Organizations,  Events,  Milestones,  Good Neighbors,  A Day in the Life...,  Diaspora,  Reunions

June 2001

Sundays in June, July and August
WHO: Public
WHAT: Free tours of J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum
WHERE: Atlanta
WHEN: 1-3 pm

Sunday, June 3
SPONSOR: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
WHAT: Senior Sunday Luncheon; reservations required; call 732-2161, Ext. 195.
WHERE: ALMH cafeteria
WHEN: 11 am - 1 pm

WHO: Public
WHAT: 97th birthday celebration of the J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum; band concert, free tours, demonstration of elevator with team of horses and grain wagon
WHERE: Atlanta
WHEN: 2 pm

COORDINATED BY: Main Street Lincoln and Lincoln Area Music Society
WHO: Public
WHAT: Concert in the Park, featuring Sojourn; sponsored by WMNW 96.3 and Bob Neal, Edward Jones Investments
WHERE: Latham Park, downtown Lincoln
WHEN: 7 pm

Tuesday, June 5
SPONSOR: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
WHO: Public
WHAT: Free blood pressure screenings 
WHERE: ALMH, first floor waiting area
WHEN: 9 am - noon

SPONSOR: Lincoln Writer’s Club
WHO: Anyone interested in writing
WHAT: June meeting
WHERE: Lincoln Public Library Annex
WHEN: 6 pm

Wednesday, June 6
SPONSOR: American Legion Auxiliary 263
WHO: Public
WHAT: Red Cross blood drive
WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex
WHEN: noon - 6 pm

SPONSOR: Faith Lutheran Church
WHO: Public
WHAT: Red Cross blood drive
WHERE: Faith Lutheran Church, 2320 N. Kickapoo
WHEN: noon - 6 pm

Thursday, June 7
SPONSOR: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
WHO: Public
WHAT: Free blood pressure screenings 
WHERE: ALMH, first floor waiting area
WHEN: 9 am - noon

Friday, June 8
SPONSOR: Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce
WHAT: Annual roundup golf outing; call (217) 735-2385 for ticket information
WHERE: Elk's Country Club, Lincoln
WHEN: 1:30 pm shotgun start

Saturday, June 9
WHO: Public
WHAT: Beason townwide garage sales
WHERE: Beason
WHEN: 8 am - 1 pm

WHO: Public
WHAT: Cedar Creek Craft and Antique Show
WHERE: Logan County Fairgrounds
WHEN: 9 am - 5 pm

Sunday, June 10
WHO: Public
WHAT: Cedar Creek Craft and Antique Show
WHERE: Logan County Fairgrounds
WHEN: 9 am - 4 pm

SPONSOR: Knapp/Chesnut/Becker Historical Society
WHO: Public
WHAT: Annual ice cream social
WHERE: Middletown Park
WHEN: 2-4 pm

COORDINATED BY: Main Street Lincoln and Lincoln Area Music Society
WHO: Public
WHAT: Concert in the Park, featuring Lincoln Area Music Society; sponsored by friends of LAMS
WHERE: Latham Park, downtown Lincoln
WHEN: 7 pm

REGULAR POSTINGS FOR ORGANIZATIONS:  Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital,  American Red Cross,  Girl Scouts,  Lincoln Park District,  Lincoln Writer's Club,  Logan County Extension office,   Logan County historical landmarks,  Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency (recycling),  Oasis

Teams are filling fast for the FORE-ALMH golf outing, so don’t be left out! Get your team signed up for the outing scheduled for Friday, June 29, at the Elk’s Country Club in Lincoln. The format will again be a four-person scramble, with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Your $75 entry fee includes greens fee and free cart rental, plus opportunities to win prizes and awards including Hole-in-One, Top Foursomes, Longest Putt, Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin for both men and women. Also provided are a continental breakfast and buffet luncheon.

In addition to golfing, a variety of sponsorships are available including Tee, Cart and Prize Sponsorships. Appropriate recognition and benefits are provided for each sponsor.

All funds raised from the golf outing support the ALMH Care-A-Van service. The Care-A-Van is a specially equipped van, custom-built to provide non-emergency transportation for individuals who are wheelchair-bound or need transportation assistance to get to necessary appointments.

For more information on player registration or sponsorship opportunities, please call Cynthia Kelley at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 405.

[ALMH news release]

Rotarians in east central Illinois are seeking four or five outstanding professionals to visit India this winter as part of a group study exchange with the Rotary Foundation. The exchange will be with Rotary clubs in central India, including Bhopal, Indore and Sagar, and will last for three weeks in January and February 2002. Professionals from India will then visit Rotary clubs in east central Illinois next May and June.

Through the GSE program, teams of professionals exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. During their time abroad, team members share personal knowledge of their own country and experience the customs, vocations and lifestyles of another country.

The purpose of a group study exchange is to promote international understanding and good will through person-to-person contact, says Ken Gunji, GSE chair for Rotary District 6490. While abroad, team members stay in Rotarians’ homes and meet their professional counterparts, visit cultural institutions, farms, schools, industrial plants, and religious and historic sites. They also give presentations about their home country to Rotary clubs and other groups.

The Rotary Foundation provides round-trip airfare for each team member. Rotarians in the host country provide meals, lodging and group travel in their district. Team members pay only for personal and incidental expenses.

Applicants should be employed full time in a recognized business or profession for at least two years. Young professionals are encouraged to apply, although there is no age requirement. Group study exchange team members must live or be employed within the boundaries of Rotary District 6490. This includes all of Logan County and areas east to the Indiana border, south to Robinson and Hillsboro, and north to Gilman and Roanoke.

For an application, please contact Malcolm O’Neil at mfocjo@cs.com or 217-234-8101, or contact any member of the Lincoln Rotary Club.

The Lincoln Rotary Club meets at noon on Wednesdays at the Restaurant at the Depot. Membership is open to local professionals sponsored by current Rotary members. For more information about the Lincoln Rotary Club, contact Marty Ahrends at mahrends@adi.org or 732-3378.

