[DEC. 16, 2000]  With the re-opening of Postville Courthouse following its recent restoration, the Site would like to start a Volunteer Interpreter Program. The Site is seeking 30 - 40 volunteers to staff the Courthouse on Tuesday through Saturday afternoons starting I March 2001. The daily hours a volunteer would serve would be Noon to 5:00pm.

Each prospective volunteer interpreter will receive his or her own training manual. The training manual will contain historical background information, daily operating procedures, and an outline on giving tours.

Several training sessions are scheduled prior to I March 2001. Each training session will last I to 11/2 hours. Daily operating procedures and guidance on giving a tour will be presented. Time for each training session to start is 1:00pm. Dates are Weds., 17 January; Thurs., 25 January; and Thurs., 15 February 2001.

The Site Manager, Richard Schachtsiek, will solely handle the training and supervision of volunteer interpreters. You may contact me by calling the Courthouse at 217/732?8930. In the beginning, scheduling will be handled by Shirley Bartlemay. You may contact her by calling 217/735?4977.

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This is an appropriate time to start a volunteer interpretive program. Both the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and our own Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County actively promote the Courthouse. Through the Logan County Tourism Bureau the Courthouse is also an active participant in the "Looking for Lincoln" program. This program is to encourage visitors to visit not only the main attractions but the smaller ones as well. This will give the Courthouse an opportunity to benefit from being promoted with the bigger sites.

The Courthouse will also benefit in a few years when the new Lincoln Presidential Library opens. One purpose of the new Library is to encourage visitors to leave Springfield and visit the many locations, including Postville Courthouse, they learned about in the Library.

The next few years are a time for growth for Postville Courthouse. Expanding operating hours using volunteer interpreters can only do this. If enough volunteers join, each one should only have to give one afternoon per month. Please consider being a Postville Courthouse Volunteer Interpreter. We would be very glad to have you join us.

Lincoln College dedicates
John R. Gehlbach Academic Building
[DEC. 15, 2000]  A small crowd gathered Thursday afternoon at Lincoln College to honor John R. Gehlbach at the dedication of their newest building, named for him.

Lincoln College President Jack Nutt welcomed everyone, expressing words of appreciation for all that John Gehlbach has done over the many years for Lincoln College. Gehlbach then spoke briefly. He concluded softly with the words "I feel honored."

Gehlbach, a Lincoln attorney and collector of Lincoln memorabilia, is a longtime supporter of Lincoln College and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for over 40 years.

The academic building stands behind University Hall and has nine classrooms and 12 offices totaling 9,870 square feet. It was built by Diversified of Peoria and Morton.

[Jan Youngquist]

[DEC. 15, 2000]  The first working session of the Logan County Board following the November election was Thursday night.

Rod White, board member and chairman of the finance committee, told the other board members that they will, by law, have to address the regulations pertaining to board elections.

"Every 10 years, each board must decide if their members are going to be elected on an at-large or by-district basis," White said.

He also said that it wasn't any secret that he had always supported electing representatives from districts. "I ran on that platform 18 years ago," White said, "and I still feel that way."

Although board members are now elected at large, the county board can change this process and will address that subject at next month's meeting.

White asked Phil Mahler, chairman of the insurance and legislative committee, to put that on their agenda for the January meeting.

According to Mahler, that meeting, as well as the January work session of the entire board, will address the topic, with input from anyone at either meeting. The vote on the subject will be taken at the regularly scheduled January meeting.

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White also said that he had been approached a number of times by concerned citizens who also would like to see representatives elected by districts.

"There is enough interest," White said, "for citizens, through a petition to the Circuit Court, [to] place this question on the April ballot as a referendum."

The outcome of the referendum is advisory and does not bind the board members by public sentiment.

Another alternative is for the board to place the question on the spring ballot in order to get the public' s input.

Doug Dutz, chairman of the committee for law enforcement and the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, told board members the Logan County Paramedics Association has been awarded $75,000 from the Illinois First Grant program. The money will be used to purchase four ECG monitor-defibrillator-pacing units. They will replace the old units that are about 10 years old.

Dutz also told board members that the new ambulance for the LCPA will be delivered in January.

[Fuzz Werth]

[DEC. 15, 2000]  Did you find yourself in the dark last night? According to Linda Nelson of CILCO, a line came down at the corner of Route 66 and Union Street, which tripped all the breakers on that line. In the area between Union and State streets and south from Route 66 to Eighth Street, 1160 customers were without electricity from 7:46 p.m. to 9:36 p.m. There were also some outages reported on the north side of Route 66. Lincoln Police Department said that there was no accident in that area that could have caused the mishap.

[Marty Ahrends]

[DEC. 15, 2000]  Parade of Trees, on display at 120 N. Main in downtown Mason City, continues to be enjoyed by the community, as 16 decorated trees illuminate almost an entire block.  Each night the lights come on at 4 o'clock and go off at bedtime as good neighbors Mike and Lina Biundo pass by to and from their duties as proprietors of Mason City's pasta restaurant.

Sponsored by the Mason City Historical Society, the Parade of Trees has added a lot of holiday spirit to the town.  Eight trees have been purchased and decorated by worthy folks who will donate them on Dec. 17 to homes that would otherwise be without a tree this year.  Those sponsors include Dr. Marion Ring Mason County Chiropratic, Mason City Pharmacy, Mason City Area Nursing Home, Little Cougars, the Dr. Means family, McEntire Appliance/Johnson Lumber-Century Hardware, and Mason City Police-Operation Snowball. Operation Snowball will be in charge of the tree giveaway on Dec. 17.  The local Brownie troop's "Mitten Tree" provides gloves, hats and scarves for those in need. 

