2020 Year in Review

October filled with lots of good news as Halloween gains fun interest

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[January 14, 2021]   October is always a fun month in Logan County as we gear up for Halloween. In past years there have been numerous Halloween activities that kept us busy from the mid-part of the month to the end. With coronavirus causing all kinds of issues for gatherings and activities the month began with the community wondering just what would happen this year.

The answers came in the first couple weeks of the month as it was learned that there would be a trick or treat with the mayor activity. There would be no Halloween Funfest at the Lincoln Park District, but the park district had an alternate plan that would turn out nicely. Trick or treating would be permitted in all the communities in Logan County, and Mount Pulaski was going to hold a trunk or treat event around the Mount Pulaski Courthouse Square.

Trick or Treat will go on…with a few new twists this year

Mount Pulaski Trunk or Treat event planned for October 24th

Mount Pulaski to observe official trick or treat night Saturday, October 31st

Mount Pulaski hosts a successful Trunk or Treat - 2020 style

Mount Pulaski businesses deck out their trunks for Halloween Trunk-or-Treat - slideshow

Area kids and adults enjoy Trunk-or-Treat in Mount Pulaski - slideshow

Park District Haunted Trail a popular Friday night activity

Haunted Trail at the Lincoln Park District offers spooky fun - slideshow



For Lincoln Daily News, Collision Concepts, and Lincoln Printers, all who make up the Friends and Family Relay Team, there would be no Pink Pumpkin Auction for Relay for Life in 2020. The hugely popular event held the first Thursday night in October would have celebrated its third year. In the first two years the auction and social gathering raised almost $40,000 for RFL. All the money raised was designated to stay in Logan County to support those who are battling breast cancer.

Lincoln Daily News, in October also hosted the Paint the Paper Pink campaign, which collected photos of area people dressed in their pink shirts in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The paper went forward with the campaign, unsure of how it would work out because of the close proximity normally required for a group photo. Fewer businesses signed up for the pictures, but still a large number showed everyone their pink. LDN ran daily photos of area businesses, clubs and other organizations in the pink. All of those pictures were saved into the annual Paint the Paper Pink magazine.

The 2020 Paint the Paper Pink online magazine

In addition to the many photos published, the magazine also included a couple of heartwarming local stories.

It’s time to Paint the Paper Pink!

Pink Pedal tractor gets plenty of attention at the pumpkin patch





We start the week with the Logan County Sheriff's Office in pink shirts - Sheriff Mark Landers is joined by administrative support staff, deputies and correctional officers of the Logan County Jail.

In addition to showing their support for all cancer warriors, the group is showing special love and support for a co-worker and his wife. Jim and Stacy Crabtree learned in June that Stacy has breast cancer.

Jim's co-workers are selling the shirts as a fundraiser. The profits will go directly to the Crabtrees. The back of the shirts contain the words ‘Crabtree Strong,’ a message to the family that they are strong and that Stacy will come through this.

Photo by Nila Smith

Logan County Sheriff’s Department pink shirts represent a testimony of love




Earlier this week, the Perschall family of Hot Frog Designs teamed up with the Lincoln College Gents Male Mentoring Organization for a special fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. The Perschalls’ donated the use of their parking lot on Woodlawn Road in Lincoln for the Gents to place a tent and raise money for love baskets to be given to local warriors battling breast cancer.

In three days the group raised more than $1,000. That money will be spent in Lincoln's local businesses to buy gifts to be put into gift baskets and delivered to warriors early next week.

At the same time, Hot Frog has taken the Pink Challenge and will be donating a portion of all its pink shirt sales this year to the American Cancer Society.

Photos by Karen Hargis and provided by participants


‘Gent in a Tent’ raises breast cancer awareness and money to gift local warriors

Even though the Pink Pumpkin Auction could not go on, the Pink Challenges did. Those challenges were accepted by area businesses and other organizations to create a fundraiser within their group with money to be given to the RFL via the Friends and Family Relay Team.

The relay team was excited when even in October, those donations started coming in and would continue to come in into November.




Nick Bekteshi and his wait staff at Country Aire Restaurant in Atlanta took a moment from their busy day to pose for a pink picture recently. Thank you to them for showing their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In addition, Country Aire took on the pink challenge put out by the Friends and Family Relay Team and did a special fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

The same day, Karen Hargis took the pink pedal tractor donated by Central Illinois Ag in Atlanta and breast cancer awareness face masks made by the sewing group at Friendship Manor in Lincoln and set up a table to raise even more money.

