Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 3

DECATUR HERALD Deratur. Illinois. Tuesday, October 11, 1977 Brief ly Speaking DecaturMacon County Housing Can't Pay Taxfs hy ft si i--- 1 .1 ft 'k tLJ' at 12 per cent and declining to zero. The low bidder obtains the right to paythe taxes and penalties -wi a property. A property owner may redeem his land years by paying thejUpyer the taxes, penalties amount of interest he isd on them.

If the money 4s not paid the taxes buyer can go to the Circuit Court and ask for a tax deed. If it is granted he owns the land. The county is notjSast Side's only creditor. The corporation, established to build low-to moderate-income housing foivTami-lies, also owes th IHjnois Housing DevelopmenjiXAu-thority about 155,000 for.xon-sstruction loans made hy. the state agency.

East Side built a number of homes with the state money but then was unable to sell them. Among the prospective buyers for the EasClSide properties is the Decatur Housing Authority which is considering purchasing five homes under its not-for-profit subsidiary, Decatur Improvements Association. By Ron Ingram East Side Housing and Economic Development Corp. owes nearly $2,400 in J976 real estate taxes and has no money to pay the debt. There's a good chance the taxes and penalties may be sold at Macon County's annual tax sale Nov.

7 and the corporation would have to redeem them later at interest, said James Gresham, former treasurer of the East Side board of directors. But East Side is attempting to sell a number of lots it owns, some with homes on them, in an effort to pay its debts, he said. The sales may be finalized and the taxes paid before, the tax sale. Delinquent tax notices published last week showed East Side owes $2,173.78 on 11 properties in its own name and $199.85 on. properties in the name of Torrence Park Housing.

"It's a bad problem and I hate to- see those taxes go past due, but there's no money to pay them yet," Gresham said. At the county's annual tax sale, persons may bid an amount of interest beginning pied by Earl Bodine. He was not at home when the accident occurred. Worried about the structural damage to the house, Mrs. Jeffers asked the policeman, "Please don't take the car out tonight.

I'm afraid the house will collapse." (Photo by Herb Slodounik) A DECATUR police officer inspects the damage caused shortly after 9 p.m. Monday when a car smashed into a home owned by Mrs.C.O.Jeffers at 896 W. Packard St. The car, driven by a person who was unidentified at press time, also damaged a bottle collection located in the basement of the house occu 7 Tickets Lefr To Borchers Fete Seven tickets were left as of Monday night for a testimonial dinner Saturday for. former State Rep.

A. Webber Borchers. The dinner, sponsored by the Webber Borchers Defense Fund, will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Ambassador Motor Inn. Defense fund coordinator Thomas Allen, 404 S.

West-lawn said 113 tickets at $4.50 each had been sold. Those interested in the remaining tickets can call Allen at 423-7943, or Nelson's Termite Pest Control Co. at 428-6897 or 428-9554. In 1975, Borchers was con-, victed of theft and official misconduct charges. He was forced to relinquish his seat in the legislature.

However, the Illinois Supreme Court recently reversed the conviction. $2,200 Straw Fire Burns for 4 Hours Decatur firefighters Monday spent more than four, hours extinguishing a fire on a flatbed trailer loaded with 400 bales of straw. Capt. Robert York at Station 3 said the bales of straw, owned by Interstate Landscaping had to be torn apart in order to get at the flames that caused an estimated $2,200 damage. The trailer, owned by Davis Brothers of Riverton, was located on a vacant lot owned by the Decatur Holiday Inn.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, but two individuals were observed leaving the scene when the station received the call about 11 a.m., York said. Motorcycle Taken In Store Burglary A $500 motorcycle, a helmet, goggles-and a pair of boots were taken when someone broke into The Finish Line at 1659 22nd St. Sunday or Monday. Decatur police reported the burglar gained entrance through a rear door. Be Free Some Week Nights Locsl Sewer Ban To Stay Another 3 Months Meters To parking on Mondays and Fridays at meters on the street and in city lots will be free on a permanent basis, the Decatur City Council decided Monday night.

