GRundy county coRn FestIval

Transcription

September 28 – October 2, 2011
Welcome to the 63rd Annual
Grundy County
Corn Festival
Welcome
‘Corn Festival Welcomes Kids of All Ages’
Participates in Festivities
WCSJ FM 103.1 and WJDK FM 95.7 offer live reports on air as they
participate in the many Corn Festival events each year. WCSJ and
WJDK are proud sponsors of the Talent Show held at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday. Patriotic music is broadcast throughout the Saturday
evening fireworks display. Kevin Schramm, radio host, serves as the
master of ceremonies from the Reviewing Stand Stage once again
for the great Corn Festival Parade, beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday. A
complete listing of radio station remotes and events are listed below.
Listen in every day to WCSJ FM 103.1 and WJDK FM 95.7 for all the
fun of the 63rd annual Grundy County Corn Festival.
Wednesday:
• Noon – 1:00 p.m. Live reports from Corn Festival activities in
downtown Morris
• 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Live reports from Corn Festival activities in
downtown Morris • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Live broadcast on WJDK of the WCSJ-WJDK
Talent Show at the Center Stage at Liberty and Jackson Streets
Thursday:
• Noon –1:00 p.m. Live reports from Corn Festival activities in
downtown Morris
• 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Live reports from Corn Festival activities in
downtown Morris
Friday:
• 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Special WCSJ / WJDK Grundy Bank
Brown Bag Friday at Grundy County Courthouse lawn with
Chris Stapleton
• Noon –1:00 p.m. and 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Live reports from Corn
Festival activities in downtown Morris including a live report
with the Corn Festival Queen at the conclusion of the Queen
Coronation Parade. WCSJ FM 103.1 morning host Kevin
Schramm serves as Master of Ceremonies for the Queen
Coronation Parade beginning at 7 p.m.
Saturday:
• 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. - Live report from the Corn Festival Flea Market
and Morris Hospital 5K Run.
• 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. - Live reports from the Kiddie Water Fights on
WCSJ / WJDK
• 9:00 a.m. – Live reports from the Crackerbox Derby
• 1:15 p.m. - Kiddie Parade winners announced by master of ceremonies Kevin Schramm at Taste Tent at Main and Franklin
• 8:30 p.m. - Simulcast on WCSJ / WJDK of music choreographed
to the Fireworks at Stratton Park
Sunday: • 2:00 - 4:30 pm. – WJDK FM 95.7 live broadcast of Corn Festival
Parade with Norm Duvall, Jeff Lockridge, Terry Christensen,
Mike Williams, and Jack Daly. Kevin Schramm will serve as
Master of Ceremonies for the parade from the Reviewing Stand
Stage at Liberty and Jackson Streets.
Listen to WCSJ and WJDK each week after Corn Festival for
button number contest prize winners.
Photos from the
2010 Grundy
County Corn
Festival.
Bottom left, Kevin
Schramm from
WJDK FM 95.7 and
WCSJ FM 103.1
John Sparrow,
Grundy County Corn
Festival President
On behalf of
the Corn Festival
Board of Directors,
we welcome you
to the 2011 Grundy
County Corn Festival.
When Corn Festival started in 1949,
it was a celebration
of improvements to
downtown Morris.
We have changed
and grown over our
63 years, but at the
heart of Corn Festival are kids. Each
year we aim to provide events that
every parent can
attend with their
children, and hopefully bring back
childhood memories of their own.
We know everyone
turns into a kid during Corn Festival,
whether it’s riding
a carnival ride, eating cotton candy,
or participating in
the parade. It is our
hope that you will
bring your children,
grandchildren,
nieces and nephews to start building their own Corn
Festival memories.
Continued on page 7
Bed Races big hit
by Barb Nadeau
The Bed Races were a big hit at the 2010 Corn
Festival. Volunteers took beds donated from the
Grundy County Home, and added their own decorations, sported the fanciest pajamas they could
find, and climbed aboard for a hair-raising wacky
ride down Liberty Street. The result was beyond
the organizers wildest dreams, the crowds loved
it. As a result, the Bed Races have become the
newest sensation at Corn Festival.
Collin Monk, of the Morris Soccer Association,
Continued on page 6
Welcome from Morris Mayor
Throughout the 63year history of this
highly anticipated celebration, the Grundy
County Corn Festival
has drawn thousands
Richard Kopczick, of people to Morris and
Mayor, city of Morris the historic I & M Canal Corridor each year.
The event has grown over the years, but
still maintains its hometown atmosphere.
This is due in large part to the hard work
and effort of the many volunteers that
comprise the Corn Festival Committee.
When my own children were young,
they would look forward to my wife and
me walking with them around town to partake in the various activities throughout
the week. We never missed the crackerbox derby or the petting zoo, and we certainly ate our fair share of corndogs and
cotton candy! Just as it was in those days,
this year’s Corn Festival has something
for everyone as well. From the big wheel
race, gas engine show, water fights and
kiddie parade, craft shows, music on the
downtown stages, and fireworks; you will
find there is entertainment for children
and adults alike. Don’t forget to check
out the delicious fare offered by the many
food vendors who return year after year
Continued on page 7
Thompson of Minooka, parade marshal
By Barb Nadeau
Barry
Thompson,
Minooka Village Trustee,
has been named the parade marshal for the 2011
Grundy County Corn Festival. Thompson was chosen by Minooka Village
President Patrick Brennan
because of his dedication
to the community and service to various organizations including those benefiting youths.
Thompson has been a
village trustee since April
of 2003. He was born and
raised in Minooka, where
he resides with his wife,
Cathleen, and sons, Doyle
and Derek. Thompson
is in graphics management and is the manager
of Quality Assurance for
RR Donnelley, and has a
Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Illinois State University.
Thompson said it was a
total surprise to be asked
to be the Corn Festival Parade Marshal. “I am really
humbled and honored,” he
said. “I am really touched.
This is quite an honor. This
is a great community,” he
added. “It has changed
quite a bit from when I was
a boy growing up here.
Minooka is dynamic and
fun, a very friendly town,
Barry Thompson,
Minooka Village Trustee
and every one is a help to
each other.”
Thompson’s love of his
hometown was number
one in his reasons for running for village trustee and
for being so active in service organizations. “I was
Continued on page 7
Complete Grundy County Corn Festival schedule on page 23
First Midwest Bank Farm Fair 2011 - Schedule of Events
M a i n Street Across from First Midwest Bank
• Wednesday, Sept. 28
10 am–9 pm..................... Taft’s “Mr. Rib Eye” Sandwiches..................... east parking lot
10 am–9 pm..................... Antique Tractor Show –
Grundy County Farm Bureau/
First Midwest Bank.................................. main parking lot
4:30 pm–7:30 pm............. Kiwanis Club of Morris, Chicken &
Pork Chop Dinner/Bake Sale..................... tent on Main Street
• Thursday, Sept. 29:
10 am–9 pm..................... Antique Tractor Show –
Grundy County Farm Bureau/
4:30 pm–7:30 pm............. First Midwest Bank/Grundy County Housing
Authority Chicken & Pork Chop Dinner... tent on Main Street
7 pm–9:30 pm.................. Donna Mueller’s School of Dance Performance.... north parking lot
• Friday, Sept. 30:
9 am–8 pm....................... Miller’s Petting Zoo, co-sponsored by First Midwest
Bank/Grundy County Corn Festival....... main parking lot
9 am-8 pm........................ Shaved Ice Stand.......................................... main parking lot
9 am–8 pm....................... Antique Tractor Show –
Grundy County Farm Bureau /
9 am - 3 pm...................... First Midwest Bank/Grundy County Community
Hospice Bake Sale/White Elephant Sale....... west parking lot
10 am–11 pm................... Taft’s “Mr. Rib Eye” Sandwiches..................... east parking lot
4:30 pm–7:30 pm............. First Midwest Bank / Grundy – Three Rivers Habitat
for Humanity Chicken & Pork Chop Dinner... tent on Main Street
5 pm................................. Registration for Kiddie Tractor Pull, sponsored by
Grundy County Farm Bureau................... west parking lot
(Class 1 - 40 pounds and under, Class 2 - 41-55 pounds, Class 3 - 56-70 pounds)
5:30 pm............................ Celebrity Greased Pig Contest....................... west parking lot
6 pm................................. Kiddie Tractor Pull......................................... west parking lot
7 p.m................................ Bossy Bingo First Midwest Bank /
Grundy County 4-H Extension................. west parking lot
• Saturday, Oct. 1:
9 am–8 pm....................... Shaved Ice Stand.......................................... main parking lot
10 am–8 pm..................... Miller’s Petting Zoo, co-sponsored by
First Midwest Bank/Grundy
County Corn Festival............................... main parking lot
Each depositor insured to $100,000
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
220 W. Main Street
Morris • 941-3725
2011
Grundy County
Corn Festival
Official Newspaper
This Grundy County Corn Festival publication is published annually by Nelson
Publishing, Inc.. Our corporate office is at One Broadcast Center, Plano IL
60545-2100. All content is ©2011. All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
For more information regarding this publication call 630-552-1000 ext. 219,
or send an E-mail to: [email protected].
For information regarding the Grundy County Corn Festival, contact:
Grundy County Corn Festival, 909 N. Liberty Street, Morris, IL 60450
815-942-CORN (2676) • www.cornfestival.org • [email protected]
9 am–8 pm....................... Antique Tractor Display – Grundy County Farm
Bureau/First Midwest Bank.................... main parking lot
10 am - 11 pm.................. Taft’s “Mr. Rib Eye” Sandwiches..................... east parking lot
12:30 pm–2:30 pm........... 4-H Cut Meat Auction
Call 815-942-2725 with any questions..... tent on Main Street
5 pm–9 pm....................... Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Will and
Grundy Counties and First Midwest
Farm Fair Draw Down / Auction......... tent on Main Street
• Sunday, Oct 2:
11 am–5 pm..................... Miller’s Petting Zoo, co-sponsored by First Midwest
Bank/Grundy County Corn Festival...... south parking lot
11 am–2 pm..................... Morris Lion’s Club BBQ Chicken Dinner... tent on Main Street
11 am-5 pm...................... Shaved Ice Stand.......................................... main parking lot
Farm Fair Benefits the Following Organizations:
Big Brothers / Big Sisters of
Will and Grundy Counties
Grundy County Hospice
Kiwanis Club
Morris Lions Club
Publisher Larry Nelson
General Manager Jack Daly
Managing Editor Barb Nadeau Sales Angela Baumeister
Grundy-Three Rivers
Habitat for Humanity
Grundy County Farm Bureau
Grundy County 4-H Extension
Kendall County Pork Producers
Grundy County Housing Authority
Editor Pam Nelson
Administrative Assistant Beth Ellis
Diana Watters Bill Bartz
Graphic Design and Layout Sharon White
text:
copperblack
and
arial
black
elson
Helping to keep the
planet clean for
Children of All Ages.
Wishing everyone a safe and pleasant time
at the Grundy County Corn Festival
Our mission is to provide industry–leading solid waste and environmental
services that exceed our customers’ highest expectations.
We offer a safe, respectful and rewarding workplace for our employees as
we continue to develop a company dedicated to excellence, environmental
responsibility, ethical behavior, and increasing shareholder value.
ALLIED WASTE SERVICES
alliedwaste.com
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Official Newspaper of the 2011 Grundy County Corn Festival
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INCLUDES BATTERY & CHARGING SYSTEM CHECK
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Official Newspaper of the 2011
Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
2011 Grundy County Corn Festival
Nelson Publishing, Inc.3
Grundy County Corn Festival
Advertiser’s List
Become a STAR and Get Your Tickets FIRST!
For details call 815-726-7171 Ext. 206
102 N. Chicago Street • Joliet, Illinois
For ticket information
Call 815-726-6600
or visit: www.rialtosquare.com
Ralphie May
Friday, September 30
Styx
Thursday, November 3
Vince Gill
Friday, November 4
Vox Lumiere
The Phantom of the Opera
Saturday, November 5
The Midtown Men
4 Stars from the Original
Cast of Jersey Boys
Sunday, November 13
Please support these businesses...it pays!
