Does anyone know if other stones are being taken?
I am inclined to contact the county sheriff's office. For all I know, this stone could be sitting in a barn or at a flea market. I live out of state.
Thank you
Shari Horton, St. Louis MO
Contact
Tuesday November 28 Good shot and a question. Found this picture on Tate and Lyle's Site. Very good overhead of Hog City.
Big question, in 1975 or 76, the graduating Senior Girls at WHS sang a stirring version of the Carpenters' "We've only Just Begun". How was this song chosen? What prompted this outburst of optimism? Was Joe Hindman involved? Had the Senior Girls actually only just begun? Did the Senior Boys consider singing "Space Trucking" only to find it had no lyrics? Your help please |
Friday November 24 Full salute to the Class 2A Champion Maroa-Forsyth Trojans. If there was ever a website that was all Wapella, all the time, you are there right now. So you might ask why would any Wildcat ever bow down to the MF Trojans? Well..
1) They are close enough to Wapella to be locals
2) Harold Prawl used to go to Sir Richards in downtown Maroa for refreshments and to meet new and interesting people
3) I counted at least two Wildcats roaming the charming streets of Maroa on Thursday, and no harm was done
4) They have one tough football team
Three cheers for our good neighbors in Maroa Forsyth-Champions of Class 2A Football! Big question..could a reorganized Wapella take them? |
Sunday November 19 Some Came Running to the Irish Circle Tuesday and Wednesday nights for a pre Thanksgiving sprint. Please join the staff of Wapella.com at the Green Ring for High Action and Adventure. Here is how it works:
Tuesday Night 8PM to 9:30. Ninety minutes of beer, cheer, and hijinx. No straggling, no staying over. If you stay past 9:30, you must stay till close, and will be barred from entrance for 22.5 Hours.
Wednesday Night 8PM to 9:30 PM. Ninety minutes of feuding, fighting, and Ship! Captain! Crew! All must exit at 9:30, or you will be forced to return Thursday night.
Expect special guest stars, foreign exchange students, second wives, mystery shoppers, and mid level celebrities.
And the picture? Why that is Frank, Dino, and Shirley McLain in Some Came Running
Please coordinate your trip here
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Monday November 12 Wapella Featured in December Architectural Digest. Don't believe it? Go up to Buck's Superway (or your favorite bookstore) and take a peek at page 69 of the December issue of Architectural Digest, the glossy New York design magazine. In between the perfume ads and photos of Nelly Furtado wearing jewlery (and not much else) is set of photos showcasing the resdesign of an Aspen Colorado Chalet. In the lower left photo on page 69, on the media room wall above the chair on the right hand side of the photo...a classic print of Chief Wapella, recently rejuvinated at Ann's Bar on Main Street.. Are there other great designs from Hog City setting the course for the nation? |
Saturday November 11 Walk don't Run: If you have Veterans in your neighborhood, please join Wapella.com in walking over to your neighbor's house and having a cup of coffee with your local Vet. Maybe it's WW2, maybe Korea, Vietnam, Panama, or the Gulf, but it is certainly a good day for a cup of coffee and a thanks to all Wapella Veterans that have made Hog City the shining light on the hill that it is today. Who do you salute! |
Sunday November 5 Long distance sport teams. Aside from the Wapella Wildcats, the entire village of Wapella is divided on favorite sports teams. Of course there are the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears and Bulls, but how about the longer distance teams? There are a few, and very selective sorts that are fanatical on criteria other than distance. So if I may lead off with a short list of fan name, and criteria for fanaticism, please add your favorite
1) AJ Weinheimer-Oakland Raiders Reason: Friend of Jim's went to Purdue and was drafted by Raiders. Gave Al a Raider helmet as a 4th grader.
2) Ryan brothers, Brad Thomas, Powers brothers-Minnesota VIkings Reason: VIkings were much better team in early 1970's than Cardinals or Bears
3) Clem Toohill Family and Mike Springman -LA Lakers Reason: Lifelong infatuation with Jerry West, Kurt Rambis and Spencer Haywood. Late night CBS Lakers games
4) Mike Gurdler-Miami Dolphins Reason: Mike likes to vacation in Florida
5) Karen Ledbetter-KC Royals Reason: Karen was a fan of George Brett
6) Brett Carter-NY Jets Reason: Jets have a history of beating the spread
7) Ralph Cooper-Houston Astros Reason: Cooper looked taller in orange uniform
Who do you know that is a sports fan that is not tied to geography? Why would they do that? Wapella.com wants to know!
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Wednesday November 1 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Martin Stremlau. Stremlau, of Normal, the longtime Wapella District Representative for the Bloomingotn Pantagraph passed at age 55 on Tuesday. A Mendota native, Stremlau went above and beyond the call of duty to the Pantagraph in establishing a prescence in 1970's Wapella as a mentor, musical performer, substitute paperboy, boon companion, and Churchman. Stremlau extended the role of houseguest in Wapella, making his lunch based visits last until dinner, and made frequent contributions as a chef and vegetable harvester, as well as a frequent host. All flags half mast please for 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and US Navy Veteran Martin J. Stremlau.
Friday October 27th Odd year indeed. The St. Louis Cardinals have been crowned World Champions. Card fans, take you bows, and continue to duck as the fruit is thrown by the backers of the perennial losing Cubs, but all of you Cubbies and Redbirds alike must admit that Weaver looked like some pistolero from LeRoy in about 1983 with his dyed blonde hair, gold chain, and violent disposition towards victory. All Hail the Kings of Baseball (till the next season starts) |
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Wednesday October 25 Here come the Redbirds. Taking over from the threads below, Wapella.com salutes the mighty St. Louis Cardinals on their smashing the Detroit Tigers last night. Here are a couple of shots of Cardinal greats Ken Oberkfell and Whitey Herzog (with an old-timey horse and buggy) to light a fire under the Cardinal bats.
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Can the Cardinals pull it out? Or will this be a repeat of 1968, where Lolich and McLain stifled Gibson and McCarver. Would anyone just like to stuff McCarver (or at least his overly detailed talk about Cup placement)?
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Monday October 23 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Jim Ross. Ross a 1944 WHS graduate had one of the most storied career of any Wapella businessman serving as president of JI Case Tractor Corporation in Racine Wisconsin. Always a Wildcat, Ross always remained connected to Wapella, welcoming visitors from Wapella and and keeping in contact with his classmates over 50 years after leaving our fair Hog City. The next time you see one of those Big Red Tractors, still running after 40 years of service, please salute Jim Ross and the ingenuity of a Wapella businessman.
Monday October 23 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Fred Wickenhauser. Fred, a well-liked Wapella highway worker and neighbor, passed away Thursday after a long bout with heart disease. His wiife Linda, daugther Cindy, and sons Callan and Jay and six grandchilren survive him, as do an illustrious list of one of Wapella's largest and finest families from the Wickenhauser clan: Betty Shoemaker, Mary Shaw, both of Clinton; and -the barber- Jack (Rosie) Wickenhauser, Judy (Cord-the muscleman) Burris and Ruth (Donnie) Nelson. Fred's house, strategically located steps from Wapella Grade School and the playground, made his home the center of years of Wapella social, outdoor and athletic activity. All flags half-mast please for U.S. Army Veteran Frederick Wickenhasuer.
Monday October 16 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Marvin Haycraft. Haycraft, a leading Wapella businesman for the last 50 years, passed away Saturday at age 81. Marvin Haycraft is survived by two Wildcat sons Jay and Rex, and his wife of 61 years Fontella. Haycraft's family includes his grocery legend sister Dorothy Haycraft Johnson who now lives in Heyworth. Marvin held court daily at the Heyworth Restaurant where he entertained and enlightened many with his tales of business and his career. Marvin's Haycraft's Auction House stands as a proud memorial to the rebuilding of Wapella after the 1968 Tornado, good business sense, and a great charitable man who hosted many fundraisers at his place of business for multiple Wapella causes. All flags half-mast please for World War 2 veteran, American Legion member, and VFW member Marvin Haycraft.
Sunday October 15 Farewell to a Great. Country-Rock Legend Freddy Fender has died at age 69. Born Baldemar Huerta in 1937 in San Benito, Texas, he explained many years later. “Since I was playing a Fender guitar and amplifer, I changed my name to Freddy Fender.” Fender had some big hits with Wasted Days and Wasted Nights, Before the Next Teardrop Falls leading the pack. Fender, one of the few that was A1 on the Jukebox and #1 on the charts, will be remembered as a staple of the various Wapella musical establishments, with his mournful Tex-Mex music.
