Gnome News Strasburg, Illinois 2012 W inner Innova tive Project Award “Gnome News is Good News!” [email protected]••www.strasburgil.com DATES TO REMEMBER Aug. 19 – Village Board meets @ 6:30 Aug. 28 – Seasoned Citizens meet Aug. 31 – Strasburg Hog Roast Sept. 3 – Nomination for Volunteer of the Year due, see p. 7 for form Sept. 9 – MOPS Meeting, 9-11 a.m., see p. 7 Sept. 16 – Shelby Co Health Dept. – Flu shots @ Community Building Sept. 16 – Village Board meets @ 6:30 Sept. 27 – Community Weiner Roast Sept. 29 – SCAN Meeting @ 3 p.m. Oct. 26 – Annual Strasburg Halloween Celebration Send your news, pictures, dates and info to [email protected] Memos from Mayor Mike! As Village President, I have come to appreciate all of the people who contribute to our Village. I am taking the privilege to highlight our employees and the trustees of the Village in the coming editions. Our first employee is someone most of you already know, our Village Clerk Linda Oakley. Linda has been employed with us since June of 2011 and is the one most of you see when you pay your water bills or come into the office. Linda is originally from Strasburg, the daughter of Rip and Lila Storm. She attended Stewardson-Strasburg High School and graduated in the Class of 1968. She attended Eastern Illinois University and graduated with an elementary teaching degree in 1971. Cont. P. 2 Strasburg Junior Miss Olivia Telgmann and Miss Strasburg Baylee Quast August 2013 Page 2 The Village Corner August 2013 Memos from Mayor Mike cont. from page 1 ... She taught first grade in Florida, worked for WSHY Radio Station in Shelbyville and a radio station in North Carolina and was employed fulltime with the Regional Superintendent of Schools Office for 32 years and part-time for 2 years. She began her career with the ROE in Shelbyville serving under Dave Anderson and Lloyd Elam. Following 2 years, the office consolidated with the Charleston Office and that became her base for the rest of her employment. She ended her career as Administrative Assistant to then Regional Superintendent (and former SSHS principal) Nik Groothuis. Current Village Board Mayor: Michael Antonacci She is the mother of four lovely daughters, Bobbie Jo, Diana, Dawn and Jamie. She and her Trustees: Shane Corley, Tom husband Joe will be celebrating their 31st wedding anniversary in December. After living in MatGrove, Sara Kramer, Anita toon for 26 years, they moved back to rural Strasburg (into her home place) in 2003, where they Renshaw, Dawn Schlechte and could be closer to their four children and 10 grandchildren! Chuck Wade She has been a member of the Strasburg American Legion Auxiliary for 56 years, serving as Village Fiscal Clerk: Bridget Polk president of the Unit for over 10 years and serving at both the District and State level as an officer Village Clerk/Treas: Linda Oakley or chairman. She volunteers at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Mattoon and has been a member of Public Works Superintendent: SCAN since its creation. We don’t know what we would do here at the Chris Daniels. Village without her! The Village Board has changed Our first Trustee that I would like to introduce is Chuck Wade. Chuck their meeting night to the third Monday of each month. Meetings was born and raised in West Virginia, residing most of the time in Wharbegin at 6:30 p.m. and are held in ton, West Virginia. Chuck moved to Chicago at age 16, when his father the Community Building. Commu- got a job at Continental Can Company in Chicago, which later became International Paper. Chuck graduation from Lakeview High School in nity members are invited to attend. If you wish to address the Chicago in 1963 board, please contact the Village Chuck began working for International Paper on the line in 1965 Office the week prior to the meet- when he was 19. He became a supervisor in 1978 and Head of Mainteing to be placed on the agenda. nance in 1981. He was transferred to Shelbyville in 1996. Individuals who wish to reserve He and his wife of 47 years, Janice, moved from Chicago to Mattoon at that time. They lived in the park’s pavilion should contact Mattoon until 2005 when they moved to Strasburg. the Village Office. Chuck continued working until 2008 when he retired after 43 years with the company. He now works part-time for Kull Appliance where he puts his ability to fix practically anything to good use. He has been a Trustee of the Village since late 2011. Chuck’s background in management has been very useful in his input to the Village’s decisions/discussions. He and Janice have one son, Eric, who lives in Romeoville with his wife Katie. Finally, I would like to say that the community enjoyed a great Homecoming last month. The Lions Club really