Garden Series - Herbs of Heritage

The following photos are from this past week's garden series installment on a garden located at a historical home in Winchester, Ill. Merrilyn Fedder has been growing herbs in the garden since she and her husband, Elmer, bought the 1840's brick home when they moved to the area back in 1963. Fedder says she created the garden keeping in mind the history of the house and town but also her own Southern background.

 

 

 

Downtown Turnaround Celebration

The following photos are a collection from the past weekend's events in downtown Jacksonville. For the past few years, a major renovation of the city's center has been slowly progressing.  Since then, 20 new businesses have relocated to the town square.  Events from the weekend included a celebratory parade, the famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales, local art competitions and the installment of a historic Eli Bridge Co. Ferris wheel that was built at the Jacksonville company in 1936.  During all the excitement, I was lucky enough to get a local pilot to fly a J-C reporter and myself over the area in his helicopter.  All in all, a successful weekend in Jacksonville.

 

 

Learning to fly

Lalona Goodsell, 9, waves to her mother, Tracy, from the window of a Stinson 108-1 plane at Jacksonville Municipal Airport. Lalona is a member of the local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles program, which offers children the chance to fly with trained pilots throughout the year.  Saturday was also EAA's International Learn How to Fly Day.  May 22, 2011.

Line of duty

Members of Jacksonville Fire Department Crew One gather around an old Metropolitan steam pumper in downtown Jacksonville. The pumper, by American Fire Engine Co. of Seneca Falls, N.Y., will be featured this weekend during the Downtown Turnaround Celebration parade.  May 21, 2011.

Stringing it along

Dominick Miller, 7, untangles the string to his kite while his grandfather, Karl Miller, holds up the sail in the backyard of their North East Street residence in Jacksonville.  May 20, 2011

We're not home yet...

Virginia/A-C Central's Madalyn Allen keeps her eyes on the Sangamon Valley pitcher while at first base during the regional game in Virginia. May 18, 2011

Famous horses arrive

Anheuser-Busch handlers walk the Clydesdales from the trailers to their stalls near Central Park in Jacksonville. The Clydesdales will be featured in the Downtown Turnaround Celebration parade this weekend.  May 18, 2011

The locals

The following photos are from the Routt vs. Jacksonville varsity game.  This was the first time in several years these teams have competed against each other.

Garden Series - The Governor's Mansion

The following images, taken at the Executive Mansion in Springfield, Ill., are the first part of a six-week series on unique gardens in the region. This particular story was centered around Harry Lewis, the estate's official horticulturist. 

Cycling through

A cyclist from the touring group America by Bicycle makes his way down Old U.S. 36 in Jacksonville toward Springfield. The group is participating in the Fast America Ride, a cross-country trek totaling 3,457 miles from Costa Mesa, Calif., to Amesbury, Mass. Cyclists average 115 or more miles a day and cycle through 14 states to complete the journey in 33 days.  

May 14, 2011

Shades

Phyllis Lindsey watches as nursing staff members participate in a carnival dunk tank at Prairie Village Healthcare Center on West Walnut Street in Jacksonville. The carnival — which also included face painting, live music and various games — coincided with National Nursing Home Week. May 12, 2011

WIVC tournament

The following photos are from the WIVC tournament at Illinois College in Jacksonville.  

May 11, 2011.

Chapel of Love

Sabrina Brullo is shocked when her boyfriend, Daniel Bailey, proposes to her on the steps of Annie Merner Chapel Saturday during the 2011 commencement procession across Rutledge Lawn at MacMurray College. Baiely, a 2010 Mac graduate from Greenfield, made arrangments in advance with MacMurray faculty and staff to incorporate the marriage proposal into the procession. Brullo, through tears of joy, accepted his offer. 

Pipes of progress

Tom Ogilvy of Springfield warms up his bagpipe before leading the MacMurray College class of 2011 procession across Rutledge Lawn to the commencement ceremony at Annie Merner Chapel in Jacksonville. May 8, 2011

Up in the air

Jacksonville's Brendan Barlow slides back into first base while a Riverton player leaps in the air to catch the ball during the first game of a doubleheader in Jacksonville. May 7, 2011

To her Delight

Judy Williams takes Delight, her Arabian horse, for a ride down City Place in Jacksonville. Williams says Delights is from a third generation of horses she has been riding since she attended MacMurray College in the 1960's. May 8, 2011

The Speedway

 A.J. Bruns of Lincoln, Ill. waits to race in the qualifying rounds for the sprint car series at the Jacksonville Speedway. Bruns would later go on to be the top finisher of the night, winning his series at the speedway. May 8, 2011

Consequences

The following photos are from a mock crash-simulation at Jacksonville High School. The demonstration was meant to teach students the incredible consequences of drinking and driving - Jacksonville's school prom was the following day.

Waiting line

Jacksonville players watch the Riverton pitcher from the dugout during a doubleheader at Jacksonville High School. May 7, 2011

Praying together

Students from Salem Lutheran School bow their heads and listen to Capt. Amos Shiels as he gives the opening prayer Thursday for the National Day of Prayer in Jacksonville's Central Park. May 6, 2011

The slower pace

Emmett Estes, 1, sits on the porch alongside his father, Gary, and Jonah -- the family Dalmatian -- at their North Church Street residence in Jacksonville. May 5, 2011

Between the bricks

Larry Pruett (above) does tuck-pointing work on mortar joints between bricks at the EnviroVac building on West Reid Street in Jacksonville. May 5, 2011.

Running on air

Illinois College's John Gerding competes in the 200-meter dash Saturday afternoon during the IC True Blue Open in Jacksonville.

A.B.A.T.E. rally

The following images are from a motorcycle awareness rally in Jacksonville that was sponsored by the Illinois Tri-County Chapter of ABATE (A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education). I've always found the motorcycle culture to be fascinating and hope to meet many more bikers as the summer progresses.

Zeddie Bell sits on his 2005 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail bike while watching the group Heavy-Metal Stunts perform tricks in the Hardee's parking lot along Morton Avenue in Jacksonville. Local motorcyclists participated 

in Rally in The Park, an all-day events sponsored by Tri-County ABATE.

Ricky "Sick Trick Rick" Lamberti performs stunts in the Hardee's 

parking lot in Jacksonville. Lamberti is a member of Heavy-Metal

Stunts, a touring stunt show based in Pekin, Ill.

Donnie Baker, 8, sits by his grandparents' 1977 Honda GL 1000 outside Hardee's during the ABATE rally. He is a son of Joe and Wendy Baker of Jacksonville.

Night ride

Raymond Howard (left) and Nick Carl work on remodeling a pair of cars one night in a private garage along South Main Street in Jacksonville. May 1, 2011.