Hunter safety clinic will be first weekend in June

A hunter safety clinic will be June 1 and 2 at Lincoln Sportsman’s Club. Class will be from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, June 1, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the following day. Lunch will be provided on June 2.

Call the Lincoln Police Department, 732-2151, for registration.

The safety clinic is sponsored by the Lincoln Sportsman's Club and the Logan County Chapter of Quail Unlimited.

Applications are currently being accepted for this summer’s teen volunteer program at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

Teen volunteers work throughout the hospital, performing a variety of duties in many different departments. To be eligible for the program, teens must be eighth grade graduates and must complete application forms. All teen volunteers must also complete the training session scheduled on Wednesday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at the hospital.

Applications are available at ALMH from Barbara Dahm, director of volunteer and special services. Applications should be filled out and returned in person to the volunteer office as soon as possible since the class size is limited to 12 participants. A brief interview will be conducted at that time. For more information, call (217) 732-2161, Ext. 184.

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital is hosting a Senior Sunday Luncheon on Sunday, June 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the cafeteria of the hospital, 315 Eighth St.

The public is invited to attend. There is a fee of $3.50 per person. Due to limited seating, reservations are required. For more information or to register for the luncheon, please call the Dietary Department at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 195. The deadline to register is Saturday, June 2.

The American Legion Auxiliary 263 will sponsor two blood drives at the Lincoln Sports Complex. The drive on June 6 will be from noon until 6 p.m. On June 20, the hours will be from noon until 5 p.m. Faith Lutheran Church will also have a blood drive on June 6, with hours from noon until 6 p.m.

People who have recently reached goals in their blood donations are Margaret E. Evers, seven gallons; Robert Kidd, five; James Stone, four; Pamela S. Campbell and Lyle W. Johnson, three gallons each; Desiree Chamberlain, two; and Eldon R. Broster, one gallon.

Girl Scouts

Upcoming local activities

•  Day camp at Kickapoo Creek Park on Monday and Tuesday, June 11 and 12

For more information, call Gina at the council or ask your leader.

Links

Websites with lots of ideas that Girl Scout leaders, families or kids can use:

makingfriends.com

crayola.com

elmers.com 

See the website for Girl Scouts, Land of Lincoln Council, at http://www.girlscoutsllc.org/.

You can send questions and suggestions to the council by clicking here: gsllc@girlscoutsllc.org.

Also, see the national Girl Scouts site at http://www.girlscouts.org/.

Sign-up is in full swing for T-ball.  Boys and girls entering kindergarten through second grade are eligible to play.  Teams are mixed, and play will begin the week of June 11. One of the things that set T-ball apart from other leagues is that a game is never canceled because of weather.  If it rains, the games are played indoors on the tennis courts.   Parents have a choice of Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday for game days.  This league is about learning the fundamentals, with every game ending in a tie. Anyone is welcome to attend the games.

Scotty Hinman will teach ceramics to young people entering third through fifth grades and those entering sixth through eighth grades.  Classes running Monday through Friday will start the week of June 4. Projects are age-related, and Scotty keeps the classes fun and entertaining with a variety of themes.

John Swanson returns this summer as our tennis instructor. John is an excellent instructor with the patience of a saint.  Classes serve up on Tuesday, June 5, and end Friday, June 8.  Registration can be completed at the front desk.  John offers instruction beginning at age 4 through adults.

Baseball and softball camps start June 4 with a week of boys baseball for grades seven, eight and nine. Girls softball is the second week, with the same grade divisions. The third week of camp is back to boys, grades four, five and six, followed again by the girls. Mike Swingle will be the instructor for all of the camps.

Adult softball schedules are ready to be picked up at the front desk. Games will start the week of June 4. We are happy to have Ace Hinman return as a coordinator for adult and girls softball.

Lincoln Writer’s Club to meet

The Lincoln Writer’s Club will meet on Tuesday, June 5, in the Lincoln Public Library. The meeting will be in the Annex and will begin at 6 p.m. Anyone interested in writing is welcome to attend. For additional information, you may call Rebecca Johnson at 732-2723.

USDA recommends that dial canner gauges be tested every year before using the pressure canner to preserve foods. This year University of Illinois Extension offers two dates to check the accuracy of your canner gauge. The first was May 10. Cherie Lock will also test gauges anytime Tuesday, June 26. You may deliver your canner to the Extension office at your convenience before that date and then pick up your tested canner at your convenience after 4 p.m. on June 26. There is no charge for this service.

If you have a weighted gauge, it is permanently calibrated at the factory and does not need to be checked.

Free newsletter for grandparents raising grandchildren

Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren can now get the FREE newsletter Parenting Again from University of Illinois Extension.

The newsletter offers practical advice on topics like helping grandchildren succeed in school, finding support groups and resources, taking care of your own health, and unique challenges for second-time parents.

Cherie Lock, unit staff member with U of I Extension in Logan County, says that grandparents can get on the mailing list by phoning the local Extension office at (217) 732-8289 or by sending a fax to (217) 735-5837 or e-mail to lock@mail.aces.uiuc.edu.

Atlanta

J. H. Hawes wooden country elevator. Open Sunday afternoons June through August. Free.

Atlanta Public Library and Museum. On National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1908. Comer of Race and Arch. Phone (217) 648-2112. Free.

Chestnut

Monument proclaims the geographic center of the state of Illinois. Town was laid out in 1872.

Elkhart

Elkhart Cemetery. Richard J. Oglesby, who was elected governor of Illinois in 1864, 1872 and 1884, is buried here; also John Dean Gillett, known as the "Cattle King of the World," and Capt. Adam Bogardus, wing shot champion of the world.

Emden

Bethel Church. Built in 1854. Three miles from Route 136 between Emden and Atlanta on County Road 20.

Lincoln

Site of Deskins Tavern. Across the street from Postville Courthouse, 915 Fifth St. Signage. Free.