Here are two fine pictues of Freddy Fender with the Texas Tornados. Wapella, please take special note of Flaco Jimenez (looking like Eddie Merida) on Accordian (Fender is the guy in the background doing a sort of two-step on the left, and holding the Fender Guitar on the right, kind of looking like Johnny Gardner). Will you be there before the next teardrop falls? |
Monday October 2 Big Stars! Where to see them? Do they only come out at night?
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We've all seen them, from Dick Van Dyke's son, Barry, shown here in full Battlestar Galactica garb, or the Canadian Cowboy Lorne Greene, also in BG Garb, and who can forget Dan Blocker, who played Eric "Hoss" Cartwright, son of Lorne Greene in TV's Bonanza, or even Ken "Festus" Curtis . So how about genning up a "Brush with Greatness"? When did famous celebrities and sports figures get the opportunity to meet with Wapella greats? Ever go to the state fair? Plenty of celebrities there. I, for one, was lucky enough to eat dinner with a sportswriter in New York City, while one of the greatest hitters in modern history had a severe cold, George Brett, entertained us with his cold cures invollving hot cars and sweating out the poisons. When have the big names run in with Hog CIty's finest?
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Sunday September 18 I could be wrong, but didn't he go to WHS?
From Forbes Magazine
LA PAZ (AFX) - Carlos Villegas has been sworn in as Bolivia's new hydrocarbons minister replacing Andrez Soliz, creator of Latin American country's hydrocarbon nationalisation plan, who resigned Friday amid tensions with Brazil.
Have you located missing foreign exchange students from Wapella High School?
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Friday September 15 BBD follows up with...Pete LaCock brings up an important topic to wapella.com and that is Peter Marshall.
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Wednesday September 12 More Great Stars! This a contribution from Beat Bellflower Day. Old questions that may be best vetted by the .com community…..Who is this man? Who is his father? Which was has the family’s name and which one changed his name for show business? If you were in show business which name would you choose?
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Sunday September 10 When the stars aligned in Danville, 1988. Picture this, the #1 most bankable actor in the last 30 years, the #1 TV Star of all time, and his wildly popular brother, as well as the star of Francis the Talking Mule and a big time New York Cabaret Singer, all show up in Danville at the same time. To make this even bigger, all of the above mentioned stars are from Danville. Here they are at a benefit for the Fischer Theater in Danville. This should be an easy one, but can you name all the stars in Danville on this fateful day? |
Saturday September 2, Wapella woman slightly injured in flying fruit incident. While walking down the city sidewalk, Teresa Ryan Curi, WHS 1982 was clocked in the forehead with a lemon wedge yesterday on North Wacker Drive in Chicago yesterday. Ryan, who has long appreciated a good lemon zest, was profoundly struck by her good fortune. "The shrimp cocktail I was snacking on had just gone flat", claimed the onetime Jimtown resident, "and a smack with a lemon gave it a lift that lasted me the rest of the afternoon. I haven't had such a good lemon squash since the 2003 State Fair". What Wapella notable would you like to zing fruit at? What types of citrus have you been smacked with recently? Any notable fruit throwing incidents?
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Sunday August 27 Yeah, but we have been doing that in Wapella for ages. Long weekend reading the London Financial Times, Sylvia Jay, Chairwoman of Food From Britain touts a fine minded program to "Swap Your Home Grown Produce for a Couple of Pints" to ignite the lucrative and rewarding vegetables for ale trade. Nice try, London, but a little late, with your second-hand gimmicks-check out comment from RJT below on trading sweet corn with Bill and Jerry Morris. How about a footnote, showing the source of such trade innovations?
Then, I read the parish bulleting for St. Mary's in Kenosha, Wisconsin, heralding $50,000 raised at the parish dunk tank. Fr. Mike Newman crows "What a great festival we had last weekend! The Dunk Tank Chairs even persuaded me to joint hte cast of characters who became "dunkees". I had not done that for 35 years when iI was an Associate Pastor. I am grateful that most of the dunkers were in grade school. No wonder I always sank to the bottom" Good effort Padre, but hasn't the Dunk Tank been a staple in Wapella since 1969 its creation rating as the #1 event in Wapella history? Again, how about a little credit to the true innovators down in Hog City?
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Wednesday August 23 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Chuck Mandrell. Charles "Chuck" Mandrell, a long-time resident of Wapella, and great supporter and friend of the the Village, father of Rachell and Lindsay Mandrell, was married to Wapella's own Ann Campbell. Though not a graduate of WHS, Chuck was well connected in Wapella, being the nephew of Wapella Great Eugene "Hook" Mandrell, and occasionally performed in a the Jimmy Holland Stage Review. By a unanimous vote of the Board of Wapella Historians, and for the first time in the history of Wapella.com, in honor of a fine friend, pleasant guy, and good neighbor, Chuck Mandrell has been declared an Honorary Wapella Wildcat. All flags half mast for US Navy Veteran Chuck Mandrell.
Sunday August 20 Mind Boggling WHS Quiz! Again the theme of DeWitt County and Manhattan comes up in this cryptic puzzler. There is one person from Wapella currently living in Manhattan, New York, but this person did not graduate from Wapella High School. There is another person who graduated from Wapella High School living in Manhattan. This proud Wildcat was a member of the WHS Basketball and Baseball Teams, but would not be considered as being "from Wapella". Can you name these two residents of the Big Apple? And remember, only one is actually a Wildcat. |
Thursday August 17 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Wanda Bray. The wife of Merle Bray and mother of Sharon Ryan and Corwin "Jack" Bray, was a longtime Wapella resident and member of the Wapella Christian Church. Mrs. Bray was a great supporter of Wapella, and grandmatronly fixture at Wapella holidays, potlucks, and family events and a much beloved cook in the Wapella Grade School lunchroom for many years. Counting her in-laws, Mrs Bray was related to at least 1/2 the town of Wapella, all flags at half-mast please.
Tuesday, August 15 All roads lead to Kenney. While taking a quick tour of the below Church in New York City,
I was approached by the organist, a native New Yorker. I told him I was from central Illinois. He mentioned that he worked in Central Illinois for a while, and wanted to know if I had ever been to St. John's in Clinton, which of course I had. He then mentioned that he was acquainted with Fr. Robert Hoffman (Hoffman owed him money for a Canasta game gone wrong or something), and had worked in Kenney for a few years as an organ repair man at the Rybolt Organ Factory. He ran off a list of names, including Joe and Jan Ruyhle, the Cyriluk family, and many others from the area that he had become friends with. The organist, Mr. Richard Sawicki, then mentioned that he did a search to find Fr. Hoffman recently, and found his anniversary information on Wapella.com, and now is a daily reader. So greetings to one of the few New Yorkers lucky enough to live in Kenney for a short while. Welcome to Wapella! Any here ever been to Kenney organ factory? Joe and Jan's place? |
Thursday August 10 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Teresa Imig. Imig, a key member of the Wapella and DeWitt County education community, substitute taught for long periods of time at many Wapella eductional levels. Her husband, Richard "Rick" Imig, is the most celebrated coach, teacher and administrator to ever grace the halls at Wapella High. Mrs. Imig was a great leader and supporter of education in the community. All flags half-mast please.
Sunday August 6 Scandal! If David Holt wrote this listing, for the DeWitt County Constitution, (first he might correct my spelling errors, if he has Barrellhead in his spellchecker), then he might note that the celebrity roast held at the Donovan reunion Saturday at the Heyworth Legion was a bit of a Scandal. Fraud at a family reunion you must ask? Well yes, Jerry Ryan WHS 54, while purporting to be celebrating his 70th birthday, actually had it some time ago, but chose a family gathering to bask in the adulation of his relatives who gave his chestnuts a good roasting and full throated laughs in between imbibing cold lager, fried poultry and the traditional Irish drink of CR with RC. Jerry, the tall one of the illustrious Ryan brothers (cigars rather than cigarettes, most likely), put up with some dirty limericks, tall tales, and intimate profiles quite well, and asked for more where that came from. A hearty thanks to the men in blue at the Heyworth Legion for preparing a fine meal and hospitable service for a cantankerous crew from Wapelloo. Happy 70th Jerry from the entire staff at Wapella.com! Anyone have any blue stories about Jerry Ryan? How about identifying the official drink of Irish Row, RC with CR? (yes that is Joey Ryan covering his Barrellhead with the straw hat) (come to think of it, "Barrellhead" and "Goon" are two of the only words that are definitely in the DeWitt County Consitution spellchecker) |
Tuesday August 1 A High Level Study is Needed for the proposed publication From the Back of the Trunk: The Melon Trade in Wapella 1836-1971. Your assistance needed. The Melon Trade, a stalwart of Wapella commerce for over 100 years, was once a major employer and trade catalyst in the greater DeWitt County economy. But just as soon as it appeared, at the time of the completion of the Chicago River Canal, it quietly disappeared, concurrent to the Goat Rodeo season in our fair village. What prompted this change? What was the role of Checkers Gray? Sunshine Rousey? The Catholic Church? Was the melon trade tied into the Oyster Market, seasonally fueling high spirits and high cholesterol through the village? Jack Smock? Why were so many mysterious Saturday's spent in Havana Illinois securing melons for trade in Wapella? And why Wapella? How many melons were eaten per person in this era? Can anyone help? |
Saturday July 22 The day Oscar wept. Character actor Jack Warden has died. Warden, best known in Wapella for his gritty potrayal of Morris Buttermaker in the TV Show "The Bad News Bears". A veteran of over 100 movies roles, as well as a miliary veteran serving in the 101st Airborne in WW2, Warden played roles ranging from the President of the United States in Being There, to a crusty plains hunter in Charles Bronson's "The White Buffalo". Warden, even had the honor of potraying a man from Decatur, in the classic football tearjerker, Brian's Song, putting on a tour-de-force as George Halas. The Wapella Connection? Readily apparent if you ever played Khoury League Baseball, Warden's Bad News Bears were idolized for their grit, determinations, and rag-tag talent, and Warden's striking resemblance to Frank Springman. Half mast flags please for Jack Warden.
