NORMAL – Although willing to talk about the fact her then-fourth grade age son was hit by a car as he crossed the street with a crossing guard on duty during the previous school year at Colene Hoose Elementary School, Pamela (who said she preferred her last name not be given out) explained her then-4th grade-age son, Ricky, was one of two youngsters crossing the street at the intersection of Blair Dr. and Grandview Dr. The incident occurred Aug. 24, 2022.

Pamela said her son, who is student with special needs at the school, was using a crosswalk around the school and being aided by a crossing guard when the driver sped through the crosswalk. At a session with about 10 other parents and a facilitator from Unit 5, Pamela said the group of parents were discussing “how to make the crossings safer, not just for the crossing children but also not cause traffic problems.” Traffic problems, she reminded could include trouble for parents trying to either drop off or pick up their youngsters from school.

She added vehicles driving down Blair Dr. which turn onto Vernon Ave. most likely having been on College Ave. pose difficulties for parents wanting to either safely drop off or pick up their youngsters. In her child’s instance, a crossing guard holding a stop sign was present but the driver, she said, according to witnesses, was speeding, and reports a rising sun was in the driver’s eyes.

On Tuesday night, nearly Pamela was among 100 area residents turned out in a fourth floor Uptown Station conference room to learn about a potential redesign of Vernon Ave. The phrase “road diet” was introduced in describing by Town officials the idea of reducing the road from being currently four lanes to becoming either three lanes or two lanes.

The location of where work on the nearly two-mile road would run Beaufort St. going to Towanda Avenue. Parts of the road the work would involve include intersections at Linden St. and Grandview Dr., and sections of the Constitution Trail where familiar and popular crosswalks now exist.

It also passes the Illinois Art Station and Colene Hoose Elementary School.

In a report to the community’s daily newspaper, The Pantagraph, Normal Police Officer Brad Park confirmed first responders were called to the scene just before 7:30a.m. and that the driver of the east bound vehicle had the sun in his eyes which prevented being able to see either the student or the school crossing guard. That report also mentioned the boy was taken to a local hospital to treat minor injuries the boy sustained, and Park added drivers should exercise caution when driving through school pedestrian crossings.

Those attending floated several options for the street during the 90-minute session, including keeping the street as a four-lane road, with potential changes for the road which included adding bike lanes, widening the sidewalks along the street for bike riders, putting in parking, and doing something in an effort to improve crosswalks in the area. There has also been talk about installing a roundabout at the intersections at Linden St. or Grandview Ave. according to published reports.

“I hope changes get made and the crosswalk gets safer,” Pamela said. “That’s a dangerous crossing for kids.” She added construction work on a 16-acre natural playground near the school increased problems for those wishing to cross the street there.

Having had that experience from the incident, Pamela said her son “is doing well now.”

Pamela said, as a result of the situation, an attorney is now involved, and because of that, there was not any detailed information about the situation she could provide.

Pamela could say there were “many more close calls” of youngsters nearly being hit at that same crossing. She added after her son’s incident, the school rerouted the pick-up area for parents to pick up students to the rear of the school. Pamela described that change by the school as being “wonderful.”

She said she is of the understanding Colene Hoose Elementary officials will keep the drop-off point toward the back side of the school building, and that prior to the incident, she said she was aware the school had received complaints about the initial location of the pick-up area.

NORMAL – Six area residents from a variety of backgrounds which have enriched the community in differing ways were honored June 21 in the Brown Ballroom at Illinois State University’s Bone Student Center. Six residents including two couples, were recognized for their efforts and accomplishments in business and within the community over the years. Those recognized were: Dotti Bushnell; Hank and Mary Campbell; Guy Fraker; and Charles and Willie Halbert. The honorees were celebrated by 450 people who were invited to the function.

