The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 5

A5 Friday, September 20, 1996 News of our communities, our region and state The Pantagraph OCAL St. Mary's reborn to face changed world Judge rules on Morgan verdicts t4h 4MEs i mA ihw fit i "4 i i ll I riT.i I I 1 By JIM STAHLY JR. Pantagraph staff A century-old church building on West Jackson Street in Bloom-ington is reborn. St Mary's Catholic Church has been a part of the west-side Bloomington neighborhood for about 105 years, said church member Paul Segobiano of Bloomington. But over the past several months, parishoners and neighbors have seen the slate roof on the church replaced and more dramatic changes going on inside.

There wasn't anything wrong with the church, said Segobiano, who dealt with contractors during the internal renovation that started June 3. But changes in church practices as well as fashion tastes in the 30 years since the last renovations made changing things desirable. And now the work is complete. The first service in the remodeled sanctuary was Sept. 7 and St Mary's has scheduled a rededica-tion for 10:30 a.m.

Sunday to formally introduce the church's new features. "Like everything else, things change," said Segobiano, noting for example, the Catholic Church's effort to get priests physically closer to worshippers. To meet that goal, the main altar at St. Mary's has been replaced with a smaller one and the i. choir now sits in front instead of in the balcony.

1 That's only the beginning. There's also a new sound system, new lighting and new stained-glass windows. The sanctuary has been repainted, recarpeted and refurnished. The chapel also was completely redesigned. "(It's) absolutely wonderful," said Segobiano.

"The church is just so much brighter. I mean it's really uplifting when you come in there." Segobiano said the changes have by and large been well received among parishioners as well. And while there are those who like old traditions, such as the communion rail, "the great i majority" of the comments have been positive, he said. Another proud point has been keeping the $250,000 project within its budget The money was raised through three years of daily raffles by the church, generous contributions from parishioners and the traditional way the Sunday collection plate, said Segobiano. "The generosity of the parishioners with regards to making memorials and purchasing certain items kept us within budget," he said.

i Hit I By JIM STAHLY JR. Pantagraph staff The jury in the Jon Morgan murder trial can consider second-degree murder in some of the murder' charges facing the 16-year-old who is i accused of shooting his grandpar-i ents. In an all-day conference with at-J torneys Thursday in McLean County Circuit Court, Judge Gerald Dehner ruled that in two of the first-degree murder charges in connection withi both victims, the jury can rule guilty of first-degree murder, guilty of sec-' ond-degree murder or not guilty. I In the four other first-degree mur-i der counts, which indicate murder in connection with aggravated battery' and aggravated discharge of ai firearm, the verdicts can only be guilty or not guilty. If Morgan who was 14 at the time he shot Keith and Lila Cearlock oft Lincoln April 27, 1995 is convicted of first-degree murder, he faces auto-j matic life in prison.

I If the jury hands down second-de-j gree verdicts for both slayings, whichi would indicate Morgan unreason-) ably believed his life was in jeopardy i when he shot his grandparents, Lo-. gan County State's Attorney Timj Huyett believes Morgan will be sub-i ject to incarceration only until age 21 1 and at the discretion of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Closing arguments in the case arei set to begin at 9 a.m. today and thei jury is expected to begin deliberat-j ing after lunch. Jurors, who were not' present Thursday, were instructed! Wednesday to bring toiletries and aj change of clothes, indicating they could be sequestered if they do noti reach a verdict today.

Morgan has admitted to shooting Keith Cearlock, 61, and his wife, Lila1 Cearlock, 59. But Morgan's attorneysi contend the youth was physically and; mentally abused throughout the1 nearly 10 years he lived with hisi grandparents and acted in self-de-j fense the night of the shootings. Prosecutors point out that MorganJ indicated to police that he was angry with his grandparents that night anc denied he was beaten before the1 shootings. State office merger eyed! SPRINGFIELD (AP) The IlliJ nois comptroller pays the state's bills; the treasurer's office invest the state's money. One RepublicaiJ lawmaker says the time has come ta merge the two offices.

Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-HinsdaleJ said Thursday he is preparing legis lation that would ask voters whethet to combine those offices, a step says could save about $10 million an nually. i "The times have changed. TechJ nology has changed. It makes sensej and it would eliminate jobs'" Dillard said Thursday.

Gov. Jim Edgar said he's willing consider a merger. But the Illinois Constitution would have to be amended, and Dillard sai4 he is planning to present legislation early next year calling for such aii amendment 2 ington. On Sept 27, the Twin City Amateur Astronomers will host a second public observing session at Ewing II off of Ethell Parkway. This time the focus will be on the Andromeda galaxy, Jupiter, Saturn and the past-full moon.

