The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 3

Bloomington-Normal, III. March 14, 1979 A-3 Pantagraph i ft- 1 -f- a'fc 1 -1 5 i i 1 1 i Soil survey OK'd after size disputed Refusal Ma A i. II It jl 5 hju -v v'-- i Tl I '1 TJ A -'f 1 I 1 i- I 'f I Airport Authority to lease land at the airport for a new home for McLean County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency and McLean County Emergency Squad. The vote came after supporters of the airport site beat attempts to delay negotiations. The board has argued over whether the new home should be at the airport or at Fairview Building in north Normal.

Kelley said the airport site was cheaper because of the easy availability of utilities and good access for emergency purposes. Board member B. Gerald Reynolds, Bloomington, said he was concerned about building on rented ground. Kelley said the authority is willing to rent the land for $1 per year, and make the lease for 15 years with another 15-year option. Motions to conduct a study of the relative costs of the Fairview and airport plan and to table the motion to begin negotiations were beaten.

In other action, the board: Went on record opposing a state-mandated emergency 911 telephone system in the county until state or federal money pays for the project, estimated at $250,000 to $500,000. Rejected a request from McLean County Economic Opportunity Corporation for $5,200 for a program to winterize homes in the county. Board members said they feared opening the door to other agencies coming in for funding. -Gave McLean County YWCA 90-day notification that its lease at Fairview will be terminated so the building will be empty for construction beginning this spring. By Mike Glover By a 20-6 vote, McLean County Board Tuesday approved a scaled-down soil survey for the county and allotted $121,892 to pay for it.

Opponents called it a "Band-Aid" approach to assessment problems. Board member John Wenum, Bloom-ington, said the survey would give "more equity to the assessment process," which, he said, is the central point of the survey debate. Board member Sally Rudolph, Normal, said the scaled-down survey would be "too little, too early" and just a method to cut down on complaints before the McLean County Board of Review. At the heart of the dispute is a farmland assessment law that changes the methods for assessing agricultural land. Tax officials said that without a survey, it's not possible to accurately assess farmland.

Last summer the County Board rejected a soil survey costing an estimated $1.2 million. Since that time, farm groups have lobbied for the scaled-down survey, which will be done by Land Measurement Systems Inc. Wenum said the survey would not accomplish everything the full survey would do, but would aid in equitable assessment of farmland. Cheney's Grove first Opponents said methods of assesment are likely to change, requiring the full survey anyway. Wenum said the survey could last 10 years or more.

In the survey, LMS will do Cheney's Grove Township at a cost of $10,000 and then the countv could withdraw. McLean County Board Tuesday refused to oppose state plans to close Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School in Normal. Board member Nancy Walker, Normal, asked the board to oppose the closing. Board member Roscoe McPherren opposed her motion. The board is consistently calling for cuts in federal and state spending, McPherren said, but opposed to those cuts "when the suggested closing is here." Board member William B.

Lawrence, Bloomington, said board members have a right as individuals to oppose the closing, but it isn't any business of the County Board. The board tabled the motion. Board member George Kelley, Normal, said there were 1,000 complaints before the Board of Review this year, and the survey is required under the farm law. Because appropriation for the survey technically was an emergency appropriationmeaning money that wasn't budgeted for a specific program a two-thirds majority of the board was needed to fund it. The vote was the same as the vote to enter into the survey agreement, 20-6.

ESDA home Board member Roscoe McPherren, Bloomington, opposed the appropriation, saying, "I don't think there's any way you can call this an emergency." The board also voted, 18-8, to begin negotiations with Bloomington-Normal Unhappy coalition About 50 placard-brandishing protesters from Metropolitan Area Housing Alliance marched into State Farm Insurance Companies' corporate headquarters Tuesday, forcing a meeting with State Farm President Edward Rust. Grace Jackson, right, a spokeswoman for the Chicago-based MAHA, described the meeting between the group's leaders and Rust as "very congenial." The group has criticized State Farm and other insurance companies, claiming the companies have instigated decline of urban neighborhoods by withholding insurance. (Pantagraph photos) 'f St. "1 1 Farm boss meets redlinina protesters State with Bv Mike Glover 1 croups, tor both sides said The issue ol the coalition's criticism of insurance companies was not discussed. Mrs.

Jackson said Rust was the only president ol a major insurance company hich had ret used to meet ith the urban leaders. "We've been trying to get to talk to Rust for two she said State Farm spokesmen denied it withholds insurance Irom people in pool urban areas, saying the firm was one of a handful which does issue insurance in declining urban areas Both sides downplayed any confrontation aspects of the meeting, "It was not an adversary meeting as try. The meeting arranged Tuesday is on a national scale, and would be appropriate for Rust to attend, the spokesmen said. In addition to agreeing to the meeting. Rust agreed to attend or to send a representative -to a convention of urban groups in June.

Mrs. Jackson said Rust agreed that if he couldn't attend, a representative "with clout" would be sent. "We don't want any more public relations men." Mrs. Jackson said The MAHA delegation was traveling to Springfield to lobby for a bill introduced in the Legislature that would establish a commission to rule on insurance rate increases. The only topic discussed during the meeting with Rust was the question of arranging meetings with other urban Robbery suspect nabbed CLINTON James C.

Slade. 39. who listed no address, was picked up Tuesday on Interstate 74, near Champaign, on two warrants one charging him with a January armed robbery at a Clinton pharmacy. Champaign County sheriff's police said a car, which was reported stolen from Lee County, Florida, was stopped about 4 p.m. west of Champaign.

