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 Many of the activities typically held in December
were either cancelled or reformatted to fit within the restrictions
that had been placed upon us. For the most part the attempts to
‘work around covid’ worked out pretty well.
One of the biggest and best work arounds locally was a backward
parade hosted the first Thursday evening in December in Lincoln. The
Logan County Tourism Bureau Board of Directors had exhausted many
ideas of how to host the annual Christmas parade in Lincoln and had
come up empty. Then at the last minute a new idea emerged and the
board, anxious to give something to the community responded
positively. In a matter of days, Tourism staff Morgan Gleason and
Cindy Smith organized a backward parade.
The concept was to keep the public in their vehicles and at a safe
distance from one another. Put the floats in parking spaces along
Kickapoo Street so that vehicles could drive past the floats.
Lincoln Christmas Cruise brings happiness to children and adults on
Thursday night
Unique backward parade well received by the community - slideshow
On the night of the parade in Lincoln Santa Claus received a special
recognition. Everyone knows that there are several Santa
look-a-likes who visit with children and collect Christmas wishes.
Those stand-ins then pass the messages along to the real thing.
On the evening of the parade, the real Santa Claus was recognized in
Lincoln.
Many children
will tell you that Santa has "helpers" worldwide who dress up and
represent him at Christmas time. Whispering wishes in those helpers'
ears is just as magical as the real thing because they report back
to the real Santa at the end of every day.
In and around Lincoln, however, when children speak with the local
Santa, most of the time, they are talking to the REAL SANTA CLAUS.
When not at the North Pole, Santa and Mrs. Claus live in Lincoln
incognito as Terry and Wendy Bell.
On Thursday, December 3rd, just before the Lincoln Christmas Cruise
representatives from the community recognized the couple as the REAL
SANTA and Mrs. Claus.
Downtown Lincoln members Lisa Drew and Kathie Williams, Acting Mayor
Tracy Welch, Logan County Tourism Director Morgan Gleason and Roger
Matson presented Santa with a special recognition trophy. Matson was
the one who, 13 years ago first recognized Santa and asked him to
officially light a tree in Lincoln.
Read more in today's edition of Lincoln Daily News.
Photo by Cindy Smith, Logan County Tourism Bureau
Lincoln's "Real Santa" recognized by community leaders
Santa through the years - Album
In Mount Pulaski the Hilltopper Club also came up with a nice way to
enjoy Christmas from the comfort of family vehicles. A Christmas
light contest was announced. On opening nights maps could be
obtained of the many homes and businesses that were participating.
Viewers had the opportunity to vote for favorites in multiple
categories.
Mount Pulaski
Christmas Light Contest
Take the tour in numeric order starting on North Marion Street -
slideshow
Sticking with the map start at the Attic...Salt Creek Attic that is.
- slideshow
A jaunt to the country is refreshing and exciting. Then head back to
town to finish the tour - slideshow
Back in Lincoln, the Downtown Business Group came up with a new way
for children to visit with Santa Claus. On a pleasant Monday evening
when the temperatures were not too cold, but yet cool enough to
enjoy hot chocolate, families lined the sidewalk on Broadway Street.
There, children could have a visit with Santa through a window at
Sorrento’s Pizzeria. After talking with Santa they were invited to
enjoy a warm cup of cocoa from the Traveling Top Hat. Coffee and
other warm beverages were also offered courtesy of Top Hat Creamery
and several other downtown business owners.
These three
darlings were among the many, many children who came downtown in
Lincoln on Monday evening to visit with "Santa in the window." Santa
was set up inside Sorrento's Pizzeria with a speaker system so that
he could hear and be heard by the children outside on the other side
of the glass.
After visiting with Santa, kids received free caps from "Grandma
Santa" along with free hot chocolate and single scoops of ice cream
delivered by Top Hat Creamery.
Top Hat provided all the hot chocolate, and many downtown businesses
partnered to sponsor the ice cream cups.
Photo by Nila Smith
Area children enjoy a nice visit with Santa in the Window
Unique visits with Santa bring community together for a fun evening
- slideshow
Hot chocolate, cold ice cream, winter caps and Santa. Who could ask
for more? - slideshow
Closer to Christmas, Zion Lutheran Church offered motorists an
opportunity to view a live nativity on the lawn of the Zion Lutheran
School in Lincoln. The real reason for the season filled our hearts
as we watched the re-enactment of the Christ Child in a manger.
On Friday
evening there was a steady line of vehicles parading through the
parking lot at Zion Lutheran School to witness the real reason for
the season. The Zion Lutheran Church hosted a living nativity on the
lawn of the school.
