have quickly forgotten what they said less than one year ago. “We will listen to the community and base our decisions on what they want”.

Support for Hayden because of dissenting opinions

January 6, 2006
One of the problems with writing these columns is the time between they are written and actually delivered to the readers. Hopefully, by the time this prints, Mattoon will have filled the vacant position on the City Council. If they follow tradition, they will appoint the next highest vote recipient from the last election. In this case, that would be John Hayden.

Before the April election, I said the following:

“I used to think it was best to have a group of like-minded individuals on a board or council to be able to make some changes and get things done. They would be able to move their agenda and set policies to how they saw best. I no longer believe this is the greatest idea.

While they can make some accomplishments, the lack of opposition can lead to some unwise decisions and missed opportunities. Without debate, many ideas are not considered. A vocal opposition can either change ones mind or reinforce their original opinion. Either way, both sides are being considered. And as taxpayers, we deserve that from our elected officials.”

What we seem to have is a group of like-minded individuals. John will bring a different view into the council, which has not seen a dissenting vote in the eight months since the members took office. He is very outspoken and not afraid to speak in opposition. He will not be a rubber stamp member of the council.

I believe Mr. Hayden has support in the ranks of the fire and police departments, he has served on the Police and Fire Commission. During the election, he advocated pro-active programs such as DARE and GREAT. These topics would undoubtedly be debated if he were to fill the vacant position.

With the addition of John Hayden, the Council would be loaded with law enforcement background. Commissioner Randy Ervin is a former Coles County Sheriff deputy and is currently a safety officer at Lake Land College. Commissioner David Cline is a retired Mattoon police officer. And Hayden serves on the Police Commission. This kind of experience on the Council should put a dent in Mattoon’s rising crime rate. The crime rate did dip slightly over the last year, but is still way up over the last decade.

I have not heard who else is vying for the open seat. But reports have said up to a dozen people have expressed interest to Mayor Charlie White. Of these dozen, only one name has been printed, John Hayden. He appears to be working harder at acquiring the position then the other eleven. His dedication towards attaining the seat may be an indication of his dedication once seated.

Hayden only missed being elected in April by 200 votes. He has shown he is still interested in the job and is collecting support from the community. He holds different opinions than the existing members of the council. And this council could use some differing opinions.

Columnist lists choice for own top ten stories of 2005

December 30, 2005
The Coles County Leader printed its top ten stories of 2005 as compiled by our writes and columnists. I submitted my choices based on what impact they will have on the community. While stories such as Katrina relief and Mattoon’s Sesquicentennial are newsworthy events, their impact on the community are minimal. Here are my choices for the top ten stories and reasoning behind them. Some made the list, others did not.

1. New mayors and councils in Mattoon and Charleston – New views could bring great improvements to the community, it can also be a huge detriment. The new councils have started working together in ways no other councils have before. In August, they held the first joint meeting between the two Cities.
2. AmPad announces layoffs – AmPad cut its local work force by 165 over 2005. First 45 people lost their jobs when they closed the distribution center in the industrial park, then in June; they announced they would be reducing its work force by 125. The company recently took advantage of NAFTA and opened a new factory in Mexico. Rarely does national policy have such a dramatic impact on the local economy.
3. Richard Underkofler resigns as Mattoon City Administrator – Underkofler was Mattoon’s first City Administrator and was instrumental in straightening out the Cities finances. Some of the decisions he made were quite controversial. His replacement can take the City in an entirely new direction. But if that direction is what is best for the City, is yet to be determined.
4. Charleston Police Chief controversy – When the City of Charleston hired a new Police Chief from out of town; the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88 filed a lawsuit against the City stating they violated their own ordinance. Even though they stated the pending lawsuit did not affect the working relationship between the Chief and the officers, it showed a lack of unity on the force. The lawsuit was eventually dropped and all is smoothed over.
5. Mattoon Downtown Development Plan – The plan is supposed to revitalize downtown Mattoon. I believe it will do more damage then good. Either way, the impact of this plan will be significant.
6. Area deaths - Mike Witwicki managed the mall for years. His passing will see a changing of the guard at Coles County’s largest retail outlet. The recent passing of Commissioner Terry Cook could change the direction of the council. Founder of My Store, Richard Podeschi, had a great impact in the count, serving on the County Board and Chamber of Commerce. These local leaders will be missed and their contribution to the community will not be forgotten.
7. No new “big employers” comes to Coles – The biggest ‘non’ story of all. Even though, some companies announced plans for expansion, no new industries were introduced into Coles County in 2005. Until Coles County changes the way it tries to bring business here, this will be on the list every year.
8. YMCA /Sarah Bush – When Sarah Bush offered to use the Ritter Trust Fund to build a new facility near the hospital, they had no idea how unpopular the idea would be. They eventually pulled the offer in the midst of controversy. This has tarnished the view of both the YMCA and Sarah Bush. No one comes out ahead in this deal.
9. I-57 TIF District – This highly controversial measure was repealed this year on a technicality. The City of Mattoon immediately began measures to reinstate it. If another lawsuit is filed against the TIF District, development in this area could be stalled for years.
10. I-57 Interchange – Some believe this will attract industry to the north ends of both Mattoon and Charleston. But it may drain traffic away from the towns and deplete the communities of possible consumers from Mattoon. The proposed overpass across Route 45 and the railroad will prevent the busiest intersection along the route from development.

That's right, I said Merry Christmas

December 23, 2005
That's right, I said Merry Christmas. Not seasons greetings, or happy holidays, or any other "PC let's make sure we don't offend anyone term." I see now that corporate America can no longer bring themselves to say Merry Christmas. All the corporate Christmas cards we receive are always careful not to use the C-word. You will not find that dreaded term on any can of coke or anything else.

I have no problem with “Happy Holidays” there are many special days at the end of the year. All Hallow's Eve, you have Thanksgiving (both Canadian and American), Chanukah or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia, St. Nicholas Day, Ramadan, Winter Solstice, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and Christmas, just to name a few.

What bothers me is avoiding the word Christmas in fear of offending someone. I am not offended to hear Happy Chanukah, though I am not Jewish. What about Merry Christmas could be so offensive?

And now everything surrounding Christmas has been renamed. ‘Christmas Vacation’ has become ‘winter break’. It is no longer a ‘Christmas tree’; it’s a ‘holiday tree’. Give me a break; it’s not a ‘holiday menorah’ is it?

There doesn’t seem to be a shortage of Christmas songs on the radio however. I guess this is one area that political correctness has not filtered into. It’s hard to find a station not playing Christmas after Thanksgiving. By the time Christmas actually gets here, I’m tired of the music.

Don’t get me wrong, Christmas music isn’t bad, there’s just a limited number of songs that really bring out the spirit of Christmas. Bing Crosby, White Christmas; Nat King Cole, The Christmas Song; and Johnny Mathis, Christmas Album all put me in the spirit more than Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer or Bruce Springsteen's version of 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'. And any modern Christmas song totally fails to invoke the spirit of Christmas.

Christmas movies and television specials also summon the spirit of the season. But once again, it is the older, traditional shows that I go back to. How many times has everyone seen ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ or ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ or how about the “newest” Christmas movie, ‘The Christmas Story’? We still look forward to watching ‘Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer’, ‘Frosty the Snowman’, and ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but if it is new, and we never heard of it, we are most likely to skip it.

