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St. Elmo News-June 30, 2011

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thursday, June 30
• Exxon/Mobil Annuitants, noon, Vandalia Ponderosa.

Monday, July 4
• Have a happy 4th of July.
Tuesday, July 5
• Friendly Neighbors will have a potluck at noon at the Phillips Building.
• The St. Elmo City Council, 7 p.m., Phillips Building.
Thursday, June 7
• St. Elmo Business Association, noon, Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
• Fayette County 4-H food and clothing projects have to be checked in at 12:30 p.m. at the Good Old Days Banquet building, Brownstown. The food and clothing shows will start at 1 p.m.
• Wheatland Unit of Home and Community Education, 9 a.m. at the Altamont Alwerdts Gardens.
American Legion
Elected officers were installed at the meeting of the St. Elmo American Legion Post #420 held the evening of June 14 at the American Legion Home.
The officers are: Charles Bosomworth, commander; Lucian Chandler, first vice commander; R. W. Smith, second vice commander; Richard Lowe, chaplain; Ernie Myers, adjutant; Xon Hanna, finance officer; Doyle Beck, sergeant-at-arms; and Clement Lilly, service officer.
Lowe installed the officers. Chandler and Beck were not present.
At the meeting, it was reported that the veterans’ Memorial
Day service went well. They looked at bids for the handicapped parking and different sizes for a building for storage of handicapped equipment.
Present were Bosomworth, Hanna, Lilly, Lowe, Myers, Smith and Laverne Wright, and a guest, Kent Janes, who took a picture of the officers.
RNA 116th Birthday
Royal Neighbors of America was organized in June 1885. RNA #5784 observed the birthdays of all the members and the organization at a party held at the Altamont McDonald’s at 4:30 p.m. on June 22.
After a meal of sandwiches, etc., they were served a Ronald McDonald birthday cake and ice cream.
Those present were Raymond and Ruth Ann Lilly of Beecher City and Ina Abendroth, Corey, Natalie and Peyton Hoopingarner, Carla Lilly, Clement Lilly, Rosemary Owen, Irene Reed, Larry Reed, Marjorie Sarver, Bill and Della Stewart, Betty Wright, Laverne and Leona Wright, and Oliver and Edna Wright, all of St. Elmo.
No business meeting was held, but an announcement was made that school supplies will be collected at the Wednesday, July 27, meeting at 1 p.m. at the Phillips Building.
S.S. President Left St. Elmo
St. Elmo had for more than two years the all-steel S.S. President 1924 riverboat pieces to be put back together and become a tourist attraction.
The boat pieces were put on land north of I-70 and east of Driftstone Pueblo and the Church of Christ. Because the restoration wasn’t started, all the pieces had to be moved to another location, south of I-70 on the former Country Harvest Restaurant land.
The man from Effingham decided it should be erected in Effingham, but it took him a long time to move all the rusty pieces of the boat. Now, all of the pieces have removed from St. Elmo.
St. Elmo looks better without the clutter of the rusty pieces.
Who knows, St. Elmo might have become a larger town, with many workers needed, if the boat had been restored along I-70 in the St. Elmo area.
Historical Vandalia Inc. Board
The Historical Vandalia Inc. Board met the evening of June 21 at the Fayette County Museum in Vandalia, with the following present: Barbara Buckland of Brownstown, Mary Ann Rhoades of Ramsey, Anna Jean Rhodes of St. Elmo, Marilyn Beyes of Smithboro and Betty Aderman, Donna Blair, Steve Durbin, Phil Shroyer and Mary Truitt, all of Vandalia.
Before the meeting, Truitt took the members on a tour that included handcrafted bedspreads, quilts and throws and the kitchen area. Truitt told about the two very old clothes washing machines and other antique items in the area.
President Durbin presided over the business meeting. It was announced that the museum received 34 donated items in May.
The museum’s special exhibits for June are “Wooden Tools” and “Wedding Memories.”
Some new members have joined Historical Vandalia Inc.
The organization will always accept members, at $25 per person or $50 for an organization or business; this helps with the operation fund of the museum.
Because the operation fund of the museum can only afford to have one paid employee, volunteers are needed to help keep the museum open from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. If you would like to donate hours, even just a few hours periodically, go to the museum to get on a schedule or call 283-4866.
Also, the museum needs more brick orders to help with the restoration fund.
Two lines on an old bricks cost $50 and three lines cost $75. The engraving can be in memory, honor or celebration.
A fundraiser program is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, in the Vandalia First United Methodist Church fellowship hall. The program will be announced later.
The museum also is scheduling programs on Sunday, Nov. 6, and Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, in the church fellowship hall.
St. Elmo HCE – June 23
“Something special about my wedding or a special anniversary memory” was the roll call of the St. Elmo Unit of Home and Community Education meeting held the afternoon of June 23 at the St. Elmo Library.
Chairman Karen Denning had opened the meeting with all giving the pledge of allegiance. A report on the June 14 annual HCE meeting was given.
Officers for the 2011-12 year were elected: Anna Jean Rhodes, chairman and secretary; Loretta Heischmidt, first vice chairman; Karen Denning, second vice chairman; and Karen Wegscheid, treasurer.
Heischmidt gave the major lesson, “Making Your Own Cleaning Supplies,” and Rhodes gave the special feature, “Let’s Make HCE ‘The Place to Be.”
Noma Moore served refreshments of strawberry cake with a topping and iced tea.
If arrangements can be made, the July meeting possibly will be a trip to the Marcoot Jersey Creamery south of Greenville.

Anna Jean Rhodes

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