- IN SPORTS, 0-1 -IN FEATURES, E-1 --Our: na YM( plan man new facil ne • Y aims t( $10 million Miss America ing Miss America Katie Har­ man. medical pal udges wowed by Miss Alabama Scarlotte Deupree was first runner-up; By J. PHILIP BLOOMEI rika Harold, 22 Miss Oklahoma Casey Preslar News-Gazette Staff WritE was second runner-up; Miss CHAMPAIGN­ The Associated Press Nevada Teresa Benitez was paign County YMCI The News-Gazette third runner-up; and Miss ing to launch a driv TLANTIC CITY, N.J. Maryland Camille Lewis round­ million building on 's Erika Harold, who put ed out the finalists. southwest ChamI d University law school Harold, a University of Illi­ biggest initiative ill hold so she could compete in nois graduate who wants to ated organization's Miss America Pageant, won practice public policy law and tory of service to tt all Saturday. run for national office some­ The new buildin€ Harold, 22, wowed judges day, was supposed to start at the first phase of a . "Habanera," an aria from Harvard this fall. She delaved that will eventua opera "Carmen," and per­ her enrollment after winning replacement of IT d ably on a newly added Miss Illinois in June and getting headquarters on Ch [¢0I1telmp'or culture pop quiz a shot at Miss America. "The YMCA's bt to the five finalists. A year with the crown will for 20 years about t She gasped, covered her help her pay tuition: She earned a new facility," sai( h and bent her knees in a $50,000 scholarship for win­ Associated Press· Director Wade Har when her name was ning Saturday night, and thou­ took over the Y in 20 lPu.uv,,,,u\,,,d as Miss America sands more in winning her state Miss Illinois Erika Harold of Urbana reacts after sity of Illinois graduate who put Harvard Univer­ things happened in then ducked her head to being named the 2003 Miss America at the com­ sity law school on hold to compete, Harold earned some with promise, 1 Ili'l'P(,p,mp the crown from outgo- Please see MISS AMERICA, A-8 petition Saturday in Atlantic City, N.J. A Univer- a $50,000 scholarship for winning the title. work out. Now is t make it work." The YMCA is \\ securing a medical . the southwest Chan ush has military's options for attack on Iraq a partner that will cial said Saturday. undergo additional refinements reviewing his options." he told a news conference Sat­ organization in it1 The highly classified plan in the weeks ahead, said the On a visit to American troops urday. He also noted: "Our wellness and youth: was delivered to the White official, who spoke on condition in Kuwait, Franks said his president has not made a deci­ 12 acres has been co House in early September by of anonymity. forces are ready if called upon. sion to go to war." a landowner the Y Gen. Tommy Franks, the Cen­ Bush has made no decision on "We are prepared to under­ Kuwait would be a likely prepared to name G tral Command chief, who would Iraq, White House spokesman take whatever activities and launching pad for an attack Hampton said. run any military operation Sean McCormack said. "He has whatever actions we may be The 76,000-squan against Iraq. The plan will options before him, and he is directed to take by our nation," Please see BUSH, A-8 ty will include a dot sium, a gymnastic pool, four locker roc training room a square feet resen medical partner. Hl the Y is prepared with or without t partner. Please see YMCA, A-: n the fans INSIDJ Air Fares ........ Business ........ Classified .. F-6-8, Se ome flyin' in COJT1mentary ..... Community Calendar . Crossword Puzzle .. • Faithful few Daybook ......... Game day Info Dear Abby ........ charter fl ights EarthWeek ....... I11III Game time: Noon Entertainment .... here for games I11III TV coverage: WCCU Features ........ Horoscope ....... (Fox) By DIANE HAAG Local ........... News-Gazette Staff Writer I11III Radio coverage: Movies .......... SAVOY - For 15 years, Rantoul's 1460-AM Obituaries ........ Chicagoan John Boler and Sports & Gibson City's Opinions ......... three of his friends have gone WGCY 106.3-FM Travel .......... to the Bears home opener III Our preview: Special TV Listings ....... together. pullout section, 0-7-10. Pullout sections ... They weren't about to let 150 miles of interstate stand in News·Gazette photo by John Dixon the way of their tradition - , especially when it's only a 25- pIe waited to check in, while Leslie Putman, a server at Blaggi's Ristorante rants and gas stations were unusually busy with minute flight. pilots from corporate jets had Italiano in Champaign, carries a meal from the both the Bears and Illinois football teams play- WEATID " • 1 ........ 