Settling In

 I think we can all relate to the experience of being in a new job.  That anxiety in your stomach the night before, that curiosity of just what they’ll have you be doing when you get there, how busy you might be, so on and so forth.  You get there incredibly early because you don’t know how early they actually want you.

Despite all those new-job jitters, my first day at the tourism office was surprisingly laid-back.  Honestly, my entire first week was the same way.  My first week was mostly to get used to being in the office itself.

If you’ve never been out here, the tourism office is pretty straight forward.  One big desk in the front, Freddie’s office in the back, and as many pamphlets, flyers and guides for the area you can think of sitting in five big magazine racks.  If it’s something local, chances are we’ve got something about it here.

The more behind-the-scenes stuff is equally as usual for a little local office like ours.  We have a tiny kitchenette where I have made more hot chocolates for myself since starting than I have probably in the last year, an attic space filled with things so old they were probably here before I moved to town as a child, and the back storage room filled with all the extras—guides, maps, pamphlets and so on.

My first Friday marked the first day we had actual tourists come in.  I shouldn’t be too surprised; the first Friday in June was bound to get people popping in looking for local things to do.  That day also marked the first time I was left by myself, and it was an interesting experience being here all by myself. Sometimes Freddie and Darla have meetings or other happenings that take them out of the office, so that leaves me to hold down the fort.

We only had a few in the hours I was here alone: an older couple just looking for local events, a gentleman by himself who was here for a weekend with family, another couple with their dogs looking for boat rentals and a fishing license.  Everyone left with plenty of flyers and pamphlets.  I’m fairly certain the gentleman by himself took two copies of the guidebook alone.

I have hopes that later on into the summer, we’ll start getting more people more often.  Just a few sprinkled throughout the rest of the week, that sort of thing.  I’m sure by July, we’ll pick up even a little bit.

Since this post is a little late, I can at least say we’ve had a decent little bit of traffic after my first week.  Not a whole lot, but it’s not been quiet every single day.  We’ve had a few scattered tourists coming in throughout the past week and a half.  I still have my hopes for more people later on, though!

Surprise Introduction!

 Welcome to the future, tourism blog!

It’s been years since the last post and even longer since the last intern.  Yet here we are—surprise new post, surprise new intern.

We’ll be your spot for county events throughout the summer, spanning anywhere from contests to fairs and more.  Be sure to check regularly for those alongside smaller feature articles about all the sorts of interesting things and people in our lovely little county.

By “we”, I really just mean me, that aforementioned intern. My name is Jacqueline Johnson—I’m practically a Shelbyville native, having lived here since I was 5.  I’m now 22, so that makes it 17 years in this town!

My family’s always been in and around Shelby County in the first place; the grand majority of my family graduated from Findlay with only a handful of us, including me, having graduated from Shelbyville.  If you’re an older fellow from the area who’s been here awhile, chances are you probably know my grandparents.

I’m currently an English major at Eastern Illinois University nearing the end of the line—one more semester to go!  My focus used to be education but in the last year I’ve moved into more professional writing/professional editing.  I have experience in creative writing too, so I look forward to the kinds of stories I’ll be able to tell on this blog.

Outside of English, my interests are all over the place.  I enjoy internet horror, 2000s pop punk music, superhero movies, cheesy sci-fi, and all sorts of other things.  We’ve got four animals at home: two cats (Fred and Duchess) and two dogs (Max and Jasper).  Don’t tell the dogs, but I like hanging out with the cats more.

My (sister’s) cat Duchess. She’s a spoiled little princess.

I have high hopes for this blog these coming months.  We’ll have fun here, I promise, and maybe even learn a thing or two about Shelby County.

Throughout the summer, you’ll probably see me around, collecting stories and info for future blog posts at all kinds of local events and places.  Feel free to say hello or even share any opinions if you’d like—maybe you’ll get featured on a future blog post!

Windsor Harvest Picnic is Almost Here!

Windsor Harvest Picnic is Almost Here!  Come and Explore!

It’s almost here!  Illinois’s longest running festival, celebrating 120 years this coming weekend!  The Windsor Harvest Picnic Committee’s dedicated volunteers have been working hard all year to bring you the best.  There will be tasty treats, family friendly events including a carnival provided by Fountain City Amusements, and high class musical entertainment!  This year’s lineup includes:  Firebox, Sampson Jones Gang, Phil Dirt, and Shenandoah!  To see the entire schedule for the Windsor Harvest Picnic go to http://lakeshelbyville.com/events/windsor.htm. 

