Sold Whitewalls - By Dan Dauw

When I Wasn’t Old

Remember the little swing-out, ventilated windows on cars? I wonder how and why those ’40s ’50s and some early ‘60s cars had those? Probably with more and more cars sold with air conditioning those little ventilated side windows weren’t needed.
Changing oil and anti-freeze were an easy job to do. Today, forget it! Everything is buried under the hood.
My dad’s first car was a Ford Model A. He told me that car tires were not the best. He said sometimes drivers would get blow-outs going over hot tracks just after the train was passed.
One thing I do remember were the downtown trolley car rails. I don’t ever remember seeing the trolleys.
How ‘bout changing the windshield wipers back then? Pain in the rump. The pair I had on my Willy’s Aero had only one speed. I wish they still sold whitewalls. They were hard to keep clean, but they were neat on cars. Remember the “moon” wheel covers? A lot of cars in the ‘50s were two-toned. The top was usually white or black.
I enjoyed waxing cars and picked up some extra bucks along the way. Best wax back then was J-Wax. Maybe like you, I had a lot of cars and a few trucks starting around 1958 and so on. In my opinion, American cars were pretty much junk back then. If you got 100,000 miles consider yourself lucky.
It’s different today as foreign cars woke up Detroit and they’re pretty reliable vehicles these days. Ha! I say that and I have two “foreign” cars in the garage! At my 82 years, I don’t see us getting a new car unless the “boss” is tired of her ’21.

New Top Nation’s Farm Gal

It looks like there may be a new head of Agriculture Secretary (USDA). If she is confirmed, Brooke Rollins, will succeed the Biden’s administration’s Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. What I’ve read through the years that Vilsack has done an excellent job.
Ms. Rollins has a very impressive record of accomplishments having graduated from Texas A&M University and earned her J.D. from the University of Texas. She received an undergraduate degree in agricultural development. It appears Trump made a very wise choice in selecting Brooke Rollins for that position.

Deer Rut Season

Keep in mind that bucks have a surge in their testosterone levels during this time of the year. That means they have one thing on their mind and that doesn’t include watching out for vehicles, especially in the evening and early morning.
Through the years, Lorna and I have hit four deer. That is no fun! At night use your brights unless traffic is coming the opposite way. Remember, sometimes there is more than one deer on the side of the road.

Ice Fish’n?

Sadly, I guess I’ll have to hang up the old rods ‘n reels until Spring. It will be up to Mother Nature if she wants to throw me a nice day or two for some soft water fishing.
Last February we had two really nice days and there was still some open water. The fishing was excellent!

Christmas Humor

  1. Who is a Christmas tree’s favorite singer?
    Ans: Spruce Springsteen.

  2. What’s everyone’s favorite breakfast in the North Pole? Ans: Mistle Toast.

  3. What did the gingerbread man put on his bed?
    Ans: A cookie sheet.

  4. How does the snow globe feel this year?
    Ans: A little shaken.

  5. What do you call a shark that delivers toys at Christmas?Ans: Santa Jaws.

Quote of the Week

“I honestly believe it is better to know nothing than to know

what isn’t so.” - Josh Billings

“My Son Is Crazy, But Promising" an Absolute Must See!

Directed by Dana Skiles - Richmond Hill Players
Nov. 14-17 & 21-24, 2024
By Elizabeth Hulsbrink

Picture this: Arizona in August, no pool, no air conditioning, and the ice machine is broken! This isn’t your average Ritz Hotel; this is the Ritz-Apache Lodge in Tumbleweed!

Hollywood screenwriter, Bud Granger (played by Derek Bolme, in his acting debut) trades the glitz of Tinseltown for the rugged charm of Tumbleweed, Arizona, where he buys a rundown lodge near the legendary "Lost Dutchman Mine." Bud hopes to strike it rich and retreat into a quiet millionaire's life, but his plans go completely off track when he discovers the lodge is over-crowded with eccentric characters. The funky space lady, Cora Ames (Jane Simonson) kept the audience roaring, while the melodramatic mobster, Oysters Rockefeller (John Simosky) and his starlet-in-the-making fiancée Chi-Chi Vazoom (Tifany Simosky- John’s sister-in-law), proved to be filled with unexpected warmth and charm.

