NORMAL – 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.

NORMAL – Normal Town Council members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing executing an agreement between the Town and Illinois Department of Transportation for the use of $235,370 in Federal Transportation Enhancement Funds to be used for new lighting in Normal’s Uptown area.

The Town will receive $419,870 in funding from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP), and use that money for three projects. A total of $72,500 in ITEP funds went to the first project — the Uptown Landscape Plantings Project. The project has been completed, perennials were planted and planters were installed along North St. last spring by Peoria-based Krumholz Landscaping. Krumholz Landscaping was awarded the project at the Council’s May 16 meeting.

A total of $112,000 in ITEP funds went to use for the second project funded — the Gateway Plaza project, which will be constructed in conjunction with the Multimodal Transportation Center. These funds were used to supplement $1 million in funds from the Federal program known as Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Grant Program, known as TIGER Grants. TIGER Grants became available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Lastly, a total of $235,370 in ITEP funds went toward a lighting project, in which decorative street lights are to be installed on College Ave. and Mulberry St. from Fell Ave. to Linden St. Unlike most other street lights installed in Uptown, these lights will include LED light fixtures. The project will include planter beds along the south side of College Ave.

As part of the ITEP project, the Town plans to construct planters adjacent to the road right-of-way along the south side of College Ave. To that end, Council members unanimously approved an ordinance dedicating a portion of Town property adjacent to College Ave. in Uptown for streetscape improvements uses for a period of at least 20 years.

Council members also approved a resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with IDOT for the construction of a new boarding platform on the south side of the tracks at the site of the future Multimodal Transportation Center, scheduled to be completed in late summer or early fall. Also needed to be constructed would be passenger access across the railroad tracks from the new railroad station and some limited remodeling of the currently used Amtrak station.

In conversations with IDOT, Union Pacific Railroad, and the Illinois Commerce Commission, Town staff learned that trains coming into the new station will ultimately board from both the south platform and a new platform needing to be built on the north side of the tracks. IDOT, ICC, and the railroad are all mandating the closing of the current crossing at Constitution Trail, as a result.

A number of improvements are anticipated in Normal as a result of those mandates, including the construction of the new south passenger platform and canopy. The current Amtrak station will still get some use after the construction is completed, to be used, mainly, as a waiting area

Also in the discussions Town officials have had with the railroad, IDOT, and ICC, it has been learned a tunnel or overhead walkway must be constructed to give access across the tracks for Amtrak and other transportation users.

Enterprise Zone Extended: Council members unanimously approved an ordinance which amended an earlier Town ordinance extending a local enterprise zone to include two local businesses.

An enterprise zone, as defined by the business website, Investopedia.com, is a “specific geographical area that has been designated by a governmental authority, usually federal.” Businesses inside an enterprise zone are entitled to receive various types of financial aid, including tax benefits to help encourage businesses to establish and maintain a presence inside a certain zone.

The first business added to Normal’s enterprise zone, Kongskilde Industries, manufactures equipment designed for both agricultural and industrial uses. The company, currently in unincorporated McLean County, would like to expand its product line and add a new building to further production of its products. The new building would house welding, punching, and cutting operations.

Nussbaum Transportation Services is the second company that sought to be included in the enterprise zone. The company sought to be part of the enterprise zone because it had outgrown its current site in north Normal and was looking to build a new facility which would serve as its headquarters. In addition, Nussbaum sought to build an attached maintenance facility on property immediately adjacent to Kongskilde Industries, north of Highway 51, just beyond the Town’s corporate limits. Both businesses will eventually be annexed into the Town.

The two companies are expected to lead to the creation of 70 new full-time jobs over the next two years. The total amount of the investment as a result of the two construction projects is estimated at $10.5 million.

In addition to the Town needing to approve this, both the City of Bloomington and the McLean County Board needed to give their approval. Both of those governing bodies have already approved extending the enterprise zone to include these two businesses.

Town Purchasing Manual Amended: Council members unanimously approved an ordinance amending the Town Purchasing Manual, changing the manual’s section concerning who has authority to make purchases; adding a section on conflict of interest; and adding section concerning local preference purchase policy.

The most significant change to the manual concerns upping the dollar amounts for competitive bid levels. The new amount for sealed bid purchases has been increased to $20,000 or greater.

In April 1998, the policy was to hold the bid threshold at $10,000 or greater. Since that time, the addition of language in the policy to include seeking “green” purchases, and requiring prevailing wages be paid on public works projects mandate the dollar amounts be increased from what they were in 1998.

