The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 4

www.pantagraph.com A4 The Pantagraph Tuesday, October 21. 2003 Urbana man joins Judge: Man intended to kill race lur oungress Dan Bahler's "actions belie the argument that he did not intend to kill Amy Bahler." Elizabeth Robb Circuit judge lice at bay for three hours outside his Fairbury home. Amy Bahler left her husband and moved to Bloomington in March. She testified earlier this month that she was in bed last May when her husband wedged open a door to her apartment and attacked while threatening to kill her. She said he told her that he'd been to the apartment on several previous occasions to study the layout.

She said she fled Into the hallway, but Dan Bahler hit her in the back of tho head with a crowbar and dragged her Inside. The beating continued In the bedroom until the Uahlors' young daughter screamed. Amy Bahler tried to floe with the girl, but Dan Bahler chased her down in the hallway. Defendant faces prison sentence By Steve Silverman PANTAGRAPH STAFF BLOOMINGTON A McLean County judge ruled Monday that a Fairbury man had intent to kill when he broke into his estranged wife's Twin City apartment and clubbed her with a crowbar. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Robb.

convicted Dan Bahler of attempted murder and home invasion. He faces a penalty ranging from six to 60 years in prison when he's sentenced Dec. 17. The judge took the case under advisement after a two-day trial earlier this month. She pointed to evidence 'of i against which our current military and foreign policy can be evaluated," Langenheim said in a prepared statement.

He also said he supports universal health care insurance. "Everyone who has ever paid taxes, or whose parents have paid taxes, or who will pay taxes in the future is entitled to health care," he stated. "We welcome him to the race," Johnson spokesman Matt Bisbee said Monday. "Obviously he has an obstacle prior to November that we don't factor into that being the primary." Attempts to contact Gill were not successful. In 2002, Johnson received 65 percent of the vote in a three-way race.

Democrat Josh Hartke received 31 percent of the vote; Green Party candidate Carl Estabrook garnered 4 percent. Contact Kurt Erickson at kericksongispringnet1.com By Kurt Erlckson CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF SPRINGFIELD DeWitt County Democrat David Gill has company in his bid to oust U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson from Congress. On Monday, Champaign County Board member Ralph Langenheim.

81, entered the race to represent the 15th Congressional District as a Democrat. Langenheim's decision will trigger a primary next March against Gill, a physician from Clinton. The winner will face Johnson next November. The 15th district includes all or parts of McLean, Livingston, DeWitt, Ford, Piatt and 17 other counties along Illinois' eastern border. Langenheim, of Urbana, is a World War II veteran and a former professor of geology at the University of Illinois.

"I have hands-on experience Mm --IP State senator announces bid for re-election in 44th PANTAGRAPH STAFF SPRINGFIELD State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, formally announced Monday that he will seek another term as state senator representing Central Illinois' 44th Senate District. Brady, who has no known challengers more than a year before the November 2004 election, said he would focus mainly on job creation if he wins a four-year term. "We can only move Illinois forward with sustaining job growth and economic development," he said in a prepared statement. Brady, 42, is a real estate de- REGIONAL Bill Brady The PantagraphDAVID PROEBER Joe, a Labrador retriever belonging to Dave Hiltabrand of McLean County Title, greeted downtown pedestrians as Christina Kates, an Intern with the Humane Society of Central Illinois, sold baked goods to raise money for the society Monday morning.

Blue Ridge board approves consolidation study Mansfield man hurt in crash PANTAGRAPH STAFF CLINTON A Mansfield man was recovering Monday from injuries he suffered in an auto crash Friday night in DeWitt County. Thomas W. Henderson, 42, was in serious condition at OSF Saint Frances Medical Center in Peoria, where he was taken by helicopter after the crash. Henderson was driving east on County Road 1015 North when he failed to make a sharp right turn and skidded off the north side of the road about 11:46 p.m. Friday, according to the sheriff 's department.

Henderson was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to wear a seat belt and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. One hurt when van crashes PANTAGRAPH STAFF LEROY A 19-year-old Greenup man was seriously injured in a fiery single-vehicle accident on U.S. 136 in southeastern McLean County early Sunday Kyle A. Greeson was listed in serious condition at Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, on Monday Greeson was eastbound when his van left the road, struck a guardrail and rolled in a culvert about 6:45 a.m. The van was destroyed by fire, said District 6 state police.