Tilly Granger (Carol Neuleib) Bud’s out-of-work-actress mother shows up unannounced, and tries her best not to get sucked in to the pandemonium of the hillbilly town. Honeymooners June and Arthur Whitney (Elizabeth and David Shaffer) are indubitably and the wrong Ritz. And locals Sheriff Bates (Jonathan Graff) and Gert Witherspoon (Beth Nyland) are fed up with the ensuing chaos that always seems to find its way to the Lodge. The on-stage relationship between the terrible spy Dimitri Jones (Jim Skiles) and his FBI handler Susan Claypool (Stacy Herrick) confirmed that not everything you see can be believed. And while Fay Armstrong (Katie Orwig) is chancing her story, Karen Russell (Terri Nelson) puts a major development into a completed unhinged twist. A special shoutout goes to Elliana Moore- the illusive UFO.

However, the true standout that brings all this chaos into focus is the fascinating dynamic between Bud and his Hollywood director, Larry Lime (Samuel Carrington). Despite being complete opposites, these two form an unstoppable duo!

From a flying saucer, buried treasure, and a roller-skating corpse, to Brussel sprouts on a stick, Richmond Hill Players has done it again! Congratulations to director Dana Skiles, for bringing this to life. The hilarious comedy, “My Son Is Crazy, But Promising” is an absolute must see!

Experience a Victorian Christmas at the Geneseo Museum on Dec. 7 - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Visitors are invited to step back in time and enjoy the magic of the holiday season at the Geneseo Historical Museum Annual Victorian Christmas Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The museum is located at 205 South State St .in Geneseo.

Guests will experience the elegance and warmth of a Victorian Christmas as they stroll through the displays featuring vintage ornaments, garlands, candlelit rooms and antique toys.

Some of the highlights include a Victorian parlor adorned with a Christmas tree inspired by Queen Victoria’s own.

There are Christmas decorations throughout the entire 27-room Italianate home.

Melanie Rice, Curator of the Geneseo Historical Museum, is shown by the displays at the museum that are ready for the Victorian Christmas Open House on Saturday, Dec. 7. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Melanie Rice, Curator of the Geneseo Historical Museum, said, “We’re thrilled to offer our visitors a journey through time with our Victorian Christmas displays.”

“Additionally, in the Stees-Keppy Education Room, there is a small, warm Victorian family room exhibit with a tree, decorated fireplace, and antique toys under the tree and so much more,” she said..

There will be a special guest in the decorated Carriage House, located behind the museum, where Mrs. Claus will accept letters to Santa in the Harold Neumann exhibit…”Mrs. Claus will be giving away old fashioned candy lollipops and sticks with information about Harold Neumann,” Rice said, and added, “There also will be a drawing for a book, “Corn Plow to Cockpit,” - Harold Neumann’s Manuscript, as well as for a Mr. Mulligan ornament.”

“Join us this season to celebrate a Victorian Christmas, where history and holiday spirit come together in a unique and memorable experience for all ages.”

For more information, visit https://geneseohistory/com/ or contact Melanie Rice at 309-944-3043 or email ghmuseum8@gmail.com for private tours, in addition to regular business hours from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Bring Your Own Drumsticks - By Dan Dauw

My Poem

Roses cause lice,
Violets like mice;
But my poems,
Are always nice!

The holidays are very near,
And ‘da Bears are nothing to fear;
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving Day,
This poem is free, you need not pay;

So, watch out for deer when driving at night,
And if you read this poem, you’re not mentally
Right!

When I wasn’t Old!

Do you remember the former and late governor, George Wallace? He was hardly a friend of black folks and was a racist. He spoke at a rally at the Wharton Field House in Moline. A buddy and I had nothing to do so we drove over there to see what it was all about.
It was October 21, 1968. We didn’t go inside, but outside there were a lot of demonstrators with signs backing Wallace. There were some fights, too. Several windows were broken. We didn’t stick around for fear of getting hit with a brick or whatever. He was shot in 1972 and was paralyzed.
Speaking of racism, I remember in 1959 my dad and I drove to Florida. One time we stopped in Georgia for gas and there was a water fountain at the gas station. Above it a sign read, “Whites Only.” The bathroom was also so marked. I was a teenager at the time, but I thought it was odd. We didn’t travel much when I was a kid. As to vacations, it was either Lake of the Ozarks or The Dells.

