Small Town News

Area yards make brief appearance

---

Nothing can get rid of snow faster than warm, or at least warmer, weather and rain. We did still have grass underneath all that white stuff! Of course, the quick thaw brought about flooding, tornados, and the feeling like the swamp is once again determined to reclaim the land as it once did in this area.

With frozen ground and our normal drainage apparatus in place frozen as well; the water had no place to soak in, so it just moved around where it wanted.

The remaining huge chunks of ice and snow mounds blocked potential drainage outlets which kept village workers and township road crews busy trying to alleviate problems where they could.

Most are happy to see winter go, but the thaw always causes headaches of its own. If we don't have problems enough above ground, we have problems below ground. Water main breaks are causing headaches all over the Midwest and will probably continue into the spring.

As far as spring, well, it seems a little far off right now, but it will eventually get here. Meteorological spring actually begins this Saturday, March 1, while we have to wait until later in March for astronomical spring. I'm all up for going with March 1, but I don't think the forecast looks much in my favor.

No matter what, you won't be bored around here in these parts! Plenty to do and plenty going on!

Busy as a Bee Hive

The Central Illinois Woodworkers Tool and Supply Expo was held Friday and Saturday with the Midwest Tool and Equipment Auction held just on Saturday this past weekend.

Another big crowd at the

Otto Center even though you might have needed to sail in on your boat, it did not seem to deter anyone from coming to our area for the two days.

We are going to be just as busy the next few weekends if not more so. This weekend is antiquing weekend throughout the area, and Arthur will welcome back two of the biggest and best shows to town.

Homesteaders on the Prairie will set up their great antiques and country primitives show at the Merchant's Building on the fairground. They will have Friday, February 28, hours and then will be open again Saturday, March 1.

A Gathering on the Prairie, our other bi-annual visitor, will have their American Primitives show open at the Otto Center on Saturday, March 1. Both of these shows will draw thousands of enthusiastic collectors from across the Midwest into these two venues as well as our local antique shows and surrounding communities. It is like the Olympic version of antiquing/collecting!

Both the fairgrounds and the Otto Center will be hopping again on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8. The Arthur Home and Garden Expo is at the Otto Center (a personal favorite), and the Central Illinois Rabbit Breeders will bring their bi-annual show to the Merchant's Building on Saturday, March 8 (that is literally the hopping part). The bunnies are a favorite of mine, too!

Both of these events are more local in nature but still draw people from all over to come out and come here!

The town will be buzzing, that is for certain. I've talked to the organizers of all of these events as well as attendees. They love to come here to our town and come back year after year because they are treated right, the events draw a big crowd, the vendors have great sales, they love to spend time in our shops and restaurants, plus they are made to feel at home. We live: "You're A Stranger Only Once!" Not many towns of 2,300 could have this many events, which draw exhibitors and customers from multiple states, in a year let alone in a span of three weekends. Let's Hear It for the Kids

And, of course, the adults who help them get to these places!

Where to begin? I guess we'll start with the seventh and eighth grade Arthur-Lovington volleyball teams. Both Lady Pages teams met rival Tuscola in the championship game of the conference tournament in Cerro Gordo last week and both came away victorious! Congratulations times two on winning the tournament!

The young ladies had a make-up game on Saturday against Atwood-Hammond, and it was their Dig Pink event which raises funds for cancer awareness. The two teams joined forces last year in Atwood for the game and next year they will really be joining forces as they will be playing as one team. I'm sure the Dig Pink game will remain part of the season.

Speaking of combining, for the first time the Ar-thur-Lovington Junior High track teams, boys and girls, will also include athletes from Atwood-Hammond this spring. The high school track teams started their cooperative team last year, and now the younger kids will follow suit this spring.

Scholastic Bowl continues to roll through the Little Okaw Valley Conference and beyond. The team defeated two more LOVC opponents, Tri-County (220-80) and Atwood-Hammond (190-70). Our Arthur-Lovington scholars traveled to Bloomington Central Catholic early last matches there. The Knights defeated the hosts BCC 225-185 and Olympia 185-175 but lost to Prairie Central 270-200. Keep up the good work!

Since last week was National FFA Week, it was only fitting that FFA members found out who had been recommended for their State FFA Degree. Congratulations to Clayton Honn, Christy Allen, Kayley La-Grou, Trevor Watkins, and Kat Stutzman. Also, the following students won their proficiency area and will be competing in March at the District 4 FFA proficiency awards: Kayley LaGrou in vet science, Clayton Honn in diversified crop placement, and Trevor Watkins in ag sales placement. Great job! New Faces New Places

Okay, neither the face nor the place is exactly new, but there is something new about them. First, the "face" is that of Dan Bolsen who has been helping Matt Schrock and Doug Davis with the broadcasting efforts of theroundtable.tv. I hope you have been able to catch the five streaming of games on the internet because the whole production is excellent. Distance, bad weather, or schedule conflicts? No problem with theroundtable. tv! They are planning on doing more than just sporting events as well. You can find out more by visiting their website at www.theroundta-ble.tv.

We look forward to seeing Matt, Doug, and now Dan all around Arthur, Lovington, Atwood, Hammond, and beyond!

As for the new place, well that is in the country just past the four-way stop on the way to Rockome on the Old Springfield Road. I'm not sure how many years Country Salvage has been in business there, but they are now doing business in a brand spanking new building. I joked with everyone out there that it still has "the new building smell to it" just like a new car has that nice, new, clean feeling. It is really a nice place and another business that adds to the wealth of shopping opportunities we have in our area. They'll be having a grand opening soon, so watch for news on that! Happy Birthday

Lilly Daily might just be a "little" kid, but she does have a big heart. The third grader at Arthur Elementary School turned nine this past Sunday and decided to forego gifts this year.

She asked her mom, Darcy, if instead of gifts her family take the money they'd normally spend on presents and instead make a donation to St. Jude's.

Lilly's family is justifiably proud of her, and I know that many from here in our town have, will, and will continue to benefit from the fantastic work St. Jude's does for children with cancer and their families.

Lilly goes to school with some of these very same kids and has learned a lot in eight years! Lilly's Birthday gift to St. Jude's totals almost $400 so far. What a great way to celebrate! Happy Birthday, Lilly!

And that's "30" today in memory of Jewell Dorjahn



Copyright 2014 Arthur Graphic-Clarion, Arthur, Illinois. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

More from Arthur Graphic-Clarion