outdid themselves this year. Friday’s Pork Chop dinner and music, along with the Kiss www.strasburgil.com the Pig contest were outstanding and on Saturday the 5K Run, the Strong Man competition, Kids Games and Pedal Pull all had great participation. The food tent and tractor pull were appreciative as always. Community participation is what Strasburg is all about. Reminder - There is a long Our upcoming Hog Roast on Saturday, Aug.31 offers a great variety of events for everybody as standing ordinance in the well. From beauty queens to home run hitters and farmers rodeo, there’s an activity for everyvillage against the burning body. Crafts, bean bags, raffles, beer garden and volunteer firemen recognition will all be going of garbage at any time, and on. And of course, there is food all day culminating in the Hog Roast and the band 5 Gone Mad the burning of leaves and that night. This year’s parade will feature a Grand Marshall for the first time. branches is only to be done Add to your calendar Friday, Sept. 27 for the Annual Community Wiener Roast at the park. until 3:30pm. Thank you for your cooperation. Come on out and keep the community spirit going. Let’s keep STRASBURG RIGHT! in the Middle of Everything! 105 E Commercial St. PO Box 385 Strasburg, IL 62465 Phone 217-644-3007 Email: [email protected] Need information on Concealed Carry? Sheriff Mike Miller will be speaking at the Strasburg Lions Club regular meeting on Aug. 22 and presenting information on Concealed Carry. The meeting will be held at the Strasburg Community Building and begins at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Hog Roast Parade is Aug. 31! Get your lawn chair! Route is as follows: The parade route begins at the northwest corner of town by water tower then goes south on Elizabeth to Franklin, East on Franklin (crossing Route 32) to Spruce, North on Spruce to Commercial and west on Commercial to fire department. Disband north of Fire Department at Grace Church. Contact Jodie Quast 644-3093 to pre-register. The Grand Marshall will be Wayne Wirth and his lovely wife Connie. Registration form can be found at www.strasburgil.com Do you own a golf cart? A reminder that individuals who drive an electric golf cart in the Village need to have a permit. This is means ALL golf carts driven on village streets! Contact Clerk's Office for an application. August 2013 Page 3 Article #7 Tracking through Strasburg’s history By Brad Friese THE WABASH BEGINS "PRUNING" THE BEMENT-ALTAMONT BRANCH To expand the Wabash Railway system, Jay Gould began acquiring many of the short line railroads in Illinois, including the purchase of the Chicago and Paducah Railroad which ran through Strasburg in the 1870s. Gould, a much reviled "robber baron" of the railroad building era, was a Connecticut native, born in 1836. He worked as a surveyor and prepared maps of a number of counties in his native state, as well as New York and Michigan in his younger years. From then until his death in 1892 he bought and sold railway stocks and securities, almost always leaving the properties he sold in bankrupt or nearly bankrupt condition. With the possible exception of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, no other individual in American railway history had such a reputation for Jay Gould dishonesty. By 1884 the Wabash was overextended, overcapitalized, and unable to meet fixed charges. A number of the lines, main and branch, had never been brought up to standard, especially the 8th District, Bement-Altamont. While Gould's additions to the Wabash line gave it much of the look it was to bear for many years ahead, his practice of milking the road for cash while neglecting maintenance had produced a classic bankruptcy. The money that should have been used to maintain track and roadbed and upgrade the locomotive fleet was instead used to help build other lines or acquire more roads. The financial carnage caused by Gould triggered a lengthy period of court-supervised reorganization and court-managed receivership. Also during the early 1880s the Wabash adopted the name, "The Banner Route." This was the origin of the "Follow the Flag" motto that appeared on the company's equipment and letterhead for many years. The official Wabash Railroad flag was copyrighted as a trademark in 1884, with a red, black and white design. The color scheme continued until World War I, when it was pointed out that those were the colors of Germany. The black was quickly changed to blue, according to the DECATUR HERALD in 1954. In December 1906, Wabash management announced that they would be a changing the District 8 schedule. Effective January 1, 1907 the Wabash passenger train would run to Altamont instead of Effingham and that