Dotti Bushnell: Family and friends joined past and current employees of Dotti Bushnell, one of the owners of the Uptown Normal business The Garlic Press to begin the evening. Thanking Museum officials for the honor, Bushnell said, “I’m humbled to receive this award” and for allowing folks to have her store “become part of our shared local history.” She went on to explain that she left her job as education coordinator at First Presbyterian Church in 1976 to embark on her business venture “to purchase a fledgling business in what is now called Uptown Normal.” She has been proprietor of the business since for 47 years.

“What did I know about running a store?” Bushnell asked rhetorically to begin her story for 450 people in attendance. “Truth was, nothing at all.” As it turned out, running a store, Bushnell said she discovered, “was much like my working in a church, running a store required a great deal of research, learning and teaching, and working late.” She said some of that researching involved, among other things like what some of the products sold at the store, like food processors, were able to do. She added once she learned how some of the appliances worked, she had to demonstrate those abilities for customers. She said she also had to know “the secret to what makes really good olive oil.”

“One of my greatest pleasures at the store has been learning about cultures,” Bushnell explained. She said that included learning about Chinese Wok cooking from Carol Deaver to Japanese dishes, as well.

“When I think of the contributions that we have made to the community, I think about how The Garlic Press has become a gathering place,” Bushnell said. “It’s a place where our community connects, feels welcome, and provides more than a little free and unlicensed counsel.” She closed by introducing her daughter and business partner. Of them, she said the two “keep it going and have put their own stamp on the store” since Bushnell retired a few years back.

Hank & Mary Campbell: In introducing the couple, Keith Cornille, President of Heartland Community College said Mary Campbell knows everybody, and was quickly followed by Hank Campbell’s friend and local businesswoman, Julie Dobski who said Hank is “the very first one to volunteer” when a local project needs completing.

Mary Campbell was simple and eloquent about what she has done in her efforts with “Pass It On,” a project which gathers discarded furniture, food, and clothing college students leave behind and redistributes it to folks who need it. “I just thank you for this honor,” Mary said. “It’s just really humbling. I do what I do because it’s the right thing to do.”

“We are the ones who are blessed,” said Hank Campbell as he began his thank you for his and his wife being honored. He added that supporters and former students they have employed “have really helped to give us…and given us a chance to ask, ‘what’s our next opportunity?’” to help the community. He closed his acceptance speech by saying he and his wife will “embrace the memory” of the evening’s event.

Guy Fraker: Coming to Illinois from White Plains, N. Y., as a youth, Guy Fraker’s mother instilled in him a love of history and necessity to be involved in his community. The author of two books about Abraham Lincoln in Illinois, Fraker admitted to those gathered, “Writing a book is not an easy thing, and I have to thank my family for tolerating all the time on Lincoln or community service stuff.” Born in Missouri and raised in suburban New York City, Fraker made his way back to central Illinois where he had some familiarity thanks to having a grandmother who lived in the region.

His father, Fraker explained, had to commute from where they lived to another town for his job, and Fraker knew that wasn’t the life he wanted. He called Bloomington-Normal “a special place” and said “I love coming here as a total stranger. I knew it would be a wonderful place to spend my life.” He added his mother passed away 50 years ago, but, quickly added, “her influence on me never waned on me in those 50 years. That’s one reason I’m standing here now.” He added, looking up, “She’s up there now and is happy that this happened to me.” The audience applauded the sentiment.

Charles & Willie Halbert: Charles and Willie Halbert, being natives of Phoenix, Ill., a community near the Chicago suburb of Harvey, came to Normal and he admitted in his part of the speech the pair gave in accepting the award, that when he came here “doors opened” for him to get his career started. And that it wasn’t until he came to this area and was employed by Heritage Manor that he met his wife, Willie. He said “great friends” he made in this area helped him and “I couldn’t have done anything I have done without them.”

His wife, Willie, said, “We give praise to God, because without Him, we wouldn’t even be here.” Working for Illinois Department of Corrections, her civic involvement has included volunteer efforts with NAACP among other organizations. She added she and her husband for “grateful for just the love and support of friends from each one of you because that’s what makes up our community. Giving back is what it’s all about when we all come together, put our differences aside and work together.” She described her husband as being “a quiet storm who gets a lot done” who people likely wouldn’t hear much from him as he goes about getting things done.