Site of well Abraham Lincoln drank from. Across the street from Postville Courthouse, 915 Fifth St. Free.

Site of town christening by Abraham Lincoln on Aug. 27, 1853. Lincoln was the first community in the United States to be named for Abraham Lincoln before he became famous. Also, Lincoln's funeral train stopped here on May 3,1865. Located at the south side of the Lincoln Depot, Broadway and Chicago streets. Official Looking for Lincoln signage. Free.

Logan County Courthouse. Contains second-largest courtroom in Illinois. Built in 1905. Located on the courthouse square, downtown Lincoln. Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday until noon. Phone (217) 732-6400. Free.

Lincoln College Museum. Over 3,000 historic items. Lincoln College was founded and named for President Lincoln on Feb. 12, 1865. Keokuk and Ottawa streets. Summer hours: 9 to 4 Monday through Friday; 1 to 4 Saturday and Sunday; closed May 28 and July 4. Free.

Heritage In Flight Museum. Museum is filled with memorabilia from all U.S. military conflicts back to World War I. Located at the Logan County Airport. Phone ahead (217) 732-3333 to confirm hours. Free but donations accepted.

Lincoln Public Library. Original Carnegie library built in 1902. Tiffany-style glass inner dome. 725 Pekin St. Open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 9 to 6; Saturday, 9 to 3. Phone (217) 732-8878. Free.

Postville Courthouse State Historic Site. Guided tours. 914 Fifth St. Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Ph. (217) 732-8930 for additional information. Free but donations accepted.

Middletown

Stage Coach Inn. The inn was on the old stage route from Springfield to Peoria. Built mid 1800’s. Village is also famous for its aeronautical history. Free.

Mount Pulaski

Mount Pulaski Courthouse. This building is one of only two original 8th Circuit courthouses in Illinois. On National Register of Historic Places. Was Logan County Courthouse from 1847 to 1855. Guided tours. Open 12 to 5 Tuesday through Saturday. Phone (217) 732-8930. Free.

Includes "How to Prepare Recyclables?";  "Logan County Recycling Sites"; "Where Can We Recycle??"; and a link to Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency site.

Oasis update

The Oasis, Logan County’s Senior Citizen Center, is located at 501 Pulaski St. in Lincoln. The center is open weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and for Friday and Sunday night pinochle and other table games. The center is closed on holidays. Activities are open to all Logan County senior citizens.

Preceptor ETA Chapter will sponsor bingo on Thursday, May 31, beginning at 1 p.m. Bingo games will provide the fun you are looking for this week. Remember, if bingo is not your game, then join the card games, pinochle, 5-in-1 and pool on Friday and Sunday nights starting at 6 p.m. each night.

A Senior Health Insurance program representative will be on site for you if you need assistance with any Medicare or secondary insurance coverage. Call and make an appointment for Thursday, May 31.

Blood pressure readings will be checked from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 1. No appointment is necessary.

The Circuit Breaker program representative is available each Monday at the Oasis by appointment. Stop by the Oasis and pick up the booklet that explains this program, which offers property tax relief and pharmaceutical assistance coverage.

The second meeting of the new Garden Club will be Tuesday, June 5, at 9 a.m. Bring a plant to exchange and be ready to go Jefferson School for a tour of their garden.

Enjoy the outdoors and the "Big River." Saturday, June 16, is the scheduled day for the musical show in New Salem Park’s outdoor theater. Please call for a reservation. The cost is $15, which includes transportation and theater tickets. Dinner will be (on your own) at Family Restaurant.

"76 Trombones" will be in Sullivan. Come see "The Music Man" with us at the Little Theater on the Square in Sullivan on Wednesday, June 20, beginning at 2 p.m. Please call for a reservation. The cost is $25, which includes transportation and theater tickets. After the show we will stop at Hometown Buffet (on your own) in Decatur for supper.

Going once, going twice, thank you! Oasis Director Dom Dalpoas thanks everyone associated with the May 19 auction. The day was filled with fun and laughter.

Thank you for the jewels! Ms. Zurkammer, vice president of the board of directors, would like to thank all who have donated jewelry for the gift shop. Additional donations are always welcome.

Winners for recent games include Madeline Moore (5/18) and Mable Hoagland (5/22) for pinochle during the day; Len Krapp (5/18) for pinochle at night; Alice Thornton (5/18), pool; Louise Weiseas, Jan Van Bibber and Tom Garrison (5/4), 5-in-1.

Newsletter: Those who choose to have a Friends of the Oasis membership receive a bimonthly newsletter in the mail. Call the Oasis, 732-6132, for further information.

Milestones

50th wedding anniversary

Joe and Nina Deitz

The 50^th wedding anniversary for Joe and Nina Deitz of Heyworth will be Saturday, June 2.

Nina Harmon and Joe Deitz were married June 2, 1951, in Charlotte, Tenn. Attendants at the wedding were Velma and Ivan Harmon.

Joe and Nina are the parents of two daughters, Judy Diane McCrate of Heyworth and Janet Beth Sporleder of Fisher. There are three grandchildren, Jason, Matthew and Amber, and one great-granddaughter, Riley Jo.

Joe Deitz was employed by Eaton in Lincoln before his retirement. Nina Deitz is a retired beautician.

In celebration of their parents’ 50^th wedding anniversary, Judy and Janet request cards be sent to 401 S. Buchanan in Heyworth. Each will be a cherished gift, and the family respectfully requests no other. As an additional joy, friends are invited to share a special written memory of the couple.

[APRIL 25, 2001]  ^"This is a community celebration of hope. Life is a gift, and each day is a celebration."

[Click here for more photos]

Viola Rickey

Kayla Meister and Tabatha Weidhuner

[to top of second column in this article]

Bob Jeckel

Kathie and Ann Elliott

Fran Lessen

[Click here for more photos]

[MAY 4, 2001]  Our local police department works hard to keep our community safe and our town peaceful. In order to accomplish their task, they need hard workers supporting them. Faye Huneke is one such supporter.

