Organizations,  Events,  Milestones,

Good Neighbors,  Fund-raisers,  A Day in the Life...,

Diaspora,  Family and Friends in the Armed Forces,  

Reunions,  Reminiscence

February 2002

Tuesday, Feb. 26
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: By preregistration; call 732-2134 noon-4 pm weekdays or (217) 522-3357 at other times
WHAT: Class covering adult CPR, infant and child CPR, and first aid (first of two sessions required)
WHERE: 125 S. Kickapoo St.
WHEN: 6-10 pm

Thursday, Feb. 28
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: By preregistration; call 732-2134 noon-4 pm weekdays or (217) 522-3357 at other times
WHAT: Class covering adult CPR, infant and child CPR, and first aid (second of two sessions)
WHERE: 125 S. Kickapoo St.
WHEN: 5-10 pm

March 2002

Sunday, March 3
WHO: Public
WHAT: Open house
WHERE: Logan County Courthouse Dr. John Logan County Building
WHEN: 1-3 pm

Tuesday, March 5
SPONSOR: Habitat for Humanity of Logan County
WHO: Public
WHAT: Harlem Ambassadors basketball team performance
WHERE: Gaston Arena at Lincoln Christian College
WHEN: 7 pm

Friday, March 8
SPONSOR: Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce Government/Education Committee
WHO: Public; RSVP to 735-2385
WHAT: "Meet the State Candidates Breakfast"
WHERE: Room 49, Restoration Hall, Lincoln Christian College and Seminary
WHEN: 7:30-9 am

Saturday, March 9
SPONSOR: St. John United Church of Christ
WHO: Public
WHAT: Craft show
WHERE: 204 Seventh St.
WHEN: 8 am - 3 pm; lunch available 11 am - 1:30 pm

SPONSOR: Beta Sigma Phi
WHO: Public
WHAT: "School Daze" benefit dance for school supply project for area children
WHERE: Moose Lodge, 521 N. Kickapoo
WHEN: 8-11 pm

Sunday, March 10
SPONSOR: Atlanta Fire Department
WHO: Public
WHAT: Pancake and sausage breakfast
WHERE: Atlanta firehouse
WHEN: Beginning at 7 am

Tuesday, March 12
SPONSOR: U of I Extension
WHO: Public
WHAT: “Salads,” presented by Jananne Finck, nutrition and wellness educator, Springfield
WHERE: Extension office, 980 N. Postville Drive
WHEN: Noon - 1 pm

Thursday, March 14
SPONSOR: Logan County Arts Association
WHO: Public
WHAT: Classic Film Night showing of "On the Waterfront"
WHERE: Lincoln Cinemas
WHEN: 7 pm

Saturday, March 23
WHAT: Children's Community Health Fair
WHERE: Lincoln Park District ballroom, 1400 Primm Road

Saturday, March 30
WHO: Public
WHAT: Annual Lake Fork Community Sale
WHERE: Lake Fork
WHEN: Breakfast starts at 7 am

SPONSOR: Lincoln Park District
WHO: Public
WHAT: Easter egg hunt
WHERE: Lincoln Park District, 1400 Primm Road
WHEN: 10 am

SPECIAL EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Lincoln court will rock in one week,  Beta Sigma Phi plans ‘School Daze’ benefit dance,  HOI scholarship program seeks applicants

REGULAR POSTINGS FOR ORGANIZATIONS:  Girl Scouts,  Oasis,  U of I Extension,  YMCA

The Harlem Ambassadors are being hosted in Lincoln by Habitat for Humanity of Logan County. The basketball team will be performing Tuesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at the new Lincoln Christian College Gaston Arena.

Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $5 for children under 12. At the door, tickets at the door will be $12 for adults, $9 for senior citizens and $7 for children. Tickets can be purchased in Lincoln at the IGA, A.G. Edwards and Union Planters Bank.

For more information contact Habitat at P.O. Box 714 or phone (217) 732-6234.

[Click here for related article.]

You are invited to attend an open house on Sunday, March 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Logan County Courthouse in downtown Lincoln and at the Dr. John Logan County Building, 122 N. McLean St.

Members of local chapters of Beta Sigma Phi have been preparing for their "School Daze" benefit to help cover expenses of the annual school bag project for Lincoln students.

Each year students are screened through CIEDC for eligibility for this program provided by Beta Sigma Phi. Students who meet the qualifications are provided with a school bag and all of their school supplies for the upcoming school year. The number of eligible students rises each year. For the 2001-2002 school year, bags and supplies were provided for over 80 children. All proceeds from Beta Sigma Phi yearly projects go toward this program.

