The ornaments arrived last week and are already on sale at several
local businesses.The ladies explained that the new ornament
design is a depiction of the Abraham Lincoln speech on the steps of
the Logan County Courthouse on Oct. 16, 1858. The likeness of
Abraham Lincoln on this ornament is the same as the Logan County
Historical & Genealogical Society hopes to create in a lifesize
statue to be erected on the lawn of the Logan County Courthouse next
year.
Rohlfs said the ornaments have been made by Desmark, the same
company that produced the series of city of Lincoln ornaments. The
new ornaments are sized and designed to complement the city
ornaments on a tree.
Martin said that was one of the nice things about the ornaments,
and so far she's had a few people who have asked for them because
they have the full collection and want to keep it going. She also
noted that some have asked if the society will continue doing annual
ornaments in the future. Right now no specific plans are outlined
for that, but the ladies agreed that it might be nice to pick that
up as an annual event for the society.
Each of the new ornaments is numbered, comes in a hunter green
box and is accompanied by the certificate of authenticity.
The first 30 ornaments have been set aside for those who are
buying the miniature bronzes of the statue. Those purchasers will be
offered the opportunity to buy an ornament with the same issue
number as their statue. Rohlfs said that if the statue owner decides
not to purchase an ornament, the number will be put back in the
stack to be sold to the general public.
The Christmas ornaments now being offered for sale are just one
of several fundraising activities the society is conducting for the
statue.
Currently, the committee has sold 12 of the 22-inch bronze
miniatures of the statue. Bill Donath was on hand Friday
afternoon and said a new shipment of the statues will be in next
week. When all of the statues have sold, the net proceeds going
toward the project will total about $30,000. It is estimated
that the funding needed to erect the statue on the courthouse
lawn is $48,000.
Rohlfs said that Ms. Marla Williams' history classes at Northwest
School have taken a keen interest in helping raise funds. Their
penny drive this fall brought in over $300 for the statue. The
classes will also sponsor a "Hiking for History" walking marathon in
the early part of next year.
Another fundraiser coming soon will be the sale of postcards
depicting the statue. Marlin said the cards will be coming in the
near future, and the society has hopes of selling the majority of
them at local businesses.
For those who are interested in purchasing the new Lincoln
ornament, they are currently available at Beans & Such, MKS
Jewelers, Serendipity Stitches, the Logan County treasurer's office,
or from the Genealogical Society.
The Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society is located on
Chicago Street, across from the train depot. The hours are Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The society also has on display the 22-inch bronze, which is
currently being offered. Anyone who is interested in seeing and
perhaps purchasing a bronze can stop in at 114 N. Chicago St. during
the center's normal business hours.
[By NILA SMITH]
Culvers
dedicates Wednesday to aid tornado victims
This Wednesday, Dec. 11, the local Culver's
restaurant will join with other Culver's stores around the state to
participate in a day of giving to benefit recent tornado victims.
According to local store owner and
manager Elaine Aue, 10 percent of the entire day's receipts will be
donated to tornado victims in the Washington area.
In addition,
the store is collecting items to assist families and volunteers
during the cleanup and recovery. Aue said specifically they are
hoping to collect daily hygiene products such as soap, shampoo and
toothpaste for victims, along with nonperishable food items.
In addition, Aue said there is a need for hats and gloves for the
volunteers who are helping with the cleanup efforts, and she is
hopeful that folks will also bring in those types of donations on
Wednesday.
After the collection of needed items, Aue will personally deliver
them to collection centers in the Washington area.
Local
authors Kathy Kesner and Irene Kueh release 4th book
Signing available Saturday at Lincoln Public Library
Lincoln residents Kathy Kesner and Irene Kueh have recently completed the
fourth book in their "Land and Sea" series of children's books. This new
title, "Learning the Opposites at the Library with Lane and Shelby,"
features the two dogs who captured the colors in "Finding the Rainbow" (book
three in the series).
In the new book, children are introduced to the concept of
opposites as they spend a day at the library with the two happy
canine friends. Each opposite is presented in the form of a
whimsical rhyme and accompanied by a full-color illustration. There
is also a catchy refrain that repeats throughout the book.
A copy of the book, which is dedicated to the Lincoln Public
Library District, was presented to library director Richard Sumrall
recently.
On Saturday, Dec. 14, there will be a book signing in the
Carnegie building of the Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin St., from
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. At that time, all four children's books in the
series will be available and can be personalized by the authors.
In addition, books that Kueh has published may be purchased at
the signing, and there will be an opportunity to enter a drawing for
one of her titles.
The books are also carried by Prairie Years, 121 N. Kickapoo Street in
Lincoln; Horsefeathers, 104 Gov. Oglesby St. in Elkhart; and are available
through Amazon.
Festival
of Trees huge success for Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation
MOUNT PULASKI Christmas carols were playing while the sidewalks and steps
were decked with candles on Saturday night for the Festival of Trees and
open house at the historic Mount Pulaski Courthouse. A portrayer of Abraham
Lincoln was present to greet everyone, and all shared in beautiful Christmas
treats.