1"' ................................. 1_"'_ ~~_ .... 11 .... 'L. _____ !1 Idtt'h':>n nn C::Mllrti<:>\1 nldht A ro", h"tol" rOM"'" 2002 At SALE PRICED A4's(1), AB's(2), TT's(3) "Low Interest Financing AVe CALL FOR CURREN Continued from A-l body's bOoked." "We've had several calls," he Good luck finding a seat if said. "We do expect to be filled Bears game today. you were planning on going out up this evening." But it took some work to find for a nice dinner Saturday night "We had a really good crowd a place to stay, Steve Wagner as well. today," said Rose Moen, manag­ said. "We have been full since er at Aunt Sonya's, next door to "I must have called 18 about Tuesday," Scott Wegs, the Chancellor and not far from hotels," he said. "They were all manager at Biaggi's, said of the the stadium. "We were lined up booked up." restaurant's reservation list. right until game time." "There's nothing," said "People have been calling non­ Across the street at Bagel­ Anthony Hansen at the Park Inn stop the last three days." men's, manager James Jones in Urbana. "I think Tuscola is Wegs said the level of traffic said the restaurant had typical the closest place." wasn't so unusual for a football business for the Saturday of an "We're seeing major traffic," weekend, whether the Illini or Illini home game. said Debbie Hutcherson, guest the Bears. But the volume of J ones said Bears games services manager at the Holi­ calls and the number of people haven't been a big boost, day Inn Express in Tuscola. calling ahead was, he said. because people driving by "It's great. Let's keep the Bears Wagner's niece Samantha going to the game don't want to down here." Franz, a UI senior celebrating stop and lose their place in the "Increased traffic, increased her 21st birthday, called nearly traffic line, and regulars avoid everything," said Tinisha Shade two weeks ago to make a reser­ the heavy pregame traffic. at the Best Western Riverside vation for her roommate Melis­ "The first Bears home game, N, Inn in Danville. "We're booked sa Warnke, the Wagners and we actually did less (business) completely. We've been booked their son Max. than we usually do on a Sun­ Chicago Bear fans, who opted to fly into Flight­ Stadium, arrive for the Bear since the beginning of August." "There were only two time day," he said; star at Willard Airport in Savoy rather than make son home game against the The Chancellor Hotel & Con­ slots open," she said. Jason Summers at the Collins the 2¥ hour drive to Champaign and Memorial on Sept. 8. vention Center in Champaign Biaggi's only makes reserva­ Oil station on South Neil Street and the Holiday Inn & Confer­ tions for half its tables. Wegs knows when the Bears are in ence Center in Urbana were expected no problem filling the town. Flying fans even more pressed for space unreserved seats. "I usually get a bunch of peo­ than other hotels. The former "If you want to go to dinner at ple asking where the stadium Continued from A-l night game against the Packers, and ready fo houses the Bears before games, 7:30 like everybody else, I think is," he said. he expects 100 to 200 planes to catered in f the latter was hosting the New it's going to be an hour wait," he Like other businesses, Sum­ Flightstar invested money in arrive. have to vent Orleans Saints, the Bears' oppo­ said. The wait was an hour by 6 mers and folks at iocal gas sta­ technical equipment like anew "We're putting our game plaIj. "This is all nents today. p.m. tions also reported plenty of de-icer and new aircraft stairs, together already," he said. paign, Walk, "They want three floors to Buck Plummer, general man­ traffic Saturday. said Gary Kuchenbrod, vice "We're confident we'll have our could spend themselves," Tyson Shreeves, ager at The Ribeye in Cham­ "We're doing a lot of busi­ president for gro1.j.nd support ducks in a row." could see wb front desk clerk at the Holiday paign, said Bears games ness," said Caleb Curtiss at the services. On the decorative side, NFL Not all thl Inn, said of the Saints. "We're haven't generated much busi­ Big Foot Amoco station on While air traffic so far has and Big Ten flags hung from the belonged to 1 p"acked. We've been having ness for the steakhouse. He South Neil. "Last time the Bears been comparable to Illini games, ceiling, and Bears merchandise Kuchenbrod calls all day.