By Dan Dauw
Geneseo Current
Olivia Egert
This young lady, who attends the University of Illinois, is going to make a run for the Miss Illinois USA Pageant on Friday, May 23, 2025. She has already won the Miss Mississippi Crown Pageant, 2025.
She belonged to the Geneseo Kiwanis Key Club. The Kiwanis members donated money towards her adventure. The pageant will be held at the Illinois State University’s Braden Auditorium, Normal, IL.
Tickets range from $91.00 to $99.00. I am not to sure there are any tickets left for the pageant. Miss Egert gave those donors an autographed photo and personal note thanking them for contributing to her fundraiser in benefit of the Miss Illinois scholarship.
If you ever had the chance to talk with Olivia Egert you cannot help feel she is a very special young lady. Her personality matches her beauty and that says it all. We wish her the very best at the pageant.
10th Year Anniversary
That being the “Vintage Farm Equipment Show,” on Saturday, September 13, 2025, Bridge Park, Rock Island Avenue, Atkinson, IL. It’s about 4 months away, but Dave Carton, Show Garu, already has the flyers distributed at various places in Henry County.
It is free to the public with displays such as Horse-drawn equipment, hit-miss engines, Farm tractors and equipment, Lawn and garden tractors (stock ‘n custom), Vintage farm trucks and motorcycles, Horse ferrier, and Blacksmithing demonstrations. Food & modern restrooms are available with plenty of free parking for your Rolls Royce.
I will be giving presentations at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on “Aircraft Carriers.” Hope to see you there!
Henry County Museum
It is now open daily for visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It used to be a school with each “classroom” showing different theme of antique artifacts. For example, the farm room displays buggies, plows, etc. My favorite is the “Military Room!”
If you love history and antiques, make sure to visit this museum located at the corner of Knox and Park St., Bishop Hill, IL. Great restaurants, too!!!
Geneseo Ikes “Youth Fishing Derby”
This popular event is not too far away! The derby will begin at 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for kids age 2 to 16. It’s all free including lunch and prizes. It will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, along the canal at the Geneseo Ikes campground, 1 mile north of Geneseo on Rt. 82.
All kids must register at the brown building next to the canal. Bait and fishing poles will be provided if need be. Winners are determined in each of 4 age groups (2-5, 6-9, 10-12 and 13-16). This event is really a fun time.
When I Wasn’t Old
1)A buddy and I used to walk through alleys searching for items that people put out in the trash. We were in our pre-teens and lots of kids would do the same fun thing. I can’t remember any of the junk we took, but it wasn’t stealing. It was fun.
2)There was a mild earthquake in Moline when I was a teenager. I cannot remember when it happened, but I do remember it was all the talk.
3)I took a fishing trip once with some guys to Wisconsin. One night a friend and some others tipped over a single hole’r. There was a girl inside that the guys knew and she was mad. She didn’t get hurt. Ha! Years later the one kid graduated from West Point and was mayor of Davenport.
4)I had an aunt who became mentally ill. I liked her. Sadly, I remember one time seeing her dancing in downtown Rock Island. There was no music and she had no partner. She ended up at a mental institution in East Moline. Later it became a prison which is still that today. Her husband had serious booze problems, and they had three daughters. That is a sad story in itself.
5)“Go fly a kite!” That was a fun thing to do many moons ago. I wonder if kids do that anymore. Yeah, probably not! Lots of times my kite would find itself a tree or a telephone pole.
Humor
1)I forgot when Lorna’s birthday is so I asked her when her birthday was? She said, “March 1st.” So, I walked around the room and asked again.
2)Our daughter accidently took her cat’s med’s last night. Don’t ask “Meow.”
3)Our son’s dog accidentally ate a whole bag of scrabble tiles. So, he took him to the vet. Still no word yet.
4)Next week we start “Diarrhea Awareness Month.” Runs until Friday.
5)If a child refuses a nap, are they resisting a-rest?
Quote of the Week
“People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.” - Eric Hoffer