Lake of Egypt Living Summer 2021

LAKE OF EGYPT

LIVING PREMIER LIFEST YLE MAGAZINE FOR THE LAKE OF EGYPT & SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST

Nieds A Look Inside Walt & Peggy Nieds Lake Home

Lake of Egypt Fire Protection OUR HEROES ON THE LAKE SPECIAL:

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7/20/21 2:06 PM

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Lake of Egypt Living

[ WHAT’S INSIDE ]

LAKE OF EGYPT

LIVING SUMMER 2021 ISSUE EDITOR: Terrance Geese CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Tyler Couty ADVERTISING SALES: Micah Merrill

THE LAKE SCENE 4TH OF JULY SPECIAL

Features 15 Business Spotlight: Walt’s Pizza 18 The Lake of Egypt Olympics 40 Cover Story: The Nieds

8 Area rugs for every room in the house pg. 69

62 Heroes of the Lake

Jennie Baer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Patrick Austin Victoria Sprehe Tim Serles Dr. Mike Troop Angela Rowe

75 Egyptian Parkway, Creal Springs, IL 62922 (618) 751-4556 • lakeofegyptliving.com Reproduction or use of the contents in this magazine is prohibited. ©2021 Lake of Egypt Living Lake of Egypt Living strives to bring correct, accurate information that is published in the magazine. However, Lake of Egypt Living cannot be held responsible for any consequences resulting from errors or absences. Lake of Egypt Living also cannot be held responsible for the services provided by any and all advertisers in our publications. All material in this magazine is property of Lake of Egypt Living and may not be reproduced without authorization from the publisher. Lake of Egypt Living is published four times per year and is distributed to residents and businesses at the Lake of Egypt and throughout southern Illinois. Interested in back issues, subscriptions or advertising? Contact us at (618) 751-4556.

PLUS 7

PHOTOGRAPHER:

Publisher Letter

23 In the Kitchen 28 Real Estate 35 Spirits 55 Green Living 57 Pets 73 Upcoming Events

Learn how to pack the perfect pontoon picnic pg. 23

SUMMER 2021

5

Buy, sell, and trade with your neighbors!

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Lake of Egypt Living

Cornerstone Group © 2021

Construction is happening now and installations will begin later this year. Register today to make sure that you receive your ultimate Internet upgrade!

[ FROM THE PUBLISHER ]

W

e are so thankful

and Resort.

the wire, sending electricity down the

for the amazing

Thank you!! Thank you!!

metal frames.

weather over the

On a more serious note, we would like

This terrified me. What if my kids had

4th of July week.

to encourage all of our lake neighbors

It was the best we

been swimming in the water and had

who own a dock to take a little time to

can remember! Thank you for all of the

reached up and grabbed the dock?

research the effects of water electrifica-

great family fun 4th of July pictures that

That very day I went online and started

tion and drownings.

were sent in. We just love our lake com-

to research ways to protect against elec-

It was not long ago that I was working

munity and sharing our photos.

trocution in the water. I found Shock IQ,

on one of our docks here at The Re-

It has been an amazing summer so far,

a system that shuts off all electricity to

sort when I reached out and touched a

and we look forward to all of the Labor

pontoon boat while touching the dock.

your dock as soon as an electric current is

Day fun.

I got a shock so strong that I screamed

All of us at Egyptian Hills Resort and

out. Apparently, all of the wave action

Lake of Egypt Living are so thankful for

on our docks had caused the conduit to

your continued support of our magazine

separate and had worn a bare spot on

detected in the water. I am having them installed on all of our docks here at The Resort as well as my home dock.

This is not a sales pitch, I do not care who or what you put on your dock to prevent an electric shock drowning.

Just make sure you have a system that prevents a very preventable tragedy. Be safe out there and have a great Labor Day weekend.

Micah Merrill

Lake of Egypt Living, Lake of Egypt Docks, and the Egyptian Hills Resort Family

We want to see you! Share your favorite lake moments by tagging us on Instagram and Facebook or submit them on our website at lakeofegyptliving.com.

instagram facebook @LAKEOFEGYPTLIVING

SUMMER 2021

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the lake scene

4th of July Special

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Lake of Egypt Living

SUMMER 2021

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Lake of Egypt Living

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L ake of Egypt Living

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Lake of Egypt Living

[ BEHIND THE BUSINESS ]

Walts Good food. Good times.

W

alts has been a family tradition for over 44 years. It all started in 1975 when Walt and Peggy Nieds graduated from Southern Illinois University and decided to stay in the area.

An opportunity opened up for Walt’s business degree, while Peggy was employed as a youth counselor. That was 1977 and they’ve never looked back.

Fresh dough was introduced with the start of two types of pizza – thin crust and double decker which has since become a signature item on the menu.

Later, they added a deep-dish Chicago-style pizza. All three have one thing in common – freshness. Fresh dough is made daily, along with freshly grated cheese, and hand-cut meats and vegetables.

In the beginning, Walt was making single 25-pound batches of dough by hand daily. Today, the business requires 10 batches a day, with the addition of a dough machine.