The benefit dance is scheduled for Saturday, March 9, from 8 to 11 p.m., at the Moose Lodge in Lincoln. This will be an evening for adults, with dancing to the lively tunes of Music 4U DJ Service. There will be a cash bar, snacks, a 50/50 drawing, and door prizes that have been donated by local merchants.

When tickets are presented at the door, they will automatically be entered into the drawings for door prizes. Winners for the door prizes need not be present to win.

Tickets are being given away in advance from local members and at MKS Jewelers on the square. Complimentary tickets will also be available at the door. Donations are accepted and appreciated.

If you would like to obtain tickets or donate a door prize, please call the following Beta Sigma Phi officers: Janet Henrichsmeyer, president, 732-7146; Linda Sue Sheley, vice president and treasurer, 732-8610; or Tish Podunajec, secretary, 735-1085.

This is sure to be an evening enjoyed by all, and the children of Lincoln who will receive much-needed school supplies will certainly enjoy the benefits from the evening!

[Beta Sigma Phi of Lincoln]

The 2002 Miss HOI Scholarship Pageant is set for the evening of Saturday, April 6, at the Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center of Morton. The program is sponsored by the Morton Area Players, the Morton Park District and Bearce Automall of Washington.

Entries are now being accepted from young ladies ages 17 to 24. Applicants have a chance to be the next winner of thousands of dollars in scholarships and to represent our area at the Miss Illinois Pageant in June.

Bethany Von Behren of Peoria, Miss HOI 2000, won more than $6,000 in scholarships through her competition at Miss HOI and Miss Illinois. Von Behren is a 2001 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington and was a top ten finalist at Miss Illinois. She was also a preliminary talent winner.

This year’s show, "Celebrate America," will feature award-winning twirler Alyssa Gunderson, the current Miss Heart of Illinois. Gunderson is a special education teacher in suburban Chicago and has been volunteering for mentoring programs for the past five years. She has worked closely with the Bloomington Housing Authority and has started mentoring programs in four states. Gunderson is a 2001 graduate of Illinois State University.

The Miss Heart of Illinois program was honored at the state level for the quality of its show on pageant night, winning the Best Production Award in 2001. In 1999 and 2001, it won the inaugural Outstanding Program Award from Miss Illinois. Since 1998, it has awarded approximately $26,000 in cash scholarships to central Illinois women, thanks to area sponsors. Scholarship funds are sent directly to the contestant’ s university to pay for tuition only.

For more information on entering, sponsoring or volunteering for Miss HOI, e-mail misshoi@hotmail.com or visit the official Miss Heart of Illinois website: misshoi.homestead.com.

[News release]

[Alyssa Gunderson, Miss HOI 2001,
is crowned by Bethany Von Behren, Miss HOI 2000,
and Jennifer Powers, Miss Illinois.]

The Oasis, Logan County’s senior citizen center, at 501 Pulaski St. in Lincoln, is open weekdays (except holidays) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center also is open on Friday and Sunday nights for table games. Dominic Dalpoas is the executive director. Activities are open to all Logan County senior citizens, regardless of membership.

Computer class

There are a few openings for the spreadsheet-database class scheduled for the week of Feb. 25, at 9:30 a.m. Call for a reservation. No classes are scheduled for March. If you are interested, call for information and a reservation on the April schedule.

Circuit Breaker appointments

Appointment times are available for Feb. 26 in Hartsburg, Emden, San Jose, New Holland, Middletown, Elkhart and Broadwell for people who need assistance completing their Circuit Breaker forms. Please call The Oasis for an appointment.

Think Tank with speaker’s bureau

The program scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, features Dayle Eldredge from Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital. Her topic will be "ALMH Happenings." Join us for an informative session.

Auction reminder

Mark this date on your calendars: Saturday, March 16. Join us at 10 a.m. at The Oasis for the second annual auction featuring merchant donations and gently used items. Mike Maske will be the auctioneer. Lunch will be available for a nominal donation.

The committee is now accepting those "gently used items" to be auctioned. Thank you in advance for your support.

Game winners

The weekday pinochle winner for Feb. 8 was Mable Hoagland. Bernie DePuy won the monthly lunch drawing from Hallie’s Lunch Box. Weekend game winners for Feb. 8 were Marie Spaits for pinochle and Tom Garrison and Louise Weibers for 5 in 1.

Newsletter

Friends of The Oasis members receive bimonthly newsletters by mail. For more information, people can call the Oasis at 732-6132 or 732-5844.

