Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 5

I 1 Decatur, Illinois, Wednesday, October 18, 1985 Page AS Central Illinois' Thompson: Incentives won9! help CAT 'They are two different situations People are buying cars. They're not buying Gov. James Thompson 'If you lived in Decatur, wouldn't you be thinking, 'Hey, they just spent millions of dollars right up the road'? Rep. Mike Tate By MRE LAWRENCE and JIM LUDWICK Far te Herald Review SPRINGFIELD Gov. James R.

Thompson balked Tuesday at offering a Mitsubishi-type incentives package to rescue 900 jobs at the Caterpillar Tractor Co. plant in Decatur. "They are two different situations," Thompson told the Herald Review after Rep. Michael J. Tate, R-Decatur, likened them and said he would "knock on the governor's door" for help.

"People are buying cars. They're not buying earthmovers," the governor said when asked why state bait used to lure Mitsubishi and Chrysler to Bloomington would not work in this case. Caterpillar, the governor has been buffeted by conditions state government can neither control nor correct. Among culprits, Thompson said, are foreign competition, an overvalued dollar and lack of sufficient markets. "There is nothing the state can do except to help unemployed workers and take advantage of every investment opportunity we can to get them jobs," Thompson said.

The governor, labeling the layoffs "a human tragedy," added the state had already "stood on its head" for Hearing to study crisis forming a task force of civic and business leaders and made it clear he had a state incentives package in mind. "If you lived in Decatur, wouldn't you be thinking, 'Hey, they just spent millions of dollars right up the road'? That's my reaction, and I'm going to see if there's anything we Plant closes, but memories will remain can do about it," Tate said. "If the state doesn't step in and help Cat by providing some of these same incentives, then the state is being negligent in its duties." The Decatur Republican said his task force would be known as "Leaders United to Keep CAT in Decatur" and will hold its first meeting today. Although Durbin said such measures are drastic, he said they are worthwhile. "We can no longer flounder along with no trade policy." He also said he is willing to trade higher inflation caused by tariffs in return for lower unemployment for American workers.

Some economists attribute most of the trade problem to the high value of the dollar, which makes American products more expensive in foreign countries. Durbin said it gift in her nearly empty office. ployees and cleaning out her office. As quitting time approached, she exchanged goodbyes, often choking back tears. "It's so quiet," she said.

"Everybody knew everybody here, and now none of us are working. "But you know," she added with pride, "another company has hired oriented changes in both unemployment insurance and workers' compensation. "We've done everything Caterpillar asked us to do," Thompson said. "But we can't devalue the dollar and we can't diminish Komatsu competition." Tate announced Tuesday he was Bloomington-Normal. "For every Mitsubishi plan announced there are too many Illinois plants closing." Durbin said that relates to the efforts by the congressmen who will use the hearing to examine the effects of tough foreign competition on Central Illinois and efforts to combat it.

They will also probe the effectiveness of local efforts to retrain dislocated workers. They are people who have lost jobs through no fault of their own, A few left before their layoff date for new jobs. About 35 are still working with job training officials to find work. Coffey joined the company as a production line worker, bottling medicines. Later she became a line leader and, 10 years ago, was promoted to packaging coordinator.

was last seen by his aunt, Delaney Davison, who left him sleeping in her car parked outside the Brett-wood Kroger store. Police say they are contacting the vendors because they are usually more observant of people. They declined to be more specific. Police sent investigators to Winter Haven, to interview both of Timothy's parents, who are divorced and who have given custody of the boy to his aunt; Delaney Davison. The father, Dreyden Davison, was arrested Sunday on an unrelated warrant.

But police said Tuesday Caterpillar. He said it slanted income tax laws in the Peoria-based firm's direction and enacted health-care cost-containment measures sought by the company and other industries. In addition, the governor said, he and the General Assembly made business- For the Herald 4 Review SPRINGFIELD A congressional hearing to examine the local impact of America's international trade crisis will be held next month in Decatur. U.S. Rep.

Richard Durbin, D-Springfield, announced the hearing just after his office was notified of Caterpillar Tractor 900 layoffs at its Decatur plant. He compared it unfavorably with the recent announcement of the automobile plant slated for The plant was purchased in 1925 from the Syrup Pepsin a business that rose to national fame by selling Dr. W. B. Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin.