I guess my point to all this is Holidays are about tradition. No matter what happens throughout the year, I look forward to the Holidays being similar to ones past. So when new changes are introduced into the season, they are met with resistance. It takes years, or even decades, for changes to be accepted as tradition.

So, to include EVERYONE, I would like to wish you a merry ChrismaHanuKwanzaDon, or a good RamaHanuKwanzMas, oh heck, Happy Festivus people.

Adjusting to the first snowfall of the season

December 16, 2005
Well, we survived the first major snowstorm of the season. Wasn’t the drive Thursday (December 8) hectic? I made it from Charleston to Mattoon in about 45 minutes. Days like these, I miss my four-wheel drive truck.

Along the way, I saw several fender benders, and vehicles in the ditch. Adjusting to driving in hazardous conditions is hard for some. And even the most careful drivers lose control on occasion. I don’t believe there were any serious injuries in the area, so we were lucky on that. Cars can be fixed, so count your blessings if you were in one of these accidents without injuries.

I am obsessive about getting the driveway cleared before it is driven on. I knew I had about thirty minutes before my wife got home and things would get too busy to push snow. I hurriedly got most of the drive and the sidewalks cleared, but wind and little more snow falling filled everything back up.

Upon waking Friday morning, I saw I would have to push snow after work once again. I knew there would be traffic on my drive throughout the day, packing the drifted snow to the rock drive. This wouldn’t worry most people, but it bothered me all day.

It was cold Friday, but the sun was shining and most of the snow on the streets of Charleston melted away. The trip from Charleston to Mattoon had pretty much returned to normal. The worst part was using all my washer fluid keeping my windshield clean.

However, once I got to Mattoon, things were drastically different. While the streets in Charleston and on the highways were wet at the worst, Mattoon streets were still snow packed and slick. How could this be? Had there been more snowfall in Mattoon? Was it drastically colder? Maybe the sun wasn’t shining in Mattoon.

When I got home, my driveway was, as I feared. Many cars had been up and down it all day, and clearing the snow from wheel tracks was going to be a huge chore. When you chip away at these tracks, the rocks from the drive stick to the snow and you end up raking them back into the drive come spring. I was not looking forward to the work that lay ahead.

Then I heard of a trick, a way to make my job much easier and less strenuous. Did you know, you can put rock salt on snow and it melts? What an amazing trick!! I didn’t think it would work at first, but low and behold, after a few hours, there was considerably less snow in my drive then before.

Apparently, salt lowers the freezing temperature of water. You can melt snow and ice when the temperature is as low as -6 degrees Fahrenheit. Then I realized, that is how Charleston and IDOT got their roads cleared in such a hurry. Someone should tell the City of Mattoon about this trick.

With all the new governmental agreements between Mattoon and Charleston on sharing equipment and connecting water supplies, I wonder if they can share tips on snow removal. That way the citizens of Mattoon won’t have sandy, snow packed streets until March.

House phone evolution going the way of the dinasaur

December 9, 2005
It’s been a while now since we have been inundated with long distance companies begging us to use their services. First it was telemarketing to sign you up with their company. Remember “friends and family” and “the dime line”? Then there was a gazillion 10-10 numbers. That was convenient.

Now I hear a lot of long distance is now included in base plans. I would think this would soon become the norm since cell phones have no long distance fees. AT&T offers unlimited local and long distance for $30 per month. MCI offers the same for $50 per month. Qwest is only $20 per month for unlimited local and long distance calls.

Internet phone companies such as Vonage are now offering a new option. You can now make phone calls through your cable Internet connection. For $25 per month, you don’t even need a phone line. And even Mediacom now has phone service available for other communities $30 per month.

Basic phone service in Coles County is about $33 per month for your line plus caller id, call waiting and voice mail. Long distance is above and beyond that. It costs anywhere from 10 cents per minute to 22 cents per minute for state-to-state calls. Some plans have a $5 monthly fee. Unlimited long distance will cost an additional $30 per month.

If you’re not comfortable with these long distance rates, there are a couple of options available. There are still several dial-around services with rates as low as 3 cents per minute. You have to remember to dial 10-10-*** plus your number. And you will receive a bill from a third party long distance company. The cheapest I found is 10-10-297 for 3 cents per minute and no monthly access fee.

Mediacom does not have phone service in this area yet. But it is only a matter of time. Until then, other broadband phone companies, such as Vonage, offer nationwide service. However, you will have to give up your local phone number. The closest available prefix is a Champaign number.

The easiest and possibly cheapest alternative is to cancel your house phone and go completely wireless. Cellular phones offer no long distance plans and unlimited calls on nights and weekends. If you keep your primetime minutes in check, this option is the way to go. Most college-aged kids have never known life without the cell phone. As they enter the workforce, they may never have a landline.

Cutting the cord to the house phone may be hard for the rest of us grasp. Phones have been a fixture in American homes for over 100 years. But as technology moves forward, they will become outdated. Most residential phone companies are enticing their customers with cheap, unlimited long distance. Those who don’t will start to lose customers at an alarming rate. The house phone is becoming obsolete. Communication companies will have to adapt to keep their customer base.

Taking part in Christmas Commercialism

December 2, 2005
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving where businesses are said to move into the black for profits for the year. Recent trends are for retailers to open before dawn and offer obscenely good deals to lure shoppers into stores. Could the commercialization of Christmas be any more blatant?

Is this what the Christmas season has turned into? Crowds line up outside Wal-Marts and rushing the store as soon as the doors open. Waiting hours in line with other less then merry shoppers. Herded through the checkout line like an amusement ride at Disneyworld.

An Internet search finds only one person trampled this year. A 73-year old woman was injured at a Florida discount store. We used to fear being trampled at a concert or sporting event. Now Christmas shopping is a full contact sport, as shoppers fight for the last item.

Black Friday may see the most shoppers, but the Saturday before Christmas or sometimes Christmas Eve is usually the day that sees the most money. That’s because people like me rarely get off our couches before the last minute. Some will turn to the power of the Internet, where we can shop from the comfort of our own home. Those of us who hate crowds, line, and rude clerks prefer this method.

For those who don’t wait till the last minute, Black Friday may not even be the kickoff to your holiday shopping. Stores have been set up for Christmas since they cleared the Halloween candy off the shelf. This gives shoppers almost two full months to fill their lists.

Every year, there seems to be a couple of items that become hard to find. People pay ridiculous prices for something that will be forgotten in a few months. Cabbage Patch Kids were that item at one time. Tickle Me Elmo dolls were once a hot ticket as well. What will be the item this year? I noticed the $300 X-Box 360 systems going for $900 already.

The commercialization of Christmas has not necessarily led to the loss of the Christmas spirit. When you’re going to fisticuffs over that last $199 laptop, when you’re cutting in line, when you’re shoving the ten year old out of your way to get to the last Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game; ask yourself if you’re buying the gift to impress someone or are we buying the gift because we think it will bring a smile on someone’s face.

Are you buying it because it’s the newest, neatest gadget, or because we feel the person truly needs or wants it? Are you buying the gift to make yourself feel good, or to make the recipient feel good?