State police cited Greeson for driving under the influence of alcohol and improper lane usage. Lincoln Park District board approves renewing bonds death threats and pre-medita-tion in rejecting defense claims that Bahler wasn't trying to murder his wife, Amy Bahler, despite the severity of the beating. "The defendant's actions belie the argument that he did not intend to kill Amy Bahler," Robb said. Bahler, 43, cursed at the judge as he was led from the courtroom, and he could be heard screaming and kicking walls in the holding area. Amy Bahler said the attack at her apartment in the 2000 block of East Lincoln Street culminated years of abuse.

She said she fears for her life and the safety of her two daughters. "I'm seriously prepared to pick up my girls and run if he gets off, and we'll have to be on Handsome greeter I 1 CM "Be aware that combining two poor school districts doesn't make a new, rich school district." Norm Durflinger educational consultant study as, "A snapshot of what the two school districts look like now and what they will look like in the future." He stressed the study involves projections. "I'm always concerned about 0 By Kelly Tharp PANTAGRAPH STAFF FARMER CITY The Blue Ridge school board approved a contract Monday with consultants to begin a consolidation feasibility study with the LeRoy district. Norm Durflinger, an Illinois State University professor, and Brock Butts, superintendent of the Tremont School District, told board members the study would outline each school district's demographics, finances and transportation issues. Estimated tax rates for consolidation and a look at building capacities also will be studied.

Durflinger described the veloper who also has served in the Illinois House. He was appointed to his seat in the upper chamber in May 2002. In addition to promoting job growth, Brady said some of his goals include: I Abolishing the Illinois State Board of Education, which he says is an unnecessary and expensive level of bureaucracy. ICapping government spending to match the rate of inflation and population growth. I Boosting the level of state funding for schools.

I Eliminating the tax and fee increases imposed in the spring 2003 legislative session. Increase funding for nursing homes in Central Illinois. End the diversion of money from transportation projects. REPORT viable, exuberant park district is a necessity," she said. Park board president Clarence Barney said "if we don't improve the community, we're not going to get people to come here." Barney also told the audience that low interest rates make this an opportune time to sell bonds.

Former Lincoln alderman Bill Melton supported the bond issue, saying the city handles its general obligation bonds in a similar manner. According to park district estimates, $279,000 in bonds will fund the Rec Center remodeling, $150,000 will be used for other district expenses and the remaining funds will fund the district's master plan for Lincoln parks. Artists' workshop CLINTON Clinton's Artist Alley will sponsor an acrylic workshop with artist Stephen Henning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The sessions with Henning, who is an award-winning graphic designer and an artist who works in the Impressionist style, include a planning session from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at the DeWitt County Cooperative Extension Service.

The weekend sessions will be held at the Vespasian Warner Library from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information and a materials list, call (217) the run for the rest of our lives," Amy Bahler said before the verdict. Dan Bahler has previous convictions for aggravated unlawful restraint, domestic battery and aggravated assault in connection with a 1997 incident in which he hit Amy Bahler and her mother and brandished a rifle while holding po it giving financial projections because people like to attach to numbers. The problem is it's still a guess," he said.

The study, which will be completed in January, will cost the Blue Ridge district $500. The total cost of the study is the state will pay $6,000. If consolidation were recommended as a result of a failed March referendum to increase the education fund rate, residents would vote whether to consolidate with a new tax rate and for a new board of education. Durflinger warned the board, "Be aware that combining two poor school districts doesn't make a new, rich school district." ii Niriii Mall) tfXHSfflllH pja By Edith Brady-Lunny PANTAGRAPH CORRESPONDENT LINCOLN Despite opposition from several local residents, the Lincoln Park District recently approved renewal of $575,000 in bonds. Proceeds from the general obligation bonds will help with improvements to the Rec Center.

Remodeling at the center includes new weight equipment and locker rooms as well as plans for more indoor basketball and tennis courts. Ray Payne was one of about a dozen people who voiced concerns about the bond issuance. "This park district has no restrictions. They're their own boss," Payne said after the meeting. When the economy is bad, public boards should tighten their belts, he said.

Rae Merskin attended the park district meeting, in which the bond renewal was approved by a 3-0 vote. Merskin said she intends to continue research into the park district's financial records to understand the need for more tax revenue. "I don't believe they are being as frugal as they should be," said Merskin. She acknowledged that park district officials "are in a hard spot" as they try to build park resources with the current tax base. Lincoln's ability to attract new residents hinges in large part on the public facilities the community has to offer, said Merskin.

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