It was a laxative "remedy" that was said to be a part of many people's "daily regimen" in the early 1900s. Coffey said high school students often scrambled to land a job at Sterling Drug after graduation, and many of them stayed for decades. The list of members in the firm's 25-year club is long. She has been at the plant more than 30. "This has always been a good place to she said.

"We never had a union, but we got our raises every year. "These people who are looking for other jobs are probably going to get only half the money they got here." Coffey will retire. Mike Motor, director of the Richland Community College Job Training Center, said about 20 other workers also chose retirement. He said an equal number are involved in classes to learn new skills, while two have been placed in on-the-job training. Police have determined the 4-year-old boy missing since Thursday was abducted by a stranger, and are contacting vendors and others who frequent the Brettwood Village shooDine area.

T-J- Davison Timothy Jacob "T.J." Davison, 4. Invited, he said, are Reps. Richard Durbin, and Robert Michel, along with representatives of the governor and the state Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. "We need to do everything possible to retain those jobs. I think we have just as much an obligation to retain industries as we have to recruit industries," Tate said.

Rep. John F. Dunn, D-Decatur, said, "We're beyond grandstanding. We're beyond cliches. We're beyond meetings and memoranda.

We need to do the no-nonsense things whatever they are and Caterpillar is in the best position to identify them." But Dunn said he was uncertain the state could help, and Sen. James Rupp, R-Decatur, was even more skeptical. "We're getting into a position where the state is expected to step in every time there is a reduction in the work force. I don't think we have enough money. I don't think we can be the patron in every situation." Rupp said.

The senator added he would be open to suggestions. "I wish someone would come up with a magic answer. I wish it would be me. But I don't have one." deserves some of the blame, but he opposes delaying tariff action until policymakers learn if efforts at devaluing the dollar are successful. The hearings will feature business, education, government and labor leaders.

Their testimony will center on competitiveness and displaced workers. The Nov. 4 session will be held at Millikin University. Also attending will be Reps. Sherwood Boehlert, and Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio.

some of the people who worked here, and I understand they are very pleased with their work." It is 3:30 p.m. Quitting time. Coffey crushes out a cigarette, gathers up her radio, a gift from the company and her severance check. She is still choking back tears as she leaves the plant. personnel can handle.

"I feel we have a difficult job ahead of us getting this together," he told the board. "We're all going to be quite busy. We're in an area where some kind of specialization is called for." Officials originally budgeted $1 million to $1.2 million for purchase of new moveable equipment, Brown said. He said the moving job requires the knowledge of purchasing, materials, vendors and bidding "There are some things that will happen in that building that have not happened here," he said, referring to the college's rental facility in Park 101. Alger Associates, of Grand Rapids, said it could do necessary work for about $50,000.

The second firm, from Champaign, submitted a bid of nearly $95,000. Henry Brown said he did not know the reason for the bid disparity. Howard Brown said he is looking at possibilities that may eliminate the need for a consultant. "I'm not so sure there isn't some talent here to do some of this," he said of college personnel and people in the community. "But coming back in November, this may be the best alternative." He said he may suggest splitting the bid to save money and permit college personnel to evaluate equipment rather than a consultant.

often because their positions have become obsolete. Some 40 percent of the people who lost jobs in the last five years have been unable to find new work, Durbin said. He also said he supports trade legislation that some critics have labeled overly protectionist. Nations that do not buy more American products would be given a deadline to do so. Those that balk would have punitive tariffs slapped on their products sold in this country.

Doris Coffey opens a farewell Since September, when a co-worker was released, she has had more seniority than any of "her girls." "I guess it was kind of shortlived," she said with a nervous laugh Tuesday, her final day on the job. Final paperwork was completed several days ago, and Doris spent the day at a lunch with other em they are sure neither he nor any other family member is involved in Timothy's disappearance. Timothy, who is described as a slow learner, does not speak clearly and does not know his last name. Police are also working with Decatur-Macon County I-SEARCH, an agency that locates abducted and missing childeren. I-SEARCH has circulated flyers with Timothy's picture on them throughout Macon County and to 21 states.