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Wednesday July 20 Not to turn this into a See-And-Be-Seen column-but a certain two gentleman from Irish Row were seen dining together at La Gondola in Bloomington yesterday, wary of the inevitable glow from the flashbulbs of the local paparazzi. These possible prophets, one being the 9th son of a 7th son, and the other the 7th son of a 6th son pulled off this hush-hush meeting with the panache and pizzaz that you can only expect from two Wildcat Celebrities. The 7th son? None other than Dennis "T-Bird" Toohill, restraining himself with a child's size fettucine with pesto. The 9th son? Well that would be Dave "The Roadrunner" Karr taking the classic Gondola sandwich to task. Wapella.com would give its last dollar to have been one of the flies on the wall during this historic lunch. Speculation about the conversation?
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Thursday July 13 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Helen O'Brien Killian. Helen O. Killian, the Matriarch of Wapella, died yesterday at 9:20 AM at age 96. Mrs. Killian, the wife of John "Stormy" Killian, taught school in Wapella for many years, as well as farming in DeWitt and McLean Counties. Helen was perhaps best known as the Chairman of the First National Bank and Trust Company in Clinton, where she oversaw the growth and performance of the financial institution for 30 years. Mrs. Killian, graduated from Illinois State University in Normal when it was known as State-Normal. Helen was preceded in death by her husband John, and brothers John "Jack" and Leo "Stick" or "Sticky" O'Brien. Her son John Michael (Mary Pat) Killian and three granchildren David Killian, Colleen (Ryan) Mariotti, and Kelli Killian survive her.
Helen was the premier supporter of Wapella and all of DeWitt County, contrbuting in a major way to many civic and religious organizations, as well as being one of the great educators of Wapella's youth, teaching civics, ethics, accounting and economics on the streets of Wapella and the Clinton Square via the First National Bank. Helen was a member of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Parish in Wapella. Flags will be lowered for Helen O'Brien Killian.
Wednesday July 12 Code Maroon-Terror Alert reaches Clinton
From the New York Times
July 12, 2006
Heads Up, You Goons! U.S. Terror Targets: Petting Zoo and Flea Market?
By ERIC LIPTON
WASHINGTON, July 11 — It reads like a tally of terrorist targets that a child might have written: Old MacDonald’s Petting Zoo, the Amish Country Popcorn factory, the Mule Day Parade, the Sweetwater Flea Market and an unspecified “Beach at End of a Street.”
But the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, in a report released Tuesday, found that the list was not child’s play: all these “unusual or out-of-place” sites “whose criticality is not readily apparent” are inexplicably included in the federal antiterrorism database. The National Asset Database, as it is known, is so flawed, the inspector general found, that as of January, Indiana, with 8,591 potential terrorist targets, had 50 percent more listed sites than New York (5,687) and more than twice as many as California (3,212), ranking the state the most target-rich place in the nation. The database is used by the Homeland Security Department to help divvy up the hundreds of millions of dollars in antiterrorism grants each year, including the program announced in May that cut money to New York City and Washington by 40 percent, while significantly increasing spending for cities including Louisville, Ky., and Omaha. “We don’t find it embarrassing,” said the department’s deputy press secretary, Jarrod Agen. "I am in Goon City, but the list is a valuable tool.”
But the audit says that lower-level department officials agreed that some older information in the inventory “was of low quality and that they had little faith in it.” “The presence of large numbers of out-of-place assets taints the credibility of the data,” the report says. In addition to the petting zoo, in Woodville, Ala., and the Mule Day Parade in Columbia, Tenn., the auditors questioned many entries, including “Nix’s Check Cashing,” “Mall at Sears,” “Ice Cream Parlor,” “Tackle Shop,” “Donut Shop,” “Anti-Cruelty Society” and “Bean Fest.”
Even people connected to some of those businesses or events are baffled at their inclusion as possible terrorist targets.
“Seems like someone has gone overboard,” said Larry Buss, who helps organize the Apple and Pork Festival in Clinton, Ill. “Their time could be spent better doing other things, like providing security for the country.”
Angela McNabb, manager of the Sweetwater Flea Market, which is 50 miles from Knoxville, Tenn (and no Goon City to be sure)., said: “I don’t know where they get their information. We are talking about a flea market here.”
New York City officials, who have questioned the rationale for the reduction in this year’s antiterrorism grants, were similarly blunt.“Now we know why the Homeland Security grant formula came out as wacky as it was,” Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said Tuesday. “This report is the smoking gun that thoroughly indicts the system. And the term Goon? We just started using that, but it appears that they have been saying Goon in Clinton since the time of Abraham Lincoln.”
The source of the problems, the audit said, appears to be insufficient definitions or standards for inclusion provided to the states, which submit lists of locations for the database. New York, for example, lists only 2 percent of the nation’s banking and finance sector assets, which ranks it between North Dakota and Missouri. Washington State lists nearly twice as many national monuments and icons as the District of Columbia. Montana, one of the least populous states in the nation, turned up with far more assets than big-population states including Massachusetts, North Carolina and New Jersey.
The inspector general questions whether many of the sites listed in whole categories — like the 1,305 casinos, 163 water parks, 159 cruise ships, 244 jails, 3,773 malls, 718 mortuaries and 571 nursing homes — should even be included in the tally.
But the report also notes that the list “may have too few assets in essential areas.” It apparently does not include many major business and finance operations or critical national telecommunications hubs. The department does not release the list of 77,069 sites, but the report said that as of January it included 17,327 commercial properties like office buildings, malls and shopping centers, 12,019 government facilities, 8,402 public health buildings, 7,889 power plants and 2,963 sites with chemical or hazardous materials. George W. Foresman, the department’s under secretary for preparedness, said the audit misunderstood the purpose of the database, as it was an inventory or catalog of national assets, not a prioritized list of the most critical sites.The database is just one of many sources consulted in deciding antiterrorism grants.
The inspector general recommends that the department review the list and determine which of the “extremely insignificant” assets that have been included should remain and provide better guidance to states on what to submit in the future. Mr. Agen, the Homeland Security Department spokesman, said that he agreed that his agency should provide better directions for the states and that it would do so in the future. One business owner who learned from a reporter that a company named Amish Country Popcorn was on the list was at first puzzled. The businessman, Brian Lehman, who could be some sort of relation to that Goon Allen Lehman, said he owned the only operation in the country with that name."Goon Me, I am out in the middle of nowhere,” said Mr. Lehman, whose business in Berne, Ind., has five employees and grows and distributes popcorn. “We are nothing but a bunch of Amish buggies and tractors out here. No one would care.” But on second thought, he came up with an explanation: “Maybe because popcorn explodes-you Goon?”
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Wednesday July 5 Village Terror Alert-CODE RED This just in:
Over the last few
days, there have been
break-in's, attempted break-in's as well as some indecent acts being
committed outside people's homes. Random incidents since then. Bizzare
notes being left on trucks indicating
"the
black panther was here."
Wapella is on
high alert! Please
work as a Village to stop
this miserable behavior. Alternatively, let's elect this clown to
the Village Board, and let him really face the heat. Clues? (No slander
please)
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Tuesday July 4 Flags Fly High-Beat Bellflower poses an interesting question meritting more study. What makes a Wapella Wildcat? How does one keep cheering on the Blue and White when the town has been battered a time or ten? Wapella.com has noted a few handy tips
1) In mixed company, talk only about people from Wapella, despite the fact the you are the only one that knows the people you are talking about. Eventually, (maybe a year or two later) they will know who you are referring to, or never talk to you again.
