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by Steve Robinson

Citizen Satisfaction and Curbside Recycling discussed

Two separate presentations - one on the prospect of curbside recycling and one on a recent study concerning how Normal residents feel about their community - were brought before Normal Town Council members as part of the group’s regular meeting at Normal City Hall on Jan. 17.
Alex Whitworth and Steve Richey were among five students from a Masters of Business Administration program class at Illinois State University called “Introduction To Research Methods. These class members conducted a survey to see how satisfied residents were with life in the community on a number of different levels.
They selected 3,113 local resident addresses at random to send postcards with questions on them. Those addresses were selected from over 15,000 unique addresses. The group had hoped ten percent of those who got surveys would respond, the men explained. However, they received 158 responses, or roughly five percent of those who received surveys replied.
On a five point scale, with five ranking as an answer of very satisfied, the Normal residents who replied gave the Town high marks in the areas of Recreation, Health Care, Safety, Entertainment, and Education.
In terms of personal aspects of their lives, survey respondents had high marks in the areas of Family, Self, Romantic, and Community Satisfaction. Lowest scoring items included reasonableness of local tax rates, year-round climate, and prices of utilities.
After hearing the results of the survey, Council member Chuck Scott remarked, “We’ve all known Normal is a nice place to live. It’s just nice to have it validated.” He went on to ask the MBA students about any negatives that were brought forward in the survey. The men informed him that tax rates came up in results when asked about negatives, but City Manager Mark Peterson explained that, compared to other communities around the state, Normal’s tax rates looked to be lower than they are in other communities.
Curbside Recycling Option Discussed: It is interesting to note that one of the things that received low marks in the students’ survey - the community’s recycling services - was one of the items that received low marks from survey respondents. The next presentation Council members heard from discussed the prospect of wanting to start a curbside recycling program.
Robin Weaver, Normal’s director of public works, and Andrew Huhn, director of finance for the Town, along with Peterson, introduced the notion of starting a curbside recycling program in the community. The community has had recycling for nearly two decades, Peterson said, adding the Town has studied curbside recycling “on and off” in recent years.
Peterson said the Town could go to a weekly curbside recycling program and Town staff has discussed starting out by charging $2 monthly for the service. He said curbside recycling would require one additional employee and one additional truck to get the job done. He said the current drop box program for recycling would remain in place for people in Town, as well.
Peterson said a participation rate of 50 percent would be anticipated if a curbside recycling program were started. He pointed out the City of Bloomington has a 42 percent participation rate for its program.
He said a 95 gallon container would be needed by those wanting curbside recycling services, and that residents would need to purchase the containers if they wished to participate. He said the containers could be purchased from the Town at a reduced rate.
Peterson said if the Council approves the idea, the Town was looking at a launch date for the curbside recycling program either at the end of March or beginning of April.
Council member Jason Chambers suggested Town staff investigate the implications of having a curbside recycling option where only residents wanting the service would receive it. Peterson said Chambers’ suggestion was “doable, but I don’t know what the participation level” for the program in that form would be.
Council member Adam Nielsen said the Town asking residents to purchase a second 95 gallon cart, after having done so recently when the garbage collection program mandated residents purchase one last fall could present a space problem for some residents. “I feel the pain of those who want to recycle but have no room for the cart,” he said. He asked Peterson if the recycle carts came in a smaller size.
Council member Jeff Fritzen wondered if the Town should not, rather than start a program from scratch, experiment by putting in a smaller pilot program first to see how residents use and like it. “I’m not sure I’m as enthused about jumping in as fast as we want to jump in here,” he explained.
Council member Cheryl Gaines added she has had “an overwhelming number of people who are positive for curbside recycling” contact her.
“We are behind (on the subject of recycling) because we paint ourselves as a Green Community, but we have no curbside collection,” Gaines said.



