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 The event was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., the very
same time that Mother Nature decided to throw a temper tantrum. With
the event being organized to recognize police officers, several of
the honorees were present watching the weather conditions and
getting direct messages from the Logan County Emergency Management
Agency.
A tornado warning was issued and a squall line moving from
Petersburg to the northeast was headed right for Lincoln. The
anticipated result would be high winds and lightening. Tyler
Stambaugh, who was the organizer for the event, took action to help
assure that everyone was safe. The bounce house that had been set up
was deflated. Vendors were asked to move all their items away from
the outer edges of the pavilion at the fairgrounds. It was announced
that if the wind and lightening did hit, everyone was to take
shelter inside the concrete block buildings that housed the public
restrooms.
Vendors did as they were asked, and moved all their items away from
the outer edges, then everyone just waited to see if further action
would be needed.
Fortunately, the storm did not have the expected impact. It appeared
that the worst of the severe weather conditions stayed west of
Lincoln while moving in a northerly direction. After about a half
hour of uncertainty, everyone was told that they could re-set their
tables and displays and that the evening would continue as planned
with modifications as needed due to the weather.
Stambaugh waited for the winds to settle down a bit more, but by 5
p.m. the bounce house was back up and kids were able to jump and
slide the rest of the evening.
There were periods of light rain throughout the evening, but for the
most part after that rocky start, everything else went as planned on
Saturday night.
Officers from the Logan County Sheriff’s Department and Lincoln
Police Department stopped in during the evening. Officers were
provided free food and each one received a “gold medal” thanking
them for their service.
Local squad cars were brought in for display, as well as vehicles
from Lincoln Fire department and Logan County Paramedics. Many of
the kids and even a few adults had a good time exploring the
vehicles and seeing the lights and sirens put into action.
Lincoln D.A.R.E. provided some free tee shirts that were given away
throughout the evening.
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Lincoln Arts Institute set up tables and offered free art projects
for children and adults. An art contest was put together and the
winners in three age categories received gold medals for their
talents.
Members of the Logan County Arts donated a variety of paintings for
display and for sale. At the end of the night a few select pieces
were also given away during the 50/50 drawing.
The Rusty Rail in Lincoln provided a bags game set that many enjoyed
playing.
Olivia Partlow was on hand from the Lincoln Heritage Museum with
info about the museum and facilitated 1860’s era games for the kids
to play.
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Patti Becker with the United Way of Logan County shared information
about the new 211 referral program in Logan County and also gave
free books to children.
Kimberly Janssen (right) with the Epilepsy Foundation Greater
Chicago provided information about her foundation.
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DJ services were provided by Jeremy Gasparin. He kept
the music going and served as emcee all evening.
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Crossway Church in Lincoln brought free hotdogs for everyone and
provided several volunteers to help out with activities throughout
the evening.
The dunk tank was popular as it was opened up for anyone in
attendance to take a dip. At the mercy of their friends, who were
happy to pay a buck for three balls, many people got more than just
a little wet.
The celebrity dunkee for the evening was LCHS
Driver’s Education and Physical Education teacher Mr. Pat Hake. Hake
was at the mercy of his former students, and in a matter of a few
minutes hit the water several times.
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Nuthatch Hill BBQ and Lincoln Daily News partnered to
provide free pulled pork sandwiches to all police offers and also
offered sandwiches for sale to guests.
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The Rainbow Girls offered popcorn and cookies for sale.
The Friends and Family Relay Team had a display of raffle items.
Raffle tickets are available for a patriotic quilt donated by
Georgia Green of Sew Personal Embroidery and a kid-sized, battery
powered ridable Ducati rocket scooter with training wheels donated
by Rent One in Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital provided the sound system and Rent
One in Lincoln provided the secondary sound system.
Lincoln Daily News helped with the 50/50 fundraiser selling tickets.
At the end of the night the drawing for the cash prize was won by
Tom Schonauer. The generous winner donated his share of the 50/50
back to the fundraiser which benefitted the First Responders
Children’s Foundation.
After drawing for the cash, additional tickets were drawn. The
second ticket drawn won a large gift basket filled with all kinds of
goodies donated by CEFCU in Lincoln.
Three more tickets were drawn with those winners receiving select
pieces of art donated by members of the Logan County Arts.
Donation buckets were set out on the tables and many folks
contributed to the children’s foundation via those buckets.
Weather may have very well prevented the turnout that Stambaugh and
his committee had hoped for, but nonetheless it was with heartfelt
appreciation for our local officers a worthwhile community event.
Among those who did stop in was Lincoln City Attorney John Hoblit;
the city’s newest alderman, Greg Miller, Ward One; Logan County
Treasurer Penny Thomas and Stambaugh’s
grandfather Bob Rohlfs.
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Granddad Rolhfs was the one who when Stambaugh first
came up with the idea for the Police Appreciation Day encouraged him
to move forward and do something to try and make a difference in our
community. Saturday evening, Rohlfs was beaming with pride as he
took in the network of people who had stepped up to support
Stambaugh. He said he was very proud of his grandson for wanting to
do something good and worthwhile.
The sale of donated art brought in more than $100 and the 50/50 with
the return of the prize money by Schonauer brought in just under
$200. All totaled, the evening event made just over $500 for the
foundation. Added to that were cash donations from ME Realty, a
co-sponsor of the event; Rusty Rail, and Graue Chevrolet. Stambaugh
will be able to forward just under $1,300 to the First Responders
Children’s Foundation thanks to the generosity of the community.
So, even though Mother Nature may have messed with the turnout, she
did not defeat the spirit or the event.
Stambaugh was still excited about what had been done
to show appreciation for local law enforcement and at the end of the
night was already soliciting help for next year’s event.
There are many individuals, businesses and organizations that need
to be recognized for their contribution to the first Police
Appreciation Day.
Police Appreciation Committee members:
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Marcia Cook - Lincoln Art Institute
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Karen Hargis - Lincoln Daily News
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Jason Hoffman - Lincoln Art Institute
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Lisa Ramlow - Lincoln Daily News
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Nila Smith - Lincoln Daily News
Co-sponsors:
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Lincoln Daily News
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ME Realty
Event helpers and donors:
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Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital - sound system
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All About Fun - bounce house and dunk tank
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CEFCU -giant basket giveaway
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Jeremy Gasparin - DJ
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Graue Chevrolet - donor
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Pat Hake - "Good Sport" dunk tank volunteer
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Lincoln Arts Institute - art contest coordinators
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Lincoln Printers - signs
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Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District - water
for the dunk tank
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Logan County Arts - donations of art for sale
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Logan County Board - raffle permit
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Logan County Fair Board - Mike Maske
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Logan County Tourism – Vests for volunteers
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Rent One - sound system
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Rusty Rail – donor, plus bags and boards
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Small Town Creations – trophies and medals
Vendors:
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American Cancer Society - Friends and Family
Relay Team
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Crossway Church
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Epilepsy Foundation Greater Chicago - Kim Janssen
-
Lincoln Heritage Museum - Olivia Partlow
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Nuthatch Hill BBQ
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Rainbow Girls popcorn and cookies
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United Way of Logan County - Patti Becker
[Nila Smith with photos by Lisa Ramlow]
SEE:
Letter to the
Editor:
Recognition and appreciation for Stambaugh and
Logan County Police |
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