the ten miles of track between Shumway and Effingham would be temporarily and perhaps permanently abandoned. Between the two towns the quarter of a mile wooden trestle over the Little Wabash River bottom was in bad condition and would require the Wabash a great expenditure to place it in condition fit for safe rail traffic. The city of Effingham threatened to take the Wabash to court for not meeting its obligations to hold on to the tracks and to run trains over it. By the end of January 1907, the Wabash reconsidered and announced that it would repair the trestle, but reneged when they gave out the reason that they did not consider the business being gotten by replacing the trestle worth the expenditure. The people of Effingham and Douglas and Banner townships fought back. A mandamus suit was started in the circuit court, but the Wabash and its attorneys were successful for several terms in having the case continued and it looked as though it was going to be a perpetual affair. However the people of the city and townships got up in arms over the way they were treated, as the road had been built on money raised through bonds furnished by the people of these places. Finally, on October 26, 1909, over two and a half years later, an agreement was reached in circuit court for the railroad to be put back in running shape and train service to be started again by October 1, 1911. Seventeen years later it would be Strasburg, Stewardson, Windsor and the eight other towns on District 8 fighting the Wabash and its attorneys. Beautiful weather graced the 2013 Strasburg Lions Club Homecoming . Good food! Good Entertainment! Great crowds! ******** Thank you to the Lions Club! Pictured above from left are Lions members Justin Krile and Jane Giertz, fun during the kids games and the Dance, Etc performance. Pictured on the bottom from the left is the start of the 5K race and the Kiss the Pig ―lucky‖ winners. See page 6 for more info on this year’s Homecoming! Page 4 August 2013 Farmers Rodeo/Corn Hole Tournament/Home Run Derby planned during Hog Roast—Loads of fun is to be had on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the park. The Corn Hole Tournament is scheduled for noon/registration at 11 a.m. Teams will compete in a blind draw, double elimination bracket. It is a $20 entry for two-person teams with cash prizes to be awarded to top three teams. Corn Hole is sponsored by Stew-Stras Post Prom. Contact Jennifer Burton 821-1180 or Jodie Quast 644-3093 for information. Watch www.strasburgil.com for entry info for the Home Run Derby! And finally—Can you milk a cow, hang up wash or guide a blind folded driver? You never know what chores you will have to do for the Farmers Rodeo which will begin at 6 p.m. The winning team will receive a fun prize. The contest is limited to 10 male and female teams with a $10 registration fee per team. To enter your team, contact Carolyn or Tony Reed at 217-690-2360 or [email protected]. This was taken from the Aug. 17, 1967 issue of the Stewardson Clipper. The Story of My Home Town by Larry Renshaw Following is a history of Strasburg written by Larry Renshaw, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Renshaw of Strasburg. The history was first published in the Stewardson-Strasburg High School’s paper, ―The Cometeer‖ in May, 1967. Some towns lie nestled in the hills, others sprawl in the noon-day sun, but Strasburg, Illinois just stretches for a mile along Illinois Highway 32 and then is seen no more. According to the population sign there are 450 people in Strasburg, but the latest Compton’s Encyclopedia (1966 edition) gives the population as 467. There is no big industry there. No oil wells spew out their wealth. No great statesman ever spoke at this town. Why, then, did I choose to write about Strasburg? Because it is my home town. I like it. How did Strasburg come to be settled? According to legend a salt lick was to be found where Nippe’s Tavern is now located. Animals from miles around came to feast on the salt. Herdsmen driving their animals to market stopped at this salt lick to refresh their animals. The Renshaw Brothers were driving a large group of hogs from Kentucky to a northern market. It was their habit to stop at this salt lick. Charles, one of the brothers decided to come back and make his home near here. This was one of the first settlers in Richland Township. The town itself came into existence when the Wabash Railroad was being built. A gentleman by the name of Ostermeier donated the land with an understanding that the town should be named for his home city in Germany. Accordingly, they named the town Strasburg. As time went on the town grew and prospered. The business district was located about what is