McLean County HCE February Programs
Pat Pulokas, Barb Jurgens,
Public Relations Co-Chairs
McLean County Home and Community Education is offering many programs to the public in February.
Feb 11, Sat, 2-4 p.m. -Friendship Tea -Extension Office.Program- “The Egg Lady”. This program and tea is open to HCE members and non members, guests are welcome; 309-728-2784.
Feb 13, Mon, 1-4 p.m. Needle Tatting Workshop, Extension Office, 402 N. Hershey Rd, Blm; Cost: $10-$12; register by Feb 8, 309-379-3141.
Feb 20, Mon, 2-3:30 p.m. Read & Share, Extension Office; to discuss The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows & Mary Ann Shafer. LaVonne 309 661 6391
Visitors are welcome to attend when units meet to learn about “Home Energy Savings,” and “The Many Uses for Coffee Filters” at their regular monthly meetings as follows:
Eastsiders Unit: 9 a.m, Feb 3; McLean County Extension Auditorium; Lessons: Millie Owen, Phyllis Wallace; Hostesses: Anna Marie Chrisman, Jeri Richardson, Anita Ogden, Irma Laesch; 309 378 4440
Normal Unit: 10 a.m., Feb 6; Evergreen Assisted Living, Gregory and Adelaide, Normal; bring can of soup and sandwich for lunch; Program: Bea Olson; 309-262-5173
Downs Unit: 9:30 a.m. Feb 7, Downs United Methodist Church; Program: Lois Hines,; Hostesses: Barb Stoops, Rosemary Toohill, Velma Pfeifer,309 962 2121
Dale Unit: 11 a.m., Feb 8; Oriental Buffet by Meijer’s, Normal, 309 829-8975
Dry Grove Unit: 9:30 a.m. Feb 9; Dry Grove Town Hall, Danvers, brunch followed by meeting; Programs: Dorothy Basting, Jane Callahan (January lesson); Hostesses: Judy Mohr, Annette Morman, 309 452 7059
Money Creek Unit: 11:30 a.m. Feb 13; Lexington Community Center; bring Sack Lunch; Program: Shirley Scarbeary; Hostess: Mary Dodson; 309 365 4681
Towanda Unit: 7 p.m. Feb 13; Towanda Community Building; Program: Joyce Theobald; Hostesses: Connie Carstens, Jeanie Wager; 309 663-4796.
Night Owls Unit: 7 p.m. Feb 15; Donna LaMar home; Lessons: Donna LaMar, Alice Martin; Hostess: Susan Rehtmeyer; 309-473-2736
Lexington Unit: 10 a.m., Feb 20; Lexington Church of Christ, Uniting; bring sack lunch to follow meeting; Program: Nelda Parker; Hostesses: Donna Moncelle, Bev Dunahee, Dorothy Myers; 309-365 8055




Illinois State Names Outstanding Teachers, Researchers
Illinois State University will honor 16 faculty members for teaching and research during the Founders Day Convocation at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, in the Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom.
Cynthia Langrall of the Mathematics department and Lisa Szczepura of the Chemistry department are the 2012 Outstanding University Researchers. The Outstanding University Research Award goes to faculty whose research has been acknowledged by their peers in the U.S. and internationally.
George Byrns of the Health Sciences department and Craig McLauchlan of the Chemistry department are the 2011-2012 Outstanding University Teachers. Elisabeth Reed of the Family and Consumer Sciences department is the Category 2 Outstanding University Teacher, a classification for non-tenured faculty. The Outstanding University Teacher Award is given to faculty whose teaching accomplishments are unusually significant and meritorious among their colleagues.
Peter Kaufman of the Marketing department and Lou Reifschneider of the Technology department are the recipients of the Outstanding Team Research Award. The award is presented for regional, national and/or international visible research that contributes to multiple professions and/or disciplines. One member of the team must have three years of academic experience at Illinois State, and the team must consist of at least two different campus units.
Research Initiative Award recipients include Josh Brown, Technology; Hae Jin Gam, Family and Consumer Sciences; Jun-Hyun Kim, Chemistry; Lydia Kyei-Blankson, Educational Administration and Foundations; Somnath Lahiri, Management and Quantitative Methods; Maria Moore, Communications; and Carl Schimmel, Music. The Research Initiative Award is given to faculty members who have initiated a promising research agenda early in their academic careers.
Teaching Initiative Award recipients include Cynthia Edmonds-Cady, Social Work, and Lydia Kyei-Blankson, Educational Administration and Foundations. The Teaching Initiative Award is given to faculty members who have shown considerable promise in teaching early in their careers.



In The January 26 Printed Normalite:
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Bill Linneman
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Helen J. Leake's Gardeners Tips
Houseplants can brighten your blahs

The Spectator by Jim Bennett
Some Fond Memories of MLK

Capitol Facts by Rich Miller
Campaign spending reform

Normal Town Council Report
 by Steve Robinson
Citzen Satisfaction and Curbside Recycling discussed

Unit 5 School Board Report
 by Steve Robinson
No Meeting this Week

McLean County Board Report

No Meeting this Week

Capitol Commentary from Senator Bill Brady
Kudos

News from State Rep. Dan Brady

Shane Cultra's Capitol Clips
$2 billion backlog in Mdicaid bills shows need for reform

Publisher Ed Pyne - Pyne Needles
Bodee Schlipf wouldn't let teammates down

Chimperscage - by Alan Look
What you can't do with a plastic food storage container

 

 

Mystery Photo, Legal Notices, Obituaries, Service Directory, School and Senior Information, and Classified advertisements

Pick up a copy for these stories and more.