I-SEARCH has metro patrols that will regularly scan Macon County for Timothy Story and Photo By MARK H. LAMBERT Herald A Review Bureau Chief MONTICELLO Reminders remain. There is a fine, white mist in the halls, left behind by baby powder production. A final shipment of medicine cartons fills storerooms, and empty order pegs line office walls. More permanent reminders are already tucked away in Doris Coffey's heart.

"Lots of people have worked here for many, many years," she said, looking around her nearly vacant office. "This was more than a place to work, it has been a home away from home for me. "These last two weeks have been hard." Coffey is one of about 80 people Who lost their jobs this month as Sterling Drug Co. ceased production. The firm announced a year ago it would sell some product lines, shifting remaining lines to other Sterling plants.

Layoffs, which came gradually over the past few weeks, ended nearly a century of medicine production in the city. Boy was kidnapped RCC trustees delay decision on consultant I by stranger Weighted grades may hurt programs usic teachers protest proposal By JANE JANKOWSKI Herald Review Staff Writer Richland Community College trustees decided Tuesday they'll wait another month before deciding whether to hire a consultant at to help furnish the new campus building. In the meantime, college President Howard Brown said he will look at alternatives to the bid trustees are now jconsidering. The college received bids from two companies in answer to advertisements seeking a consultant to inventory present moveable equipment and coordinate needs for the new campus. The college will soon begin construction of its building on a 117-acre site at Rea's Bridge and Brush College roads in northeast Decatur.

The Illinois General Assembly approved $15 million for the construction, and voters approved a tax increase for another $5.8 million in local funds in 1984. Local funds would be used for the consultant. Henry Brown, director of institutional studies, said staff at the college has neither the time nor the expertise to determine equipment needs. Richland opened 13 years ago, and Brown said the accumulation of materials during that time makes the moving job more than college would award an extra .15 point for each half-unit of credit earned beyond the minimum. Reese said the bonus system also would affect music programs, since a student would need to take twice as many music classes to be eligible to earn the .15 bonus.

As an addendum to its work, weighted grade committee members voted 14-8 not to recommend implementation of their proposed system. "My concern is I personally don't see a need for a weighted grade system," said Bill Moutray, assistant principal at MacArthur High School, who was a member of the committee. "I'm not sure we have students we're treating unfairly." Board member Robert Emmons, who asked for the study session a week ago so he could give input before he retires from the board in early November, said he would not push for passage if weighted grades need further consideration. "I would like to see it implemented while I am still on the board. I am not going to push it unless it can be done in an orderly fashion," he said.

Board President Jeanelle Norman said she would know today if the proposal will be on the board's agenda at its meeting Tuesday. music programs typically are college-bound students, Reese said instructors are concerned they may be the ones who drop out. The extent of damage to music programs depends on how motivated students are by their class rank, he said. One simple solution, Reese added, would be to make music courses the same unit value as others. "Will it become impossible for an outstanding music student to study the arts without being penalized?" Steve Schepper, Roosevelt Middle School band director, asked members.

Gretchen Brahier, a Stephen Decatur High School student who served on the committee, took an informal poll of 50 band students at her school. Of those, 27 indicated they probably would drop band to take another course. The board voted in January to implement weighted grades beginning with 1986-87 freshmen. A committee met 12 times from February to September to develop, the proposal. In addition to the weighted grade changes, the committee also suggested a bonus system to encourage students to take courses beyond the minimum required for graduation.

The bonus system By JANE JANKOWSKI Herald A Review Staff Writer Music educators think their band and choral groups may be hurt by a weighted grade proposal being considered by the Decatur Board of Education. "It's clear to me there would some negative impact on programs," Music Strategist Sam Reese told board members during a study session Tuesday. board is considering a weighted grade proposal one that would award extra points to students who take difficult courses -r to assist college-bound students. The problem, Reese said, is music courses are worth only half the credit of others. For example, a student who takes algebra for a year would receive one unit of credit, while one in band would earn only a half-credit for the same period.

"If a student elects to participate in band, he earns less grade point value and ranks lower," said Reese. He said teachers are concerned some students may drop band in favor of taking an additional course to earn more credit. And since leaders in.