The local office of the University of Illinois Extension is hosting a series of educational presentations. Anyone and everyone is welcome. Programs will be at the Extension office at the northwest corner of the fairgrounds, 980 N. Postville Drive.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new survey finds that unsupervised teens are four times more likely to be D students than teens supervised every day. The survey, "After School for America’s Teens," released by the YMCA of the USA, finds that 59 percent of teens are left unsupervised after school at least one day in a typical week. And those teens are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual activity, and are nearly three times as likely to skip classes at school. In fact, compared to teens who are supervised, they are also three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs

YMCA Teen Action Agenda programs already are proven solutions to the clear need for structured supervision after school. Ten percent of America’s teens currently are involved in YMCA programs, and the YMCA is committed to doubling the number of teens it serves to one in five teens by 2005. YMCAs help teens develop character and build confidence through programs focusing on education, career and life skills; health, safety and well-being; and leadership and service learning,

"The survey’s findings reinforce our belief that teens who are supervised are more successful — they get better grades in school and participating in after-school programs helps protect them from at-risk behaviors. That’s why we’ve made the commitment to double the number of teens we involve in YMCA programs to nearly five million," said Brock Leach, chair of the YMCA Teen Action Agenda and president and CEO of Tropicana Products, Inc,

The survey of 500 teens 14 to 17 years of age reveals a strong interest in community and neighborhood-based after-school programs. Even though many teenagers participate in after-school programs through their school, over half of all teens (52 percent) wish there were more community or neighborhood-based activities available. And, while more than 62 percent of teens left alone during the week say they would likely participate in after-school programs, the survey also found that two in three teens (67 percent) would be interested in programs after school that would help them get better grades, develop leadership skills and be more involved in the community.

Cornelius Abraham is a teen who says he’s the perfect example of how the YMCA programs can keep good kids from going bad. At a news conference on Capitol Hill, Abraham described how he came from a family broken apart by the violent death of his brother at the hands of his parents. "The YMCA was a haven for me in my childhood and teen years. Without the structure and support I found through the Y’s after-school programs, I would never have had the success I did in school and confidence to overcome the obstacles in my path." said Cornelius, a former Chicago YMCA teen and now a 20-year-old sophomore at Northern Illinois University.

Jessica Stone is another good example of how YMCA programs work. The 14-year-old from Seattle, Wash., comes from a strong, two-parent family. "Being involved in the girls’ leadership program has been a great experience. The mentors I’ve worked with have really helped me learn and think about my future, and now I’m able to help other kids as a mentor for them," said Stone.

Unsupervised teens are in the "danger zone" — the hours of 3 to 6 p.m. after school, when being unsupervised can lead to problems with alcohol, drugs, sexual activity and even crime. This danger cuts across race, income and family structure, as was found in the University of Minnesota’s National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the largest-ever survey conducted with adolescents in the United States. Teens who are failing school and "hanging out" with friends are more likely than other teens to engage in at-risk behaviors.

"If we choose not to invest in addressing the unstructured, unsupervised time of teens, it does not mean that we are saving money. We can pay at the front end or we can pay at the back... but we will pay," said Dr. Robert Blum, co-principal investigator of the University of Minnesota study.

The YMCA’s "After School" survey also revealed that teens who participate in after-school activities do better in school and are less likely to engage in activities that place them at risk. Teens who do not engage in activities after school are five times more likely to be D students than those who do. Furthermore, nearly eight in 10 teens (79 percent) who participate in after-school programs are A or B students, but only half (52 percent) of teens who do not participate earn such high marks.

To date, more than 1,000 YMCAs have signed on to support the YMCA Teen Action Agenda, In addition to doubling the number of teens they involve in programs, these local YMCAs pledge to offer more programs and support for teens. Meeting the campaign’s goals — building teens’ skills and values, developing assets in teens, providing teens with meaningful roles in their communities, and placing teens with adult role models — is crucial to teens’ success.

"YMCA teen programs provide teens the safe, structured after-school activities that help them avoid risky behaviors while preparing them academically and socially and building the character and skills teens need to succeed and thrive as young adults," said Kenneth Gladish, Ph.D., National Executive Director of YMCA of the USA.

In 2001, America’s YMCAs celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the first Y, in Boston, Mass. One out of three Americans reports being a YMCA member at some point in life. Together the 2,372 YMCAs are the nation’s largest not-for-profit community service organization.

Today, America’s YMCAs serve 17.5 million people, including nearly nine million children each year, through a broad range of programs, including mentoring, youth leadership and volunteerism. Collectively, YMCAs are also the nation’s largest provider of child care. YMCAs are for people of ail faiths, races, ages and incomes. Financial assistance is available for all YMCA programs and membership.

