The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 2

A2 THE PANTAGBAPH TUESDAY, AWIl 17. 1984 Area legislators oppose raise crease, and the district allowance: is one," Ropp said. "Costs of travel and office expenses continue to rise, so there is a need In that area." Maitland agreed that the district allowance is no longer adequate. "We cant operate within that budget any longer, and the expenses are met out of our personal salaries," he said. "When the driving expenses are considered as well, I feel there is some Justification to that increase." If approved.

Hall's bill would increase the travel reimbursement from 20 to 25 cents a mile, and would raise the legislators' expense allowance, which currently stands at $36 a day. The level of district office funds would rise to $27,000. Maitland said it could be some time before the proposal reaches the Senate floor, since it must first pass through the rules committee and the executive committee. "There could be a number of amendments by that time," he said. salaries should be reviewed, because it has been six years since an increase, and most salaries are adjusted during that length of time" The last increase came in November of 1978, when legislators approved an $8,000 a year raise.

The increase was spread over two years after a public outcry over the way it was enacted. The Increase eventually led to passage of a 1980 constitutional amendment that cut the size of the Illinois House by one-third. To avoid such consequences again, legislators have voiced some approval for the increase in the district office allowance, which currently stands at $17,000 yearly. The funds are used to pay for rent, heat, secretarial assistance, phone calls and postage. Rep.

Gordon Ropp, Bloomington, is one who supports such an increase. "The salary increase per legislator is too great, but there are certain areas which need an in character of the House or Senate, but rather cause both to deteriorate. Consequently, be believes a salary reduction would do more good than the proposed raise. "Since 1970, when legislative salaries have Increased, the result has been a full-time Legislature which is self justifying and works to put through legislative schemes to convince the public their costs are Indeed Justified." Vinson said. "Based on these results, I feel we need to get away from recruiting a full-time legislator." Although state Rep.

Thomas Ew-ing, R-Pontiac, agrees that the proposed raise is too high, he does believe the salary levels need to be reviewed. "As for this proposal, I cannot voice my support because it is too much of an increase," Ewing said. "I do feel, however, that the allowances. Although some area legislators recognize the need for an Increase to meet expenses, they do not support the salary increase. "We are dealing ith other funding problems in the state and have already failed to meet our obligations in health, education and public aid.

Until we can recognize and meet those responsibilities, there is not even an argument that can be made to merit a salary increase," said Sen. John Maitland, R-Bloomington. "We need to get to the task of supporting what programs we already have initiated but cant support." Sen. Patrick Welch. D-Peru, voiced similar concerns when he said he would reject any proposal for a salary increase.

By SUSAN MAIQUARDT Pantograph staff Central Illinois legislator agree that a recent proposal to increase their salaries should not be supported, but their reasons for opposing the measure differ. A bill was introduced in the state Legislature last week which would give lawmakers a $4,000 raise next January, increasing salaries to $32,000 a year from 128,000. Legislators would receive an additional $2,000 a year in each of the following three years, raising salaries to $38,000 by 196a The proposal comes from Sen. Kenneth Hall, an East St Louis Democrat, whose plan also calls for increases in legislators' mileage reimbursement, daily expenses while in the capital and district office WRBA owner charged with posing as officer Earl Lazerson, left, president of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville; William Monat, center, president of Northern Illinois University; and Leo Goodman-Malamuth, right, president of Governor's State University, were among Illinois university presidents speaking at an ISU conference yesterday. a short a of resources caused by a lack of funding.

Earl Lazerson, president of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, said educators must make a "public policy issue" about educating the citizenry on the needs of education. Also speaking were Leslie Malpass, president of Western Illinois University; John Cownie, provost of Northeastern Illinois University; Stanley Rives, president of Eastern Illinois University; Leo Goodman-Malamuth, president of percent tuition increase for undergraduate students. But the presidents said higher tuition rates are needed to maintain university programs. George Ayers, president of Chicago State University, said a lot of talented students could be denied access to the universities if society fails to make a commitment to those students. William Monat, president of Northern Illinois University, said his university already is forced to deny access to students because of "This is not the time for a raise when 10" percent of the Illinois population is out of work," Welch said.