Geneseo’s Solar Project

I don’t know all the particulars, but from what I’ve read it sounds like a Geneseo “win-win” scenario. I noticed Colona has some solar powered panels and Geneseo has them on the south part of town by the wind turbines.
The next time you drive out to Bishop Hill, you will see a lot of wind turbines. Some say they are noisy and kill birds. For me, I’m for harnessing wind power except I don’t like destroying the beauty of the countryside.

An almost 4 pound Largemouth (the fish, not me!). I caught it last week at a private lake.  It was released.  

Bears Another Loss

And I’m afraid there will be more bad news for ‘da Bears before the season is done. A bright spot is even though they lost to Green Bay, I think the new Offensive Coordinator has his act together. Same goes for QB Williams. Next up, the Vikings and then Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. Ugh!!!!

Humor

  1. What’s the official dance of Thanksgiving called?

    Ans: The turkey trot.

  2. What was the turkey suspected of?

    Ans: Fowl play.

  3. Why was the turkey asked to join a band?

    Ans: He could bring his own drumsticks.

  4. Why did the turkey cross the road twice?
    Ans: To prove he wasn’t chicken.

  5. What’s something insulting, but not on Thanksgiving? Ans: A family member giving you the bird.

Quote of the Week

“You shall judge a man by his foes as well as by his friends.”

Gehling Appointed to FNB Board

Kim Gehling has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Prophetstown Banking Co. and Farmers National Bank. Prophetstown Banking Co. is the holding company for Farmers National Bank, a community bank with over $850 million in assets and four locations in Geneseo, Prophetstown, Morrison, and Mount Carroll. Gehling joins current board members Carey Bauer, William Dale, Tricia Mickley, Garett Plumley, Brad Toone, Donald Vogel, and Jeffrey Woodworth.

President & CEO Garett Plumley(Left) with new board member Kim Gehling. 

A native of Geneseo, Gehling graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She later received her Master of Science, also from ISU. Kim is President and Owner of Websites to Impress, Inc. in Geneseo. Her community activities have included the Hammond-Henry Hospital Board, International Exchange Student Program, and First Methodist Church Board of Trustees. Kim and her family reside in rural Geneseo where they farm and operate Pink Prairie Gardens.

Hammond-Henry’s Wyatt Brieser Named Among State Hospital Network’s Top ‘4 Under 40’ Leaders

The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) announced its “4 Under 40” Hospital Leadership winners, including Wyatt Brieser, VP of Operations, Hammond-Henry Hospital, Geneseo, during the organization’s Annual Conference held November 14 at the I-Hotel and Conference Center, Champaign.

He is joined in this honor by Jessica Delost, Chief Compliance and Legal Officer, Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City; Erin Frank, Director of Marketing & Communications, Horizon Health, Paris; and Kristy Wisslead, APRN-FN, Memorial Hospital, Carthage.

Wyatt started his career at Hammond-Henry Hospital in 2009 as a Rehab Tech. Since that time, he has received several promotions, including the titles of Physical Therapist, LTC Manager, Director of Ancillary Services, and currently, Vice President of Operations.

“As a leader and as a human being, Wyatt is someone to emulate. He ensures that every employee has a voice, from every department, in all walks of life. Everyone is equally important to him,” said Stephanie DeMay, Hammond-Henry Hospital Marketing Manager. “Admiration for Wyatt, his work ethic, and his expertise extend past the walls of the hospital, too. From our Hammond-Henry Hospital and Clinics community, his church community, multiple service organizations, and countless preschool through college-aged students, everyone appreciates Wyatt not only for his kindness and his humility, but his extraordinary ability to build others up in the process.”

Most recently, Wyatt has been instrumental in helping to bring new physicians and new service lines to Hammond-Henry’s hospital and clinics including neurology, chiropractic care, and pain management while also ensuring significant upgrades to our MRI, fluoroscopy machine, and 3-D mammography. He also continues to cover athletic training at offsite sporting events and to build up the Geneseo and Annawan Middle and High School Boys and Girls Summit sports programs and the community-wide Free2Play Youth Fun Day. Wyatt is also an active member of the Geneseo Kiwanis Club, a member of St. Anthony's Church, is an Inspiring Continuing Care Community Partner, and serves as the Geneseo Community Center's Seminars Coordinator.