As the business grew, more items were added to the menu including many kinds of pasta, with the most popular being lasagna. Shredding 100 pounds of cheese a week, Walts now shreds over 1,500 pounds a week to keep up with the demand.

WALT NIEDS AND HIS GRANDSON, WALTER IV

Other current menu items include salmon, rib-eye, shrimp scampi, chicken wings, and taco nachos – making Walts much more than just a “pizza place”.

Full bar service is highlighted by Walts pomegranate margaritas, craft cocktails, and ice-cold beer.

In 1982, Walts expanded by purchasing adjacent properties, building a new dining area, and remodeling the kitchen. The dining room was decorated with antiques they bought from local auctions. The booths were built by hand and are still a part of the decor today.

In 2015, an outdoor patio was added and expanded this past year due to its popularity. Walts now has seating for up to 275 patrons and is a favorite to Lake of Egypt households.

Starting with just two employees, the business now employs more than 50. Walt’s son Walter III grew up in the business and today is the general manager. His team is an integral part of

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Lake of Egypt Living

[ BEHIND THE BUSINESS ]

Walts handmade booths & hand-picked antiques are still a part of the decor today the business and shares in the success of providing good and knowledgeable service.

Throughout it all, one thing has remained consistent – made from scratch menu items, including local sources that promote freshness.

Walts believes in giving back – being involved with fundraisers for the Women's Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Illinois. Walts also donates about 500 pizzas a year to charitable causes.

These days, Walt is no longer in the kitchen making dough or grinding cheese but he might be around to greet you with his grandson Walter IV. n

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[ COMMUNITY ]

Lake of Egypt

THE OLYMPICS TERRANCE GEESE

T

eam USA won the Olympics weeks before the start of the Tokyo Olympics. It happened right here in Southern Illinois at six Olympic sites on the shoreline of Lake of Egypt.

Mexico, Germany, Monaco, Russia, United

States and Greece were represented at the Lake of Egypt Olympics, held at the lake on the All-American holiday of the Fourth of July.

The innovative neighborhood party was organized by Court-

ney Doerr, who says she was nominated because she had some extra time during the summer months.

The idea for a Lake of Egypt Olympics may have been somewhat inspired by the Tokyo games, but beer had a greater influence.

The unique celebration of the Fourth was conjured up by Courtney’s uncle, Steve. But he is a busy man and couldn’t devote the time needed to bring an idea to reality.

His initial inspiration came from social media and the popularity of “Beer Olympics.”

“We wanted to have one that was for our whole family, and not everyone was of drinking age,” Courtney says.

Once the theme was set for the neighborhood event, Courtney began detailed planning, everything from the games to be played to the refreshments and food that would be served.

The games, she knew, would have to be varied because the Lake of Egypt Olympians ranged in age from 3-years-old to 70.

“I worked on it for a few weeks,” she says. “I had to figure out what games we were playing and about how long, so we ended up spending about an hour at each house,” Courtney says. The emphasis for games was for the families to have fun, and the games had to be fun to watch family members play.

When game day arrived, “We spent about six hours doing it

holds were ready to prepare for the day.

“We had 43 people participating,” she says. Every family

all,” she says.

needed food and a creative drink to serve.

The games took a little longer than the original schedule re-

“Since we had 43 participants, you had to have enough food

flected. “We didn’t end until about 5 or 6 o’clock,” she says. She

and drink for 43 people,” she says.

had expected the families to arrive at the final home at 3 p.m.

All was ready when the games began, 11 a.m. July 3.

The food and games were spread among five residences,

The families gathered in Mexico –– traveling by boat –– at the

Courtney noted. It would be more than a neighborhood party as

home of Doerr Family No. 1, with Rick, Lynn, Katie and Courtney

each of those five homes are occupied by members of the Doerr

welcoming the Olympians.

extended family.

They were served margaritas and street tacos at the Doerr

When Courtney completed her planning, the family house-

Cantina and participated in the Olympian sport of attacking a

18

L ake of Egypt Living

[ COMMUNITY ]

piñata and playing flip cup.

When the Olympic clock struck 12 noon, it was time to move to a second venue.

Each leg of the progressive Olympics was traveled by boat, Courtney says. This time, the trip was to the magnificent Yacht Club de Monaco which, of course, was home base for the team from the Principality of Monaco, the Doerr-Hueseman family of Greg, Paul, Jack, Caroline and Auggie.

The gathered Olympians were treated to Rose De Monte Carlo and Princess Grace’s One Guilty Pleasure –– Cheeseburgers.

Then it was time for the games to resume with the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. Of course, there had to be a bit of adaptation.

Instead of cars, the Grand Prix was a raft race.

After that strenuous event, it was 1 p.m. and time for a bit of refreshment, so the Olympians headed over to the Doerr Biergarten. Now they were in Germany and beer and bratwurst were the treat of the German delegation, Doerr Family No. 2, Grandma and Grandpa, better known to the rest of the world as Rick and Mary Doerr.