The restaurant raised $175 for the American Cancer Society by donating 10 percent of their day's receipts. The tractor raffle and face masks brought in $430 for a grand total of $605 for the day.

Today's Breast Cancer Awareness and Education quiz question - Only women get breast cancer - true or false?

Photo by Karen Hargis



Thank you to the staff and management at Atlanta National Bank for taking the Pink Challenge for breast cancer awareness. During September, the staff was permitted to wear blue jeans to work on certain days, providing they put a donation in the kitty.

The money raised in September was designated to go to the American Cancer Society via the Friends and Family Relay team.

Around the county, it appeared that people were anxious to get out and about and do something other than stay at home. When Gail’s Pumpkin Patch in rural Beason opened in September guests were plentiful. However the biggest day of the year for the family owned pumpkin farm came in October.

Gail’s had the opportunity to host the state’s largest pumpkin and the crowds that day were phenomenal.

It was also a special day for a few of the visitors.




Great things can happen in a pumpkin patch! If you are skeptical of that statement, consider a couple of events that happened over the weekend at Gail's Pumpkin Patch.

For Tanner Bowersock and Taylor Benton the pumpkin patch marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives as a couple when Tanner went down on bended knee and asked Taylor to be his bride.

Four-year-old Willow had a "Covid" birthday party outside in the apple grove at the patch. With a few close friends and family she celebrated her special day with pumpkins for all the guests, apple cider, cupcakes and of course, presents!

Photo by Nila Smith


Visitors flock to Gail’s Pumpkin Patch on Sunday

Kids and adults alike enjoy all the patch has to offer - slideshow

Outdoors or inside there is plenty to do and see - slideshow

Special things can happen at the pumpkin patch - Album

The great pumpkin comes to Gail’s Pumpkin Patch


Another big event in Lincoln each year is trick or treating at the home of Don and Janice Sielaff. Each year more than a thousand children flock to the extraordinarily decorated home on Eight Street where the Sielaffs spend the evening handing out treats to all who make their way through the front yard to the porch. The home was wonderfully decorated again in 2020 and a conversation with Janice revealed that the Sielaffs would move forward with trick or treating, but with a few modifications.

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A drive-by at the Don and Janice Sielaff home in Lincoln, and one can feel the spirit of Halloween oozing out of every creepy crawly display. For those who may be wondering, the Sielaffs’ - Don, Janice and daughter Anna have been quite busy setting up this year's collection with some returning figures and a couple of new ones too.

The Sielaffs’ are also looking forward to trick-or-treat night in Lincoln.

This week Lincoln City Council agreed to approve October 31st from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. via next week's consent agenda. The omnibus vote will approve the motion, so get started figuring out that unique Halloween costume!

The Illinois Department of Public Health has set guidelines for trick or treating, and the city recommends that the guidelines be followed. Learn about trick or treating in Lincoln, Trick-or-Treat with the Mayor, and a special event at the Lincoln Park District in today's edition.

Photo by Nila Smith


Sielaffs offer another spooktacular Halloween show for the community - slideshow

LDN also learned of another family in Lincoln that loved to decorate for Halloween with kid friendly themes. A visit to the home of James and Rachel Ware was well worthwhile.


Halloween is just around the corner. Around the community, several folks are showing off their spooktacular Halloween creativity through yard art.

One such home is that of James and Rachel Ware with their daughter Nina. The family lives on Clinton Street in Lincoln. They have a large side yard and a big front porch that they have decorated boo’tifully.

It is fun to see the different takes on the Halloween season. While some opt for ghoulish gruesomeness, others go a little more kid-friendly with cartoonish elements. The latter is the case at the Ware home.

We encourage you all to take a cruise through town this Halloween season and check out what your friends and neighbors are doing to bring a little joy to our tough times.

Photo by Nila Smith


Ware family home a spooktacular delight - slideshow

In September LDN reported that Hartsburg-Emden teacher Nichole Folkman had won a $2,000 grant from Voya Financial, Inc. And while that alone was a significant accomplishment, the news became even better in October when Folkman learned that she had won an additional $10,000, placing second overall in the Voya Unsung Heroes Program.

Voya Honors Hartsburg Teacher with Second-Place Unsung Heroes Program Award
“Stags Read” provides an opportunity for everyone to have easy and free access to books
Watch as Nichole Folkman learns she has won $12,000!


Other great things happened to local folks in October as well.

Susan Hoblit of Atlanta was recognized as a Philanthropist of the Year by the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.