Windsor is full of rich history, and members of the community group WHAT, Windsor Happenings Around Town, have collected historical information and placed it in a brochure for your convenience.  While in the area, check out the Windsor Historical Walking Tour to get a glimpse of the past.   

After exploring the town and working up an appetite, visit the Windsor Food Center to find a great selection of nourishment to satisfy all of your taste buds.  And, if looking to cool down with a new fun flavor of soda, make Uptown Variety your next stop!  You can find jelly belly sodas, delicious sandwiches, penny candy, and other fun items!

Another great part of Windsor is its access to Lake Shelbyville from Wolf Creek State Park.  I highly recommend the Fox Trail for an afternoon hike with sites that overlook the lake.  If you would rather get in the water, there is a nice sandy beach in the park, so bring out your floatables and sunscreen and enjoy the weather!  And, if you enjoy boating, the boat ramp is easily accessible further into the park.  On your way to Wolf Creek State Park, don’t miss the goat tower farm where you can find the tallest goat tower around!  The owners are very friendly and enjoy having visitors.  For more information about the Lake Shelbyville area, visit www.lakeshelybyville.com.  Enjoy your time in the great outdoors!

Treasures in Findlay, IL

Treasures in Findlay, Illinois by Jenny Biggs

Living near Findlay, Illinois has been one of my highlights during my service in Shelby County.  There are a number of great things that make Findlay such a wonderful place including the friendly and caring residents, the beautiful hiking trails with great sites of Lake Shelbyville, the Old Country Church filled with classic country and bluegrass tunes on Saturday nights, multiple events at the community center, and an activity packed Walleye Festival occurring the last weekend of July.  This fun-filled event is put on by dedicated members of the community that collaborate on providing great entertainment for people of all ages. 

If you missed the Walleye Festival this year but are still looking for a good reason to visit Findlay other than those listed above, the community group FLIP (Findlay Long-term Improvement Program) is hosting their annual 5K on August 13^th at Eagle Creek State Park, providing a scenic route for participants to enjoy!  Interested . . . contact Jody McCormick at 217-725-5176 for more information.

While at Eagle Creek State Park, be sure to visit the creative campground host, Mike Welch, who built a beautiful wooden chair that is large enough to seat your entire family.  He doesn’t mind people climbing up and having their photo made, and if you are lucky, you will see the hot rod that he built out of a ’93 Dodge Dakota named “Lil Yella Rat.”  Once Mr. Welch gets an idea, there’s no stopping him!  Be sure to check out his other creations when visiting.   

 

After soaking up the beautiful scenery at Eagle Creek State Park, participants can enjoy a tasty meal at Foor Family Restaurant and then proceed to check out some of the great treasures at Don’s Resale Shop in the downtown area of Findlay.  You can also check out some beautiful work done by one of Findlay’s own local artisan’s at I’m Board Productions, or if crafts are more your style, Personal Stitches may be the place for you.  If you live close by, be sure to come back in the evening for some great food at the Lumberyard or Tailwinds, enjoy a glass of wine at Niemerg’s Winery, and then head to the Old Country Church, located near the town’s park to wind up the night with some classic country.  Look for a white building with a red roof, and come on in.  Music starts at 7pm. 

Be sure to check out FLIP’s website at www.findlayillinois.net to learn more about local businesses and upcoming events!  And, if you would like to learn about nearby attractions, go to www.lakeshelbyville.com.  We hope you enjoy your stay!

Strongman/woman Competition Comes to Strasburg during Lions Homecoming!!!

Strongman/Strongwoman Competition Comes to Strasburg, Illinois

Lots to do this weekend!  If you are looking for some great entertainment, join the Village of Strasburg, Illinois in celebrating their 2016 Lions Club Homecoming, July 8- 10th! This town, also known as the “Home of the Gnomes,” knows how to celebrate.  Come on out and see for yourself.  

This event is open to the public, and there will be all sorts of family friendly activities to keep you busy!  Be sure to come hungry as these folks know how to cook up some great food! 

Friday night the festivities will begin with a magical evening and lots of laughter.  Saturday morning, you can run or walk off all the tasty treats you ate the night before by participating in the “Gnomecoming” 5K Run/Walk.  If basketball is more your style, there will also be a 3 on 3 tournament that will be sure to test your endurance.  Tractor pulls will keep the afternoon going, as well as games for both kids and adults.

