The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 4

The Pantagraph jg Wednesday, December 11,1 996 Volunteers still key to First Night success a1 4 -nM 4 1 1 Streator school raises levy By GREG STANMAR Pantagraph correspondent STREATOR A jump of nearly 12 percent in the levy was approved by the grade school board Tuesday night The $2.93 million levy will probably not raise taxes to the individual, Superintendent Richard Peters said. "It's a strange system, but it's the system Illinois uses," said Peters. The district must inflate the levy to make sure any increase- in the district's assessed valuation is covered. The increases will not be known until spring, though the levy must be passed in December. Most funds remained the same in the levy since they are already taxed at the maximum.

The levy also does not cover some of the needs of the district, he said. As an example Peters pointed to the special education fund, which saw a levy of $25,000, though actual uncompensated cost from state-mandated programs is $750,000. The increased levy was approved unanimously after a public hearing in which only one citizen spoke. He asked about the money allocated for the pension fund for teachers. In a related matter, Assistant Superintendent James Gohs told the board that the district has a $153,000 balance on hand, not counting investments.

He said slow state payments and a payment for a bond issue caused the expected low balance. Northlawn Principal Charles Irwin told the board about a project at his school to reclaim some campus land as a prairie grass preserve. He said the area has been filled in over the years with cement and asphalt refuse. A private organization has volunteered the material and labor to plant the area in prairie grass, with the district preparing the soil. Irwin also said the $9,000 fund-raising goal for band uniforms has been topped by $2,000 and showed the board a sample of what will be purchased.

rir More than 6,000 people expected to attend celebration on Dec. 31 By PETE FALCONE Regional news editor It will take more than 400 volunteers to run this year's First Night alcohol-free New Year's celebration, the third for the Twin Cities, and while many have signed on, more are needed. While 400 helpers may seem like a lot, there is plenty of work to be done at the family oriented event that promises to attract more than 6,000 people to various venues throughout the Illinois State University campus and Normal. The focus of the event that is becoming increasingly popular throughout the country is that fun can be had on New Year's Eve without imbibing. That focus is the reason many people support the project and many volunteer to assure its success.

Take Dee Voile, a 65-year-old who two years ago "just showed up and started to work. Someone asked me to help and I got involved because it's something that needs to be done, to have a place to go and something to do," on New Year's Eve. Voile, who worked around hospitals for many years, saw a lot of people throughout her career who were devastated by alcohol-induced car accidents. "It's just awfuL young people in particular." she said of crash victims in macabre scenes that start out intended for celebration but end in tragedy. Karen Zangerle, coordinator of the volunteer initiative, said having 400 volunteers means people can work two-hour shifts and have the rest of the time to view the variety of live theater, children's performers, dancing, games, storytellers, bingo and vocal and instrumental musical acts.

"We have over 300 volunteers and we could use a lot more so we can utilize two-hour shifts." Zangerle said. Tbere's just all kinds of places where you can spend your two hours said Steve Lopitz, 44, of Bloomington who also has volunteered for two years and is anxious to do it a third time. He also is looking forward to having more volunteers so he can have time to enjoy the night He, like Voile and many others, usually works the entire night because there aren't enough volunteers. "You feel kind of obligated. Everyone is enjoying themselves and you want to help them.

If we had enough people for everyone," including volunteers, "to enjoy the activities, that would be great I could watch the ice carving. That is definitely a blessing. I have never seen anyone carve ice with a chain saw." It takes all of the 400 volunteers to work on First Night as well to plan, raise money and book groups, and a special group of pre-event volunteers including Gladys Carmack, who like most also volunteer on the actual night Carmack, who serves on the donations committee, said it costs a lot to put on the event "It costs $3,000 alone just for traveling expenses for the Russian puppeteers," she said. While ticket sales cover about 25 percent of costs, many businesses and individuals contribute more than $2,000 each to help with the expenses. This year, the goal was met when the Bloomington-Normal firefighters turned in Panlagraph Die pholcVLORI ANN COOK Bob and Linda Fisher of Normal planned their evening of events as the crowd filed into the Bone Student Center at last year's First Night.

This year's third annual, non-alcoholic New Year's Eve party is expected to draw more than 6,000 people to an array of specially planned events. 'Someone asked me to help and I got involved because it's something that needs to be done, to have a place to go and something to do' on New Year's Eve. Dee Voile 'I saw people I haven't seen in years, all doing something constructive to help the community and give children a sense of Gladys Carmack 7 Pontiac group desperately needs help PONTIAC Organizers of Pon-tiac's First Night event also are in need of volunteers to staff entrances at various entertainment sites, sell admission buttons and serve as masters of ceremonies. "We're in desperate need of volunteers," said Karen Grimm of Pontiac's Mainstreet organization, which sponsors the annual downtown event Volunteers wishing to serve as masters of ceremonies would need to be available from 6 p.m. to midnight Dec.

31, but others can simply work an hour at a site entrance in exchange for a free pass to the evening's activities. Those interested in volunteering should call Grimm at (815) 844-6692. Springfield Guard unit not going to Bosnia SPRINGFIELD (AP) Illinois National Guard 232nd Corps Support Battalion will not be heading to Bosnia as originally planned. Major General Richard G. Austin announced Tuesday the Department of the Army had rescinded the activation order of Nov.

22. Guard spokeswoman Capt Rona Pierce says the Army told the battalion it was no longer needed. The 58 members of the Springfield battalion were to assist other units, such as serving food to mending clothes to delivering more of a traditional New Year's Eve party. "We usually got together with friends. When you're younger, you farmed out the kids.

Now, this event lets the whole family celebrate together. I wish there had been a First Night years ago," said Carmack. And Lopitz said as a Christian nondrinker "I didn't want to be around drinking people and I believed in the theory of this program that is catching on across the country. My license is too important to me." "One thing is for sure. You get more out of it than what you put into it," said Voile.

their donation. The goal always includes enough money to cover expenses plus seed money for next year garnered through pin (admission) sales. The total budget is around $100,000 which is kept low with the use of so many volunteers. That's why all three veteran volunteers urge others to help. "I saw people I haven't seen in years, all doing something constructive to help the community and give children a sense of value," said Carmack.

She and Lopitz are among many who either didn't want to go out among the New Year's Eve revelers said they or their friends used to have Computer password thief jams university computers project coordinator for the universi URBANA (AP) University offi 66 sponses or none at all. By late morning, officials decided to phase in ty's Computing and Communications Services Office. The thief also stole a file containing encrypted passwords for all students, she said. That file likely will not do the thief much good unless students have poorly disguised passwords. cials trying to combat a thief who stole computer passwords created a new problem by asking students to change their passwords.

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Darrel Tinges, the president of the Boys Girls Club of Fair-bury and Chatsworth; and Director Gary Beckman reported they are looking for a new director. Beckman, director of the Fair-bury facility, has been the acting director of the Chatsworth club since the former director left Beckman and Tinges say they are seeking a college student or college graduate. The Boys Girls Club also is seeking donations and new members, according to Beckman and Tinges. There is an annual $45 fee to join, and the club is open from 3:15 to 6:15 p.m. for first- through sixth-graders.

The two said they hope to add grades 7 through 12 next year. In other business The board: Approved extended New Year's Eve hours at all Chatsworth taverns to 1:30 a.m. Everyone must be out of the taverns by 2:30 a.m. Passed a resolution for designated smoking areas in City Hall after hearing complaints. People will now only be able to smoke in the front foyer and the city clerk's office.

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