Bloomington and Atlanta Residents Named 2020 Philanthropists of the Year
To Be Honored at Philanthropy Celebration Nov. 19

The Lincoln Woman’s Club recognized Carol Schwantz.


At a recent Lincoln Woman's Club meeting, Carol Schwantz was recognized as a club half-century member. Carol was presented a certificate by club president Judy Rader and membership chairman Ellen Dobihal.

Left to right - Rader, Schwantz and Dobihal.

Photo provided by Judy Rader


Lincoln Woman's Club recognizes 50-year member Carol Schwantz - Album

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Emma Ritterbush was the recipient of the 2020 Kiwanis Scholarship.

Emma Ritterbush receives 2020 Kiwanis Scholarship

The Kiwanis also dipped into their treasury and offered financial support for several of our local schools.

Lincoln Kiwanis Donates to Local Schools

Spin class participants at the Lincoln Park District Spun their way to a $300 donation for Chester-East Lincoln.

Lincoln Park District Spin4Schools earns $300 for Chester-East Lincoln

At Lincoln College four new trustees were appointed and the college joined with local law enforcement to forge a new, positive relationship with students.

Lincoln College Announces Four New Trustees
Sara Freitag, Bonnie Thompson, Matthew Wissa and David Zwanzig Take Office



Lincoln College students and staff, city of Lincoln government, Lincoln Police Department and Logan County Sheriff's Department are working together to build positive relationships in the community.

Last Wednesday a group met for lunch, a time of learning and exploring the topics that separate the students from the community and how to address those topics with a productive and positive approach.

Photo by Paul Adams



Lincoln College and Lincoln Police Department open doors for communication and cooperation within our community

Students from the college also hosted a peaceful march at the Logan County Courthouse with a message of “get to know each other.”


Quentin Brackenridge led a large group of Lincoln College students in a peace march chanting the way to the courthouse. At the courthouse they were joined by community members there to learn more on how to connect with one another. The core message was about getting to know each other - get to know others hearts, hear one another’s stories, to connect and understand each other.

Community members stayed after the event and thanked Brackenridge, appreciating his spirit of kindness and involvement to move the message forward.

Brackenridge and his sister Sharee Tanksley of Champaign, pose on the steps of the Logan County Courthouse late Monday evening. Their mother also came from Champaign to support Quentin and the message. Tanksley said the need is the same in Champaign as it is in Lincoln and everywhere, people need to say and to do the things that can bring us together.

Photo by Jan Youngquist


On the business front, State Farm Agent Rick Hamm announced he would be retiring. He introduced Bryan Clark to the agency as the one who would take over the office at the first of the new year.


On Friday morning, retiring State Farm Insurance Agent Rick Hamm (center left) welcomed Bryan Clark (center right) to Lincoln as the new agent who will take over Hamm's office starting January 1st, 2021. Joining Hamm in the welcome were fellow State Farm agents Chris Coyne (far left) and Deron Powell (far left).

Hamm's office will remain open through the transition period from Hamm to Clark, with staff on hand to serve clients immediate needs. Agent Jenifer Sellers of Sherman will also help out in the daily operations until Clark takes over in January.

Photo by Nila Smith


As he retires, State Farm Agent Rick Hamm welcomes new agent Bryan Clark to the Lincoln community

The first National Bank in Tremont announced big plans for the future of its New Holland branch and the city of Atlanta continued moving forward with TIF projects in the community.

The First National Bank in Tremont and the village of New Holland announce downtown re-vitalization project

City of Atlanta moves forward with TIF Projects
Benefiting existing and new businesses

In other news

The city of Lincoln discussed delinquent sewer accounts and employee health insurance in October.

City of Lincoln
Employee health plans to see no premium increases in 2021
Aldermen to decide on Health Savings Account contributions next week

City of Lincoln to begin collections on delinquent sewer bills


The Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District launched a campaign for a tax referendum for the November ballot and a group of young conservatives hosted a rally in Latham Park.

Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District seeks new revenue via a referendum on the November ballot

Newly formed Young Conservatives of Logan County rally in Latham Park


In sad news, we learned that Shirley Bartelmay had passed away. Shirley had been a valuable asset to the community and worked tirelessly to save the Postville Courthouse.

Shirley Bartelmay passes away at age 86

On the lighter side

Bugs were still making the news in October and this was also the month to celebrate Sweetest Day. The Logan County Tourism Bureau staff was doing more to remember the good old days of the Depot, and LDN met up with a lady who was very interested in a specific piece of Lincoln history.


