Southern Illinois University Carbondale OpenSIUC July 2008 Daily Egyptian 2008 7-15-2008 The Daily Egyptian, July 15, 2008 Daily Egyptian Staff Follow this and additional works at: https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/de_July2008 Volume 93, Issue 172 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Daily Egyptian 2008 at OpenSIUC. It has been accepted for inclusion in July 2008 by an authorized administrator of OpenSIUC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COLUMN, PAGE 5: Gus Bode says I talk to strangers every day. TU ES DA Y JULY 15, 2008 Former DVOLUME 93, NO. 172 E 12 PAGES secretary’s Sitting pretty trial Library officials spend delayed $1 million-plus on New evidence AMPUS C causes new chairs, tables. postponement | Page 3 Allison Petty DAILY EGYPTIAN New evidence prosecutors could use in their case against a former administrative assistant charged IDEO with stealing thousands of dollars V from the university has delayed the M trial until fall. CO Check reactions to Rhonda Musgrave, 41, of Anna, . appeared Monday in Jackson JAKE LOCKARD ~ DAILY EGYPTIAN DE local wine and cheese County Circuit Court for her From left, Tim Myers, a senior studying political science, Chaz Cannova, a junior studying aviation, scheduled trial date on felony SIU festival. and Tasha Lewis, a junior studying health education, relax in the pool at Lewis Park Monday. “It’s really charges stemming from potentially really hot, and there’s no better way to cool off,” Myers said. fraudulent purchases she made on her university credit card while working in the political science Monsters give department. Judge Charles Grace Citizens pay high price for comfort granted a motion to delay the trial humans hell until September after prosecutors said they received new evidence Ameren gives advice to keep bills low struggling with utility bills. last week. Hellboy sequel has Leigh Morris, spokesman for Prosecutors did not offer the Tebow said. “You have to learn to Ameren Illinois Utilities, said Ameren’s judge details about the new evi- epic qualities. Justin Lange adapt the best you can.” rate increase was necessary to provide dence. ULSE DAILY EGYPTIAN P The couple is trying to keep their the area with quality utility delivery and Musgrave’s attorney, Jackson | Page 10 bill low by only using window air maintenance. In years past, Ameren County Public Defender Margaret Frank and Susie Tebow typically conditioning units in select rooms has donated to several organizations Degan, told the judge she had just spend their summer afternoons and using energy efficient light bulbs. that help its region’s customers. received the information Monday sitting in their dimly lit liv- They said they have been dealing with Earlier this year, Ameren donat- morning. ing room on North Springer Ameren for years and would like to see ed money to Crosswalk Community “I take it since you received Street. more competition in the area. Action Agency located in West them this morning, that becomes The couple said recent increases Cindy Johnson, 52, said the recent Frankfort. The agency used the money problematic for you being ready for in electricity rates have forced them rate increase has made it hard for to purchase fans that were distributed trial (today),” Grace said. to change their living habits. her family and her business. Johnson in June to those who qualified. None of the parties mentioned The price for electricity from babysits five children at While Ameren a plea agreement, though Degan AmerenCIPS, the division serv- her home on Carico Street does not offer bill for- told the judge on June 24 that ing Carbondale and other regions where she lives with her nybody, at giveness, Morris said, Musgrave was prepared to plea Dunbar done of Illinois, has increased by roughly mother, Jo Brumley, 82. little or no it is working with a and pay “a substantial amount of 50 percent since a 10-year statewide Johnson said her bills A rate relief program restitution.” rate freeze expired in January 2007. It have increased by more cost, can reduce designed to lower Musgrave pleaded not guilty in Poland has left customers like the Tebows to than one-third in the past the average custom- April 25 to two felony charges, improvise. year. She said it has become ‘‘the amount of er’s rate. The relief one for theft and the other for In the past few months, the Tebows’ so bad that her mother is electricity or aimed to limit the bill unlawful use of a credit card. She electricity bills have risen by more than currently trying to apply increase for customers is charged with spending between Distance runner places 70 percent, said Frank Tebow, 73. He for energy assistance natural gas that by 19 percent from $10,000 and $100,000 of university said the increase is harder on those through Western Egyptian 2006 to 2007, accord- money at several businesses for her they use. ULSE living on a fixed income, such as he Economic Opportunity — Leigh Morris ing to a 2007 release personal use, according to court P 19th at junior world and his