now Route 32. West of this fence was country territory. Young men would come to town on Saturday night, drink a little too much and become unruly. The town constable would start chasing them. With a whoop and a holler they would jump the fence, and then they would be safe out of town territory. Later this zone of safety was added to the town. For many years there was no harmony between the people who lived in the north part of town and those in the southern part. So great were their differences in matters of religion and politics that they became known as the North Burgers and the South Burgers. The North Burgers wanted to incorporate. The South Burgers did not. Many times the different factions held secret meetings to determine how to win the rest of the town to their beliefs. Finally the North Burgers hit on a plan for incorporation. By having two rural youths move into town, rent a room, and have their laundry done here they could become voting citizens. The town incorporation referendum carried by two votes. To this day the people who live south of Theodore Von Behren do not live in Strasburg. They have never been incorporated, because of their original antagonism toward incorporation. You will still find family names of many of the early settlers in and around Strasburg. Some of these were: Rincker, Kull, Renshaw, Doehring, Schlechte, and Ulmer. During the ninety year period of Strasburg’s existence, fire has often wrecked havoc. William Foster, one of the oldest living residents in Strasburg, and a retired postmaster, tells of a fire when he was a child (somewhere in the late 1980’s) that swept through the business district and destroyed over half of it. In 1948 another major fire destroyed two large buildings where Nippe’s Tavern is now. Within the last ten years four more buildings were destroyed by flames. A large hotel once stood where Max Weber’s insurance building is. Bustling salesmen would get off the train (they called the salesmen drummers back in those days) engage a room, hire a rig at the livery stable and conduct his business. A buggy assembly plant was over what is now Renshaw’s Store. Time went on, and Strasburg didn’t grow much, but it was growing. Times changed. The hotel was no longer busy. The railroad was removed. The drug store closed. The newspaper (Strasburg Herald) sold its press to another town. The town started to decline. Still there was a spark of life in the town. After World War II Strasburg shook a bit, gasped for breath, and came up breathing. Three car agencies were to be found, Dodge, Ford, and Kaiser. There were two hardware stores, five grocery stores, two restaurants, three taverns, a lumber yard, two barber shops, drug store, a bank, a physician, and a funeral home. Its struggle for revival was short, however. Old political and religious factions refuse to remain buried. The big cities lured people away to work and trade. Fires destroyed buildings, old business men retired; some new business ventures failed. True we have gained seventeen people in the last ten years, but what is the future of my home town, Strasburg? Does anyone recognize this bike rid- The Shelby County Health Department will be sponsoring a flu clinic at the Strasburg Community Building on Monday, September 16 from 1-2 p.m. This is for adult vaccines. Cost is $35 which can be billed to Medicare and Medicaid. er? He has tanned legs and his feet are white. Post your guesses on ―I know where Strasburg, IL is!‖ on Facebook! It’s fun! August 2013 Page 5 Contestants vie for Junior Miss Strasburg and Miss Strasburg pageant during annual Hog Roast Reigning Miss Strasburg Baylee Quast and Junior Miss Strasburg Olivia Telgmann invite the community to attend the third annual Miss Strasburg pageant and second annual Junior Miss Strasburg pageant. The event will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Strasburg and in conjunction with the village’s Hog Roast on Aug. 31 at 3 p.m. for the junior miss and 4:30 p.m. for the miss pageant. Quast, right, 17, is the daughter of Jodie and Doug Quast and Telgmann, left,14, is the daughter of Kim and Don Telgmann. Thank you Baylee and Olivia for serving Strasburg for the past year! Miss Strasburg contestants are selling raffle tickets and junior miss candidates are collecting money now through Aug. 28. Junior Miss Strasburg contestants have collection cans out at the Strasburg Short Stop. The Miss Strasburg candidates also are judged in categories of speech/introduction, interview, modeling and pop question. Miss Strasburg Contestants: Brittany Ballinger, left, 17, Strasburg, daughter of Ryan Ballinger and Alicia Ballinger; Sarah Locke, middle, 17, Strasburg, daughter of Scott and Natalie Locke; and Brittani