WILKINS, DANIELS QUIT BOARD
With a name like “Economic Development Council,” you know this
board wants members who are good for business. So it was no surprise to
find that retired University of Springfield professor Joe Wilkins and
erstwhile Lincoln Land Community College president Jack Daniels had both
resigned their posts on the EDC in the wake of recent personal scandals.
Wilkins, a behind-the-scenes political power broker,
was, at last word, still searching for documents to back up the military
medals that had for years been his claim to fame. An Illinois Times investigation
published in March revealed that the only documents he had to support his
war stories were apparent forgeries.
Daniels abruptly left his job at LLCC amid rumors
that he had carried on an intimate affair with a female employee.
Pending confirmation by the City Council (expected to
pass without comment next week), Springfield Urban League president Nina
Harris will serve Wilkins’ unexpired term; UIS Chancellor Richard
Ringeisen will serve Daniels’ term.
NEW MARSHAL IN TOWN
Springfield native Andre Iguodala has been tapped by
Gov. Rod Blagojevich to serve as grand marshal of the 2005 Illinois State
Fair Twilight Parade. Iguodala, who played basketball for Lanphier High
School, was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the
2004 NBA draft. He also was named Best Athlete by Illinois Times readers in last
year’s “Best of Springfield” edition. The parade starts
at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at the corner of Ninth Street and North
Grand Avenue, proceeds to Peoria Road and Eleventh Street, then enters the
fairgrounds at the main gate.
REMEMBERING THE A BOMBS
Local peace activists mark the 60th anniversary of
the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with special events next week. A
poetry reading will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, in the Carnegie
Room of the Lincoln Library. A vigil will be held at noon Saturday, Aug. 6,
at the Paul Findley Federal Building, Sixth and Monroe streets. An
interfaith service is planned at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Abraham
Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Rd. For
information, call 217-544-3997 or 217-546-5454.
This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 3, 2005.
