Police Officer Appreciation event overcomes Mother Nature’s worst threat

 

[July 13, 2021] 

On Saturday evening the Logan County Police Appreciation Day held at the Logan County Fairgrounds got off to a very rocky start.

The event was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., the very same time that Mother Nature decided to throw a temper tantrum. With the event being organized to recognize police officers, several of the honorees were present watching the weather conditions and getting direct messages from the Logan County Emergency Management Agency.

A tornado warning was issued and a squall line moving from Petersburg to the northeast was headed right for Lincoln. The anticipated result would be high winds and lightening. Tyler Stambaugh, who was the organizer for the event, took action to help assure that everyone was safe. The bounce house that had been set up was deflated. Vendors were asked to move all their items away from the outer edges of the pavilion at the fairgrounds. It was announced that if the wind and lightening did hit, everyone was to take shelter inside the concrete block buildings that housed the public restrooms.

Vendors did as they were asked, and moved all their items away from the outer edges, then everyone just waited to see if further action would be needed.

Fortunately, the storm did not have the expected impact. It appeared that the worst of the severe weather conditions stayed west of Lincoln while moving in a northerly direction. After about a half hour of uncertainty, everyone was told that they could re-set their tables and displays and that the evening would continue as planned with modifications as needed due to the weather.

Stambaugh waited for the winds to settle down a bit more, but by 5 p.m. the bounce house was back up and kids were able to jump and slide the rest of the evening.

There were periods of light rain throughout the evening, but for the most part after that rocky start, everything else went as planned on Saturday night.

Officers from the Logan County Sheriff’s Department and Lincoln Police Department stopped in during the evening. Officers were provided free food and each one received a “gold medal” thanking them for their service.

Local squad cars were brought in for display, as well as vehicles from Lincoln Fire department and Logan County Paramedics. Many of the kids and even a few adults had a good time exploring the vehicles and seeing the lights and sirens put into action.

Lincoln D.A.R.E. provided some free tee shirts that were given away throughout the evening.

Lincoln Arts Institute set up tables and offered free art projects for children and adults. An art contest was put together and the winners in three age categories received gold medals for their talents.

Members of the Logan County Arts donated a variety of paintings for display and for sale. At the end of the night a few select pieces were also given away during the 50/50 drawing.

The Rusty Rail in Lincoln provided a bags game set that many enjoyed playing.

Olivia Partlow was on hand from the Lincoln Heritage Museum with info about the museum and facilitated 1860’s era games for the kids to play.

Patti Becker with the United Way of Logan County shared information about the new 211 referral program in Logan County and also gave free books to children.

Kimberly Janssen (right) with the Epilepsy Foundation Greater Chicago provided information about her foundation.

DJ services were provided by Jeremy Gasparin. He kept the music going and served as emcee all evening.

Crossway Church in Lincoln brought free hotdogs for everyone and provided several volunteers to help out with activities throughout the evening.

The dunk tank was popular as it was opened up for anyone in attendance to take a dip. At the mercy of their friends, who were happy to pay a buck for three balls, many people got more than just a little wet.

The celebrity dunkee for the evening was LCHS Driver’s Education and Physical Education teacher Mr. Pat Hake. Hake was at the mercy of his former students, and in a matter of a few minutes hit the water several times.

Nuthatch Hill BBQ and Lincoln Daily News partnered to provide free pulled pork sandwiches to all police offers and also offered sandwiches for sale to guests.

The Rainbow Girls offered popcorn and cookies for sale.

The Friends and Family Relay Team had a display of raffle items. Raffle tickets are available for a patriotic quilt donated by Georgia Green of Sew Personal Embroidery and a kid-sized, battery powered ridable Ducati rocket scooter with training wheels donated by Rent One in Lincoln.
 

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital provided the sound system and Rent One in Lincoln provided the secondary sound system.

Lincoln Daily News helped with the 50/50 fundraiser selling tickets. At the end of the night the drawing for the cash prize was won by Tom Schonauer. The generous winner donated his share of the 50/50 back to the fundraiser which benefitted the First Responders Children’s Foundation.

After drawing for the cash, additional tickets were drawn. The second ticket drawn won a large gift basket filled with all kinds of goodies donated by CEFCU in Lincoln.

Three more tickets were drawn with those winners receiving select pieces of art donated by members of the Logan County Arts.

Donation buckets were set out on the tables and many folks contributed to the children’s foundation via those buckets.

Weather may have very well prevented the turnout that Stambaugh and his committee had hoped for, but nonetheless it was with heartfelt appreciation for our local officers a worthwhile community event.

Among those who did stop in was Lincoln City Attorney John Hoblit; the city’s newest alderman, Greg Miller, Ward One; Logan County Treasurer Penny Thomas and Stambaugh’s grandfather Bob Rohlfs.

Granddad Rolhfs was the one who when Stambaugh first came up with the idea for the Police Appreciation Day encouraged him to move forward and do something to try and make a difference in our community. Saturday evening, Rohlfs was beaming with pride as he took in the network of people who had stepped up to support Stambaugh. He said he was very proud of his grandson for wanting to do something good and worthwhile.
 

The sale of donated art brought in more than $100 and the 50/50 with the return of the prize money by Schonauer brought in just under $200. All totaled, the evening event made just over $500 for the foundation. Added to that were cash donations from ME Realty, a co-sponsor of the event; Rusty Rail, and Graue Chevrolet. Stambaugh will be able to forward just under $1,300 to the First Responders Children’s Foundation thanks to the generosity of the community.

So, even though Mother Nature may have messed with the turnout, she did not defeat the spirit or the event.

Stambaugh was still excited about what had been done to show appreciation for local law enforcement and at the end of the night was already soliciting help for next year’s event.

There are many individuals, businesses and organizations that need to be recognized for their contribution to the first Police Appreciation Day.

Police Appreciation Committee members:

• Marcia Cook - Lincoln Art Institute

• Karen Hargis - Lincoln Daily News

• Jason Hoffman - Lincoln Art Institute

• Lisa Ramlow - Lincoln Daily News

• Nila Smith - Lincoln Daily News

Co-sponsors:

• Lincoln Daily News

• ME Realty

Event helpers and donors:

• Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital - sound system

• All About Fun - bounce house and dunk tank

• CEFCU -giant basket giveaway

• Jeremy Gasparin - DJ

• Graue Chevrolet - donor

• Pat Hake - "Good Sport" dunk tank volunteer

• Lincoln Arts Institute - art contest coordinators

• Lincoln Printers - signs

• Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District - water for the dunk tank

• Logan County Arts - donations of art for sale

• Logan County Board - raffle permit

• Logan County Fair Board - Mike Maske

• Logan County Tourism – Vests for volunteers

• Rent One - sound system

• Rusty Rail – donor, plus bags and boards

• Small Town Creations – trophies and medals

Vendors:

• American Cancer Society - Friends and Family Relay Team

• Crossway Church

• Epilepsy Foundation Greater Chicago - Kim Janssen

• Lincoln Heritage Museum - Olivia Partlow

• Nuthatch Hill BBQ

• Rainbow Girls popcorn and cookies

• United Way of Logan County - Patti Becker

[Nila Smith with photos by Lisa Ramlow]

SEE:

Letter to the Editor:  Recognition and appreciation for Stambaugh and Logan County Police