NORMAL – At Monday’s regularly scheduled Normal Town Council session Monday, Normal Town Council members unanimously approved a resolution which executed a grant agreement for the Town authorizing expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act dollars for use in funding for a housing navigator. The Town has had a goal to allocate Federal dollars it received from the grant to support short term economic stimulus with the hope doing so would generate long-term impact for the community, both economically and generally. Two Council members, Kathleen Lorenz and Scott Preston, were absent from Monday’s session.

A person in the Housing Navigator position would have the following duties: Create databases which can be shared among partnering agencies so clients will be served efficiently and effectively; Coordinating housing activities; work with landlords to establish a broader base of eligible rental units, and identify additional grant opportunities.

In May 2021, the Town received one-half of a $10.8 million allocation through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) which was adopted by Congress to support State and local fiscal recovery to recoup loss as a result of the Coronavirus. Normal also received a second half of what the Federal government provided to the Town in May last year.

At a Town Council meeting in December 2021, Council members discussed determining a plan for deciding how funds would be used. Among the items ARPA funds were to be spent on included: Supporting public health expenditures; Addressing negative economic impacts caused by the pandemic; Replacing revenue lost by the public sector; providing premium pay for essential workers; and investing in public infrastructure.

Repairs To Be Addressed, Second Lease Amendment With Amtrak Approved: Council members unanimously approved a second lease amendment with Amtrak in order to perform repairs on the north passenger platform at Uptown Station, and reimburse Amtrak.

The total cost of the repairs “will not exceed $100,000” according to a memo given City Manager Pam Reece by Jason R. Comfort, Public Works Operations Manager for the Town. The Town will reimburse the rail service for expenses incurred in the repairs.

Work to be completed will be done by Peoria-based River City Construction and will include platform repairs; concrete and tactical strip repairs. Amtrak reported the tactical strip repair work will cost $36,450. The rail service also estimated jobs associated with the work completed would include flagging, coordination, and administrative costs.

With weather permitting, Amtrak officials have told Town officials repairs “could be completed by July.”

In his memo to Reece, Comfort explained the Town has owned the passenger rail platforms at Uptown Station subleasing them to Amtrak since 2012. Comfort’s memo further explained the agreement was modified in 2017 to allow the use of the newly remodeled south bound station and new boarding platform.

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

• Approval of minutes of the special Council meeting of June 5, 2023.

• Approval of minutes of the regular Council meeting of June 5, 2023.

• Report to Receive and File Town of Normal Expenditures for Payment as of June 1, 2023.

• A resolution waiving bids and authorizing renewal of a subscription to CodeRED software from Onsolve for three years in the amount of $39,000.

• A resolution to accept bids and award a contract to H. J. Eppel and Co., Inc. for the 2023 MFT Section 23-00000-00-GM in the amount of $1,093,516.60.

• A conditional resolution approving the sixth addition to Heather Ridge subdivision.

• A resolution authorizing execution of an agreement for technical planning services with McLean County Regional Planning Commission.

• A resolution authorizing purchase and installation of sport lighting for Anderson Park Tennis Courts by West Chicago, Ill.-based Musco Sports Lighting, LLC via Sourcewell joint purchasing contract #071619-MSL for $80,000.

• A resolution approving a second lease amendment with Amtrak to perform repairs on the north passenger platform at Uptown Station and reimburse expenses incurred.

• A resolution to accept bids and award a contract to Bloomington-based Stark Excavating, Inc. for construction of Maxwell Park Skunk Creek crossing project in the amount of $108,139.98.

• A resolution waiving the formal bidding process and accepting quotes authorizing purchase of a sanitary sewer digester for Ironwood pump station from North Kansas City, MO-based McIntire Management Group for $53,128.