You only have 30 days from Black Friday to get your shopping done. So get out there and take part in a little commercialization of Christmas. And remember why you’re going into debt for the next ten months.

Thankful for not-so-customary things

Saturday, November 19, 2005
By Chris Rankin
One day a year, we reflect on ourselves and give thanks for all that is good in our lives. I am thankful for my family and their health. I am thankful for having a roof over my head and food on the table. I am thankful to live in the greatest coun . . .

Wait a minute!! Of course I'm thankful for these things, who wouldn't? How many times do you hear these cliches? Now what am I really thankful for?

I am thankful for whoever invented the bouncy seat that calms my daughters down. I am thankful for whoever made the battery operated swing. Those crank swings always stopped at the worst time, and woke up the babies when you turned the crank. I am thankful for Dr. Brown for inventing those funky bottles that reduce gas. These all keep things a little saner around our house.

I am thankful for cruise control. After driving a vehicle without it, I realized how much I like it. I am thankful for the split bench seat so I can have more legroom when riding with a short driver. I am thankful for anti-lock brakes and dual air bags. I hope I never need either.

I am thankful for headphones so I don't have to listen to my teenager's music. I am thankful for the off button so I don't have to listen to Black Eyed Peas "My Humps". I am thankful that someone created the universal remote. We would have five without it. I am thankful for the guy who put the page button on the cordless phone. Man I can never find that thing. I am thankful for whoever put the vibrate option on the cell phone. I wish more people would use it.

I am thankful for the pizza maker willing to make half and half pizzas. That has settled many arguments over the years. I am thankful they will bring the pizza to my house so I don't have to pick it up myself.

I am thankful for scoopable cat litter. I am thankful for Drano. I am thankful for Shout. I am thankful for Fabreeze. I am thankful for scrub free bathroom cleaner. I am thankful for the Swiffer duster. These all make my life easier.

I am thankful for cordless power tools. I now have power wherever I go. I am thankful for corded power tools, for when the cordless batteries run out.

I am thankful for the digital camera. I can now take thousands of pictures and only print those I want. I am thankful for MP3 players. I can carry thousands of songs with me in a device the size of a matchbox. I am not so sure about being thankful for the cell phone, but I have one anyway.

As for Thanksgiving, I am thankful for whoever thought to deep-fry a turkey. I am thankful for Abraham Lincoln choosing Thursday for Thanksgiving so we get a four-day weekend. I am thankful the National Football League moves two games to Thursday so we don't have to watch soap operas after dinner.Have a happy Thanksgiving, no matter what you're thankful for.

Keep government out of free market

Sunday, November 13, 2005
By Chris Rankin
The town's bread bakery burns to the ground. Suddenly the only available bread in town is that in peoples' cupboards and on the groceries shelves.

Knowing there will be a need to make the bread last, the grocer raises the price so only those that really need the remaining stock will buy. After all, everyone in town will feel like they need to stock up and buy all they can before it's completely gone.

Consumers start to only use what bread they need. Frivolous uses such as feeding bread to the birds cease. Birds are fine with nuts and berries. People start eating more biscuits and less toast. Bread use falls to new lows.

Seeing the need for more bread and an opportunity to make some extra money, the cake baker starts baking bread in the evenings. This eases the supply problem and replenishes the grocers stock. Collecting money on both bread and cakes, he makes more money then ever before.

By now, the townsfolk have learned to live with less bread. They continue their new habits of low bread consumption. Demand remains low. As the original bread baker brings his ovens back online one at a time, and the cake baker continues baking additional bread, supplies grow into surplus. Prices fall below what they were before the fire.

In the day's following Hurricane Katrina, gas prices spiked to $3.50 per gallon in the Coles County area. There were cries of price gouging. The oil companies reported record profits for the last quarter supporting this claim. This has caused some to call for profit taxes against the oil companies to lower gas prices.

But the problem seems to have corrected itself. People drove less, and carpooled more. They learned to stop at the store on their way home from work, instead of making a separate trip. They found out, occasionally walking to work wasn't that bad. They may have even lost a couple of pounds doing it. Some realized they didn't need such a large vehicle and traded down. While other people did away with driving all together.

Suddenly it became profitable for other countries to sell the United States refined fuel, instead of plain crude oil. And as refineries come back online, supplies increase, as demand remains low.

Gas last weekend was at $2.17 per gallon. This is well below the price of gas when Katrina hit, and prices still seem to be falling. Even though at last check, U.S. refineries were still only operating at fifty percent.

Perhaps you have heard the bakery analogy before. I found it worth repeating. This is the simple rule of supply and demand. Sometimes it stings. Sometimes it seems unfair. Sometimes people who have a lot of money make even more. But the free market has a way with keeping itself in check. Lets not lean on the government to try to correct it. After all, when have things ever gotten better once they get involved?

What if the mayor had forced the cake baker to give his profits to the city? Would he have been so eager to help out? What if the grocer had to give up his additional profits? His short supply would have been gone in hours and those in most need would have done without. Taxing profits is a deterrent to making more; this could result in shorter supplies, leading to even higher profits.

Organic farms - a needed venture in the area

Sunday, November 06, 2005
By Chris Rankin
The controversy over genetically altered food has been festering for years. Advocacy groups have fought food companies over their use of genetically altered foods. Some countries have banned genetically altered foods from being imported into their country.

Genetically altered crops are reported to have higher yields and require less herbicide. There use greatly increased during the 1990's spurring debate over their safety. While some studies show genetically modified crops are safe, others point to potential problems.

The purpose of this column is not to debate the aspects of genetically modified foods, but to show this controversy can be exploited to boost the local economy.

The alternative to genetic modified foods is organic foods. Organic farming relies on developing natural mixture in the field to combat weeds and insects, and replenish soil fertility. Organic farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

Organic meat, dairy products, and eggs are produced from animals that are fed organic feed and allowed access to the outdoors. Animals must have access to pasture. Organic livestock and poultry may not be given antibiotics, hormones, or medications in the absence of illness; however, they may be vaccinated against disease.

As corporate farms increasingly embrace genetically altered farming, there is a small but growing market for organic farming. Approximately two percent of the U.S. food supply is grown using organic methods.

Over the past decade, sales of organic products have shown an annual increase of at least 20 percent, the fastest growing sector of agriculture. Many restaurant chefs across the country are using organic produce because they desire its superior quality and taste. Organic food is also gaining international acceptance, with nations like Japan and Germany becoming important international organic food markets.

Growing organic food is nothing new. We have always grown organic foods for our families, and communities. Until 50 years ago, all food was grown organically and nearly all of it produced and consumed locally. Produce is best when harvested at the peak of ripeness and nutrition. Non-organic produce can be picked long before its peak ripeness, and given additives to alter its appearance.

Central Illinois has some of the most fertile soil in the world. A growing number of farmers are choosing organic farming over conventional farming. It is a way for the family farm to survive. Foods grown from organic farms are usually sold locally, keeping the money in the community.

Small farms have been disappearing from the Illinois landscape at an alarming rate; we have lost more than 30 percent in the last 15 years. At the same time, farms over 2,000 acres have increased by 300 percent. Four large firms control over 80 percent of beef slaughter, 59 percent of pork packing, and 50 percent of broiler chicken production. Buying organic foods supports small-scale and diversified family farms. Buying organic foods supports local farmers.