For over 26 years, Huneke has been the full-time departmental secretary for Lincoln Police Department. She has served under five police chiefs—six if Mayor Davis appoints a new chief. She commented that each of the chiefs has been great and she enjoyed working for them.

[Due to an increase in phone activity, the dispatch now shares the phones lines with Huneke. She operates three non-emergency lines so that the dispatch can focus on emergency calls.]

Each day Faye Huneke processes a lot of information for the police department, beyond typical secretarial duties. She collects all arrest and accident reports from officers and sends them to the courthouse or to whoever else needs a copy of the report. She also collects traffic tickets and sends them to the circuit clerk’s office in the courthouse.

In addition to this paperwork, Huneke is responsible for evidence involved in pending court cases. She logs in and shelves all evidence, checks out evidence to authorized individuals, and sends evidence to labs for analysis. When a court case is completely closed, the court instructs her to refile, return or dispose of the evidence.

Huneke has acquired an additional role since she was first hired—answering phones. Originally, all calls rang to the dispatch, but due to the increase in phone activity the dispatch now shares the phones with Huneke. She operates three non-emergency lines so that the dispatch can focus on emergency calls—a responsibility she is all too happy to leave to the dispatch.

So how did Faye Huneke become a police department secretary? She started with business classes in high school. Even though she has not used it in awhile, she still remembers shorthand from a high school course. After high school, she enrolled in business school in Peoria. Cutler-Hammer of Lincoln called the school for a graduate, and that brought Faye to Lincoln.

Cutler-Hammer brought Faye not only to Lincoln but also to Bob Huneke, one of their employees. She worked for the electric control manufacturer for a few years, as a secretary, until she and Bob had their first daughter. Faye Huneke stayed home until all three of their daughters were in school.

About that time, she heard of a secretarial opening with the police department. The former secretary had passed the exams to become Lincoln’s first female police officer—something to which Faye said she has never aspired. She applied and was hired. At that time LPD was located in City Hall. She worked in that building for 3½ years, until 1978, when the department moved to its current location in the Safety Complex.

Huneke enjoys her job because she likes to help the public, whether it is on the phone or in the lobby. Several times she mentions how much she has liked serving with her co-workers. Faye does not have a favorite part of her job; rather, she says, "I like most all aspects of my job."

[to top of second column in this article]

Faye Huneke has had a number of memorable experiences during her years as a police secretary. Perhaps the most rewarding memories for this grandmother of five are reuniting young children with their parents. Occasionally, officers will find a toddler wandering around and bring the child back to the station until they can locate the parents. Faye usually helps the officers watch the child. She even has pictures on her desk that show her with some of the children.

One of the more amusing information-related calls Huneke remembers was during the Logan County Fair. A woman called to ask what time the rides opened at the fair. Luckily, Faye just happened to know the information. She wishes she had kept a diary of all the amusing calls she has received, which are usually unrelated to the police department.

Huneke related an intimidating situation that happened when she started to work for LPD. As keeper of case evidence, she is occasionally called upon to testify in a court case concerning the handling of the evidence. She was especially nervous the first time because she wanted to be careful to do a good job in court. Each case she has testified for in court has relaxed her a little more so that she no longer views it as intimidating.

[For over 26 years, Faye Huneke has been the full-time departmental secretary for Lincoln Police Department.]

A very memorable experience for Huneke, and all the members of LPD, was seeing and counting close to a million dollars. Officer Greg Saylor stopped to inspect a suspicious moving van and asked Officer Rawlins and his K-9 unit, Sampson, to assist. Sampson sniffed out a cardboard box full of cash. The officers confiscated the suspected drug money, and the next morning Huneke watched the officers count out over $900,000.

Family is very important to the Hunekes. The extended family, most from around Illinois and some from Minnesota, gathers for each holiday. The Hunekes, their children and grandchildren celebrate each birthday together. This weekend, the family is gathering for a reunion just southwest of Effingham.

When Faye is not at work or preparing for a family get-together, she enjoys gardening or creating scrapbooks. Each year she tries to add a few perennials to her garden at home. At work, Huneke’s office is decorated with a lot of greenery.

As to retirement, she really has not thought about it. Huneke said that perhaps in the next year or two she might begin planning her retirement, but right now, "I guess I like the job so much, retirement isn’t a priority."

So the next time you call or visit LPD you can say hi to Faye—she plans to be there awhile.

[Jean Ann Carnley]

People all across this country and, in fact, around the world, claim roots in Logan County. They have very interesting stories to tell, and some of them like to connect with those of us who stayed at home. Logan County Diaspora publishes the stories of former Logan County residents. With their permission, we also include their e-mail addresses so that old friends might be reunited.  If you wish to be part of the Logan County Diaspora, e-mail ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com.  

Diaspora correspondents

Click on names to see letters and stories.

v Indicates LDN sponsors

• Wanda Whitson Aue

• Brad Boss

• Charles Brainard

• James 'Doc' Chandler

• Brad Dye

• Wayne and Nancy (Hatfield) Eichelberger

• Wayne Franz

• Philip Gehlbach

• Leigh Henson

• Bill Horn  v

• Dale A. Lowe

• George A. McKinney

• Len and Rita Remmert

• Tom Renner

• Traycee Ritchhart-Pirkle

• Greg Schriber

• Stan Stringer

• Donald Weindorf  v

• Denise Radcliffe Wood

• Tom and Kristy (Smith) Yarcho

Stan Stringer tells story of
Mark Holland’s buzzing of Lincoln

A year ago I received a copy of Paul Gleason’s "A Pictorial History," and I found the pictures of Mark Holland’s buzzing of Lincoln. Regrettably, the author did not make attribution to the photographer for these or any other photographs, and perhaps this was not possible, as so many dated back so far. In any case, I thought your readers might enjoy a story behind these pictures.