• A resolution to waive the formal bidding process and accept proposal from Salt Lake City, Utah-based WesTech Engineering for ammonia removing pilot testing equipment at a total cost not to exceed $65,000.

• A resolution waiving the formal bidding process and approve a contract extension with Boston-based CDM Smith for ammonia removal pilot study at a total not to exceed $69,950.

• A resolution to waive the formal bidding process and accept the 2023 third quarter chlorine quote from La Porte, Ind.-based Alexander Chemical.

• A resolution to amend the lease agreement for Illinois State University Art Gallery to extend the term to Dec. 31, 2032.

BLOOMINGTON – There are many father-son events in life, but the one which took place at Bloomington’s Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center was very special for anyone who was an Illinois State University men’s basketball fan from the 1970s and from there, followed ISU alum Doug Collins during his playing days with the Philadelphia 76ers from 1973-1981 and on to his days coaching Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls which began in 1986 for three seasons. From there, Collins also coached at Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia 76ers before deciding to be an analyst for TNT Sports’ NBA coverage.

His son, Chris Collins, is in the midst of building a storied coaching career, helping college athletes learn what it will take to join the ranks of NBA players like his father, doing so as head coach of Northwestern University’s men’s basketball team.

But on Sunday, father and son sat side-by-side at a benefit to raise money for Marcfirst, which helps people with developmental disabilities. The event took place starting raising money for the organization starting with cocktails followed by a dinner to raise money for the organization at Bloomington’s DoubleTree Hotel.

“Chris and I have been incredibly blessed that we have lived our love,” Doug Collins said, explaining that love is called basketball. As of this year, he said, he will have had involvement with the game for 50 years. He added he believes his true love in life “is being able to see your children succeed.”

The senior Collins, now 71, and his son, Chris, now 49, sat side-by-side sharing what it their lives have been like with basketball and family life as the common denominator. A total of 800 people were in attendance to hear the famous pair share what the evening meant to them. A dollar amount as to how much money was raised by the function was not available as of Tuesday.

“Tonight is kind of special for us as a family,” Chris Collins said, particularly because the Collins family wanted to provide a way for Marcfirst to be able to raise money to continue helping children and young people succeed dispite having disabilities.

“I was always rooting in this community even though I never lived here,” Chris Collins to the gathering of roughly 700 people. “This was a very special place and I grew up to see how happy my parents are,” he explained. Under Illinois State University Head Coach Will Robinson, Doug Collins made a name for himself playing basketball from 1969 until his 1973 graduation.

“It’s awesome to be here,” Chris Collins told the gathering. “It’s awesome to be able to support your words.” He added growing up around basketball has allowed him “to do some pretty incredible things.” He said he has made some “incredible decisions, like, he said kiddingly, “deciding to go play basketball for some Polish coach named Krzyzewski,” referring to his college coach at Duke University, Mike Krzyzewski. Krzyzewski retired from coaching in 2022 after having taught the game to players since his first season in 1980. In that time, Krzyzewski coached teams to go to the NCAA championship five times.

But Chris Collins recalled for the audience his first time coaching for Team USA in Las Vegas. The younger Collins said Krzyzewski told him to take guards and forwards and put them through some drills. Truth is, it would be the younger Collins’ first time coaching guys named Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Jason Kidd, and Carmelo Anthony. Collins admits he heard the names and he said he suddenly began feeling as though he had just gotten into a situation that went over his head. “It was an ‘oh, s—‘ moment,” Collins explained. It was a line that drew laughter from attendees.

“All these guys come down and now they are staring right at me,” Chris Collins remembers. The younger Collins said, “With those guys, you can’t fool them. They either think you know what you’re talking about or they don’t. And the moment they think you can’t help them, you’re dead to them.”

But the young Collins didn’t let the moment rattle him, he said, adding he took a deep breath, briefly closed his eyes, and then dove in to begin giving orders to begin the session. As a result, he said, the veteran players did everything the younger Collins told them to do for the next 15 minutes during that exercise. The ending to the young Collins’ story generated laughter and applause from the audience. Collins added, for him, “That was a big moment.”

