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 The tables remain filled as those who reach their
fill of pancakes and handmade sausages leave to make room for those
who are still hungry and anxious to eat.
Zion Lutheran School tradition a family tradition for many
Annual breakfast a school tradition and a family tradition for many
- slideshow
There was a new event at Lincoln College in January. An opportunity
to have a special presentation during black history month presented
itself, and the college was more than happy to have the True Black
History Traveling Museum visit the campus.
The traveling museum was open to the public and a large number of
visitors took it in.
True Black History Traveling Museum offers insight to the role of
African Americans in U.S. history
Lincoln College commemorates Black History Month with True Black
History Museum exhibit - slideshow
A few days after the exhibit, Lincoln College celebrated it’s 155th
Charter Day when Illinois Historian Dr. Samuel Wheeler was presented
with an honorary doctorate.
On Friday
evening, Lincoln College hosted it's 155th Charter Day Ceremony in
the Johnston Center. At that gathering, Dr. Samuel Wheeler, State of
Illinois Historian, was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of
Humane Letters. Wheeler (left) received his degree from Lincoln
College President Dr. David Gerlach.
Photo by Jan Youngquist
Lincoln College celebrates 155th Charter Day
Illinois' Historian Dr. Samuel
Wheeler bestowed honorary doctorate
Dr. Samuel Wheeler - Abraham Lincoln's inspirational passion for
learning
In 2020, for the first time, the Lincoln Community High School
Future Farmers of America hosted their annual breakfast at the
American Legion. The breakfast became a joint fundraiser for the FFA
and the Legion Baseball program. In addition to great food prepared
by the Legion, there were the traditional auctions by the FFA, which
brought in some big bucks for the organizations.
Clark the Chicago Cub mascot was supposed to make an appearance at
the breakfast, but couldn’t make it. It was the second time that
foul weather had kept the bear from visiting Lincoln. Some had to
wonder if Fred Bird the Red Bird had somehow seeded the clouds to
drop snow and other nasty weather in the cub bear's hometown of
Chicago, preventing the cub from leaving his den.
Legion Baseball/FFA Breakfast guests pack the house on Sunday
Lincoln Community High School FFA Chapter Annual Breakfast
Fundraiser - slideshow
The annual 4-H Spaghetti Dinner was next on the list of things to do
in February. Held the same day as the FFA Breakfast, those who chose
to do so could have stuffed themselves to the gills with two
wonderful meals. In spite of the fact that the two youth program
fundraisers occurred on the same day, the turn out for both was
remarkable.
The annual
Spaghetti Fundraiser hosted by the Logan County 4-H Clubs is always
a crowd-pleaser, and this year was no exception. Hundreds came on
Sunday to the Knights of Columbus Hall in Lincoln to enjoy spaghetti
with meat sauce, garlic bread, salad, and dessert. During the event,
the local 4-H clubs and individual members were recognized for their
achievements in the past year.
Photo by Nila Smith
Local 4-H members receive well deserved recognition at Spaghetti
Fundraiser
Logan County 4-H Award recipients - Album
In February the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council
partnered with the newly formed Lincoln Economic Advancement and
Development, Inc. (LEAD) to host the Logan County Big Table. The
event was a tool for the GPEDC to determine the needs and priorities
of each of the communities it represents.
Logan County Big Table: Big concerns - Big assets
The local sports section provided a few notable headlines as local
junior high teams made their mark in basketball tournaments.
West Lincoln Broadwell wins Seventh Grade State Championship
West Lincoln-Broadwell Eighth Grade Team headed to State
Lincoln Junior High Eighth Grade Boys Basketball Team headed to
State
Staying in the sports section, the Lincoln Community High School
Railette Dance team made school history being the first dance team
ever to win a state competition.
The LCHS
Railettes won the 2020 Illinois Drill Team Association AA Pom State
Championship over the weekend. The State finals were held at the BOS
Center in Springfield.
The Railettes routine featured the song “At the Hop.” For their
flawless routine, the girls wore costumes that were a take on the
1950s diner waitresses, complete with pink aprons.
Photo courtesy of Lane Hullinger
LCHS Dance Team makes school history with State Championship
Two additional milestones for local athletes were noted in the top
pictures box in the sports section of Lincoln Daily News.
On Friday
night in Taylorville, Kaden Froebe (left) became the 21st Railer in
basketball history to reach the 1,000 point club. Prior to the start
of the game Taylorville’s Jase Bergschneider was honored as the
Tornadoes new all-time leading scorer in school history. The
historic evening concluded with Lincoln Head Coach Neil Alexander's
700th win.
Teena Lowery
Early in the
third quarter of the Class 1-A Regional game between Mount Pulaski
and Argenta-Oreana on Tuesday night, Mount Pulaski senior Brandon
Kretzinger scored his 1,000th point on a three-point basket. The
Hilltoppers won on the home court 75-26 with Kretzinger pouring in
26 points.
Congratulations, Brandon!
