MATT ERICKSON Eastern President David Jorns Was out of Town Dustin Palmer, a 13-Year-Old Him Nicely
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Eastern Illinois University The Keep July 1997 7-9-1997 Daily Eastern News: July 09, 1997 Eastern Illinois University Follow this and additional works at: http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_1997_jul Recommended Citation Eastern Illinois University, "Daily Eastern News: July 09, 1997" (1997). July. 3. http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_1997_jul/3 This is brought to you for free and open access by the 1997 at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in July by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PARTLY CLOUDY Are the A high of 88º The Stars out INSIDE Daily Feed me, Eastern tonight? National, WEDNESDAY Eastern Illinois University American’s Seymour Charleston, Ill. 61920 July 9, 1997 best do battle Vol. 84, No. 160 Tuesday’s blood drive falls 8 pages in Cleveland. short of goal, but gives hope for the future. News PAGE 5 “Tell the truth and don’t be afraid” PAGE 8 Percussion camp invades Eastern Just be prepared for a ‘Hard work’ week of hard work. being instilled You need to be able to read “music – definitely.” in participants – Dustin Palmer By DAN FIELDS Camp participant Editor in chief you’re not going to get very Individuals ranging from far.” adults to those in junior high are Hoy said he practices nearly participating this week in the every chance he gets. United States Percussion Camp. “I do my practices right The host and founder of the before class in the morning, camp is Johnny Lee Lane, an after lunch and in my free hour,” Eastern professor of music. Hoy said. The camp, which is a week- One camper in particular is PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINOIS SENATE long summer event, started appreciative of the staff on Gov. Jim Edgar signs a bill Monday in Springfield boosting pension benefits for employees of state Sunday and will conclude on campus. government and public universities. Saturday. Chris Wilson, a 14-year-old There are numerous classes from Mediapolis, Iowa, got that the students will have an tangled up with a lawn mower opportunity to learn hands-on back home. Consequently, he Edgar signs retirement bill experience from. The classes “cut up” a toe on his right foot. include: Latin Percussion, Wilson said that he’s occa- Marching Percussion, Drumset, sionally had to use a wheelchair New plan will increase state workers’ pensions Snare Drum and Timpani. and the staff has accommodated By MATT ERICKSON Eastern President David Jorns was out of town Dustin Palmer, a 13-year-old him nicely. Managing editor Tuesday and could not be reached for comment on student from Salem, explained “I have to go around in a the new legislation. that although the work at the wheelchair and the staff is real Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar signed legislation The legislation provides for a new retirement camp is difficult, the rewards nice and a lot of fun – they’ve Monday that will improve pension benefits for state formula for the State Employees Retirement System are great. helped me a lot,” Wilson said. employees – including educators – for the first time (SURS) that will increase pension benefits for the “It’s kind of hard work, but “(The camp) is a lot of fun, but in more than 25 years. average state worker by a reported 50 percent to 60 it’s worth it,” Palmer said. “I’ve it’s a lot of hard work too.” The agreement forces employees to voluntarily give percent. never touched anything in Latin When asked to give future up any pay raises for 1998 and all payments for any This new formula, under House Bill 110, will before – it’s pretty cool.” students advice about the camp, future sick leave days they may have accumulated to affect approximately 63,000 state employees in Sam Hoy, 13, of Paducah, Palmer explained that students offset the majority of the costs of the legislation. Illinois. The new legislation will also improve the Ky., said the camp is the wrong will learn a lot if they come Edgar said he signed the legislation partly retirement benefits of the members of SURS. place to be if you don’t want to prepared. because he believes post-retirement security is According to the new formula, the average state learn. “Just be prepared for a week essential for employees of the state. employee earning a salary of $32,311 per year with “I think it’s a real nice of hard work,” Palmer said. “Illinois state employees deserve an adequate 23 years of service at the time of retirement would experience for beginners as well “You need to be able to read measure of security in their retirement years,” Edgar see retirement benefits increase from roughly $670 a as experts,” Hoy said. “If you music – definitely.” said in a press release Monday. “This legislation month to about $1,034 per month – a 54 percent just come here to goof off, Lane was not able to be puts Illinois state retirement benefits at least on par increase. you’re not going to get anything reached for comment Tuesday out of it. If you don’t practice, evening. with benefits offered by most other states.” See EDGAR page 2 ICTC to raise costs for directory assistance But increase will allow callers to dial just one number — 411 — for service By DAN FIELDS The decision to database nearly significantly lower than national rates. Editor in chief raise the rates, Many other telecommunications five years ago, “Callers may pay up to $3.25 for Homan said, was companies are adjusting prices and contracted national directory assistance from other Area residents will see an increase in made by Illinois of services with the cost of its directory vendors,” Hall said. “Consolidated’s costs placed to local directory assistance Consolidated “providing“ them to stay competitive assistance national directory assistance is priced at 85 beginning Aug. 1. But the tradeoff to the management. She while still covering the costs.” service to Amer- cents per call, and an additional 20 cents if increased cost will enable callers to dial added that ICTC itech. But with the caller wants the operator to complete 411 for national directory numbers as has 37 towns in - Rick Hall, the new data- the call.” well as local assistance. its service. Illinois Consolidated base, Homan Hall added that the Illinois Commerce Charlene Homan, spokesperson for Local directory Telephone Company said the Commission approved this rate because Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company, assistance rates, company will of understanding from increased labor said the increase will help provide more for listings within the 217 area code, will now be able to handle the service itself, along costs. workers to staff the company’s expanding increase a dime to 45 cents. The last time with being more efficient. “Due to higher labor costs and the directory assistance service. the rates were raised was in 1994, when “We’re now taking the first step,” addition of enhanced service, the Illinois “We’ll be adding more operators for there was a five-cent increase. Homan said. “ICTC thought they could Commerce Commission approved this national and local directory assistance,” Homan said Illinois Consolidated was provide better service in the community rate for the 217 area code calling area,” Homan said. “It was approved by the able to offer both national and local through this database.” Hall said. “Many other telecommuni- Illinois Commerce Commission. It will directory assistance through the Rick Hall, senior manager for operator cations companies are adjusting prices of only increase by 10 cents for a call – acquisition of a new database. services, said in a release that his services with the cost of providing them which is not a significant increase.” Homan said ICTC had trouble with its company’s rates for national service is to stay competitive while still covering 2 Wednesday, July 9, 1997 The Daily Eastern News SpotlightSpotlight NewsNews Bible passage is reportedly Aloha for gay couples: scrutinized in Ramsey case BOULDER, Colo. (AP) – From the $118,000 demand was chosen suspected link, said spokeswoman the beginning, the peculiarly exact because it was close to the amount Suzanne Laurion. Hawaii extends benefits demand of $118,000 in the JonBenet of John Ramsey’s 1995 bonus. Mrs. Ramsey underwent surgery HONOLULU (AP) – Starting move. It’s the broadest recogni- Ramsey ransom note has baffled But according to published reports, and chemotherapy after being diag- Wednesday, many of the benefits tion of untraditional marriage investigators. police now believe it could be linked nosed with ovarian cancer in 1993. available to married people in ever. But this is not exactly what Now, police are said to be consider- to Psalm 118:27: “God is the Lord, Friends of Mrs. Ramsey have said Hawaii will also be offered to gay the gay and lesbian community ing the possibility that the figure was which hath shewed us light: bind the she believed she healed herself couples, siblings and roommates, asked for,’’ said civil rights attor- inspired by a Bible passage familiar to sacrifice with cords, even unto the through prayer. under a first-in-the-nation law that ney Dan Foley, who represents the little girl’s mother. horns of the altar.’’ In a December 1994 interview with was enacted to head off homosex- three homosexual couples who The ransom note that Patsy “We have no response,’’ police Colorado Woman News magazine, ual marriages. are suing the state for the right to Ramsey reported finding on Dec. 26 spokeswoman Leslie Aaholm said Mrs. Ramsey touted the book “Healed The bill was expected to be marry. demanded $118,000 for the return of Tuesday of the reports in the super- of Cancer’’ by cancer survivor Dodie signed by Gov.