NORMAL – For Gary Ferguson, involvement in Special Olympics has double the satisfaction. First, he’s employed by Marcfirst as a job facilitator, which has been providing services to help people with mental disabilities since the mid-1950s..But just as importantly, his daughter, Kelsey, is a Special Olympics athlete. And not just an athlete, but an athlete on the run as part of a 4×400 relay team. Kelsey and her teammates from SOAR, which stands for Special Opportunities Available in Recreation, based in Bloomington.

“My daughter has participated in regular high school sports,” Ferguson said. But he adds that athletes who participate in Special Olympics find doing so “is an opportunity to get involved in anything from track and field to swimming to Bocce Ball to Volleyball, and Soccer. There’s just a variety of things an individual can get interested in.”

In her second year doing Track and Field, Julia has experience competing in Bowling in Special Olympics, but Track and Field was new to her, and she had to have her coaches talk her into it. The young woman admits her dad had to talk her into trying out for Track and Field. Long distance running, Julia said, “keeps me in shape.”

Dee Wilson, a volunteer who is the Track team’s coach, admits when it come to deciding who runs which leg of the race, it’s easier to arrange. That’s because it depends on how thew foursome – Julia Snyder, Josh McClellan, Alex Neiman, and Kelsey – determine which runner will run which leg of the race. Shorter relays are much faster, Wilson explained. Faster relays, she added, also determine which runner runs what leg of the race.

The runners in this group have all graduated from high school and the group managed to finish in 2nd place in the heat they were in versus runners from four other teams.

McClellan, who runs the second leg of the race, explained, “The coach determined where I was placed in the race.” He added what he enjoys about running is such relays “sharing the victory, no matter what place we finish in” with his teammates.

Events And Locations: Since 1977, ISU facilities have been the primary host venues since 1977 and, as the event has grown, Normal-based Unit 5 School District schools Kingsley Junior High School and Normal Community High School have joined in hosting events.

Illinois State University campus played host for a number of events over the three-day event. For ISU, those include Artistic gymnastics at Horton Field House; Bocce competition at ISU’s Duffy Bass Field; Softball throw events at Adelaide Street Field; Tennis ball throw event and mini javelin throw event at Hancock Stadium; and Track events on ISU track.

As in past years for State Summer Games, ISU Horton Field House was home for Tournament Central for the Summer Games and a volunteering station for those wishing to be part of the event as volunteers.

Two Normal-based Unit 5 School District schools held Special Olympics State Summer Games events, too. State competition in both Rhythmic Gymnastics and Swimming took place at Normal Community High School, while Kingsley Junior High School served as host venue for Powerlifting events.

Fans of Special Olympics Soccer teams were able to cheer on their favorites when teams play at ISU Intramural Fields, 180 N. Adelaide St.

Athletes and their family members wanting to instill good health habits were able to attend sessions on Healthy Athletes were able to do so at Redbird Arena.

In addition to athletic competition, there were also additional activities including a variety of Healthy Athlete initiatives; Families registration and activity opportunities; Olympic Town with a variety of interactive activities; souvenir sales; and a Victory Dance held in Uptown Normal Saturday night.

Under Special Olympics Illinois rules, athletes aren’t allowed to participate in more than one sport. Sports athletes compete in include: Athletics, Bocce, Unified Bocce, Gymnastics, Soccer, Powerlifting and Swimming. Unified Bocce is played by two-person teams consisting of a Special Olympics athlete and a non-disabled teammate.

Athletes’ Victory Dance In Uptown Saturday Evening: An annual event which has been part of Summer Games, was held in Uptown is the Victory Dance. The dance gave athletes opportunities to celebrate their accomplishments and socialize with others from around the State in addition to members of the community. It also serves as a chance for old friends to meet and catch up and gives them an opportunity to make new friends, as well.