Officials from the University of Illinois and the Cities of Champaign and Urbana, have planned a joint effort to address the concerns caused by the event. The UI has invoked a “no tolerance” policy for academic disruption and will have faculty and staff in its facilities monitoring behavior. Champaign, Urbana and University Police will be in force on campus to keep peace, enforce State and local laws, and respond to calls for service. The Champaign Fire Department will be inspecting liquor-licensed facilities for overcrowding and life safety code compliance, in addition to monitoring balcony load limits in private residences.

Under his authority as Liquor Commissioner, Mayor Gerard has also issued an Emergency Order further regulating the sale of alcohol in licensed liquor establishments. The Order provides for the following additional regulations:

• Bars, restaurants and package liquor stores in the campus area may not serve or sell alcohol prior to 10 a.m. on Friday, March 2nd and Saturday, March 3rd.
• Bars and restaurants may not host any private functions that result in special drink pricing or other privileges on premise from 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 2nd until 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 4 th.
• Bars and restaurants may not serve pitchers of alcohol and all drinks must be served in paper or plastic cups or in pre-packaged aluminum cans or aluminum bottles on the 2nd and 3rd.
• No alcohol may be sold or served in glass containers, including bottles.
• Patron entry age for all bars in the campus area will be 21 years or older between 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 2nd until 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 3rd, and patron entry age for all bars in the campus area will be 21 years or older between 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 3rd and 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 4 th.
• All campus bars must have a doorman, aged 21 or older, present and checking ID’s at all entrances during the hours of operation.
• The Mayor’s Office wil l not be issuing any keg permits for parties making it illegal to possess more than 1 keg per residence during this event.
• For establishments licensed to sell package liquor, an Adult Responsibility Form must be completed by the purchaser and kept on file prior to the sale of the following quantities of alcohol:
• 168 or more 12 ounce containers of beer or malt beverage;
• 3,000 mL or 100 ounces of hard liquor; and/or
• one keg

The City of Champaign is currently evaluating the possibility of implementing a plastic bag ban or fee as a way to reduce litter in our community. City residents are asked to provide feedback on this issue by completing an online survey. The link for the survey is:

http://www.mobosurvey.com/SB4LS

Survey will close February 26, 2012 at 11:59 P.M.

Staff will be meeting with City Council Members in a Study Session on March 13, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss this topic. No formal vote will be taken at the meeting, but Council will be giving direction to staff to pursue a specific plan. Data collected from the online survey will be included in the report that is prepared for Council.

The options staff is evaluating include a ban on plastic bags or requiring businesses to charge a fee for customers to use a plastic bag at check out. Staff will also provide information on paper bag restrictions as programs in many cities address both types of bags.

A potential bag ban or fee on plastic bags is consistent with the City Council Goal, “Our City is a Model for Environmental Sustainability,” as well as Council’s Solid Waste Goals and Objectives, which include reducing litter in the City.

Questions may be directed to recycling@ci.champaign.il.us.

Per Cassandra’s parents, she was last seen at home around 10:00 PM on Thursday, February 2, 2012. It is believed that she left sometime during the night. No further information was provided to police.

DESCRIPTION:
Age: 15
Hair: Brown
Height: 5’3 – 5’4”
Race: W/F
Eyes: Green
Weight: 150 lbs
Cassandra has a light-colored birthmark on her left cheek and was possibly wearing a “Packers” top.

The Champaign Police will continue to search for this missing youth and is asking for assistance from the community. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of CASSANDRA BUNNER is urged to contact the Champaign Police Department at (217) 351-4545 or callers can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 373-8477 (TIPS.) Information can also be sent by anonymous web tip by going to: www.373tips.com or by texting keyword “CCTIP” plus the information to 274637 (CRIMES).

The Champaign Police Department is currently following up on all leads in this investigation.

• UNIVERSITY PROVIDES STABILITY: Champaign’s stable economic base is anchored by the presence of the University of Illinois.

• DIVERSE REVENUE STREAM: The city’s revenue stream is fairly diverse and includes sales, property and income taxes; the city’s home-rule taxing authority increases financial flexibility.

• STRONG FUND BALANCE: Fund balance levels remain healthy, although the city remains dependent on economically sensitive revenues.

• SOLID MANAGEMENT: Strong and steady financial management is reflected in conservative budgeting, sophisticated and comprehensive internal policies and active expense management.

The full press release is available on the City’s website at the following link: Fitch Affirms Champaigns GO Bonds at AAA

Record rainfalls in recent years caused neighborhood flooding and Council has expressed an interest in completing more capital drainage improvement projects. The projects would address neighborhood flooding problems. Currently, there is no funding available in the Stormwater Fund for additional capital projects. A stormwater utility fee is a method to provide funding needed to address stormwater management issues.