2) React violently to old sports injustices. Someone think Maroa may have beaten Wapella in summer league basketball in 1980? Ker-splat.
3) While imbibing, volunteer for charitable activities and then complain about it constantly when you straighten up. Don't ask for sympathy or assistance, just gripe like you just stepped on a burr anytime you actually have to do even a moderate amount of work you volunteered for when you were intoxicated. When questioned why you volunteered to begin with, if all you were going to do is gripe, take a swing at your inquisitor, despite the fact you can't fight your way out of a paper bag..
Those suggestions really don't help much of anything, but they will get you through a day wondering about the Good Life in Wapella. Anyone from Hog City got any suggestions? |
Friday June 30 Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Larry Brown. Brown, a stalwart member of the Wapella community and a great friend of Wapella.com died at age 70 on Wednesday. An excellent pool player, champion shotgunner and trap shooter, and a vigorous politician (much like his father), Larry was a leader in civic and sporting life. Larry had the grand distinction of being doubly cousined with Ed and Jim Merida, being both 1st cousins via his mother, Ulah, being sister of Carl Merida, and second cousins via his father, Lawrence, being 1st cousin with Teresa Merida (you following?). Larry also has the distinction of being the only person Wapella.com knew that could pronounce Nevada, Iowa properly (It is Nev-A-da, home of one of Larry's great-uncles, and a staff member at Wapella.com) Larry was a veteran of the US Army. Full salute for Larry Brown.
Monday June 19 By the Power of the Almight Wildcat, I now pronounce you...Three Cheers for Chris and Brooke Mills, united in Holy Matrimony on Saturday, June 17 at the (quite beautiful) Wesleyan United Methodist Church in Bloomington. The crowd was awesome, with the following Village Ambassadors in attendance. Wapella-Eddie Dean and Bonnie Merida. Waynesville-Mr. and Mrs. Russell Craig. Clinton-Mr. David Killian Lexington-Dave and Ruth Ann Kinsella Heyworth-Mr. Brad Necessary, as well as at least four score from DeWitt and McLean Counties.
The reception was a fine affair with Prime Rib, Lite Beer, and Fast Dancing led by Mr. Ned Karr and any woman brave enough to challenge him.
Action shot of Bride and Groom
with Mr. Lee Holt, a native Wapella Man.
The Entire Cast, including many
Wapella Notables.Congratulations to Chris and Brooke from the entire staff of Wapella.com |
Wednesday June 14 Half Mast Please. Billy Preston, one of the greatest entertainers in the last 40 years has died at age 59. Preston, the master keyboard player, who graced the records and performances of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton, died from respiratory complications on June 11. Preston is legendary for his keyboards on Let it Be, Get Back, and My Sweet Lord, earning this notice from George Harrison "Preston's presence was that of a guest at at tense family reunion--everyone behaves better in order not to appear too fractious". Preston's own recording include Will it Go Round in Circles, and Nothin from Nothin. One of the versatile greats, Billy Preston even added some stye to David Brenner's late night show, Nightlife, in 1986, playing keyboards to Brenner's comedy talk show.
Monday June 12 Hat Tip to the Great One. None other than Jim Hull....has added a comedy quiz to Wapella.com Hull starts with a set of nicknames and asks, for the given nams of :
Winner
Skip
Manual
Sawmill
Toad
Dr Sumpter
Old Joe
Little Joe
Rutt
Pete
Porkie
Stick
Bones
Sheik
Peanuts
Cap
Rodney
Red
Buster
Bogs
Skinner
Eddie Boy
Duke
Freddie Boy
Mick-Hoop
Suitcase
Bud (4)
Buddy (3)
Slim (2)
Swede
Doc
Spider
Spud
Maude
Sonny
Hoopie
Due
Checkers
Brute
Bart
Sunshine
All Wapella greats in their day, when all men had a nickname, or work looking to change theirs. Got any answers? Would you like to acquire one of these nicknames? They are mainly available. |
Wednesday June 7 In a second of our series...Is anyone looking for...Some of the great names of Wapella do not have addresses associated with them. These from the class of 1986, which will celebrate 20 years of marticulation this year. So can anyone locate the following members of the Class of 1986?
Ronnie Smith
Alvin Dubson
Kim Strickland
These are three biggies. Please assist in reuniting the Tornado Kids! |
Sunday June 4 While on a spree during garage sale days in Wapella, Wapella.com found an old copy of The Household Edition of The Dictionary of Bad Ideas. Here were some terrible ideas for use around the house, most with common items you could find at any grocery store.
1) Too much baking soda in your cabinets? Let an old frozen fish thaw in a hot car, then place it in your kitchen to soak up that baking soda odor.
2) Not enough Purple Martins? How about introducing some old tires full of stagnant water in your yard to draw tasty mosquitoes for a light lunch for your purple feathered friends.
3) Spilled club soda on your white carpet? Never fear, pour some red wine on the carpet, and let it soak till club soda is diluted enough to leave a permanent stain.
These and many other bad ideas were chronicled in a community style guidebook, first published in the Village of Wapella in 1987. What are some of the bad ideas you reacall from the Dictionary of Bad Ideas? |
(Postscript. A biography of Frank Lamar, written in French and titled Le Nombre Est Lamar non Doigts was also seen a several garage sales. Does anyone have an English language copy?)
Sunday June 4, Feast of the Penetecost-50 Years of Fr. Bob Hoffman. Fr. Bob Hoffman, two time Pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in Wapella celebrates his Golden Anniversary of being a Roman Catholic Priest in the Diocese of Peoria. Fr. Hoffman, though a Lincoln native, Holy Trinity Graduate, and now located in Oakwood, near Danville, claims Wapella as his true home, and is renowned as one of the greatest and most active propenents of the Village and the Parish, and as such has been named Chaplain of Wapella.com for 2006. (Of course if you lived near Danville, you might be searching for a place to call home as well). Fr. Fitzsimmons, also a Pastor in Wapella, though shorter termed than Fr. Bob, also chalks up 50 Years. Three Cheers each for Fr. Bob and Fr. Fitzsimmons. All Flags Fly High, Please!
Thursday June 1 Nice photo. Here is a shot of The Louisville Lip and The Greatest. The Greatest Children's author, Richard Scarry is shown here in a 1972 photo with Muhammed Ali. Totally out of context. Only has a passing connection to Wapella (or Ronnie).
Who would you like to see box with Ali? Who would you like to see box Richard Scarry? |
Monday May 29 Veteran Salute. Memorial Day Catholic Mass (all are welcome) at St. Patricks Cemetery on RT 51 today followed by potluck. Flags fly, Chicken served, veterans honored. Go Wapella! |
Saturday May 27 Happy Centennial! June Thomas turns 100. DeWitt County original June Thomas celebrates his 100th birthday this week. June is the father of Robert and Ronnie Thomas of Rural Wapella 18 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren . Happy Birthday June Thomas!
Thursday May 25 You wanted more Ronnie news? Here it starts with: A new section titled Movies that Ronnie Thomas didn't like very much Today's selection 1984's Breakin' 2; Electric Boogaloo The plot: A developer tries to bulldoze a community recreation center. The local breakdancers try to stop it. After exiting the movie a visibly miffed Ron stated "Going to that movie was the biggest waste of money I've ever made-bar none" Do you know of more movies that any of Wapella's Ronnie's didn't like? |
Thursday May 25 All flags half mast, please. Ruby Bowman, mother of Carl David Bowman, has passed away in Farmer City at age 90. Bowman, a fixture at Wapella High School in the 1980's and 90's taught Biology and Science, as well as coaching many successful baseball teams. Former WHS Guidance Couselor, now Roman Catholic Priest, Fr Tim Nolan will officiate the funeral. Our condolences to Mr. Bowman, and the Bowman family.
Friday May 19 A Special Note from Ex-Ex Pat
Ladies and Gentlemen, citizens and taxpayers, I thank you all for you support in my campaign to put the Wildcat back into Wapella.com. No one wants this become the Problems and Solutions of DeWitt County, and no one wants this to become a Baseball Card Memoribillia site. I think we all know why we come here. History, community, and high action are the three defining features of Wapella.com. I commit to supporting these three keys to the success of the village, as long as my fingers can type a message. As such, let me make this perfectly clear:
Wapella.com will now be devoted to news about people names Ronnie, Ronald, or Ronnie, and only to people named Ronnie. Why? Well starting with Ronnie Smith, Ronny Springman, and Ronnie Oakley, there is more than enough information to seriously concentrate on some of the great Ronny's of Wapella. Look Monday for a full feature article on Ronnie Thomas, and week's worth of discussion celebrating Ronnie and his lifelong accomplishments in Wapella.