Unit 5 School Board Report

by Steve Robinson

No Meeting this Week


McLean County Board Report
Matt Sorensen, Chairman
Recording Sec: Judith A. LaCasse

No Meeting this Week


Absentee Voting and Close of Registration for the March 20 General Primary Election
Absentee Voting
The McLean County Clerk’s Office and the Bloomington Board of Election Commissioners will begin In-Person Absentee Voting for the March 20, 2012 General Primary Election on Thursday, February 9, 2012.  The hours for conducting absentee voting are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.  Absentee voting will close on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 4:30p.m. 
Voters who cannot appear in person may obtain an Application for Absentee Ballot by calling the office or by downloading a form at either the McLean County Clerk’s website www.mcleancountyil.gov/countyclerk or the Bloomington Election Commission website www.becvote.org.  All mail-in absentee applications must be received by Thursday, March 15, 2012 in order for a ballot to be sent by mail.  
Close of Registration
Voter registration for the General Primary Election on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 will close at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.  All persons who are or will be 18 years old on or before the General Primary Election on March 20, 2012, are not currently registered, or those who must change their name and/or address; may register in person at the McLean County Clerk’s Office or the Bloomington Election Commission.
Hours for both offices are from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and on the following Saturdays: January 28, 2012; February 4, 2012; February 11, 2012; and February 18, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Please bring two forms of identification with you; one with your name and current address and one with your name.
Voters may appear in person for absentee voting and/or voter registration at the Government Center, 115 E. Washington St, Bloomington.  City of Bloomington voters should go to Room 403.  All other McLean County voters should go to Room 102. 
For more information, contact the McLean County Clerk’s Office at 309-888-5588, or the Bloomington Election Commission Office at 309-888-5136.




Construction Underway at New Uptown Normal Commerce Bank
Construction is underway at the Uptown Normal Commerce Bank branch at 210 Broadway. Located near the Illinois State University campus, the 2,630 square foot facility will be a full service banking center with four drive-up lanes, a 24-hr ATM, and safe deposit boxes.  Designed by the Farnsworth Group based in Normal, IL, the bank will include many energy-efficient elements in its design. Construction is expected to last approximately nine months.
The current Uptown Normal branch will continue to operate at its present location until construction is finished. Upon completion, all branch staff will move to the new building. 
“We are extremely pleased to be building our newest banking center in Uptown Normal, “said Bob Lakin, president of Commerce Bank, Bloomington Market.  “Uptown Normal is a great place to live, work, and shop. This new branch allows us to provide even better service and convenience to our customers.



Kim Astroth Named Nurse Educator Fellow
Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing Assistant Professor Kim Astroth has been selected as a 2012 Illinois Board of Higher Education Nurse Educator Fellow. The program, which includes a $10,000 grant toward continuing research, is awarded to those who have made have made significant contributions to their nursing education programs.
Astroth, who joined the Mennonite faculty in 1999, is one of only 18 nurse educators in the state to receive the prestigious fellowship. She will use the funds to further her research on the study of physical function and disease self-management in individuals with chronic kidney disease. “As the number of individuals with diabetes and/or hypertension continues to increase, so will the risk for development of chronic kidney disease,” said Astroth.
During her tenure with Illinois State, Astroth has taught primarily medical surgical nursing clinicals, with an emphasis on critical care. She assisted with Mennonite’s development of the Ph.D. in nursing and a new master’s degree sequence, the Clinical Nurse Leader program.
Astroth earned her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. She received research grant awards for her dissertation from Sigma Theta Tau International Nu Chi and Xi Pi chapters.


