26 Years of Hollywood in Central Illinois

Shamelessly lifted from Top Maroon Joe Alexander. Hat Tip Joe, for this great memory!

**

I have had a number of FB friends like Dave Wischnowsky, Steve Raquel, Kirsten Rogers, even the Hon. Dan Brady showing pictures & or making comments about the present filming of Transformers III presently being shot in Chicago. However, lest we forget when Hollywood came to central IL, as today we celebrate the 26th anniversary of the release of Grandview, U.S.A.!

Filmed largely in Pontiac, Illinois & Fairbury, Illinois in Livingston County, we note that there is more here than just the home of Dan Rutherford, Route 66, & a correction center! Yes, Jaime Lee Curtis, the late Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, John & Joan Cusack, were all in this movie & seen around town.

I enjoy watching long time Pontiac alderman, Frank Panno, pictured with me, with his role in the movie. Frank & Panno Reality, helped with housing during the film! He still gets royalty checks from his acting debut. Pontiac/Livingston County folks, please share your thoughts, memories, or stories!

Wapella.com Mourns The Passing of Nellie Jean Cusey

Nellie Jean Cusey, 82, Wapella, died at 5:54 p.m. Sunday (July 25, 2010) at Dr. John Warner Hospital, Clinton.

Her funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, with the Rev. Richard Gray officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Clinton. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton. Memorials may be made to the Wapella Fire Department.

She was born June 7, 1928, in Wapella, a daughter of John J. and Iva Mae Stone Leggett. She married Exley E. Cusey Feb. 21, 1952, in Bloomington. He passed away Jan. 21, 1997.

Survivors include three sons, Wesley Cusey, WHS '76, Wapella; Curtis Cusey, WHS '78, Bel Air, Md.; and Eldon, WHS '82 (Michelle) Cusey, Wapella; one grandson, Vincent Cusey, Wapella; one brother, Vernon Leggett, Texas; and two sisters, June Karr Wapella,; and Jane Thorp, Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one daughter, Amy.

She was a member of Wapella United Methodist Church, Wapella. She was a fine neighbor and well-liked member of the Wapella community.

Our condolences to the Cusey and Leggett familes.

Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Doris Jean Bush

Doris Jean Bush, 70, Clinton, IL, passed away at 3:50 PM Friday, July 23, 2010 at Hopedale Medical Complex, Hopedale, IL. Funeral service will be at 10 AM Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, IL with Pastor Dan Bell officiating. Burial will follow at Lisenby Cemetery, Lane, IL.

Friends may call Tuesday evening from 5-7 PM at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, Memorials may be made to the Doris Bush Memorial Fund or to Hopedale Medical Complex.

Doris was born on May 2, 1940 in Clinton, IL, the daughter of Raymond and Josie Abshber Miller. She married Roger Rossio in 1959. She later married Acey F. Bush on May 30, 1959 in Clinton, IL. He passed away on Feb. 9, 2000.

Survivors include 2 Sons: Roger (Rita) Rossio of Clinton, IL; Doug (Cheryl) Rossio of Macomb, IL; 2 Daughters: Jo (Jeff) Finger of Wapella, IL and Angie Bush-Rodgers of Clinton, IL; 2 Brothers: Ronnie (Connie) Miller of Clinton, IL and Dick (Cindy) Miller of Tremont, IL. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Doris had special extended family of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and 1 brother: Kenneth Miller. Doris attended the Lane Christian Church and was a member of the Clinton Eagles Lodge. She enjoyed bowling, BINGO, crafts and traveling. She was inducted into the Bloomington Bowling Hall of Fame

Our condolences to members of the Bush, Rossio and Finger families.

Happy Birthday Les Woolen!

In case you missed it, Les Woolen turned 89 yesterday. One of the all time Wapella greats. Happy Birthday Les Woolen!

ht Stefanie Ellis Wrage

Mmm....Barber Shop: Wapella Deserves A Good Haircut

After 51 years of barberry excellence, Wapella's own Jack Wickenhouser is retiring his shears. High style, with a wit as sharp as his shears, Jack's talent has been grooming and entertaining generations of customers in DeWitt County.

An unrepentant Cub Fan, Jack's knowledge of baseball and sports in general is unmatched (only challenged by Jim Bell on the Illini). Jack, I have you down here as WHS '57, could be mistaken there, but would like to hear of your own exploits on the playing fields of Wapella. An avid outdoorsman and proponent of small business, Jack talent and wisdom make the full circle of barberry experience.

Jack is hanging it up this Thursday, but there are still 2 days to go get a Jack Whack. Wapella.com salutes you Jack Wickenhouser on your dedication to the scalps of Wapella and all of DeWitt County.

Wapella Deserves the Buckaroos

The Pantagraph breathlessly tells us what pretty much everyone already knows about Wapella, but does it in a preachy style that serves to irritate pretty much anyone even remotely connected to Wapella. Read it here if you like, or don't, which is also a good idea.