My father, Charles M. Stringer, had a photography studio on the second floor of the Marcucci building in the ’30s and ’40s. During Mark’s later high school years he worked for my father and at the same time developed an interest in flying. After our entry into World War II, Mark entered the Army Air Corps and flight school. At some point Mark told dad that if the opportunity ever came that he could "buzz" Lincoln, he would telegram dad the night before. Dad agreed he’d have his Speed Grafix loaded and snap the pictures.

As you can guess, Lincoln was not the only town being buzzed. There was a general order prohibiting this, but there was little the military could really do. Pilots were needed overseas, and buzzing your hometown would not ground a qualified pilot.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Mark Holland]

One night the telegram came, something about seeing Lincoln soon. Dad knew it meant Mark would buzz the town the next day. My dad told me to keep all of this to myself, and I was certain I was in on a big military secret. At the time, I was in the fourth grade at Monroe Elementary School. My teacher was Miss Hazel Holland, and our classroom was on the second floor. Miss Holland was a cousin of Mark’s.

Needless to say, when Mark made his first run the class was out of hand. We ran to the windows for a grand view of the action. After Mark finished his runs and the class had quieted down, Miss Holland asked if anyone knew who was flying that airplane. While I had to fake it, we all had blank faces. I’m not sure if she suspected it was Mark, but nothing more was said.

Dad got the pictures, and these were kept out of circulation until Mark returned. During the war each kid had his personal hometown heroes, and Mark was one of mine.

Stan Stringer

Falls Church, Va.

dstringer@mgfairfax.rr.com

(5-11-01)

Diaspora writer seeks reunion information for class of ’71

I am seeking information on the class of 1971 reunion. Any information will be appreciated. Forward to me at 1dasue@home.com. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Wanda Whitson Aue

1513 Hastings Dr

Hampton, VA 23663

(5-4-01)

Leigh Henson, now a college teacher in Missouri, remembers Miss Jones, Jefferson School principal

I graduated from LCHS in 1960, attended Lincoln College for a year and then transferred to Illinois State (then Illinois State Normal University).  I taught at Pekin Community High School for 30 years before taking early retirement in 1994.  Since then I have taught technical communication at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo.  For more information about my career and teaching activities, please visit http://www.smsu.edu/english/dlhpages/dlh.html.

The move to Missouri has increased my appreciation of the diversity of our society.  I always wondered what people meant by having to deal with "culture shock" in moving to a different section of the country.  Here in the Ozarks, there seems to be a blend of Midwestern, Southern and Western cultural influences. Let me cite an example of the Western influence. Missouri is nicknamed the "Show Me" state, and that often seems to translate as an attitude of "so what?" or "prove it."  The good thing is that here rugged individualism is alive and well.

As a teacher for nearly 37 years, I have been especially interested in communities composed of students, teachers and parents. Thus, many of my most vivid Lincoln memories have to do with school experiences. For example, I attended Jefferson School from 1949 through 1954 and remember being taught in fourth, fifth and sixth grades by the principal, Miss Bernadine Jones.  She kept us together as a class because she had taught most of our parents, aunts and uncles and so took a special interest in us. 

[to top of second column in this article]

Those were the times in which many students regarded teachers with awe.  At the beginning of fourth grade, I was so aware of Miss Jones' reputation for strictness that on the first day of school I attempted to avoid her class by enrolling myself in the other fourth-grade teacher's class.  About an hour or so went by, and I began to relax, thinking I had escaped.  Suddenly, Miss Jones walked briskly into the room.  She sternly asked if I were there and then escorted me to her classroom-office.

Fortunately, she did not take me to the nurse's office, where her infamous wooden paddle prominently hung on the wall, handy for private lessons.  When she took someone for those lessons, we often heard the results.

For three years, our class learned values as well as the "three R’s."  In the way she taught and ran the school, she exemplified discipline and responsibility and got respect for it. 

I would be interested in exchanging other stories with classmates.  For this reason, I have collaborated with other LCHS classmates in the creation of an interactive LCHS Class of 1960 site at http://www.geocities.com/lincolnhigh1960/.

On behalf of my classmates, I am grateful to Lincolndailynews.com for helping us use Internet communication as a way to re-establish our community. 

Leigh Henson

(3-29-01)

 (Note: A link to the Internet site for 1960 graduates of LCHS is available regularly under "Reunions.")

I think LDN is just great. I live in San Antonio, Texas, so LDN is the only way I can keep up on what's happening in Lincoln.

I have just one request. Does anybody know when the class reunion for 1966 is going to be this year? I would really appreciate the information.

Thanks.

James Chandler  (Doc)

415 Pemcanyon

San Antonio, TX  78240

(210) 561-9505

doc@texas.net

(3-8-01)  

Foreign Service officer recalls
infamous Valentine's Day '79 in Tehran

By George McKinney

Valentine’s Day brings back memories for all of us — the sweethearts we gave flowers to or chocolate candy or kind words to our mothers.

Valentine’s Day for me awakes the memories of being taken hostage in Tehran that very day. We at the American Embassy in Tehran nicknamed it the "Valentine's Day Massacre."

At about 10 a.m., Feb. 14, 1979, three vehicles pulled up at strategic locations around the embassy compound and opened fire with machine guns. Iranian fanatics under the Ayatollah Khomeni were attacking our embassy with the intent to close it and do serious bodily harm to the occupants, American and Iranian employees. Our Marine detachment was able to return fire and hold them off for about three hours, but were outnumbered and outgunned.

I was caught under heavy gunfire while setting up a "secure" telephone system in the embassy administrator's office on the first floor of the embassy. Through the grace of God, I was able to get upstairs to my own office, located in our communications vault, which I was in charge of. My staff were already in the process of destroying sensitive equipment and classified documents under the direction of my deputy communications officer. During this same time frame, as many employees as possible were making it to the vault, which was also the embassy's "safe haven" location.

