October 2008
Neighbors of new Meijer in Urbana complain about noise
URBANA – Megan Repking is a graduate student in veterinary medicine at the University of Illinois. She spends a lot of time studying and she needs her sleep.
But Repking and other neighbors in the 1700 block of Lydia Court in southeast Urbana, part of the Ridge at Stone Creek subdivision, say they are having a hard time getting that sleep since the new Meijer store opened nearby earlier this month.
Very quiet candidate still in Champaign County Board race
CHAMPAIGN – No one has run a quieter campaign than county board candidate Stephanie Dold.
It doesn't get much more low-key than to avoid the media altogether. The News-Gazette has tried repeatedly to reach the candidate, but calls and e-mails go unanswered.
Asmussen: Clemson among my misses
How's your preseason Top 25 looking?
Mine, to quote the great Big Jim McBob and Billy Sol Hurok, "Blowed up. It blowed up real good."
Paxton plan commission favors county regulation of wind farms
Company plans to put turbines east, north of city
PAXTON – The city's plan commission has recommended that the Paxton City Council not regulate wind farms within 1½ miles of the city limits.
Vermilion prosecutor candidates share ideas for office
DANVILLE – Both Randy Brinegar and Dan Brown pledged to improve the way the Vermilion County state's attorney's office is run and its image.
But the two political opponents differ in their ideas for doing that, as well as their experience.
Self-acknowledged 'novice' taking on Johnson in 15th District
URBANA – Steve Cox is not exactly a political junkie.
The Democratic nominee for the 15th Congressional District seat held by Republican Rep. Timothy Johnson didn't get involved in party politics until just over a year ago.
Tax boost would pay for existing Rossville firehouse
ROSSVILLE – Voters in northern Vermilion County will decide whether to pay for an already completed fire station.
The Rossville Area Fire Protection District board of trustees was planning to institute a special tax levy that would generate additional property tax dollars to be used specifically to pay off a low-interest, 20-year loan through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural-development program. Later, it found out the special tax levy would be illegal if used for paying a mortgage. This created the need to issue bonds in order to pay off the fire station loan, according to Dean Grimes, fire district board chairman.
Disability Resource Expo set for Saturday
URBANA – You're in a wheelchair and would like to make your house more accessible. Or you have a child with Down syndrome and don't know where to get help.
The second annual "Disabilty Resource Expo," scheduled for Saturday at Lincoln Square Village in downtown Urbana, could have the answer for you. The expo is designed to give Champaign County residents one central place to learn about available resources and promote a better quality of life for people with disabilities, whether they're physical, developmental, mental or emotional. The theme of this year's event is "Reaching out for Answers."
Local residents honored for cultural contributions
CHAMPAIGN – Looking back 50 years to when he and his wife first arrived in Champaign County, Carl Altstetter said he would not have called the area a cultural wasteland or swamp.
"It was more like a savannah – rather sparse. Now it's a lush, tropical rainforest of the arts," Altstetter said Thursday night at the Highdive in Champaign.
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