Tabbert, right, 17, Strasburg, daughter of Chris and Karla Tabbert. Junior Miss Strasburg Contestants are pictured from left to right: Nikita Burry, 14, Strasburg, daughter of LaRue and Amy Burry; Marcail Clark, 15, Strasburg, daughter of Jack and Pam Clark; Mariah Robbins, 13, Strasburg, daughter of Don and Donna E. Cook; Hannah Schumacher, 13, Strasburg, daughter of Gary and Julia Schumacher; and Courtney Van Matre, 12, Stewardson, daughter of Lena and Quentin Roley. All proceeds of the events go towards improvements to the village of Strasburg! Miss Strasburg contestants are selling raffle tickets and junior miss candidates are collecting money now through Aug. 28. Jr. Miss Strasburg contestants have collection cans out at the Strasburg Short Stop Looking to give back to your community? There are many ways to get involved in Strasburg! The Strasburg Community Action Network (SCAN) is looking for volunteers to help with the Beautification and Marketing committees. These groups can use people with talents in anything from watering flowers to those who use various software programs and are experienced with Publisher and Word. Email [email protected] if you are interested! Page 6 August 2013 Stewardson-Strasburg School News Stewardson-Strasburg School District welcomes Michele Lindenmeyer as the new Superintendent for the district. She is not a stranger to the area as she served as our high school principal from 2007 to 2011. Prior to returning to the Stewardson-Strasburg District as superintendent she served as Assistant Regional Superintendent at the Regional Office of Education in Charleston. Mrs. Lindenmeyer is married and has three children and one grandchild. She and her husband, Mitch currently reside in Arcola. The staff is excited to have Mrs. Lindenmeyer return to Stewardson-Strasburg School District where she will work to carry out the schools traditions and improve education opportunities for our students. School begins on Tuesday, August 20th. School will be dismissed @ 2 p.m. each day Aug. 20 through Aug. 30. (Due to heat) United Methodist Church plans celebration Come one, come all…help us celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Strasburg United Methodist Church on Sunday, Aug. 25 with an ice cream social. Come join us for ice cream, pie and cake anytime from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Any questions please call Patti Laue 618487-5886. SCAN Beautification updates and green thumbs needed Thank You all who have helped plant care for the town’s flowers! The town flowers were planted by Jane Giertz, Mark Wildman and Pam Clark. Esther Becker is tending the south town sign flower pots and Linda Oakley is tending the flowers at the Community Building. Volunteers are needed to take care of the remaining flowers. Flowers are at the following locations are North town sign, Bolt's corner, Lincoln Sign, planter boxes at park flag pole. If you cannot adopt a pot for the summer, you can volunteer for a week or two at a time. Please contact Pam Clark at 644-2402 if you can help this summer with the town’s flowers. Strasburg Homecoming is a success! We don’t usually kiss and tell, but at the ―Kiss the Pig‖ contest at this year’s Homecoming the ―lucky‖ winners were: Nate Wascher of Stewardson and Brittany Bowers of Strasburg. The event raised more than $425 for community improvements. See pictures on page 3. The annual 5K and 1 mile run/walk overall male and female winners were Grant Tice, left, from Sullivan at 19:22 and Meredith Kull, right, from Effingham at 23:18. Strongman winners – group 1 (195 pounds and under) 1st Josh Packer, Effingham, 2nd Rob Brown, Watson, and 3rd JT Friese, Stewardson. Strongman winners – group 2 (196 and over) – 1st Jack Oye, Arthur, 2nd Tom Grove, Strasburg, and 3rd Cameron Hall, Decatur. For a complete list 5K of winners and more info visit www.strasburgil.com or join ―I know where Strasburg, Il is!‖ on Facebook. Congrats to all! Sarah Locke represented Shelby Electric Cooperative during ―Youth to Washington‖ tour and Selected as YLC Representative for Illinois Sarah Locke, daughter of Scott and Natalie Locke, represented Shelby Electric Cooperative in Washington, D.C. during the annual ―Youth to Washington‖ Tour, held June 14-21. This event, sponsored by the electric and telephone cooperatives of Illinois since the late 1950s, is an introduction to our democratic form of government and cooperatives for rural youth. She was one of 65 Illinois students selected and joined more than 1,520 young leaders from across the country to meet with their Congressional representatives and tour historical sites and museums while in Washington, D.C. During the trip Sarah was chosen by her peers to represent