Have you seen this bug? It is a female Green Darner Dragonfly. The females have a bright green body or thorax while the male body will be blue. It is migratory season for this large flying insect, and the bug is headed to Mexico to spend the winter and reproduce. In the spring, its offspring will migrate going as far north as Canada.

The Green Darner is the largest of the Dragonfly species. According to information on the internet, it is hard to catch. However, Richard Smith found this one on a trumpet plant in his garden on Monday morning, and two hours later, it was in the exact same place and ready to 'pose' for a photo session.

Interesting facts about the dragonfly: it has almost 360-degree vision, can fly forward, backward, upside down and hover when it chooses. The four wings act independently from one another, so loss of one wing does not "ground" this bug.

Photo by Nila Smith



Today is Sweetest Day!

For the last few weeks the Lincoln Rotary Club has been taking orders for roses by the dozen as their Sweetest Day fundraiser. The roses are a significant fundraiser for the club. This year they had a great response with approximately 380 dozen roses sold.

On Friday, the group was preparing for the distribution of the roses, which took place Friday evening at the Jefferson Street Church in Lincoln.

Today, Saturday, Rotary Club President Dennis Campbell, members Steve Shoemaker (who organizes Sweetest Day) and Bob Chamberlain will be delivering member-donated roses to residents of the local nursing homes.

Photo by Phil Gillen



Logan County Tourism Bureau staff, Morgan Gleason and Cindy Smith, have set up a new museum-quality display at the LCTB Depot Visitors Center. The display in the north room pays homage to the history of the Lincoln Depot. Thanks to the city of Lincoln and Wes Woodhall, the doors to the depot that were removed during the renovation were saved. Those doors are now the focal point of the display. A set of train track switch lights were also saved. Those lights will come back to the depot in the future. Staff hopes to add more items directly related to the depot, not only from when it was a booming station but also when it was a popular restaurant in Lincoln. Because the display is not going to be large, they are not accepting random donations, but they would like to hear from you if you have something of interest.

The visitors center is open weekdays. The public is welcome to stop in and take a look around. Covid restrictions apply - face mask required

Photo by Nila Smith


Illinois woman on a quest for cherished Stetson china information

The golden days of October brought about a golden birthday. Since the onset of coronavirus many birthdays were celebrated in different ways around the community. For 10 year-old Grace Nutter who was celebrating a triple golden birthday, the celebration included a magical picture published in Lincoln Daily News.

Who says there is no such thing as princesses with unicorns for pets!


HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY GRACE!
Grace Nutter is celebrating her Golden Birthday today!

It's a triple special golden birthday as she was born on 10-10-10 and today she turns 10!!

Grace will be having a birthday party at the bowling alley with classmates and celebrating with friends and family this weekend. She is in the fourth grade at Carroll Catholic School.

Mom, dad and brother Liam want to wish Grace a Happy 10th Golden Birthday!

May all your dreams come true Grace!

Photo provided by mom Michelle Nutter


That warm glow of fall and the anticipation of Halloween lasted throughout the month. In the local news coronavirus was all but forgotten. With Halloween falling on a Saturday, it was the perfect opportunity for kids to spend an entire day trick or treating starting with the annual ‘Trick or Treat with the Mayor’ with Acting Mayor Tracy Welch. Then, in most all communities, Trick or Treating was permitted that evening. Faith Assembly Church also hosted a special trick or treat event and Copper Creek Cottages did trick or treat drive-thru style.

While LDN provided coverage on these activities on the first Monday in November, it seemed only fitting to include them in the October review.

Families enjoy safe trick or treating activities in Lincoln


On Saturday morning at trick or treat with Mayor Tracy Welch, there were dozens of creative costumes among the children. There were also some fascinating and fun costumes among adults. One parent did a remarkable job dressed as Bat Man. Day of the Dead was represented and a clever downtown business owner dressed to the phrase "Smartie pants." There was also a special guest appearance from Marie Antoinette.

Trick or Treat with Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch - Downtown businesses get into the spirit of the day - slideshow

Families grab their maps in Latham Park and head downtown for lots of treats - slideshow

Families stick together and travel in small groups to protect our kids - slideshow

Faith Assembly offers safe trick or treating - the evening begins with roasted marshmallows and plenty of sweet treats - slideshow

Evening ends with more sweet treats and warm beverages - slideshow

Copper Creek Cottages staff offer drive thru trick or treating - Album


[Nila Smith]

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