1. The David Rule: New Blog Policy (20)
   5:14 AM on Fri, 1/27/12

The David Rule: New Blog Policy
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

It is easy to start a blog and it is easy to make a comment within the guidelines here on Halfway.

The authors on Halfway are respected members of the community who I trust will not use this platform to engage in petty name-calling and who I trust will not spread false rumors to support their personal political agendas.

If someone clicks on an article to read a new comment, and the comment is interesting and contributes to the conversation, readers are more likely to return when they see new comments have been made.

Nobody has been banned, but we will be more aggressive in deleting comments."

2. Governor Mitch Daniels to Headline ChampaignCounty Republican Lincoln Day on April 19 (3)
   9:52 AM on Thu, 1/26/12

Governor Mitch Daniels to Headline ChampaignCounty Republican Lincoln Day on April 19
got a new comment by David

My reaction to the johnny's comment is that although contributing $90 to a political cause is fine, tickets to many more enlightening local events can be purchased for substantially less than $90. And I illustrated the point with examples. Your removal of the comment is puzzling.<br /><br />Concerning Mitch Daniels's response to the State of the Union address. Even looking at Daniel's remarks from a Republican perspective, the response was very weak.

3. Bambenek Admits Truth About Alleged Nudo Donation to Frerichs (8)
   6:06 AM on Thu, 1/26/12

Bambenek Admits Truth About Alleged Nudo Donation to Frerichs
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

I removed a small section of Local Yocal's comment. Politics has a tendency to make people angry, but engaging in petty name-calling isn't going to help anything. Selling out common decency is the cancer in politics and both Frerichs and Bambenek, to me, have demonstrated they are part of the problem and not the solution. All we can do is try to find candidates who will put the community before themselves and their political ambition, and support those candidates when we are fortunate enough to find one. If Nudo would have stayed in, I think he would have distinguished himself with his integrity and honest/direct approach to getting things done.

4. We Are Number Four? (1)
   5:45 AM on Thu, 1/26/12

We Are Number Four?
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

I have fixed the link to the article.

5. I Endorse Alan Nudo for State Senator (2)
   9:31 AM on Wed, 1/25/12

I Endorse Alan Nudo for State Senator
got a new comment by hackwayinteresting

And I endorse David to take over this blog.<br />

6. Unity and Reconciliation (5)
   10:39 PM on Mon, 1/23/12

Unity and Reconciliation
got a new comment by Terra Patient

John Bambenek writes --- "Right now I'm working on mending fences in the party" ---didn't seem that way last week. I'm curious John...just exactly how did this change of heart come about? I'll be happy to change my tone when it comes to you when I see some actual "mending" happening. In my humble perspective the only person mowing down fences like a 13 year old kid with keys to the new tractor was YOU.

7. Champaign County--upcoming issues (8)
   12:46 PM on Mon, 1/23/12

Champaign County--upcoming issues
got a new comment by pattsi petrie

Apologies for not replying sooner to some of the above inquiries. Since I have only been on the CB for a year, I had to do some research to make certain as to the accuracy of this reply.<br /><br />It is difficult to ascertain the assumption whether the elected position was expected to be full time when the 1990 statute was put in place. That said the duties of the elected officials per statute might cause one to assume that the job is full time. The statutes are much to long so I am including the citations to enable anyone who is curious to look up the statutory descriptions of each elected officials responsibilities. Statutory requirements for elected officials--55 ILCS 5/ (County Code) and statutory requirements for circuit clerk--705 ILCS 105/ (Clerks of Court Act).<br /><br />As to the inquiry about retirement benefits, the following explanation is from Deb Busey. " A law was passed in Springfield which created the Elected County Officials (ECO) pension through IMRF in 1997. The County Board was presented with Resolution No. 3870 to enter into the ECO IMRF Plan for Champaign County officials at the July 1997 board meeting, and approved it at that meeting. At the time, I do not believe anyone was able to really predict the financial impact of that action. By 2000, the County Board became aware of just how expensive the ECO pension plan was, and rescinded it on February 21, 2000 with Resolution No. 4207. At the time the plan was rescinded, the county officials already enrolled in the plan were allowed to continue in the plan - those officials were Linda Frank, Circuit Clerk; Dan Welch, Treasurer; Barb Frasca, Recorder; Dave Madigan, Sheriff; Gerrie Parr, Auditor. Those who had previously retired under the plan included Denny Bing, County Clerk; Roger Little, Treasurer; and Bud Barker, County Board Chair. Linda Frank will retire under the ECO plan, which means her final pension will be at 80% of her annual salary for the last year she held her elected position."<br /><br />I hope that all of this information helps people have a more complete understanding of the issue of elected officials salaries.

8. Who Needs Democrats When Illinois Republicans Will Attack Each Other? (7)
   1:42 PM on Sun, 1/22/12

Who Needs Democrats When Illinois Republicans Will Attack Each Other?
got a new comment by Terra Patient

I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Alan Nudo. I think it's time we all respected his privacy.

9. Updated: Bambenek and Frerichs Join Forces (16)
   10:50 AM on Thu, 1/19/12

Updated: Bambenek and Frerichs Join Forces
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

Matt, Alan has made it clear that he had nothing to do with the decision to support Frerichs. I don't believe John Bambenek believes Nudo ever contributed to Frerichs and I don't believe Frerichs believes Nudo contributed to Frerichs. At this point I'm challenged to find anyone local to go on the record saying they believe Nudo contributed to Frerichs. They redirect the question. Do you even remotely believe that Nudo contributed Frerichs? If you had a signed statement by Triple R owners saying that Nudo had nothing to do with the decision, would you still not be convinced?