wife. Council. spokesman for Ameren from Ameren. The documents. Besides the lack of lighting, the Western Egyptian Illinois Utilities release also promised The documents say a university- couple said they have to cut down on offers energy assistance further relief through- issued credit card was used last year luxuries such as watching the Southern for low-income residents struggling to out the next two years. to take the money. Court records championships. Illinois Miners play baseball and cover their energy expenses, along with Morris also said that he encour- listed evidence that included a two- attending university sporting events. several other services. ages Ameren customers to apply for a page spreadsheet of fraudulent pur- “It diminishes the budget,” Frank Ameren is also trying to help those budget-billing plan. Customers on the chases, 63 pages of receipts and the | Page 11 plan would pay the average monthly names of several university employ- ��������������������������������������� price of the previous year’s electric bill ees who are potential witnesses for each month. The plan would keep the prosecution. ���������������������������������������� bills at a constant rate so customers SIUC Police Chief Todd Sigler, �������������������������������������������������������������������� would be better equipped to plan their one of those potential witnesses, monthly expenses. told the D E in April ����������������������������������������������������������������� “Anybody, at little or no cost, can that an SIUC police investigation reduce the amount of electricity or in December led to the charges Today ������������������������������������ natural gas that they use,” Morris said. against Musgrave. The investiga- Sunny ������������������������������������������������������� For those seeking energy assis- tion began Dec. 10 and was fin- High: 91, Low: 66 tance, the Western Egyptian Jackson ished the next day, he said. THER ��������������������������������������������������������������� County office can be reached at Sgt. David Stewart of SIUC EA ������������������������������������������������������ 618-684-3341. For information Police said Monday that he W about electric rates and ways to save, informed the State’s Attorney’s �������������������������������������������������������������� visit ameren.com. office last week about new evidence Wednesday ������������������ in the ongoing investigation into Justin Lange can be reached at the charges against Musgrave. Sunny �������������� 536-3311 ext. 258 or High: 93, Low: 67 ���������������������������� [email protected]. See TRIAL, Page 2 VISIT SIUDE.COM: NEWS, SPORTS, UPDATES, MULTIMEDIA AND FORUMS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE 2 Tuesday, July 15, 2008 DAILY EGYPTIAN News SimmonsCooper Institute opens to serve region University administrators and ful building and it’s going to have asset for the people it serves. Robbins supporters cut the ribbon Thursday the most advanced, state-of-the-art said the institute would also include an in Springfield for the $21.5 million equipment.” on-site social worker specially trained SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, Dr. Thomas Robbins, director of to help cancer patients navigate their which has been in the works for more the institute, said the most important treatment options. than eight years. aspect of the building is the way it will However, the facility will not begin SIU President Glenn Poshard said allow the university to serve the people serving patients until late fall or early the facility would help the southern of central and southern Illinois. next year because of money cut from Illinois region by providing much- “It’s clearly our goal to become the state budget proposal for fiscal needed healthcare while also giving the comprehensive cancer pro- year 2009. the university a boost in research and gram for the downstate region,” reputation. Robbins said. Allison Petty can be reached at “It’s a tremendous asset to our uni- He added that the institute’s patient 536-3311 ext. 254 or versity,” Poshard said. “That’s a beauti- learning resource center as a particular [email protected]. TRIAL should be ready by the Sept. 22 she was also the person who oversaw CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 trial date. the card’s use. Interim Provost Don Rice said he “No one was really looking into did not know how much money was the accounting on that card,” Rice said. “It takes time to go through every- involved in the charges. But he said “That’s my understanding.” thing and look for everything,” he said, the situation caused administrators to College of Liberal Arts Dean Alan indicating SIUC police officers are still be more aware of who uses university Vaux said he would not discuss the investigating the credit card charges. credit cards and who supervises their case. Stewart would not discuss specif- use. But Vaux said the college has ics of the case, including how much He said he thought Musgrave was procedures in place to make sure a money the university is missing.