“It would be impossible to name all the successful projects Wyatt has accomplished since first becoming hired at Hammond-Henry. However, one project stands at the forefront for him: managing the Hammond-Henry Hospital Long-Term Care Living Center through COVID including staffing, regulation changes, testing, and fear of losing a patient to COVID,” said DeMay. “Those years forced Wyatt to get comfortable outside his comfort zone. It forced him to strengthen his skills in creative thinking, problem-solving, resiliency, accountability, hard work, and leadership and, as always, he met and exceeded the goal. Wyatt can also be proud of his success directing and managing the Long-Term Care Living Center in general as this facility has been named a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 5-Star facility for 12 years in a row.”

Wyatt, as Director of Ancillary Services at the time, also supervised laboratory services during COVID where Hammond-Henry Hospital was recording and processing about 45,000 tests per month. Following COVID, Wyatt spearheaded and saw to fruition the $1 million laboratory remodel in 2023 which features an open floor plan for increased efficiency, a staff reception area and waiting room, private blood draw stations, office and storage spaces, and two handicapped accessible bathrooms plus the moving of the main chemistry analyzer and its back-up, a full microbiology lab, molecular diagnostics, chemistry, and all the hematology equipment. The new laboratory was completed in 2023, and its team of 20 continues to handle at least 500,000 lab tests per year.

ABOUT ICAHN

ICAHN’s “4 Under 40” Hospital Leadership Award is open to new and emerging leaders aged 40 and under employed by an ICAHN member hospital or as a member of this hospital’s board for at least two years with a strong record of innovation and outstanding performance.

Located in Princeton, IL, ICAHN is a network of 59 small, rural hospitals dedicated to strengthening the operations of its member hospitals through collaboration. The organization is composed of Illinois hospitals who have earned critical access hospital designation by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is recognized nationally for its work with rural healthcare, administering several state, federal, and private healthcare programs.

Food Pantry to Benefit from Offering at Nov. 24 Thanksgiving Worship - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The annual Community Thanksgiving Service will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, at the Geneseo High School Performing Arts Commons, 700 North State St., Geneseo.

The Rev. Hunsaker, pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Geneseo, will give the message. An offering will be collected for the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry.

Pam Edwards, director of the Geneseo Community Choir, will lead a Community Choir at the Thanksgiving service. All are welcome to participate in the Choir, with rehearsal beginning at 3 p.m. Anyone interested in joining the group for the worship service is asked to contact Pam Edwards at singplay53@gmail.com.

Coffee and pie will be served at a time of fellowship after the worship.

The Community Thanksgiving Service is planned by the Geneseo Ministerial Association, of which the Rev. Laura Kamprath, pastor at First Lutheran Church in Geneseo, serves as president.

ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE GENESEO-ATKINSON FOOD PANTRY

The mission of the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry is to provide assistance to people in need, a need that continues to increase.

Nicole Freadhoff, assistant director of the Food Pantry said the number of households being served has steadily increased over the last few years. …”There are so many factors that contribute to our increased numbers,” she said.

In October of this year, the food pantry served 318 households, compared to 210 households in October of 2023.

Freadhoff said the staff is seeing a lot of new guests, “over 100 new guests since last October. We serve our guests 27 hours a week in comparison to some other agencies that are only able to be open once or twice a month.”

In addition to basic needs, the food pantry staff and volunteers are distributing the toys collected in local toy drives, and Freadhoff added, “Many parents do not have extra money right now to purchase Christmas presents for their children.”

New, unwrapped toys can be donated during regular houses of the food pantry which are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays. The food pantry is located at 620 West Main St., Geneseo.

As a result of the generosity of the community, every family the food pantry serves in November can receive a Thanksgiving basket, and the guests can choose the items they want in their basket.

Basic information about the food pantry, the needs, and how to donate can be found by visiting www.geneseofoodpantry.org.

What Else Can I Do While I’m Down Here? - By Dan Dauw

When I wasn’t old!

