NO BLUES FOR FURRY
William Furry, former editor of Illinois Times, was named executive director of the 105-year-old Illinois State Historical Society.
Furry, who joined the society as assistant director in 2001, succeeds Tom Teague, who resigned in July. (Teague, also a regular IT contributor, died in September.) Furry will continue to serve as editor of the society’s Illinois Heritage magazine and as an associate editor of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society.
More than 70 candidates applied for the job, and five were interviewed, says society president David W. Scott.
MORE ON MERCURY, AUTISM
A new report released Monday by the independent Environmental Working Group says that children with autism may be more susceptible than other children to the ill effects of mercury and other toxic chemicals.
The report, titled Overloaded, suggests a link between autism and mercury exposure, according to the organization. Some researchers and environmental activists believe that a dramatic increase in the number of autistic children is the result of exposure to thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in vaccines until 2002. The controversy was the subject of a recent Illinois Times story [Michleen Collins, “Toxic Rx,” May 6].
The Environmental Working Group’s report, which highlights the research work
of Jill James, a professor of biochemistry and pediatrics at the University
of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, is available on the Web at www.ewg.org/reports/autism.
THERE’S ROOM AT THIS INN
Signature Inn of Springfield will provide a complimentary room to anyone visiting a hospitalized friend or relative. To take advantage of the holiday promotion, which runs through Jan. 3, contact the hospital at which the friend or relative is staying for a referral. Signature Inn is located at 3090 Stevenson Dr. For more information, call 217-529-6611.
This article appears in Dec 16-22, 2004.