To learn more about the YMCA, visit the website at www.ymca.net.

The YMCA Teen Action Agenda is sponsored nationally by JCPenney Afterschool and PepsiCo, Inc.

Note: The survey results are based on telephone interviews with a national sample of 500 teenagers, 14 to 17 years of age, conducted in January 2001 by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates of Washington, D.C. The statistical significance of the results is plus or minus 4.4 percent at the 95th confidence interval level.

Milestones

[Click here to see and print the wedding announcement form]

[Click here to see and print the anniversary announcement form]

[Click here to see and print the engagement announcement form]

[JAN. 31, 2002]  In the first ceremony of its kind in the state, Lincoln area resident Iona Boyd received the Purple Heart medal awarded to her first husband, Pvt. Paul W. Kodatt, a medic who was killed in the Philippines during World War II.

[Click here to view picture page.]

Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka presented the medal in a ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday at The Oasis. She also gave Boyd other contents of the abandoned safe deposit box where the medal was found: a Pacific campaign service medal, a small three-blade pocketknife, a rifle bayonet with scabbard and a pocket Bible.
 

[llinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka
presents medal to Iona Boyd.]

Boyd said the items brought back memories. "I know he served his country well," she said of Kodatt, a medical corps medic. "I was left with three small sons," Boyd recalled, expressing pride in her sons. Colleen Cavit, Boyd’s daughter by her second husband, also attended the ceremony.

"We’re here to preserve the honor of the veterans of the past (who) made the world free for democracy," Topinka said, adding that the presentation was especially appropriate in a time of renewed patriotism. The more than 50 people present for the ceremony included representatives of city and county government, the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce and the Oasis board.

The medal presentation was part of the Illinois Treasurer’s Operation Search and Restore, which locates owners of medals found in abandoned safe deposit boxes. "Our goal is to reunite these medals with veterans and their families," Topinka said. "It would be unpatriotic to auction them off, as we do when we can’t find the owners of items left abandoned in safe deposit boxes. If we can’t find the owners, we’ll look into donating the medals to a military museum, but our preference is to get the medals back to the rightful owners."

Boyd received a check for $399.50, the value of other contents of the safe deposit box that were auctioned before she was located. Topinka also presented her with a certificate signed by Gen. John Johnston, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Two other rightful medal owners have been located, according to Sam Collins, administrator of safe deposit box compliance in Topinka’s office.

[to top of second column in this article]

A display of about 40 of the medals, many with recipient’s names, is available for use by organizations in the hope of finding more owners. Shown at the 2001 Illinois State Fair in August, it includes a National Defense Service Medal and ribbon, Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, a Silver Star, an Army Distinguished Service Medal and a Navy Cross. To have the display brought to your organization, call Jason Winnett at (217) 558-6999 or visit the website www.cashdash.net/searchandrestore.htm.

Oasis Executive Director Dom Dalpoas said the senior center was selected as the presentation site because of its partnership with the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. Mark Patterson of the department outlined the history of the Purple Heart. The medal, then called the Badge of Military Merit, was designed by George Washington to reward meritorious action by enlisted soldiers. Washington said, "The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all." Only three badges were presented during the Revolution, and the recipients were permitted to pass sentries and guards without challenge.

[Oasis Executive Director Dom Dalpoas
introduces Judy Baar Topinka.]

In 1932 the Purple Heart was revived at the instigation of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. In 1941 it was extended to members of the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. President John F. Kennedy further extended it to civilians wounded while working with the armed forces, and President Ronald Reagan to those wounded in terrorist attacks.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

Lincoln Area YMCA’s mentor-HERO program

[JAN. 31, 2002]  The Lincoln Area YMCA’s mentor/HERO program is one that provides a volunteer mentor to a youngster in need of quality one-on-one time with a positive adult role model. Mentors serve as a guide and in many instances as a tutor.

Each mentor and youngster meet for at least 30 minutes per week. In addition, monthly social events are planned for all mentors and children to spend time doing something fun and maybe new together.

Young people from kindergarten through eighth grade are eligible to be in the program. Teachers, parents, principals, anyone can refer a child to the mentor/HERO program. Mentors and children meet in a variety of places, but primarily they meet at the child’s school after school or at the Lincoln Public Library.

Mentors are trained on how to be the best mentor they can be and also in the YMCA’s child abuse and prevention program, the Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System. Background check is performed on each volunteer mentor. Additionally, mentors complete an application stating why they would like to become a mentor and are required to list three people as character references.