1st Farm Credit Services............................................................... 21
Akzo Nobel Surface Chemicals.......................................................8
Associated Orthodontists..............................................................20
Benson Insurance Agency............................................................. 12
Bill Jacobs – Joliet........................................................................ 13
Braidwood Lions Club.. .................................................................. 12
Brewed Awakenings...................................................................... 12
Country Financial-Dean Tambling..................................................22
Country Financial-Karen Hallmer.....................................................7
Crowberry Creek........................................................................... 10
Dental Smiles................................................................................23
Doc’s Pharmacy.. .............................................................................7
Dolphin Car Wash & Express Detail.. ............................................. 14
Dresden Station – Exelon..............................................................22
Exceptional Dental Care................................................................ 15
Feeney Package Liquors............................................................... 12
First Midwest Bank..........................................................................2
Fraternal Order of Eagles.............................................................. 15
Garden Gate.. ..................................................................................5
GopherSavings.com................................................................. 16-17
Grundy Bank...................................................................................6
Grundy County Broadcasters.................................................... 4, 22
Grundy County Farm Bureau......................................................... 11
Grundy County Housing Authority.................................................22
Grundy County Sheriff, Terry Marketti........................................... 12
Heap Insurance, Patrick Campbell.. .................................................9
Heritage Health.............................................................................22
LyondellBasell.................................................................................7
M & M Bank.....................................................................................8
Maria’s Pizza and Ristorante...........................................................5
Mark Wills Pioneer Seed............................................................... 12
Matteson Ace Hardware..................................................................9
McDonald’s of Morris..................................................................... 14
Minooka Collision Center.. .............................................................20
Morris Community Credit Union..................................................... 15
Morris Dermatology.......................................................................20
Morris Family Dental.. .................................................................... 10
Morris Family YMCA........................................................................9
Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers........................................ 11
myTpost.com............................................................................. 5, 14
Ortiz Eye and Hearing Associates................................................. 21
Paolucci and Company Diamond Center.. ...................................... 15
Paradise Pet Salon........................................................................ 21
Prairie Lakes Country Club and Inn...............................................22
Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center........................................... 10
Quality Home Health.......................................................................8
Republic Services...........................................................................2
Rialto Square Theatre.....................................................................4
Ron Tirapelli Ford.. ........................................................... back page
Service Gas....................................................................................6
Shantel’s Salon and Day Spa.. .........................................................6
Skluts Mens Store......................................................................... 12
Southwest Oil................................................................................ 11
Talty Chevy Buick Cadillac..............................................................3
The Good Table Restaurant.. ......................................................... 21
Twin Oaks Savings Bank............................................................... 15
Walnut Grove Village.....................................................................20
Ways to Wellness MD.................................................................... 11
WCSJ FM 103.1 / WJDK FM 95.7................................................... 12
Thank you!
Von Heidecke’s Chicago
Festival Ballet
The Nutcracker
Sunday, November 27
Colin Mochrie and
Brad Sherwood
of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
Saturday, December 10
Larry The Cable Guy
Saturday, December 17
Sesame Street Live
Do you love your career, but aren’t happy with
the company you are working for?
Did they make a lot of promises
they haven’t kept?
Then we want to talk to YOU!
Grundy County Broadcasters, Inc. currently has two openings
for advertising and marketing specialists. We need ambitious
salespeople that are excited about marketing and have the ability
to coordinate advertising strategies for local businesses. You’ll be
rewarded for your hard work with a great compensation program that
offers salary, commissions, and extra incentives for achieving goals.
For immediate consideration, please e-mail, fax, or mail
your cover letter and résumé to:
“Elmo Makes Music”
December 27 and 28
[email protected]
Mention GRUNDY COUNTY CORN FESTIVAL
when ordering your tickets and be entered to win an
upgrade to our Suite Life Hospitality Suite.
Tickets must be purchased by October 7, 2011. Winner will be awarded up to two Suite Life tickets to
the show they purchased. (Upgrade excludes Ralphie May and Sesame Street)
Grundy County Broadcasters, Inc.
Attention: Jack Daly
219 W Washington Street
Morris IL 60450
FAX: 815-941-9393
For complete entertainment listing:
www.rialtosquare.com
4
Grundy County Broadcasters, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Thank you from the Corn Festival Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the
Grundy County Corn Festival would
like to take this opportunity to thank
the many people who make Corn
Festival possible.
First, thank you to Mayor Kopczick
and the Morris City Council. Each
year you support us in our efforts and
you have never once failed us. Without you, we would not be able to continue growing each year.
Thank you to the city of Morris Department of Public Works and Water
Department. No one knows the hours
you work to keep Corn Festival clean
and running smoothly. We know that
you work extra long hours during
Corn Festival, coming in early and
staying late, and there are not enough
ways to tell you how much we appreciate what you do.
To the Grundy County Sheriff’s
Department, city of Morris Police Department, Morris Fire Department,
and Morris EMS…the same goes for
you. You all put in extra time and effort to allow us to close the downtown
area every night for our guests and
make it look like this is just another
day at the office. Thank you for your
efforts in keeping all of us safe.
We never want to forget the citizens
of Morris, who each year welcome
thousands of friends, neighbors, and
visitors to our city.
Thank you for showing your hospitality and
for your patience. We
know Corn Festival
weekend is busy, traffic
and parking are difficult, and the nights can
2011 Grundy County Corn Festival Board from left,
be late, but you take
John Sparrow, Colleen Donahue, Jewel Buttry,
this all in stride and
Jim Maskel and Sue Morse
help us show everyone
your time to make Corn Festival one
what a great place Morris is to live.
of the best festivals in all of the MidFinally, we thank our volunteers.
west. We can never thank you enough
Our late president, Charles ‘Pete’
for all that you do.
Muffler, used to say “Volunteering is
Grundy County Corn Festival
Board of Directors
the price you pay for your time on this
Sue Morse, John Sparrow, Jewel
earth.” You all give so generously of
Buttry, Jim Maskel, Colleen Donahue
The 63rd Grundy County Corn Festival Committees
Board of Directors
President:.............. John Sparrow
Vice President........ Jewel Buttry
Vice President..........Jim Maskel
Secretary................... Sue Morse
Treasurer.........Colleen Donahue
Office Manager.......Cindie Hunt
Office Assistant.........Kirk Smart
Legal Counsel
Don Black, Mark Rigazio
Antique Tractor Show
Ron Hibler, Chair
Art Show
Ginny Bellamy, Co-Chair
Sheryl Fletcher Coon, Co-Chair
Sherry Lewis Miller
MCHS Delta Phi Art Club
Morris Watercolor Guild
Baby Show
Heidi Kindlespire, Chair
Buttons
Mark Conrod
Terry Doerfler
Terri Gilmoure
Grundy County Chamber
Debbie Pierce
Jim Riebe
Pauletta Sanders
Communications
Grundy County
Amateur Radio Club
Concessions
Jewel Buttry, Chair
Jim Smith
Jim Maskel
Corn, Grain and Flower
Show
Jim Scaman, Chair
Jeri Robinson, Co-Chair
Crackerbox Derby
Stan Motter, Chair
Boy Scout Troop 469
Don Lutes
Brian Newell
Dave Smith
Jack Stark
Phil Bertoglio
Morris Moose Lodge
VFW Men’s Auxiliary
Farm Fair
First Midwest Bank
Hobby and
Handicraft Show
Jim Scaman, Chair
Jeri Robinson,
Co-Chair
Corn Festival Book
Colleen Donahue
Dance Exhibition
Jim Maskel
Bill Morse
Sue Morse
John Ruffner
Annette Ruffner
Dave Smith
John Sparrow
American Legion Riders, Post 294
Decorations
Corn Donated by Bob Bols
Pete Butler
Jewel Buttry
Bill Morse
Sue Morse
John Sparrow
City of Morris Department of
Public Works
Entertainment
Jim Maskel, Chair
Fireworks
Jeff Shaw, Chair
Craft Show/Flea Market
Jim Maskel, Chair
Dick Chapell
Chief Brent Dite and the Morris
Police Department
Chief Bob Coleman and the
Morris Fire Department
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
First Presbyterian Church
Grundy County Chamber of
Commerce
Queen Coronation
Pam Gill, Chair
Jeff Hunt
Safety and Traffic
Morris Police Department
The 2011 Grundy County Corn Festival Board of Directors and Committee thank
these sponsors for helping make the 63rd annual Grundy County Corn Festival a success:
Premier Sponsors
Exelon Nuclear
Miller Coors Brewing Company
and Kozol Brothers
Kiddie Parade
Pam Simpson
Olson Auction Service
Sounddude 101
Deanna Cook
Tanya Downey
Della Rankin
Bev Swiggett
Pie Eating Contest
Parade
Photo Show
Colleen Donahue, Chair
Tracy Stott, Co-Chair
Jewel Buttry
Sharon Donahue
John Frederick
Leigh Anne Hall
Jeff Hinkle
Julian Houston
Fred Lestina
Don Lutes
Silver Sponsors
Spaceco Inc.
Bronze Sponsors
Advantage Realty
Costco Wholesale
Master of
Ceremonies
Kevin Schramm, WCSJ / WJDK
Gold Sponsors
D Construction
Allied Waste/Republic Services
Sue Morse, Chair
Margo McIntyre, Chair
Barbara Wagner, Co-Chair
Morris Camera Club
First Federal Savings Bank
IIC (Illinois Insurance Consultants and
Hastings Mutual Insurance)
Morris Building and Loan
Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers
R-Place
Rezin Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Chamlin and Associates
Grundy County Sheriff’s
Department
Morris Fire Department
Morris EMS/Kurtz Ambulance
Special Thanks
City of Morris, Department
of Public Works and Water
Popcorn Giveaway
Department
Century 21 Coleman-Hornsby
Mayor Dick Kopczick and the
Pam’s Academy of Dance
City Council
Sheriff Terry Marketti and
Public Address System
the Grundy County Sheriff’s
Corn Festival Committee
WCSJ FM 103.1/WJDK FM 95.7 Department
Grundy County Agricultural
District Fair
Knights of Columbus
Morris Area Library
Morris Downtown Development
Partnership
Morris Daily Herald
Morris Community High School
Nelson Publishing
WCSJ FM 103.1 / WJDK FM 95.7
Bailey Printing
Dan Bell, IDNR Goose Lake
Prairie and Stratton Park
FA N TA S T I C F R E E B I E
FREE Appetizer
With any $20 purchase
From the Bakery in Garden Gate
Fresh Cookies
Cinnamon Rolls
Coffee Cakes
Cakes made-to-order
Cupcakes
Located on Historical
Route 66 in Braidwood
Candy and
Cookie Bouquets
for any occasion
Country Market
Every Thursday Through
October
2-6pm
from
And we still have
• Concrete Statuary
• Angels • Benches
• Bird Baths
and more!
815-458-0805
195 North Front St.
Maria’s Ristorante & Pizzeria • 815.942.3351
Not valid with any other offers. Valid on Carry-Out or
Delivery only. One per customer. Exp. 11/30/11
Pizza Ristorante
Fine Italian and
American Cuisine
1591 Division Street • Morris • 815.942.3351
Banquets and Catering • Book Your Holiday Parties Now
• Pizza • Pasta • Seafood
• Steaks • Veal • Chicken
Sun-Thurs 11am-11pm – Fri-Sat 11am-Midnight
FREE The Trading Post
D E L I C I O U S S AV I N G S
$2 off
Any purchase of $12 or more
$5 off
Any purchase of $30 or more
MEAL DEAL
2 FREE Salads &
1 FREE Liter of Pop
With the purchase of any X-Large 18” Pizza
Monday–Friday:
9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Saturday:
8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Buy, Sell or Trade your unused items
TRADING
Anytime ... FREE ... 24/7
on-line: myTpost.com • on-air: 815-941-1550
Nelson
5
Publishing, Inc.
Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
FREE
Babies are major draw, Sunday, Sept. 25 WCSJ 103.1 / WJDK 95.7
by Barb Nadeau
The Corn Festival Baby Show and the Baby
Photo Show continue to draw crowds at Corn
Festival.
Each year, the moms and dads gather with
grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles in the
audience to see the Baby Show, which starts
Corn Festival week.
The Baby Show is so immense that years
ago, it was placed at the start of the week, so
that parents could enjoy the show and still participate in everything that Corn Festival weekend has to offer. It is good for the babies too.
After participating at the beginning of the week,
they are ready for the Kiddie Parade and grand
parade on the weekend too.
New this year is a small increase in the competition fee. It is $7 to enter in each show. The
added cost of the entry fee allows the Corn
Festival Committee extra funds so that they
can mail the photos back to the families after
the show. “This should be easier for the public
and for the office staff too,” said Cindie Hunt,
office manager. Colleen Donahue, board member agrees, “We hate to see photos forgotten
and left at the office after the busy week of Corn
Festival. After Corn Festival, we will just mail
them back to the families.”
The Baby Show is held Sunday, September
25, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Morris Community High School Auditorium. The Baby Show features children aged six months to five years old.
There is a twins category. Boys and girls are
judged separately, with prizes awarded in three
places for the age appropriate contests. Babies
are judged for personality, disposition and overall appearance, and they only have a moment or
two to impress the judges. The Baby Show currently has a registration limit of 20 in each age
group and category. Complete details are listed
in the official Corn Festival Booklet each year.
The Baby Photo Contest features photographs submitted in advance and judged before
the Baby Show. On the day of the Baby Show,
babies and their parents must check in 30 minutes before their child’s competition with a Corn
Festival Button. Ribbons and trophies will be
awarded that day. Please see the official Corn
Festival Book for complete details.
to host Talent Show
‘Kids’ of all ages participate in the Corn Festival Talent Show held Wednesday
night of Corn Festival each
year. Hosted by radio stations’ WCSJ FM 103.1 and
WJDK FM 95.7, the Talent
Show is set to begin at 630
p.m. September 28 at the
Center Stage at the corner of
Liberty and Jackson Streets.
In 2010, the Talent Show
opened with a musical performance by American Idol
Hollywood contestant, Paige
DeChausse. She returns
again to open the 2011 Talent
Show.
Following
DeChausse,
there will be various duos
and solo artists, the Morris Community High School
Cheerleaders, Dancers from
TNT Dance Studio, Mueller’s
School of Dance, and Pam’s
Academy of Dance, and Gym
Zone Tumblers. “We book up
very quickly, and there are
many people on the waiting list” said Jack Daly, Vice
President and General Manager of the radio stations. “It
is crazy, just how popular this
show is! It’s a two hour show,”
he added. “We choose categories for entertainers each
year as we try to put forth the
very best show we can.”
