The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 3

THE PANTAGRAPH, Friday, Aug. 18, 1995 A3 LOCAL Charges of improper project bids at ISU dropped amounts of money to the physical plant by sweeping unused general revenue sharing funds awarded to ISU on an annual basis from various university budget lines. Sweeping takes place in May and June and the money must be spent by the end of the fiscal year, June 30, and documented by August or be lost In fiscal year 1990, the physical plant received about $960,000, including $200,000 Judge: Runner broke letter, not spirit of law By SCOTT RICHARDSON Pantagraph staff Associate Judge Donald Bernardi said Thursday that prosecutors "may be on to something" in their criticism of past bidding practices at Illinois State University in Normal. But Bernardi cited legal technicalities in dismissing charges against Richard Runner, an Illinois State University official accused of bypassing proper bid procedures in two renovation projects totaling nearly $200,000 five years ago. University officials maintain their method of using service contractors chosen through a one-time annual bidding process rather than a time-consuming bidding process on each construction project complied with the spirit of the Illinois Purchasing Act and saved time and money.

Though Bernardi said ISU's procedure may violate the letter of the law, no evidence exists that Runner, assistant vice president of business and finance, com mitted a criminal act in the two renovation projects under review. Bernardi quashed the prosecution of Runner without requiring the defense to present any evidence after two days of prosecution testimony. The judge's action came in response to a motion for a directed verdict of acquittal from Blooming-ton lawyer Martin O'Connor, who represented Runner. McLean County Assistant State's Attorney Jason Cannell said his office disagrees with Bemardi's interpretation of the law. Cannell said the issue requires further study and declined further comment Outside the courtroom, O'Connor termed Runner a "fall guy" for an investigation aimed at "someone no longer at the university," an investigation that went "no where." O'Connor would not be specific.

Runner may be the first in the state to face prosecution under the act since it was passed in 1957. He was relieved by Ber-nardi's decision, but he lamented that he was prosecuted for being a public servant who tried to spend taxpayer money in the most efficient way he could, through the use of a procedure which predated his arrival at ISU. The process (of using service contractors) was a procedure that was established in the early to mid-1980s, clearly to use state funds in an effective manner," Runner said. "There may be some legal questions about it, but questions have been reviewed by the Board of Regents, its staff and counsel Runner added the University of Illinois uses similar service contracts. At issue was two construction projects totaling about $200,000 the Citizens Square Building across from Watterson Towers for use as headquarters for various research projects and construction at 211 N.

University St, Normal, for a new home for the campus Reserve Officers Training Corps. Prosecutors contend the Illinois Purchasing Act requires use of bids to award contracts on specific projects exceeding $10,000. Citizens cost nearly $90,000, and University Street cost $137,600. Runner was accused of six violations of the act But Bernardi said the complex language of the Purchasing Act and the few legal opinions rendered regarding it would seem to require that violators sign contracts for work which should have been awarded through sealed bids, but which were not Evidence showed Runner never signed any contracts nor chose contractors to do the work on an arbitrary basis. Testimony also indicated his superiors authorized the.

method used to assign the work or that he took part in what O'Connor termed "collective bureaucratic decisions." Bernardi agreed, saying, "He never chose a friend or or anyone else who, in turn, benefited Runner in any way situations which the law apparently is aimed to prevent Prosecutors never alleged Runner profitted personally. Current and past ISU officials, including former ISU President Thomas Wallace, had testified that the university's method of using service contractors in various trades such as electric or plumbing, who bid annually for undefined work which may arise during a year provides a way to augment the university's labor force. Officials said use of service contractors allows ISU to accomplish work under strict time constraints at the close of each fiscal year when ISU accountants funnel large in June. With time running short, ISU had a long-standing practice of employing service contractors from the various labor crafts to do work ISU's own labor force did not have time to do. Officials said time constraints were even tighter because the 211 building had to be done so 205 N.

