Ex-Blagojevich aide pleads guilty to corruption Oct 21, 2009
Monk, who lives in Decatur, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel as part of an agreement that his lawyer and federal prosecutors have been negotiating for months. He promised to provide whatever cooperation prosecutors need, including taking the witness stand at Blagojevich's trial if asked, in exchange for a sentence of 24 months in federal prison. (Florida Today)
Former Blago aide pleads guilty to corruption Oct 21, 2009
Monk, a one-time Los Angeles sports agent who now lives in downstate Decatur, pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud for allegedly squeezing a racetrack owner for a $100,000 campaign contribution. In exchange, Blagojevich was to sign a bill taxing gambling casinos to subsidize Illinois racetracks, according to the Blagojevich indictment and Monk's signed plea agreement. (Crain's Chicago Business)
New EIU Homecoming parade route a hit with spectators Oct 20, 2009
Decatur residents Jason and Michelle Bovyn, both EIU alumni, arrived just in time at the park to watch the parade with their children: Kaylee, 9, Kerrigan, 6, and Khloe, 7 weeks. Bovyn said they usually watch the parade uptown, but appreciate how easy it was to find a parking spot at Morton Park. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Casey gets second in tennis sectional; 6 heading to state Oct 19, 2009
CASEY -- After Friday s postponement due to rain, the Illinois High School Association tennis sectional at Casey was played on a cold Saturday, and the Lady Warriors finished just one point away from tying first-place Decatur MacArthur ... Snyder was 3-1, falling to Kristine Sonnernfeld of Decatur MacArthur 6-3, 6-2 ... The duo lost to Decatur St. Teresa s twin sisters of Amy Kuhle and Tracy Kuhle 6-0, 6-0 in the championship. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Train rips up semi at elevator Oct 17, 2009
Bodine Services of Decatur was called to the scene to help with the cleanup. The driver of the semi was uninjured. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Charlotte, the eight-legged Cloverbud leader Oct 17, 2009
She;s even been to a conference in Decatur. And in the next week or so, she;ll be visiting the Bureau County Cloverbuds at their next meeting. (Princeton Bureau County Republican, IL)
Signs of recession ending across the U.S. Oct 16, 2009
6 percent, followed by Decatur, Ill. down 83. (MSNBC -- Business)
Millikin U. leader announces retirement plan Oct 15, 2009
Zemke became the private Decatur university's 13th president in 2003 after working as dean of its business school since 1998. Zemke is 65. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Macon Co. police officer accused of sexually assaulting girl Oct 15, 2009
DECATUR - A part-time officer on the Warrensburg Police Department was arrested early Wednesday morning on charges of sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl. Decatur Police detectives arrested Douglas H. Spensley, 42, at his Decatur home without incident, according to a news release ... "According to our investigation, Mr. Spensley is believed to be a family friend of the victim's parents," said Todd Walker, deputy chief of the Decatur Police Department. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Jackson to sit three games Oct 14, 2009
On April 12, Jackson was pulled over for speeding in Piatt County, near his hometown of Decatur, Ill. and arrested on multiple charges. (Purdue Sports -- Rivals.com)
Obituaries, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 (899) Oct 14, 2009
Brad and Shannon Stevenson (Maddox), Decatur, Ga. Davids sister, Wilma Williams, and her husband, Larry, live in Dodge City, Kan. (Vincennes Sun Commercial, IN)
Quinn wins backing in campaign for governor Oct 13, 2009
Hare represents the 17th Congressional District, which stretches to the Quad Cities area through western and central Illinois, and includes Decatur. Posted in , , on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 12:00 am. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
FHP: Biker couple injured when vehicle cuts into path Oct 13, 2009
Virgil Wright, 66, and his wife, Sharon, 64, of Decatur, Ill. were injured when their motorcycle crashed into a vehicle that pulled in front of them, said Sgt. Kim Montes, FHP spokeswoman. (Daytona Beach News Journal -- Local)
Change coming in state redistricting process? Oct 11, 2009
After all, the boundaries of the Rock Island Democrat's 17th district look like a sinister claw, reaching down from the Quad Cities and hooking around Springfield and Decatur ... The 17th district, Raoul says, could be considered similarly, since it covers a mix of rural and urban territory, including Rock Island and small parts of Springfield and Decatur. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Defense still gathering coroner, medical reports in toddler's death Oct 10, 2009
