2019 Year in review

2019 Year in Review:
Top 12 “Feel Good” stories

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[January 08, 2020]  In the blink of an eye, the year 2019 is going to be gone and 2020 will be a fresh year, filled with possibilities for the future of our community. As we ponder what 2020 will bring, it is a good time to remember what happened in 2019.

The best place to start is to recall all the good that came to the community. The feel good stories that made us proud of our people, our places, and our sense of community were abundant in 2019, and now is a good time to look back, remember and be happy for who we are and what we have accomplished in this year that is soon departed.

#1 – Myron and Sharon Fehr

Canada couple makes a pilgrimage of thanksgiving in the Easter season
Trip to Logan County offers thank you for lives saved

http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Apr/19/images/041919pics/DSCF9361.JPG

In April of 2018 Myron and Sharon Fehr from Morden, Manitoba, Canada were traveling the ‘blue highways’ on their way home to Canada from a dream vacation to the Corvette Museum in Kentucky. The couple enjoyed taking the small roads and visiting the small communities. They made a habit of doing so any time they traveled.

On this trip those blue highways brought them through Logan County via Illinois Route 121 from Macon County, through Mount Pulaski and into Lincoln. The couple planned on staying the night in Lincoln, but that never happened. Just a short distance from town, they were involved in a head on collision that altered all their plans for the next several weeks.

The Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District, first responders with Logan County Paramedics and others rushed to the scene. While Sharon was barely injured, her husband Myron was trapped inside the couple’s pick-up truck with life threatening internal injuries.



The rescuers worked feverishly to free the man and did so. He was taken to a hospital in Springfield where doctors found numerous internal injuries. Sharon was advised to call in the family as it was highly unlikely that Myron was going to survive. But the doctors were dedicated to doing all that they could, surgeries were performed, internal repairs made and the long process of healing began.

A year later in 2019, the Fehrs returned to Logan County. While Myron was well enough to travel, he still had additional surgeries ahead of him, and he noted that he was not fully the person he was before the accident. Regardless, the couple was grateful and celebrating the heart that was still beating and the life that the two would be able to share, thanks in no small part to the dedication of the Logan County first responders.

LDN met up with the Fehrs at the LRFPD station and spent a lot of time with the couple. They told their story and shared many pictures from the accident.

And they shared the story of the hillside grass carving just outside of Mount Pulaski, how it felt like a personal message to them after the accident. "God loves you" mowed in a heart design was particularly comforting to Sharon, and seeing it again was an important part of the couples return trip in 2019.

Now for the rest of the story

“The Fehrs were a very sweet couple,” says Nila Smith with LDN. “I felt a real connection with the two and Sharon and I texted one another throughout their return trip to Canada. She gave reports where they were and how they were doing and I was delighted when she told me they had arrived safely back home.”

While the Fehrs were traveling back to Canada, LDN was on a search. Sharon had expressed that she would like to know who did the grass carving and let that person know how much it had meant to her.

LDN posted a picture Sharon had taken of the hillside on its facebook page and asked for anyone in the community who might know the artist to share the picture and link to the story with that person.

http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Apr/19/images/041919pics/FullSizeRender.jpeg

That post reached 22,862 people! There were 305 reactions, 187 shares and 42 comments made on the picture and story.

“We found the artist – Joshua Poffenbarger, and what was also amazing about this was that Josh’s sister, a nurse at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, was on her way home from work, arrived at the scene of the accident and also helped as much as she could to save Myron,” says Smith.

Joshua posted the following comment on facebook: “Thank you for sharing, very touching story. Thankful the couple is doing well! My oldest sister Jill was on scene, helped where she could. She was on her way home from working at the hospital in Lincoln.

“I'm Not the owner of the hill just the artist. God Bless everyone and thank you for all the love and support.”


By the time that Myron and Sharon were back home in Canada, LDN was able to share this post with them and let them know that the artist had been found.