Liquor Commission Imposes Fine: Council members, acting as the Normal Local Liquor Commission, imposed a $250 fine on Mac’s Convenience Stores, LLC, doing business as Circle K #1204, 309 Landmark Dr. The fine was the result of a recent Town liquor audit. Commission members also approved the minutes of two previous Commission sessions which took place in 2011: A regular meeting held Oct. 17 and a special session held Dec. 5.

Omnibus Agenda Items Approved: Omnibus agenda items approved by the Council included:

• Approval of minutes of the Public Hearing held Jan. 3, 2012

• Approval of minutes of the Regular Meeting of Jan. 3, 2012.

• Approval of Town of Normal expenditures for payment as of Jan. 11, 2011.

• A motion to waive the formal bidding procedure and authorize the leasing of six Mitsubishi electric vehicles from Orlando, Fla.-based Mears Motor Leasing in the amount of $147,580 and approve a required budget amendment.

• A resolution requesting temporary closures of State right-of-way for annual community events.

• A resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with Mr. Craig Onsrud for the operation of the Ironwood Pro Shop and private golf lessons.

• A resolution to approve 2012 hourly rates and direct costs for engineering services from Peoria-based AECOM; Clark Dietz, Inc.; Crawford, Murphy & Tilley, Inc.; Bloomington-based The Farnsworth Group; and Bloomington-based Lewis, Yockey & Brown, Inc.

• A resolution authorizing the filing of the Town’s 2012-2013 Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.

• A resolution accepting watermain easement from Skyline Properties.

• A resolution conditionally and partially approving the final plat of the resubdivision of Lots 9 and 10 in the third addition to Sud’s Business Park and Outlot 25 in 7th addition to Sud’s Business Park by expedited process.

NORMAL – Board members of Normal-based Unit 5 School Board continued hearing public comments at their Jan. 11 meeting about their decision in December to unanimously to seek bids for a contractor for its busing operations, over the objections of drivers currently employed by the district.

Some of those public comments at this meeting came from current drivers employed by the district who had objections to the district seeking outside assistance, as well as from the newly-formed Union local representing them. This was the second meeting in two months where drivers and a union representative addressed Board members. Unit 5 drivers recently became members of American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Diana Campbell, a Unit 5 driver, told Board members, “I can’t phantom the thought of the current drivers, who give everything to their kids on their routes, being pushed aside for someone from an outside company. These drivers are like family because they really, really get into being with the kids.

“To push these drivers to the side and bring in someone who has to get to know the kids makes no sense,” Campbell added. “If it’s not broken, why try to fix it? I would just like to know how does someone with a conscious just push (members of the Unit 5) family aside? I just don’t get it…I just don’t get it. All I’m saying is, you may want to think about it.”

Renee Nesler, staff representative for AFSCME Council 31, told Board members, “As a union, we are wanting a long-term opportunity to work together with the management of Unit 5’s Transportation Department to resolve these issues. We believe we can work on the issues of consistency and attendance.” Nesler said it was her understanding that driver attendance is improving.

“Additionally,” Nesler said, “we have members who have prior experience working in other transportation departments who have ideas and suggestions they would like to provide if management were willing to listen.

Nesler said outsourcing drivers used will “reduce the accountability to parents, students, and the public, as well as lose control of the quality of services that will be provided.”

While that could be happening, Nesler continued, the company Unit 5 chooses for outsourcing “will do what they need to increase their profits.”

Board members will vote on a company for outsourcing of bus services after receiving bids at their lone meeting in March.

Wellness Update Presented: Board members heard an update on the district’s continuing attempts to increase wellness education in district schools, in a report presented by Sue Marcum, nurse at both Fairview Elementary School and Grove Elementary School; and by Dayna Brown, assistant to the superintendent.

“Wellness is a topic that has received a lot of attention statewide and nationwide,” Brown told Board members. “I’m very comfortable in saying that Unit 5 is far ahead of the curve in making some of the suggested recommended changes in wellness activities for the students.”

“We’ve tried to step up our wellness programs at each of the schools,” Marcum told Board members. “We evaluated and tried to step up the lessons on nutrition in combined science classes.

In addition, Marcum said, six district schools have held parent events and staff wellness events.

Marcum added the district has tried to “step up” nutrition lessons in the schools, as well. She said junior high and ninth grade students take consumer science classes which helps push the wellness curriculum. At the elementary schools, school nurses, are looking for ways to boost nutrition education.

Marcum had some good news concerning where Unit 5 students fell concerning the Body Mass Index (BMI).In survey results turned into Marcum by nurses at one high school, two junior high schools, and all the elementary schools in the district, students in those school were under the national average of kids in those school groups who are considered overweight or obese.

