Tuning Up The Bikini Machine

"The Wild Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot, Starring: Vincent Price" - it's a musical ! Believe it or not, these are The Supremes singing the theme from "Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine" in a 1965 spy spoof.

Forget about your Austin Powers, this one has Vincent Price, one of the biggest stars ever to come out of St. Louis. Nothing like a bikini machine for some summertime fun in Hog City.

Show Your Support for Omar Sharif

It is quite rare that Wapella.com ventures into the treacherous world of celebrity and politics, preferring more upright swindle of Joker Poker and Cherry Master over the pariahs of media stardom. However, it is possible to cross the line, especially when it comes to the Grand Master of Hollywood, Mr. Omar Shariff.

The notoriously test bridge champion smacked a valet in Hollywood over a 20 Euro tip gone wrong (excruciating details in the Trib). The valet then sued Mr. Sharif for 2 years to gain a near $500,000 judgment. (with Sharif racking up $130K in legal bills)

It seems to me that world is against Omar Sharif right now, and Omar is fighting against making the payment. So what better time for the contrarian capital of the cornbelt to come out for a bad natured bridge master? How about it Hog City? This journal is now officially on record as a supporter of Omar Sharif. Will you join us?

Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Darlene Harpenau

Darlene Morris Schachtele Harpenau has died at age 82 in Clinton, Illinois. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, with James McMillion officiating. Burial will be in Sugar Grove Cemetery, Wapella. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Darlene was the daughter of Albert and Agnes Bray Morris, with brothers Wayne and Loren Morris and a sister, Coryla Riddle now of Normal. Darlene was married to WWII hero John Schachtele in 1944, till his passing in 1988. John and Darlene have one daughter, Carolyn Williams of Wapella, and three granchildren: Bill, Rhonda, and Raquel, all of whom are Wildcats five great-grandchildren. Darlene was great friends with her sister-in-law Donna Morris, wife of the late Loren Morris.

In 1990 Darlene married Henry T. "Hank" Harpenau (a Clinton addressed member of St. Patrick's, Wapella), holding one of the finest celebrations in the history of Waynesville, Illinois after the ceremony. Darlene is also survived by her stepchildren with Henry Harpenau, Tom Harpenau, San Francisco, Calif; Pamela Fortune, Bloomington; Julie Burger, Chicago; Mary Habarth, Deland, Fla; and Michelle Byars, Worthington, Ohio, and five stepgrandchildren.

Darlene was a pleasant and witty lady, greatly contributing with her husband John to the charm and benevolence of Wapella during her 64 year tenure in the village. She will be greatly missed by her family, neighbors and friends.

Darlene was a member of The Wapella Christian Church. Memorials may be made to the Wapella Christian Church or DeWitt County Cancer Fund.

Happy Birthday USA!

Getting an early birthday card in to the United States of America, before putting on some of my old LP's and listening to Redd Foxx Live and Dirty Volume 5, like I do every Independence Day.

I found this one next to my Redd Foxx collection, by the then hairy Hoosier Johny Cougar. Here's is a classic tribute to the classic rock of the 1960's with Seymour Indiana's John Mellencamp.



Seymour the crossroads of the N/S Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad and the E/W Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, is also the home to a famous pro wrestler of the 1970's and 80's.

Pro Wrestling, Rock and Roll, and Fireworks all from Indiana for the 4th of July.

For 2 points, who is the Pro Wrestler from Seymour? Clue: He was the onetime wrestling partner of Pistol Pez Whatley.

Bizzare Consequence of Smoking Ordinance

If you have been following the news, you may have noticed that Nicholas Sheley (a Sterling Illinois native) was arrested in Granite City, Illinois after killing a reported 8 people, which is a tragedy.

The arrest occurred when Sheley stepped outside Bindy's Bar in Granite City to have a smoke. It is amazing to me that someone who is apparently a cold-blooded murderer is also the same person who follows the cold-hearted smoking ordinances in Illinois. Sheley has been described as "disturbed"

Bindy's is described as

Great Appetizers & Cold beer

06/06/2002 Posted by sasejess

Bindy's crowd is 21-50, nicer than any other Granite City bar- Great appetizers-try the appetizer sampler-cute bartenders & darts.

Banishing the Smoke Ban

The Chicago Tribune has a nice article on defiance of the smoking ban in taverns downstate, with the logical headline:

Smoke ban often defied Downstate

I am of mixed feelings towards the ban, being sympathetic to smoking, yet can't say I miss the short breathing after leaving the taverns. What say you Wapella? Can you chose which tavern to attend based on your smoking preference, or is Gov. Blagojevich in a better position to decide what is right for you?

HT American Cleaning and Restoration, who can remove smoky odors from your tavern.

Article Here

Three Versions: Love is All Around

To misphrase Zepplin, "The Song Does Not Remain the Same" on two 1980's cover's and 1 1967 original of "Love is All Around". For 0 points, what is the TV show original of Husker Du's version (the top video) and who wrote it, or more importantly what band was the songwriter in? For 1 point, who is singing on REM version of the Trogg's orginal? For 2 points, what is the very famous last name of the Trogg's lead singer?

Three Farmers on Their Way to a Dance

Always an amusing photo. this sort of famous shot by, German photographer, August Sander is used for the title shot of the Central Illinois book "Three Farmers on their Way to a Dance".

Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Joe Merna

Joseph P. Merna of Merna, Illinois has died at age 81. Mr. Merna has a great many friends and relatives in Wapella, and was an all around pleasant man. Here is the Pantagraph Obit:

Joseph P. Merna, 81, died at 4:30 a.m. Sunday (June 22, 2008) at ManorCare in Normal.

His memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick Church of Merna, Bloomington, with the Rev. Gerald T. Ward officiating. Inurnment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Merna. Visitation will be from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington, where the rosary will be recited at 3 p.m.

Joe was born March 22, 1927, in Litchfield, a son of Joseph I. and Margaret A. Flynn Merna. He married Jane A. Hayes on Jan. 17, 1953, in El Paso. She survives.

Also surviving are four daughters, Theresa Merna, Dallas, Texas; Joan (John) Sullivan, Rushville; Patricia (Wade) Pestka, Lexington; and Rita (Michael) McCarthy, Morton; four sons, Michael (Pam) Merna of Merna; Daniel Merna of Merna; Peter (Patricia) Merna, Marshall, Minn.; and James (Teri) Merna, Bloomington; sixteen grandchildren, Katy Merna, Matthew (Karla), Emily, Luke and Mark Sullivan, Grant, Amanda and Connor Pestka, Anne, Kate and Daniel Merna, Margaret, William and Claire McCarthy, and Molly and John Merna; one great-granddaughter, Elaine Sullivan; two sisters, Rosella (Patrick) Kearney, Springfield, and Helen (William) Kearney, Rockford; and one brother, James (Marlys) Merna, West Liberty, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Catherine Mellon.

Joe graduated from Trinity High School and farmed at Merna. He was a member of St. Patrick Church of Merna, Bloomington, the Knights of Columbus. He was a Fourth-Degree Knight.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or Clare House.

Knowing Joe Merna was something like knowing (a mythical) Pere Chicago or Juan Los Angeles, yet Joe was certainly for real. He extended the good nature of Irish Row in Wapella some 20 miles north to its physical terminus in Merna, where his family proudly added its name. Our condolences to his wife and family.

Reunion Coming To Wapella!