What a surprise to see the picture of the AZ Forest Fire in Minonktalk. Our summer home is in Forest Lakes which was right in the path of the fire. We were evacuated for 2 weeks. Thankfully, the fire was contained right at the back of the homes at the south of our subdivision. No Forest Lakes homes were lost. But the drive between here through Heber-Overgaard and on to ShowLow, AZ is indeed a devastating sight. Nearly 500 structures were lost not to mention nearly 500,000 acres of Ponderosa pine trees.

Just finished reading the guest column by State Representative Dan Rutherford. I feel that the people in Minonk and all of his constituents are indeed fortunate to have a man of Dan's stature representing them.

I am certain that when Dan finds himself in a position to make important decisions, he will continue "to do the right thing".

In response to your story about the dance pavilion, you have most of it right but a couple of the locations are off.

Our house, which was torn down was south of the tavern. The pavilion, which is still there is west of the tavern. The house that Clara and Bill lived in is still there, built on the pavilion. The garage that is still there was the concession stand. Bill (Bruno) lived in it too untill he and Clara were married in 1935 or 36 when they built the house.

Keep up the good work, especially the history type stuff.

Phyllis Parker-Hinkle

Albie

As Chair of the Fourth of July I am very pleased with how well the Fourth of July Celebration went this year. The planning and working on this year's event was extensive and the many volunteers that were involved all deserve a hugh thanks for a job well done.

Some of the issues that the committee had to look at were: infrastructure at Sutton's Park - electric, water, and lights; space requirements for both the main stage and for the carnival; at the beer tent the issues were if there was enough power, placement, parking and setup; for the car show - placement - how much room would be needed and power; for the parade - the route and if it needed to be changed because of sewer work; for the kids events - placement and during it all if the city was going to start the sewer work and if that would make further changes necessary.

As you can tell the committee was busy. Many issues were discussed and some were overlooked. To those of you who had concerns about this year's event, please accept our appology if we inconvenienced you in anyway. We, as always, hope to have a better event next year. The committee is comprised entirely of volunteers who work on this during the year. We meet usually once after the event concludes each year and then start up again in January meeting once a month until the event concludes. If anyone is interested in being a part of this committee please feel free to contact me at 309-432-2605.

Listed below are the volunteers who make up the Fourth of July Committee. Next time you see them, let them know how much you appreciate their efforts in continuing Minonk's traditional Fourth of July celebration.

Fourth of July Committee: Joe and Joyce Limbaugh, Marla and John Weber, Mike and Diane May, Billie McCormick, Jason and Marisa Buchanan, Pat Copp, Jack Klendworth, Russell and Lanna Ruestman, Scott and Sonja Ruestman, Bruce Tjaden, Bob Hartzler, and Cathy McKay.

Also thank the city employees who spend much of their Fourth of July helping move barricades, putting up fencing, cleaning up the grounds, and the many, many details that this type of event requires. Thanks to all who help with this event.

The committee would also like to thank all of the businesses who donated their time and money towards this event. We could not continue without your continued support. THANK YOU!!

Don Achelpohl

Editor's reply: The phraseology that you object to was taken from a Pantagraph article which I credited as the source of the information. I was merely reporting on a report. I am printing your response to the rebuttal below.

In response to Dr. Stagliano�s open letter of rebuttal:

� Even students and personnel allergic to mold should not have to study and work in an environment that contains excessive mold contamination.

� People that are not presently allergic to mold can develop the allergy and sensitivity if they are constantly exposed to it at a high level.

� I would like to refer interested parties to the following publications regarding mold remediation:

Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings

Publication of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Center for Disease Control

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/images/moldremediation.pdf

Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environment

Guidelines of the New York Department of Health referred to as the acceptable level of mold by Ideal Environmental

http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.html#exec

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Kit

Published by the federal Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/index.html

Is Indoor Mold Contamination a Threat to Health?

By Harriet M. Ammann, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., Senior Toxicologist Washington State Department of Health Olympia, Washington

http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/mold.html

Everyone should note that mold problems originate with water infiltration and that the first step to remediation is correction of this problem. Even if an area is cleaned, mold will return if water infiltration and excess building moisture are not addressed. This is covered in all of the above citations.