A person is considered obese if their body mass is equal to or exceeds 85 percent. Nationally, 32 percent is the average for kids who fall into that division. Marcum said some of the district’s schools were over the average, but most were under it.

“You can’t talk about wellness without talking about food,” Brown said. “We continue to implement additional healthy choices in our cafeterias. A few of them include whole grains, adding dark greens to the lettuce, and we’ve switched our flavored milk to fat free.” She said that means kids can still have chocolate- or strawberry-flavored milk, but now it is fat free.

Parkside Junior High’s “Good News”: The Parkside Junior High Python Band was selected to be a rehearsal lab band at the 2011 Midwest Clinic, an International Band and Orchestra Conference. The Python Band’s Lab session took place in Chicago at McCormick Place West on December 15. Midwest Conference events ran at McCormick Place Dec. 12-17.

Rehearsal lab bands give conference attendees a chance to watch and listen to well-known conductors working with various ensembles in an open rehearsal. Unlike concerts or clinics, conference attendees engage in meaningful learning experiences by observing rehearsal technicians prepare various styles of music.

Serving as the rehearsal technician for the Python Band was Mr. Robert Sheldon, internationally known composer, conductor and Concert Band Editor for Alfred Music Publishing. PJHS’ rehearsal lab session featured the band’s performances of two pieces of music in addition to rehearsal and educational techniques for the junior high school band room.

Selected as one of three bands chosen for this opportunity, the PJHS’ Band prepared for their lab session during rehearsals with guest musicians, composers, and conductors including Jennifer Bolton, director of bands Parkside Junior High School; George York, retired Music Department Chair for Unit 5 Schools, and director of Bands Normal Community High School; and Lisa Preston, director of bands Normal West High School. Parkside musicians also worked closely with music students from Illinois State University and Normal West High School during sectional rehearsals.

PJHS’ Python Band is comprised of the school band program’s premier sixth, seventh, and eighth grade musicians. The ensemble rehearses twice weekly outside of the school day, and it is conducted by Bolton.

Fox Creek Elementary’s “Good News”: Mark S. Robinson, Principal at Fox Creek Elementary School, introduced Board members to three students from his school participated this fall in the Chicago Bears sponsored Punt, Pass, and Kick competition. Cameron “C.J.” Lewis, Kacie Quick, and William Kafer participated this fall in the Chicago Bears sponsored- “Punt, Pass, and Kick” competition. All three students won their sectional competition that was held in Champaign. Sectional winner scores were reviewed from the entire state and the top four scores from each age group were invited to the state finals.

Both Lewis and Quick advanced to the state final, which was held at the Chicago Bears indoor practice facility in Lake Forest on December 3. Lewis finished 4th in the state in the 10-11 year old boys division, Quick finished first in the 8-9 year old girls division, making her the current Punt, Pass, and Kick State Champion.

Additionally, Fox Creek Elementary was the only school from the state that sent two students in the state final.

Robinson also thanked the youngsters’ parents, and their physical education teacher, Jamie Oliver, for recognizing the talent of these individuals and providing information for this competition to their parents.

Kingsley Junior High’s “Good News”: Members of Kingsley Junior High School’s 8th Grade Girls basketball team were recognized for their having won the Illinois Elementary School Association 8th Grade 4A State Championship on December 15, defeating previously undefeated Piasa Southwestern, 34-31.

The current KJHS 8th grade team was undefeated as 7th graders during the 2010 season, winning 26games, and now is also undefeated for the 2011 school year, winning a total of 52 games in two years. An all-school assembly was held in their honor on December 19.

Members of the team are: Bailey Larsen, Lauren Harrigan, Hallie Martin-Chadwick, Elexis Schwartzentruber, Caley Oltman, Emma Brown, Chante Stonewall, Bria Frenchwood, Maya Mwilambwe, and Kendall Sosa. The girls were coached by head coach Corey Ostling and 7th grade coach, Lindsey Annerino.

You will find George Walden in his element this week. He will be surrounded by volunteers at the 101st Heart of Illinois/McLean County Tournament. You can find George taking charge at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center, home to the tourney for nearly the last 20 years.

But Walden has been on the job coordinating volunteers to serve as ushers for local high school basketball games for 45 years. That’s if you count his also doing the same job of organizing and assigning for both IWU and Illinois State University sports, as well. From

1994-1998, he was juggling getting ushers for both universities’ sports like football and basketball.