WCSJ FM 103.1 morning
host Kevin Schramm will be
the Master of Ceremonies
again this year, and Beth Ellis
will assist. Mike Williams will
be coordinating and hosting
the live broadcast on WJDK
FM 95.7
Bring the lawn chairs and
join your friends and family.
Make the Talent Show part
of your Corn Festival experience, as Corn Festival welcomes kids of all ages
5KRun/Walk, Tot Trot to be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, October 1
by Barb Nadeau
The 5K Run/Walk and Tot Trot,
sponsored by Morris Hospital and
Health Care Centers, will be held
at 9 a.m. Saturday, October 1.
This is the 10th anniversary of
the 5K Run/Walk. It is coordinated
by Leigh Anne Hall, Wellness
Manager at Morris Hospital.
Whatever your age or ability, the
Run/Walk and Tot Trot welcomes
you. The 5K starts and finishes at
the White Oaks School, traveling
along DuPont, Lakewood, Lake,
Edgewater Drive, King Tree Drive
and back to White Oak School on
a safe and easy course.
Morris Police offer safety and
security during the Run/Walk.
Parking is plentiful, the route is
shady, and rest room facilities
are available at the White Oak
School.
The Tot Trot is a 3.1 mile course
for children eight and under.
Hundreds participate in the 5K
Run/Walk each year. Is this your
year to join them?
Bed races..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................continued from page 1
organizes the Bed Races. “Last year it was a huge hit, with a small group of
beds,” he said. “It was our first time but those who turned out had a great time.
We had a huge crowd come out to watch the bed races, and we expect a much
bigger crowd this fall,” he said.
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Celebrating our 147th Anniversary!
Providing the latest in banking service
Including–24/7 on-line banking,
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See a personal banker today
or visit www.GrundyBank.com
MORRIS ATMs conveniently located:
• Drive-thru, Main & Franklin
• DJ’s South, Route 47 & Southmor
• DJ’s West, West Route 6 & Park Blvd.
• Morris Hospital, 150 W. High Street
In-store branches:
•Jewel/Osco
1414 N. Division
Morris
WILMINGTON ATMs conveniently located:
• Bellettini Foods, 1085 S. Water Street
• Berkots, 700 W. Baltimore
• Main Bank, 120 S. Main
•Wal-Mart
Supercenter
333 E. Route 6
Morris
“Everyone had a theme and put on great costumes. It was very entertaining,”
Monk said, “and we have had many requests to do it again. So hopefully this will
become an annual event.”
All the beds used in the races are standard, and that keeps the contest fair.
Beds are available to teams two weeks before to races, so the teams can prepare, decorate, and practice. But there can be no changing of wheels or modifying the beds for speed. To enter is just $25 a team to cover expenses and
trophies. “No large profit for us,” Monk said. “It is just a fun community event.”
Trophies are awarded for first place, best decorated, and the consolation prize
for the team that tries the hardest. Monk said that the Morris Soccer Association
was not involved in Corn Festival before last year. “We wanted to get our name
out and get involved, and we wanted to thank the community for all the support
we have received. We chose this idea and then ran with it, literally,” Monk said.
“We tested the waters last year, so to speak, and this year it should be larger.”
The Bed Races are planned for 3 p.m. Saturday. More information and registration for the Bed Races is available on line at www.bedracing.com
Shantel’s Salon and Day Spa
201 Liberty Street
Morris
120 South Main
Wilmington
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Sept. 30 • 11am-2pm
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‘Corn Man’ Smart, a new face behind Corn Fest office desk
Corn Festival events for several years.
With a history of retail
management, Smart is a perfect fit for the office that runs
quietly during the spring and
summer months, and then
explodes with activity in the
late days of summer and into
fall. “He is very smart and talented,” Donahue said. He is
by Barb Nadeau
There’s a new man behind the desk
at the Corn Festival office these days,
Kirk Smart of Morris, joined Corn Festival this past spring to assist with day
to day operations.
Smart, affectionately called ‘Corn
Man,’ is good naturedly joining the
business of running this unique and
ever-changing community festival.
Smart says he is “Morris raised,” and
added, “I absolutely love Corn Festival!”
“We needed someone in the office,
and we were sad to see Amy Smith go,
she was really good to have around,”
Colleen Donahue, Grundy County
Corn Festival Board member said. “It
is such a hard job to fill, and Kirk was
perfect for the job,” she added. “Kirk
has worked retail for so many years,
and he knows how to deal with people in general, and families especially.
We knew he had great customer service skills, and most importantly, we
knew he would get along with all of us
very well,” Donahue added, acknowledging that Smart has been active at
Kirk Smart
interested in display too, and
anxious to help with the souvenir sales,” she said. Smart
was a store manager for the
Toys R Us Corporation for
several years, and started
working at the Corn Festival Office August 1, 2011.
“I worked part time through
August, and a full time employee in September. After
the festival, I will be here as needed,”
he said. “It has been fun, they are fun
people and this is really something
different,” he said.
Smart needed an office title, “and
‘secretary’ is just so outdated,” Donahue said. “So we laughed about it and
somehow, ‘Corn Man’ just settled on
him. It is fun and funny,” said Donahue. “He just laughs it off. He is really
laid back, he fits in here very well.”
Pie Eating Contest, old-fashioned fun event
by Barb Nadeau
Corn Festival crowds
continues to flock to see old
fashioned fun events such
as Saturday afternoon’s
Pie Eating Contest. One
of the oldest contests at
Corn Festival, the Pie Eating contest is one of those
events that creates lasting
memories with photos that
find their way into the family
scrap book.
The Corn Festival Pie
Eating Contest is held each
year at 2 p.m. Saturday
at the Gazebo in Chapin
Park. Competitors sign up
early to compete, with five
age categories: five and six
years old, seven and eight
years old and 10, 11 and
years old. Only 30 children
can participate in each contest as space is limited on a
first come first serve basis.
Prizes are awarded in three
places.
The pies are delicious
and easy to eat, the kids
have a great time and it is a
perfect event to attend after
the Kiddie Parade Saturday afternoon.
Mayor..............................................................................................continued from page 1
Sparrow.........................................................................................continued from page 1
as well. The Corn Festival is great fun for the entire family!
And what better way to cap off the week than with the parade on Sunday? I
have great memories of sitting on my father’s shoulders as a young boy, watching the parade and thinking how lucky I was to have the best seat on the route.
With over 150 entries, it’s a fun and relaxing way to enjoy the final day of the
celebration, regardless of where you’re sitting! Please join me in making the
63rd annual Grundy County Corn Festival one of the best yet!
Richard Kopczick, Mayor, city of Morris
As always, we are proud to remind you that your friends and neighbors have
volunteered countless hours of their time to provide this event. They take time
away from their own families each year to make Corn Festival one of the greatest festivals in the Midwest. We are extremely proud of and thankful for the work
they do. It is our hope that if you see a Corn Festival volunteer, you will take the
time to thank him or her for their hard work. We hope you enjoy the 63rd annual
Corn Festival.
Grundy County Corn Festival Board President, John Sparrow
Thompson................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................continued from page 1
fortunate to be able to grow up here in a small town that offered a safe, peaceful
and friendly community combined with a superior educational system. I want
to help guide Minooka’s growth so that we do not lose sight of this concept,”
he said. Community service is important to Thompson too. “I would like to be
remembered for being a good husband, father and neighbor,” he said. “I would
like to be remembered as a person who people could trust.”
Village President Brennan said, “I chose Barry as parade marshal because
of all of his activities in the community. He is the Lions Club president. That is
a terrific organization that gives out scholarships, and funds Boy Scouts, Girl
Scouts, Cub Scouts, and gives glasses and hearing aids to the needy. That’s
just one thing he is involved in,” Brennan continued. “Barry is a volunteer flag
football coach, volunteer boy’s baseball coach, and just recently helped with a
fund raiser golf outing for a veteran who returned and needed our help. He is
a village trustee, and a very, very good one,” Brennan said, adding, “That’s a
volunteer job in itself! Thompson does all kinds of things to help people in our
community. He just is there when you need him.”
In addition to the various other volunteer duties he has taken on, Thompson
organized this past summer’s Minooka Summer Fest. As a volunteer himself, he
had high praise for the volunteers of the Grundy County Corn Festival. “They
have a very nice festival and a great parade. They do it right!” he said, adding
that he is appreciates Brennan naming him as parade marshal. “Pat is a super
guy. I am fortunate to have him as a friend. He is one in a million.”
Thompson, and his attitude of service to community, exemplifies the spirit of
Corn Festival “You have got to give back,” Thompson said, “to the community
that gives so much to you.” Thompson will preside over the Grundy County Corn Festival Parade
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Publishing, Inc.
Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
Congratulation to Paige Brummel, button box design winner New souvenirs available
Corn
Festival
congratulates
Paige Brummel, sixth grade student
at Immaculate Conception School
for drawing the winning artwork featured on the 2011 Button Box displays.
The Button Box design contest is
one of many traditions at Corn Festival. Elementary aged school children are asked to participate each
year in the Button Box design contest. Their artwork is submitted to the
Hobby and Handicraft Show, where
they are displayed by number only.
The winner of the people’s choice
gets to see their artwork featured on
next year’s Button Box signs. The
artwork is reproduced and attached
to the Button Boxes and displayed
at businesses throughout the county. This year, Paige Brummel’s artwork is featured.
Congratulations to her and to
Immaculate Conception School for
another winning entry from among
their students.
Craft Show at Grundy County fairgrounds
by Barb Nadeau
The Craft Show and
Flea Market is the place
to be Saturday. Sponsored by the Corn Festival Committee and
hosted by the Grundy
County
Fairgrounds,
the Craft Show and
Flea Market sells more
buttons each year
than any other venue
at Corn Festival. It is
still just a dollar to buy
a button, and that will
gain entry to any and all
Corn Festival events.
But at the Craft Show
and Flea Market, it will
give you entry to an
amazing world of items
for sale.
“We expect to have
a full house again this
year,” said Jim Maskel,
Corn Festival Board
member and chairman
of the event.
“You can now pay
on Paypal for booth
space,” he said. “We
are always trying new
ways to make it easier
for the exhibitors and
the public.”
Again this year, the
parking is plentiful, and
there will be shuttle
service on golf carts
for patrons who need
to haul their treasures
to their vehicles. A
concession stand will
have light breakfast
items, such as coffee
and donuts, and lunch
items throughout the
rest of the day. It is
a great place to start
Saturday morning, before making your way
downtown for the remainder of the day, or
come in later, after the
Crackerbox Derby, the
Kiddie Parade, and Pie
Eating Contest. Either
way, there is plenty to
see and do, and plenty
of crafts, and products
for purchase. The Craft
Show runs from 8 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Buy local, a benefit of spending money in the
community can have a major impact on maintaining
the community’s quality of life and growth.
by Barb Nadeau
There are new designs for Corn Festival souvenir
T-shirts, sweat shirts and hats in 2011. A whole new
selection of Corn Festival souvenir items, with something for
everyone is presented.
In addition to T-shirts, sweatshirts, hooded jackets and hoodies, there are souvenir pullover
rain jackets,
and hats in
a variety of
styles. New
in 2011 are
c amouf lage
hats, onesies
for
babies,
and
train
hats for boys
and girls. For
the seriously
loyal
and
enthusiastic
Corn Festival collectors
and
fans,
there are souvenir fishing lures, light up yo-yos, a
train whistle, and Corn Festival earrings.
Corn Festival souvenirs are available at the Corn
Festival office before the festival begins, and then at
the Information Booth at Liberty and Main Streets,
and at the new Train Depot on the Courthouse lawn.
The Grundy County Corn Festival Committee has
dedicated their efforts to celebrating the achievements of local merchants throughout the years.
Keeping with the same spirit, wherever possible, the
committee has purchased Made in America souvenir
items. “It has to start somewhere,” said Sue Morse,
Grundy County Corn Fest Board member. “We will
do our best to offer the best items at the best prices
we can, and as that may not always be possible, we
will continue to move in that direction,” she added.
As a result, all new souvenir clothing items have
been Made
the USA,
as Corn
Festival
honors our
in inour
FREE
Piggy
Bank!
American workers.
Make a Splash
with
Cash
Makeyour
a Splash
with your Cash
in our FREE Piggy Bank!
When you fill up your bank, bring it in for deposit and
choose a reward from our PRIZE VAULT!
When you fill up your bank, bring it in for deposit and
PRIZE VAULT!
reward from
ourAccount
Our Smartchoose
Starta Savers
Club
combines our
Children’s Savings Account with fun prizes to encourage
Our Smart Start Savers Club Account combines our
and
teach young ones the value of saving money.
Children’s Savings Account with fun prizes to encourage
and teach
young
ones
the value
of saving
money.
Smart
Start
Savers
Club
Account
No Minimum
• No Monthly
Fee • Interest*
SmartBalance
Start Savers
Club Account
Passbook
or Statement
Piggy
Bank
• Prizes
No Minimum
Balance • •NoFree
Monthly
Fee
• Interest*
orPercentage
Statement
• Children’s
Free Piggy
Bank is•0.10%.
Prizes
*Effective July 3,Passbook
2011, the Annual
Yield on
Savings account
No minimum
deposit required to open. All terms subject to change. Other restrictions may apply–please inquire for details.
*Effective July 3, 2011, the Annual Percentage Yield on Children’s Savings account is 0.10%. No minimum
deposit required to open. All terms subject to change. Other restrictions may apply–please inquire for details.