Acting on a recommendation from City Manager Leslie T. Allen, the council passed an ordinance making enforcement hours for all city meters 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all days of the week except Sunday. Previously, meters had been enforced on Mondays and Fridays to 9 p.m.

The city initiated an experiment several months ago, eliminating the need for per- Meeting Sought in Coroner's Jury It appears the sewer ban on the Decatur Sanitary District will remain until at least February. District Assistant Manager-Engineer Richard P. Kaptain said Monday that in September the district was not able to meet state Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). BOD refers, to the oxygen-consuming qualities of the sewage. The EPA has told the district it must meet standards for BOD, suspended, solids and treatment plant loading for three consecutive months before the ban will be lifted.

The district fared well in the area of suspended solids, though, its monthly average of 18 parts per million (ppm) falling below the EPA's standard. The state has stipulated the district must meet a BOD re-, quirement of 15 ppm. September's average was 21, although Kaptain said it was only 16 ppm for the last half of the month. The loading requirement of 291,000 population equivalent' per day was met last month, he said, noting the A.E. Staley Mfg.

Co. and Archer Girl Hit by Car Hospitalized A 2-year-old Decatur girl nrQe 1 1 ct Art foil Ia cAriAiic condition at Decatur Memorial Hospital from injuries she received when she was hit by a car about 5:30 p.m. Monday. Decatur police reported Nakia Mann of 1151 E. Condit St.

was injured when a car driven by Jessie K. Bates, 23, of 1241 Walnut Grove struck her at Folk and Locust streets. Police reported Bates did not see the child when she ran into the side of the vehicle after a dog frightened her. Armed Robber Sought by Police Decatur police were investigating an armed robbery late Monday that occurred at the Super Market, 1136 N. Main shortly after 9:30 pm.

Police were searching for a lone male. No injuries were reported. No additional information was available at press time. 135 Participate In CROP Walk About 135 persons from throughout Macon County participated in a 15-mile Walk lor World Hunger Monday in Decatur. The annual walk, part of the Christian Rural Overseas Program (CROP), started, and ended at Fairview Park.

Participants obtained pledges each mile they walked. The money will be used to send a train carload of corn, to the needv" overseas. The pledges were not counted as of Monday night. The Rev. Leon Kidd, a retired minister, was honored at the park before the walk started for his years of service to CROP.

Jerome Lenz was the chairman of tlys year's walk. Racial Breakdown To Be Discussed The racial makeup of school district personnel and the breakdown of how many minority students attend each school will be presented to the Decatur School Board tonight. The school board agreed last spring on a policy of hiring minorities to satisfy a hiring discrimination complaint filed by the Decatur Human Relations Commission. In February, figures showed that only 5.4 percent of the school district's employes were minorities. The district plans to increase minority personnel over the next five years to at least equal the minority percentage in the Decatur labor force now 9.4 per cent.

The board is also expected to hear a report on class size. Student Discipline Meeting Is Today A teacher workshop on student discipline at 4:30 p.m. today at MacArthur High School is open to the public. The two-hour workshop on class behavior strategies is sponsored by Howard Brown, regional school superintendent. Rose Wesson, a Granite City public school teacher, will conduct the workshop.

Brown's office is sponsoring a series of teacher workshops on the second Tuesday, of each month during the school year-Other programs will cover the news copyright law (November); teaching energy conservation (December); school law and the teacher (January); using learning packets (February); and value education (March). Linn To Take Board Seat Robert E. Linn, the newest Republican member of the Macon County Board, will take his seat for the first time at today's board meeting. Appointed Sept. 14 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of W.A.

"Art" Sappington, Linn took his oath of office Sept. 26. Board Chairman Roy R. Suzewitz has assigned Linn to the Internal affairs committee. The board will meet at 9:30 a.m.

on the fifth floor of the county building. The Macon County state's attorney said he will meet soon with the county coroner to try to iron out their differences regarding coroner's juries and their verdicts. The dispute between Patrick Walsh, state's attorney, and Dr. John K. Morrison has been brewing since a coroner's jury, under the guidance of the coroner's office, recommended in June a grand jury investigation of the death of an Adolf Meyer Mental Health Center resident.