The nativity was complete with angels, wise men, shepherds, sheep, a
cow, poultry, and of course, the small donkey that would have
carried Mary to the manger. A wooden structure protected Joseph,
Mary and the Christ Child.
Photo Nila Smith
Zion Lutheran Church - Live Nativity reminds us of the reason for
the season - slideshow
Also a bit closer to Christmas the Lincoln Park District made
arrangements for Santa Claus to come to Lincoln one last time. A
drive through visit was arranged utilizing Memorial Park.
With Christmas
Eve just a few days away, Santa may have made his last visit to
Lincoln this past Saturday. Children from around the area had the
opportunity to speak to Santa from their cars in a drive-thru visit
hosted by the Lincoln Park District.
The drive-thru was held at Memorial Park in Lincoln. A merry little
elf greeted drivers and young passengers at the entrance. Vehicles
then proceeded to a candy land with a tiny elf smiling and waving as
they passed by.
Santa was seated in his holiday-themed throne with a jolly face
mask. He called out to children and noted their last minute
Christmas wishes.
Two more elves were on hand to give out little treat bags that held
a hot cocoa mix and a full-sized candy cane as the vehicles exited.
Photo by Nila Smith
Santa receives visitors at Memorial Park drive-thru - Album
Another annual activity in Lincoln is the two big Christmas Cookie
Sales. While these sales are typically a shop and fill your own
container event, this year the sales had to be conducted
differently.
When it comes to cookies, where there is a will there is a way!
Recognizing that this was not your typical year and that many were
not getting out and about, Lincoln Daily News strove to fill our
daily editions with all things Christmassy. From heartwarming
stories and greetings in the annual Home for the Holidays online
magazine to special feature stories, slideshows and other photos,
LDN hoped to bring Christmas joy and Christmas spirit to our
community during a tough year.
2020 Home for the Holidays magazine – Making this holiday season the
best ever
Much of what LDN offered revolved around taking in and appreciating
what was in plain sight – holiday decorations.
This home on
Palmer Avenue, just a few feet from Woodlawn Road in Lincoln, is
getting plenty of attention this year for its amazing Christmas
lights. Some may remember the home was chosen last year as the
December Home of the Month for the same reason. This year homeowner
Danny Poulus has upped his game with at least twice as many lights
as before. One of the nicest things about this display is that it is
located directly across the street from O'Reilly's Auto Parts. It is
not uncommon to drive by and see cars parked at O'Reilly's pointed
toward the house. And with good reason. With so much to see, a
"drive-by" simply won't do.
Photo by Nila Smith
There is a
rumor of war in the city of Lincoln. A Christmas light war between
two brothers done in fun and nothing to worry about, only joy.
In a recent edition of Lincoln Daily News, a photo was published of
a home on Palmer Avenue owned by Danny Poulos. The house and lawn
are decorated to the hilt for Christmas.
A little bird sent LDN a message and said that Danny has a brother
George, who lives on North McLean across from the Dugan Center.
George also enjoys decorating for Christmas. It was noted in the
message that perhaps there was a bit of a brother battle to see who
could outdo who.
We won't pass judgment on which is best because we think both are
absolutely wonderful.
Photos by Nila Smith & Karen Hargis
Henry, the owl
at Kickapoo Creek Park in Lincoln is all bundled up for winter. It
is probably a good thing that his clothing designers got out there
soon after Christmas to get Henry dressed in warm flannel. The
current weather reports indicate that 2021 is going to come in very
chilly.
Photo by Karen Hargis
A daytime look at the trees on Broadway Street - slideshow
Some of our favorite details from the trees on Broadway - slideshow
Kickapoo Street trees a wonder to behold - slideshow
Attention getters within the Kickapoo Street trees - slideshow
A stroll down McLean Street. What a wonderful sight. - slideshow
McLean Street offers an invitation to slow down and take it all in -
slideshow
Trees on Pulaski Street are beautiful and memorable - slideshow
Taking a closer look at what makes the trees on Pulaski Street so
special - slideshow
 /
Around the
community, it seems that perhaps a few more families did outdoor
decorating this year than in the past. Driving around Lincoln after
dark is an enjoyable activity that can be done safely.
Some light displays have an obvious theme and others are just put
out to be pretty and remind us all that there is beauty in the
season, but all are adorable and well worth seeking out.