An internet search (www.illinoisfarmdirect.org ) found no organic farms within a 20 mile radius of Mattoon or Charleston, and only six within 50 miles. There is definitely a market for such a venture.

Growing local business for used electronics is what we need

Tuesday, November 01, 2005
By Chris Rankin
The average life of a personal computer is three to five years. There were 41 million computers were laid to rest in 2003; an estimated 63 million will be retired in 2005. Cell phones are replaced every one to two years. There is an estimated 800 million cell phones to be sold in 2005, up from 650 million last year.

This creates four million tons of electronic waste put into landfills each year. Add in televisions, VCRs, and other electronic equipment replaced each year and that number climbs even higher.

In the United States, consumer electronics account for 70 percent of the heavy metals, including 40 percent of the lead found in landfills. And while electronics account for only two to five percent of landfill volume, they contribute up to 70 percent of the toxins found in the landfill.

The first time electronics are recycled is easy. Usually they are passed on to a kid, or relative that was doing without. Other times, electronics are donated to schools and churches. A lot of times, they are upgraded and refurbished to stretch their use a couple of more years.

But eventually, they become completely obsolete and something must be done with them. Many of us have old printers, VCRs and other obsolete electronic equipment stored in closets, basements and attics because we feel there may be a use for them someday. But the truth is, the longer they stay in storage, the less useful they become.

Once the electronic components reach the end of their useful lives, recycling becomes more difficult. Occasionally, there are e-recycling drives where they can be donated. Some retailers accept old components for recycling as well. But where do they go from there?

There are some regional pilot programs for de-manufacturing of electronic components. These centers receive electronic components, disassemble them, separate and consolidate like materials, and sell the raw materials.

Computers are made with a variety of elements, like plastics, glass, steel, gold, lead, mercury, cadmium and fire retardants that can be recaptured through recycling and used again. If thrown away, these computers can release toxins to the environment, potentially polluting the groundwater we drink and the air that we breathe. Recycling the resources in computers also eliminates the need to obtain these elements from nature, decreasing production impact on the environment.

In this community struggling to find manufacturing jobs, perhaps we should try to attract a de-manufacturing center instead. There seems to be a shortage of de-manufacturing facilities nation wide.

It is this sort of outside-the-box thinking Coles County needs to break its slump. The current method of waiting for industry to knock at our door, then compete with other local communities for their business is not cutting it. For some reason we are either unwilling or unable to give the incentives necessary to attract these businesses. Growing our own industry right here may be the alternative we need.

A look at Mattoon City Council spending thusfar in 2005

Sunday, October 23, 2005
Since taking office in May, the Mattoon City Council has voted to spend over $2.4 million of our tax dollars. These were expenditures beyond the monthly bills and payroll. In comparison, the previous city council approved $1.5 million during the same period last year. Where did our $2.4 million go?

$30,000 for improving handicap ramps on 9th Street sidewalks.

$23,000 for resurfacing and striping Western Avenue in front of Riddle Elementary School

$30,000 for repair and replacement of sidewalks.

$45,000 for extending water and sewer to serve a health care facility to be near the intersection of Lerna Road and Thomason Road

$195,000 to assist with the acquisition of real estate and equipment to establish a health care facility for persons with dementia.

$6,300 for engineering services for submission of applications to the Illinois Department of Transportation grants.

$9,999 for a digital audio/video recording system.

$10,000 for a study to solicit market research and strategic planning information regarding alternative locations for the expansion of the YMCA.

$151,602 for a new street sweeper.

$734,670 for an aerial platform truck, for use by the fire department.

$19,009 for a pickup truck for use by engineering and construction inspection staff.

$230,120 for radio-read water meters.

$27,000 for design and construction for the sewer collection system improvements.

$54,549 for nine 30-yard recycling containers

$5,000 expenditure for advertising

$4,000 for a car show at Coles County Airport, October 28-29, 2005

$30,000 for Geographic Information System (GIS) support services.

$12,315 for a site characteristic study of property leased by the municipality to the YMCA.

$24,831 to replace the computer network server at city hall.

$121,694 for the relocation of water and sewer service.

$67,189 for the extension of water and sewer service.

$1,913 to the Lincoln Sergeant Farm Foundation.

$24,520 for filter repainting at the Water Treatment Plant.

$110,000 for replacement mowing equipment.

$140,828.40 for the relocation of water and sewer service.

$34,808 for fire hydrants and water main fittings; and,

$26,577.20 for water and sewer main pipe.

$72,000 for new self-contained breathing apparatus for use by fire department personnel.

$146,300 for engineering services for equipment at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Composting/recycling among suggestions for landfill solutions

Sunday, October 16, 2005
By Chris Rankin
The landfill in Coles County is said to be full in 2008. At that time, Coles County trash will be hauled to different landfill, probably near Danville. I am sure there will be higher fees attributed to this change. Add in higher cost of fuel and I wouldn't be surprised to see the cost of hauling garbage in Coles County triple or more.

So are there any alternatives to this solution? Or will we be forced to make garbage hauling a major household expense? Higher costs may spur a recycling boom in Coles County if incentives are given for doing so. The current system of haul your recyclables yourself with no rewards doesn't encourage much recycling.

I believe the citizens of Coles County can have a choice in their garbage hauling needs. I propose the following to the County officials. Perhaps someone can explore the idea for the next County elections.

- The county buys the former Western Lion landfill (the little pile next to the big pile). This was closed because it wasn't being operated properly and was contaminating Riley Creek. This has since been cleaned up.

- Riley Creek currently runs through this landfill. Reroute the creek to go around the landfill. This will greatly increase the capacity of the landfill. Possibly even reroute the road between the landfills and combine the two.

- Since the County will own and operate the landfill, they will only accept garbage from Coles County only. It's our garbage; we take care of it. Other counties solve your own problems. One of the reasons the landfills are full 20 years before they are supposed to be is they accept garbage from anyone willing to pay their fee.

- Only accept garbage in the landfill. If it's recyclable, recycle it. I highly recommend curbside-recycling pick-up rather then the current haul it yourself method. I have recycled plastic bottles and newspapers since January when I wrote on recycling. My family of seven now only fills one 55-gallon barrel per week since I started this. If we recycled everything we could, I'll bet it would cut in half again.

- Compost should be used as compost. Encourage backyard composting for gardens and explore a community composting area.

- Allied still builds their transfer station. They can haul the trash for the people who choose not to recycle and take advantage of the other system. This gives people a choice and that should keep prices in check.

This proposal makes sense on several levels. The area is already a landfill and will always be a landfill, so lets fill it up as much as we can. We will not be creating a third dump as previously proposed. The environmental impacts are actually less then hauling garbage 120 miles away, by putting less trucks onto the highways and reducing the chances of a spill while in transport.

Coles County will be taking care of its own garbage and not relying on others. If done properly, it should solve the garbage problem for decades. And promote recycling.

So is anyone crazy enough to run with this proposal? Or are there so many holes in it its not worth the time it took to read it? It seems to me worthy of at least exploring.

Not ready to 'agree to disagree' yet

Sunday, October 09, 2005
Can I squeeze out another column on the reasons to save Central School? I don't think so. That fight may very well be lost. So is the fight not to demolish the 1700 block of Broadway. After 18 months of community involvement, and 12 months of writing this column, I wonder if I have made an impact on the policies set forth in the community. I believe my biggest accomplishment is getting the grass mowed at the cemetery.