Ronnie News? |
Friday May 18 Late Breaking News! Board Decides to ban the Moderator, welcome back Ex-Ex Pat. In other news, Frank Lamar has been banned from performing his one man show Handlebars: The Rollie Fingers Story in the Village of Wapella.
A board level investigation revealed that the Moderator was collecting (young) David Green Memorabilia to sell at the proposed Lamar performance. When confronted by Ex-Ex Pat with this stunning revelation, the Moderator was trying to squash the free speech of the only man that could stop him: the much beloved mouthpiece of the village, Ex-Ex Pat. Welcome home my friend! And adios Moderator.
Welcome Back ExExPat! |
Thursday May 17 Emergeny meeting of the Board of Wapella Historians tonight. All Board Members, please attend at the Lone Elm Memorial at 9:30 this evening. Be prepared to discuss the abuse of the website by Wapella supervillain, Ex-Ex Pat and Frank Lamar's uncanny resemblance to Rollie Fingers.
Thursday May 17 A good flag submission! This from Fort Worth Texas.
Submit! |
Thursday May 17 To Belabor the Point: OK Ex Ex Pat, what your are not understanding is that the key to this trade is Young David Green. You may think Pete Vukovich has a few good years left, Ted Simmons can still hit, and Rollie Fingers is still the #1 Reliever in Baseball, but you are forgetting the future. David Green can make or break this ballclub not just for this season, but for the next 10 years. -Quote from Dal Maxvill
Goodbye Ex-Ex-Pat! You are hereby banished from Wapella.com
Tuesday May 15 Hey Ex-Ex Pat, You want to Start Another Car Wars? Controversy reigns at Wapella.com. A spirited poster, Mr. Ex-Ex Pat, has challenged the meandering comments policy and is about to be barred from Wapella.com and possibly (Sir Richard's in Maroa, which is a great supporter of Wapella.com) Our Moderator states the following:
1) In 1981, John Bearce and Gary Uftring started a "Car Wars" in Peoria. Fords, Chevys, Chryslers: Nothing was immune. Mayhem reigned, but car prices never were lower.
2) The Chevrolet Vega was perhaps one of the most popular cars in Wapella in the 1970's. It's Buick twin? None other than the Apollo, posted here.
3) Many athletes in Wapella tended to dress like Apollo Creed off the court.
4) In Spanish, Vega is a city. There is a singer named Suzanne Vega, that had a hit in the late 80's with the tiresome "My Name is Luka"
5) Suzanne Vega was married to Mitchell Froom, who subsequently married that lounge singer person from Ally McBeal, Vonda Shepard. Froom produced some albums in the 1980's with Jules Shear, who is from Rock Island.
6) David Bowie's current wife Iman, was married to Spencer Haywood, from the Knicks and Seatle Supersonics in the 1970's
So you can see our case quite clearly from the above. Meandering? Lack of Focus? Highly Charged? Part of a DaVinci code like pattern? Yes, all of these can apply to Wapella.com and to the Buick Apollo. So Ex-Ex-Pat...show us what you are made of...mix it up a bit or risk the fate of the becoming the DeWitt County Observer or the Clinton Daily Public. You want another "Car Wars"? Also for 2 points, where did Spencer Haywood play in College (trick question)? |
Sunday May 14 Big Numbers for a Big Name. Theresa Merida will be placing 90 candles on a cake this week, perhaps to celebrate her birthday, if her age can be revealed. The Roberts, Illinois native and wife of the late Carl "Bones" Merida has called the Southwest Side of Wapella her home for generations. Three cheers for Theresa Merida! And a quick hat tip to Bill and Kayla Short for tirelessly getting the Wapella Ball Diamond into playable condition. Can anyone identify who put the load of white rock on the infield in approximately 1975? |
Sunday May 14 Good neighbors, Indeed. Wildside, the dance bar in Kenney, has burned and tragically a young man has died in the fire. Say what you want about the drinking and dancing in Kenney (on some other website please), Wapella.com sends out Nine Cheers for the Nine Volunteer Fire Departments that showed up to fight the fire and prevent it from spreading, and will fly the US (and soon the Wapella) Flag at half-mast for the victim of the fire. Wapella.com is recommending that its readers tip a glass in silence this week to the village and residents of our neighbors of 150 years in Kenney.
Monday May 8 Good question!
An alert reader from Birmingham Alabama relayed this question from the esteemed Jerry Ryan, WHS 1952. Jerry asks "When did Wapella hit it's economic zenith? Was it prior to the Great Depression? During WWII or in the 1950's. I suppose the social highwater mark would go hand-in-hand. Any historians know?" I will weigh in, Wapella may not have hit its Zenith, but definitely hit its Granada, when Teresa Toohill moved from DelRay Beach Florida to Wapella bringing her 1978 Ford Granada with her as a sign that the good times were rolling. Your thoughts on Wapella's economic highpoint?
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Tuesday, May 2 More good flags. Found these good ones. More submissions are better!
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Please Post your drawings! |
Friday April 21 Happy Birthday Fern Leggett. The Grand Dame of Wapella turns 105. Three cheers for Fern Leggett!
Tuesday April 18 Put Out More Flags. Here are some keen looking flags. These are battle flags, mostly from the Revolutionary War. Perhaps Wapella needs something to rally around during its various battles. The Board of Wapella Historians has spoken. The winner will be identified by July 1, 2006, and a proto-Flag commissioned by August 1, 2006. The Winning entry will receive his award on the 152 Year Anniversary of the Village of Wapella around August 26, 2006..
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Please Post your drawings! |
Tuesday April 18 We interrupt this contest. Three cheers for WHS at the Boston Marathon. Todd Doenitz WHS '79 ran a quick sprint over 26.2 miles at the worlds toughest marathon in Boston yesterday. Doenitz finished in 3:37:13 for an average of 8 minute 30 seconds per mile. Doenitz credtis his years in Jerry Peroutka's Physical Education Classes for his endurance.."You see, I had my shorts burned in Wapella. You have to pick the pace up to run with the Wildcats" says Doenitz. Doenitz the 2 time Most Improved Player in Wapella Baseball, now lives with his wife and family in Plymouth, Michigan.
Friday April 14 The Board of Wapella Historians has met. A new competition has been launched! It has finally happened (or has it?) after 102 years of vim and vinegar, a Civic Flag has been commissioned for the Village of Wapella. Yes, a $100 prize (really Wapella.com will pay it) will be awarded for the winner of the Design a Flag for Wapella Competition. First things first...
1) Was there ever a previous flag for the Village of Wapella?
2) Was there ever a flag for WHS or WCHS?
OK, that could spare us $100 if someone has an archived flag. (Archive gets you $50). Otherwise let the competition begin. Rules? Hmm.. how about
1) No creativity will be allowed.
2) Cheer for the Blue and White
3) The flag must have something to do with Wapella, IL.
4) You can draw this by hand if you like...Fax it to 1-312-803-1657
5) You can email if you like to info@wapella.com
6) Simple flags are just fine.
7) Complicated flags are fine as well
8) Nepotism is to be promoted
9) No nudity please.
10) Challenges are welcome (like "Don't Tread on Me", or "Live Free or Die" or "How did you get that car on top of that barn")
Here are some ideas
Wapella Fire Department Badge
Flag of Ely Diocese (England)
Isle of Wight
Help set criteria, add suggestions, raise prize dollars, Post your drawings! |
Thursday Marcy 30 Welcome International Businessmen! Mobile Planet, the Import-Export house founded, staffed, and managed by WHS Graduates (and an occasional Downser and Waynesvillain) at 902 IAA Drive in Bloomington, had the pleasure of welcoming Waynseville original David Lowery to its wholesale operation, Portix on Wednesday. Lowery was in the market for a new wireless communications system and shopped at the super local store with the worldwide selection. Said Lowery, "I came in here for the low prices, hot coffee, and cool gadgets. Having received such a warm reception, I will come back to Mobile Planet to ice some more sweet deals". What better match than international trade between Waynesville and Wapella. Have you shopped internationally in Wapella? |
More Wednesday March 22 Colon Awareness day brings in over $20,000. A big hat tip to all who attened and all who gave to RJ Ryan's colon Jamboree.
Wednesday March 22 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Mary Thorp. Mrs. Thorp, the wife of the late James Thorp, died at her home at age 91. Mary had four Wildcat daughters, (Nancy) Joan, Marcia, (Mary) Antoinette, and Elizabeth, and is remembered as great traveller and supporter of Patriotic causes such as the Daughters of American Revolution, and the United Methodist Church. All flags half-mast for Mrs. Mary Thorp.
