Southern Illinoisan from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 1

1 UNBEARABLE SMS sweeps Dawgs in tough day MAKING A MOVE People breaking away from old selves IB www.thesouthern.com SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2003 VOL 110, NO. 110 $1.50 Column One 1 1 II II I I it it 41 if 11 IE ill II ill I i i till :) JliiLLLy IXJy Ll LU1 UyLiLLVLyii 11LL 10 I I 0 1 A tomir. dHhJ I I I II SIR IV II I It 1 I 1 if 1 I I I i 11 Ill ill! Couple still looking for answers in death of daughter mi. 7 two constants in their life: grief and a hunger for answers. The Fitzpatricks' 23-year-old daughter, Tina, was found dead June 2, 2000 in a mobile home in Akin, a small community east of Benton.

Tina did not live in the trailer where she died, but had previously dated a X- BY JIM MUIR THE SOUTHERN BENTON The Easter holiday season is a time marked by religious traditions, brightly-colored bonnets, hunting eggs and happy family gatherings. However, for Rick and Mary Fitzpatrick of Benton, Easter Sundays mark yet another holiday where they will be forced to cling to memories of a better time while facing the grim reality of an empty chair at the dinner table. Nearly three years after the death of their daughter, the Fitzpatricks say there are now Fitzpatrick person who had lived there. When her body was found, nobody was living in the mobile SEE FITZPATRICK PAGE 2A CHUCK N0VARA THE SOUTHERN Ricky Fitzpatrick and his wife, Mary, hope to find closure after the death of their daughter. 4 Students wait for tuition decisions if i if Spring into golf Warm weather brings out pent-up golfers.

Page 9A. Also Inside State: Governor's plan proposes surcharge for cancer research fund. Page 4A. Nation: Police say Peterson always was a suspect in "disappearance. Page 4A.

yVorld: North Korea proposes talks with South Korea. Page 7A. Local: 1,100 friends support Lukens. Page 9A. Tri-C elementary students learn about, crochet flag.

Page 12A. Court report: Marriage licenses and divorces for Jackson, Johnson, Perry, Union and Williamson counties. Page 14A. Sports: Kim, Diamondbacks too much for St. Louis.

Page 1B. View: Artists' portraits capture 91 1 victims lives. Page IE. Outside 1 I vA MICHAEL DANN THE SOUTHERN Dalton Mayberiy, 2, of Wolf Lake rushes to his bucket held by mom, Lisa Heckes, during the Murphysboro Key Club Easter egg hunt at Riverside Park on Saturday morning. 1 1 i ylfVwi A0fmm 1.

ip eji NORMAL (AP) As Illinois sorts out its deficit-riddled budget, thousands of college-bound students and their parents are waiting to find out just how much more they'll have to spend for college next fall. All of the state's public universities predict tuition will go up again, on the heels of increases last fall that ranged from 3 percent to 18 percent. But most have postponed their traditional early spring votes on tuition rates, waiting to see how much money they'll need after the Legislature approves its budget for higher education for next year. The three University of Illinois campuses and Eastern Illinois University will wait until June to decide, leaving a combined 80,000 students with a question mark in next year's college costs. Nearly 24,000 students at Northern Illinois University and another 21,000 at Illinois State won't get an answer until May, and perhaps later.

ISU senior Sarah Mielke said the delay means her sister will have to wait at least a few more weeks to find out where she'll go to high school next year. Mielke explained that her parents are paying for her college and also want to send their younger daughter to a private high school. But until ISU sets tuition, they won't know if the Woodridge family's budget will stretch that far. They'll also have to factor in an extra semester at ISU. Belt-tightening has reduced class sections and kept Mielke out of some required courses, extending her graduate date from December until May of next year.

"It's frustrating because it costs more and I can't even get the classes I need," Mielke said. Other ISU students said rising costs are just a sign of tough economic times and SEE SCHOOLS PAGE 3A scramble for Murphysboro 350 children Easter eggs in 'l i iuj ci today's weather art is by Nicole Gharbawi, third grade, Thomas School, Carbondale. TODAY: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs in the upper 70s. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph.

Chance of rain 60 percent. TONIGHT: Showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening, then mostly cloudy. Lows near 50. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

MONDAY: Cloudy. Highs in the mid-60s. BY MARK LAMBIRD THE SOUTHERN MURPHYSBORO Early Thursday morning, while students from Murphysboro high school could have been asleep, members of the Key Club were busy stuffing eggs for Saturday's annual Key Club Easter Egg Hunt. In all, 10,000 eggs were filled with coupons from Hardee's and Subway, and more than 150 pounds of candy. There were an estimated 350 children at Riverside Park in Murphysboro Saturday for the hunt, which club members have been planning for months.

Bob Hall, advisor for the club, said the event was originally co-sponsored by the Murphysboro Business Association. "When (the Business Association) folded, we took it over," Hall said. "That was about 10 years ago." He said even though the merchants of Murphysboro do not take part in the planning anymore, they are a vital part of the Easter egg hunt. "The merchants are still very supportive," Hall said. "Wal-Mart donated all of the eggs, some baskets and some of the candy for the event." Even with the donations, the club itself spends more than $500 on candy.

Some of the money comes from donations, and Hall said the club has taken in about $400 so far. The club's SEE EASTER PAGE 3A CHUCK N0VARA THE SOUTHERN Jayme Biandford (left) and Ashley Garner stuff plastic eggs with goodies before Saturday's Easter egg hunt in Murphysboro. Inside Abby 20 APIus 12A Business 1C Calendar 9A Classifieds IF Courts 14A Deaths 11 A Editorial 2E Family 60 Life ID Local 9A Lottery 16A Movies 7B Nation 4A Puzzle 2D Sports IB State 4A View 1E Weather 16A Weddings 4D Vigil prepares Christians for Easter To subscribe: 800 228-0429, option 2 247 oniine service: www.thesouthern.com 0THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN The Southern lilinoisan is the 2002 winner of the Illinois Press Association's General Excellence Award scripture. The themes of the candlelight service were: darkness to light, death to life, and the reaffirmation of baptismal covenant. From 7 p.m.

to midnight, however, volunteers within the congregation read scriptures and prayed every half hour. The remainder of the time was spent in personal prayer and meditation. Some people participated in the vigil longer than others. Rev. Martin Otte with Our Redeemer Lutheran said Catholics and Episcopalians often hold similar services.

Hebrews, he said, believe Easter actually begins at 6 p.m. or sundown on Saturday. "It used to be that our vigil here at the SEE VIGIL PAGE 3A BY JOHN D. HOMAN THE SOUTHERN MARION Easter is a time to welcome back the multi- colored tulips and daffodils. It's a time of egg hunts and chocolate bunnies, of brand new suits and dresses.

But most important, Easter is a time when many Christians participate in religious services, an annual ritual which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marion got a head start Saturday evening with its Easter Vigil and Great Watch service. The service, which began at 6 p.m., kicked off the Easter observance in a quiet and reflective setting of candles, prayer and it, '1 i 1 Hi PAMELA KAY SCHMALENBERGER THE SOUTHERN Veronica West arranges plants while Andy West rehearses for Saturday night's Easter Proclamation. 111.