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Farm Fair, celebrates 32nd year Support Corn Festival, buy button
by Barb Nadeau
Farm Fair, sponsored by First Midwest Bank, is now in its 32nd year at
the Grundy County Corn Festival.
Each year, the bank opens its parking area, and supports local community groups with a meeting place for
various events. Fund raiser dinners
are held every night with four organizations hosting the community. Kiwanis, Grundy County Housing Authority, the Lions Club and Habitat for
Humanity have all found it is advantageous to hold their events at the Farm
Fair tent.
Farm Fair opens Wednesday evening with an Antique Tractor Show
sponsored by the Grundy County
Farm Bureau. The Kiwanis Club of
Morris offers a chicken and pork
Chop dinner, and bake sale.
Thursday, the Antique Tractor
Show continues and the Donna Mueller School of Dance will perform with
dinner provided by the Grundy County Housing Authority.
Friday is a big day, according to
Maggie Robisky of First Midwest Bank,
Millers Petting Zoo will be at Farm
Fair. The Grundy Community Hospice Bake Sale and White Elephant
Sale will be held as well as the Kiddie
Tractor Pull. There will be a Celebrity
Greased Pig Contest and Bossy Bingo. Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity
will host the evening chicken and pork
chop barbecue Friday evening.
Saturday, the petting zoo continues, as does the Antique Tractor display. The highlight will be the 4-H Cut
Meat Auction, and the Big Brothers/
Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties will hold a Draw Down Auction at
the tent from 5 to 9 p.m.
Sunday, lunch is provided by the
Morris Lion’s Club.
Everyday, enjoy Taft’s Mr. Rib Eye
Sandwiches at Farm Fair.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Will
and Grundy Counties, Grundy County Hospice and the Grundy County
Farm Bureau benefit from Farm Fair.
by Barb Nadeau
Buy your Corn Festival Button today and support the Grundy County Corn Festival. It is an
idea as old as Corn Festival, and it still works just
as strongly as ever. The Corn Festival Buttons,
still just a dollar a piece, support the not-for-profit
organization of volunteers who bring this world
class festival to life year after year.
The Corn Festival Button is your admission
to any and all official Corn Festival events and
shows. In addition, the buttons pay off for a full
six weeks after the festival, in gift certificates to
spend with downtown merchants. Prizes are awarded weekly.
1st - $500 Gift Certificate from Grundy County Chamber of Commerce
2nd - $400 Gift Certificate from Grundy County Chamber of Commerce
3rd - $300 Gift Certificate from Grundy County Chamber of Commerce
4th - $200 Gift Certificate from Grundy County Chamber of Commerce
5th - $100 Gift Certificate from Grundy County Chamber of Commerce
6th - $50 Gift Certificate from Chapin’s
7th - $50 Gift Certificate from D.J.’s BP Gas Station
8th - $50 Gift Certificate from D.J.’s BP Gas Station
Button numbers will be drawn and announced each Monday following Corn
Festival. Information on winning button numbers is available through the Corn
Festival Office at 815-942-2676, on the Corn Festival Web site, www.cornfestival.org, announced weekly on WCSJ FM 103.1 / WJDK FM 95.7.
Keep it local, amaze them, Corn Festival Parade does it year after year
by Barb Nadeau
The Grundy County Corn Festival
provides a Sunday afternoon’s worth
of fun and thrills as Liberty Street
gives way to the biggest and best parade in the Midwest.
The Corn Festival Parade steps
off at 2 p.m. sharp under the direction of Grundy County Corn Fest
Board member, Colleen Donahue.
“We keep it local, and hope to see
an incredible lineup, every year,” Donahue said. The people of Grundy
County and beyond are never disappointed. The parade has been celebrated for years as one of the longest
and best organized parades around.
Some things are best left as is,
and the dedication of volunteers
makes the inner workings of the two
and a half hour, 180 unit parade, run
like a finely machined clock. Donahue has a dedicated staff of parade
volunteers who assist in line up of
units that could range from one convertible or antique pumper truck, to a
cavalry-sized group of mounted riders. Everything from scout troops, to
athletic teams, to Shriners on motorcycles and even airplanes, has been
featured in the Corn Festival parade.
It is hours of family fun as crowds
gather from early Sunday morning to
camp out in their favorite spot on the
parade route.
While it is the biggest parade
anywhere, “There’s always room
for more!” said Donahue. “We focus
on family fun here. We seek out the
best in bands and entertainment,
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and make accommodations as well
as we can to help everyone have a
great time.”
Donahue stressed that newcomers to the Corn Festival Parade
may want to plan to come early,
and to realize that there is no parking available in the downtown area.
The Morris Moose Lodge offers parade day parking and shuttle service.
The Moose Lodge is just south of
the Route 47 bridge over the Illinois
River, and shuttle service continues
from the downtown area after the parade. “It is your best option for parking,” Donahue said.
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Mon-Fri 7-7, Sat 8-5, Sun 9-5
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221 Bedford Road
815-942-6240
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855 South Ridge Road
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To learn more about the
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Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
Hobby, handicrafts, corn, grain, flowers all at one place
by Barb Nadeau
Hobby and Handicrafts
Show and the Corn, Grain
and Flower Show are cochaired by Jim Scaman and
Jeri Robinson. The shows are
hosted by the First Presbyterian Church and are in the
lower level.
Youths of Morris help the
committee with set and tear
down each year, as they work
to earn service hours for high
school. “It is good to have
these reliable kids show up, “
said Robinson.
The Corn, Grain and Flower show is dependant on the
season’s growing conditions,
and accordingly Robinson is
hopeful this year’s show is tremendous! “Some years we have
a lot, and hopefully we have a
lot this year,” Robinson said.
Meanwhile the hobby side
of the lower level reflects the
interests of Grundy County
handcrafters. “We have quite
a few quilts,” Robinson said.
“We always hope for more
kids to get involved and we
try to invent new categories.
We accept new things every
year, and people continue to
surprise us,” she said.
For example, wood crafts
are popular, and we look to
add categories there as well
as in jewelry and crochet, and
other needle crafted items.
“No one is ever turned away in
either show,” Robinson said.
Robinson has been working the shows for 10 years
now, and enjoys it. She enjoys working with Scaman too,
who has been working on the
committee for several years.
“I used to enter the show, and
I remember the year my son
won best in show for a sunflower here. That was 10 years
ago, and he was just in grade
school,” she added. These
are the memories that bring
out the kid in all of us, and as
Robinson added, “Seeing all
the people come out to the
show. That is the best part.”
Millers Petting Zoo at Farm Fair, both Friday, Saturday of Corn Festival week
Miller’s Petting Zoo returns to Corn
Festival, co-sponsored by Grundy
County Corn Festival and First Midwest Bank, and will be featured at the
Farm Fair Tent Friday and Saturday
of Corn Festival weekend.
Miller’s Petting Zoo is a family
favorite, offering a variety of baby
animals, all hand fed and tame. The
animals will be featured in pens and
knowledgeable staff will be available
throughout the Petting Zoo hours to
assist families.
Well maintained and attractive,
Millers’ Petting Zoo is featured at fairs
and festivals throughout the Midwest,
which includes Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin.
They are well renowned for their
cleanliness and professionalism.
Included in the petting zoo are a
miniature donkey, young llamas, baby
goats, Jacob Lambs, Flemish Giant
Rabbits, baby pot belly pigs, ducks
and ducklings, chickens and chicks,
geese and goslings, and a baby
Jersey calf. A hand wash station is
provided too, with disinfectant wipes,
for the security of parents.
Miller’s has the largest display of
farm animals in the industry, and is
known as the greatest farm animal
show in the Midwest. Come see Millers’ Petting Zoo, at the Farm Fair at
First Midwest Bank, sponsored by
the Corn Festival Committee.
Water fights draw big crowd willing to get wet
Whether its kids or adults, the competition is the same, it is fierce, it is all
about bragging rights, and it’s a whole
lot of fun!
According to firefighter and water
fights organizer, Jeff House, each
year the Corn Festival Water Fights
draw a big crowd. Firefighters from
around the region gather to compete
against each other in one of the oldest
fireman’s competitions around. Firefighters string a barrel between two
goals, and teams of firemen represent
their department and show off their
skill and power by pushing the barrel
to the opposing goal. Everyone gets
wet and the barrel may spin out in
the wrong direction with a slight push
from the other side. The firefighters
desperately want the winning trophy.
The Firefighter Water Fights begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the 100
block of Washington Street. Then
at 10 a.m. Saturday, the youngsters
compete at the Kiddie Water Fights
held in the 200 block of Wauponsee
Street, between Fire Station 1 and
Fire Station 2.
“It can get quite chilly, but we fill up
in every age group for the kids’ competition,” House said. “It takes until 2
or 3 p.m. to get through all the kids’
contests. They really do enjoy it, too.”
He said. “Some teams were pretty
good last year, and the rounds were
extended for a while. The winning
team is the best two out of three.”
The kids who compete get trophies which are just a little smaller
than the firemen’s trophies, and there
are many firefighters on hand at the
kid’s competition. “The firemen come
down to help the kids who don’t have
partners,” House said. “There are two
kids per team in all the age brackets.
We are definitely against turning kids
away,” House continued. “We will find
a firefighter to match up with them. I
remember being a kid, and it is important to help them out,” he added.
Last year there were 19 teams
competing in the firefighter’s competition on Wednesday evening. “It was a
good turnout,” House said. “Last year
was my first year to organize it. Many
of the departments are still all volunteer, and we got a nice crowd to show
up,” he said. “There is a lot of tradition
behind the water fights. Morris has
hosted it for quite a while. It gets the
weekend started,” House said. “It all
about bragging rights, and being able
to say who has the best nozzle man in
their department.”
There is a lot of skill and finesse
needed to win, and House commented that even the little kids learn that it
takes some doing to move the barrel
down towards the other goal.
There is no prize money, just trophies, and so there is no incentive to
compete, other than getting to brag
that your team won! “The guys come
out just because they enjoy it,” said
House. “They sometime show up
in swim trunks or spray the crowds.
Last year there were really good battles with the teams fighting back and
forth,” he said.
The firefighters all consider themselves part of a huge family and it is
common for competitors to know each
other. “It is fun to get together and visit
too,” House said. “It is a good night.”
MORRIS
Family Dental
Gentle Dental Care
815-941-4343
1216 1/2 Division, Morris
Dr. Lisa Ciucci-O’Grady
10
Grundy County
Farm Bureau
4000 North Division Street
1523 Essington Road, Joliet
waystowellnessmd.com
Morris
Inaugural Celebration
October 1, 2011
2:00pm-5:00pm
1523 Essington Rd , Joliet
You Are Cordially Invited!
815-942-6400
Saluting Corn Fest
on 63 years of
Great Memories!
Please reserve this date and celebrate the opening of our
Wellness Clinic with us! We look forward to speaking
with you and sharing our unique services we offer.
RSVP/Questions 815-730-3750 or
E-mail: [email protected]
• Raffles • Giveaways • Games
• Prizes • Demos
• Tour Our Wellness Clinic
• Meet our Staff
• Snacks/Refreshments • Discounted Wellness Packages
Bring friends, family and children! Enjoy the festivities, speak
personally with Dr. Natalie Schultz or any of our qualified Staff!
Meet our staff and learn how you can be on your way to wellness …
Dr Schultz is Board Certified in Anti-Aging, also
Specializing in Reproductive Endocrinology,
Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy, Holistic Medicine, and IV Therapies
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Publishing, Inc.
Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
11
Corn Festival
Welcomes
Kids of All Ages
Corn Festival Train becomes
an ambassador of good will
by Barb Nadeau
The Corn Festival Express train has become an ambassador of good will, inviting
the county back home and welcoming kids of all ages. The brainchild of Corn Festival President, John Sparrow, the train has become such a fun addition to the
festival that it has been sought by volunteers at a variety of events.
The train is operated by volunteers from the Christian Youth Center,
and as a result, the Corn Festival Committees reimburses the notfor-profit with monetary donations for their time and effort.
“The train has been used by businesses for company picnics,” said Sparrow. “It was fun to have the train last year,
and it was a good time. We are glad to see it out more
this year.” By popular demand we are expanding our
schedule for the train this year. We had purchased
it so close to Corn Festival week last year, that it
was not possible, but we are happy to add more
rides this year,” he said.
Sparrow added that being part of Corn
Festival is such a special experience, but
Corn Fest
Express runs
four days
The new Train Depot is on the
Grundy County Courthouse
lawn, and volunteer drivers from
the Christian Youth Center will
give rides on Wednesday and
Thursday evenings from 4 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m.; Friday from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. and
from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and then
11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Train souvenirs are for sale at
the depot. Come on, all aboard!
The Corn Festival Express
welcomes kids of all ages!
John Sparrow, talking with train engineer
none of it would be possible without the
board, the city of Morris, the Police Department and the city’s Department of Public
Works. “This is one big party that is for sure.
But all of you make it work! We love to hear the
new ideas and we love to bring it all together for
you at Corn Festival,” Sparrow said.
The Corn Festival Express train was one of those
ideas that just took off. This past year the train has
been featured at Home for the Holiday’s during Thanksgiving weekend, Liberty Street Day’s in Morris in July, South
Wilmington Party in the Park at the end of July, and the Lisbon
Labor Day Parade on Labor Day weekend.
Train Depot a new addition; Information Booth takes on new look
by Barb Nadeau
The Corn Festival Express train
was a big hit at Corn Festival in
2010, and the train made many appearances throughout the county at
various events during the year. Now
the Corn Festival committee has decided to create a depot, for patrons
to buy train ride tickets and train related souvenirs.
