August 2003
Ask Bobby
Bob Asmussen, who covers Illinois football for The News-Gazette, will take your questions via e-mail throughout the 2003 season. E-mail him at rasmusse@news-gazette.com, and he''ll get back to you as soon as possible.
If your question is really good, we''ll run it in our upcoming sports opinion page, which will appear each Monday starting Sept. 1.
Hiring for new pork plant under way
RANTOUL – A pork processing plant in Rantoul has started hiring workers and will open on time in early November, according to company officials.
Meadowbrook Farms Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jim Altemus said Friday that construction workers are putting the finishing touches on the $28 million plant on the west side of the Rantoul Industrial Park on U.S. 136.
Police target seat belt violators
URBANA – Signs on Cunningham Avenue northbound and southbound announced the drivers were entering a seat belt enforcement zone.
That warning plainly was not enough Sunday afternoon, especially around 5 p.m., when five state police officers and one Urbana officer were handing out $55 seat belt tickets at the rate of 1 per 3 minutes just north of Interstate 74.
Hit the road, fans
If you're not planning to ring in the new year in Pasadena, Calif., you are not alone: Neither were most fans of the 1983 Illini. But if you want to hit already-scheduled UI road games this year, read our guide, courtesy of Jeff Huth:
'Fairly organized chaos'
CHAMPAIGN – There were swarms of cars lined up Sunday on First Street near Memorial Stadium, with drivers navigating through bumper-to bumper traffic before finally finding parking spots. Then hordes of adults and students leaped out of their cars and headed on their way.
It is the annual ritual of students coming back to campus on Move-In Day. Even though the students get all the attention, the day is often hardest on the parents.
Bears give up on Schumacher
LAKE FOREST – At least Jerry Schumacher got to play at Memorial Stadium in a Chicago Bears uniform.
The rookie linebacker from Illinois was one of the 11 players cut by the Bears on Sunday. Schumacher, a Chicago native who signed with the team as an undrafted free agent, saw action at middle linebacker and special teams in all three Bears preseason games, including those against Indianapolis and Denver at Memorial Stadium, where we was credited with a fumble recovery.
14-story campus site proposed
CHAMPAIGN – The skyline of Campustown could undergo a major change under a preliminary redevelopment proposal before the Champaign City Council.
The tentative plan for the northwest corner of Sixth and Green streets calls for constructing a 14-story apartment building with two floors of commercial space and a nearby 400-space parking deck.
It's Your Business: Babbitt's Books on campus to close soon
Babbitt's Books at 606 E. Green St., C, will close by Sept. 15 and continue doing business at its store in Normal and on the Internet at www.babbittsbooks.com.
Brian Simpson, who has owned the store since 1985, said he is selling all his merchandise at half off, and he'll be increasing the discounts as the closing date gets nearer. He's also selling some bookshelves.
Tate: Border War means more than before
Damien Nash returned to the spotlight this week.
He''s the one-time sophomore darter who shared honors with Christian Morton on Riverview Gardens'' state championship team.
As a senior at East St. Louis, Nash missed one game as a transfer but quickly was confirmed as the top player in the St. Louis area. Then he sat out two seasons – the second with reconstructive knee surgery – getting his grades in shape to join the Missouri Tigers. His one-time interest in Illinois juices the buildup for Saturday''s Illini-Mizzou showdown in the dome in St. Louis.
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