Pantagraph.com | News | Hit-and-run leaves Bloomington man critical

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Alexs mom wrote on Apr 12, 2007 3:54 PM:

" I just found out about Norman yesturday. I just can't believe that bad things happen to good people my son alex loves norman and so do we. I always felt comfortable leaving him there knowing norman actually cared about my son. Norman was the nicest caring person I probably know. For JOJO to sit there and say she does not feel right that he drinks and takes care of kids all day is bad so that means all us mothers or fathers that go and have mommy or daddy time are bad parents cause we like to enjoy ourselves once in awhile as well. Not one time did I feel that Norman was not capable of not taking care of those children. If so i'm sure someone would of reported. Well whatever what goes around comes around I guess. So when i see JOJOs name in the newspaper I'm sure i will come up with some lame excuse to make you the person at fault. Norman I will teach alex to say a prayer for you when we attend church on sunday God Bless. "

Jessica S. KCE wrote on Apr 11, 2007 12:48 PM:

" I am one of Normans good friends at Kids Club East I actually work with him and right next door to his room, He is the most caring and fun person you will ever meet, everyone loved him especially the kids. Everyone who does not know Norman has no business to say anything wrong about him. Who cares if he went out, We all deserve to have a good time and take all of our stress away especially when you work with children. You need that time to yourself or with friends. Anyway I think I can speak for everyone at KCE that we are all here for him and will be praying for him to get better. "

to FYI wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:59 PM:

" quitcher braggin, due to the probable fact, YOU have caused others to collide "

To JoJo: wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:24 PM:

" You strike me as the kind of person who would say a woman was "asking for it" if she was raped and happened to be wearing a short skirt or happened to be out alone. As long as the person isn't drinking in the classroom, why should it matter what he does on his own time? He's an ADULT. Just because he was at a bar before he was hit doesn't mean he deserved it! No one deserves to be that kind of victim. "

to FYI... wrote on Apr 9, 2007 7:33 PM:

" Wow, you must have bad luck are a bad driver!!! I've lived here for 17 years and only been hit once. Maybe you should go back and taking a driver's ed class again. "

to the two people after unconscionable wrote on Apr 9, 2007 7:30 PM:

" I get so sick of people telling other people to move if they complain about something in this town. Get off your high horse, there are problems in every town. I think the driving is somewhat bad in this town. Veteran Parkway is a nightmare. That is my opinion and I am not moving. "

dangerous wrote on Apr 9, 2007 6:50 PM:

" This should never happen to anyone but on the famous "other hand" a lot of crimes and injuries could be avoided if people went to bed at a decent hour. In my opinion, when you're out at 2:45am anything can happen. It's DANGEROUS out there, people... "

Candi wrote on Apr 9, 2007 4:46 PM:

" I work with norman at kids club east and we are all praying for him right now! It was a sad day for us all to find this out !!! I wasn't sure we would make it through the day! As for JoJo's little comment, I find it really sad that at a time like this you could say such a thing. Don't judge a man you do not know! Just beacuse we are good hearted enough to care for children does not mean we have no life. If we want to go out and enjoy ourselfs playing pool with friends then we can. If you think after taking care of kids all week that we can't drink on weekends you are crazy!!! I want you to come work with us for one week and see if you have no life on weekends!! I think you are probably the one that hit him, you should be ashamed of yourself for saying anything like that when my friend is gong through this!!!!! The man is over 40 years old well old enough to drink! There wasn't anything saying he was drinking anyways! "

To JoJo... wrote on Apr 9, 2007 4:20 PM:

" How dare you even say anything like that? I am a mother, and I go to bars when I have the money and babysitter. You don't know that he was drinking, I never have a drink when I go to the bar that is alcoholic. He is a very sweet, caring man, and may the horrible, horrible person who did this to him think twice about what they did and fess up! "

Rider2 wrote on Apr 9, 2007 4:03 PM:

" Since my first comment to the Family wasnt put up Ill try again as I said before I know Norman he is a good fellow my Familys prayers are with him and his family I believe God has a plan for him to make a healing miricale. To the person who did this I hope the traffic cameras or the surrounding parking lot cameras caught you and YOU will be dealt with accordingly. "

Laura KCE wrote on Apr 9, 2007 3:55 PM:

" I can not believe, someone would do this to anyone. Norman is a very caring and loving person. He would do anything for anyone, he is a good teacher and friend. No one has the right to judge Norman. The person thats in the wrong is the one who hit Norman and left him. Norman was not working he was on his time. He enjoys visiting with people. The children at the Kids Club East love him and he will be dearly missed. My prayers are with the family and Norman for his recovery. "

JOYCE wrote on Apr 9, 2007 3:31 PM:

" Dear Saint JOJO, people can be good and decent and still go out to have a good time when they are not working. Hey, even Christ drank wine and look what he accomplished!!! The trick is knowing when to stop the flow of alcohol. "

FYI wrote on Apr 9, 2007 1:56 PM:

" Hit and runs seem to be the norm around here. My car has been hit no less than 9 times(not quite every other year, and more than 1 car). Out of all those times, only 2 fessed up; one because her tire was sent 2 blocks in the other direction by my bumper and one the next day after she sobered up and called the police. I also got hit 3 times by city trucks, which they denied despite the streetsweeper marks on the road(still wet when the cop arrived), but they denied having been on my street. Good luck to you, Norman; I hope you have better luck finding who did this than I have. Get well soon. "