#2 – Balloons over Route 66



Logan County is host to numerous celebratory events every year. Festivals and the Logan County Fair are the heart and soul of community get-togethers. One super large, long-standing special event fell off when the former Chamber of Commerce ceased in November 2017. There was not the administrative structure to continue the Balloon Festival and all its city-wide activities.

Going back to school time in August 2018 felt flat without it. The balloons and balloonists were missed.



In 2019, the hot air balloons returned to Lincoln. Lincoln Daily News devoted their entire top stories section of the paper to the activity on August 26th.

Fourth Friday Downtown draws largest crowd

Downtown Friday brings in the crowds - slideshow

Third Friday Downtown - fun and games for all - slideshow

Food, Fun and family pets - slideshow

Friday night and Saturday morning Balloons Over 66 hindered by high winds

Balloons Over 66 - Friday evening flights - Pilots and volunteers get ready to go - slideshow

Balloons Over 66 - Friday evening flights - guests enjoy the inflation - slideshow

Balloons Over 66 - Friday evening flights - Activity on Eighth Street - slideshow


Balloons Over 66 - Friday evening flights - Balloons take to the sky - slideshow


Pilots review Friday evening at Oasis Breakfast

Saturday evening flights a great prelude to night glow


Balloons Over 66 - Balloons take to the sky on Saturday evening - slideshow


Saturday night glow laid-back and happy for all

Balloons Over 66 - Saturday night glow a delight for all - slideshow

The activity in 2019 was completely different from what the community had seen in the past, but it was very well received by everyone LDN spoke with. And, there is much anticipation that the Balloons over 66 will return in 2020 and for years to come.

It was a great activity with so many happy faces all around Lincoln.

* Note Balloons over 66 must be termed activity for liability purposes and cannot be considered a festival or even an event.

“It was so much fun to see people back in town having a really good time,” says Smith of LDN, who covered the majority of the balloon activities that weekend.

“What we noticed right away was how happy the pilots were to be back in Lincoln. The atmosphere was very relaxed, and they enjoyed the one-on-one connection with the public. At the pilot breakfast at the Oasis many shared how excited they were for the weekend and the new plan for the balloon launches and glows.”

The glow was held at the Apex in city's center – an empty lot the size of a city block on Eighth Street. Not all the balloons could fit in the block, but those that were able to come in gave a wonderful show for the community.

While there had been concern about the traffic around the block, it all turned out really well. The residents around the Apex were cordial and visitors were respectful of their private property.

Even at the end of the night, when so many were getting in cars and preparing to go home, there was a lot of courtesy involved as cars took turns at intersections and everyone was careful and considerate of those on foot. It went so well, many were truly surprised.

There is a fine line that politicians walk sometimes. While they hold office, they are still citizens and part of the community. The balloons were brought back to Lincoln by Seth Goodman. While Seth is the mayor of the city, he is also a pilot with a deep passion for ballooning. He solicited the help of many people, but did not request financial help from the city or the Logan County Tourism Bureau. The city permitted the use of the Apex and assisted in many ways, as did the LCTB, but the entire weekend was put on at no cost to the city, tourism, or the visitors who came to see the balloons.

The activity began with a Fourth Friday covered by LDN’s Angela Reiners and Reggie Owsiany. Balloons were scheduled to lift off that evening with the hopes of at least a few flying over the heart of the city. Wind made it difficult for the balloons that evening, but a few did get off the ground.

There were launches on Friday evening, Saturday morning, Saturday evening, and the glow on Saturday night.

[to top of second column]

#3 – Hometown Heroes



In March, the Lincoln Rotary unveiled its Hometown Heroes project. The project was created to honor our men and women past and present serving in the military. The Rotary sold banners that featured soldier name, branch of service and time served in the military along with a photo. Those banners were placed around the Logan County Courthouse Square and are to be there year round except for times when they are temporarily removed for special occasions.