University St, where ROTC was housed, could be demolished to build a $7 million Student Services Building. A delay at Citizens, which was to house research projects, could have cost ISU research funds, they said. Runner said the issue of service contracts versus bidding contracts has not surfaced at ISU in three years because there has been no money left at the end of the year. Hammer beating nets B-N man prison term -J Shots fired at B-N house Shots were fired into a west-side Bloomington house while two women and three children were inside late Thursday night. Neighbors reported hearing four or five shots about 10:45 p.m.

directed toward a house at 1403 N. Morris Ave. No one in the house was injured, police said. Mary Walker, 38, of Arkansas was visiting with the resident of the house, a friend of her daughter. Walker was in the kitchen making Kool-Aid when the shots began.

One bullet entered the kitchen through a side window and exited through the front. "I was panicked, I ran," said Walker. Two other bullets hit the siding outside the kitchen. Walker believes the shots were meant for someone else. Police said initial indications are that the suspect, or suspects fled the scene on foot to a waiting vehicle.

By SCOTT RICHARDSON Pantagraph staff McLean County Judge John Freese Thursday pronounced a 14-year prison sentence on a Bloomington man he said had no legal or moral justification for using a hammer to severely beat someone he claims made homosexual advances toward him. Freese also sentenced Austin Roof, 20, formerly of Maple Grove Estates and Ellsworth, to an added year for possessing a small amount of crack cocaine in a separate incident Roof was fined $2,000 on the drug charge. In the violence case, Roof was convicted of home invasion and aggravated battery in the November attack at the home of a 50-year-old man in a mobile home park on Bloomington's southwest side. The victim suffered serious head injuries that needed 200 stitches and staples to close. He had teeth knocked out and three ribs were broken.

Freese awarded him about $15,000 in restitution for medical bills and lost wages. Roof testified at his trial that he stopped hitting the man because he thought he was dead. According to the victim, he awoke as Roof was striking him. The victim could give no motive other than a work-related disagreement However, at his trial Roof claimed the man made homosexual overtures while Roof visited his home. Roof testified he left, but once outside, ho saw a grabbed it, re-entered the man's home, chased him to the bedroom and began beating him.

Freese said some of Roofs supporters had written letters to the judge hinting Roof had good cause for his violent outburst But Freese told Roof and several of his family members and friends in the courtroom, "There is no doubt in this court's mind there is no legal or moral justification for actions taken by this defendant He was outside the mobile home and free from the victim The injuries suffered by the victim are extreme. The court cannot imagine a case other than a death case where injuries could be more extreme." The drug case stemmed from a traffic stop in Bloomington in April, 1994, when police found Roof asleep in a car after receiving a report of a reckless driver. The PtnlagrapWSTEVE SMEDLEY Bernie and Edith Deany of Normal viewed the Prairie Aviation Museums exhibit, "50 Years Remembered, a Tribute to WWII." Deany, who Is featured In a video produced by the Prairie Aviation Museum, piloted a B-24 Liberator in the Army Air Corps 491st bomb group in the European Theater, flying 13 bombing missions. The last mission was with a plane nicknamed "Goin My Way?" B-N exhibit honors fliers of WWII Advertisement ARE YOU AT Would you like to pay that and more out each year for nursing home expenses until you are broke? If your illness or confinement lasts long enough, you will actually go Once you are broke and Video captures WWII memories The Prairie Aviation Museum's exhibit "50 Years Remembered, A Tribute to WWII," is part of a four-year plan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the war a plan that earned the Twin Cities the U.S. Department of Defense's designation of a WWII Commemorative Community.

The exhibit, highlighted by a video of 23 World War II veteran aviators from Central Illinois, is the work of museum volunteers Fran Romine, Bruce Hill and Mary Lou Headstrom, who started the project in January. The trio tracked down the veterans, scheduled their tapings and even fed them when they were through. Museum President Norm Wingler interviewed each veteran and museum Vice President David Smith handled the videotaping. The group then reviewed the many hours of tape, choosing excerpts from each interview. In addition to the continuously running video, the exhibit the museum's last official commemoration of World War II also includes photographs and biographies of veterans along the walls of the museum.

Mounted on red, white and blue backgrounds, the biographies are grouped by war theater. The veterans also provided World War. II memorabilia, such as currency and flight logs that read like a time line of World War II. The museum recently premiered the video and exhibit to the veterans who took part. They were guests at a buffet dinner and shared food, drink and memories with other area veterans.

