Wapella Business Profile

Murphy is a name with deep Wapella roots. Here is a profile of Scott Murphy and Associates, the Lexington based business, with Fred Murphy on the Masthead. Try Scott Murphy and Associates for all your farm equipment needs. Here is a snippet about the Murphy Staff

For 6-7 years Mark hauled seasonally needed seed machinery back and forth to Mexico. He has worked with Murphy’s on and off for over 20 years. Mark is a jack of all trades in the operation and specializes in the removal and refurbishing of used seed equipment.

Artificially Sweet Hog City

An ever alert reader, Jim Hull (who looks something like the Prince of Wales), asks a very pertinent question concerning Wapella advertsing history:

Do any of your subcribers recall what, I believe to be a cultural piece of signage that stood on the southwestern approach to Wapella, East side of Highway 51. Sign advertised anearly Splenda type product named-Sugariame (or maybe Sugartime)?

Quite a question, in my opinion, and per Mr Hull, knowing this piece of Wapella History can help make Wapella "a magnet for tourism" to which I heartily concur.

So, does anyone have more info on this billboard that stood in Wapella, braving the traffic to advertise the sweet life in Hog City?

Top Nicknames-Walt "No Neck" Williams

One of the only rules in assigning nicknames is that you cannot chose your own. For example, if you want to be called "Clubber" or "The Baron", you have to stick with a name like "Dog Face" or "Tiny" regardless of how flattering it is.

Case in point, Walt "No Neck" Williams. Good hitter, decent career, but appropriately nicknamed "No Neck".

Any nicknames laying dormant for Wildcat usage?

Wapella.com Mourns Everett Baker

Wapella.com mourns the passing of Everett Baker at age 81. Baker, a Wapella original, was employed at a variety of Central Illinois Enterprises, and worked in many farm operations. He is survived by his sons Wayne, Rick, and Randy and daughter Linda, all Wapella Wildcats.

Good Advice

This in the Pantagraph

people driving from Bloomington to Heyworth to exit U.S. 51 north of town and come in on a blacktop. People intending to go on south to Wapella or Clinton should “stay in the passing lane, be cautious and use good discretion,”

In other words, please be cautious and use discretion when entering Hog City.

Ten Reasons Buck's Red Fox was the Greatest

Nothing said Wapella like Buck and Dorothy Johnson's Grocery Store. Yes, the Troxell Brothers had their charms, Howard Abraham was a legend, and John Blakeman ran a good operation, but Buck and Dorothy defined Wapella with their inviting personalities, and sharp business. Here are ten good reasons why Buck's was the greatest.

10) The Topmost Brand. Symbol of quality, and great taste. Almost exclusively sold in Wapella.

9) Strategic placement of cigarettes. The smoking employees reminded everyone to pick up a pack of smokes for the road.

8) Full magazine selection. Some rare and exotic titles for a small town.

7) Butcher shop on site. Bring Bessie in for a visit, leave with T-Bones for dinner.

6) Early implementation of Dig-Dug, my favorite video game

5) Frosty brand Root Beer. Can't taste the Sasparillo for the Sugar.

4) Charge Accounts. The economics were shaky, but the convenience was awesome

3) Buck was still selling old Coke after new Coke was introduced. Visitors came from miles to get their Cola fix.

2) One of the only stores you could buy Wildroot Hair Tonic. High volume sales to Hog City Gentlemen

1) Buck and Dorothy Johnson: a legendary Grocery Team.

Got any more?

Wilson Township Action

You may have thought you entered into an old episode of Columbo or Match Game with so many celebrities on site. But the big draw was Danny "Sunshine" Toohill bringing out the joy of the last 35 years. A quick rundown of the action

1) Schmid, Wilson, Ryan, Toohills all in heavy attendance as well as the likely suspects in the immediate family.

2) Slow cooked pork butt brings in people dreaming of the cornbread and bean festival.

3) Game show format entertains all with a customized version of the Newlywed Game.

Now I would take Danny and RoseAnn vs. most anyone in the Newlywed Game, but when many in your family have the looks of Jack Cassidy, the wit of Richard Dawson, and the delivery of Fanny Flagg, wouldn't you consider the Match Game?

Which Toohill does the picture on the Left look most like?

Spent last evening with some Wildcats, pouring over some old stories (mostly about the old Metropole in Bloomington). There were some non-Wildcats present, but I can assure you we kept the below in mind in excluding them from the conversation (from a post last year):

What makes a Wapella Wildcat? How does one keep cheering on the Blue and White when the town has been battered a time or ten? Wapella.com has noted a few handy tips

1) In mixed company, talk only about people from Wapella, despite the fact the you are the only one who knows the people you are talking about. Eventually, (maybe a year or two later) they will know whoyou are referring to, or never talk to you again.

2) React violently to old sports injustices. Someone think Maroa may have beaten Wapella in summer league basketball in 1980? Ker-splat.

3) While imbibing, volunteer for charitable activities and then complain about it constantly when you straighten up. Don't ask for sympathy or assistance, just gripe like you just stepped on a burr anytime you actually have to do even a moderate amount of work you volunteered for when you were intoxicated. When questioned why you volunteered to begin with, if all you were going to do is gripe, take a swing at your inquisitor, despite the fact you can't fight your way out of a paper bag..

Those suggestions really don't help much of anything, but they will getyou through a day wondering about the Good Life in Wapella. Anyone fromHog City got any suggestions?

Higher Education Maroon Style

DeWitt County seat Clinton, Illinois is considering an accreditation program in serving alcohol. In a novel approach to providing higher education to booze dealing Maroons, Clinton's Mayor proposed

“They would earn a certificate and that certificate would follow the employee wherever he or she goes,” he said. “I believe that would also make the employee more employable. In a way, it would be similar to holding a high school diploma or college degree in the fact that it certifies the employee has been through the proper training.”

So, if I have this straight, in Clinton, Illinois, serving '57 Chevy's is similar to say, holding a degree in Nuclear Engineering or Russian History. This high minded development in higher education is unique in its skill set, and will certainly be in competition with such institutions as Harvard, Yale and the Peoria Bartending Academy. Will training including forced viewings of Tom Cruise miserable "Cocktail"? Is there a course in Advanced Draft and Pours Technology? Bottle Openers 201? How about a historical course "Aluminum Cans: The Peril of Streator"? A multicutural "Viva Compadres: Limes and SeaSalt for Flavor and Zest"?

Most importantly, will Goon U Degrees be transferrable to Hog City Pour Stores? I for one have always been happy with the non-certified service in Wapella, as have most patrons for the last 153 years. Does Wapella need some Maroon Style Higher Ed?

Put Out More Flags

While Greg Toohill was bravely putting out the fires, some civic minded citizens were putting out the Flags for Wapella's Patriotic Holidays.

These are from Flag Day, but I think we can show them for the upcoming Independence Day Holiday. If there was ever a town that was independent, it is Hog City, still doing its best to stay clear of the County, State, and Federals in a valiant attempt to keep the Spirit of '76 alive. A Salute to all those who served, and those who continue to serve their country is in order for this July 4, so here it goes...Full Salute. Do you have any Salutes in you for this holiday?

Thanks to Wapella Civic Leader David Taylor for the shot.