Community celebrates new Hometown Hero banners in downtown Lincoln

Community turns out to celebrate new banners - slideshow

Thirty-eight heroes celebrated in downtown Lincoln - slideshow

 

#4 – Dale Lessen



Dale Lessen was a local farmer with a heart for helping others. He did so even after his departure by becoming an organ donor. In November, Gift of Hope placed two billboards in Lincoln that not only encourages everyone to consider organ donation but also memorializes Lessen with a dedication “In memory of Dale W. Lessen.”

Members of Lessen’s family along with several good friends were on hand for the official unveiling of the billboard located next to Carpet House in Lincoln. The second billboard was located on Woodlawn Road as well, just across the road from Casey’s.

New billboard memorializes local farmer Dale Lessen
Raises awareness for organ donation


#5 – No Shave November



In December, members of the Logan County Sheriff’s office presented a check to the V Foundation for Cancer Research in honor of the late Greg Feldman. Feldman battled cancer and in July of 2018 passed away. His wife Teena is a member of the support staff in the Sheriff’s office. In honor of Greg and as a show of love and respect for Teena, the Sherriff’s Department hosted a “No shave November” fundraiser for the V Foundation. The group gathered in December to present the check to Feldman. To celebrate Greg and bring him into the event, the group posed for a photo outside Logan County Courthouse with a Winter Wonderland tree decorated by Teena in memory of Greg.

Officers ‘No Shave November’ supports cancer research in memory of Greg Feldman

More feel good stories from 2019

 



# 6 - Mount Pulaski opens 1912 time capsule

Mount Pulaski opens 1912 time capsule
Among the treasures found, a New York Herald newspaper dated April 15, 1865, which featured the news of President Abraham Lincoln's Assassination

Time Capsule Contents - Part 1 - Album


Time Capsule Contents - Part 2 - Album


#7 - The "One and Only Cornland" celebrates Zip Code Day

The "One and Only Cornland" celebrates Zip Code Day


# 8 - Tourism Open House enjoys a large turnout

http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Jun/19/RIBBONCUTS/RIBBONCUTPHOTOS/061319%20DEPOT%20IMG_2621.jpeg

Tourism Open House enjoys a large turnout


# 9 - Downtown Lincoln kicks off Christmas season with Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting

Downtown Lincoln kicks off Christmas season with Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting

A daylight view of the trees on the courthouse lawn - slideshow

Friday evening lighting ceremony - slideshow

Visitors enjoy the trees - slideshow

# 10 - Shoppers and retailers reap the benefits of Small Business Saturday in Lincoln

Shoppers and retailers reap the benefits of Small Business Saturday in Lincoln

Quilt & Craft Show - Debbie's Downtown Floral - slideshow

 

Small Town Creations - Guest House Coffee & Pastries - Copper Penny - slideshow

Zion Lutheran School Bell Choir - slideshow

Pink Shutter - Sir Renna Tea - Abe's Carmelcorn Shoppe - Slideshow

Shop One Stop - slideshow

A visit with Santa at the LCTB Depot - slideshow

Mary Todd Hallmark - LCHS Madrigal Singers - Gingerbread at the Depot - slideshow

#11 - Oscar Mayer Wienermobile returns to central Illinois

http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/May/08/images/050819pics/001.jpg

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile returns to central Illinois, this time Mount Pulaski's Cady Lowery is behind the wheel

#12 - Farm Bureau expresses appreciation for federal employees working without pay

http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Jan/26/images/012619pics/DSCF8035.JPG

Farm Bureau expresses appreciation for federal employees working without pay
 


With 2019 nearing its end, we hope that these 12 pieces will help us remember that Logan County is a great place to live and that good things happen in this community every day.

These 12 stories are only a slice of all that went well in 2019, and we hope these stories and all the others that have been covered by LDN in the last 12 months will help to inspire an even better and brighter 2020.

[N SMITH/LDN ARCHIVES]

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