The museum will extend its hours during the air show to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. After the air show, the museum hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The exhibit will run through the end of the year. The museum is located to east of the entrance to the Bloomington-Normal Airport poor THE MAXIMUM ASSETS YOU CAN HAVE LEFT CAN BE AS LOW AS EVEN YOUR HOME COULD BE enough then the government steps in and avoid the 36 month "look back" period! How to protect your assets and pass them onto your children avoiding estate taxes and nursing home expenses! How to protect yourself without costly nursing home insurance! You have worked hard and deserve to hold onto what you've earned and to enjoy life.

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By KAREN MOEWE Pantagraph staff It seems only appropriate that an air-show is where Prairie Aviation Museum officials are touting an exhibit honoring World War II aviators. The exhibit, called "50 Years Remembered, a Tribute to WWII," is a history of Central Illinois aviators who- flew and fought during the war in the U.S. Army Air Corps, the precursor of the U.S. Air Force. The display parallels Prairie Air Show '95, jointly sponsored by the museum and The Pantagraph Saturday and Sunday at the Bloom-ington-Normal Airport Besides the exhibit, a tribute to World War II veterans will take place about 3:30 p.m.

both days with a commemorative flight of that war's airplanes. In honor of Americans who served in the armed forces, all veterans will be admitted free to the air show. Veterans will be directed to a tent to sign a guest book. Books for each branch of the military will be available for signing, and will remain at the museum so veterans can locate each other. The exhibit, featuring a videotape of 23 area World War II veteran aviators, marks the museum's last official function commemorating World War II.

A tram will be available to shuttle air show spectators to and from the museum. The exhibit's most impressive aspects are the veterans themselves, who recount their memories as if they had happened yesterday instead of 50 years ago. Among the personal accounts: Jim Oberman After Normal's Oberman shared wartime stories, he summarized his tour of duty and unwittingly expressed the feelings of all the veteVans featured in the exhibit. "Those were proud days," said Oberman. His story and others told by the veterans are a testament to those days.

Cecil Petty also of Normal, almost laughingly recalled a series of calamities during a flight in a C-47 cargo carrier in the South Pacific. The worst part was the eight days on a submerged coral reef with only 2 ounces of water a day and one meal per man. Even their rescue was one problem after another. "If this weren't true you wouldn't believe it," laughed Petty. O.V.

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Attend our free seminar and we'll show you the secrets to protecting your wealth: Why not to give money away to the kids! Why Living Trusts won't protect you! Legal ways to convert your assets from non-exempt to exempt! A legal method to FREE SEMINAR AT: through Germany and seeing other POWs who were badly beaten by civilians. Thorpe said all POWs rode in the 'car directly behind the engine because train engines were a target for Allied bombers, Thorpe explained. "We were in constant fear of our own air fire," he said. O.B. Streeper Streeper, of Chenoa, tells of being hit in the leg and hip and after hiding three days in the mountains, going to a small village to give himself up.

There he met members of the French underground "two nice-looking French girls and an older woman." Streeper's wounds were stitched with fishing line and he was helped to elude capture. Throughout the veterans' stories of the war during which some 17 million military personnel died worldwide there is a lot of laughter. Paul Streid of Bloomington admitted, "This is all funny now, but I was scared to death at the time." Added Streeper, "You've got to have a sense of humor or you die." spending hours of his 21st birthday under fighter attack. When he landed, the plane had lost two engines, had 387 holes in it and had 3 feet less of its left wing tip. Les Miller Miller, of Lexington, recalled flying gasoline and other cargo over "the hump," the nickname given the Himalayan mountain range that separated China from Allied supply bases in India.

Trying to get a wounded man to a hospital, he told of flying through a valley at night with only "lightning" flashes to light his way. The lightning, in this case, was rocket fire. Cold weather in the hump also made for innovative ways of maintaining the C-47 he flew. When Miller ran out of de-icing fluid he would have to change the pitch of the prop to throw the ice off. "The sides of my C-47 looked like it had been beaten with a 10-pound sledgehammer," said Miller.

Ernest Thorpe Thorpe, of Wapella, recounted his memories as a prisoner of war in Germany, riding in a train BLOOMINGTON OFF-TRACK BETTING 1611 S. M0RRISSEY DR. BLOOMINGTON, IL TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1995 9:30 A.M. CALL 1-800-444-4902 To Reserve Your Seat Seating is Limited l1.