Sunday, the day you have all been waiting for is the . . . THE STRONGMAN/STRONGWOMAN COMPETITON!  That’s right, no need to watch Ninja Warrior on your lazy boy because YOU WILL SEE some LIVE ACTION right here in Strasburg, where this town truly is “Right! In the Middle of Everything.”  So, come on out, flex your muscles, down that last bit of protein shake, grunt, yell, and sweat!  And everyone else, be sure to cheer on the participants as they will be putting on a great show!

For more information, see flyer and map below, check out the Lion’s Club Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StrasburgLionsClub/?fref=ts, or call Lion Gary Kull at 217-254-3141.

Celebrate Stewardson

Village of Stewardson

                Many know this town by its large cow adjacent to T & L Locker Meat Shop.  If you are into selfies, this is a spot you do not want to miss.  This is also a great place to purchase local meat for your next grill-out, whether you are looking for steaks, ground beef, ribs, brats, rope sausage and more.  If you are in the mood for a prepared meal, the local eatery, Why Not? is easily found in the center of town where you can find good home cooking.  After your bellies are full, be sure to pay the other businesses in town a visit, especially if you are on the hunt for accessories, bridal gowns, and prom dresses, which can be found downtown at Personalities or Ooo La La Brides and Prom Queens.  And, if you enjoy the smooth texture of homegrown grapes in a glass, check out Vahling Vineyards and peruse the plethora of choices available.  The friendly owners will be happy to provide you with information about your wine of choice. 

        

Well, we have covered cows, dresses, and wine, which provides a great mixture for Stewardson’s very own Mr. Heifer Beauty Pageant, which is just around the corner as part of their 4^th of July Celebration to be held on June 26^th.  Check out the flyer below for more information.

Wine and Art Spring Festival

Vahling Vineyards Wine and Art Spring Festival

Despite the rain this past weekend, visitors flourished to the Wine and Art Spring Festival held at Vahling Vineyard’s.  With representatives from eight wineries present, there was a plethora of wines just waiting to serve the curiosity of the palette.  The wineries in attendance were Berryville Vineyards, Bretz Wildlife Winery, Castle Finn Winery, Crooked Creek Winery, Fox Creek Vineyards, Lasata Winery, Sleepy Creek Vineyards, and the host of the event, Vahling Vineyards.  The friendly sommeliers gave great suggestions to each visitor on what wines would best satisfy their taste buds.  They were also very helpful at answering questions about the types of grapes used and the process of aging the wine.   

For those of you like me who may not know hardly anything about wine, I recommend taking a friend who can share their knowledge on the intricacies of wine tasting.  Even if you have determined the types of wine you like best (white versus red, sweet versus dry), do not be afraid to try something new.  The interesting names of the wines, and creative labels used for the bottles may lead you to a new favorite.  Some of the titles that caught my eye were Moonlight on the Wabash, Grandpa’s Recipe, Lion Eyes, White Squirrel, Barn Dance, and the Winey Mary that had everyone.  This particular wine had the distinction of both tomatoes and jalapeños.  

Besides the wine, there were other tasty treats to consume.  My favorites were the spiral spuds and pork burgers provided by Strasburg’s Lions Club.  I can now add spiral spuds to my list of new things I have tried while living in Illinois!  This was just what the doctor ordered to finish off an excellent day. 

And, to further top off the day, I met some very sweet vendors who were selling the most unique items at the festival.  This couple works together on making homemade fishing lures carved out of cottonwood.  They are called APARTAP lures (applied properly at right time and place . . . they will catch lures).  They are hand carved and hand painted, leaving no two lures exactly alike.  There are many lures to choose from, or you can special order one to your liking.  Mr. Kermicle will do the carving, and Mrs. Kermicle will do the painting, and then you will have your very own, one of a kind APARTAP fishing lure to catch your next big one!  

A HUGE thanks to VAHLING VINEYARDS for putting on such a great event (even in the rain), and to all that made this event a memorable experience!  Everyone was very friendly and welcoming, showing the hospitable nature of the Midwest!  To learn more about Vahling Vineyards in Stewardson, Illinois, be sure to check out their website:  https://vahlingvineyards.com/

A BIG thanks also goes out to the Radio Station WMKR, Genuine Country 94.3, for providing us with tickets for this event.  We had a wonderful time, and I recommend checking out this event next year!