BLOOMINGTON -- The defense lawyer for a Decatur man charged with the murder of a Bloomington toddler two years ago is continuing to gather coroner and medical reports. Franklin Byers III, 25, was in McLean County Circuit Court Friday with his lawyer, Steve Skelton, for a hearing on charges that he caused the death of 20-month-old Aaron O'Brien Ishmael in October 2007. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Pantagraph, Web site, staff win awards in annual contests Oct 10, 2009
In Illinois, its daily newspapers are in Bloomington, Carbondale, Charleston-Mattoon, Decatur, and the Quad Cities. Posted in on Friday, October 9, 2009 7:50 am Updated: 7:52 pm. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
State appeals court ruling blocking layoffs Oct 10, 2009
Plans for the layoffs targeted prisons in Decatur, East Moline, Vandalia, Vienna and two in Logan County. Quinn wanted an increase in the income tax rate to avoid downsizing, but lawmakers didn't agree. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Friday's Statewide Football Scores Oct 10, 2009
Rogers (Puyallup) 37, Decatur 6. Royal 48, Kiona-Benton 20. (Longview Daily News, WA)
LETTER: President should require young people to serve Oct 9, 2009
"I agree, fb. Unfortunately, Service learning, as it's commonly called, has failed to catch on in this area as it has in other places. The only school in the area that makes it mandatory in this area is Sullivan. I believe some other area schools offer it as an elective. Some colleges are now requiring applicants to include a "community service" resume along with their transcripts when applying. I believe Millikin University in Decatur started that a few years ago. Has this concept caught on in... (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Mattoon VA clinic set to open in less than 2 weeks Oct 9, 2009
The Mattoon facility was added to the system that now includes community-based outpatient clinics in Peoria, Springfield and Decatur of Central Illinois, and West Lafayette in west central Indiana. We have a strategic goal for all of Illinois and part of that was to provide a clinic within 30 miles of each county in our area, Hamilton said. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
The National Weather Service has issued an alert Oct 9, 2009
Click here for full text of the alert. TODAY'S HEADLINES SPECIAL SECTION ONLINE EXTRAS FRONT PAGE PDF. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Decatur fry cook charged with attempting to blow up federal courthouse Oct 8, 2009
SPRINGFIELD - A federal grand jury Wednesday indicted a part-time Decatur fry cook on charges that say he attempted to blow up the federal courthouse in Springfield last month. The two-count indictment accuses Michael Finton - also known as "Talib Islam" - of attempted murder of a federal officer or employee and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Estimated 700 people take part in Clinton power plant drill Oct 8, 2009
Among agencies taking part were FEMA; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; FBI; Illinois Emergency Management Agency; Illinois Department of Natural Resources; DeWitt County Sheriff's Department; Decatur Police Department; emergency management agencies from DeWitt, Macon, McLean and Piatt counties; Clinton Ambulance; and fire departments from Clinton, Maroa, Kenney and Farmer City. The exercise wound down just after 1 p.m. and was followed by a debriefing. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Presentation to focus on early history of Illinois cattle and hog drives Oct 7, 2009
DECATUR A presentation on cattle and hog drives in the early days of Illinois is planned by Bill Steinbacher-Kemp ... Rock Springs Nature Center is located on the southwestern edge of Decatur ... To get to Rock Springs Center from Decatur go south on Illinois Route 48 and turn right onto Rock Springs Road. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
AARP blasts Ameren rate hike request Oct 7, 2009
6 p.m. Nov. 2, Decatur Public Library, Madden Room, 130 N Franklin, Decatur. Most Read Stories. (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
Federal grant helps MPD catch sexual predators Oct 7, 2009
This is part of the Child Sexual Predator Program, an effort implemented by the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services or COPS. Mattoon, Decatur, Champaign, Bloomington, Peoria Police and Peoria County Sheriff, Moline and Quincy police departments are part of the initiative offering sharing of personnel, resources and funding through the grant. This helps so much in fighting exploitation of children, said Mattoon Police Chief Dave Griffith. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Stickin' with Styx pays off for parents Oct 6, 2009
wazafarmer wrote on Oct 5, 2009 7:31 AM:" Dennis DeYoung, the founding member and author of many Styx songs BTW, gave a great performance a couple years ago at Decatur Celibration. Did you just forget to mention his name, perhaps? ". GrampaC wrote on Oct 5, 2009 7:40 AM:" I believe that Styx played McAfee gym in the early 70's. The prelim intro music was the theme from the "Lone Ranger". ". (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
How Time Flies 10/04/09 Oct 5, 2009