"We cant find enough money for education, bow can we support a salary increase? There are more important things to spend money on." Despite these feelings, both legislators recognized that some lawmakers who are subsidizing their legislative salaries would support an increase. "Their ar, ument is that for people to run for an office, an adequate salary must be provided," Maitland said. Rep. Sam Vinson, R-Clinton, is another legislator who Joins in refusing that reasoning. Vinson feels that such an increase would not improve the Commitment to education called lacking By DAVE HANCOCK Pantograph staff Education needs a greater commitment from society to improve and that includes the need for more money for schools and universities, a group of Illinois university presidents said yesterday at Illinois State University.

"We, as a nation, have not made a significant and sustained commitment to excellence in education," said Lloyd Watkins, ISU president. "Our concern is spasmodic, occasioned by fears of being overtaken in some fashion by another nation not by enthusiasm for education itself. Our schools reflect societal concern, and we have not cared enough." The "Presidents' Conference on Excellence in Illinois Education," was co-sponsored by ISU and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The presidents also expressed concern about rising tuition rates and the impact the higher rates will have on access to public universities for all students. The Illinois Board of Regents is recommending a 15.3 percent tuition increase for ISU, Northern Illinois University and Sangamon State University.

Stanley Iken-berry, president of the University of Illinois, has recommended a 13 'Suspicious' parcel reaches post office A "suspicious" parcel received by the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the Bloomington East Empire Street post office yesterday did not disrupt a torrent of mail by people scrambling to meet income tax deadlines, officials said. FBI agent Al Medina received a suspicious parcel at the FBI office in the post office building between 2 and 4 p.m., said Postmaster General Elwin Schau. The state's bomb squad was called and the FBI section of the building was sealed, Schau said. The bomb squad arrived about 6 p.m. and took the parcel out of the building, while "mail processing continued as normal," Schau said.

The FBI refused comment last night about what the parcel actually contained, to whom it was addressed, whether FBI agents knew the sender and where the parcel was taken from the post office. Bloomington police were at the post office assisting the FBI, but said they could not comment without permission from the FBI. Cocaine possession charged after chase A 20-year-old Bloomington man was charged yesterday with possession of cocaine. Donald Cox, 20, of 105 S. Allin St, posted $400 to appear May 11 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of driver's license.

Cox was arrested by Bloomington police about 8 p.m. Friday. According to reports, police saw a man attempting to get into a pickup truck in the 600 block of North Oak Street. When the man saw the squad car, he walked away, but the police followed him. One patrolman got out of the car and told the man he would like to speak with him.

The man began to run, and the officers chased him through several yards in the 500 block of North Lee Street before catching him. The man was searched and a small amount of white powder wrapped in plastic was found inside his shirt, reports said. Pitllgrph photoMARC FEATHERLY Governor's State University; and Allan Ostar, president of the American Association of State Colleges and University. Watkins said educators compromised the quality of education in the 1960s and early 1970s and will live with those mistakes for a long time. "We (educators) all have egg on our face," Watkins said.

"Nearly all of us stand indicted." But with public support, he said, the universities once again are introducing rigor to academics. card Bivens replied that he was. Police asked to see the badge again and were shown an Iroquois County deputy sheriff's badge with Bivens" name on it, according to reports. Police then asked for a current police identification card from Iroquois County. Bivens gave them two non-current cards, reports said.

Checking with Iroquois County sheriff's police, McLean County was told that Bivens is no longer a deputy, reports said. When asked why he used the badge, Bivens said he owned two radio stations and used the badge to get to them quickly if a transmitter went down, reports said. Police then told Bivens that he was using the badge illegally, and explained that the sheriff's police were at the residence so the ex-girlfriend could get her belongings. Bivens was then charged with impersonating a member of a police department, according to reports. woman, win suits Bloomington woman $22,425 in damages against a Normal oil company which in 1979 poured heating oil down the wrong pipe, flooding" her basement.

Jeani Shepherd, rural Bloomington, received the verdict against Lincoln Oil Service, 1305 S. Madison St. Ms. Shepherd had complained that the company pumped heating oil down the wrong pipe, covering the floor of her basement. In her suit, filed three years ago, Ms.