The courtroom was full when Renee Martin, a member of the board of
the Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation, welcomed everyone. She
remembered growing up with the courthouse as an important part of
life in Mount Pulaski. She said she wanted her own children to grow
up with it "in good shape, not tattered."Auctioneer Mike Maske volunteered his time to auction the 25
decorated trees and the accent cabinet donated by Salt Creek Attic.
Ms. Martin and Mr. Lincoln introduced each tree.
Most of the trees were decorated and donated by local businesses,
but the Logan County Tourism Bureau decorated and donated one, too.
Also, some local families decorated and donated trees. Some
interesting ones: Farmers Bank tree with bows of $1 bills; Mount
Pulaski Pharmacy tree with ornaments of gauze, pill bottles, etc.;
and the tree provided by Hayes Garage and family, with colorful
cancer ribbons in memory of Dick's wife, Shirley, who died recently.
Maske was full of humor and always urged everyone to cheer people
to raise their offers. The trees raised $4,445 and the accent
cabinet went for $350, for a grand total of $4,795 for the
courthouse foundation.
Before the trees were auctioned, Tom Martin, chairman of the
foundation, thanked the committee, everyone who prepared a tree and
all those who have supported the foundation since its founding in
2011. He reviewed the improvements to the building that have been
accomplished. He said the foundation had been moving slowly because
they need to work closely with the Illinois Historic Preservation
Agency to be "careful to do the work the right way so it does not
need to be done over." He emphasized that a lot of what the
organization has been doing is to "get the community on board" with
taking care of and enjoying the historic courthouse. He pointed to
the past two summer workweeks and street fests.
At the end of the evening, Martin thanked Maske and invited
everyone to volunteer some time to care for the courthouse. "Come
swing a hammer or a paintbrush. Just come in and we will find
something for you to do," he said.
Martin ended his remarks with a surprise announcement. He
reported that the Waldo and Rosalie Bertoni estate had willed a
bequest of $250,000 to the Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation.
Waldo died two years ago, and Rosalie died at the end of October.
Both had been regular members of the Mount Pulaski 175th Anniversary
Planning Committee during the 2010-2011 years. Waldo was born and
raised in Mount Pulaski, and his wife, the former Rosalie Smith, was
born and raised in Chestnut. They were both graduates of Mount
Pulaski High School. They had returned from their initial retirement
home in Falls Church, Va., to their final retirement home in Mount
Pulaski in the summer of 2005.
The State Bank of Lincoln has informed the Mount Pulaski
Courthouse Foundation that it should expect to receive the funds in
about six months. Martin expressed his gratitude for the trust the
Bertonis and the community had placed in this new foundation. This
gift from the Bertoni estate "will change our perception of what we
do and how we do it," he said.
Below is a list of all those who donated a tree, and second,
those who purchased it. The foundation is very appreciative of
all who helped make this a very successful fundraiser.
-
Johnson's Food
Center $50, by Jeanie Beccue
-
Illinois National
Bank $150, by Dean and Doris Cates
-
State Farm
Insurance, Deron Powell $70, by Barbara Stroud-Borth
-
Drs. Mason and
Mason Dentistry $110, by Phyllis Beccue
-
Country Financial
Insurance $60, by Doug and Kimberly Johnson
-
Johnson True Value
Hardware $50, by Jeanie Beccue
-
DPCM Insurance
$100, by DPCM Insurance
-
D'tails Dog
Grooming $70, by Kella Allspach
-
Mount Pulaski
Library $110, by Tom and Cheryl Martin
-
City of Mount
Pulaski $150, by Laura Lee
-
Farmers Bank $100,
by Joe Butler
-
Hayes Auto Supply
$150, by Barb Freer, Hayes Auto Supply
-
Cross Bros.
Implement $300, by Joe Butler
-
Botanica $90, by
Jeannie Beccue
-
Mount Pulaski
Pharmacy $350, by Dennis Graue
-
Pizza Man $50, by
Illinois National Bank, Dee Jason (The bank donated tree back to
be re-auctioned, and it was purchased the second time by Mike Maske.)
-
Pizza Man $100, by
Mike Maske
-
Saddie's $100, by
Joe Butler
-
The Barn $60, by
Laura Lee
-
Martin Grain $150,
by Mary Pope
-
Barbara Stroud-Borth
$350, by Shelby Daigh
-
A. Lincoln Tourism
board of Logan County $230, by Allspach Farms
-
Stahl's Furniture
$500, by Tom and Cheryl Martin
-
Tena Stoudt Family
$175, by Shelby Daigh
-
Salt Creek Attic
$210, by Kim and Shaun Tyson
-
Mount Pulaski Grade
School third-grade classes $610, by Allspach Farms
-
Courthouse accent cabinet $350, by
Dennis Graue
Grand total raised: $4,795