In high school ball, Bloomington defeated Decatur 11-5, and Normal beat Lincoln 77-0. (In modern times, none of these matchups exist. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Swank Tilden-Hall Hotel razed in 1961 Oct 4, 2009
Danville had the Wolford, Champaign the Beardsley, Decatur the Orlando, Galesburg the Custer, Rockford the Faust and Springfield the Leland, to name but a few. In Bloomington there were three leading downtown hotels: the Illinois, the Rogers and the Tilden-Hall. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Rivalry week in Illinois Oct 3, 2009
Can the Vikings win at home against a very good Decatur Mac team. Can Decatur Mac "man up" from here on out as the schedule gets much tougher from here on out for the Generals. (Prep Sports Sports -- Rivals.com)
Maroon star's status questionable vs. Wave Oct 2, 2009
Central needs some wins after falling to 3-2 with last week s 16-6 loss to undefeated Decatur MacArthur, which did not have to face Stewart at full strength ... Decatur MacArthur 49, Mattoon 14 ... Central 42, Decatur Eisenhower 0. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Local Guard unit welcomed home Oct 1, 2009
Nine-year-old Riley Bolt of Decatur didn't have much to say, but her face said a lot. Her father, Staff Sgt. Brad Bolt of Decatur, had been gone a year ... "She's a daddy's girl - it's been really hard," said Vickie Horath, principal of Hillside Bethel Christian School, Decatur, where Riley is a student. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Complaints about Wapella officials prompt letter from state's attorney Oct 1, 2009
The board has appointed Decatur attorney Jeff Justice as village attorney. He has discussed the situation with Koritz. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Crowd of mourners honors slain family of five Sep 30, 2009
Austin dreamed of becoming a better basketball player, sometimes traveling to Decatur to play, Johnson said. None of the family members talked of 3-year-old Tabitha, the family's youngest daughter who also suffered blunt-force injuries in the attack but survived. (Fresno Bee -- Lifestyle)
Naked man steals truck and drives into a ditch Sep 30, 2009
He was being held for observation at a Decatur hospital. Posted in on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 3:00 pm Updated: 3:02 pm. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
OUR VIEW: Terrorist bomb plot comes to the prairie Sep 30, 2009
The news last week that a Decatur man was arrested in connection with a plot to blow up the federal courthouse in Springfield was shocking ... Authorities arrested Michael C. Finton, 29, of Decatur ... Finton lives in Decatur but previously lived in Olney and Mount Vernon, all relatively close to Mattoon and Charleston. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Related: Hundreds remember slain Beason family at funeral Sep 30, 2009
Family friend John Johnson of Decatur opened the 30-minute service by saying, "You can't say Rick without saying Ruth. They were the hardest workers I've ever seen in my life.". Rick Gee, a construction worker, and his wife, Ruth Gee, 39, loved their family and lived a simple life on the northern edge of the small town of Beason, said Johnson. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Men accused of unrelated bomb plots in Ill., Texas Sep 26, 2009
Finton appeared in federal court in Springfield on Thursday and said he was an unmarried, part-time cook at a fish and chicken restaurant in the central Illinois city of Decatur. He was ordered held pending action by a grand jury. (USA Today)
Plan to release Ill. inmates draws fire Sep 26, 2009
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn s plan to release 1,000 inmates early and cut 1,000 prison employees statewide, including at the Vandalia and Decatur correctional centers, is drawing fire from some lawmakers who blast it as dangerous ... The first phase of layoffs were to take place this Wednesday and affect 419 correctional workers, including 13 in Vandalia and 50 in Decatur, but a lawsuit by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union appears likely to hold that up. (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
Imam glad Illinois man arrested for terror bomb plot Sep 26, 2009
DECATUR (AP) The leader of the mosque attended by a central Illinois man jailed on suspicion of trying to detonate what he thought were explosives outside a federal courthouse in Springfield said Friday the FBI headed off what could have been a tragedy ... Finton, who also went by the name Talib Islam and lives in Decatur, was arrested Wednesday and charged with attempting to murder federal officers or employees and trying to detonate a weapon of mass destruction ... No one interviewed Friday at... (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Mosque gathers for prayer, condemns acts of member accused of terrorism Sep 26, 2009