In addition, the Corn Festival Committee has purchased and outfitted a
new trailer to accommodate a growing
number of souvenirs and collectibles.
Feeney
Package Liquor
209 W. Washington Street
Morris, 815-942-5444
Proud to serve the
community since 1932
MARK WILLS
PIONEER SEED
2040 S. Route 47
Mazon, 815-448-5040
Cell: 815-482-6935
“Science With Service
Delivering Success”
12
The new trailer, a 16 foot concession trailer will be at the corner of
Liberty and Main Streets. The roomy
interior will give additional comfort to
the volunteers who spend Corn Festival assisting visitors. Display cases
are filled with souvenirs. “We wanted
something bigger,” said John Sparrow, Grundy County Corn Festival
Board member. “This will help our
patrons see the souvenirs. We had
requests for different souvenirs,” said
Colleen Donahue, board member.
“This new trailer and the new display
brewed awakenings
Specialty Espresso, Whole Bean,
Tea and Coffee Company
1359 Division Street
Morris, 815-513-5567
GRUNDY COUNTY
SHERIFF,
TERRY MARKETTI
Morris, 815-942-0336
Saluting AgricultureOur State’s Largest Industry
cases will help us display the souvenirs more effectively. We will have a
better selection this year
too,” she added.
The purchase of the new
trailer freed up the old information booth, which just so
happens is the perfect size
to be refurbished as a train
depot. The new train depot
will be at the Grundy County
Courthouse lawn and will
feature special train souvenirs and ride tickets. Get your
train ride tickets, conductor’s hats,
and train whistles at the new depot.
BENSON INSURANCE
AGENCY, INC.
BRAIDWOOD
LIONS CLUB
514 Depot Street
Mazon, 815-448-2155
155 S. Broadway
Coal City, 815-634-3453
www.benson-insurance.com
Mark Calendars Summer Fest 2012
July 19 - 22
Braidwood, 815-791-8093
www.braidwoodlionsclub.org
skluts mens store
WCSJ 103.1 FM &
WJDK 95.7 FM
307 Liberty Street
Morris
Featuring Designer Fashions for
Men since 1928
Radio gets results
To advertise call
815.941.1000 x 124
Nelson
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Publishing, Inc.
Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
13
Happy Hookers Bass Club sponsors Buddy Bass Tournament
The Happy Hookers
Bass Club sponsors the
Grundy County Corn
Fest Open Buddy Bass
tournament, each year,
Saturday of Corn Festival weekend.
The Open Buddy
Bass Tournament runs
from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
on the Illinois River at
Stratton Park in Morris.
Competitors start registering at 5:30 a.m.. It
costs $100 per boat to
compete, and the contest pays out based on
the number of boats.
There is a limit of six
fish at 12 inches, and
the fish are scored by
weight. Complete rules
are included in the official Corn Festival Booklet.
The Open Buddy
Bass Tournament is
sponsored by the Happy Hookers Bass Club
and Bedford Sales of
Morris. For more information, contact Scott
at 815.931.3532 or Kris
at 815.509.1625, or visit
them online at www.hhbassclub.com.
Skinners’ Amusements with new wristband special schedule
New time for Wristband ride specials are in effect for Corn Festival.
Skinners’ Amusements is proud to
offer the best in carnival midway
excitement, with more than 100
years of entertainment.
Carnival rides, amusements, and
foods are all available at Canalport
Plaza throughout Corn Festival
weekend. This year unlimited ride
specials are available for one low
price of $15 Wednesday, from 5
p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday from 5
p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 4:30
p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
Skinners’ Amusements continually adds new rides and attractions
to their carnival midway. They attend more than 25 events a year
in northern Illinois, operating out
of their home in Crystal Lake. Well
known throughout Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago and Ogle
Counties, Skinners Amusements is
affiliated with more than 12 Illinois
Chamber of Commerce and carnival related organizations. These
include the Out Door Amusement
Association, the National Association of Ride Safety, the Showmen’s
League of America, the Illinois
Special Events Board, the Illinois
Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois
Association of Agricultural Fairs,
IISA, IAFE, IFEA and the Mental
Health Resource League Board of
McHenry County.
Skinners’ takes great pride in
their maintenance program. All
rides are inspected in the winter
season. During their active amusement season, their equipment is
inspected by the State of Illinois
Department of Labor at carnival
locations. The employee staff inspects each ride daily as well as
the safety for the riding guests and
the staff is their number one concern. Parents are asked to adhere
to all height and weight restrictions.
Souvenir Internet sales set
for pick up at Info Booth
FREE
TRADING
Buy, Sell or Trade your unused items
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3088 Hennepin Drive
Joliet, 815-254-4012
★New Location!
by Barb Nadeau
For those who want to use their credit card to buy Corn Festival souvenirs, there is a way to do it,” Colleen Donahue, Grundy
County Corn Festival Board member, said.
The Grundy County Corn Festival board has been working to
provide patrons with new options in souvenir clothing and memorabilia, and to help patrons purchase souvenirs more conveniently.
While the Information Booth, which is downtown, cannot accommodate a credit card sale, they do have the souvenirs on-hand. So
the Corn Festival
Board is working
“If patrons buy on-line, we can bag
to make credit card
purchases
easier their order up, and have it ready for
for patrons.
pick up at the Information Booth.”
“If patrons buy
~ Colleen Donahue
on-line, we can bag
their order up, and
have it ready for pick up at the Information Booth,” Donahue said.
“This is for pre-sales only,” she stressed. “We do not have a credit
card machine at the Information Booth. So get on-line and purchase using PayPal on the Web, and then come to the booth for
pick up,” she added. “All sales at the Information Booth will be cash
only.”
The Corn Festival committee saw increased interest in souvenirs in recent years. Last year, an online souvenir store was added
to the Web site where visitors could buy memorabilia. The official
Corn Festival Web site www.cornfestival.org features a souvenirs
tab to direct shoppers to the items for sale.
Art show gains entries
by Barb Nadeau
The
Grundy
County Corn Festival Art Show, held
at the Morris Public
Library continues to
be very popular. “We
get more entries every year,’ said Sherri
Lewis Miller, who
chairs the Art Show
with Ginny Bellamy.
“We get a great response from the
high school kids,’
she said. “Each
person can enter
four 2-D pieces and
four 3-D pieces.”
Miller encourages
participants to read
the rules for the Art
Show in the Corn
Festival Booklet or
online on the Web
site. “We don’t want
anyone disappointed at the show and
we hate turning people away,” she said.
Miller suggests that
participants be sure
they have a way to
hang the artwork for
display.
More than 300
entries come in for
display each year,
and entries are accepted Tuesday afternoon for the show
which runs Thursday
through
Saturday
during library hours.
Ribbons are awarded in many categories for youths and
adults.
Complete
details are available
in the Corn Festival
Booklet.
Mary (Phelan) Pfeifer performs on same stage crowned queen in 1973
by Barb Nadeau
Mary Pfeifer, the 25th annual Corn
Festival Queen, will perform the best
of Patsy Kline, at the Center Stage at
Liberty and Jackson Streets Friday at
7:30 p.m. right after the Queen Coronation.
Pfeifer, at that time Mary Phelan,
a queen candidate from Mazon High
School, was crowned Queen of the
Grundy County Corn Festival in 1973
on the very same stage she will perform on this year. I remember that
day,” she said. I was on a float with
a big white cake for the 25th anniversary of Corn Festival. I was wearing
a burgundy robe and I had a bundle
of flowers. I remember Bob Scaman
was the one whose job it was to keep
tabs on the queen and get her around
town.”
A lifelong Grundy County resident
who grew up in Kinsman, Pfeifer lives
in rural Gardner. She is married to
Don Pfeifer, Jr. and they have six children: Sarah, Joe, Mike, Dan, Patrick,
and Julie. Pfeifer is a high school science teacher at Dwight, but performs
with the Tennessee Boys and Band X
as well as pursuing many other singing opportunities.
“I do not consider myself an imitator of Patsy Cline, as there will be only
one Patsy Cline, but merely an ambassador of her music giving tribute
to her life and music,” Pfeifer said.
Pfeifer’s show is set to begin at
7:30 p.m. with a song list that contains music from the early 1960s to
classic rock. “Singing was something
I thought everybody did for the pure
pleasure of it,” she said. “My sisters
and I sang while we did dishes, especially at Christmas time. We played
records over and over to learn the lyrics so we could sing along with the
radio in the morning getting ready for
school, belting out the current ’60s
and ’70s tunes.”
“When I went away to the University of Illinois, I thought singing with a
group might be fun, so I auditioned for
a choir. Alas, my lack of formal training
caught up with me, and I was unable
to sight read a song for the audition.
I never made it, so I never pursued
singing in public again,” she said. But
God had other plans for Pfeifer. “Fast
forward 18 years – marriage and six
children and making a wonderful life
– and now I am at a birthday party
for my older brother who was always
talking about singing karaoke and
had hired a karaoke DJ for the party. I
looked through the song list and found
an old Hank Williams song that I remembered from my youth. At the end
of singing it, a brother-in-law turned to
me and said, “That was a fine Patsy
Cline”, and I literally looked at him and
said ‘Who?’” she said.
“I later realized there
wasn’t one recording of
her music in the huge
record collection in the
home of my parents.”
The karaoke bug bit
her, and Pfeifer was
hooked. She started
searching out karaoke
venues and learning
Mary Phefier, to sing
new songs.
best of Patsy Cline.
In 1999, Pfeifer was Above crowned Grundy
County Corn Festival
introduced to two indiQueen in 1973
viduals, Pat Gibbons
who gave her an opwith many impressive musical creportunity to join her first band, and
dentials,” she said.
Dave Bernabei who allowed her to
Mary Pfeifer and the Tennesperform Patsy Cline on the theater
see Boys will take you on a journey
stage. “In 2009, I auditioned for and
through the music of Patsy Cline, pergot the part of Patsy Cline in “Always
forming some of Patsy’s 102 Studio
Patsy Cline” she said. The show was
recorded songs, and some of those
performed for seven days in a row at
that were recorded only at live perEngle Lane theatre, being sold out at
formances. Some additional songs
almost every performance.
will be performed by Mike McConnell
Pfeifer performs regularly now as
and Harry Nangle that tie into her muPatsy Cline at Starved Rock in their
sic by way of artists and song writers
‘Tribute to the Stars’ series. She
such as Hank Williams and Don Gibformed the band, Mary Pfeifer and the
son. Throughout the performance you
Tennessee Boys., including Mike Mcwill learn some interesting facts about
Connell on keyboards, Russ Hucek
Patsy’s life.
on steel guitar, Harry Nangle on
More information about Mary Pfeifdrums, Rick Topolski on bass guitar
er and her performance schedule can
and Marcus McGeorge on lead guitar.
be found at www.marypfeifer.com.
“All of them are exceptional musicians
by Barb Nadeau
What would a walk down Liberty
Street be without the enticing scents
of that delicious festival food? Grundy
County Corn Festival comes but once
a year, and it enchants downtown
Morris and every person in its midst.
Again this year, there is a variety of
great foods to tempt your taste buds.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles
#1024, Liberty and Washington
Streets, will serve plain and walnut
fudge, as well as brats and beer.
Dizon’s, Jackson and Liberty, will
serve Shish Kabobs.
Babe’s Candyland, Liberty and
Washington Streets, will serve cotton
candy, candy apples, snow cones,
and lemon shake-ups.
Lemonade and More, Liberty and
Main Streets, will serve pizza and calzones.
Carlson Concessions, Liberty and
North Streets, will serve fresh batterdipped fried vegetables, Texas Tators, fried onion rings, fried cheese
sticks, zesty chicken wings, and fresh
squeezed lemon shake-ups.
First United Methodist Church,
118 West. Jackson Street, will serve
a ham and bean dinner from 11 a.m.
to 7 p.m. Friday, September 24. Corn
bread, pie and pop are included. Music is provided for the evening by the
Nitty Gritty Church Band and Praise
Singers. Sunday, the Methodist
Church will serve pork burgers, cookies and pop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pogliano Pork Wagon, Liberty and
Jefferson Streets, will serve pork poor
boys, homemade pork barbecue and
homemade pulled pork.
Easy to eat your way around fair
Big Fun Entertainment, at the
Goodyear Parking Lot, will serve fruit
smoothies, cheesecake on a stick,
and mocha chillers.
Annabell’s BBQ, Benton and Liberty, will feature pork chop on a stick.
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The Eagles Club Corn Festival 2011
Food Stand:
Bratwurst
Hotdogs
Chips
Soda
Water
Fudge Stand:
Homemade
Plain and
Walnut Fudge
Live
Entertainment
Friday &
Saturday
Morris Eagles Club
Corner of Liberty & Washington Streets
Morris • 815.842.0395
Corn Fest hours: Club opens Wed. Thur. Fri. 3pm; Sat. Sun. 11am
Nelson
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Publishing, Inc.
Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
15
Great Savings at
Local Businesses
Stop by our booth at the Grundy County Corn Festival Craft Show
Saturday, October 1 from 10 am - 4 pm Spin the Wheel for a chance to Win GopherSavings.com Gift Certificates
The Grundy County Corn Festival Craft Show will be at the Grundy County Fairgrounds – Route 47, Morris
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WHERE FAMILY AND FRIENDS
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3567 W. Jefferson St.