Illinois on the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The YLC is a year-long appointment and Sarah will represent all Illinois cooperatives at national and state meetings and events in the year ahead. She returned to Washington, D.C. July 20-24 for the YLC Conference and will be making a speech at the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperative’s Annual Meeting on Aug. 1. August 2013 Page 7 Each September at the Community Weiner Roast. a member of the community whose volunteer activities have benefited the Strasburg Community, has been presented the ―Volunteer of the Year‖ award. The Village Board is asking that members of the community nominate an individual that they think is deserving of this award. Eligibility - Any individual, group, business, or organization whose volunteer activities directly benefit the Village of Strasburg and/or its residents is eligible. Nominee Criteria Nominees must: Demonstrate exceptional commitment to volunteerism by helping with a special project or ongoing activities Demonstrate exemplary leadership, creativity, cooperation, and hard work in their service to others Serve as role models by inspiring others to serve A letter of nomination citing the points or reasons the nominator feels like the candidate deserves to be named Volunteer of the Year should be submitted to the Strasburg Village Office prior to September 3, 2013. A committee will review the nominations and will select the winner. The Volunteer of the Year award for 2013 will be presented at the Community Weiner Roast on Friday, September 27 at the Village Park. Previous winners of the award are: 2007 Larry Giertz, 2008 Gary Kull, 2009 Linda Oakley, 2010 Patsy Lenz, 2011 Karen Kull and Lisa Shelton, and 2012 Chris Daniels. Strasburg Seasoned Citizens meet in June & July Information provided by Nancy Shiels JUNE: Nineteen Seasoned Citizens braved a rainy downpour to arrive at the Corps of Engineers Visitor Center on time for a luncheon and fellowship at noon on Wednesday the 26th of June. Wayne Wirth shared about upcoming activities in the area. It was announced that logs 6 to 8 inches in diameter are needed for the painted log Santas. .One senior shared a tip for the day: "Life is tied up with a bow....but it is a gift to use.. So enjoy it!" Jerry and Debra Maddox toted the drinks to the visitor center and everyone else brought sandwiches and a favorite dish. The program concluded with a talk and demonstration by Eli Dollarhide and Sarah Randall from the Corps of Engineers. They spoke on Terrific Turtles and Snakes. Eli handled a lizard that was found on the Shelbyville Dacey Trail. It was determined that it was not native to our territory. The group was treated to a tour of the building and its exhibits. Group pictures were taken. At Lake Shelbyville with Eli Dollarhide JULY: Twenty four folks, including a few first-timers, attended the SC luncheon at the Strasburg Community Building on July 31, at noon. Mark Wildman was the lucky recipient of the door prize donated by Chuck and Janice Wade. Nancy Shiels shared a few ―tips of the day‖. Six celebrating August birthdays were recognized. The group is expecting good weather for the Village annual Hog Roast on August 31. Several volunteered to help at this annual event. A lunch buffet of favorite foods was enjoyed. Some folks stayed to wrap tableware for the upcoming Hog Roast event. The group is invited to be guests of the Stewardson Senior Citizens Wed., October 2 at the Stewardson Community Building. The menu is soup+ at noon. Christie Gordon of Shelby Manor will be the featured speaker. Next Seasoned Citizens Meeting - Age 55+ Everyone Welcome! When: Wed, August 28 at Noon. Bring your favorite dish to share and have fun playing Bunco. Where: Strasburg Community Building The Shumway Faith Lutheran Church chapter of Mothers of Preschoolers is open to moms of children birth to kindergarten. They provide babysitters, snacks and have informative Bible based lessons for moms to enjoy and meet the second Monday of the month from Sept.-May. The first meeting of the year will be Sept. 9 from 9-11 a.m. For more information on MOPS in Shumway, please contact Amber Schnarre 618-977-3104 or visit www.mops.org. You could be a sponsor for the next Gnome News. Contact the [email protected]. Thank you to our sponsors! YORK ACRES SUBDIVISION RESIDENTIAL LOTS FOR SALE SOUTH-WEST PART OF STRASBURG OFF FRANKLIN STREET w have We no te covla choco acon! d ere b YUM! Stop in a nd see us! Receive a 50% tax abatement up to the purchase price of the lot. New home for sale in York Acres Subdivision. For more information contact Mike Antonacci at 217-343-9789
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