I believe my ideas of the direction the community should take are in line with those of most others. I spoke with dozens if not hundreds of people at the Sesquicentennial. Everyone felt the same as I and they are fed up with the direction the town has turned.

"Its good to see someone call it out like it is - someone saying what everyone is thinking", I heard many times over. I got more comments on my column from two weeks ago ("I've already done that") then any other I have written. These comments came from not only Joe Citizen, but from high standing members of the community, and all said my comments were right on.

It is the community leaders that still don't understand. How many people do you know that have moved from Mattoon because of the way it is operated? How many people were fed up with the local government not doing what the constituents want? How many people moved simply because they no longer recognized the town they grew up in? Yet the overall policies of the local governing agencies never change.

I received e-mail this week from Commissioner Randy Ervin. He wanted to further explain his position on community development and building demolitions. I want to thank Mr. Ervin for taking this extra step in keeping in contact with the community. He seems to be the most passionate and approachable member of the council. I hope he keeps this involvement up throughout his term.

I keep going back to one thing Commissioner Ervin said in his e-mail. "We will have to agree to disagree." I have heard this phrase before, and even used it myself. But what are the consequences of submitting to this statement? Does that mean every time the subject comes up, it can no longer be debated? Isn't this the same as giving up?

There are three types of people who oppose the state of the city. Those who quietly complain in their circle of friends and wait for someone else to do something, those who seek another place to live where the policies follow more to their way of thinking, and those who do what they can to change the outlook of the community.

I spent too long doing nothing, and I'm not ready to move yet, so I guess you're stuck with me for a while longer. I am not ready to agree to disagree.

Thanks to all who made sesquincentennial party a success

Sunday, October 02, 2005
By Chris Rankin
Mattoon's Sesquicentennial celebration is now over. Most things went well and without troubles. The small problems that did arise were worked out and smoothed over before they became big problems. I am not sure why half the vendors did not show, making Broadway look empty, but we did the best we could with the ones who did. Thanks to all the vendors who participated.

I really enjoyed the pageant contestant's speeches on local history. Congratulations Jackee Metzger, Miss Sesquicentennial. Great job, Brittney, Heather, Katie and Sarah in your participation of the pageant.

Barb McKenzie did a wonderful job organizing the parade. The floats were very creative and nice to see. A lot of thought went into portraying Mattoon history. Scheduling the parade in conjunction with Eastern Illinois University's field competition allowed many area bands to participate. I can't remember so many bands in a Mattoon parade.

There was concern that not enough contestants would sign up for the beard contest. But a surge of entries in the last couple of weeks made the event a huge success. Great job Denny Daniels for organizing the event. Congrats to the Richard Belleau, Bob Young, and Ross Jett, the winners in each category. Thanks to the sponsors for their contributions to the event.

Ever eat an entire apple pie? The contestants at the pie-eating contest found out how much there is to a pie. Well done to first place winner Brock Stroud, second place Patrick Throm, and third place winners Kyle Dawson and Bryan Drake (tie). Thanks County Market for providing the pies and The Bank, D & W, and the Sesquicentennial Committee for the prizes. And thanks Marsha True for organizing the event.

I don't think anyone actually got arrested in the make shift jail that traveled around town throughout the event. But I believe Richard Underkofler sold all of the available "get out of jail" pins. The event was a success and a lot of fun.

Mike Kallis arranged for the entertainment on the main stage in front of Sound Source Music. There was a little music for everyone; from Christian to 80s style rock and roll. There was never a dull moment on the main stage. And of course the beer tent was big success.

The girls at the library did a great job organizing the children's games in the US Bank parking lot. And the fire department demonstrations were enlightening. The library book sale and the Quilt show were nice as well.

Unfortunately, time did not allow me to attend all the events, but I'm sure the Monks of Melody, Smoke on the Mountain, Garden Tractor Pull and Old-fashioned baseball game were all a smashing success.

Thanks to the many good words on my pictures I shared at the Information Booth, and the good comments on the Souvenir Program. Joyce St. Michael and myself worked hard to include all we could on the timeline. 150 years is a lot to cover so I am sure there are some things missed.

Overall, everything went well for being planned by mostly volunteers that have never been involved in such an event. Thanks to the City of Mattoon for their contribution and allowing us to plan the celebration. Also thanks to the many unnamed volunteers I don't have room to mention in this column. Your work did not go unnoticed.

I've already done that

Sunday, September 25, 2005
By Chris Rankin
If you haven't been down Broadway lately, you may not have noticed the 1700 block is now completely vacant. In the weeks and months to come, these buildings will be leveled for more parking for Consolidated Communications. Let's not kid ourselves and pretend it's for needed "green space".T

he businesses in this block have either closed or moved. In more than one case, they have moved out of town. The sign at Broadway Bazaar and Costume states they have moved to Mt. Zion, while Taste of Heaven has reportedly moved to Arcola.

I could argue the location of this open area will further separate the businesses on 17th Street from Broadway, and isolate the IC depot. I could argue that parking isn't needed downtown with over 2300 parking places already nearby. But I've already done that.

I could argue this project lowers the potential tax revenue for the city and will not generate any TIF funds to assist in downtown redevelopment. Or I could argue the significance of these buildings and their contribution to Mattoon history. But I've already done that.

You may have noticed a "for sale" sign in front of Central School. A member of the school board told me they did not want the taxpayers to have to incur the cost of demolishing this building. But six weeks later an advertisement for bids was published for the demolition of the school.

I could argue demolition of this site would cost more then repairs. I could argue the City League basketball puts hundreds of people downtown every weekend. These people are more likely to visit other businesses once in the area. But I've already done that.

I could argue Central is the best location for the teen center being proposed in town. I could argue Central is the best place for the Chamber of Commerce offices instead of displacing the probation office and losing their rental revenues. But I've already done that.

As the redevelopment plan begins to be implemented, the devastation that it brings becomes evident. Mattoon will lose no less then ten buildings, with no plans to replace them. When does the development portion of the plan begin?

I could argue that Mattoon has had such plans in the past, with building demolitions as their main focus. I could argue that these plans, similar to the new one, failed to do as they were proposed. But I've already done that.

I could argue cities that have turned their downtowns around have done so by restoring their buildings. And towns whose downtowns struggle do so from the lack of density due to building demolitions. But I've already done that.

Clean the subway - not talking about the sandwich shop

Monday, September 19, 2005
By Chris Rankin
On October 3, 1961, the Mattoon City Council approved $22,110 for the construction of public restrooms along Broadway Avenue. The restrooms were to be on the south side of Broadway, on the east side of the Illinois Central railroad tracks.

In November of that year, a section of the barrier wall guarding the slope to the subway below was removed and footings were poured for the project. Work proceeded throughout the winter and spring, and by the first of May 1962, the restrooms were open. They were open from 9 till 6 daily and till 8:30 on Fridays.

For 40 years the restrooms served shoppers and train travelers alike. The level of maintenance throughout the years sometimes-included full-time attendants other times simple janitorial services.

In 2001, the new city council felt the cost of maintaining the restrooms was greater then the city could afford. One of their first actions when taking office in May was to close the public restrooms. The building was razed as part of the bridge replacement project that summer.