Numerous firefights were taking place throughout the embassy at this time, as the Iranians had successfully gotten onto our compound. Some of our Marines were wounded, some were captured and taken away, and some people suffered the ultimate — death…

As our ambassador was doing what he could to assure the safety for as many as possible, there was no doubt we were going to have to surrender the embassy.

He yelled to me, "How much more time do you need?" (to destroy necessary equipment and documents).

I told him, "Thirty more minutes," but because of the atrocities taking place and to save as many lives as possible, we didn't get that 30 minutes.

[to top of second column in this section]

At that time, I was on one of our HF radio systems informing our embassy in Kuwait that we were under attack, surrendering the embassy and for them to inform the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The ambassador swung open the vault door and the Iranians busted in, saw me on the radio and bashed me in the head with an AK-47. As I got hit, I spun the dial on the radio so they would not know our radio frequency.

When I regained consciousness, armed Iranians were everywhere and were in the process of removing us from the vault. As they removed us, they body-searched us and forcefully took us to a large area to physically control us. They had us get on our knees with our hands behind our heads. We were held there for some time and physically abused at their whim.

We were later removed to the outside of the embassy and placed in front of a machine gun that had been set up. Many things took place at this time that I won't go into, but the international press (numerous) showed up, and that most likely saved our lives. I had been injured earlier, besides being hit in the head and again beaten when taken outside of the embassy. We were later taken to the ambassador's residence, located on the compound.

Some employees were released during the next days and weeks, but I did not leave until all of my staff were safe and accounted for and also safely gotten out of Tehran.

This was not my first encounter with terrorism, as I had been kidnapped in Fort Lamy, Tchad, in 1968. I believe my prior experience in the Marines, having served in unstable countries prior to being assigned to Iran, most likely prepared me for what took place.

Of course, not learning from these experiences, I continued to volunteer for the trouble spots around the world during the rest of my career in the Foreign Service.

It is one Valentine’s Day I will never forget.

[George A. McKinney, Pharr, Texas]

(2-15-01)

Tom Renner writes in

As a native Logan County resident, after high school in Mount Pulaski I went to the Navy in 1956. After getting out of the Navy in 1960, I moved to Southern California and spent most of 17 years working as a construction welder working out of the Boilermakers Union. Got tired of looking through a dark lens, so went to driving a truck cross-country for KLM out of Jackson, Miss., but now retired and living in Sun City, Ariz., enjoying the heat and the fishing.

So if any of the old bunch are still around, get in touch. I hear from George McKinney from time to time (alias Buster). I am sure he will like that.

All three of my girls live in Lincoln. Oldest is a nurse; No. 2 works in a factory in Lincoln; No. 3 — don’t know what she is doing.

Godspeed to all of my old classmates in Mount Pulaski, and live long and prosperous.

To contact me send e-mail to renner1@juno.com.

Tom Renner

(2-6-01)

 Franz writes home

Although I have visited the Daily News several times, this was my first time in this section — really like it. Like many others have said, this column is a good place to get in touch and find friends you have not seen or heard from for years.

I am Wayne Franz:

—Graduated from LCHS in 1956 and left almost immediately for a career in the United States Air Force — almost 22 years, and [I’ve] seen a good part of the sphere we live on.

—Retired from the service in 1979 and settled in the Great Northwest — Everett, Wash., to be exact.

—Joined the Boeing company and, as part of the AOG (Airplane on Ground) team, managed to see quite a bit more.

—Retired from Boeing this past August.

—Married a wonderful California woman 42 years ago; have two daughters and three grandchildren.

Have not been back to Lincoln as often as I probably should have, but do think of it often. We are planning a visit this coming summer. Still have sisters in Atlanta and Springfield and a brother in Charleston. I have many fond memories of Lincoln.

I can be found at wefranz@aol.com.

(1-2-01)

Greg Schriber hopes to find old friends from Lincoln

Hello, Lincoln:

I live in Liberty, Mo., just north of Kansas City. I left Lincoln around 1984 and spent some time in Montana and now here. I miss Lincoln at times and hope to find some of my old friends from there. I keep in touch with only one to date. This website is the first link I have had with Lincoln other than my family and I appreciate it.

Greg Schriber

gregschriber@hotmail.com 

(9-12-00)

Nancy Eichelberger still gets homesick for the Lincoln area

I graduated from L.C.H.S. in 1956 and would love to hear from some classmates.

We have been gone from the Lincoln area for over 20 years. I still get homesick even after so many years. I lived in Lincoln for eight years and then moved to a small town (Emden), where we lived for the next 22 years. We lived in Clearwater for 16 years and moved to Odessa Fla., which is really northwestern Tampa several years ago, as we wanted to be in the country again.

Both my husband, Wayne, and I are farm people and my parents lived in Lincoln until their deaths. The city was fine for a while but as they say, you can take us out of the country but you can't take the country out of us. We have over an acre of land here and really like living where we can hear the birds and see the horses and llamas daily. Yes, I did say llamas, our neighbor has six of them and they are beautiful.

It would be nice to hear from people that I used to know.

Nancy (Hatfield) Eichelberger

ike3@aol.com 

(7-7-00)

Hello everyone in Lincoln/Logan County.

Len and I have lived in Henderson, Nev., for 16 years now and get back to Lincoln quite often, but I check the LDN every day to see what's happening. I was thrilled when my sister, Lana Miller, told me about this.

We used to co-own Landauer's in Lincoln. I sell real estate in the Las Vegas valley, and Len is sales manager for a ready-mix concrete company. Our son, Chad, is married with one daughter and expecting a son in November. He and his wife, Sandee, work for Southwest Airlines here in Las Vegas.

We attend Central Christian Church, where Gene Appel, former Lincolnite, is senior pastor. We just moved into a brand new church building that seats approximately 3000 people.

I would like to see more letters from people who have moved away from Lincoln/Logan County, so let's hear from you.

