The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 5

THE PANTAGRAPH. THURSDAY, FEB. 9. 1984 A5 Old plane fanciers land museum piece Judge named in Ford Co. painting flap By MARK MCXERINO Pantograph staff Iroquoto County Circuit Judge Robert Dinnehl was named yesterday to hear the legal flap over the painting of the Ford County courtroom.

Dannehl, of Watseka, wai given the case by the Illinois Supreme Court, which was asked to make the assignment at the request of Judge John T. McCullough. chief Judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit. Ford County is Included In that circuit. we're excited about having It here," said Wingler, a retired member of the Illinois Air National Guard.

Although the plane is 40 years old. Venters said it can be flown at least 2,000 hours before it will require a major overhaul. He also said the aircraft has been designated as "ferryable," which means it can be flown from Texas to Bloomington, but can not be flown again until the FAA certifies its safety. Within six months, the plane will be flown to the Twin City airport, where it will be restored. Venters said the plane's arrival will coincide with an open house to mark the museum's first acquisition.

"We've invited everyone throughout the state that has an old restored World War II plane to fly into the airport with our plane," Venters said. "All the planes will arrive flying in a World War II formation." The aircraft will be flown by a qualified flight crew from Southern Illinois University in Carbon-dale. Plans for that flight depend in part on weather conditions. "We're not going to fly it in bad weather and risk having it turn into a junk pile in some farmer's field," Venters said. Although the plane is in good condition, Venters said the restoration process will be By SUSAN MARQUARDT Pontogroph staff More than $4,000 in long-distance telephone calls and 1200 pizzas have helped net the first airplane for Bloomington-Normal's two-year-old Prairie Aviation Museum.

The museum group, established to acquire and restore historical aircraft, recently purchased a Douglas DC-3, which will be the first airplane in Its state-chartered museum at Bloomington-Normal Airport Stephen Venters, public information officer for the museum, said the $28,000 plane was found in Rockdale, Texas. He said it was tracked down through word of mouth with the help of Bill Left, a corporate pilot for a Bloomington firm. "We've been searching for the aircraft since we formed the association," he said. Most of the money used to buy the plane was raised through donations from the museum's 65 members and the sale of 1,200 pizzas, which will be prepared and distributed by members. There has been a lot of interest in the museum, with members digging deep to come up with the money needed to purchase the DC-3," Venters said.

Norman Wingler, president of the museum, said the group is excited about the acquisition. "It's in excellent condition, and Within six months, this 40-year-old Douglas DC-3 will arrive at Bloomington-Normal Airport courtesy of Prairie Aviation Museum. "Everything will have to be certified, which should take about six to eight months to accomplish," he said. "Much of that time will be spent searching for new parts." Because the DC-3 has the oldest operating life of any aircraft, that search shouldn't be too difficult, Venters said. Once restored, the museum plans to fly the plane in its own air shows and other air shows throughout the state.

Venters said the DC-3 has played an interesting role in history because the military version of the plane, the AC-47, was used in World War II for dropping paratroops and cargo and again in Vietnam as a gunship. "The only Air Force enlisted man to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor was on a mission in the AC-47 gunship," Venters said. "He was Airman First Class John Levitow, and he received the highest honor our country bestows." Venters said members hope to develop a complete museum complex, including photographs, uniforms and other planes. He said the museum is now trying to obtain a glider similar to the one used in the film "A Bridge Too Far." "The original gliders are no longer available because they were made of wood and burned at the end of the war," Venters said. "Universal (studios) had blueprints made for authentic gliders that are now in storage." The Prairie Aviation Museum is a non-profit organization open to anyone interested in aviation heritage.

The group meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in the board room at Bloomington-Normal Airport. A slide presentation on the DC-3 will be shown at the group's Monday meeting. McCullough said yesterday he asked that a judge outside the circuit be assigned because the litigation directly Involves Ford County Circuit Judge William Roberts, a member of the 11th circuit The dispute began last summer when the Ford County Board voted to repaint the 75-year-old courtroom In its current colors green and pink which the board feels would highlight a mural hanging in the room. Roberts reacted by calling the colors "gaudy," saying they were suitable for a bordello.

The judge, wanting the room painted in various earthtones which he con- "tends are more dignified for a court of law, issued a restraining order to prevent the board from pursuing the painting job. The county appealed the order to the Supreme Court, which In October declined to get involved in the fracas. The case went back to Ford County Circuit Court where the county last month filed a complaint to have Roberts' order lifted. A hearing on that petition was delayed Jan. 30 when Roberts dismissed himself from the case.

Proposal could save ISU millions in smoke alarms SPRINGFIELD Illinois State University could save from $1 million to $2 million for the cost of smoke detection devices in its dormitories under legislation proposed yesterday, according to its sponsor. Rep. Gordon Ropp, R-Normal, said the bill would amend a law passed by the General Assembly last year requiring state colleges and universities to install smoke detectors In all dormitory rooms along with a central alarm system. Ropp's bill would amend the law require only smoke detectors in dorm hallways, and no central alarm system. It would still be in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code, Ropp said.

Ropp said he decided to introduce the bill after conferring with ISU officials, who were concerned not only with cost, but the potential for an marked increase in the number of false alarms that could result. Bloomington Fire Department promotions made Four members of the Blooming-ton Fire Department have been promoted, effective Monday, Chief Michael Sinclair announced yester 11I1I? i f-ik '3 v' 4 5s3fc'''' 1 i day. Capt. Dewey Cook has been named assistant chief. Cook, of 1408 E.

Oakland Avenue, Bloomington, joined the force Oct. 14, 1966. He was promoted to captain on Oct. 2, 1967. 1 cost of going up isn't going up.

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and you'll get a car for two days. Free The only conditions: That the time you keep the car include a Saturday Brewer, of 1508 Cook E. Oakland Avenue, has been promoted from lieutenant to captain. Brewer has been with the department since October 1966, and was named lieutenant March 5, 1979. Firefighters Robert E.

Williams and Stephen Jackson have received tfeeir first promotions, having been tamed to the rank of lieutenant Williams, of 938 W. MacArthur Street, Bloomington, joined the force April 24, 1972. Jackson, of 1019 S. Maple St, Bloomington, has been with the department since June 3, 1974. The promotions came as a result of Assistant Chief Eugene Ploense's absence, which creates vacanies in the department's line of command.

Ploense is leaving the force on disability pension. Setting it right McLEAN (PNS) A communications breakdown among village employees resulted in chlorine being added to the McLean water supply twice in one day. A story in yesterday's Pantagraph indicated the communications breakdown was among water office personnel. PARE CONDITIONS: Seat art limited ana all (area are eubtect to Certaia tun reoaire travel oa aoecifk ftHrhts or day of aieek. Advance pardiaee aad HMaieaaaaajdaaeai a requirements auy apsry.

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