669 Mondamin Road
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815-725-1590
815.467.2047
213 Liberty Street, Morris
815.942.0686
410 Liberty Street
Morris • 815.941.4366
Fax: 815.416.0170
223 Vertin Blvd.
Shorewood
815.267.8805
1824 Division (Rt. 47)
Morris
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rve and Deliver
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HOT DOGS
328 Illinois Avenue
Morris • 815.941.4277
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2386 JORIE CT. #4
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3385 N IL Rt. 47
morris
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1134 W. Jefferson St.
Shorewood
372 Bolingbrook Dr.
I-55 & Rt. 53 Bolingbrook
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815.838.5234
Plainfield
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24103 W Lockport St.
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Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
17
2011 Grundy County Corn Festival entertainment..........
Usual Suspects
friday • 8 p.m. • north stage________________________________________________
The Usual Suspects perform at
8 p.m. Friday at the North Stage,
at Liberty Street north of Benton
Street. The Usual Suspects offer
Funk and Rhythm and Blues, and
Rock music.
The band hails from Freeport,
Illinois and features band members, John on guitar and vocals,
Ashli with vocals, Tom on trumpet and vocals, Rick on Bass, Allen on trumpet and keys, Ken on
drums, Jon on trombone, and Ben
on sax and a mean conga.
The band traces its influences
to the artistry of Stevie Wonder,
Janis Joplin, Chicago, Steely Dan,
The Beatles, Susan Tedeschi,
Joss Stone, James Brown, Joe
Cocker, Wilson Pickett, Van Morrison, Sly and the Family Stone.
This amazing group of musicians can be found at www.thesuspectsband.com
Better yet, come out and enjoy
them live at 8 p.m. on the North
Stage, Friday.
The Meteors Friday • 8 p.m. • south stage_ ___________________________________________________
The Meteors will perform on the
South Stage at Wauponsee Street at Illinois Avenue at 8 p.m. Friday.
The Meteors is Chicagolands’ most authentic 1950s
and
1960s
oldies
Rock
and Roll dance
band.
They
present a high
energy Rock and Roll show in the true
Spirit of the 1950s and 1960s. Corn Festival crowds can return with the Meteors
to a time of bobby sox, fuzzy dice and DA
haircuts. Get into the action, put on your
old poodle skirts and saddle shoes, grab
a cherry Coke, and get ready to party
your way through a musical experience
that will always be remembered.
There’s something for everybody,
most of the crowds who come out to
see the Meteors are in the 25-65 year
age group. All five members of the band
sing lead, and play instruments. It’s
quite common to hear three or four part
vocal harmonies in their music. They offer authentic reproductions sure to keep
your ears listening and your feet moving
all night long. Dance the night away or
just come out to listen to the best Rock
and Roll of all time!
The Meteors pay tribute to more than
80 artists and groups from the United
States and Britain, playing only the best
hits from the 1950s and 1960s. Their
musical magic spans more than 20
years, and is sure to bring back many
great memories.
The Meteors are a spin-off of the
very successful and legendary tribute
band “Johnny Star and the Meteors.”
The Meteors Rock and Roll Oldies Show
features five band members, Ron Miller
of Oak Forest, on keyboards, percussion, and vocals; Tony Bicek of Stickney,
on drums, and vocals; Tom Rychter of
Batavia, on rhythm guitar, and vocals;
Sal Salvato of Berwyn, on lead guitar,
and vocals; and Randy Zaccard of Wonder Lake, on bass guitar, and vocals.
Since 2007 the Meteors have been
entertaining at festivals, park concerts,
corporate events, private functions,
country clubs, restaurants and local
clubs, all over the Chicagoland area.
They make their first appearance at the
Grundy County Corn Festival on Friday
at 8 p.m. at the South Stage.
Mary Pfeifer Friday • 7:30 p.m. • center stage________________________________________________
Mary Pfeifer and the Tennessee Boys will perform the best of
Patsy Kline, at the Center Stage
at Liberty and Jackson Streets
at 7:30 p.m. Friday right after the
Queen Coronation.
Pfeifer is a lifelong Grundy
County resident who performs an
The Southside Hitmen
Back Country Roads is scheduled
to appear at Grundy County Corn Festival Saturday, October 1 at 8 p.m. on
the Center Stage
at Liberty and
Jackson Streets.
Back
Country Roads, a.k.a
“BCR”, is one of
the Midwest’s hottest country bands.
Comprised of six
musicians,
this
band brings the big sounds of Nashville home to the Midwest! Performing
7th Heaven
got the part of Patsy Cline in “Always Patsy Cline” she said. Pfeifer performed to sold-out crowds
every night. Pfeifer performs regularly as Patsy Cline at Starved
Rock in their ‘Tribute to the Stars’
series. Her band, Mary Pfeifer and
the Tennessee Boys., includes
Mike McConnell, Russ Hucek,
Harry Nangle, Rick Topolski, and
Marcus McGeorge. Mary Pfeifer
and the Tennessee Boys will take
you on a journey through the music of Patsy Cline at 7:30 p.m. Friday, right after the coronation of
the 2011 Corn Festival Queen.
saturday • 8 p.m. • north stage_ _________________________________
Come enjoy the Southside
Hitmen as they appear at
the North Stage, at Liberty North of Benton Street
Saturday night. The Southside Hitmen is a solid classic rock and cover band.
They have been together
for nearly 15 years, playing
Back Country Roads
amazing Patsy Cline tribute. Pfeifer always enjoyed singing to records in the kitchen over evening
chores, but years afterwards she
was discovered singing Karaoke,
and that opened a new dimension
in her life.
“In 2009, I auditioned for and
music from the early Beatles all
the way up to Kid Rock and today’s rock songs.
The Southside Hitmen has
performed at many pre-concert
parties before major concerts at
Soldier Field in Chicago. Just last
year, the group played before The
Eagles, Bon Jovi, Kid Rock, The
Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban.
The group is set this year to open
for The Rolling Stones and U2.
Their play list includes, these
great songs and many more: Hard
to Handle, Roadhouse Blues,
Two Tickets to Paradise, Sweet
Home Alabama, No Sugar Tonight, Wild Nights, Brown Eyed
Girl, All Summer Long, For Your
Love, I Feel Fine, Tumblin’ Dice,
The Boys are Back in Town, Rebel
Rebel, Devil with a Blue Dress On.
Corn Festival crowds are sure
to love the Southside Hitmen,
making their first appearance at
Corn Festival Saturday at 8 p.m.
on the North Stage.
saturday • 8 p.m. • center stage_ __________________________________
throughout the Midwest since 2009,
BCR’s contemporary sound and dynamic stage shows have earned them
a loyal following and several opening
slots for national acts – Phil Vassar,
David Lee Murphy, Darryl Worley,
Danny Gokey and Country Thunder
USA. Winners of the 2009 Colgate
Country Showdown, BCR includes
the talents of vocalists Mary Noren
and Kyle Miller, Brian Miller on guitar and vocals, Craig Cox on guitar,
keyboards, harmonica and vocals,
Dave Miller on bass and vocals, and
Jarred Klotz on drums and vocals.
BCR tours regularly throughout the
Midwest and has performed at venues such as; DuPage County Fair, De
Kalb County Fair, Kendall County Fair,
Country Thunder USA, Fatty’s in De
Kalb, Brown Pub in Hinckley, and H.D.
Rockers, in Maple Park.
BCR’s Song list includes, “Right
Where I Need To Be”, by Gary Allan,
“I’m In A Hurry”, by Alabama, their
own “Chasin’ Life With You”, “Ol’ Red”,
by Blake Shelton, “3 a.m.” by Matchbox 20, “Settle For A Slowdown” and
“Sideways” by Dierks Bentley, “I’ll
Be”, by Edwain McCain, “8 Mile” by
Eminem, “Big Green Tractor” and “My
Kinda Party” by Jason Aldean, “Boy
Like Me”, by Jessica Harp, “Folsom
Prison Blues” and others by Johnny
Cash, “Stupid Boy”, by Keith Urban,
“Need You Now”, “Lookin’ or A Good
Time”, and others by Lady Antebellum,
“Stuck Like Glue”, by Sugarland, “Little White Church”, by Little Big Town,
“Someone Else Callin’ You Baby”, by
Luke Bryan, “Simple Man”, by Lynyrd
Skynyrd, and many many more! Come
out and enjoy the great country sound
of BCR onstage Saturday, at 8 p.m. at
the Center Stage.
saturday • 8 p.m. • south stage___________________________________________________
The band 7th Heaven is
scheduled to appear at Grundy
County Corn Festival at the
South Stage, at Illinois Avenue
at Wauponsee Street at 8 p.m.
Saturday.
7th Heaven is one of the best
known bands in the northern Illinois area, with an entertainment
resume that is hard to beat. 7th
Heaven has performed at Soldier Field with Bon Jovi, toured
throughout the Midwest, been
featured on all the major television networks, and been featured in newspapers including
the Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, the LA Times,
and USA Today. They have sold
more than 50,000 CDs to date,
and received numerous awards.
7th Heaven averages 80 festivals a year.
Saturday marks their first appearance at the Grundy County
Corn Festival, and it will be an
experience to remember. These
talented musicians have more
than 3,000 songs recorded and
performed with many major label artists. They are here Saturday to fill the streets, and it is a
concert not to be missed.
7th Heaven, Saturday, 8 p.m.
at the South Stage. Be there!
Balloon artist plans to amaze Corn Festival kids of all ages
Get ready to be spellbound
by the balloon artistry and
giggle in delight at this year’s
Grundy Country Corn Festival weekend, as it welcomes
balloon artist Dale Obrochta,
better known as Magical Balloon-Dude Dale.
Audiences will marvel as
colorful three-foot balloons
twirl about as captivating
music plays and audience
18
participants are transforming into stars. Every twist of
the wrist, swirl of a balloon
and funny pun uttered, captivates the audience like a
Pied Piper playing a tune.
Come to Riverfront City Park
and be swept away by the
balloon twisting choreography while enjoying a relaxing
family moment with Magical
Balloon-Dude Dale.
Magical
Balloon-Dude
Dale’s
comedic
balloon
twisting has been seen at
Harrah’s and Horseshoe
Casino, Chicago White Sox,
Chicago Bulls, at private
events for major corporations
and at universities, and educational venues throughout
the Midwest.
See Magical Balloon-Dude
Dale Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at
5:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday at
5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.;
Saturday at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and
7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 11
a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m..
Magical
Balloon-Dude
Dale appears at Riverfront
City Park, south of I&M Canal
Wednesday through Sunday,
sponsored by Spaceco and
Advantage Realty.
Tractor Show enthusiasts enjoy seventh year at Fest
by Barb Nadeau
The Grundy County Corn Festival
Tractor Show is a great homecoming for enthusiasts. Now in its seventh year, the Tractor Show keeps
on getting bigger. “Last year it was
our biggest show ever!” said Ron
Hibler, chair of the show. Hibler, his
wife, Jan, and Don and Missy Phillips organize the Tractor Show for
the Corn Festival Committee. “We
had 70 pieces of equipment including 50 tractors, all antiques, 13 antique garden tractors and seven other pieces of equipment,” Hibler said.
“We had corn pickers, plows, wagons, trucks and even a miniature hay
rack.” Some of the items that come
in surprise us. It is a good hobby,”
Hibler added. “It is not as expensive as restoring antique cars, and
there are so many different choices
when it comes to paint job or other
aspects.”
Phillips agreed, “Restoration is a
big deal,” he said. “People are sentimental, and they want it to look like
Grandpa’s tractor, or Dad’s tractor.
We really see it as a growing hobby.”
Phillips acknowledged that tractor
collections are not a simple prospect, however. “You still need a trailer to haul it, especially if you don’t
want to drive it to the show,” he said.
“But this is for guys who like toys,
I still get to play with tractors!” he
added. “And women like them too.”
Hibler feels it is an honor to be
involved with the Tractor Show and
to be a member of the Corn Festival
committee. “‘Pete’ [Charles ‘Pete’
Muffler] asked me to get involved six
years ago. It is an honor just to be
a part of this group,” he said. “‘Pete’
asked me, ‘Can you see if you can
get a few tractors lined up.’ It was as
simple as that,” Hibler said.
Phillips, who started helping four
years ago, felt the same way about
being asked by Hibler to help. “Ron
asked me if I would ride with my
Dad in the parade. My Dad was a
farmer before he became Sheriff
Gary Phillips. I had never missed a
parade, and here I had a chance to
do it again!” Since joining the committee, Phillips has bought his own
1950 Allis-Chalmers WD and then
purchased a 1948 WC for his wife.
Phillips complimented Hibler for
his work as chair of the Tractor Show.
“Ron runs a good show,” he said.
The Tractor Show is at Chapin
Park Saturday of Corn Festival
week, and then Sunday the tractors
and equipment line up for the big
parade. “We get all the tractors from
Farm Fair involved too,” Hibler said.
The Tractor Show is a Corn Festival event made for adults, who just
want to be kids again. The kids will
love it too.
Boy Scout Troop 469 offers derby excitement, service
by Barb Nadeau
Boy Scout Troop 469 of
Morris will host the Crackerbox Derby at Gould Park
Saturday morning of Corn
Festival weekend.
