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Tuscola, Mattoon officials say cities would be good fit
TUSCOLA – Selection as one of four possible sites for a high-tech coal generation plant puts Tuscola on the world map, said Mayor Dan Kleiss.
Both Tuscola and Mattoon are on a short list of proposed sites for a $1 billion not-for-profit FutureGen coal generation plant planned to serve as a demonstration site for clean technology.
Mattoon, Tuscola on short list
TUSCOLA – Tuscola and Mattoon have been chosen as two of the four finalists for the $1 billion FutureGen power plant, along with Odessa, Texas, and the "Heart of Brazos" site near Jewett, Texas.
Effingham and Marshall, the other two Illinois communities that submitted siting proposals, didn't make the short list, according to U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson's office. FutureGen officials announced the finalists this morning at Washington's National Press Club.
Program for migrant workers' children keep kids on track
CHAMPAIGN – It was the first day of summer school for Angela Kleber's class of first- and second-grade students, but there was no easing into their return to the classroom.
Kleber had her students give her a writing sample, and she tested their reading level and gave them a math assessment, to determine where she needed to start with her teaching. At the Champaign school district's three-and-a-half-week summer school for migrant children, there's no time to waste.
City falls short on minority hiring goal
CHAMPAIGN – The city did not meet its goal for minority work force representation in 2005.
Champaign's goal was to have 14.7 percent of its work force be minorities, but the final percentage was 12.5 percent.
The figures are contained in the city's 2005 affirmative action report, which will be discussed by the Champaign City Council at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The council meets in study session in council chambers at the Champaign City Building, 102 N. Neil St.
Picture brighter for two Provena hospitals
URBANA – With one of the two hospitals under his watch turning a profit and the other losing considerably less money than it did a year ago, David Bertauski may be just what the doctor ordered for Provena Health's financially ailing Central Illinois region.
Last year, Provena's Covenant Medical Center in Urbana and United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville lost a combined $6.8 million – with Covenant's $10 million loss wiping out a gain in excess of $3 million at United Samaritans.
It's your business
Champaign-Urbana's newest Walgreens drugstore – built at Kirby Avenue and Neil Street in Champaign – is almost ready for shoppers.
An opening date has been set for Friday, manager Liza Stillabower said.
Savoy man puts unique spin on old vinyl records
Frank Sinatra was used to having drinks inside of him, not on top of him.
But in the world of Bob Siebrecht, Sinatra – or rather his records – make the perfect coaster. Siebrecht, a longtime teacher in the Department of Human and Community Development in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, turns old vinyl LPs and 45 singles into unique coasters. Sinatra happens to be one of his best-sellers.
Habitat officials still mum on Huth's firing
CHAMPAIGN – Three top employees at Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County have just over one year's experience – combined.
Eileen Gebbie, hired in May as volunteer and outreach manager, is serving as interim executive director after the board's dismissal of Laura Huth on July 6. Development Director Megan Wolf was just hired, replacing Anna Olson, who left June 30 after one year on the job. Gebbie's predecessor, Annisa Rainey, lasted less than a year.
Plant site finalists to be revealed this week
SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday morning, Tuscola, Mattoon and 10 other communities will find out if they still have a chance to land the $1 billion FutureGen project, billed as the "coal plant of the future."
Brian Moody, executive director of Tuscola Economic Development Inc., said he was excited to learn that a date had been set to announce the list of finalists.
Enforcement plan in place for smoking ban
URBANA – With only 11 days to go before Urbana restaurants must become smoke-free, the city and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District have reached a tentative agreement on how they'll jointly enforce the smoking ban.
The biggest emphasis will be on education, with several city officials planning to fan out across the city next week to visit 53 Urbana restaurants to explain the smoking ban in detail to restaurant owners and managers.
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