Dr. Michelle Vought in concert Feb. 5 at St. John’s Lutheran Church
On Sunday, February 5 at 3:00 p.m. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1617 E. Emerson Street, will continue its Music Series with a concert featuring  Dr. Michelle Vought, currently Professor of Voice at Illinois State University.
 Dr. Vought has earned an excellent international reputation as a performer in the concert hall and on the operatic stage.  Dr. Vought has traveled as a recording artist/recitalist at the international level, performing abroad in Slovakia, Austria, Ireland, Italy and Canada.
A specialist in contemporary music, she made recordings for Vienna Modern Masters, an international recording company that exclusively features contemporary music.
Especially recognized for her versatile programming and charismatic performances, Dr. Vought recently presented her unique and delightful one-woman show, Madame Monsieur, in many locations.
Dr. Vought graduated from Gettysburg College (BS) and Converse College (MM) and received her doctorate from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.
The 2011-2012 Music Series concludes with the Illinois Chamber Music Festival Players in concert on April 22.
All concerts are held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1617 E. Emerson Street, Bloomington, are free and open to the public.  They are followed by a reception that allows time to meet and speak with the guest artist.



k.d. lang to perform at BCPA May 17
Accaimed singer k.d. lang and her band The Siss Boom Bang have been added to the lineup at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts for a Thursday, May 17 at 7:30pm performance.
k.d. lang is that rare performer who has explored multiple genres; successfully navigating the realms of country, rock and pop music throughout her nearly 30 year career. The torch singer is returning to her roots with the addition of her new band, The Siss Boom Bang.
The group’s album, Sing It Loud, is lang’s first record made entirely with a band of her own since the pair of albums with the Reclines that launched her career all those years ago.
Over her accomplished career lang has collected multiple Grammy awards, released platinum-selling albums and reeled in much critical acclaim.  In 2002, lang recorded the Wonderful World duets album with the legendary Tony Bennett. The veteran crooner in fact, may be her biggest fan, declaring of lang, “She’s the best singer of her generation.”
Tickets for k.d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang go on sale at 10am on Monday, January 23.
Tickets are available online at www.artsblooming.org or by calling the BCPA Box Office at (309) 434-2777; toll-free at (866) 686-9541. Tickets may also be purchased at the BCPA Box Office, located inside the BCPA at 600 N. East St. in Bloomington, as well as at the event. Box Office hours are 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday and two hours prior to shows.



Alan Look Photography - Bloomington - Normal's Best Look in Sports Action Photography
Images from recent games are available for viewing and purchase

Normal Community Ironmen, Normal Community West Wildcats, Ridgeview Mustangs, University High School Pioneers, Central Catholic Saints, Lexington Minutemen, ElPaso Gridley Titans, Illinois State University Redbird, Illinois Wesleyan Titan, State Farm Holiday Classic, McLean County Tournament, HOI Conference, Heart of Illinois


 

Historic North Street


Unit 5 Lunch Menus

Elementary Schools

Elementary Schools
Mon. Feb. 5 - BBQ Rib* Sandwich, potato shells, pineapple, Cheez-it Crackers
Tues. Feb. 6 - Shells & Cheese, Mini corn dogs, green beans, pears
Wed. Feb. 7 - Turkey & Cheese Sandwich, baby carrots banana, Munchie Mix - late start
Thurs. Feb. 8 - Teriyaki Beef Dippers, whipped potatoes & gravy, orange wedges, breadstick
Fri. Feb. 9 - Mini Maple Pancakes, Egg Patty, Strawberry Yogurt, Tri-Taters, Baked Apples
Jr. High Schools
Mon. Feb. 5 - BBQ Rib* Sandwich OR Cheeseburger on bun, Potato Shells, rosy applesauce, Elf Graham Crackers
Tues. Feb. 6 - Chicken Patty on bun, broccoli w/cheese sauce, pears, Soft Pretzel Rod
Wed. Feb. 7 - Beef Fiestada - 96/cs, corn, cherries w/topping, chips & salsa
Thurs. Feb. 8 - Chicken Nuggets, whipped potatoes & gravy, orange wedges, whole grain bread w/margarine
Fri. Feb. 9 -  Garlic Cheese Bread w/pizza sauce, tossed salad, peaches, Animal Crackers
High Schools
Mon. Feb. 5 - BBQ Rib* Sandwich, potato shells, pineapple, Cheez-it Crackers
Tues. Feb. 6 - Shells & Cheese, Mini Corn Dogs, green beans, pears
Wed. Feb. 7 - Flatbread Cheese Pizza, baby carrots, Mandarin Oranges & Bananas, Curly Noodles
Thurs. Feb. 8 - Teryaki Bee Dippers, whipped potatoes & gravy, orange wedges, breadstick
Fri. Feb. 9 - Spicy chicken over rice, Egg Roll*, Fortune Cookie, California Blend Vegetables, Pineapple.

Menu subject to change.

White or chocolate milk is offered with all meals

*Food may contain pork.


coming next to the Historic

Normal Theater

Gen. admission $6; children & students w/ID $5. Refreshments $1.

Prize drawing every night.

Great cartoons before classic movies. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Hotline: 454-9722.
 