Police said the driver of the vehicle, identified as Slade, offered no resistance. An off-duty policeman spotted the car. police said, and radioed for assistance. Champaign, L'rbana and state police at Pesotum also assisted in the arrest According to Clinton police, a robber entered Prescription Shoppe Inc. pharmacy, 212 E.

Main Jan. 10 and held up the manager and an employee at gunpoint before fleeing with a trash bag containing narcotics The manager, Gary Himstedt. and the employee. Diane West, were not injured in the incident Himstedt told police the robber, who was armed with a revolver, forced him to unlock a case filled with narcotics. About 15 different types of pills and tablets were reported taken in the robbery Champaign County sheriff's police said there is also a burglary warrant issued for Slade Further details of the Champaign County warrant were not available Tuesday night.

Police said further charges are pending against Slade. who was being held in Champaign County Jail Tuesday night for a court appearance today. Gunmen confront Cooksville woman A Cooksville woman told Bloomington police that one of two men in a car pointed a handgun at her about 10 p.m. Monday in the 900 block of South Lee Street. Toni Cook told police she was in her car when another car in which the two unidentified men were riding stopped next to her car.

Miss Cook said one of the men called her name and pointed the gun, according to reports. Police said the pair fled in the car a State far as we were concerned," Farm spokesman said The spokesman said it was harmonious meeting A group ot about 50 protesters walked into State Farm Insurance Companies' corporate headquarters in Bloomington Tuesday, forcing a meeting between leaders of the group and State Farm President Edward Rust. The protesters were from the Metropolitan Area Housing Alliance, a Chicago-based community action coalition The coalition has been critical of State Farm and other insurance companies, claiming the companies have helped cause the decline in urban neighborhoods by withholding insurance. After the group walked into the corporate headquarters, Rust agreed to meet with a delegation Following the meeting, spokesmen for both State Farm and MAHA said Rust had agreed to meet with representatives from a national urban coalition before September to discuss urban problems and the insurance industry. In that meeting, the spokesmen said.

Rust will meet with representatives from urban groups from five cities Grace Jackson, a spokesman for MAHA, said the meeting was "very congenial'' and said Rust's agreement to meet with the community action groups was "one of the biggest steps" the group has made in trying to change insurance industry practices Rust has previously refused to meet with the urban leaders, Mrs Jackson said State Farm spokesmen said Rust had refused to meet with the community action groups because regional State Farm officials were responsible for operations in their section of the coun- SuflSpicndDimi JU. Two fires af Lincoln farm destroy 20,000 chickens 1 utly rVl iky T'zx 6 J- 'Jtt a 1 'J Lj 1 I. LINCOLN Fire Monday night destroyed 20,000 chickens and the L-shaped building in which they were housed, about two miles west of Lincoln. Firemen from rural Lincoln, Lincoln city, Elkhart and New Holland departments took turns fighting the blaze, which began about 5 30 p.m. and burned intermittently Monday night and early Tuesday The last crew from the Rural Lincoln Fire Department did not return from the scene, off Fifth Street Road, until 9 a Tuesday, a spokesman said.

Fire officials estimtated damage to the structure was about $750,000. The valueof the chickens killed was set at $10,000. Logan County sheriff's deputies and amember of the state fire marshal's office examined the scene. A county investigator said the chicken farm was directly or indirectly owned by-three people, whose names he did not know. worker feels railroaded tion received only 52 carloads last year and forwarded three shipments In 1977.

the station received 44 cars and forwarded none. Although Mallory Craig, the railroad's corporate secretary, did not have available a figure of projected savings. Roberts said he was told closings at Eureka and Canton would save SBO.IHK) annually Roberts also contended the and Santa Fe exchanged more than 900 freight cars last year in Eureka, move ment, he said is sufficient to keep the station open. Craig said he could not verify freight car movements at Eureka between his line and the Santa Fe, although he said Roberts' claim is possible. But he said freight service to Eureka has been "almost nil" for many years and a move to El Paso would not inconvenience customers in and near the Woodford County seat By Paul Levin EUREKA Lee Roberts is upset One of his two employers, the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad, wants to move him from Eureka for part of each working day.

Roberts has worked 28 years for the the last eight as agent at the railroad's Eureka station. As station agent, he works for two railroad firms, the and the Santa Fe. The wants the Illinois Commerce Commission to let it close its Eureka operation and combine it with El Paso, 14 miles down the line. The commission will hear the railroad's case today, even though officials wan to "consolidate" the Eureka-El Paso agent jobs Thursday. Barbara Rogers, an ICC hearing officer in Springfield, said no one to her change.

Approval of the action would mean Eureka would not have a agent for the first time since 1867. And to still be a agent, Roberts would be to shuttle between E)ureka and 1 Paso each day. But the proposed switch will not lessen Roberts' duties. And that's what makes him angry. He said he still would have to return to Eureka during afternoons to relay orders to Santa Fe crews and satisfy his second employer.

That railroad runs freight trains through Eureka on its Streator-to-Pekin branch. "I'm disappointed. After 28 years, you're going to have to work harder," Roberts said. Roberts said his union representative told him he could not compile enough information in favor of keeping the station open. The contends the Eureka sta Central Catholic High School juniors Kathy Messamore and Cindy Croke were A "drunk" with happiness about CCHS fOOSt 8'nS t0 Champaign after the Saints downed Watseka, 68-63, Tuesday night to reach the quarterfinals Friday at the Assembly Hall.

More on B-l. (Pantagraph photo by Marc Featherly) knowledge has tried to stop the proposed.