The farthest back I can remember seeing a U.S. President was Harry Truman. That was seeing him on our 14” TV set and he was talking about the Korean “Conflict.”
It was not called a “War” until years later. The first U.S. President that I voted for was JFK. A lot of people don’t know it, but when Kennedy ran for election, he stopped in the Quad Cities. He gave a speech in the gym at Rock Island High School. A buddy and I waited in line to see what he had to say. We were really impressed with the man. Who would have thought that years later Lorna and I would see the building from where he was assassinated.
We helped chaperon the Geneseo H.S. Band and our touring bus stopped to show us the building & window from where Oswald did his dastardly deed. The last President I voted for was Jimmy Carter. Lorna’s cousin, Ray, worked at the White House and liked Carter. Ray once gave me a private tour of the place. That’s a whole different subject in itself and I had my 15 minutes of glory. Anyway, it happened “when I wasn’t old!”

Veterans Day

Gary Dahlquist, John Cahalan and myself took advantage of a great breakfast courtesy of Hy-Vee. It was to honor we veterans and it was really, really nice. A big “Thank You” goes to all the local Hy-Vee stores for hosting the event.

The local Hy-Vee stores honored veterans with a really nice breakfast on Veterans Day. Veterans Gary Dahlquest, John Cahalan and Dan Dauw are shown in the foreground. Gary D. and John C. are residence of Geneseo. Dan D. is from Colona.  

Bad News Bears

My gosh, they looked totally horrible at last Sunday’s game with the ‘Pats. They are going to get crushed when they play the other three NFC North teams.

Yedi

Or if you prefer, Sasquatch, Bigfoot, or Abominable Snowman, this real or fake creature still seems to pop-up somewhere. The latest sighting happened last month when a contract driver for the Postal Service had a close encounter with an 8 feet high creature, standing on two legs, covered in brown hair and yellowish, glowing eyes. It happened in Peoria County & Rt. 9. If you read about the entire event, I have to say that I think there is some credibility to his story.
He said he only saw the thing for a few seconds along the road, but it really did scare him. He was teased from his fellow employees, but he stands firm on what he saw. He said, “All I know is, it scared the absolute hell out of me!”

Geneseo Ikes Christmas Party

The Geneseo Izaak Walton Club members and guests are reminded to circle your calendar for Saturday, December 7. That is when their club’s annual Christmas Party takes place.
It starts at 5 p.m. in the club’s lodge. I’ll have more details as time moves on. It is always a fun event.

Humor

The other day I stooped to tie my shoelace and thought to myself, “What else can I do while I’m down here?

Yesterday I fell down. Lorna asked if I was alright? I answered, “No, I’m half left.”

What do you call a million rabbits walking backward? Ans: A receding hareline.

Senior Bumper sticker: “Honk if you still have all your original body parts.”

Quote of the Week

“The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.” - Michelangelo

Hospital Auxiliary 2024 Lovelight Tree

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Sue Elliott, left, president of the Hammond-Henry Hospital Auxiliary; and Kathleen VanDeRostyne, Auxiliary/Volunteer Supervisor, stand by the banner for the Auxiliary’s Lovelight Tree, displayed at the corner of Wells St. and College Ave. They are holding the dated porcelain ornaments designed by Geneseo Artist Sharon Michaelsen for this year’s Lovelight Tree, and which will be given to anyone making contributions of $20 and more to the Lovelight Tree in memory of a loved one. Contributions to the Lovelight Tree also may be made in honor of a special person in someone’s life.

The tree is an Auxiliary fundraiser and funds received this year will be used for Health Career Scholarships. Donations forms and additional information are available at the hospital volunteer office, 309-944-9130; at the hospital website www.hammondhenry.com/participate/volunteer or by email at volunteer@hammondhenry.com. Checks may be made payable to Hammond-Henry Hospital Auxiliary and mailed to the Auxiliary at 600 North College Ave., Geneseo, IL 61254. Names of all donors and names of those remembered and honored will be displayed at the main and east entrances to the hospital. Photo by Claudia Loucks

GHS 2024 Madrigal Dinner Tickets Available Nov. 15 - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Beginning in 1979, students from the music department at Geneseo High School have been taking guests a step back in time to “Merrie Ole England” at the annual Madrigal Dinners.