* I never �insisted that he (Achelpohl) and not the superintendent should dictate where and how the air quality and bulk samples were to be collected� as stated by Dr. Stagliano. In fact, Dr. Stagliano instructed me to take Ideal Environmental personnel around to collect the samples (air and bulk). As superintendent, he could have done this himself.
* The literature, including the articles cited above, encourage schools, homes, and businesses not to spend resources in extensive testing as resources would be better spent addressing the cause of the water infiltration. Mold issues should be addressed regardless of the type of mold.
* A list of the molds found during bulk inspections were:

Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Chaetomium species, Cladosporium cladosporoides, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium notatum, Psedallescheria boydii, Rhodotorula species,

These same molds were found during the air samples taken on two different occasions. I would encourage interested parties to do their own investigation of the safety or toxicity of these molds. However, it still remains � mold issues should be addressed and point to an underlying moisture problem that needs to be addressed.

* I always gave Fieldcrest my professional best including my presentation at the July board meeting. It would have been easier to not attend the board meeting. However, I have always encouraged my staff to �take the high road� and do what is right and I hold myself to the same standards and expectations. As I stated at the board meeting, I have made every attempt to encourage proper attention to this serious problem including frank discussions (starting over a year ago) with the board president, board members, and the superintendent. Please keep in mind, that the original Department of Labor complaint was not filed by me. Prior to June 14, the problem had not been addressed. This is a serious problem and is affecting the health of students and staff that use the 1938 building. It is not normal for a building administrator to have to file a Freedom of Information Act request in order to have access

In summary, I wish Fieldcrest students, staff, administration, and Board of Education members only the best. I hope the discussion can continue without resorting to personal attacks. I would like to encourage members of the Fieldcrest community to stay informed and monitor progress on the remediation of the water and dampness issues at Fieldcrest High School.

First, a structure the age of Fieldcrest High School will in most instances absorb moisture through aging foundations and brick. Hundreds of schools in the state of Illinois are contaminated with a variety of bacterial substances. However, the instance of serious health endangering mold and bacteria is limited to the most deteriorated and unkempt structures. The high school is not a deteriorating or unclean structure.

Former principal, Don Achelpohl, has suffered from a pre-existing condition not attributed to his duties at Fieldcrest High School. I do not dispute his reaction to even the smallest amount of mold or other contaminants in his working environment. Moreover, highly sensitized individuals like Achelpohl will invariably become ill by even the smallest amount of microbial contaniments in the environment either inside or outside of a structure.

Nevertheless, former principal Achelpohl demanded immediate and comprehensive relief even when EPA guidelines recommended timely steps to limit the existence of moisture in the building. No one disputes that the Northwest corner of the basement of the high school (not used for any purpose) has suffered from varying amounts of water infiltration over a period of years. Our maintenance crew's initial response to the moisture problem was to install dehumidifiers to run in a constant mode.

Furthermore, Achelpohl's northwest office wall was removed, rebuilt, sealed and sanitized shortly after my arrival in Minonk. This work was authorized by my office despite the fact that independent testing did not reveal dangerous levels of mold or spore contamination. His office carpets were also professionally cleaned and decontaminated according to guidelines recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. Nevertheless, Achelpohl complained to the administration and to the Board of Education that District 6's efforts were far short of his expectations for remediation of his concerns.

Achelpohl's claims that the high school building was the cause of illness among some staff and students is totally inaccurate and distorted. However, District 6 has not requested that these employees be evaluated for preexisting conditions. His independent testing at his own expense failed to note the fine print of disclaimers on naturally occurring mold, time of testing, environmental conditions and randomness of testing. As a matter of fact, when I recommended, at Achelpohl's request, that further environmental testing be conducted at the District's expense he insisted that he and not the superintendent should dictate where and how the air quality and bulk samples were to be collected. Naturally, this method of testing confounds results which were pointed out by personnel of the Illinois Department of Labor and testing specialists from IDEAL Environmental Engineering who were in attendance at the June 27th meeting of the Board of Education.

While it is unfortunate that Achelpohl's allergic reaction is the cause of discomfort for him, his impatience and distrust of the system which employed him only exacerbated and exaggerated the prompt and careful remediation of any cited concerns revealed in reports delivered to us by the Illinois Department of Labor and IDEAL Environmental Engineering.

As a new superintendent, Don will quickly learn that remediation of any building problems must first be built on a foundation of trust and cooperation rather than mistrust and hysteria.