(A grand jury considers criminal indictments, while a Daniels Midland Co. adhered to their contractual lins. Industrial overloadsr.were cited earlier this year as contributing factors to the EPA placing the sewer banSh the district. Kaptain said the dStrict's performance figures --would seem to indicate that ajprob-lem with two polishing lagoons at the plant is eerrect-ing itself. Nevertheless, engineers hired by -the district; are studying methods fofSlear-ing up the problem.

Dfgflging the lagoons of excess solids is one remedy being studied. Kaptain said he expects an update on the lagoon sfasly to be presented to district trustees at their meetibg on Monday. "IT Although city officiafsfiave said the sewer ban's impact thus far has been minimal, they also agree it could.be a different story if the batfton-tinues into the start 6the construction season Iext year. Under the ban, the--EPA will not grant either construction or operation permit for sewers to serve developments larger than about a four-unit apartment building. monthly at the city's two hospitals.

couple of times a year we also have two and three-day teaching seminars," Dr. Simon added. All of these things, heays, will count as the education to be reviewed by the state Department of Registration and Education in the new medical licensing procedure. "The men who been up on the good things- and practicing good medicine have been doing these things already, he said. Mother Sues in Swing Law Doesn't Worry Doctors for a storm sewer project which is part of the city's $32 million storm drainage improvement program.

The project will involve installing a main interceptor at Jasper and Marietta streets, running it west to Illinois Street and north to Logan Street. A lateral system to the interceptor also will be constructed. The council also: Authorized that bids be taken to improve Sunnyside Road north of the Norfolk Western Railway Co. tracks. Dispute marks to the cause of death because of pending court action.

"We didn't want to take any chances with pre-trial publicity problems." Morrison says he interprets the law as allowing him to ask what questioins he believes are necessary. "I felt I was doing what was right," said the coroner. The second incident also took place Sept. 19 when a. coroner's jury was looking into the death of Claudis Morton, 55, of 602 E.

Marion St. The Jury decided the shooting of Morton was a "justifiable homicide." Several days earlier, murder charges against Morton's daughter were dismissed by a judge. At the inquest, Morrison allowed the jury to be informed of the judge's decision. "It had already been to court, and I didn't want them to bring back homicide (as a cause of death)," says Morrison. According to Morrison, Walsh expressed displeasure 'Over the justifiable homicide" verdict returned by the corner's jury as being an improper dhe.

"My jury surprised me a little bit," acknowledges Morrison. As for the differences between himself and Walsh, the corner said "I think they will get ironed out." Ronnie The new hours will not affect city parking garages. Councilman Charles W. McCaulla noted the move was an expression of the council's concern for helping the downtown area. The majority of the-city's 1.21X) parking meters are in the downtown area.

In other action, the council awarded a $777,439 contract to General Improvement, death of Albert Foster, 72, of 317 Main who died in a fire at the residence on July It. Stanley 'E. Taylor, 27, of the same address has been charged in Macon County Circuit Court with murder and arson in connection with the death. Democart Morrison says he believes his office can delve into such things at an inquest as whether the fire was accidental or intentional. Republication Walsh explains: "We thought it would be better that the (coroner's) questioner confine his re- Mishap which designed it, are also named as defendants in the suit.

Nita Bates is suing, on behalf of her son, each of the three defendants. She's also suing each of them for herself, bringing the total counts in the complaint to six. The plaintiffs are asking at least $15,000 on each count, in accordance with new laws that prohibit a specific demand being asked for damages in the complaint. Move; Money come by. When it seemed almost hopeless to get money to go to Denver to get Ronnie in September, she received $200 from B'nai Brith.

"I was just flabbergasted," she said. "I couldn't believe a community in Decatur would have had that much compassion and generosity." After talking with public aid offices both in Decatur and Springfield she has been able to get $245 a month and a medical card. It is not unusual for Ronnie's drag bill to be $100 a month, she said. She did get some help on her winter utilities bill through a government program. But now she is' facing the move to Denver.

Just how she will get the money to move isn't known, but Mrs. Gessaman said she would sell possessions if necessary, sons to plug meters downtown on those two nights. "I haven't noticed an adverse "effect on parking income," Allen told the council. "I think this would be a good move for the community." Mayor Elmer W. Walton said he has heard only good comments about the experiment.