Tuesday March 21 Quick Question. Was there ever...a 1960's or early 1970's Heavy Metal Rock Band from Wapella named Haven Page? Can't find any internet information on it, thought that the readers might know. Do you remember? |
Wednesday March 15 Colon once, Colon twice.. Sold to...Bill of Auction for Colon-Jamboree. If you ever wanted to purchase some trinkets to tickle your colon, Saturday is the big day. The bill of auction has been announced for RJ Ryan's Colon-Jamboree memorial. How about:
Two Cubs-Cardinals tickets at Wrigley Field
Cubs White Sox tickets at US Cellular Field
Overnight Romance package Doubletree Biagis Castle Movie Handmade Chocolate from Choclatier
Be a Senate Page for a day with Bill Brady (no romance involved)
Four bags of seed corn.
Various Nascar Paraphanelia (good stuff, collectors items)
Two Illini tickets for 2006-7 with Bruce Weber signed basketball.
Four tickets for the Chicagoland Speedway in September in Joliet
A Terry Redmond style painted pheasant
A Tool time kit with Pork Rinds and Busch Light in the Johnny Roesch style
Full set up at Annies Bar with Thriila Vanilla, Cherry Schnapps, and T-Shirts
Nature day at Shawnee National Forest at the Cave in Rock
Gift Certificate from Pikes Market in Seattle
Photo history of the Archdiocese of Chicago
More romance at The Chateau and Central Station with Castle Theater tickets
Mama Mia Italian Basket
Don Filkins Tree Farm gift package
Handmade Necklace and purse
Sunset Suites Pool Passes
Bikini and Flip Flops for the Ladies
Custom painted Skateboard by Asa Schaefer
And the suprise kicker of the night...a dream come true featuring DeWitt County and Busch Light
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Wednesday March 8 Putting a bit of Pepper into your Colo-Rectal Awareness Day. Stop the presses, the charity auction celebrating Buddy Ryan's intestines has just been spiced up a bit. Per insider sources, three "Doctors" will be present at the American Legion Hall in Heyworth performing on-the-spot rectal exams for anyone will to be more in touch with their colon. The twist? Only two of the "Doctors" are for real: the other "Doctor" will be an impersonator from the staff of Williamson Farm Drainage testing out some of their new corrugated PVC piping, recently used in tiling projects in McLean County. What a great way to support McLean County business, and learn more about your intestinal health? And 2 out of the 3 Doctors are for real, getting you a real bargain on your checkup, while the other is sure to be a real eye-opener. Are you ready for your checkup with Dr. Goldfinger? |
Monday March 6 A Salute to a true Maroon. The staff of Wapella.com had the occasion to visit New York City for a grouch convention this past weekend. Lo and behold, upon visiting Barrymores, the family restaurant of the Barrymore family (John, Ethel, Lionel, Drew) once managed by Carl Dean Thorp of Clinton Illinois, the restaurant has closed. Carl was a great host, very hosptiable, and a fine Maroon. His heritage, being 1/2 Thorp and 1/2 Toohill, the son of Carl Dean Thorp and Jean Toohill is 100% pure Wapella, giving Wapella.com reason to bow down and say "Thanks Carl" for running a hospitable joint with good beer and the DeWitt County style in the heart of Times Square. Truly one of the great restaurants and one of the great gentlemen of DeWitt County. |
Wednesday March 1 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Bill Hull. Hull, a 1959 graudate of Wapella High School, was a tremendous community member, staying involved in St. Patricks Parish, Wapella Agriculture, and Wapella Athletics long after he moved to Lincoln, leaving a legacy of volunteerism and civic duty unmatched since Abraham himself practiced law in Logan County. Hull was also a noted alumni of the University of Illinois (where he was friends with Reagan press secretary James Brady) and received his masters degree at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Per Wapella.com archives Bill Hull was the only Ivy League graduate ever to have the distinction of graduating from Wapella High School. Hull was the son of Paul and the tireless Eleanor Hull of Wapella. He is survived by his wife, former WHS teacher Starr Hull, two daughters Kimberly and Tiffany, and one of the greatest names in Wapella history, his brother Jim Hull. Flags will be at half-mast today for Army reservist, Bill Hull.
Monday February 27 Going Once, Going Twice, Sold to .......... Perhaps you read The Pantagraph profile of Raymond "Buddy" Ryan today, where (in between details of Buddy Ryan's plumbing) it was announced that a Charity Auction will be held on March 18 at the Heyworth Legion to raise money for Colon awareness. Now you might ask, do I really want to be any more aware of Buddy's colon than I already am, and we would have to agree with you. Never has a man in DeWitt County had his colon so thoroughly discussed as RJ Ryan; however, RJ was generally the leader of the discussion of his colon, and the colon of anyone else within earshot. So to promote the great man's intestines, we are auctioning off a dear piece of memoribilia, a genuine Buddy Ryan T-Shirt.
Some have called it a Wifebeater, some have called it a Muscle T, others a Tank Top, but this is the genuine article folks, shamelessly donated by Mary Sharon Ryan from Buddy's personal collection. All proceeds from this auction will go to Colon awareness day at the American Legion, so bid it up! BID HERE PLEASE |
Sunday February 26 Tonight there's going to be a Jailbreak. In the second of our series slated for syndication in the Clinton Journal, we remember some of the most notorious jailbusters in DeWitt County. According to the 1933 DeWitt County History, the 1871 Jail was torn down as the "floor was salted with gunpowder" to prevent inmates from tunnelling out, evidently in an attmept to keep the jail from blowing up when ignited by digging tours. Ever since, it has been more common to skip out of the greybar hotel than it has to dine and dash at The Shack. Who remembers Percy Lee Jones? In the mid 1970's all of Central Illinois was on the watch for this miscreant. Then Clayton Lee Waagner jumpted the turnstile to remain on the lam for 9 months, making the FBI's most wanted list (albeit for making false threats). Who was your most memorable jailbreaker in DeWitt County? Was it a historical figure? Local celebrity? A mischievous relative? |
Thursday February 23 Wapella.com syndicates. Multiple readers have noted that Wapella.com postings are now being syndicated in the Clinton Daily Journal and Public. (Anyone recall the Clinton Public?) . This is truly a monumental experience, and greatly appreciated by the entire staff at Wapella.com. In the interests of getting a second article syndicated, We have come up with...
It was Twenty Years Ago Today, Rock and Roll lost its Heart.
Doesn't seem like it, but 1986 was the year that Phil Lynott, leaad singer from Thin Lizzy passed away after years of hard living and entertaining millions of fans. Lynott, best known for "The Boys are Back in Town" (a salute to Vietnam Vets, by the way, a subject much covered by Wapella.com) , and Jailbreak (a salute to busting out of the Clink, by the way, another subject dear to the heart of Wapella.com) sold millions of Albums and toured extensively in the USA, the UK and Ireland. Here are two fine pictures of the rock-and-roller
The statue on the left is in Dublin Ireland. The rock and roll on the right is in concert. So Phil Lynott, it seems like only yesterday that you were rocking. You might ask, what does Phil Lynott have to do with Wapella? Well, he was 1/2 Irish and the other 1/2 even more entertaining and so is Wapella. Lynott had really big hair and so did a lot of people in Wapella in the 1970's. Phil was married to a supermodel and so are a lot of men in Wapella. Wapella.com sadly misses you Phil.
Now, Clinton Daily Journal, we will be looking for syndication fees if you chose to republish our content. Please feel free to print, but how about some checks? Please share your favorite memories of Thin Lizzie here:
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Thursday February 9 Wapella.com mourns a Legend. Wapella's #1 Trucker, MC "Buddy" Merida has passed away at age 83 at his home in Wapella. We all know Bud Merida as a great businessman and neighbor, but did you know that as a young man MC won Two, count-em, 2 Bronze Stars in World War II. Buddy ran a thriving trucking business in the Village of Wapella, which also served as an outfield for Wapella Wildcat Baseball. Many times, a long ball would end up in Merida's freight yard, prompting a Truckers Ground Rule Double, or Home Run (mostly for the visitors). In keeping with the spirit of Wapella, one of Buddy's greatest joys was his dog Sammy. Fly your flags at Half-Mast for M.C. Merida.