Sign up begins at 7:30
a.m. with a 9 a.m. race start
time. A few changes have
been made to the race line
up this year. The Cubmobile
race has been replaced by a
new race element. The Boy
Scout Troop has partnered
with members of a local Will
– Grundy Carpenters Union
and Big Brothers Big Sisters to make the Crackerbox
Derby a very special occasion in the lives of some
Littles.
The Carpenters Union
has been helping the scouts
of Troop 469 build 20 extra
derby cars. Saturday, the
volunteers and scouts will
be on hand to assist some
Littles in preparing their cars
for the races.
Area businesses and individuals have sponsored
cars by donating $100 to the
cause. The idea was to get
20 cars on-hand for Littles
who cannot afford the expense of a derby car. The
kids will be able to pick out
their wheels and do some
assembly before the race.
“The Crate Cars will be assembled, painted and ready
to go, they will just need
the wheels attached,” said
Stan Motter, Scoutmaster of
Troop 469. “The Big Brothers Big sisters have invited
20 Littles to the Crackerbox
Derby,” Motter added, and
“We expect they will be racing at about 9:30 a.m. or so.”
The race day begins with
the Open Class, followed by
the Crate Cars, the Plasticwheel cars race is next, then
the Precision Class races,
and the Crackerbox Derby
cars races are last to finish
the event.
After the derby, Motter
said the troop plans to save
the cars for future years.
“Next year, because the cars
have already been built, this
year’s sponsors can donate
half the cost to sponsor their
cars again, at just $50 a car,”
he said. “The cars will each
feature the sponsors name,
and all the Crate Cars will be
featured in the parade each
year.”
The Crackerbox Derby is
just one of the volunteer projects of the scout troop during
Corn Festival week. Saturday, Troop 469 will be offering concessions at Stratton
Park before the fireworks,
with pop, water, coffee,
popcorn and candy. Funds
raised are used to help with
the troop’s yearly expenses,
such as insurance, trailer
and equipment costs.
The Crackerbox Derby is
a blast from the past, and an
event that makes everyone
feel like a kid again. It is one
of the events you just won’t
want to miss. While you are
enjoying the races, thank
the scouts for their efforts, and thank the Carpenters Union and the
Big Brothers Big Sisters
as well. These folks are
all involved making a
difference right here in
Grundy County.
Changes in the Kiddie Parade, participants must preregister
by Barb Nadeau
The Kiddie Parade held Saturday
afternoon of Corn Festival week is
such a fun tradition and so very popular that the Corn Festival committee
has had to make adjustments to keep
it running smoothly.
Each year, parents assist their little
ones, all dressed up in costume, to
the parade route where the contestants compete for top honors. It is a
blast from the past, and few communities can boast of such enthusiastic
participation.
New this year, the Corn Festival
Queen and her court will serve as
judges for the Kiddie Parade. “This
should bring new enthusiasm to the
parade,” said Colleen Donahue,
board member. “The queen always
comes to the parade, but it will be nice
to have the entire court along too. The
kids look up to
these teenagers
as role models.
So this should be
a big hit with the
little ones,” she
said.
New this year,
the
participants
must pre-register
for the Kiddie Parade. “That way they
are all going to be judged in the correct category, for their costume,”
said Cindie Hunt, Office Manager. “It
should help everyone and make the
process of judging the Kiddie Parade
much easier,” she said. “We are glad
to get the girls involved,” added John
Sparrow, Grundy County Corn Festival Board President, “this gives them
something more to do, and lets them
be part of the action,’ he said.
Your entertainment lineup for 2011 Corn Festival
Your entertainment line up for Corn
Festival has something for everyone.
Wednesday, start your Corn Festival
weekend enjoying the talents of friends
and neighbors set to begin at 6:30
p.m. at the Talent Show on the Center
Stage. The Talent Show has become a
tradition of WCSJ FM 103.1 and WJDK
FM 95.7 radio stations.
At 5 p.m. Thursday the Spotlight on
Nelson
19
Publishing, Inc.
Grundy County Dancers, featuring local dance schools, will be featured on
the Center Stage. Afterwards, beginning at 7 p.m. the High School Band
performance featuring local high school
bands perform at the Center Stage.
Friday night three stages come to life
with The Usual Suspects at the North
Stage at 8 p.m., Mary Pfeifer with the
Tennessee Boys Band at the Center
Stage at 7:30 p.m. and the Meteors at
the South Stage at 8 p.m..
Saturday, the entertainment begins
early, with Laughs, Lies and Libations
at the Taste Tent at 11 a.m. Krazy Karaoke featuring karaoke for all ages will
be featured at the Taste Tent beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday. At 8 p.m. the
Southside Hitmen appear on the North
Stage, Back Country Roads appears
Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
on the Center Stage, and 7th Heaven
appears on the South Stage.
The North Stage is at Liberty Street
north of Benton Street. The Center
Stage is at the intersection of Liberty
and Jackson Streets. The South Stage
is at Illinois Avenue at Wauponsee
Street, and the Taste Tent is one block
East of Liberty Street on Main Street, at
Main and Franklin Streets.
19
Photo Show, offers several categories for entries
by Barb Nadeau
The Photo Show offers
recognition in several categories, including best color,
best black and white, best
youth photograph, best in
show for adults and participation ribbons for all youths
who enter.
The show is coordinated
by Margo McIntyre, and Barbara Wagner, co-chairs.
Last year there were 543
adults and 39 youths who
participated,
representing
individuals who enjoy being
part of a camera or photography club, and those who
just enjoy taking pictures. “It
was a nice sized show,” said
McIntyre. “We had a lot of
prints, and that means work
to process and to post them,
but it is fun!”
“New are the special
awards that we are offering
in the youth category,” she
said. “We now have a viewer’s choice award, and the
kids get really excited about
it,” she added.
The Corn Festival Photography show is at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 202
West Jefferson Street in Morris sponsored by the Morris
Camera Club. The Photography Show runs Saturday, from
10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and from
noon to 1:45 p.m. Sunday.
Margo McIntyre and Barb Wagner,
cochairs of the Photo Show
Morris Moose Lodge, happy to offer parade day shuttle service
by Barb Nadeau
The Morris Moose Lodge #967 is
proud to offer shuttle service on Parade Day. The Moose has offered
shuttle service on Corn Festival
Sundays for three years, according
to Jack Stark, a 20 year member of
the lodge. “We use hospital buses,
that are handicapped accessible and
volunteer drivers,” he said, and all the
buses have a lift for wheel chairs. We
don’t charge for the trip, but we are
happy to take donations, and we usually get enough in donations to cover
gassing up the vehicles,” he said.
This is a good service project for
our lodge,” Stark added. “We are
able to give people, especially handicapped people, a good place to park
and a ride to see the parade.” Grundy
Corn Festival Fireworks
to include WCSJ / WJDK
musical simulcast
Saturday night the
place to be is Stratton
Park for the Corn Festival Fireworks show,
sponsored by Exelon
– Dresden Generating
Station.
Exelon has sponsored the fireworks
display for many years,
each time offering an
amazing display. The
effect of the fireworks
spread across the canvas of the water’s edge
gives the viewer the
impression of double
the show.
The show is accentuated each year by a
musical simulcast provided by WCSJ FM
103.1 and WJDK FM
95.7. The fireworks
begin promptly at 8:30
p.m. Saturday.
Boaters can watch
the fireworks from their
boats if they are anchored close to shore
on the north side of the
river. The city of Morris Fire Department
will be providing security on the water. Once
the introductions begin
at 8:25 p.m., boaters
must not move into the
secured area. County Corn Fest Board member and
Parade Chairman, Colleen Donahue
agreed, “The buses drop at Washington and Franklin Streets near the Post
Office, and will run for an hour after
the parade.
Anyone can use the service, and
it is really nice for the handicapped,
so that they don’t have to use handicapped access street parking. Those
spaces are really limited in number,”
she said, adding, “The buses drop
passengers off close to the parade
route, so the drive to the Moose parking lot is worth it.”
The Moose shuttle bus service
gave about 30 rides last year, approximately 12 bus trips back and forth.
“This really speaks to our mission of
service,” Stark said.
Taste Tent–rendezvous destination
by Barb Nadeau
The Taste of Corn Festival Tent, in Baum’s parking lot at the corner of Main
and Franklin Streets, offers more than just great food and entertainment, the
Taste Tent is a gathering place for friends and family.
The Taste Tent is a welcome spot on a cold and windy day and on a sunny
day too. People gather throughout the weekend to see some fun entertainment
and to get a bite to eat.
Sponsored by the Corn Festival Committee, the Taste Tent offers a variety
of specialty dishes, and picnic tables and chairs, where folk can sit down and
relax. It is your hide out for family gatherings, to just stop in for a quick bite, or to
rendezvous with friends to plan your next stop in the downtown area. Check out
the Taste of Corn Festival Tent. It is a Corn Festival tradition.
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2010 queen, Natalie Jones, sees value of serving others
by Barb Nadeau
Natalie Jones has served Grundy
County well as the 2011 Corn Festival Queen. For Jones it was a magical year.
A senior at Minooka High School,
Jones has spent most of her growing up years in the Minooka area and
had never attended Corn Festival. So
being nominated by her peers and
then attending the coronation and
parade Friday night, Jones had her
first taste of Corn Festival. After that
the year became one lasting memory
after another.
“I definitely want to thank everyone
on the Corn Festival board for everything they have done for me, and for
Grundy County,” she said. “Especially
as this was my first year at Corn Festival. It was a blast! My very first year,
and I was queen! It was a great experience,” Jones exclaimed.
Board members were thrilled to
see Jones enthusiasm too, as they
were able to rediscover the magic of
Corn Festival week through the new
queen’s eyes. Jones enjoyed as many
events that weekend as she could attend and then continued to wear her
crown and sash to school for many
days afterwards. “I hang out with different kids from many other schools,
and everyone thinks it sounds so
cool. My friends all call me queen,”
she said. “I wore my crown for a week
at school, I had so much fun! It may
sound corny but it was an absolute
blast,” she added.
Jones is the daughter of Gregg
Jones of Shorewood and Colette
Meyer of Plainfield. “I have a brother
Nolan and step siblings Zach and
Lauren. My brothers are older, and in
college, and Lauren is my age, we go
to the same school. They were really
happy for me,” she said.
Jones said that she enjoyed the
entire experience of Corn Festival.
“Just going and experiencing everything was wonderful,” she said. “Going to all the events at Corn Festival
and then all the parades this past
year, and seeing everything Grundy
County has to offer, it has opened my
eyes to how big Grundy County really
is,” she said.
Jones thanked board member
Colleen Donahue for her help this
past year, for attending all the events
with her and assisting her along the
way. “I love Colleen! I wouldn’t know
what I would have done without her.
She helped me through everything.
Colleen completely helped me so
much! She always watches out for the
queen,” she said. “I want to thank my
Dad too, for all his support,” she said.
“I couldn’t have done it without him.”
Jones had a bit of advice for the
new Corn Festival Queen. “Have fun.
Embrace it. You need to make it the
best time you can,” she said, adding
how impressed she was with what an
impact the Corn Festival Queen can
have. “Little kids run up to you and
older people too. You get asked so
many questions. Just have fun and
take it like it is,” she said.
In addition to being a high school
student, Jones works at Smart Body
LA Fitness, at the concession making
smoothies and protein shakes. “I really like it,” she said.
After high school she hopes to
become an occupational therapist.
“I want to go to Missouri University. I
just really like helping people, and with
O.T. you can switch from little children
to older people. You can make house
queen, Natalie Jones, left, with Colleen
Donahue, Corn Festival Board Treasurer
calls, and I like helping people and
helping them get better,” she said
Jones is a member of the golf team
and student council at Minooka High
School. She is a member of the Joliet
Juniorettes Young Women’s Club and
the Athletic Leadership Club. “Both
these clubs really helped me,” she
said. “We did a lot of community service, and I saw how many opportunities there are to help others.”
Corn Festival queen, court to judge kids events
by Barb Nadeau
The 2011 Corn Festival Queen and her
court have been designated as the judging
panel for Saturday’s
children’s activities: the
Kiddie Parade and Pie
Eating Contest.
“We always ask
the Queen to attend
the kids’ events,” said
Colleen Donahue, Corn
Festival Board member.
“This year we decided
to ask all the girls, and
to have them be the
judges for the events.
We will have new unbiased judges, and that
will add a new dimension to the contests,”
she said. “We plan
to have the girls get
together beforehand to
have lunch together,”
she added.
Donahue
credited
2010 Queen Natalie
Jones’ father for the
idea. “Natalie was excited about the idea and
thought it was great!”
Donahue said. “This
will help the girls out,
as they head into this
2010 queen, Natalie Jones, to
host luncheon for new court
by Barb Nadeau
Natalie Jones, a senior at Minooka
High School, concludes her reign as
the Queen of Corn Festival Friday
night when she crowns a new queen.
But Saturday afternoon, she will host
the 2011 Queen and her court at a
royal luncheon.
Jones has been a remarkable ambassador for the Grundy County Corn
Festival, her county and her community. She has appeared at many
events and parades to invite others
to get involved and participate in the
Corn Festival as well as other special events that promote tourism, and
community pride.
Jones last official appearance as
Corn Festival Queen will be Saturday
afternoon, as she hosts the new 2011
Corn Festival Queen and the Queen’s
court to a luncheon. The girls will gather and celebrate at an area restaurant, and learn about the many duties
involved in being an ambassador for
Corn Festival and the county. Jones
will be able to share her stories and
memories with the new court, of meeting people, and of promoting Corn
Festival throughout the year. It will be
the first time the Corn Festival has offered this very special luncheon.
new year representing
the festival. We plan to
do this year after year.”