This year’s dinners, which mark the 43rd year of performances, are at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5; Friday, Dec. 6; and Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Geneseo High School Concert Hall Commons, 700 North State St. Performances begin at 6:30 p.m. with early seating beginning at 6 p.m. Ticket reservations are required and may be purchased by visiting GHS Madrigal Dinner Concert by going to vancoevents.com and searching “GHS Madrigal” or using the following link. www.vancoevents.com/us/events/landing/48331 Tickets are $28 per person, and will go on sale Friday, Nov. 15.

Guests will dine on a medieval feast, including bread, salad, pork loin, twice baked potato, green beans and Figge pudding with a cup of wassail, and be entertained by the Madrigal Singers, as well as the Madrigal Brass, Recorder Choirs, mimes, and entertainers.

The singers and brass also will be featured at the Geneseo Christmas Walk on Saturday, Dec. 14, and will perform and 6 p.m. that night in Central Theater.

Geneseo High School seniors Dylan Gehl and Elizabeth Mroz are cast as king and queen in the 43rd annual Madrigal Dinners to be presented by students from the music department at GHS on Dec. 5-7.

When the Madrigal celebrations began in 1979, they were held in the former St. Malachy’s Church before the performances were moved to Grace Church in 1986. Since 2019, the events are held in the GHS Concert Hall Commons.

The Madrigal cast is under the direction of GHS choral director Stephen LaCroix, who said the Madrigal Dinners were started by former music and drama department directors, James Rimington, Victor Bianchetta, and the late Harvey Green.

LaCroix said the dinners involve approximately 100 high school students each year, including singers, brass players, recorder ensemble, harpsichordist, beggars, fair maidens, a poet, a cook, serving wenches, mimes, wait staff and those who help with hair and makeup in addition to character roles that vary each year with changes in script.

“Parent involvement is key to the success of the dinners as the parents oversee the many tasks to make it a detailed and personalized performance for the audience,” he said.

Madrigal singers audition in May each year for the upcoming season and singers begin rehearsing weekly beginning in August.

“Time after time students remark that their Madrigal Dinner involvement was the best and most memorable experience of their four years of high school,” LaCroix said.

Geneseo Veteran Honors Four Family Members with Flags in Aisle of Flags - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Fifteen new flags were added to Geneseo’s Aisle of Flags at Veterans Day ceremonies held Nov. 11 in City Park.

Among the 924 flags that waved in the wind in the impressive display were four new flags in honor and in memory of Obrecht family members, two uncles and two cousins of Ron Obrecht of Geneseo.

Obrecht, an Army veteran himself who served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957, said he was close to his relatives and decided he would purchase the flags so they could be included in Geneseo’s Aisle of Flags…I” was close to both of my uncles and visited Uncle Harley often while he was still alive,” Obrecht said.

Ron Obrecht of Geneseo stands by the flags in memory of his two late uncles and two late cousins who served in the military. Obrecht is responsible for purchasing the flags in their honor to be included in Geneseo’s Aisle of Flags. Photo by Loucks

He commented, “The Aisle of Flags is a great honor for all those veterans and it is amazing how many flags have been added since it started,” Obrecht said. “It seems like even when you talk to people from other areas, they know about Geneseo’s Aisle of Flags. It is impressive.”

The late Obrecht veterans:

-Harley V. Obrecht – Ron’s uncle and father to Wayne Obrecht – served in the U.S. Army during World War I. “He was on a ship in the New York harbor when he came down with pneumonia. He was hospitalized until the war ended so he did not go to Europe,” Obrecht said. (Born Sept. 29, 1894 and died Jan. 5, 1990).

-Hubert Obrecht – Ron’s uncle and father to Dean Obrecht – served in the U.S. Army during World War I, and was stationed at a base on the East coast. (Born May 28, 1897, and died Jan. 16, 1988).

-Dean Obrecht – Ron’s cousin and son of Hubert Obrecht – served in the U S. Navy during World War II. He graduated from high school in Geneseo in 1944 and enlisted in the Navy shortly after graduating. He served as a Navy pilot and was in the service from 1944-1945. His widow, Carol Obrecht, and one son, Craig, live in Sarasota, FL.