To JoJo wrote on Apr 9, 2007 1:54 PM:

" I can't believe you would even bring this issue up. It WAS the WEEKEND, he DID NOT have to work the next day. Who cares what a person does on their OWN time?!? This is ridiculous. Norman is the innocent victim here. Don't bring where he was or what he was doing into this. Why don't you focus your energy on other things instead of trying to hurt Norman, his family, and his friends? We are suffering enough!! And by the way, Norman is a WONDERFUL assistant teacher and takes his job very seriously. Try and find one person he works with, a parent of one of those kids, or anyone he knows who would have one bad word to speak of him. You wouldn't find anyone! So don't try to judge someone you DON'T KNOW. "

To JoJo wrote on Apr 9, 2007 1:43 PM:

" Nothing was mentioned in the article about Mr. Norman's blood level tests for drugs/alcohol. And if he had been drinking, he still had the common sense to not get behind a wheel and drive. Lighten up and say a prayer for his complete recovery. "

to JoJo wrote on Apr 9, 2007 1:15 PM:

" oh, so people who care for kids aren't allowed to go out and have a few drinks?? i'll bet (in the privacy of their own home) they aren't allowed to smoke, cuss or have sex either?!?! get a clue. unless every kid from kids club east was out at ride the nine watching him, i don't think there's a problem here. "

no suprise wrote on Apr 9, 2007 1:04 PM:

" Can't blame the police as they arrest them and the judges set them free(repeat offenders) and if it was an illegal there's no license/insurance like what happened out east recently. Still the city council is more worried about second hand smoke than street safety. It would not suprise me one bit if the offender has already been before the judge for driving/DUI violations before. "

To Jo Jo wrote on Apr 9, 2007 1:04 PM:

" Are you a parent? If so do you go out on the weekends or sometimes? So just because you work with kids or have kids, you aren't suppose to go out. Doesn't mean he was drinking. I can go to a bar and not have alcohol. "

to jojo wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:40 AM:

" It was a saturday night early sunday. He didn't have to teach for another day. He can stay out as late as he wants. Quit judging people if you don't know the facts. "

To JoJo... wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:40 AM:

" It was the weekend...he's entitled to stay out as long as he wants...I doubt he works during the days on Sunday so stop judging. "

hate cell phones wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:31 AM:

" Mr. Norman, I sure do hope that you will recover completely, find out who did this to you, and then go beat them to death with their cell phone that they were probably talking on while they were driving. People just do not ever cease to amaze me in life. What a low life to do something like this and keep driving. Your day will come...like they always say....you can run but you can't hide forever....be a brave person and go turn yourself in and let your insurance pay for this man's misery (if you have any). "

Ashley wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:11 AM:

" I work with Norman at Kids Club East. I cannot believe something this terrible would happen to someone so good. Norman is the NICEST man you will ever meet. He would do anything for anyone at anytime. I cannot believe that someone would do this and drive away! I hope they are found and punished for what they have done. We love you Norman, and we are praying for your recovery. "

JoJo wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:09 AM:

" I have a slight problem with someone being out til 2:15 am at a local pool bar by night, and he cares for children by day... "

I am wrote on Apr 9, 2007 10:58 AM:

" praying for his recovery. I can't wait to leave this place when I graduate. It was probablly a rich a&&hole in his SUV and did not care about the man because he is high and mighty. Don't worry, it will come out soon, cause this rich guy is going to go through his atty. to speak to police. "

To: Unconscionable wrote on Apr 9, 2007 10:44 AM:

" Why don't you move? Or better yet, create your own town - Utopiaville - because you won't find it on this planet. "

to:Unconscionable wrote on Apr 9, 2007 10:43 AM:

" It was probably YOU!!!!! "

Unconscionable wrote on Apr 9, 2007 9:54 AM:

" First and foremost my prayers are with Mr. Wilson. Pray for his full recovery. It's unimaginable that anyone could do such a thing. But, most likely, it's someone with warrants and/or on probation. There's a lot of ugly in this town. The cops are pathetic at best if they aren't out committing crimes themselves. Now, Bloomington is just as scummy as Peoria. It's not a nice place to raise your kids or send your kids to college. It's not squeaky clean even with that brown building and all the sheep! Lots of criminals...and lots of phonies. Let's hope there is justice for Norman Wilson. "

I'll be praying for you.. wrote on Apr 9, 2007 9:30 AM:

" I saw you at Ride The Nine that night... smiling as always. I'll be praying for a speedy recovery for you... "

Awful wrote on Apr 9, 2007 8:46 AM:

" ...drivers in this town, I can't wait to leave after finishing at ISU! I really hope Mr. Wilson pulls through and can maybe offer some information about what jerk did this to him! "

Sad wrote on Apr 9, 2007 8:45 AM:

" What's wrong with people? Run them over and leave them? It's sad and despicable. I really hope this man will overcome his injuries and justice will be served to those responsible for this ridiculous crime. "

concerned parent wrote on Apr 9, 2007 8:09 AM:

" My child was once in "Mr. Norman's" classroom. He truely cares for the children, and my heart goes out to him. Please get better Mr. Norman, we're all pulling for you! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this hard time. "

My heart goes out wrote on Apr 9, 2007 8:05 AM:

" To this man, and my prayers are with you. To the person that hit him, you will be caught and I hope they throw the book at you, though it isn't anything that this guy will have to live with the rest of his life! "

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