The luncheon before
the children’s events will
be held at a place to be
determined. “It will be
a surprise,” said Donahue. “Basically we are
going to ask the girls to
tell us where they want
to eat out.”
“This will give them
a nice chance to hang
out together, to catch
up with what is going on
at Corn Festival,” said
Office Manager Cindie
Hunt. “It will help the
new queen learn the
job and get some tips
and advice and get her
questions
answered,
Hunt said.
Then it is off to the
events of the day, and to
enjoy the crazy rivalry of
the pie eating contest,
and the sweet sights of
the Kiddie Parade.
Parents, what’s on your child’s
back-to-school list?
An eye exam should be
at the top of the list.
Time to focus on books,
chalkboards, computers and homework
Back-To-School Special
Frame &
Lens Package
Call Ortiz Eye and Hearing Associates
today to set up your appointment!
Receive FREE pair of
PLANO Sunglasses
while supplies last
Paradise Pet Salon
Pampurr Your Pet!
All breeds of dogs and cats welcome
10% Off to all new clients!
Paradise Pet Salon
1540 Creek Drive
Morris • 815.941.2243
Nelson
21
Publishing, Inc.
Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
21
Home of the
To Fairgrounds for the
Craft Show/Flea Market
Grundy County
Corn Festival
Key for the
Grundy County
Corn Festival map
▲ North
Morris, Illinois
6
80
George Street
Advertising, Marketing
and Sales Professionals
oad
rd R
fo
Bed
6
Do you love your career,
but aren’t happy with the
company you are working for?
Did they make a lot of
promises they haven’t kept?
Then we want to talk to YOU!
Waverly
47
Hospital
High
Shabbona
School
12
13
7
Division
High
School
Liberty
Wauponsee
Lisbon
Union
Corn Festival
Office
North Stage
Goold
Park
Benton
Grundy County Broadcasters,
Inc. currently has two openings
for advertising and marketing
specialists. We need ambitious
salespeople that are excited
about marketing and have
the ability to coordinate
advertising strategies for local
businesses. You’ll be rewarded
for your hard work with a great
compensation program that
offers salary, commissions,
and extra incentives for
achieving goals.
Chapin
Park
11
Chapin
17
North
Presbyterian
Church
1 2
City Hall
Police
Station
3
4
Fire
Station
Major Corn Festival
events happen within
this area of Morris.
15
Map is not to scale.
Griggs
South Stage and
Parade Check-in
10
Jackson
Franklin
9
Reviewing
Stand
Calhoun
Nettle
West
1. City Hall/Police
Station
2. Bethlehem Lutheran
Church
3. First Midwest Bank
4. Fire Department
5. Courthouse
6. Carnival
7. North Stage
8. Taste of Corn Festival
9. Center Stage
10.First Presbyterian
Church
11.Chapin Park
12.Goold Park Drive
13.Morris High School
14.Stratton Park
15.South Stage
16.Grundy County
Fairgrounds
17.Morris Library
3 mi. N to #16
Jefferson
Main
8
Washington
5
County
Court
House
Illinois
6
Straton
Park
14
Your interest will be
kept confidential.
But don’t wait. There
are only two positions!
Illinois River
For immediate
consideration,
please e-mail,
fax, or mail your cover
letter and résumé to:
Grundy County
Broadcasters, Inc.
Attention: Jack Daly
219 W Washington Street
Morris IL 60450
WCSJcareers@
NelsonMultimedia.net
FAX: 815-941-9393
2011
How much money will you save living at
the Grundy County Housing Authority?
Saratoga Tower...Morris, IL
Mazon Park Place...Mazon, IL
Gardner Village Commons...Gardner, IL
We offer affordable living opportunities
for all program qualified residents of
Grundy County. (815) 942-6198
• Twilight golf every day after 3pm.
$15 for 9 holes and a cart
• Thursday Night Steak night.
$25 for 9 holes with cart and
a Ribeye Steak dinner afterwards.
• Tuesdays
3 Tacos or Taco Salad $5.00
Margaritas $2.00 • Coronas $2.50
C O U P O N
9 Holes
with Cart
$
10
Good all day Monday - Friday
except Thursday only until 3pm
2550 N. 32nd Road, Marseilles
www.prairielakescc.com • 815-795-5107
22
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Noon – 4:00 pm.............Baby Show – Morris High School Auditorium (entries close Wednesday, September 21 at 5:00 pm) –
sponsored by Morris Building and Loan
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm............................................................................. Photo Show entries accepted – Bethlehem Lutheran Church
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.................................Steak Sandwiches on the Courthouse Lawn, Help Crime Victims of Grundy County,
sponsored by the Grundy County Justice Assistance Board
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm................................................................................................. Art Show entries accepted – Morris Area Library
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
10:00 am – 9:00 pm............................................................................................... Farm Fair – Wauponsee and Washington Streets
11:00 am – 9:00 pm..............................................................................................Taste of Corn Festival – Franklin and Main Streets
4:00 pm – 8:30 pm........................................................................................Train Rides – depart from Grundy County Courthouse
4:30 pm – 7:30 pm...............................................................................................................Chili Supper – First Presbyterian Church
5:00 pm – 8:30 pm.............................................................................................. Skinners’ Amusements Carnival – Wristbands $15
5:30 pm..................................................................... MCHS Madrigal Singers - Taste of Corn Festival - Franklin and Main Streets 5:30 pm.......................... “Magical Balloon Dude” – Free entertainment for all ages – Riverfront City Park, south of I&M Canal
– sponsored by Spaceco and Advantage Realty
6:00 pm..................................................................................................................Water Fights – 100 block West Washington Street
6:30 pm............................................... Talent Show – Center Stage – Liberty and Jackson Streets – sponsored by WCSJ/WJDK
7:30 pm.......................... “Magical Balloon Dude” – Free entertainment for all ages – Riverfront City Park, south of I&M Canal
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
10:00 am – 9:00 pm............................................................................................... Farm Fair – Wauponsee and Washington Streets
9:00 am – 8:00 pm............................ Art Show – Morris Area Library – sponsored by Rezin Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
4:00 pm – 8:30 pm.................................................................................................Train Rides – depart Grundy County Courthouse
5:00 pm............Spotlight on Grundy County Dancers – Center Stage – Liberty and Jackson Streets – sponsored by Culver’s
5:30 pm....“Magical Balloon Dude” – Free entertainment for all ages – Riverfront City Park, south of I&M Canal – sponsored
by Spaceco and Advantage Realty
7:00 pm....................................................................... High School bands perform – Center Stage – Liberty and Jackson Streets
2410 W. Jefferson Street
Suite 108 • Joliet
(815) 744-4443
(Intersection of Jefferson and Barney in front
of Walmart in the Panda Express Plaza)
www.DentalSmilesof Joliet.com
New
Patient $
Special....
49
Exam and X-rays
With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or
prior service. Offer expires 12/31/11
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
9:00 am – 11:00 pm................................................................................................ Farm Fair – Wauponsee and Washington Streets
10:00 am – 6:00 pm.......................... Art Show – Morris Area Library – sponsored by Rezin Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
10:00 am – 5:00 pm..................................................................................................... Log Home Festival – 4380 W. Southmor Road
11:00 pm – 8:30 pm...............................................................................................Train Rides – Depart Grundy County Courthouse
11:00 am – 2:00 pm.............. Brown Bag Friday – Grundy County Courthouse – sponsored by WCSJ/WJDK and Grundy Bank
11:00 am – 7:00 pm......................................................................................Ham and Bean Dinner – First United Methodist Church
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 pm.....................................“Laughs, Lies, and Libations” – Taste of Corn Festival – Franklin and Main Streets
4:00 pm – 8:30 pm.................................................................................................Train Rides – depart Grundy County Courthouse
5:00 pm......................... “Magical Balloon Dude” – Free entertainment for all ages – Riverfront City Park, south of I&M Canal
5:00 pm................................................. Free popcorn giveaway – Liberty and Washington Streets and 400 block Liberty Street
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm......................................................... Hobby and Handicraft Exhibit entries taken – First Presbyterian Church
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm...............Corn Grain and Flower Show entries taken – Grain entries accepted – First Presbyterian Church
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm........................................................................................................................... Skinners’ Amusements Carnival
7:00 pm.....Queen Coronation parade with Coronation immediately following at Center Stage – Liberty and Jackson Streets
7:30 pm...............................................................................................“Mary Pfiefer” – Center Stage – Liberty and Jackson Streets
8:00 pm.............................................................................. “The Usual Suspects” – North Stage – Liberty Street, north of Benton
8:00 pm.............................................................................. “The Meteors” – South Stage – Wauponsee Street and Illinois Avenue
8:00 pm.............................................................................................................................. Doug’s Dancers – 200 block Liberty Street
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1
7:00 am – 3:00 pm................................................... Happy Hookers Bass Club – Open Buddy Bass Tournament – Stratton Park
8:00 am – 4:00 pm........................................................................................Craft Show/Flea Market – Grundy County Fairgrounds
8:00 am – 10:00 am................ Corn Grain and Flower Show – Flower and Grain entries accepted – First Presbyterian Church
8:00 am – 5:00 pm....................................................................................................... Log Home Festival – 4380 W. Southmor Road
9:00 am – 11:00 am................................................................................................ Farm Fair – Washington and Wauponsee Streets
9:00 am – 4:00 pm............................ Art Show – Morris Area Library – sponsored by Rezin Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
9:00 am – 5:00 pm..................... Antique Tractor and Farm Machinery Show – Chapin Park – sponsored by Costco Wholesale
9:00 am.................................................................................................................................................Crackerbox Derby – Gould Park
9:00 am......................................................................Morris Hospital 5k Fun Run – Start/Finish at White Oak Elementary School
9:00 am – 10:00 am..................................Registration for Kiddie Water Fights – Wauponsee Street between Fire Station 1 & 2
10:00 am – 8:00 pm............................ Photography Show – Bethlehem Lutheran Church – sponsored by Morris Cameral Club
11:00 am – 8:30 pm................................................................................................Train Rides – Depart Grundy County Courthouse
Noon – 7:00 pm ...........Hobby and Handicraft Show – First Presbyterian Church – sponsored by First Federal Savings Bank
Noon – 7:00 pm............................... Corn Grain and Flower Show – First Presbyterian Church – sponsored by Morris Hospital
1:00 pm – 10:00 pm........................................ Skinners’ Amusements Carnival – Wristbands $15 from 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm ONLY
12:30 pm................................................................................. Lineup and Judging for Kiddie Parade – South Side of Chapin Park
1:00 pm............................................................................................................................................................................... Kiddie Parade
2:00 pm............................................................ Pie Eating Contest – Chapin Park Gazebo – sponsored by Chamlin & Associates
2:30 pm............................................................. Check-in and Inspection for Bed Races – Illinois Avenue and Wauponsee Street
3:00 pm......................................................... Bed Races – 200 block Illinois Avenue – Sponsored by Morris Soccer Association
6:00 pm...................................................................................................Outdoor Worship Service – First United Methodist Church
6:00 pm................................................................................“Krazy Karaoke” – Taste of Corn Festival – Franklin and Main Streets
8:00 pm.......................................................................... “The Southside Hitmen” – North Stage – Liberty Street, north of Benton
8:00 pm................................................................................“Back Country Roads” – Center Stage – Liberty and Jackson Streets
8:00 pm.................................................................................“7th Heaven” – South Stage – Wauponsee Street and Illinois Avenue
8:30 pm.................................................................................................................. Fireworks – Stratton Park – sponsored by Exelon
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2
63rd
Annual
Grundy
County
Corn
Festival
Nelson
23
Publishing, Inc.
Attend the church of your choice
9:00 am – 1:00 pm..................... Antique Tractor and Farm Machinery Show – Chapin Park – sponsored by Costco Wholesale
9:00 pm – 5:00 pm................................................................................................. Farm Fair – Wauponsee and Washington Streets
9:00 am.......................................................................Free Shuttle from Morris Moose Lodge to Franklin and Washington Street.
Service continues until one hour after the end of the parade.
11:00 am..........................................................................................................................Lions Club Chicken Dinner – Farm Fair Tent
11:00 am........................ “Magical Balloon Dude” – Free entertainment for all ages – Riverfront City Park, south of I&M Canal
11:00 am........................................................Dance Schools perform – 100 block W. Washington and 300 block Liberty Streets
11:00 am......................................................................................................................Pork Burgers – First United Methodist Church
11;00 am – 2:00 pm....Hobby and Handicraft Exhibit – First Presbyterian Church – sponsored by First Federal Savings Bank
11:00 am – 2:00 pm......................... Corn Grain and Flower Show – First Presbyterian Church – sponsored by Morris Hospital
Noon................................................................................................................... Kiwanis Big Wheel Race – 200 block Liberty Street
Noon – 1:45 pm....................................Photography Show – Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Sponsored by Morris Camera Club
12:30 pm.......................On Broadway Dancers and Jesse White Tumblers, sponsored by Shantels – 400 Block Liberty Street
2:00 pm....................................................................................................................................... Grundy County Corn Festival Parade
Official
Grundy
Newspaper
County Corn
of theFestival
ly and
d
n
e
i
fr
a
We haveessional staff
prof ready to
that is to our O ffice
e You
Welcom
(815) 744-4443
23

GRundy county coRn FestIval

Transcription

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