The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 1

50 Cents www.pantagraph.com TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20,2005 LAGRAP JS Parents with young Post office survives busiest kids have a worry day of the year Money movie-going option SPECIA DELIVE1Y wait (it wis WW The PantaqraphLORI ANN COOK YOUR By Ryan Keith ASSOCIATED PRESS SPRINGFIELD Jeff Armstrong and state lawmakers had hoped their work to prevent dog attacks was finished. It could just be getting started. A recent series of high-profile attacks has Armstrong and his fellow activists headed back to the state Capitol this spring to push for stricter laws, less than three years after they helped pass a crackdown on vicious dogs. "I want to see things done right and make sure everybody is protected," said Armstrong, whose son Ryan was seriously injured by a dog that had been involved in two previous attacks. But advocates disagree on the best strategy to help prevent more attacks.

Some want tougher penalties for owners who fail to control Sie cractatown rl on pit 'hrv 151 tf i s- it BLOOMINGTON free Lite How to Help Money is being collect to help Katie Kiper and her family as the teenager battles cancer. I Donations can be made to: Bloomington High School 1202 E. Locust St. Bloomington, IL 61701 Call (309) 828-5201 during school hours. I An account for Kiper has been established at the Illinois State University credit union.

personal donation to the effort and a donation on behalf of that person's company. "This is going to help out so much," said Katie" Kiper's mother, Janice Kiper. "The family wants to thank everyone for everything they have done." SEE STUDENT BACK PAGE A v. -rV j' what-if's. Seal.

A Clinton Fire Department Seals' home medical her elbow at With by his dispatcher's got to work PETS Dog attacks Some facts about dog attacks and their victims compiled by the American Humane Association: I Dog attacks cause 4.5 million injuries annually, 800,000 of which require medical attention. I Children under 15 are the most common victims of dog bites, accounting for approximately 70 percent. Dog bites are a greater health problem for children than measles, mumps, and whooping cough combined. their dogs. Others want to let local governments ban specific breeds.

Another option is to require Rottweiler and pit bull owners to take extra SEE CRACKDOWN BACK PAGE burg is researching amendments that would strengthen current ordinances regulating vicious and dangerous dogs. "The main issue is whether the city should continue its policy of placing restrictions on vicious dogs after the fact or whether it should enact a preventative ordinance which lessens the possibility of a catastrophic attack," Greenburg said. SEE COUNCIL BACK PAGE after approving an agreement to acquire right of way from a property owner. How they voted: Unanimous What's next? Land is needed from one more property owner before the project can proceed. The project is expected to cost $460,000.

Main Street bank In another matter, the council learned it will cost about $100,000 more than originally planned to provide a temporary banking facility for Main Street Bank Trust. The town purchased the bank property at 301 Broadway for the planned Marriott Hotel and Conference Center and agreed to provide the bank a temporary facility if its new bank, planned at 103 Broadway, was not completed in time. SEE NORMAL BACK PAGE Council already looking at options Above: Adrienne Seal held her baby, was born with the help of DeWitt County dispatcher Diane Motayne. Motayne shows Seal the dispatchers' book she used to help Seal and her husband, Nathan, through the birth of their daughter. Top: Claire Seal was born on Dec.

8. Dispatcher aids birth over phone She was coming," said Adrienne ambulance and the Weldon were dispatched to the before Motayne grabbed a reference manual that sits at the dispatch center. 18-month-old Clayton distracted grandmother, the Seals put the call on speaker phone and delivering their baby. SEE BIRTH BACK PAGE The 12-oz. girl arrived three days before her anticipated Dec.

11 due date. Adrienne Seal's mother, Rhonda Sosa-mon, called the county's emergency dispatch center shortly after 3:30 a.m., and Motayne answered the phone. The labor progression took the Seals by surprise: Contractions were inconsistent earlier in the day and labor for the Seals' first child was more than 20 hours. "We thought we had lots of time, but there wasn't time to think about the By Edith Brady-Lunny eblunnymchsi.com WELDON When Claire Seal grows up and asks about the day she was born, her parents will have a unique story to tell. Claire came into the world Dec.

8 with the help of DeWitt County 911 dispatcher Diane Motayne, who guided Nathan and Adrienne Seal through a labor and birth process that lasted only minutes. By M.K. Guetersloh kg uet rs I ohpant agraph.com BLOOMINGTON The City Council isn't waiting on state lawmakers to rewrite state regulations about vicious dogs As early as January, the council could begin considering proposed ordinances which include a ban on American pit bull terriers and related breeds. City attorney Todd Green- NORMAL HELPING plans for busy streets Fimd for student gets $12,000 boost INSIDE ABBY D2 CLASSIFIED C6 COMICS D6 CROSSWORD C6 HOROSCOPE D3 MOVIES D5 OBITUARIES D4 OPINION A6 SCOREBOARD B5 STOCKS C2 SUDOKU C6 City OKs By Mary Ann Ford NORMAL Drivers frustrated by the congestion at Towanda Avenue and Shel-bourne Drive could see some changes next year. Improvements at Towanda and College Avenue also are a step closer.

On Monday night, the City Council approved purchasing one of two parcels needed to add turn lanes and traffic signals at the Towanda and Shel-bourne intersection and two pieces of land needed for Towanda and College improvements. Public Works Director Mike Hall said the Shelbourne project could get started in the spring. If negotiations go well for the remaining two parcels needed for the CollegeTowan-da project, it could be started next fall. The City Council agreed to pay Charles Brown $91,690 for land on the northeast corner of Shelbourne and Towanda. The town already has acquired the right of way on the north: west corner and is negotiating with Jim Shirk for the land At a glance What does this mean to you? Driving could be easier at the intersection of Towanda Avenue and Shelbourne Drive next year.

Background The town is a step closer to adding turn lanes and traffic signals at the intersection needed at the southeast corner of Towanda and Shelbourne and north along Towanda. The town will pay Commerce Bank $20,000 for right of way needed at the College and Towanda intersection and BroMenn Physicians Management Corp. $72,584 for land and a temporary easement for the proposed improvement. Right turn lanes will be added on eastbound College and northbound Towanda. The town received $207,000 in Hazard Elimination Safety money for the project because of the number of accidents occurring at the intersection.

By M.K. Guetersloh mkgueterslohpantaqraph.com BLOOMINGTON Efforts to raise money for an ill Bloomington High School student received a big boost Monday with the donation of $12,000. About $20,000 has been collected so far to help Katie Kiper and her family, said school Principal Cindy Helmers. Kiper has undergone cancer surgery at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

Her family hopes the 15-year-old sophomore will be able to come home today, in time for the holidays. Kiper has been battling cancer for more than a year. Helmers said opening Monday's mail added a bright spot to the fund-raising effort. That is when school officials opened the envelop that contained two $6,000 checks. A person who wants to remain unidentified made a Weather TODAY'S FORECAST Mostly sunny and cold.

High 26 Low 11 For complete weather information, see Today's Weather on the back page. Copyright 2005 The Pantograph LEE ENTERPRISES A LEE NEWSPAPER 4 sections, 32 pages We have the largest selection of Fusions in Downstate Illinois. j- EjErR CHOOSE FROM 16! i a 1-39 RTE 24 EL PASO 1-866-564-3228 M-Th 8-8; Frt Sat 6-4 www.htllrstores.caAi i i.