He said he likes to work with people, rather than explain that he has people who work for him. He even explains it, sometimes, in the third person (“That’s the way George likes to see his work,” he said). He prefers to say he works with people, not for people.

“The same goes for my staff,” Walden said. “They work with me, not for me. That’s just the way I like it, you know.”

He explained that when he is doing various events like this week’s County Tournament, “you meet so many nice people,” he said.

“Every event is a little bit different,” Walden pointed out, whether it’s a college game or a high school game, or a tournament.

Walden oversees an ushering contingent of 10, most of them men, most of them retired. “Some of these guys have been with me close to 30 years,” Walden said.

Now 70, he has had a number of different jobs over the years. He started out as an engineer with the Town of Normal. He had jobs with what is now known as Central Illinois Regional Airport Authority, and Farnsworth & Wiley, better known these days as The Farnsworth Group. He even operated the old Phillips 66 service station at the corner of Beaufort Ave. and Broadway St. That was in the days before we knew we lived were shopping in Uptown Normal. The old filling station is gone now, but George is still pumped up, no matter the task.

He got into the business of supervising and scheduling ushers in the mid-1960s when the late Milt Weisbecker, then head of ISU Athletic Department, tapped Walden to supervise the ushering staff for Redbirds’ basketball games. “It was fun,” Walden said. “I worked under seven athletic directors, and I’ve seen a lot of changes, both at ISU and IWU.”

“A lot of changes,” Walden repeated.

Speaking of changing, so to speak, Walden said when he worked for the Town of Normal and was scheduling the ushers in the early days of this job, he said he always took a change of clothes to work so he could go from one job to the next. He said that, when the job was mainly at ISU venues, although it was a job, it was also fun because of all the different events and the people he got to meet..

Walden said the high school athletes have changed, of course, over the years, but one incident has stuck with him: When he saw Bloomington High School’s boys’ basketball team come through Shirk Center a few years ago under then-head coach Ron Rose, something impressed Walden so much, that he said he was compelled to mention it to Rose. Rose’s Purple Raiders players came for a game, entering the venue wearing jackets and ties.

Walden said he was so impressed by this, he stopped Rose at one point that night to complement the coach on how his team carried themselves dressed that way. At the time, Walden and Rose did not know each other very well. That has since changed since Rose became IWU’s head men’s basketball coach a few years ago.

Walden meets with IWU Athletic Director Dennie Bridges and Assistant Athletic Director Mike Wagner to get full IWU sports schedule for the coming academic year. Once he gets that, he sends that to his staff to get their availability for events.

If you’re wondering if he’s considered slowing down and passing the coordinator’s job on to a younger person, Walden is quick to say that it’s not time yet. That’s because, as he explains it, “I want to keep doing this and stay involved for as long as I can. As long as I can stay productive and help out, I’m going to do it.”

Walden said he likes challenges. During our interview, I told him he must because he hired me as an usher. I worked one game for him. I determined I probably was not usher material at the time. Maybe George will rehire me after I retire.

“Too many people want things handed to them and I don’t like that,” Walden said. “I will help you as long as you’re trying to help yourself.”

“I feel very fortunate in this life,” Walden stated. “God’s been good and I’ve done my job. If you’re fair and consistent at your job, that’s all anybody can ask.”

“I’ve got no regrets,” Walden concluded.

Trust me, George, when I tell you that those in the community who know you and call you friend have no regrets, either.

Finally, congratulations to two local teens for each being chosen to receive “I Have A Dream” Awards from organizers of the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards. Sankhya Amaravadi,16. A University High School student, Amaravandi was honored with an award for her efforts to coordinate a drive to obtain clothes and shoes for Bhutanese refugees in the Quad Cities through Sewa International, as well as founding a diversity club at the high school.

Also, congratulations for receiving that award goes to Atticus Francken, 17, and a student at Normal Community High School. Francken is an Eagle Scout who was appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn to the statewide Youth Development Council. Currently, he already is on the Youth Advisory Council for DoSomething.org, a group which promotes community service. Honorees were be recognized during an awards program Jan. 14 at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal.

BLOOMINGTON — For the newest sports team in the Twin Cities, the weekend was ideal, even if the weather wasn’t.

Having already won one road game, the Central Illinois Drive of the Premier Basketball League made their home debut at U. S. Cellular Coliseum, sweeping two opponents in three days. Head coach A.J. Guyton’s crew topped off the weekend Jan. 14 beating the Chicago Muscle, 113-79, to remain undefeated at 3-0 in the Central Division.

A trio of threes in the first quarter of Saturday’s game by forward Todd Peterson helped the Drive jump to a fast 24-16 lead with 2:51 remaining in the first quarter, on their way to a 28-22 lead by the end of the quarter.