[to top of second column in this article]

The Lincoln Area YMCA has been offering this program to families for the past four years. Several of the mentors have been with the program for two to three years. These mentors have developed very close relationships with the children they mentor — relationships that will likely last for years after they leave the program. There are children waiting and mentors are needed right now.

If you have a child who is in need of a mentor or if you would like to become a mentor, please contact Sarah at 735-3915.

[YMCA news release]

Fund-raisers

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  v

• Bill Horn  v

• Dale A. Lowe

• George A. McKinney

• Len and Rita Remmert

• Tom Renner

• Tom Rippon

• Traycee Ritchhart-Pirkle

• Greg Schriber

• Stan Stringer

• Donald Weindorf  v

• Denise Radcliffe Wood

• Tom and Kristy (Smith) Yarcho

Family and Friends in the Armed Forces

Friends and relatives serving in the armed forces are listed here so we might all hold them in our thoughts, prayers and well wishes. If you know of other friends and relatives serving (they need not be from Logan County), please send the information to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com. Along with the name, you are invited to include the branch of service, current location of service, postal address, e-mail address and relationship to the person providing the information (optional).

U.S. Air Force

At Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

Postal address: 5805 Mountain Home St.

Unit J-13

Nellis AFB, NV 89191

E-mail: ja_af_82@hotmail.com

Class of ’00

U.S. Army-1AD-HHC

Weisbaden, Germany

E-mail: spot2sweetpea@yahoo.com or susan12652000@yahoo.com

West Point, N.Y.

Lackland Air Force Base, Texas

Korea

U.S. Navy

Will be deployed in mid-January

(Address not available yet)

E-mail: imjustin@hotmail.com

CDR Jim Cravens

(Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Lincoln)

U.S. Navy

At Atlantic Fleet Headquarters, Norfolk, Va.

Postal address: CDR James O. Cravens, N02GR

1562 Mitscher Ave., Suite 250

Norfolk, VA, 23551-2487-2487

E-mail: cravensjo@clf.navy.mil  or

chcusnr@ccaonline.com 

Staff Sgt. Evan Jay Downey, Karen and Ethan

U.S. Air Force

Mildenhall Air Force Base, England

1988 graduate of LCHS

Son of Lucky Eichner

U.S. Air Force

At Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana

Postal address: 8525 Chalmette Drive

Shreveport, LA 71115

E-mail: charles.lindstrom@barksdale.af.mil

1981 graduate of LCHS

[to top of second column in this section]

Airman Chad M. Maxheimer
U.S. Air Force

Postal address: 9AEW JSOAC-S

Unit 10

APO AE 09351

E-mail: spring_loaded@yahoo.com

Son of Mike and Suzie Maxheimer of Chestnut and Michelle Lowe of Mount Pulaski

2000 graduate of Mount Pulaski High School

Kevin McGinnis

Egypt

Army National Guard

Fort Jackson, S.C.

In basic training

Michelle K. Ramlow

Navy

At Pentagon

Postal address: 5409-B Steeplechase Drive

Fredericksburg, VA 22407

E-mail: ramlow.michelle@hq.navy.mil 

Maj. James E. Reineke,
Deborah, Nathan, Emily

Air Force

Misawa Air Base, Japan

E-mail: REIN4RUN@aol.com 

Pvt. Christian B. Skelton

U.S. Army

Scheduled to graduate from AIT in late March.

He and his wife will go to Germany in April.

Postal address: A CO 1-19th INF ITB

4th Platoon

Fort Benning, GA 31905-5630

E-mail: skelton820@hotmail.com

2001 graduate of LCHS

Husband of Nahani Lynn Skelton

Robby, Ami-Jo and Angela Spickard

National Guard medical support

Tech. Sgt. Thomas Yarcho

U.S. Air Force

At Ramstein Air Base, Germany

E-mail: thomas.yarcho@ramstein.af.mil

Class of ’82

Reunions

Ongoing class reunion in cyberspace for 1960 graduates of LCHS

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

Reminiscence

• The Postville Courthouse revisited, by Stan Stringer, posted Feb. 12, 2002, in LDN

• Lincoln Lakes beach, by Stan Stringer, posted July 10, 2001

• Stan Stringer tells story of Mark Holland’s buzzing of Lincoln, posted May 11, 2001

• Leigh Henson, now a college teacher in Missouri, remembers Miss Jones, Jefferson School principal, posted March 29, 2001

• Foreign Service officer recalls infamous Valentine's Day '79 in Tehran, by George McKinney, posted Feb. 15, 2001

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