Though the structure is gone, the gap in the barrier wall remains. A section of orange construction fence was placed across the gap to deter pedestrians from wandering to the tracks below. Four years later, this stretch of construction fence remains.

Mattoon will be celebrating its Sesquicentennial in a couple of weeks. There will be hundred of people downtown. People will be visiting from all over the area and farther. It would be nice if this could be cleaned up before the festival.

It wouldn't take much to fix this eyesore. The wall would not have to be replaced as it stood before the restrooms. Almost anything used to fill the gap would look better then the blaze orange stretch of vinyl. One could even get creative and take advantage of the view of the track below. Everyone likes to watch the train.

Ironically, this gap in the wall is one of the few places where the tracks are visible. The "trees of paradise" have infested the slopes of the subway from one end of town to the other. Getting rid of these trees will also do wonders to improve the looks of the city. I remember hearing at a public meeting last year these were to be cut down. Wonder when.

If the city is in charge of maintaining the slopes of the subway, they need to devise a long-term plan and implement it. If it is the railroad that is to keep the slopes in shape, the city needs to put pressure on them to improve the looks of their property. I highly doubt the trees along the subway constitute as the "green space" mentioned in the recent redevelopment plan.

YMCA should look to Mattoon for increased membership

Sunday, September 11, 2005
By Chris Rankin
Sarah Bush's retraction of its offer to the YMCA ends the debate on the YMCA relocating to the Sarah Bush campus. I hope the reputations of the Y and Sarah Bush have not been tarnished too badly by this proposal.

The situation has been a public relations nightmare for both since the proposal went public late last year. When Sarah Bush made the offer, I don't think they realized how controversial it would be. They really should have gotten the pulse of the community before making such an offer. But criticism toward the hospital has been relatively light while the YMCA has been hammered.

Whether its true or not, there has been a perception in town that the YMCA had already made up its mind. They appeared to shut out the public and hold their meetings in private. They scheduled their biggest public meeting at the same time as the city council meeting. Even if this was by accident, it looked bad.

The supporters of YMCA and opponents of it moving feel that the YMCA is for Mattoon, not Charleston, Coles County or the seven-county area Sarah Bush serves. The Y is one of the few things in town that was proposed by, funded by, and supported by the City of Mattoon and its citizens. The library expansion and now the depot restoration are the only other two projects I can think of that have as wide of community support as the YMCA did in the 1980s when their current facility was built.

I credit the city council's pro-active stance in ending this controversy. Commissioner Randy Ervin made it clear that the city was opposed to this idea and they would take measures to replace the YMCA with a city funded recreation center if they moved. Sarah Bush needed the city's support in order for the proposal to work.

When you look at the details, I don't think the YMCA has really done anything wrong. They were made an incredible offer and were studying all options. But the perception of secrecy has severely hurt their image. Pledging to improve their downtown facilities will go a long way in repairing that image.

Now that the offer is off the table, there is no need to conduct the survey to see where citizens prefer the YMCA be located. The city is already second-guessing their participation in the phone survey. They don't feel citizens in other communities should be included in the survey. And they certainly don't think taxpayer money should be used to see what other communities think. I agree.

The YMCA is for Mattoon. We proposed it, funded it, built it and support it. If membership is down, they need to find a way to bring interest back in Mattoon, not expand to other communities.

In the aftermath of disaster . . . .

Sunday, September 04, 2005
By Chris Rankin
Who is in charge in the immediate aftermath of a disaster? Is it the state and local agencies with federal assistance? Or is the federal government automatically in charge?

After 9/11 the City of New York appeared to be in charge. During the Florida hurricanes, the state seemed to be calling the shots. At what point does the federal government take over and what has to happen in order for that to happen?

I think the situation in Louisiana arises out of the policy to keep state and federal powers distinctly separate (and there are good reasons to do so) and to provide "all possible support to the local first responders" rather than come in and let the feds take over.

My best understanding is that normally the feds try to serve the needs of the local authorities and not usurp local power. If a disaster is more than local resources can cope with, FEMA can call up resources to put at the disposal of the local (state) authorities. FEMA's role is to liaison between local authorities and all of the various resources that show up to help

There were also logistical reasons for the slow response. This was a category five storm with an affected area the size of Great Britain. Emergency crews could not enter the region until the storm had passed to avoid becoming victims themselves. Also, the City of New Orleans was spared the brunt of the storm and was thought to be relatively safe. The levies held for a full day after the storm.

After the flooding overwhelmed New Orleans the government declared the hurricane an "incident of national significance," which is supposed to allow better coordination among government agencies. Under this response plan, the federal government intervenes only when emergencies exceed what state and local capabilities can handle. State and local officials had not formally declared that they could no longer manage the disaster on their own.

It took 48 hours after this declaration for real relief to arrive. But when it did, it was type of relief you would expect from the United States of America. Within a few hours, the lawlessness was seized and the overpasses and Super Dome were evacuated.

One place response was not slow was the outpouring of generosity of the American public. Charities are approaching record pledges as people do what they can from where they are. Make a small sacrifice for a week and lend a hand to those displaced by Katrina. Sack your lunch, forgo your morning coffee for a week and donate a little to one of the many funds set up this disaster. Donations to the American Red Cross can be made at 1-800-HELP-NOW or www.redcross.org. The Salvation Army is accepting donations at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or http://www.salvationarmyusa.org.

There were some hard lessons learned in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Hopefully they won't be forgotten when the next tragedy strikes. Hopefully, we will never need to use the lesson learned this past week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those whose lives were disrupted or lost.

Lawn darts - that deadly game outlawed in the US

Sunday, August 28, 2005
By Chris Rankin
Introduced in the late 1950s, lawn darts, also known as "Jarts", slowly became a popular backyard pastime. Cookouts, reunions, and campgrounds were all common venues for lawn dart tournaments.

In 1970 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a proposal, which consisted of an absolute ban on lawn darts. After being petitioned, the FDA compromised and passed a conditional ban. Lawn darts were to be kept out of the hands of children by marketing them only to adults as a game of skill and with warning labels.

Effective December 19, 1988, all lawn darts were banned from sale in the United States. Three children - ages 4,7, and 13 - are known to have died in lawn dart-related incidents. An estimated 670 lawn dart injuries were treated each year in U.S. hospital emergency rooms at the time of the ban.

While this is tragic, by these standards, bicycles should have been outlawed decades ago. There are 400 child deaths a year attributed to the bicycle; and over 400,000 trips to the emergency room.

In 1997 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reissued the warning on yard darts and took the caveat a step farther by calling for the destruction of all lawn darts.

"CPSC banned lawn darts in 1988, but some of these dangerous products may still be in garages, basements, or second-hand stores," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "Parents should destroy these banned lawn darts immediately."

There is a wide assortment weapons and instruments of destruction you can purchase that are perfectly legal and far more damaging. Knives, hunting bows, slingshots, and pellet guns are all available at your neighborhood sports/hardware store, but you can't buy lawn darts because they're too dangerous.

Since the banning of lawn darts, many variations of the game have surfaced. The origins of washers, corn hole (bean bag toss), and ladder golf can all be traced to lawn darts. Of course we cannot forget the tried and true game of horseshoes. The object to all of these games is similar. Throw an object at a target, closest one to the target scores. But none seem to match the excitement of darts.