Shepherd alleged that she informed the company not to pump the oil in the pipe leading to her basement, but to pump it into a fuel tank in her garage. S- charged that the company was negligent because of the wrong delivery and because it "failed to properly train, instruct and supervise its employees regarding how and where to pump the oil of its customers." Her lawyer, Charles Reynard, Bloomington, said the Oct. 21, 1979, error occurred when a new driver took over the route. The suit alleged fumes rose from the basement, causing her "sickness and injury." It was alleged that the oil aggravated a condition of chronic headache because of allergies. The suit also alleged damage to the walls and floors of the basement and a loss in value of the house.

The jury awarded Ms. Shepherd $19,800 for repair to her home, $5,000 for pain and suffering, $5,000 for the aggravation of her headaches and $100 for loss of property in the basement. At the same time, the jury found her 25 percent negligent, reducing the award to $22,425. Center. The other driver, Thomas Bundy, was in fair condition at St Francis Medical Center last night.

A passenger in his pickup, Terry Lane, 31, of Clinton, was released after treatment at St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Center, Bloomington. Police said the accident occurred when Bundy lost control of his pickup, which went into the oncoming lane of traffic and struck the Angelos car. Bundy was charged with improper lane use. Tami Peasley was taken to Stensel-Calvert-Belangee Funeral Home, Heyworth.

By BARBARA KUENY Pantograph staff The owner and general manager of Normal radio station WRBA-AM was charged yesterday with impersonating a police officer. Robert L. Bivens, 49, posted $50 to appear May 9 in McLean County Circuit Court. Bivens told McLean County sheriff's police he used an invalid Iroquois County sheriff's deputy badge to get to his radio station quickly if a transmitter went down, reports said. According to reports, two McLean County sheriff's police deputies accompanied Bivens' ex-girlfriend to his rural Bloomington home so she could pick up some of her belongings.

Before the police could explain why they were there, Bivens displayed a gold badge, then said, "I should get (McLean County Sheriff) Steve Brienen out here to handle this," according to reports. According to police, Bivens was asked if he was a policeman, and Bloomington Normal mall By BOB HOUIDAY Pantograph staff In one civil action in McLean County Circuit Court yesterday, an order was granted for disposal of candy alleged to be a health hazard at a closed candy store at College Hills Mall. In another case, a rural Bloomington woman was awarded damages against an oil firm which poured heating oil down the wrong pipe in her home. In the first case, College Hills Mall Co. was granted a court order allowing it to dispose of candy and other perishable items at the closed When Candy Was Candy store at College Hills Mall, Normal.

A complaint filed by the mall and the College Hills Merchants Association Inc. alleged that the candy store is abandoned and that perishable items left behind created a health hazard. A spokewoman for the mall said the store was closed about a month ago. A complaint filed in associate division of McLean County Circuit Court contends operators of the mall are unable to locate representatives of the store. McLean County Associate Judge Joseph Kelley yesterday granted the mall the right to sell or dispose of all perishable items at the store.

A complaint alleges the candy store owes rent for October, November and December of last year and for the first four months of this year. The store, which opened last February, was to be a pilot store. It sold jelly beans, domestic and imported chocolates, assorted nuts, hard candies, licorice and pistachio candies. In the other civil case, a McLean County jury awarded a rural Car-pickup truck accident victim dies of injuries A Bloomington woman critically injured in a traffic accident Saturday night died yesterday at St Francis Medical Center, Peoria. Tami R.

Peasley, 23, of 802 E. Front died at 3:20 p.m. She was a passenger in a car that collided with a pickup truck on U.S. 51, about a mile south of Bloomington about 6:35 p.m. Saturday.

The driver of the car, Mark Angelos, 26, of R.R. 3, Bloomington, was in fair condition last night at St. Joseph's Hospital Medical say ggggg gfySSSfil a $1995.00 Apple He 64K Computer, 2 disk drives, monitor II, Extended 80 column card. FREE Dot matrix printer, interface and cables. WMfffl a $2995.00 Apple lie 64K Computer, 2 disk drives, monitor II, Extended 80 column card, Printer and interface.

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