DECATUR -- Members of the mosque in Decatur where a terrorism plot suspect offered prayer gathered Friday to condemn the acts of which he is accused and to express concern over what his arrest could do to the image of their place of worship ... "We, the Muslims of Decatur, Illinois, condemn any act of terrorism, and we equally condemn those who commit terror," Shabazz said ... Michael C. Finton, 29, of Decatur is charged with attempted murder of federal employees and attempted use of a weapon of... (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Hollywood spotlight shines on Central Illinois Sep 26, 2009
The movie is based on the mid- 90s bout of whistle-blowing and embezzlement at Archer Daniels Midland Co. Damon stars as Mark Whitacre, an executive at Decatur-based ADM who tattled on the company s vast international price-fixing scheme. The movie itself was filmed in Decatur, Moweaqua and other Central Illinois communities. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Schock's office targeted in alleged bombing plot Sep 25, 2009
Michael C. Finton of Decatur, who was charged with the plot, had his first court day Thursday ... The district includes parts of Springfield, northern Decatur and Macon County, and parts of Tazewell and Woodford counties. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
MLB opens China training center to find new talent Sep 25, 2009
"What did we learn last night?" asks Jeff Brueggemann, a Decatur, Illinois native who once played AAA ball and has moved to Wuxi to teach at the MLB center. "Don't be late!" yell the boys, falling over each other in laughter. (Muscatine Journal, IO)
Decatur man nabbed in alleged plot to blow up federal courthouse in Springfield Sep 25, 2009
SPRINGFIELD A 29-year-old Decatur man is in custody in connection with a plot to blow up the federal courthouse in downtown Springfield ... In court Thursday, Finton told U.S. Magistrate Judge Byron Cudmore that he worked at a fish and chicken restaurant in Decatur on a part-time basis ... Records indicate that, in addition to Decatur, Finton had lived in Olney in southeastern Illinois and Mount Vernon, about 70 miles southeast of St. Louis. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Man charged with plot to bomb Ill. courthouse Sep 25, 2009
Finton appeared in federal court in Springfield on Thursday and said he was an unmarried, part-time cook at a fish and chicken restaurant in the central Illinois city of Decatur ... Records indicate that, in addition to Decatur, Finton had lived in Olney in southeastern Illinois and Mount Vernon, about 70 miles southeast of St. Louis. (WSVN-TV Miami, FL)
Feds: Man tried to blow up Illinois building Sep 25, 2009
Justice Department officials said Finton, 29, of Decatur, , drove a vehicle he believed contained a ton of explosives to the Paul Findley Federal Building and Courthouse in Springfield. He got out of the truck, got into a waiting car with an undercover agent, and then, when he was a few blocks away, attempted to detonate the bomb with a remote-control device. (CNN -- US)
Jobless rate inches up in seven area counties Sep 25, 2009
6 percent, Decatur 12. 4 percent, Danville 12. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Loading… Sep 25, 2009
Discussion : Decatur man charged with plot to bomb Springfield courthouse ... Decatur man charged with plot to bomb Springfield courthouse. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Report: Man accused of trying to blow up fed building moved to attend mosque Sep 25, 2009
DECATUR - The man accused of trying to blow up a federal building in Springfield reportedly moved to Decatur to attend the city's mosque, but an imam there said he showed no hint of what he's accused of doing. According to Macon County records, Michael C. Finton, 29, lived about a block away from Masjid Wali Hasan Islamic Center, at 1807 N. Edward St. One federal agent's testimony said Finton told operatives he had moved to Decatur to attend the mosque ... Tenants in an apartment building at... (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Related: Volunteers arrive to help with police search in Beason killings Sep 24, 2009
Rick Hedges and Harold Scmidtt were among the Decatur Salvation Army helpers. "We want to support the volunteers with food and well-being. They've given up days and days of their time," said Schmidtt, who has worked with the group for more than four decades. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Prison guards wait for decision after hearing Sep 24, 2009
Lambert s decision could affect an initial wave of about 500 workers set for layoffs on Sept. 30, including 57 at the Decatur women s prison, 121 at the two prisons in Logan County, 70 at the East Moline Correctional Center and 50 workers at the minimum-security facility in Vienna. AFSCME also contends understaffing at prisons could lead to safety issues that need to be addressed before the layoffs eventually affecting up to 2,600 workers go into effect. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Related: 'A Page From Our Past' archives Sep 22, 2009
Sunday is the 100th anniversary of a record-breaking, 26-inning baseball game between the minor league Bloomington Bloomers and Decatur Commodores. May 30, 2009 | 12:00 am. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Autopsy: Lincoln crash victim died of blunt-force trauma Sep 22, 2009
