Daily Digest for Sept. 9

NEWS IN BRIEF

College indoor pool to reopen Tuesday

EUREKA - The pool at Eureka College's Reagan Center, which has been closed since February, may be ready for swimmers Tuesday.

Athletic Director Paul Bryant said installation of a $150,000 filtration system was delayed because of the need for a state permit. It was turned on Monday. The pool holds 160,000 gallons of water.

Operation Santa needs holiday help

BLOOMINGTON - Volunteers and donations are needed for the Operation Santa project of the McLean County Association for Home and Community Education and GFWC Illinois McLean County Woman's Clubs.

The groups will send holiday stockings filled with cookies and comfort items to area men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea in December.

Volunteers will pack the stockings beginning at 8 a.m. Dec. 1 at the McLean County Extension Office, 402 N. Hershey Rd.

In addition to cookies, needed items are personal cards or letters, individual packets of drink mix, packages of beef jerky, instant soups and oatmeal, granola bars, chewing gum, breath mints, candy mints, lip balm, white or black athletic socks, wipes, pocket tissues, hand sanitizer, toothbrush and travel size toothpaste and dental floss.

Unacceptable items include canned soup, chocolate or tea, items in glass or aerosol containers and full-size peanut butter products.

Stocking patterns may be picked up at the Extension office. Finished stockings and comfort items are needed by Oct. 1. To designate a recipient, call (309) 452-9164.

Sorority event marks 15th event

BLOOMINGTON - Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Beta Iota Zeta chapter of Bloomington-Normal, will sponsor a black-tie event to celebrate 15 years of service and to benefit the Five Pearl organizations.

They are Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington/Normal, Community Action Agency's Neville House, Western Avenue Community Center, WXRU-FM and Zeta Phi Beta sorority scholarship and programs.

The event begins at 5 p.m. Sept. 19 at Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 3202 E. Empire St. Tickets are $35 and include a silent auction, diamond bachelor auction, dinner date for bachelors and winning bidders and dance. Call (309) 261-0642.

Atlanta plans Fall Festival

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Fall Festival will be Thursday through Saturday, with parade step-off at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Harry Sherman will be grand marshal.

The festival includes amusement rides, bingo, food, prince and princess contest and entertainment. Admission fees vary by event.

Student expelled in Blue Ridge

FARMER CITY - The Blue Ridge School Board has expelled a student for the remainder of the school year for threatening another student. Superintendent Jay Harnack said the expulsion was for "possession of a weapon and a verbal threat."

The student will receive alternative placement outside of the school district. Harnack would not disclose the age of the student nor the nature of the threat.