Photo by Karen Hargis
[to top of second column] |
Christmas Joy! - Taking in the lights at night - slideshow
Christmas Joy! - Let it Snowman! And, some novel decorating ideas
around our community - slideshow
Christmas Joy! - Homes around our community look great even when it
isn't dark - slideshow
Christmas Joy - The joy of the Nativity - slideshow
The efforts made by LDN were appreciated by at least one reader. She
expressed appreciation first for the community and the gift of the
Winter Wonderland trees on the Logan County Courthouse Square. She
also thanked LDN for providing so much coverage of the trees, noting
that it was an excellent opportunity for those who could not go
personally, to see the trees and just how nice they all were.
LETTER TO THE
EDITOR
Trees around the courthouse
Another notable letter to the editor in December came from the
owners of Copper Penny in downtown Lincoln. Small Business Saturday
is held the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. In the November
review LDN showed readers how that event had worked out for
businesses. The Saturday sales were very important to the downtown
businesses and Gary and Theresa Schieffer were grateful for the way
it all worked out.
LETTER TO
EDITOR
Appreciation to community for Small Business Saturday
In the letter from the Schieffers the Downtown Christmas Express
give away was mentioned. It was one of three big prize opportunities
that came in December.
The biggest prize during the month was a car awarded to local
teacher Eric Grunder. Graue Chevrolet hosted a year-long Amazing
Teacher contest. Each month a winner had been selected from
nominations made by the public. Then on December 12th the monthly
winners gathered at the dealership to see who would by
chance-drawing go home in a GM certified pre-owned vehicle.
On Saturday
afternoon Graue Chevrolet in Lincoln hosted the Graue Amazing
Teacher Contest final stage of who would be the winner of a 2016
Chevrolet Cruze. Eric Grunder, an instructor in Biology at Lincoln
College made the lucky draw.
Each of the eight monthly winners was chose a gift bag that included
a car key fob. Gruner was the seventh teacher to try his fob on the
award car and it worked much to his delight.
Pictured left to right are David Awe and Chris Graue with Graue
Chevrolet, Grunder, and John Radloff also with Graue.
Photo by Nila Smith
Eric Grunder wins car giveaway in Graue Amazing Teacher contest
Six days later a winner was drawn for the Downtown Christmas
Express. The winner received a gift basket filled with more than
$500 worth of gift cards and merchandise from downtown businesses.
On Friday
morning, downtown business owners (from left) Kathie Williams, Lisa
Drew and Ethan Hoinacki met at Guest House Pastries and Coffee to
name the winner of this year's Lincoln Christmas Express gift basket
winner. The name Sheila Sheley was drawn. Sheley received more than
$500 in gift cards and merchandise from the 27 participating
businesses in the heart of the city.
It was also announced the People's Choice winner of the Logan County
Tourism Bureau annual Gingerbread Contest is Atlanta Ag 4-H. The
group will receive a lovely trophy from Small Town Creations and
bragging rights for the next year.
Photo Nila Smith
Sheila Sheley wins Lincoln Christmas Express Gift Basket
And just before Christmas, December 21st, Lisa Goodman’s name was
drawn as the winner of the Pink Pedal Tractor that had been raffled
off by the Friends and Family Relay Team. The tractor had been
donated to the team by Central Illinois Ag in Atlanta. Because the
tractor was to be a gift for a little farmer in the family, LDN held
off on the announcement of the winner until the two-year-old learned
that the tractor would be going home with him.
On Monday,
December 21st, the owners and staff of Central Illinois Ag in
Atlanta joined Lisa Ramlow of the Friends and Family Relay Team to
draw a winner for a special Christmas gift. CIA donated a pink pedal
tractor to raffle off. Proceeds of the raffle were donated to the
American Cancer Society via the Logan County Relay for Life.
Pictured left to right behind the counter are Jake Glandon, Michael
Schmidt and Steve Schmidt. In front of the counter from the left are
CIA staff members Dawn Irwin, Abby Miller, Matt Voelker, and Lisa
Ramlow who represented the relay team.
The winner of the tractor was Lisa Goodman of Atlanta.
On Christmas Eve, Goodman with her partner Greg Paul brought their
little guy Tipper to the dealership. There Tipper learned that the
tractor was for him and that he would be taking it home with him as
an early Christmas gift.
Tipper was super excited about his new toy.
Left to right: Friends and Family Relay Team Co-captain Karen
Hargis, Matt Voelker representing Central Illinois Ag, and winners
Tipper, Goodman and Paul.
Photos by Nila Smith and Abby Miller
Lisa Goodman wins ‘fight cancer’ pink pedal tractor for her favorite
little farm boy
Christmas brings out the giving spirit in many of us and there was
not a shortage of giving this year as LDN had the pleasure of
sharing many of the great things people were doing for each other
within Logan County.