A halting defense by Guyton’s players and more threes – a pair by Rodney Edgerson and back-to-back unanswered treys by Josh Edmonds – helped push the Drive to a 58-36 halftime advantage.

Although able to contain Muscle center and former Illinois State University standout Rico Hill for most of the game, the Drive fouled Chicago guard Nick Livas sending him to the free throw line four separate times, including after fouling him in the process of shooting a three. Livas went a combined 8-for-9 as a result. The Drive led the game going into the fourth quarter, 82-58, impressing 1,558 fans in attendance.

Edgerson led all scorers in double figures with 25 points. He was followed in double figures by forward Tony Lewis with 20, and 16 points each from Peterson and fellow forward Jemal Farmer.

Hill led Chicago in scoring with 15 points. He was followed in double figures by guards Marcel Anderson and Livas, who each scored 12 points, followed by center Anthony Simmons’ 11.

“Overall, I think we responded to the challenge against a fine Chicago Muscle team,” Guyton said. But he prefaced that by saying, “the tough part is sustaining that energy. You know, being able to come out every night, ready to play that way.

“You have to be able to come out and have the same competitive energy, whether you’re playing the Chicago Muscle or a team whose record isn’t as good as the Chicago Muscle,” Guyton added. “That’s what I’m here to try to get them to understand – that it is about individual preparation as opposed to in college where scouting gets you ready for every individual game.”

“Peterson spreads the floor,” Hill said afterward. “He’s probably their best shooter.”

“Our rotations were slow,” St. Louis head coach Jim Condill said afterward. “We just didn’t shoot as well. We have a lot of changes we have to make. We have to score better.

“It’s hard to stop their penetration when they shoot so well from the parameter,” Condill added. “We were just bad…we’re off on our rotations. Central Illinois ran their offense a little better this time from when we saw them almost a week ago.”

Drive Win Very First Home Game: The visiting team known as the St. Louis Phoenix didn’t just have trouble getting past the team called The Drive. They had trouble with the drive on the roads getting to Bloomington. The Drive’s debut home game on Jan. 12 was delayed 30 minutes waiting for the Phoenix’s bus to get into town, hampered by winter weather conditions in southern Illinois.

What’s more, the Phoenix’s head coach, Floyd Irons, traveling separately from his team, did not show up until the start of the third quarter, the result of his vehicle getting two flat tires en route. Assistant coach Robert Buck filled in for Irons during a first half during which the visitors held the Drive at bay during the first half, leading 23-17 after one quarter. Central Illinois righted itself by halftime, outscoring their opponents in the second quarter, 29-18 on the way to owning a 46-41 halftime lead as they pressed toward a 106-87 victory, the first home win in franchise history.

Four Drive players hit double figures in the debut, led by former Bradley University standout Daniel Ruffin with 22 points. He was followed by 18 from forward Tony Lewis, 13 from forward Jemal Farmer, and 12 from the team’s newest member, Perry Petty.

St. Louis (0-1 following this game) was led in double figures by Dwayne Polk and Aaron Green, with 12 points each; 11 from Curtis Muse, Jr., and 10 from Brandon Roberson.

Central Illinois and St. Louis squared off in the season-opener for both teams on Jan. 8. The Drive won that contest, 125-95, for the franchise’s very first victory. But that win told Guyton something about the Phoenix he wanted his players to keep in mind for future contests. “I knew St. Louis would come out more aggressively,” Guyton said. “They’re men and they’ve got pride. They care about making shots, and they had an urgency to them.” St. Louis did not warm up prior to the start of the contest on Jan. 12. Guyton said when players don’t warm up, that creates the urgency.

Central Illinois (2-0 following this contest) had three scoring spurts in their first home game before 1,411 fans on opening night. Those runs included a 13-2 jaunt in the second quarter and 12-4 burst in the third quarter.

“You have to give St. Louis credit,” Guyton said. “They came down here despite the weather and came down here and made it competitive.”

“Our travel issues are no excuse for the loss,” Irons said. “Central Illinois is playing real well, like a veteran ball club, and we have a ways to go to catch up with the rest of the competition.”

Guyton’s club will spent their first full weekend of the season on the road this weekend, with away games at Columbus, Ind. to play the Indiana Diesels on Saturday; then to the northwest corner of the state to take on the Sauk Valley Predators on Sunday. Their next home game at U. S. Cellular Coliseum will be on Saturday, Jan. 28 to host Sauk Valley in a 1:05p.m. game.