Thursday February 2 Olson-O-Rama Just when you thought it was safe to visit Wapella.com, there is more news from the Olson family. Mary Irene Brown-Olson, mother of Lawrence "Shorty" Olson will be celebrating her 90th birthday this Saturday with Card Shower . Mary is married to Don Olson, who farmed with Shorty in Wapella and Weldon for many years. This is a layup so, there won't even be any suspense. Of a certain age, everyone in Wapella knows Mary's baby brother, none other than the irrepressible Cecil Brown, one of limelights in the Wapella Hall of Fame. Congrats Mary and all the Olsons!
A two-week moratorium has been placed on news about the Olson family.
Thursday January 26 Are you an NBA Fan? Perhaps you remember the old 3 to make 2 Bonus, where a shooting foul after a team reached the bonus? Many people think this inflated the scoring averages of Kareem Jabbar, Pete Maravich, and Dr. Julius Erivng, but at most it could be 2-3 points a game. Wapella own Pam Olson elliott has scored her two points on three attempts with her campaign to improve televsion. Pam has led a local effort to squash NBC's ridiculous "Daniel" series and scored on her first shot, resulting in cancellation. Pumped up with her success, she took up persuading the Hallmark Channel to revive Diagnosis Murder starring Danville Dick Van Dyke. Pressed by Hallmark on some copyright issues, Pam was able to bring back one of the greatest celebrities in Central Illinois (right behind Bill Madlock but ahead of Les Stensel in the Wapella.com ratings) in Danville Dick Van Dyke's new mystery series Murder 101. Pam's sister Angie may have been the best basketball player in Wapella History, but Pam can still use the bonus shot to score the winning basket. Congrats Pam!
Would you like Pam to help revive other TV Shows? Get your requests in here: |
Wednesday January 18 Addendum Upon strenuous review, Wapella.com has identified other prime pooches in the litany of Wapella Canines. Where would we be without:
Fredrick "Fritz" and Linda Jackson's Roscoe
Dick and Carolyn Williams' Pete (or Petey (or en Francais Piti))
Kent and Winnie Harris' Teddy
Yes these dogs sure brought a lot of joy (and love, before the leash laws of 1980) to the village of Wapella. We at Wapella.com would like to memorialize these much beloved pets with some type of ceremony. Any ideas? |
Tuesday January 3 #1 Event Unleashed! The ballots are in. The votes have been tallied. Hearts may be broken, but the the Board of Wapella Historians has spoken definitively on this issue. The #1 Event in Wapella History is ............. Picture this. It is 1968. Two major political figures are assasinated, there are raging riots in Chicago. The Vietnam War is lingering on and there are not many signs of success. The younger generation is very disillusioned as to their prospects, and generally looking to drop out of society. Then to top it off a Tornado levels Wapella in a storm that left three of Wapella's finest dead. There was really only one thing to do (which leads to our #1 event). Wapella Rebuilds! Following the freak storm, Wapella jumped into action, bringing in troops of volunteers from around the area to clean up, fix up, and build up the town. The "Angels in Overalls", Amish volunteers from Arthur came to town to perform carpentry magic. Hundreds of farmers, laborers, and businessmen (and mostly their wives, while the guys were milling around talking about all the work they were doing) picked up debris for nearly three months to get Wapella back into shape. Churches congregated; Schools taught; Plumbers plumbed; Farmers farmed and Wapella came right back.
There was really only one way to say, "Hey: My pants may be on fire, there may be riots in the streets, our town may have blown down" Lets build a Dunk Tank. To celebrate the rebuilding of Wapella, the master welder and metalworker KB Duncan, built and dedicated the definitive monument a Dunk Tank-Dedicated to the Kids of Wapella. For some 30 years, proceeds from the Dunk Tank went to fund Khoury League and other worthy childrens charities. While the rest of the world agonized over the tumoil of the 1960's, the Dunk Tank made things very simple "Are you angry? How about throwing softballs at a Smiley Face to try and soak a mouthy Postman" This Dunk Tank perfectly exemplifies the defiant spirit (and Medieval Charm) of Wapella and the Rebuilding of the Village. Hail Wapella, or Be Dunked!
A hearty thanks to Kent Harris for filling in an occasional fact.
Your comments? Protests? More listings of Wapella's pets? Your most cherished memories of the Dunk Tank? |
Saturday December 31 We interrupt this Countdown...
The Big Event Countdown has been interrupted to deliver a well deserved salute to one of the most underrepresented constituencies in Wapella: The Great Canines of Wapella. Who can forget:
Larry and Cherly Rich's Tippy
Mary Honecker's Sunshine
Ronnie and Sheri Fryman's Morgan
Tex RItter's Sooner
Bill Morris' King
Louise Coleman's Schatzie
Judy Stein Two Great Danes
Francis and Tom Powers Freckles
Shelly Holland's Winston
Jeff Finger's Duchess
(and this is a big one) Roemer's Randy
Bud and Sharon Ryan's Shanley
Clem Toohill's Second Chance
Martin Toohill Butch (and Butch 2)
Fred Wickenhauser's Coon Dogs
These animal companions have brought there share of joy and more to the village of Wapella. No history of Wapella is complete without mentioning the Great Canines of the Village. Do you have a key K9? Can you add some details to the above celebrity pooches? Your favorite Wapella dogs, please? |
Friday December 30 When you think of The Breakers, Do you think of Wapella? Feeling cool Atlantic Breezes while listening to gentle music, dreaming about those hot Miami nights? You're thinking of Florida? Welcome to Breakers II, the newly re-named Wapella Tap. The Tap, a Wapella Landmark since the sleeping room upstairs provided a resting area for weary drinkers, takes on its new name January 2006. Mr. Tony Gum of Farmer City is taking on the newly named watering hole. The name Breakers is generating a stir among Wapella's faithful. The bigger question is, can Gum capitalize on this stir to make his name in Wapella? Your thoughts? |
Thursday December 22 What are you doing tomorrow? Break out the Champagne and good china. Bill and Carol Morris, will be celebrating 55 years of marriage on December 23, 2005. Bill, the renowned and most popular Mayor in village history, was honored last year as the Grand Marshall of the Wapella Sesquicentennial. His wife Carol has been a long tenured employee of Wapella's vast plumbing empire. Bill is revered as the author of the Wapella battle cry "Yeah Wapella". So here's to you Grand Marshall Morris YEAH WAPELLA!
Tuesday December 13 Look out! Wapella.com will be naming #1 event in Wapella History. Will it be railroad history? Academics? Hi-Jinks? Famous visitors? Famous Wapella Expatriates? Strong man competitions? Join the controversy-Suggest topics to our esteemed Board of Wapella Historians via the comment section |
Sunday November 27 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Sue Toohill . Origianlly from Peoria, Sue Kelley Toohill married into the vibrant Toohill family in 1968. Sue and Pat Toohill raised 6 children, all Wildcats, on their farm east of Wapella. Sue was a great supporter of St. Patrick's Parish in Wapella.
Wednesday November 23 Like many Pulitzer Prize winners, Roger Ebert got his inspiration via Wapella. In the December Chicago Magazine, Ebert credits his Aunt Martha Stum for his love of the movies. Ebert was "especially close to his mother's sister Martha, a nurse...who loved movies. He remembers her taking him to see such fare as A Star is Born and I Want to Live", (perhaps in John Holland's previous residence). Martha and her brother Bill Stum, along with Jean Sabo lived in Wapella in the late 1970's and 1980's. Martha Stum, who passed away in the early 1990's, has her final resting place at St. Patrick's cemetery in Wapella, near Zabriska. |
Tuesday November 15 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Lloyd Harpenau. Harpenau, 78, a farmer, along with his late brother Henry, in rural Wapella was regarded as an expert farmer and businessman. Harpenau was a leading member of the well-respected German community in the western reaches of Wapella and Clintonia townships which includes such luminaries as the Schmids, Carstens and Kleemans. Harpenau was a great volunteer and supporter of his parish, St. Patrick's in Wapella.