Edward Jones Diaper Drive Continues to Grow
Integrity Data Awards $10,000 in Community Giving Program Grants
Generosity of the community allows Emblem Club to ‘pay it forward’
United Riders deliver gift baskets to local veterans - Album
Toys for Tots brings in hundreds of gifts for local children
There was no denying that 2020 had been a tough year for the
citizens of Logan County just as it had been around the country.
There were those seeking financial assistance and food assistance
who had not done so in the past.
Just before Christmas the United Way of Logan County rolled out a
new resource for those in need.
United Way of Logan County introduces new resources for those in
need in the community
Additional help was offered to Logan County businesses in December
as new Business Sustainability Grants became available. The Mount
Pulaski Economic Development board announced Covid-19 relief grants
and the city of Lincoln offered Business Sustainability Grants.
Mount Pulaski EDPB offering COVID-19 Relief funds for January 2021
Applications should be submitted by December 31st
City of Lincoln offering Business Sustainability Grants
Deadline
for Application is December 30th
In Atlanta Public Library received a financial shot in the arm in
December thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Atlanta National Bank and
the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.
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The Atlanta
Public Library District has been gifted cash to continue its work in
difficult times.
Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer at Atlanta
National Bank Neal Stimpert said, “The Atlanta National Bank is
committed to supporting our customers and communities now more than
ever. Through our partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of
Chicago we are providing $5,000 to the Atlanta Public Library
District.”
The check was presented to APL Director Brittany Janes (left) by
Stimpert (center) with APL Board President Jim Welchel looking on.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s Targeted Impact Fund
provides members with grants to support relief efforts for
populations hardest-hit by Covid-19 as well as to promote equity and
opportunity.
In other good news, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital was recognized
for its excellent patient care practices and Heartland Community
College had good news to share about its curriculum as well as its
students.
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Earns Top Marks for Patient Care
New Robotics Operator program begins at Heartland Community College
Heartland student athletes reach new academic heights
In other city of Lincoln news, aldermen debated a property tax
increase.
Lincoln aldermen consider a property tax increase for next year
Lincoln Aldermen amend tax levy increase to 1.5 percent
In December there were two retirements announced. One was
significant to Illinois politics but the other was much dearer to
the hearts of the owners and staff at Lincoln Daily News.
Senator Bill Brady announces retirement effective immediately
LDN’s Roy Logan announces retirement
Logan County also lost another good friend in December. Gene Burwell
passed into eternal life, leaving behind a huge legacy that was felt
in the hearts of many.
A tribute to Gene Burwell
On the corona front there was a disturbing trend in December. In
Logan County in December alone there were 1,115 new positive test
results reported and 23 additional covid-related deaths. The year to
date positives nearly doubled and area deaths nearly tripled.
In the good news department it was announced that a coronavirus
vaccine was being rolled out and that healthcare and frontline
workers would be the first to get the inoculations. In Logan County
the staff at Christian Village were among the first to have the
two-part vaccine.
Christian
Village staff member Julie King receives her first dose of the new
coronavirus vaccine on Monday. All eleven of the Christian Horizons
facilities across the state are slated to receive their first doses
this week.
Photo provided by Jennifer Morgan
With the year coming to an end so came the end of the 20th year of
publication for Lincoln Daily News. The tenure of the paper, its
continued readership and its ability to grow with the community is
credited to our readers, our advertisers and our staff. From 750
readers on our launch in 2000 to an average of 16,000+ readers per
day in 2020 – let’s just say “We’ve come a long way baby.”
A cause for us to celebrate
Hoping to end the year with some positive thinking, LDN on December
30th re-ran a feature from the Home for the Holiday’s magazine. The
“Greetings and warm wishes to you from a few of our most favorite
people” carried us into the new year with some positive messages.
As the Lincoln Daily News ‘Year in Review’ draws to a close, we urge
you all to return to those greetings same as we will from time to
time. Take inspiration from those who offered us their heart felt
encouragement and wished upon our community nothing but the best.
Greetings and warm wishes to you from a few of our most favorite
people
The year 2020 is now gone, and a new one has begun. We will still
have hardships and still struggle to deal with this pandemic that
has had such a devastating effect on so many lives. But, perhaps we
can see the light at the end of tunnel. Perhaps, as the vaccines are
being distributed and our daily “numbers” are decreasing, we can
look up and forward.
To start the new year, we’ll quote one of the guests who sent
everyone greetings in the holiday magazine. "And don't forget
the best is yet to come."
[Nila Smith]
[Text from file received from
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