DANVILLE -- When Dennis Dunavan started gathering information about Douglas School, he expected to have just a couple of pages.

Instead, he came up with a Web site covering several categories and pages.

The newly launched site shows what a devoted student he was.

"Yesterday is gone, so is our school, but we will always remain a family," he wrote in the section about faculty, staff and volunteers.

The site is quite comprehensive as it stands now, featuring an extensive list of former students, trivia about the school and its history and numerous pictures. He got much of his historical information from Commercial-News articles and Vermilion Heritage magazine.

But Dunavan wants even more input from former staff and students. He's looking for any tidbits from anyone.

Dunavan graduated in 1977 from the school, located across from Douglas Park. His dad graduated from there in 1960 and his grandfather, 1934. The building has been closed since 2002.

"I hate driving past it and see it boarded up like that," said Dunavan, who still lives in Rabbittown.

Dunavan has strong memories of his school days, especially his favorite teachers. He called Carol Swank "the greatest teacher I ever had at Douglas. She taught me how to hold a pen."

All of the teachers took time with students, he said.

Now, when he runs into a teacher he hasn't seen in 25-30 years, that teacher still remembers him. Even though all that time has passed, he said, "They hug you. They remember everything about you. We've all been one big family."

A self-employed contractor, Dunavan constructed the Web site himself. It took about a week and has been open about a week, already getting good reviews from users.

"I thought it would be a couple of pages, but now look at it," he said.

The site is http://www.douglaselementaryschool-danvilleillinois.com

Danville has a lot of history buffs and this site is sure to satisfy their appetites.

GIFT OF LIFE

Almost 30 years ago, Nancy Lutchka of Georgetown was involved in an accident that left her critically injured with burns over 68 percent of her body.

She was at Springfield Memorial Hospital for six months and underwent 15 surgeries. Then, she spent six weeks at Mercy Hospital in Champaign for treatment.

The accident happened June 5, 1976.

That she even survived is a miracle.

Now, another miracle has touched the family as Nancy's 25-year-old daughter, Marcy Tincher, recovers from a kidney transplant - donated by Nancy.

Marcy, who attended school in Georgetown before her parents moved to Bedford, Ind., was featured on the front page of the Bedford Times-Mail last month. The article updates her progress since the transplant in April 2004. She's doing great and has more energy to chase her 2-year-old son, Gavin.

Her parents, Nancy and Ray - a graduate of Westville High School - live in nearby Mitchell, Ind. Nancy is a 1975 graduate of Georgetown High School.

Nancy's mother, Marilyn Smith of Georgetown, feels blessed and very proud of her family.

Of Nancy, Smith said, "She's a living miracle and then for her to give a kidney to her daughter is miraculous."

The Lutchkas and their children - including Marcy and Mindy, 26 - return to the area to visit as often as possible.

It's heartwarming whenever a miracle changes a life for the better.