Sat & Sun • Jan. 28 & 29 • 7 pm
SENNA
(2011) A documentary on Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna, who won the F1 world championship three times before his death at age 34. 106 min/PG-13

Tue & Wed • Jan 31 & Feb 1 • 7 pm
THE OTHER F WORD
(2011) Cool documentary on rock & roll fatherhood, stars rockers Tony Adolescent, Rob Chaos, Chris De Wolfe, Flea and more as they talk about punk rock fatherhood. R/98 min.

Thur - Sun • Feb. 2-5 • 7 pm
TERRI
(2011) This is an overlooked gem of a film about a teenage boy whose outsider attitude forces the principal of his school to intervene - but who is teaching whom in this genuinely surprising comedy? Rated R/105 min/A Beyond Normal Films Choice





  2012 McLean County Tournament Photo Galleries




Illinois Deer Harvest Totals 181,411 During 2011-12 Seasons
Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 181,411 deer during all 2011-12 seasons.  Illinois deer seasons closed last weekend as hunters concluded the Archery Deer Season and the last segments of the Late-Winter and Special Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) deer hunting seasons on Jan. 15.
The total preliminary deer harvest for all seasons of 181,411 compares with a total harvest for all seasons of 182,270 in 2010-11.  During this year’s deer seasons, hunters took 49.2 percent does and 50.8 percent males.  Illinois’ record deer harvest occurred in the 2005-06 season, when 201,209 deer were taken.  For a historical perspective (in ten-year increments), the 2001-02 total Illinois deer harvest was 152,768; 1991-92 was 101,418; and, 1981-82 was 22,570.
“Hunters experienced harvests this year that were almost identical to last year,” said IDNR Forest Wildlife Program Manager Paul Shelton.  “Slight declines in the archery and firearm seasons were virtually offset by increases in the Youth, Muzzleloader, and Late Winter/Special CWD seasons.  Deer populations in many parts of the state have been brought down to levels that are more in keeping with population goals, and in the coming months biologists will be studying available data to determine changes to implement for the 2012-13 seasons.”
During the just-concluded 2011-12 Archery Deer Season, hunters in Illinois took a preliminary total of 61,852 deer (Oct. 1, 2011-Jan. 15, 2012), compared with the archery deer harvest of 63,570 in the 2010-11 season.
The combined preliminary harvest total for both the Late-Winter Antlerless-Only and the Special CWD deer seasons was 14,931, compared with a harvest of 14,884 deer taken during those seasons last year.  The seven-day split seasons for the Late-Winter and CWD hunts were Dec. 29, 2011-Jan.1, 2012 and Jan. 13-15, 2012.  Hunters in Boone, DeKalb, Grundy, Jo Daviess, La Salle, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties and Kane County west of Ill. Rt. 47 participated in the CWD season, while another 66 counties were open for the Late-Winter season.  The Special CWD season is used to assist in controlling the spread of chronic wasting disease in the Illinois deer herd, while the Late-Winter season provides additional harvest opportunities as a deer population management tool.
Hunters took a preliminary total of 97,886 deer during the 2011 Illinois Firearm Deer Season (Nov. 18-20 and Dec. 1-4, 2011), 4,886 deer during the 2011 Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season (Dec. 9-11, 2011), and 1,856 deer during the 2011 Illinois Youth Deer Season (Oct. 8-9, 2011). 
Preliminary county harvest totals for all the 2011-12 Illinois deer seasons are detailed below, followed by a table of comparable figures for the 2010-11 seasons.
For a complete list of deer harvest results by county please visit http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/deersummaryjan2012.pdf





ICMA Sam Carlin NACMAI Fund Raiser Dinner/Concert February 4th
The Illinois Country Music Association (ICMA) is hosting their annual Sam Carlin NACMAI Fund Raiser Dinner/Concert on Saturday, February 4th at the Friends & Family Building, 2712 South Main Street, Bloomington. Meal at 6:00 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets should be reserved by January 30 from the I.C.M.A. by email to Ray Prince at ICMAIllinois@aol.com or phone 309-378-4203. Choose from pork chop or chicken breast dinner with all the trimmings.  Entertainment will be provided by the people who will be competing in NACMAI Music Week 2012, March 12-18 in Pigeon Forge, Tn.  This event will help defray expenses for the I.C.M.A. members participating in the competition.
Admissions: Meal & Show - Adult $15;  Adult couple $25; Children 10 and under $6  - Children under 2 free
Come on out, support your ICMA entertainers, enjoy good food and great music!

 

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