Lawn darts are making a comeback in Europe where regulations are not as strict as here in the Land of the Free. Shipping to America however, violates US law so if you want to play, you had better find someone who hoarded sets in the 1980s.

Have a happy and safe Labor Day. And remember, play your lawn darts with care.

City needs to find solution to site at its heart

Sunday, August 21, 2005
By Chris Rankin
In 1872, Chuse Engine Company began producing steam engines between 13th and 14th street adjacent to the Big Four Railroad tracks in Mattoon. By 1927, Chuse was taken over by Atlas Diesel Company and were producing large diesel engines here. During World War II, work shifted to the production of 155-millimeter shells for the war.

Young Radiator took over the plant in 1948. Additions were made in 1953 and 1967. They employed over 300 people. In March of 1983, the plant threatened to close and move operations to Centerville, Iowa where Young's non-union plant was expanding. An 11th hour deal kept the plant open for three more years; 1986 negotiations were not as successful and the plant closed.

The city entered into negotiations to have the severely dilapidated building razed in 1999. The original portion of the plant was razed in 2000. The landmark smoke stack that donned the City's skyline for nearly 130 years came down February 16, 2001. The skeletal remains of the 1953 and 1967 additions remain as a scar in the center of the city.

The City of Mattoon entered an agreement Tuesday night on the cleanup of the former Young Radiator site. The agreement states that the city will prevent access to the contaminated soil below 12th street and WABTEC, the former owner of the site, will reimburse the city for any cleanup required if the street is ever improved.

Dennis Ballinger, the current owner, got a court order for WABTEC to clean the site. A barrier was installed along 12th street to prevent the spread of contamination. As long as this barrier, and the floor slab are not broken, the IEPA considers the site safe.

The pollutants may be contained to the site under this agreement, but the site is far from cleaned up. The restriction of not being able to break the floor slab means the redevelopment of this site will be near impossible. And the fact that it is still a Brownfield will make its marketability near zero.

"No developer will touch this with a ten foot pole" is how City Attorney Preston Owen put it.

City officials suggested either the Street Department or a contractor use the site for heavy equipment storage. The inability to break the slab means installation of utilities is impossible. About the only use left is warehouse storage. These types of uses belong on the fringes of town, not in the city center.

The city needs to decide if we are going to take the necessary steps to clean up this site, or continue to pass the buck. There are Federal and State grants and loans available for Brownfield cleanup. But most of this funding is only available to municipalities for cleanup of their own properties so the City would have to acquire deed to the property. Everyone complains about the eyesore and contamination, but if the city took actions to clean the site, the outcry about the cost to the taxpayers will be enormous.

Proposing a solution to the Young Radiator Site is like touching the third rail of Mattoon politics. Everyone knows there is a problem, but no one is willing to look at the 500-pound elephant in the room. Eventually, this topic will be addressed on the level necessary to remove this thorn from Mattoon's side.

City should look in own backyard before taking residential complaints

Sunday, August 14, 2005
By Chris Rankin
One of the last actions of the previous Mattoon City Council was to approve mowing contracts for the parks and other city properties. The contract to Maddison Landscaping included $206,544 for mowing Dodge Grove Cemetery, and $66,018 for mowing parks, right-of-ways and other city properties.

One year ago, city employees complained to the council about the condition of the city. I remember statements as "Mattoon looks horrible" and "Dodge Grove Cemetery is a shambles".

Part of their complaint was outside contractors not putting the same effort into their work the city forces would. Employees for the City have a lot more at stake in their work then third party help.

The mowing at Lake Paradise has been a controversy for two years now. The "return to nature" includes waist high weeds around picnic tables and trashcans. Some residents have taken to mowing themselves. The position that not mowing the perimeter of the lake helps prevent erosion and prevents silt from entering the lake is weak since most of the water enters the lake through culverts under the road and never travels through the areas in question.

This week I received an unsolicited e-mail concerning the condition of the parks in Mattoon.

"So I'm in Cunningham Park yesterday, watching my daughter climb up and down the structure, looking at the trash EVERYWHERE, the two-feet tall grass (in a drought, it takes a long time without mowing to achieve that!), and of course the graffiti. The funny thing about the garbage (there are no trash cans in this park - the oldest in Mattoon) is that some of it's been chewed up by lawn mowers, which tells me it's been there a LONG time," the e-mail states.

I thought I would revisit the issue and see how well the taxpayers $270,000 was being spent. Just as the e-mail claimed, Cunningham Park looks like a wasteland. It obviously hadn't been touched in weeks. I question if a weed trimmer has seen the park all year. But Cunningham parked looked good compared to Van Laningham Park. It looked totally abandoned by maintenance crews.

My biggest disappointment was the condition of Dodge Grove Cemetery. It looked as though the north-south rows are being cut, but the areas between the headstones are being ignored. This is not a good impression when going to pay your respects. Your thoughts leaving the cemetery should not be on how poorly the grass was cut.

The city boasted about saving $6 per acre by contracting mowing to private firms. One factor they did not count on is the quality and frequency the cuts. If this is the result of contractor mowing, I'm for coughing up the extra 6 bucks. I hope the contract has enough teeth in it to prevent payment on such a poor job of execution.

One thing Mattoon has always had to brag about was its beautiful parks. This political maneuver to save money has put their status in jeopardy. The city keeps a Nuisance Officer on staff to handle complaints on derelict properties. They should look at their own properties before complaints begin to flow in.

Let's get on with economic development!

Sunday, August 07, 2005
By Chris Rankin
The I-57 TIF district was repealed on a technicality. The City of Mattoon is now debating whether to reconfigure the boundaries to the TIF and try again, or avoid litigation and drop the whole idea.

The TIF was originally created to accommodate a proposed convention center just east of Interstate 57. The city was sued by a would be competitor of the convention center on the grounds that the land doesn't meet the requirements for a TIF district.

The City of Mattoon negotiated with state legislatures to rewrite the TIF law to accommodate the land. The law states: "The area, prior to its designation, is subject to: (i.) chronic flooding that adversely impacts on real property in the area as certified by a registered professional engineer or appropriate regulatory agency or (ii.) surface water which discharges from all or a part of such area and contributes to flooding within the same watershed where the redevelopment project provides for facilities or improvements that contribute to the alleviation of all or part of such flooding."
Basically, it says if it floods, it qualifies.

Chronic flooding would refer to long-term flooding problems of frequent occurrence. Though flooding has occurred in the area downstream of the proposed TIF, I would question if the frequency of such flooding would determine the problem to be chronic. The second part of the requirement is more vague and perhaps one could argue the area falls under this requirement.

The qualifications of the TIF district may be the problem here, but it is not the issue. The issue is the City of Mattoon doing what it can to help its economic status, and two out-of-town developers settling a grudge match on Mattoon territory.

If Agracel, the proposed developer of the convention center, truly believes such a place would be successful at that location, then they should build it. They have more then enough capital to develop the land without TIF incentives. If building the infrastructure is a problem, they can place it on one of the three already developed subdivisions in the immediate area.