Rita Remmert

RitaRemm@aol.com 

(7-13-00)

Needs copy of local birth certificate

I was born in Lincoln but moved away quite a few years ago. I recently moved and can not seem to locate my birth certificate. I am going on a trip to Canada in a week and would like to have my certificate. Can you tell me who I should contact about getting this? Thanks!

Philip Gehlbach

 - - - - - - - - -

Philip,

You can get that information from the county clerk's office, (217) 732-4148.

Jan Youngquist

(6-15-00)

As a person who is lucky enough to call Lincoln my hometown, I just wanted to say what a great Web site you have.

I am a resident of Lincoln not currently living there, because of my job. I'm serving on active duty with the Army at Fort Campbell, Ky.

I was born and raised in Lincoln, and have come to appreciate just what kind of community I come from. Lincoln isn't the biggest town I've lived in, and actually I guess it's about the smallest town I've lived in. Both of my parents, Roger and Connie Boss, and for that matter most of my immediate family, still live in Lincoln.

My mom routinely clips out sections of the Courier and sends them to me so I can keep up on what's going on back home. Recently they showed your Web site to me, and Mom, I think you can retire the scissors. It's great that I can just pull it up on the Web and see what my friends and family are doing, no matter if I'm in Korea or Kentucky.

You have a good thing going here. It helps all of us out here from feeling so homesick when we can't go take a walk around the courthouse square or down Broadway to the Depot.

Thanks again for a great Web site, and keep up the good work...

Sgt. Brad Boss

(7-6-00)

Brad Dye would like to communicate with classmates

Hello, my name is Brad Dye and I graduated from LCHS in 1960. I attended the old high school, near downtown, for two years and then the new high school at the edge of town when it opened.

I have hardly been back to Lincoln since I graduated. My parents moved to Decatur and I went off to see the world. So far, that desire to see the world has taken me to about 55 countries. I often think of Lincoln and wonder what has happened to my old friends in the last 40 years.

I live in Dallas now and work for a radio paging company, which will be no surprise to those who remember me as an avid ham radio operator.

My sister Pam, who lives in Miami Beach, and I are both wondering if there will be a class reunion this summer for the class of 1960? We would like to attend. If anyone knows about this (date, time, place, etc.), please let me know by e-mail to: BradDye@swbell.net [address updated 3-27-01] and to Pam at: pgoldfaden@aol.com. 

I would love to communicate by e-mail with any of my former classmates.

I have a homepage on the Internet at: http://braddye.com 

Best regards,

Brad Dye

(6-7-00)

I have fond memories of Lincoln as I was growing up...

The Lincoln Lakes was the place to go in the summer time.

I used to play basketball pickup games at the Central School outside courts. I couldn't believe the last time I was home in Lincoln…The drinking fountain is still by the basketball courts.

I can remember the racetracks and the A&W root beer stand.

Riggs Dairy was on Woodlawn Road…the old football field on Woodlawn…

The watermelon festival in the summertime... I was in my 30s when I found out that Lincoln used watermelon juice to christen the city with the name Lincoln. As a matter of fact, I am related to Abraham Lincoln, very distantly. My father (Warren Chandler), whose mother’s name was Edna Lincoln, was the connection.

The Logan County Fair, where, if you are by the beer tent, you might meet someone you haven't seen in a long time…

I also have fond memories of all my sporting endeavors at Lincoln Community High School (LCHS).

I still come back for my high school reunions

"Hi" to Sharon Webster and Tim Harmon … good friends.

I am glad that Lincoln has stayed about the same size. I live in San Antonio, Texas, and believe me, if I could, Lincoln would be the place for me.

James Chandler (Doc)

doc@texas.net

(6-7-00)

[click here for another letter]

Where is everyone?

I am an avid reader of Lincoln Daily News. The reason for this is because I no longer live there, but was born and raised there, and it always remains in my mind. I am always looking to see something or someone I may remember from when I was there.

I really enjoy Diaspora, but not enough people are getting into it. I wish there was something I could do to raise that interest.

Come on Lincolnites, get on that computer and let us know what and how you are doing. (Go Railsplitters.)

Thank you,

George McKinney

Pharr, Texas

(5-11-00)

Brainard recalls Lincoln Skateland

Charles Brainard moved to Lincoln with his family when he was in sixth grade. He graduated from LCHS in 1979 and lived here until 1986.

He likes to remember the Indian summers and the skating rink, which his parents owned from 1972 to 1979. He thinks he misses the winter least and the summer most. "Compared to where I spend most summers, Lincoln’s weather is mild and wonderful," he says.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1986 and has been stationed in Georgia, Germany, Korea and Arizona. He was deployed to the Iraq area for Desert Storm. "Each station and area has had its own beauty," he says, "but not one of them was home."

"I am still on active duty in the Army. My specialty is communications. I work as a satellite communications network engineer and all-around communications techie. I enjoy several veterans associations – especially the American Legion and the 3rd Armored Division veterans (Spearhead) association."

His local family members are his parents, Charles and Carol Brainard; his brother, David, who just bought a house in Lincoln; and a sister, Laurie Armstrong. "My folks still live there at the homestead," he says. "The rest of us have scattered across the nation." Linda Jamison, another sister, resides in Shirley, Ill., and his sister Susan Conver lives in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area.

In closing, he tells us, "Enjoy your freedom? Thank a veteran!"

You can send e-mail to Chuck Brainard at cbrainard@hotmail.com.

(3-16-00)

Weindorf remembers Lincoln Lakes

Donald Weindorf lived in Logan County from 1934 to 1946 and then from 1957 to 1959.

Of his years in Lincoln he says, "I like to remember my friends, the Arcade soda fountain, the old Recreation Center, the Lincoln Lakes and much more."

"I was pretty much raised in Boys Town outside of Omaha," he explains. "I got an opportunity to run Omaha Magazine and so I returned to Omaha."

He now owns and operates a group home for 20 at-risk boys.