It's not like the details are even remotely interesting, they are mindnumbing. The fact is Wapella likes a good dust-up and has liked dusting it up for 150+ years. I have taken at least my share of smacks to the head in Wapella, and still find it my favorite place on Earth. When some punk tells me "Wapella deserves better" I always think of my dad saying that people moved to Wapella because it was the last place to go.

I have given it some thought as to what Wapella "deserves" and it is pretty clear: Theme Song. What Wapella deserves is some country fried rock and roll from Buck Owens and the Buckaroo's as a theme song. Yeah, you can connect it to Buck's Superway/Red Fox if you like, but the song has it all, guitar, beat, and a good bit of comedy.

Here's to you Wapella...Let it rip Don Rich

Happy Birthday Leo Mollet!

Someone call the fire department, if you count all the candles on this Wildcat's cake. It's 78 for Leo Mollet, a Wapella original, and one of the most legendary men in DeWitt County. Happy Birthday Leo, shown here in a vintage shot from his WFD days.

H/T Tom Mollet for the photo and heads up

Happy Birthday Ringo!

Ringo Star turned 70 yesterday, and no one has had 70 years like the great Beatles drummer. (I had never noticed that Ringo towered over Sir Paul, but there you have it, perhaps with Ringo standing on a fruit basket).

Still touring, with his all star band, this year comprised of The 2010 All-Starr Band is comprised of Richard Page of Mr. Mister, Rick Derringer of the McCoys, Edgar Winter of White Trash, Gary Wright of Spooky Tooth, and Wally Palmer of The Romantics, Ringo is still packing them in and disproving his signature, "Money it Don't Come Easy" written by Ringo with an uncredited George Harrison helping out and playing creditable guitar.

Last night in New York City, Ringo got a surprise Birthday salute from Paul McCartney himself, via a 42 year old wishful rocker from the "White Album". Here's Paul looking very much the Beatle, and Ringo looking like he just left Snappers letting it rip. Happy Birthday Mr. Starkey, you're the greatest!

Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Margaret Schettler

Margaret A. Schettler, 92, Wapella, died at 8:20 a.m. Sunday (July 4, 2010) at Dr. John Warner Hospital, Clinton.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Clinton Presbyterian Church, Clinton, with the Rev. Randall Paine officiating. A graveside service will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Caledonia Cemetery, Sparta. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton.
Memorials may be made to Clinton Presbyterian Church Organ Fund, 4-H Foundation or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

She was born Dec. 15, 1917, at Sparta, daughter of Homer S. Kelso and Bessie I. Anderson Kelso. She married Charles L. Schettler on Feb. 7, 1942, at Bloomfield, Mo. After a renowned career at Wapella High School, Charles passed away Aug. 1, 1996.

Surviving are three children, Charles Lee Schettler, Breckenridge, Colo.; Thomas Kelso Schettler, Virginia Beach, Va.; and Nancy Sue (John) Wagle, Pekin; three grandchildren, Dr. Tiffani Sue Stroup, Chicago; Randall C. Stroup, Peoria Heights; and Timothy Charles (Dana) Miller, Clyde, Texas; two great-granddaughters of Clyde, Texas; sister, Leontine “Lee” K. Jones, Wapella; sister-in-law, Gertrude Gilliam, Glen Carbon; cousins, Dixie (Ken) Palmer, Godfrey; Virginia Bloom, Sun City, Ariz.; and Wayne (Marilyn) Vatterrodt, Valparaiso, Ind.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was a member of Clinton Presbyterian Church, joining in Dec. 1947; and a member of Clinton Presbyterian Women’s Organization; and the DeWitt County HECA. She and her husband were 4-H leaders for many years. Margaret graduated from Sparta Township High School and she attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Mrs. Schettler is remembered and appreciated in Wapella as a fine neighbor and community leader. Our condolences to the Schettler family.

Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Mary Ellen Fulton

Mary Ellen Fulton, 91, Saunemin, died at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday (June 30, 2010) at Asta Care Center, Pontiac.

Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Saunemin United Methodist Church, Saunemin, with the Rev. Jane Bradford officiating. Burial will be in Sunny Slope Cemetery, Saunemin.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Martin Funeral Home, Pontiac. Memorials in Mary’s name may be left to the Saunemin United Methodist Church.

Mary was born Aug. 4, 1918, in Lamont, Iowa, a daughter of Edward and Lou Thompson Law-rence.

She married William M. Fulton on June 10, 1945, in Gibson City. He preceded her in death on Oct. 30, 1983.

Survivors include three sons, William Fulton, Saunemin; George Fulton, Pontiac; and Jim (Ruth) Fulton, Saunemin; one daughter, Vera (Ray) Price, Bloomington; two grandchildren, Daniel Fulton and Katie Otte; one brother-in-law, Viggo Frost, Normal; one niece; and one nephew.

Mary was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Frost.

Mary was educated in South Dakota schools, and Gibson City High School.

She graduated from Illinois State University. She taught home economics for a few years in Wapella and Kempton.

Mary was a former Cub Scout leader and a 4-H leader. She was a past officer of the Saunemin Women’s Club and United Methodist Women. She was a member of the Saunemin United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and was a choir member.

Our condolences to the Fulton family.