The truck then bounced into the path of a semitrailer truck driven by a Decatur man. The truck driver was not injured in the crash, which occurred about 7:10 p.m. Lumbert was pronounced dead a short time later. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Football to Hold Military Appreciation Day at Saturday's Game Sep 22, 2009
Pre-game festivities include a patriotic performance by the Marching Salukis, a 21-gun Salute and Taps conducted by the Illinois National Guard Honor Guard, the presentation of Colors by the SIU Army and Air Force ROTC Cadets and a Black Hawk helicopter flyover by the Illinois Air National Guard flying out of Decatur, Ill. In addition, SIU student and Iraqi veteran Clinton Warrick, recipient of the Purple Heart and Silver Star, will participate in the coin toss as part of the Wounded Warrior... (Siusalukis.com)
Panel: Health care 'pie' has grown too big Sep 21, 2009
The program is a collaborative effort that s enlisted the organization that operates clinics in Decatur and Champaign to make it easier to qualify for federal reimbursement programs, he explained. The possibility of federal stimulus money could help the effort obtain a clinic site, possibly in the former Blaw-Knox plant location in Mattoon that houses Life Links mental health, he said. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Group sees dangerous heat waves in Ill. by 2050 due to climate change Sep 20, 2009
A related UCS study predicted people in Indianapolis, which is located more in line with Bloomington and Decatur, could sweat through more than 80 days of 90-degree temperatures and another 28 days at 100 degrees or more. "That's virtually the entire summer," Burke said. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Woman dies in Logan Co. crash Sep 20, 2009
The truck then bounced into the path of a semitrailer truck driven by Stanley Dickerson, 51, of Decatur. Logan County Coroner Robert Thomas confirmed that there was a fatality Friday night, but could provide no information about the cause of death. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Motorcyclists to follow Lincoln's ride through Shelby, Moultrie counties Sep 19, 2009
He noted that he could see some of the depression in the ground that marked the route from Lovington up to Franklin Street in Decatur, which is now a wooded area between Franklin Street and Mount Zion ... This final leg Sunday will have riders meeting at the Shelby County Courthouse in Shelbyville and head to Sullivan, stopping at the historic Moultrie /Macon County line marker and then into Decatur ... The group will leave Decatur and stop at other county line markers on the way to Mount Auburn... (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Review: 'Informant!' misses the mark Sep 19, 2009
The whistle-blower worthy of an exclamation point in this groovy-looking, chuckle-baiting, fact-based movie from protean director Steven Soderbergh is Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon), a biochemist and well-placed executive at the agri-processing giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) in Decatur, Illinois ... The fashion trends of Decatur. (CNN -- Showbiz)
ADM's price fixing movie opens in firm's hometown Sep 19, 2009
In this May 9, 2008, photo actor Matt Damon walks back to his trailer after leaving makeup during filming of the movie "The Informant!" in Decatur, Ill. The time Damon and others spent in Decatur, and the assurances they made that ADM and Decatur wouldn't become caricatures, softened up some folks here to the idea of a movie about one of the darker hours in local history _ and a comedy about it, to boot ... (AP Photo/Decatur Herald & Review, Kelly J. Huff). (The Pantagraph newspaper)
You get big kick out of watching the Green Wave punt sometimes Sep 15, 2009
Yes, Johnson realizes that Decatur MacArthur, Danville and Normal have all had talented running backs not exactly easy to tackle. The Wave coach is also letting his players know that in his playing days as an Indiana State linebacker, he had to make allowances and play the angles against faster athletes on his way to getting a chance in the New York Jets preseason camp. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Shackles pleads not guilty to charges related to his daughter's death Sep 15, 2009
On Monday, defense attorney Karen Root of Decatur entered the not-guilty plea on Shackles behalf after saying he waived his right to a preliminary hearing on the charges. That meant Circuit Judge Teresa Righter could order the case to proceed without hearing prosecution evidence and deciding if it was likely that Shackles committed a crime. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Young Romantics Sep 14, 2009
He turns into a foolish risk-taker, a kind of electrified dork who narrates into a tape recorder a stunningly undramatic entrance into the corporate headquarters, in Decatur, Illinois. He even fiddles with the balky machine while company executives sit all around him. (New Yorker)
Friday's Statewide Football Scores Sep 12, 2009
Decatur 18, Puyallup 13. Deer Park 45, Freeman 26. (Longview Daily News, WA)