Friday 11/11/05 Wapella.com Salutes Veterans. Tonight at 11:11 pm, Wapella.com will go dark for exactly 1 minute, to remember our Wapella Veterans who gave up some of their liberty to fight for our country. Wapella residents have been serving our country's military all the way back to the Mexican War and up to the Persian Gulf. A quick search of Wapella Civil War Vets reveals last names such as Cisco, Burger, Ellis, Garrity, Hull, Lowry (a Captain), and Donovan, names very much with us today. The Spanish American war was not as large a conflict, but Wapella put out huge numbers for WW1. Many of our vets from WW2 are still with us, while most of our vets from Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf are going strong. If you are tipping a glass tonight, Wapella.com recommends handing a full one to the old pro sitting over there and telling him (or her) "Thanks". You want a quiz? Which Fraternal and Social Lodge salutes its past members each night at 11:11pm? |
Sunday November 6 Mollet Family Established Generous Award. Michael (WHS 1987) and Joy Mollet of Chicago have put together one of the most exciting premiums for Wapella Wildcats since the Tomahawk Trophy was permanently captured by WHS in 1985. The Mollets have obtained a genuine 100% Nylon WHS Basketball Jersey manufactured by the Betlin Company in Columbus Ohio with the legendary number 40 on front and back. With his wry wit, Michael has declared this Jersey be awarded to any WHS Grad as a travelling trophy upon turning 40 years of age. Who's Next? Please contact Wapella.com via the comment section to obtain this prized jersey. Thanks Mike! |
Tuesday November 1 Anyone looking for? Jimtown Double-Play. Must have been the time change or perhaps the fine weather over the weekend, so Wapella.com had the opportunity to visit with two of Wapella's, strike that, Jimtown's finest on Saturday and Sunday. Ralph Everett Cooper, one of WHS top athletes in the 1980's visited with Wapella.com on Saturday Evening. Cooper, a Jimtown native, lives in Bloomington, IL, and is approaching his 20th year with Issacson Construciton in Normal. He remains a Cardinal Fan, despite his divided loyalties to the Houston Astros. On Sunday, Wapella.com met with Rev. Ernest Breithaupt, of the Pentecostal Campground in Wapella/Jimtown. Rev. Breithaupt will be celebrating his 35th year in Wapella in 2006. Now for a tough quiz...Rev. Breithaupt translated his last name from German for Wapella.com. Can you provide the English for "Breithaupt?" For extra credit can you provide the occupation of a "Cooper" (not Ralph, just any generic Cooper)? |
Monday October 31 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Verlin Ryan. Ryan, 74, graduated from WHS in 1949, attending Notre Dame University, graduating from Illinois State University. Ryan was a raised in Irish Row in rural Wapella, near South Downs, where his family farmed. Verlin Ryan worked at Illinois State as an accountant. Ryan was one of the large number of loyal Wapella Wildcats still close to his community some fifty years after moving away from home.
Saturday October 22 Wapella.com comment policy.
1) Meandering thought are welcomed. They cannot be much worse than what the editors already post.
2) Works of historical fiction presented as fact are generally encouraged.
3) You use vile language? We reserve the right to edit your purple prose, and throw in more obscenities, if it fits well.
4) Personal attacks are generally goaded on. But no attacks will be tolerated on other Wildcats. Maroons, Hornets, Blue Devils are fair prey.
5) Goat attacks are generally personal. No attacks on Nanny, Billy or any other Goats.
Saturday October 22 Wapella.com adds a modern feature. Wapella has always had one foot in the 19th century and the other foot in the gutter, but with great persistence, many Wildcats have developed a third foot, a yard if you will, that extends into the future, or at least gets very close to the present. So not one inch from the future, you can now spin your own yarns using our new comment section. If you click on the text below or aside that says Comment, a new comment box will open up, where you can type in your details and intrepretations of the events on Wapella.com. |
Satruday October 15 Scram Maroon! Hold on to your toupee, this is a big one....#2 Historical Event Announced.
April 3 Wapella, 1980, One might say that Wapella was taking a reeling. The farm crisis was in full swing, Rodden Johnson's had just closed their multi-million dollar John Deere dealership, Goodyear had closed, an asbestos abatement firm was looting the school district for every last tax dollar, and the local power plant was being shut down in wake of the Three Mile Island Disaster. A popular teacher and band director, Joe Hindman had left Wapella without a fully functioning rhtyhm section for the first time in 40 years. (more bad things happened, ask around) How much worse can it get?
Well, to cheer up the students, a well meaning Principal W. Robert Hedgecock invited the Gene Blue Era Clinton Jazz Band to perform a 1 hour concert. Mr. Hedgecock's son Todd was also a very good muscian and band member. The Clinton band was very good, and had a lot of positive reviews as to their music. After the first number, the entire study body at WHS was painfully silent. After the second set, the student body erupted in a storm of boo's and catcalls, and general screaming of obscenities. At this point, a very angry Mr. Hedgecock shouted at the students "All right you clowns, if you are going to act this way, I will cancel the concert right now". Pandamonium erupted, with a hail of cheers, and the old favorite Nah Nah (Kiss him Goodbye) song was heartily sung and the Clinton Jazz Band sulked out the door. Principal Hedgecock cancelled all further assemblies for the rest of the year. Here is the Wildcat Legacy : Scram Maroons! This page is Royal Blue and White! |
Saturday October 15 Quiz Answered!
The Photos are of The Crumbaugh, which is now the LeRoy Public Library. It was a part of the LeRoy Spiritualist Church, the center of the active Seance community of LeRoy, Illinois. Yup, it really was. The architect of the Crumbaugh was Charles Pillsbury of Bloomington. Before moving to Bloomington, Pillsbury was in the (notably grouchy) Frank Lloyd Wright Architect Firm in Oak Park, Illinois. The Wapella connection?
Pillsbury was also the architect of Wapella High School, home of the famous "Old Gym". All winning quiz entries will receive a Wooden Nickel good for a cold beverage in any of Wapella's hospitality centers. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.
Tuesday October 4 Wapella.com mourns the passing of Jack Shafer. Shafer a longtime resident of Wapella was a highly regarded Wapella volunteer fireman for 49 years. Shafer was a fixture of the north side of Wapella, known as good neighbor, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Quiz Hints October 3 Of the more nearly 240 Quiz Replies ... we have yet to get a 100% correct answer to the below 3 Point Play. So, here is a hint. The photos were taken in LeRoy, Illinois. Whodunit?
Thursday September 29 More Dining in Wapella. Looking for a supper in Wapella. Look no further than Supper Club 51. Conveniently located within Annies on Main Street in Wapella, Brad and Kim Karr, two of Wapella's lifelong Wildcats will be managing the kitchen and dining. Look for Steak Dinners, Chops, Ribs, Chicken, Pasta and Fish, and enjoy a cold beverage from Ann's adjoining bar. Breakfast and Lunch are now being served, along with their famous coffee. Great news Brad and Kim!
Thursday September 29 Harts are Trump. Wapella's own Ruth Hart was saluted in the Clinton Journal for her tireless charity work. Mrs. Hart volunteers her time both locally and in Haiti to serve the poor. Wapella.com adds a long overdue thanks to Ruth for being a fine Wildcat and top resident of Wapella. She and her husband Jim have been fixtures in Wapella since the 1950's. In addition to charity work, the Harts are great gardeners, card players, and sportsmen. Salute Ruth!
Tuesday September 20 Three Point Play. Here is one of the finest library structures in the Midwest. For one point, identify the building pictured below. It is local, but not in the Village of Wapella.
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Now for one easy point, who is the architect pictured below? and one difficult point: what does he have to do with the above library?
For the three-point play, what does the architect of the above libray have to do with Wapella? Hint: He designed a Gothic-Prairie type building somewhere in the village. Score here
Sunday September 18 Wapella Man Gains New Post. Richard "Dick" Bell, WHS 53 has been named the first Secretary of Agriculture for the state of Arkanas. Bell, the son of the longtime Wapella farmer, the late Lloyd Bell, and brother of Wapella's leading Illini Fan, James "Jim" Bell, was named to the post on August 15, by Arkansas Governor Mick Huckabee, who incidentally is not from Wapella, nor has ever been in Wapella. Dick Bell was formerly in the Gerald Ford administration, working as Undersecretary of Agriculture for Purdue Professor Earl Butz (who incidentally, has been in Wapella). Bell also headed Riceland Foods, one of the largest food exporters in the United States. Congratulations to Dick Bell, and congratulations to the State of Arkansas for the good fortune hiring a Wapella Wildcat.
Thursday
September
15 The LeBron James of Wapella? The entire staff of
Wapella.com was hosted by Dr. Robert Toohill, WHS 1947 during an
historic visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Robert confirmed his
solid Wapella footings, and brought up his LeBron James type ascent to
the top of his profession. During his undergraduate study at
Davenport's famous St. Ambrose University, Toohill was contacted by
several Medical Schools to jump straight to the MD program without
completing his undergraduate degree. Dr. Robert accepted an offer
from Marquette where he has remained associated with Milwaukee Medicine
for over 40 years. Dr. Toohill's short hook has often been
compared to a young Moses Malone or Kevin Garnett. For 2
points, name an additional Dr.
Toohill that attended (but did not graduate) WHS?
Monday September 12 #3 Wapella Historical Event Listed: Wapella Roundhouse Opened. Around 1854, Illinois Central built "an immense brick hotel, machine shops and a roundhouse" in what is now the Village of Wapella. For some 25 years, Wapella was the major rail center south of Chicago and north of Paducah. Inner-ur