"I love the range of weather we have here, the marvelous steak houses, the museums and the outside recreational facilities," he says.

Weindorf still has relatives living in Lincoln and gets back for a short visit every few years.

You can contact Weindorf via e-mail at weindorf1@juno.com.

(3-16-00)

"Nothing compares with e-mail and Web pages" to keep friends in touch

I have lived in the Fort Myers, Fla., area for the last 14 years. I have tried to keep in touch by phone, mail, etc. with my friends in Illinois. Nothing compares with e-mail and Web pages to accomplish this! Many thanks to the people who started lincolndailynews.com. It is firmly placed in my favorite places and I check it every day.

Thanks again.

Bill Horn
Fort Myers, FL
Bill3567@aol.com 

(3-3-00)

LDN makes Germany closer to home 

We just heard about the lincolndailynews.com and are enjoying keeping up with latest. We are currently living in Germany and now we don't feel so far from home.

Tom and Kristy (Smith) Yarcho
Haupstuhl, Germany
tkksk6@bunt.com 

(2-16-00)

Lincoln remains close to her heart

Thank you so much for the opportunity to stay posted on the happenings in my hometown! I am currently living in the North Georgia mountains, but my children spend the summers in Lincoln visiting their grandparents, and they love to look at the pictures of places in Lincoln and stay familiar with their "summer surroundings" After viewing the message board that one other Lincoln site has, I think I will stick with lincolndailynews.com, where I can see the news that I want to see....how things are progressing, and the good that still comes from my little hometown. Keep up the good work! Lincoln may be 700 miles from my home, but is much closer to my heart!

Traycee Ritchhart-Pirkle

Traycee87@alltel.net  Traycee@americashomeplace.com

 (2-16-00)

[to second column of letters]

World traveler keeps up on Lincoln

Thank you for lincolndailynews.com. My name is Denise and I am living in the Port Charlotte, Fla., area. I am getting established in real estate here in Southwest Florida after moving to this area within the last year from the north of England.

I lived in Lincoln until I was 27 in 1983, before starting a world traveling lifestyle. Although living thousands of miles away (i.e., Texas, California, Australia, England) over the years, I have managed to return to see my family, friends, and just to see Lincoln every six months on average. Now that plans have it that visits will be less often, it is absolutely great to have lincolndailynews.com for that Lincoln connection.

My parents are down here for 'The Season." January to April. They are enjoying the benefits of the new lincolndailynews and the latitude of Florida, that of sun, warm, wildlife and the new pool construction going on in my back yard with the golf course view. Ya' all come down now! :o)

Now you won't miss out on any Lincoln area news either! I am so excited about lincolndailynews that I am starting a classified ad to help readers learn more about wintering in Florida.

Many thanks.

Denise Radcliffe Wood
Sunnybreeze, FL
e-mail: floridaliving@hotmail.com   

 (2-11-00)

Alabama resident likes Lincoln photos

Great Web page. My brother just sent me the link to the website so that I can keep up with the news from back home. I left Lincoln back in 1963 for the Air Force. I currently reside in Alabama but Lincoln is never far from my mind. I truly enjoyed seeing the pictures of the different places around town and what is going on. Keep up the good work.

dlowe@ispchannel.com  

Dale A. Lowe
Huntsville, AL

(2-8-00)

Reunions

LCHS class of ’76 announces reunion plans

[MAY 4, 2001]   

Friday night, Aug. 3

•  Beer tent at Logan County Fair

Saturday, Aug. 4

•  Golf outing at Elks Club in Lincoln

Cost: $33.00 for 18 holes includes greens fees and cart. Lincoln Elks members pay their usual price. Prizes awarded. To form foursomes, we need to know if you are an A, B, C or D player. Tee times will be assigned at a later date. Limited to 32 players

•  Swimming at the Elks Club

Cost: $2 per person at the door.

•  Dinner-dance

6-7 p.m. — Social hour

6:45 — Class picture by Picture this Photography, cost: $12

7-8 p.m. — Buffet dinner

9 p.m. — Dance

[to top of second column in this section]

Planning committee:

Janice (Radcliffe) Greer, jjmm@abelink.com or (217) 735-2621

Kathy (Stoltz) Jones, dkjones@frontiernet.net or (217) 792-3241

Shelly (Birk) Conley, cclan@ccaonline.com or (217) 732-8097

Jamie Voyles, jivoyles@earthlink.com or (217) 735-2295

Mitzi (Gallagher) Rohlfs, rohlfs4@abelink.com or (217) 732-4316

Terri (Sullivan) Choules, jctchles@pdnt.com (217) 586-3221

Mark Guzouskis, (217) 735-3043

Looking for class of ’76 members

[APRIL 18, 2001]   Reunion planners still need updated addresses for the following LCHS classmates who graduated in 1976:

Terri Allen, Terry Hyde, Pam Gill, Joe Palmer, Virginia Parmer, Charles Krueger, Cindy Imlay, Randy Letterle, Kathryn Beach, Liz West, Monica Wyland, Rebecca Turner, Janet Schroyer, Rick Rohlfs, Kelly Cordrey, Terry Fisher, Mike Fox, John Frye, Doris Dews, Wayne Denney, Mike Short, Debbie Johnston, Bonnie Freese, Robert Hinton, Dave Rice, Clayton Reed, Arthur Merritt, Mike Kavannaugh, Tim Armstrong, Tony Young, Dave Buch, Sabrina Simmons, Mark Loughmiller, Brian Hackett, Mary Check, Don Prince.

If anyone knows the address, or a person to call to get the address, of a classmate listed, please call or e-mail Janice Greer at (217) 735-2621, jjmm@abelink.com.

Saturday, Aug. 4, is the date set for the class reunion. A golf outing and dinner at the Elks Lodge in Lincoln is being planned.

Thanks to those providing updated information.

Ongoing class reunion in cyberspace for 1960 graduates of LCHS

http://www.geocities.com/lincolnhigh1960/

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