Residents and business owners interested in learning more and discussing a potential stormwater utility fee should consider attending the informational meeting scheduled for:

Wednesday, February 8 at 7 p.m. at the City of Champaign Building in Council Chambers

More information on the stormwater utility fee is available on the City’s web site: www.ci.champaign.il.us/swuf.

Cross will discuss the inspiration for her teen time-travel plot and how she balanced the task of writing with family and work commitments. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event, and the author will sign books after her presentation. 

Registration is recommended. Registrants will be entered in a drawing for a copy of the book. Registration is available online at http://bit.ly/julie_cross_tempest or by calling 403-2070. 

The author describes Tempest as a cross between The Bourne Identity and The Time Traveler’s Wife — but with teenage protagonists. At the story’s center is 19-year-old Jackson Meyer, who witnesses his girlfriend’s murder, then falls back two years in time, where he is obsessed with preventing the crime.

Publishers Weekly said, “It’s a story packed with moments both tender and electric — Cross’s zippy writing and fresh plot are an exhilarating combination.” MTV included the book on a list of “12 YA Novels We Can’t Wait to Read in 2012.” The Wall Street Journal listed Tempest among nine new titles that are expected to attract both teen and adult readers, the same age range that made Harry Potter a success.

Tempest is the first book in a trilogy being published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press. The studio that filmed Twilight, Summit Entertainment, has optioned the rights to all three of Cross’s novels.

For more information about the event, contact Betsy Su, teen librarian, at 403-2086 or bsu@champaign.org.

“We encourage drivers to proceed with caution,” says Dennis Schmidt, Public Works Director. “High winds are forecasted which may make visibility and drifting snow an issue, particularly on perimeter roads.”

Emergency snow routes and the Sidewalk Snow Removal Ordinance have not been activated at this time.

Public Works staff is asking the public’s cooperation and assistance in expediting the City’s street clearing efforts with the following requests:

• Please remove vehicles from City streets, if possible, or at least off of primary routes. One option is the Hill Street Parking Deck in downtown.
• Do not blow/plow snow from private property into City Streets. Doing so forces trucks to go back and re-plow certain areas, which takes away from clearing other streets.
• Do not blow/plow snow from private property onto medians. Once temperatures rise, snow piled on medians melts and flows onto streets creating slick spots.
• Be cautious around snow plows. Maintain space between your vehicle and the plow to allow for sufficient visibility.

Citizens are reminded to stay updated and informed by tuning in to local media and accessing the City’s web site (www.ci.champaign.il.us), CGTV Cable Channel 5 and NOAA’s National Weather Service (www.nws.noaa.gov) for updated information about winter weather.

City residents may participate by simply placing their tree within four feet of the curb by 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection date. Residents should refer to the map and schedule below to determine their collection days.

Tom Schuh, Operations Manager, would like to remind participants to remove decorations, stands, and plastic bags before setting their tree out for collection. The collected trees are taken to the Landscape Recycling Center where they are chipped and made into garden mulch. Any foreign objects left on the trees may be missed and could contaminate the mulch.

City Collection Days

Orange Zone
O-1 Mondays:Jan. 2 &  Jan .9                                       

O-2 Tuesdays: Jan. 3 &  Jan. 10

O-3 Wednesdays: Jan. 4 &  Jan. 11

O-4 Thursdays: Jan. 5 &  Jan. 12

O-5 Fridays: Jan. 6 &  Jan. 13

Blue Zone

B-1 Mondays: Jan. 2 &  Jan. 9

B-2 Tuesdays: Jan.  3 &  Jan. 10

B-3 Wednesdays: Jan. 4 &  Jan. 11

B-4 Thursdays: Jan. 5 &  Jan. 12

B-5 Fridays: Jan. 6 &  Jan. 13

Trees may also be taken to the Landscape Recycling Center at 1210 E. University Avenue in Urbana for free disposal during the month of January 2012. Residents may call the Center at 217.344.5323 with any questions regarding operating hours.

The disc was recorded at Pogo Studio in Champaign and includes familiar children’s songs and rhymes performed by Kathy Harden, Lynn O’Brien and library staff members. The CD is the library’s second collaboration with Howie, who also contributed to the earlier recording “Baby Boogie,” recognized as a Parents Choice Approved Award Winner.

Both CDs were created to help children develop early language skills as a foundation for later success in reading. They will be available for purchase at the library for $12 each, starting at the Saturday event. The library plans to have the CDs available for purchase online later this fall. All proceeds support the library.

David Howie’s work for children includes 10 CDs for Catholic Kids Net, a national company. He is known to local audiences for his appearances around town as a guitarist-vocalist and as the leader of the band Sons & Daughters, which performed for 15 years starting in 1992.

The library is located at 200 W. Green St. For more information, call 217/403-2030.