District 6 has a standing building committee that has discussed the issue of moisture and mold in portions of the high school. The District is far ahead of similar Districts in the area in addressing the public's concern of harmful contaminants in the school environment. The administration and the Board of Education has always placed safety and health issues of its employees and students at the top of their priority list. Documentation exists in the Unit office to back up my assertions and those who are experts in the field of Health, Life and Safety and indoor air quality and mold remediation, that the high school environment is not unhealthy.

It is truly sad and distasteful when an educated professional is unwilling to work with the Board and Administration of a District to collectively solve concerns of students and staff but instead elects to take the issue to a public audience for personal gratification and sensationalism.

So keep up this wonderful work, "Minonktalk" really does bring people together, and supplies us with valuable information. Thanks again,

Art Kettelhut

Below is the letter referred to above.

Hi Art--

I found your address on www.minonktalk.com after my mom, Peannie (Lorene) Tjaden Robbins, wrote and said she'd been in touch with you after reading the Minonk Talk page lately. I told her that you and she (and I) share some common ancestors since your mother's Rachel Seggerman Kettelhut. Rachel's grandfather was Jasper Henry Seggermann. One of Jasper's sisters was Gesina Margaretha Seggermann, who was my mom's gggrandmother. And Rachel's grandmother was Rixte Ludemann. One of Rixte's brothers was Heinrich Ludemann, my mom's gggrandfather (and husband to Gesina Seggermann). I'm the family historian and have done a fairly credible job of tracing the Seggermanns and the Ludemanns and would be glad to share an Ahnentafel (ancestor ordered report) with you, if you're interested.

By the way, you and my mom would be 3rd cousins once removed.

Sincerely,

It's strange how we remember the combinations of rings that it took to signal the household that the call was for them. Our number was 2712 with 2 long rings. Krulls was 2004 with 4 short rings. Hocks was 2612. I can still see and hear my mom ring one long ring for the operator and then ask for "2004 please" to call Grandma Krull. They called each other several times each day. And they each did their share of "rubbering" too. I remember that our neighbor, Leslie Barth, bless his heart, was a fun loving sort of man as many would agree that knew him. Just for the fun of it, he used to ring his own phone late at night and then listen for the clicks of the neighbors receivers as they eagerly awaited to hear the news that was so important that it came late at night. Then, after a few were on the line rubbering, he would let loose with that great laugh that only he could muster.

If anyone out there has a phone book from that era, I recall that it gave the ringing sequence for each number in the front of the book. For instance, if I recall correctly, our number that was 2712 meant that we were on line number 27 and our specific number was 12; therefore 2712. And anyone on a country party line whose number ended in 12 also was assigned 2 long rings.

Thanks again for the memories and the great job you do with this site.

According to the labeling on the picture I have it was taken at the Alje W. Janssen farm two and a half miles south of Minonk. ( It is the farm with the big brick house and I think is presently owned by a member of the Kleen family).

Those in the picture are (left to right) Louise Janssen, John Janssen, George Folkerts, a neighbor, Mrs. Anje (Anna) Timmerman Janssen, Anna Janssen, Hermina (Minnie) Janssen. Oldest daughter, Ida Janssen Cirks is not in the picture.

Mrs. Janssen was a sister of Henry Timmerman who lived a mile or so west of the Janssen home. Her mother Mrs. Timmerman, may have been a Folkers. The Folkerts lived a little further west on that same road.

Louise Janssen was never married and lived on the Janssen farm until she died in 1972. John Janssen also never married and passed away in 1940. Anna Janssen never married and passed away in 1941. Minnie Janssen passed away in the flu epidemic in 1918.

So the only surviving members of this Janssen family are members of the Dick Cirks family.

Louise, John, Anna, Minnie and Ida Cirks were my dad's cousins.

The 1st house that Ray and I lived in (where Julius Klein lives) was one of these shacks. In putting in new wiring, we found an inch board dividing the 4 rooms with colorful wall paper over it. The ceiling in the attic was painted yellow, which would have been the ceiling for the 4 rooms. We built the garage, and then the Kleins connected the two for their home today.

Clara and Bill ( Bruno) were my aunt and uncle. Clara was my Dad's sister. I remember the tavern but I'm too young to remember the dance place. But Claras house was always a good place for us to play because it was concrete all around the house. They built their house on the slab that was the dance pavilion.

I also remember the corner flooding all the time. When 51 went through Minonk there was always somebody that would go fast through the water, and it would get us soaking wet. Sometimes a bus or truck would go by and spray water all the way up to the house.