Photo by Teena Lowery
[to top of second column] |
 Mid-month February a fire destroyed an abandoned
home in Lincoln. Mitch Douglas was there to capture the action in
photos for LDN. At a meeting of the Lincoln City Council soon after,
Lincoln Fire Chief Bob Dunovsky and Alderman Tracy Welch talked
about the fire with the aldermen.
A house fire
broke out a few doors west of Ninth and Elm Streets in Lincoln early
Thursday afternoon. Reportedly the house was abandoned. Multiple
fire departments responded and had the fire under control a couple
of hours after it was discovered. LDN will have more information
when it becomes available.
Photo by Mitch Douglas
Local firefighters battle Lincoln house fire in snow and frigid
conditions - Album
Lincoln City Council: Welch and Fire Chief Dunovsky comment on Ninth
Street house fire
The later part of the month, Lincoln Daily News released its annual
Education Magazine containing news and interesting stories about our
local educators. Among those stories was a great piece written by
Teena Lowery, talking about the great things going on within the
Mount Pulaski schools.
Exciting things ahead for the future of Mount Pulaski CUSD #23
February, the month of love also brought news of some acts of
kindness within our community.
One of the more significant of these events was the presentation of
a car to Lincoln resident Catherine Eckart by local businessman Seth
Goodman.
On Friday,
Logan County resident Catherine Eckart received a really big
Valentine from local businessman Seth Goodman. Eckart was the
recipient of a 2012 Chrysler 200. Goodman had worked with Graue
Chevrolet in Lincoln to secure a low mileage vehicle that he in
turned gifted to one person nominated by members of the community.
Nearly 20 people nominated Eckart, including several of her family
members. Eckart had recently totaled her car and needed another
vehicle. She had been working with Graue salesman Mitch Brewer and
thought she was at the dealership to sign the papers on the car she
was buying.
Photo by Nila Smith
Catherine Eckart receives a special Valentine from local businessman
Seth Goodman
Lincoln Daily News was also pleased to be able to present to the
Humane Society of Logan County $200 that had been collected through
the new Animals Stories magazine that rolled out in January. Within
the magazine there was an opportunity for readers to submit a photo,
short story, and a donation in memory of a pet that had passed.
In January,
Lincoln Daily News introduced a new online magazine called Animal
Stories. Inside the pages of the magazine were stories about living
with, taking care of, and loving our pets. There were opportunities
for readers to submit living pet photos in contests and a memory
section for pets who have passed.
LDN suggested that readers make a donation to the Humane Society of
Logan County in memory of pets and send the gift along with their
submission to the magazine. This past week, LDN's Roy Logan and
Karen Hargis delivered $200 to the HSLC as a result of those
donations.
The donation was graciously accepted by Wanda Stevens (left) and
Mary Dowdle. Thanks to all who donated. That money will help the
HSLC take care of animals living at the shelter awaiting a new
forever home.
Photo by Karen Hargis
Lincoln Daily News continued on with its Community Champion Award
naming Country Aire Restaurant owner Nick Bekteshi the February
recipient.
Nick Bekteshi,
owner of the Country Aire Restaurant in Atlanta, has been selected
as the February Community Champion by Lincoln Daily News.
LDN staff surprised Nick on Wednesday with the extra-large traveling
trophy and a lovely planter prepared and donated by Debbie's
Downtown Floral in Lincoln.
Left to right are Lumi and Nick Bekteshi, and Roy Logan and Karen
Hargis of Lincoln Daily News.
Photo by Nila Smith
Nick Bekteshi named February Community Champion
In February, one of the more fun stories that LDN was able to run
featured a local woodcarver who was busy turning dead trees and
stumps into art in Kickapoo Creek Park.
This is the same artist who created Henry the Owl. The owl is
becoming famous in his own right because he changes clothing to
depict the season. Located right along the edge of the road in the
park, the owl is easy to see and a popular “rest stop” for walkers
in the park.
Carvings pay tribute to namesake and birds of Kickapoo Creek Park
Woodcarver Darrell Wibben adds his art to Kickapoo Creek park -
Album
Coronavirus made its debut in the United States in January. Early in
the process very little was known about the mystery disease that
allegedly came to America from China.
By February, the coronavirus was a strong topic in the national and
world news, but for the most part had no impact on local residents
or local news.
On the 27th of February, the state of Illinois issued a news release
urging caution, yet saying that the risk to Illinoisans remained
low. Little did they know what lay ahead for all of us.
Illinois Taking Preventative Action to Limit Spread of Coronavirus
Current risk to Illinoisans remains
low, but state taking all steps to prepare
Lincoln Daily News would find our community
suffocated by the impact of coronavirus in March. It would be the
beginning of a long and painful balance of 2020 as the tables turned
and our good new year suddenly turned sour.
But true to the American spirit, and especially in Logan County,
people looked for how to help one another. Things would get real
creative.
Be sure to continue following the LDN Year in Review for a look back
at what made local news and local history in our community.
[Nila Smith] |