The sessions begins at 9 p.m. with a slide show and sky lecture. Telescope viewing will last until 10 p.m. To keep up on celestial events, call Skyline at 438-5007. Marion man given 20 years for fight with officer agreement, he faced 15 to 30 years in prison.

Crain apologized profusely in a letter to the officer written from the McLean County Jail May 1. The motivation for his outburst makes no sense to police, but the lesson remains clear. "It's a learning tool for all of us that we must always be alert for potential danger," Bloomington Assistant Police Chief Richard Ryan said. "You cannot let your guard down at any tried to shoot Crain as he choked her inside a room at the Coachman, 408 E. Washington St She pressed the gun to his torso and Buspect attacked policewoman at niotel, took gun By STEVE ARNEY Pantagraph staff wlterry W.

Crain was looking at a 3aere forgery charge or, perhaps, unauthorized used of a credit card. Crain had been caught trying to make credit card purchases at Eastland Mall in Bloomington April 5. He and girlfriend, under Bloomington ipolice escort, returned to their room let the Coachman Motel. They were to The PantagraphDANA L. HOBACK Above, the Rev.

Rick Schneider stood in front of a new stained-glass window, which illuminates the tabernacle in the chapel at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bloomington. The church, newly renovated, will have a dedication ceremony this Sunday. Left, the main sanctuary features new carpet, painted walls, new light sconces on the walls and several other brand-new features that help to brighten and give the church a bigger, lighter feel. act out of hate or anger or for any other reason besides fear.

"Mrs. Keil," the letter continued, "I was afraid to go to jail more than anything in the world. I did not mean to harm you physically or mentally." Police are not so sure. Ryan believes Keil saved her own life by running from the room and calling for backup officers. He said Keil would have been justified to use deadly force.

As for the credit card purchases, Crain pleaded guilty to one count of forgery for an unauthorized $89.90 Visa purchase from Kmart. free of trees, buildings and hills. When the moon rises at 6:36 p.m., it will appear much larger than usual. But Wenning says that's just an optical illusion. When the moon is close to the horizon, the earthly backdrop of buildings and trees make it appear larger than when we see it high in the sky against the dark, vast background of space.

A public observing session will be held to watch the eclipse at Ewing Park III off Jersey Avenue in Bloom pulled the trigger but nothing hap pened. Semiautomatic weapons sometimes do not fire when pressed against an object. Then Crain wrested the gun from Keil and struck her in the head with it as she ran from the motel room. Crain fled, too, but surrendered to officers a couple blocks north of the motel.Keil received emergency room treatment for head wounds. Later, from his jail cell, Crain begged forgiveness from the officer.

"What happened was a huge mistake on my part," he wrote. "But first and foremost, I want you to know I did not shadow as the lower right quadrant The moon's disk may appear a discernible reddish brown to dull black in the lower right quadrant, and a brighter orange-gray in the upper-left quadrant. The difference in coloration is caused by the atmosphere refracting various hues of sunlight into different parts of the Earth's dark shadow. To observe the lunar eclipse, sky-watchers should go to a site that has an unobstructed eastern horizon tlx collect items made from an earlier Visa purchase at Kmart. But Crain, an 18-year-old Marion resident, unexpectedly turned violent, punching and choking Bloomington police Officer Amy Keil and taking her gun.

In prison for a decade The result of his action, sealed in a plea agreement and sentencing Thursday, puts Crain in prison for a decade. He pleaded guilty and accepted a 20-year sentence for armed violence but can cut that sentence in half with "good time" if he abides by prison regulations. Without the said that, weather permitting, most people will have a chance to view this eclipse because it takes place in the early evening hours. The last eclipse, April 3, occurred in the early morning, when most people were sleeping. And the weather was lousy then, he adds.

"But we still got a big turnout" said Wenning, noting that more than 100 people showed up at local viewing sites. On Thursday, the moon will begin Tt AP The shadow of the Earth will pass across the moon, causing a total Moon to play hide lunar eclipse early Thursday evening. Weather permitting, Central Illinois viewers should see a sight similar to the series of images above. and seek in Earth's shadow Thursday moving into the dark shadow of the Earth at 8:12 p.m. Seventy minutes of totality will begin at 9:19 p.m.

When totality ends at 10:29 p.m., the partial phase resumes and continues until 11:36 p.m. At mid-eclipse, at 9:54 p.m., there will be a large variation in shadow color and brightness. The upper left quadrant of the moon's disk should appear brighter because this "portion of the moon will not be immersed as deeply in the earth's By RANDY GLEASON Pantagraph staff Although we've had lots of clear skies in recent weeks, you can bet there will be clouds Thursday night After all, that's when a total eclipse of the harvest moon will take place. And inclement weather often seems to cloud nature's fascinating celestial events. But Carl Wenning, planetarium director for Illinois State University, is keeping his fingers crossed.

He 1.