I am a member of the 4th Of July Committee and am responsible for, among other things, the carnival and midway attractions. I am as appalled as you are regarding your experience, and apologize on behalf of Central Illinois Amusements and the Minonk 4th Of July Committee. Bill Sparks, the owner, has a policy regarding music that is played at all of the attractions. The company has a collection of approved CD's, and the one that you described, does not fall into that catagory. Bill is very aware of the importance of providing family entertainment, and will be extremely disappointed when I relay this information to him.

Saturday night, when we were finishing our business for the year, Bill advised that he had heard an unapproved CD being played. He went to that employee and took the CD, and executed disciplinary action. I presume that this was the CD that you experienced.

Central Illinois Amusements is a fine company to work with. As a group, we have a difficult time finding companies that will work for such a small town. Their proceeds are a major contributor to our group's income, which is used to purchase fireworks.

I will contact Bill Sparks today, and advise of your displeasure. Please let me know if there is anything else that I can do. Also, Please know that the Minonk 4th Of July committee is committed to providing an event that can be enjoyed by the entire family.

I shelled out over $20.00 to hear the operator of the "Cobra" play vulgar music. I heard the f and b word three times each in the rap song. I approached the operator and told him to turn that crap off. He said he bought it at Walmart and that it was the edited version and that it didn't say the f and b words. I told him it did. He said it didn't but he'd change the song anyway. I walked away and he quickly removed the CD from the player and swapped in another.

I plan on contacting

Cental Illinois Amusements
55-59 Moran
Box 200
Nilwood, IL 62762

Bill and Belva Sparks
217-627-3306 and

Ws and Bridget Sparks
217-627-2490

I informed our local police and gave her my card with my contact information.

This music was loud and vulgar. Jeanne my wife heard it too.

I plan to insist that this organization does not return to Minonk.

John A. Hawk

Clara Kuehl was well known for the barbecue-beef sandwiches served in the tavern. Here is her recipe:

Rita (Buchness) Stevens

Fitzgerald, Joseph F., F.O.
Grassman, Harold G., Sgt.
Green, Melvin, Pvt.
Greskoviak, James, S. Sgt.
Hattan, Norman, Cpl.
Henkel, Leroy G., G.M. 1/c.
Hielscher, Paul H., T/5.
Jankowsky, Frank, Pfc.
Kazenske, Emmerson W., Pfc.
Ketchmark, Thomas F., Cpl.
Lieder, Melvin (Photo missing)
Manley, Martin E., A.R. 3/c.
May, Otto L., Cpl.
McKeon, James Lloyd, S. Sgt.
Meyer, Melvin, Pfc.
Miller, Francis J., Pfc.
Onnen, John W., Pvt.
Schrader, Leonard, Pvt.
Tarman, Charles, Pfc.
Thompson, Dale, MOMM 2/c.
Toler, James, Sgt.
Underwood, Jessee A., Pvt.
Wittee, Harrison, Lt.

It never hurts to reprint the names lest we forget. If our parents did not know these men personally, they knew their parents. We have three other bits of memorabilia directly relating to Joseph F. Fitzgerald, Flight Officer, named above. The first is A Christmas Greeting to the American Armed Forces, Dec. '43; second, Just Another Soldier, October 22, 1944; and third, Where He Is, Dec. 30, 1946. These writings are poems from P. Joe Fitzgerald (and Pfc. Maude A. Fitzgerald) to Flight Officer, Joseph F. Fitzgerald, b. 22 Mar 1923 - d. 30 Dec 1943. On the back of the Christmas Greeting, is written, "Merry Christmas, 'Moon' to you and your family, this little memento is for your scrapbook, hope you like it. The old Sarge, Joe Fitzgerald." There might be residents who remember our dad, Edward (Moon) Buchness and Joe Fitzgerald! If you are interested, we intend to contribute these to the city of Minonk, in a September 2002 visit to attend a 50th Class Reunion). The above columns have been cut out of the paper, but I read the pieces of the backs, seeking other Minonk names I might remember. That is where I found the enclosed two recipes. I will bet I could whip up the Little Brown Bear Sandwich Loaf, but I am having trouble with the Frosted Melon. If I peel the whole melon, then cut off an end slice to remove the seeds, what, pray tell, do I pour the gelatin mixture into? I am hopeful that the women in Minonk are better cooks than I am.

Warm regards,

Barbara (Buchness) Hutchison
barbara785@aol.com