A 25-year tradition comes to an end at the Logan County Fair

[July 31, 2012]  This year a 25-year tradition came to an end. It wasn't exactly something anyone wanted to see happen, but circumstances made it impossible for Luehrs' Ideal Rides to provide the carnival for the Logan County Fair. Instead, the carnival is being provided by Tinsley's Amusements.

Mike Maske, board secretary for the Logan County Fair Association, talked about this change recently, saying the fair board was sad to see it happen, but they understood Luehrs' needed to do what they thought was best.

Maske said the board was notified by Luehrs' last year that another fair they attend annually in Indiana had changed its dates, so there was a conflict in scheduling.

Luehrs' Ideal Rides is a third-generation carnival, started in 1956 by Hub and Winnie Luehrs. Today it is owned and operated by their grandchildren Lorelei and Andy Schoendienst and Jean and Joe Clair.

With over 50 years of carnival experience behind them, the Luehrs' group has built up a number of returning customers who want their rides and amusements as an ongoing part of their fair. Logan County was no exception.

Maske commented: "These folks are my age, I grew up with them, and we're going to miss them."

But Maske said it was understandable. The fair in Indiana is a larger event and meant more money for the amusement ride company. They had to go with it.

What was somewhat unexpected, though, was the fact that the owner of Luehrs' was dedicated to helping the fair board find a decent, respectable replacement.

"Richard Tinsley of Tinsley's Amusements was a good friend of Luehrs'. They met with us last fall, and we pounded out a deal to have them come this year in place of Luehrs'," Maske explained.

From a fairgoer's viewpoint there will be practically no difference in what they see in amusements, Maske said.

"They (Tinsley's) are clean and respectable. Their rides are in good shape. For the public, they won't be able to tell the difference except for the name," he said.

Maske said the board and Luehrs' did what they had to do.

"We worked our way through a tough situation," he said. "We hated to see them go, and they hated to go, but there are no hard feelings. We'd love to have them back, and I think they'd like to come back if the schedule would ever allow it."

[By NILA SMITH]