I'm concerned that since Nudo signs all the checks for Robeson's, we're going to learn that Kyle Robeson donated to Dukakis just before the primary election and it will ignite another check-related firestorm. Please Kyle, say it ain't so.

10. I'm a Republican (6)
    3:03 PM on Mon, 1/16/12

I'm a Republican
got a new comment by David

Hello Eric:<br /><br />What do you think Martin Luther King would think of the Champaign County Republican Party Platform?<br /><br />Regards<br />David

11. MLK (2)
    2:55 PM on Mon, 1/16/12

MLK
got a new comment by David

“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” — Martin Luther King Jr. in a speech to the Medical Committee for Human Rights, 1966<br /><a href="http://whatifpost.com/martin-luther-king-and-health-care.htm" rel="nofollow">whatifpost.com/...-luther-king-and-health-care.htm</a>

12. Rock Bottom? (9)
    2:35 PM on Sat, 1/14/12

Rock Bottom?
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

Comment has been removed. Please keep comments focused on the topic being discussed by Matt in this post and refrain from personal insults.

13. UpdatedX2: Holderfield Petition Challenge Update - Holderfield Remains on Ballot (23)
    2:28 PM on Sat, 1/14/12

UpdatedX2: Holderfield Petition Challenge Update - Holderfield Remains on Ballot
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

It's too early for me to say.

14. New Year, New Superintendent (5)
    11:19 AM on Mon, 1/9/12

New Year, New Superintendent
got a new comment by pattsi petrie

I , too, appreciate the dialogue. Again writing as a taxpayer, my procedural concern is related to two aspects: when it was decided to accept an application, now matter whose, that the consulting firm was not asked to reopen the process and advertize such. Second aspect if the process was opened internally because there was concern that the pool of applicants was not strong, then opening the whole process keeps everything above board and much more easy to explain to the community. It probably is very obvious that transparency, openness, and following procedure are given high marks by me. :-)

15. Attention on the Champaign County Jail in Downtown Urbana (6)
    11:12 AM on Mon, 1/9/12

Attention on the Champaign County Jail in Downtown Urbana
got a new comment by pattsi petrie

As for reports--I have already mentioned what was brought back from Colorado. There is research being done by a group at the university related to over population of the jail and why this is the case. It is my understanding that the results will be brought to the CB. The best source for more details about this is CB member, Carol Ammons. Michael Richards is chair of the CB committee, social justice, so this is another resource. There are monthly reports from the public defender's office on the CB web site. Since the states attorney, circuit clerk, and sheriff are all elected offices, the CB has virtually no jurisdiction, except budgetary. And speaking of budget, there is the 500+ page county budget on the county web site. This is a document that each citizen ought to look at to see that the largest percentage of the county budget goes to issues of justice. Not many folks realize this. Right now key questions are: are the jails over crowded, if so, why; how is it that the downtown jail is so out-of-date, according to some; if a new jail is determined to be necessary, how can it be designed to mitigate being out-of-date too soon; how can we project ahead as to jail needs; how can we turn the jail into a benefit for the community; what might be the cost of building a new jail, if determined this is necessary, and how will the funds be generated to pay for the project?

16. Just give me one day. (4)
    10:06 AM on Mon, 1/9/12

Just give me one day.
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

Eric, I'm going to borrow your ham sandwich reference, just so you know. :-)<br /><br />

17. Retail: It's Alive! (34)
    10:24 AM on Fri, 1/6/12

Retail: It's Alive!
got a new comment by David

Matt: What lessons or observations are you expecting us to take from these reports about Dollar General and Sears/Kmart that you posted?


18. This Week CIB Features Business Coach and Author Rod Santomassimo and Jack and Ann Knoop (1)
    11:22 AM on Mon, 1/2/12

This Week CIB Features Business Coach and Author Rod Santomassimo and Jack and Ann Knoop
got a new comment by David

Day and time of the broadcast? Can it be subsequently be listened to on line ? Such information should be in all your program announcements

19. Happy New Year: Wish List for 2012 (2)
    11:19 AM on Mon, 1/2/12

Happy New Year: Wish List for 2012
got a new comment by pattsi petrie

It is all too often very difficult for John Q. Public to sort out fact from fiction. I often use this web site <a href="http://www.factcheck.org" rel="nofollow">www.factcheck.org</a> It would be useful to read the Whoppers of 2011, especially about the cost of Obama's healthcare package.<br /><a href="http://factcheck.org/2011/12/the-whoppers-of-2011/" rel="nofollow">http://factcheck.org/2011/12/the-whoppers-of-2011/</a>

20. Jim Gould Closes Permanently (3)
    12:49 AM on Mon, 1/2/12

Jim Gould Closes Permanently
got a new comment by David

Eric wrote: " Will the new restaurants opening now be open in 6 years? Is expanding more breweries/restaurants into locations like Blue Line going to help downtown business by providing critical mass, or will it just cannibalize existing businesses?" We should not worry about this. The restaurant industry, selling a product which should only be purchased with disposable income, should be left to the forces of the free market.

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