-Wayne Obrecht – son of Harley Obrecht and Ron Obrecht’s cousin – served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the U.S. Air Force) during World War II, 1941-1946, and flew supplies from China to islands in the Pacific Ocean. He graduated from high school in Geneseo, and is survived by a daughter, Carol, who lives in California. (Born Oct. 29, 1922, and died Feb. 27, 1972).

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Coming to Geneseo Library - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The Geneseo Public Library has teamed up with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to offer free children’s books.

Claire Crawford, Geneseo Library Director, said, “We are excited to be able to be apart of this fantastic program to promote literacy. It’s been on our radar for some time, and thanks to a grant from the State of Illinois, we are able to make this happen at our library. All you have to do is come into the library and complete a registration form. We feel like it’s a Christmas gift to the children of Henry County.”

The Geneseo Library currently is registering children, 0 to 5 years old, for the January book. Residents of Henry County may register at the library. Online or phone registrations will not be accepted. There is no cost to the families of the children who sign up as the Geneseo Library and the State of Illinois cover the cost along with the Imagination Library.

As a result of a grant written by Claire Crawford, the library is able to shoulder the cost of the program. Monetary donations to the library are always welcome to help defray the costs.

Each month, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a high quality, age-appropriate book to all registered children, addressed to them, at no cost to the child’s family.

Information received from the Geneseo Library stated, “Countless parents have shared how excited their child is when their new book arrives each month. Many groups and individuals work hard behind the scenes to make that special moment possible for each child.”

The aim of the Imagination Library is to pick age-appropriate books that foster a “love of reading and learning; regard for diversity of people, their roles, culture and environment; promotion of self-esteem and confidence, appreciation of art and aesthetics.”

The first book distributed is one of Parton’s favorites, “The Little Engine That Could.”

A children’s book by Parton herself, “I Am a Rainbow,” also has been included in the program.

THE STORY BEHIND DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY

Dolly Parton’s father would be so happy if he could see her now. She has often spoken about her father’s life….”Well, my dad, like so many country people, the hard-working people, especially back in the rural areas, my dad never had a chance to go to school because he had to help make a living for the family. And so Daddy couldn’t read and write.”

Illiteracy was a source of embarrassment and frustration for Parton’s father. He couldn’t do things like complete forms, scan a newspaper or read to his children.

Thoughts of her father and his struggles were the spark that led to the Imagination Library, as Parton wanted to “Do something that would inspire kids to love reading and to love learning. He never had anyone that inspired him in such a way.”

Today, her program spans five countries and gifts over two million free books each month to children around the world.
And now it is enrolling children ages 0 to 5 years of age in the Henry County, Illinois, area.

After launching the program in 1995, the program grew quickly. First books were only distributed to children living in Sevier County, TN, where Dolly Parton grew up.

Parton said in 2028, “It made me feel good in my heart that I could do something to make Daddy proud.”

The program became such a success that in 2010 a national replication effort was underway. By 2003, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library had mailed one million books. It would prove to be the fist of many millions of books sent to children around the world.

Dolly Parton’s home state of Tennessee pledged to pursue statewide coverage in 2004 and global expansion was on the horizon. After the U.S., the program was launched in Canada in 2006, followed by the United Kingdom in 2007; Australia in 2013 and the Republic of Ireland in 2019.

Though Parton didn’t love school, she did enjoy reading as a child. Fairy tales broadened her perspective: “The only thing I ever saw growing up was poor people in overalls and broken shoes and ragged clothes. By in my books, I would read about kings and queens with their velvet clothes and big diamond rings. That’s how I knew there was a world outside the Smoky Mountains.”

Research has shown that exposure to reading at an early age leads to better results in school. And Parton knows that literacy has lifelong benefits…”If you can read, even if you can’t afford education, you can go on and learn about anything you want to know.
There’s a book on everything.”

Parton understands how to spark a child’s excitement around books and reading. “From the time they’re born, they get books in the mail with their little names on them. They love running to the mailbox!”

And she opted to make the Imagination Library available to all children, no matter their family’s financial status. “I have always felt we shouldn’t leave anybody out or single anybody out,” she said in 2010.

Together, Dolly Parton and her book gifting organization have received honors and awards for their dedication to enriching the lives of children everywhere. The Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, Best Practices Award from the Library of Congress Literacy Awards and recognition in Reading Psychology are just a few among a long list of the prestigious acknowledgements the program has received.