And the owner of the hotel corporations behind the lawsuit should know that a successful convention center would only help his business. If he didn't believe a convention center would be successful in that area, he would not have filed the suit. Was the lawsuit filed because he wants a monopoly on hotel space at that interchange? Would the lawsuit have been filed if a retail store were proposed there instead? What about an amusement park?

Mattoon is trying its best to bring business to town. It is difficult enough without developers butting heads and using the city as a pawn in their disputes. If Agracel and McHughs want to duke it out, do so elsewhere. Otherwise, lets get on with some economic development.

Congrats on receiving funding for depot renovations

Monday, August 01, 2005
By Chris Rankin
Congratulations to the depot committee for securing $2.537 million of federal funds for the restoration of the Illinois Central Depot. This along with the $300,000 acquired through local fund raising covers the $2.8 million estimate for the project. Additional funds are being sought for the creation of an endowment to pay for running the depot and the proposed historical society museum.

Thank you Congressman Tim Johnson and Senator Barrak Obama for your assistances in securing these funds. Senator Obama showed he is not just another Chicago politician. He is willing to put up a fight for downstate as well.

The Illinois Central Depot opened in January of 1918 after the tracks had been lowered through the City of Mattoon. It served over 14 passenger trains a day at its opening and still had as many as 10 trains per day into the 1950s.

Mail was sorted in the depot mailroom and distributed throughout the area. The freight elevator was used to move packages to the Railway Express Building above.

In 1971, AMTRAK was created and Mattoon is a stop on the City of New Orleans line. This train travels from New Orleans to Chicago and makes daily stops in Mattoon. The Illini also makes stops in Mattoon, serving from Chicago to Carbondale. The depot is now unmanned but reservations can be made by phone or online and tickets purchased from the conductor.

In June of 2001, a committee was formed to save and restore the Illinois Central Depot. On March 1, 2002, the depot was listed on National Register of Historic Places. By July of 2002, a new tile roof had been installed. Now that funds have been secured, the remainder of the project can get underway.

First on tap for the depot will be the installation of an elevator. The new elevator along with proposed platform work will make the depot accessible to the disabled. New windows and tuck-pointing are also proposed for the depot.

The renovation project of the Illinois Central depot is a welcome and overdue victory for preservation in a city that has lost so much of its history in the past 20-30 years to neglect, demolition and questionable conceptions of "progress". This victory should be looked at as a launching point for the redevelopment of downtown.

The Depot Committee has shown that with a little effort, Mattoon can make strides in cleaning up downtown. If you want to see more on the restoration efforts of the Illinois Central Depot, visit their website at www.projectdepot.org. Congratulations again.

Use Central School for teen center

Sunday, July 24, 2005
By Chris Rankin
For the second City Council meeting in a row, there was talk of the need for a teen center in Mattoon. First Jason Craig brought up the subject at the first July meeting during the caucus session. The subject was brought up again during the second July meeting after teen Ballie Beck wrote a letter to Mayor White on the topic.

Mattoon teens have complained for decades about the need for a teen recreation center. These needs were partially met in the early 1990s when Vette's Teen Club operated at 12th and Broadway.

While Vette's gave teens an alternative to other local activities, it ran into problems when the crowds became increasingly rowdy and unruly. Its life was short lived and quickly closed.

I am sure it is Vette's Teen Club that public officials refer to when they talk of failed teen centers in Mattoon. Citing problems with drinking, smoking and drug usage. Vette's was more of a "night club" for teens, not a teen recreation center. Teens are looking for more than nightlife in a youth center.

The need for teen activities has increased since the closing of Vette's. Teen's can no longer go to the movies without the assistance of a licensed driver with a vehicle. Without the theaters, teens are left with very little to occupy their time. It is this atmosphere that leads to drinking, smoking and drug usage, not a properly run youth center.

While buildings such as the DeMars Center at Peterson Park and the Burgess-Osborne Auditorium across from the police station would serve fine for certain teen events, their adaptation to a full youth center would negate them from being used for anything else.

What the youths need is a full time dedicated youth center in a public building large enough to include more then a dance floor and concession stand. A building wired for computers; a building with kitchen amenities and a dedicated dining room; a building where kids can play basketball or volleyball without disturbing others studying or reading. A building centrally located so transportation is not an issue.

It so happens, that Mattoon has such a building. Central School meets most of these requirements. Repairs on Central are far less then the cost of demolition and new construction. If Central was transformed to a youth center, the City Youth Basketball League could continue to operate in the gymnasium. The conversion would save the taxpayers the expense of demolition. The adaptation of Central School to a youth recreation center makes sense.

So where does Mattoon stand on a youth recreation center? Teens and citizens have expressed concerns to city leaders over the need for such a facility. Some have pledged their dedication to achieving such a goal. The city council has committed themselves to the revitalization of downtown. A youth center is a step in that direction.

There is a 37,000 square foot public building available in downtown Mattoon. Members of school board have stated they are against tearing this building down. It is a win-win for all the parties involved. So is Mattoon going to talk about a youth center, or create one?

No reason why another use can't be found for Central School

Saturday, July 16, 2005
By Chris Rankin
Because of boiler problems and structural issues, we are now told it is not worth investing additional money into Central School. Plans seem to be moving forward to demolish Mattoon's only remaining historic school structure.

The recent demolition boom for Mattoon schools dates back to 1976. This is when the school district opted for the demolition of Lowell school at 13th and Lafayette. In 1980, Central School's old gym was demolished for additional parking. This building dated pre-1900 and at the time of its demise, was the oldest school structure in town. In 2004, four historic schools were demolished after the new grade schools were built.

Central School was built in 1929 as Mattoon Senior High School. It was the second building to serve as the high school in town. The first was built at the same site in 1890. It became overcrowded and addition was added in 1902. By 1929, the existing 77-room school was completed. It served as the high school until 1956 when the current school was built on Walnut Avenue. The building then was used for the junior high school until the two junior high schools were consolidated in 1978. The school board used the building for administrative offices and school board meetings until 2000 when they moved to the former post office. TLC classes remained until the new grade schools were built.

Based on recent building demolitions in Mattoon, the cost of tearing down two-story buildings averages $10 per square foot. Central School has 37,000 square feet of building space. Razing this structure would cost the taxpayers around $370,000. And we will be left with yet another void in downtown Mattoon. The cost to develop the site once it is cleared can easily be over a million dollars. And the aesthetics of new construction will never match that of the school.

The Midtown Master Plan that was recently approved by the City of Mattoon states that asbestos removal and structural repairs for classroom portion of the building are estimated at $225,000. Reported estimates for boiler repairs are at $30,000. Repairs would be cheaper then demolition by over $100,000.

There has been talk of trying to save the gymnasium and demolishing the 20,000 square foot classroom portion of the building. This option is also more costly then repairs. $200,000 for demolition and up to another $250,000 for plumbing, electrical and masonry repair.

The city basketball youth league puts 400-500 families in downtown Mattoon every week for five months of the years. Many of these families also frequent downtown businesses during their visit. The loss of Central School is more then a loss of another historic structure. It is a blow to the economy of downtown Mattoon; a community that is attempting to revitalize its business district.

I am as tired of writing about building demolitions as everyone is of reading about them. But the thought of the demolition of Central School as what is best for the City is absurd. There are no benefits to such an act. There is no reason why a second use can't be found for this building.