Eight additional trees make up a museum exhibit next door.  These trees purchased by the museum are decorated in a theme chosen by their sponsors, which include CLUB giving tribute to its 56 past and present members; Salt Creek Prairie DAR giving tribute to all veterans; Mike's Pizza reminding everyone of his good pizza and pasta; Mason City Historical Society and their year of success; Illini Central School cafeteria staff and "All About Cooking"; the Women's Club "Cookie Cutter Tree"; the city clerk's "Vic Tree" for local Olympian Vic Wunderle; and the Scouts’ tree with patches, mottoes, knots and emblems. 

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Public viewing of the trees took place on Sunday, Dec. 3, after the light parade. Santa was on hand, and Mason City Rotary handed out free cookies.  Other viewings of the trees will be on Sunday afternoons, Dec. 17 and 24, from 1 to 4 p.m. Everyone is invited to stop by before Christmas and cast your vote for your favorite tree in the museum. The Civic Center trees can be viewed until they are given away on Dec. 17. 

We have a president-elect!

[DEC. 14, 2000]  At 8 p.m. Central Standard Time, Vice President Al Gore conceded the presidential race to Texas Gov. George W. Bush, more than a month after election day.  Gore delivered a powerful, yet gracious speech relinquishing his pursuit of the highest office in the country. At 9 p.m. Bush made a thoughtful speech of acceptance promising to bring both parties together.  Both candidates emphasized working together as Americans in the best interest of the country. You can read all the details in the many fine articles found in the news from other sources regarding the presidential election by clicking on the link below.

Click here for news from other
sources regarding the presidential election

What is your reaction to the speeches given by Vice President Al Gore and President-elect George W. Bush?  E-mail LDN and let us know.

[DEC. 14, 2000]  Yesterday evening a Lincoln officer had a dangerous encounter with the driver of an ATV.

At 11:20 p.m. last night, the Lincoln Police Department received a complaint about an individual who was driving a four-wheeler and disturbing the peace. Cpl. Kerns, Officer Rawlins and Officer Short found the driver at the corner of Tremont and Sangamon. Kerns asked the driver to turn off the vehicle, but instead the driver started to flee. Kerns lunged for the driver’s overalls but missed and caught hold of the rear grill or bumper. The driver dragged Kerns for about half of a block before Kerns could let go of the vehicle. Kerns is OK.

The police officers followed the tracks which the four-wheeler had made to a residence on the 300 block of North Elm Street. They saw the ATV parked in the garage. When the officers questioned the occupants of the residence, they lied about having and riding the four-wheeler. Three males were arrested for obstruction of justice because of their lying: an 18-year-old Lincolnite, a 22-year-old Lincolnite and an 18-year-old from Kenney. A 23-year-old male from Lincoln was arrested for aggravated battery and reckless conduct and was served 10 citations for running stop signs. All four suspects are still in custody, and the 23-year-old is awaiting a court appearance.

[Jean Ann Carnley]

[DEC. 13, 2000]  Watch out! The city and county roads are slick. Remember to leave plenty of time for travel and plenty of room in between cars. Signal and slow down early.

If you have to travel outside of the county, call the Illinois Department of Transportation’s toll-free number to check on road conditions, 1-800-452-4368.

In the city of Lincoln, the salt trucks are out on the main roads. According to Lincoln Police Department’s assistant chief, there is not as much ice as the other day, but the roads are still slippery and becoming more hazardous. The Street and Alley Department said that later today plow trucks will replace the salt trucks.

The Logan County Highway Department put salt and cinders on Monday’s ice, which helped reduce the amount of ice on the roads, but they are still slick. The County Highway Department said that presently there is not enough snow to plow, but they will soon be sending their plow trucks out on county roads with salt and cinders. They advise drivers not to make any sudden movements. Quick stops and turns will almost certainly cause a driver to lose control of his vehicle.

Marsha Dowling of the Health Department recommends drivers keep blankets, two candles, wood matches and a tin can in their car. The candles and blankets can keep stranded motorists warm in a car for at least an hour. The candles can also melt snow in a tin can for drinking water. The Sheriff’s Department reminds motorists to take along their cell phone, if they own one.

[Jean Ann Carnley]

[DEC. 13, 2000]  The local Looking for Lincoln exhibit, site of a ribbon-cutting on Saturday, Dec. 9, is in the form of a storyboard. It stands on the location where Abraham Lincoln is purported to have christened the city with the juice of a watermelon. The site is just beside the railroad tracks at Broadway and Chicago streets on the lawn of the Restaurant at the Depot. The sign sports a print by the late Lloyd Ostendorf, a local artist, and tells the story of the city christening as recalled by the Stevens boy. Included on the sign is the Looking for Lincoln exhibit signature trait, a raised emblem for children to collect rubbings. Lincoln’s symbol is a watermelon.

The Looking for Lincoln project in Lincoln is administrated by Main Street Lincoln under the leadership of Wendy Bell. In addition, many local people interested in the historic and business development of Lincoln have been working (volunteering) all year to bring Lincoln into the Heritage Tourism loop through the Looking for Lincoln project. Lincoln owes a debt of gratitude to these many fine people who have and will continue to work selflessly all year long.

[click here for photos]

[Jan Youngquist]

[OCT. 10, 2000]  The office of the city clerk in Lincoln will be open for filing petitions for nomination for the Feb. 27, 2001, consolidated primary election, with petitions accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following dates: Dec. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 18.

Petitions will be accepted for the following city offices:

• Mayor
• City treasurer
• City clerk
• Alderman, Ward 1
• Alderman, Ward 2
• Alderman, Ward 3
• Alderman, Ward 4

• Alderman, Ward 5

[Juanita Josserand, city clerk]

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