"I am glad to see us go ahead with this," he said. coroner's jury determines death causes. The state's attorney presents cases to the grand jury.) After that recommendation by the coroner's jury, Walsh wrote Morrison a letter telling the coroner that such recommendations are not legally binding. Two recent incidents have widened the gap between the two men. On Sept.

19, an assistant state's attorney advised a witness before a corner's, jury not to answer certain questions. That inquest was into the housing project. The suit, filed by Decatur attorney Ronald L. Carpel, claims that the swing set. collapsed due to decaying wood and the crossbar fell on Bates' head.

It is alleged permanent injuries were sustained by the boy, who was four years old at the time of the accident. Clyde Dial Construction which constructed the swing set, and Architectural ami Engineering Service thma and respiratory diseases. She borrowed money from her family and took Ronnie to Denver, where he was admitted as an emergency patient last January. Mrs. Gessaman stayed two weeks with Ronnie but then came home as she has two daughters to care for.

He returned home Labor Day weekend. Within 24 hours he was in intensive care in Decatur Memorial Hospital with a severe asthma attack. After a 10-day stay he returned home and even went to school some. But after a few weeks he was back in the hospital again. 1 Denver and its climate plus the treatment available at National Jewish Hospital have made moving to Denver-a necessity.

His continued illness has taken its toll of family finances, too, and financial help has not been easy to The mother of a boy who was injured while playing on a swing set at Longview Place last year is suing the Decatur Housing Authority (DHA) and two Decatur firms that designed and built the swing set. In a complaint filed Aug. 31 in a Springfield court, it is alleged that Earl T. Bates Jr. sustained permanent injuries as the result of the Julv 18, 1976 accident at the DHA Little local effect is predicted from a new law requiring all doctors to continue their medical education in order to have their licenses renewed.

"None of us are worried about it," says Dr. William C. Simon, president of the Macon County Medical Society. He says the law, expected to go into effect next summer, requires things that most local physicians have been doing voluntarily. Local physicians, he says, continue their education through movies and lectures Payroll Checks Stolen From Inn Payroll checks valued be--tween $300 antf $400 were taken from a desktop at the Decatur Holiday Inn around' noon Monday: Decatur police reported about 12 checks were taken when an unidentified person went in an-oitice and was observed removing sorr.eihmg lrom the desk.

CB Radio Taken From Car Robert E. Cummings, 54, of 1544 E. Whitmer St. told police a citizens band radio valued at $283 was taken from his car Sunday or Monday. The theft, reported about 12:30 p.m.

Monday, occurred when an object was forced between a window and the frame, and the door was unlocked. Niantic-Harristown Homecoming Set Niantic-Harristown High School students are making preparations this week for the high school's homecoming. Skits will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday in the gymnasium, followed by a bonfire. School will be dismissed at 1:15 p.m.

Friday, and the homecoming parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. The homecoming dance will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the high school. Admission will be charged. Russell Named Homecoming Queen Paula Russell and Wes Powell reigned over Warrens-burg-Latham High School's homecoming last weekend.

Attending the queen were Joyce Gillespey, Sandy Stock, Lisa VanDerVoort, and Susan Brown. Charge Filed Sherry Lynn Oldfield, 17, of Mount Zion has been charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly falsely reporting to Decatur police she was a rape victim early Saturday morning in Nelson Park, according to information filed in' Macon County Circuit Court. Child's Asthma Forces Mother Worries About A little boy's illness is forcing his Decatur family to move to Colorado, but his mother doesn't know where the money is going to come from. Ronnie Jennings, 5, son of Mrs. Sharon Gessaman" 1990 E.

William and Ronald Jennings, 3220 Dove has a severe case of asthma which rquires constant treatments and, often, hospitalization. "He really can't play normally," said Mrs. Gessaman with whom he lives. "His tolerance is only a few minutes for anything that requires physical exertion." In the last few years every treatment center in this area was tried but nothing seemed to really help, Mrs. Gessa-mon says.

"I didn't know what to do." Finally she learned of the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, which is for treatment and research of as and his mom will be moving kxxl.