Refreshed with the beer and stomachs full of the bratwurst, competition began with the sport of this location, a water balloon toss.

All of that exercise and attention to preserve the integrity of the water balloon certainly is enough to cause hunger and thirst on a sunny July day. So, at 1:30 p.m., it is off to the home of the Olympic tradition, Greece – not a long trip as the Greek delegation of Doerr Family No. 3 was at the same location as the German Doerrs.

Team members and the Greek hosts, Dale and Angie, treated their fellow Olympians with Mythos beer and, since it is Greece, a discus throw of the Frisbee type was on tap –– perhaps to enable all participants to resemble the physique of the famed Discobolus of Myron image.

All that exercise brought on pangs of hunger, so the Olympians enjoyed a serving of spanakopita (Greek spinach pie) before

SUMMER 2021

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Lake of Egypt Living

[ COMMUNITY ]

heading over to the next venue, the USA. At 2 p.m., according to the schedule, some All-American apple pie shots and BBQ pork sliders were served, and they were much appreciated by the Olympians. They were served up by the U.S. delegation, the Hassell family of Nick, Stacie, Taylor, Kirsten, Lexie, Addison and Stefan.

While food and drink were important, Courtney says the games were the highlight at each house.

Here at the home representing the good old U.S.A., the Olympic event was a relay race, and it featured corn hole, mini golf and flip cup.

Fortified with American food and All-American games, the gathered Olympians ventured into the final venue, Russia.

With Vladimir Putin not at the lake observing America’s birthday, the country hosts were the Lodewyck family of Jenny, Steve, Ryan and Carter.

through the years –– Russian roulette. However, this time it was

The Lake of Egypt Olympians enjoyed Moscow mule cocktail

fun rather than fatal as it was a pie face game.

and a dessert of chocolate sausage.

With the 2021 games coming to an end, the Olympians gath-

The chocolate sausage was declared by Courtney to be her

ered to congratulate the winning U.S. team.

favorite food of the day. She readily admits to being a chocolate

The events of the day were so successful, a Lake of Egypt

lover.

Olympics is destined to become a Doerr family tradition.

The final game was one that has finished off many lives

“We plan on doing this every summer,” Courtney says. n

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L ake of Egypt Living

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[ IN THE KITCHEN ]

Pack a Perfect Pontoon Picnic VICTORIA SPREHE

G

reg and I sold our family home in Carterville and moved to the Lake of Egypt almost 10 years ago.

One of the first purchas-

es we made was our pontoon. We are boaters. We love the water. The Lake of Egypt gives us what we crave. We wake up every morning looking at the water and at the end of the end of the day we go to sleep looking at the water. Our new home quickly became an Eden for us.

Given our love of the water, it didn’t take us long to discover our favorite plan for dinner at the lake was to pack up dinner and hop on the trusty ole pontoon in search of the perfect dining spot.

The perfect spot to watch the sunset, talk about our day, talk about the future, and enjoy our time together while treating our taste buds to new things, old things and all things in between. I mean, really, these are the moments that count, right?

These recipes are just suggestions… you should experiment! Make your picnic about what you love and maybe what you haven’t yet tried.

At the end of the day, savor every moment. n

Picnic Boxes The perfect and easiest way to pack a picnic is

containers from your fridge. Stack the boxes in a flat bottomed

to make a box picnic for each individual. Try not

cooler along with ice packs to keep everything cool and at a

to use anything messy or anything that requires

safe temperature. Be sure that if you are using paper boxes

additional on-site prep. Add a sandwich, salad, chips, grapes,

to put them in a zippered bag to keep them dry. Everything

cherries, veggies, giardiniera, pepperoncini, an apple, cook-

you need is in one box and it can all be tossed when you are

ies, brownies, etc. The choices are really endless. Create indi-

finished so clean up is super easy. Be sure you have garbage

vidual portions in a box or Tupperware with utensils, napkins

bags on board.

and a wipe. You can buy individual sized plastic containers at

Don’t forget your favorite beverage. A nice white sangria is

your grocery deli (or Amazon) or use you can recycle plastic

always refreshing (and, spills are an easy clean up, too).

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L ake of Egypt Living

[ IN THE KITCHEN ]

Pressed Sandwiches You can make these any kind of sandwiches you choose.

butter will prevent moisture from getting into the bread.

Whatever the ingredients, I do suggest a good sturdy bread,

3.

Layer generously with your choice of meats.

like ciabatta. Make them meatless, spicy, full of veggies or full

4.

Top with roasted red peppers strips. (Making your own is

of meat…it’s your call.

fabulous but the jarred variety work just fine.)

5.

Place slices of bocconcini or mozzarella cheese on a pa-

Suggested ingredients for an Italian version:

per towel to pat dry. Add the cheese slices on top of red

•

Ciabatta loaf

pepper strips.

•

Butter, softened

•

Roasted red peppers

•

Arugula, rinsed and patted dry

•

Sliced bocconcini (fresh mozzarella, if you live in So IL..

6.

pepper.

7.

Top with a generous layer of arugula and the top layer of buttered ciabatta.

8.

because finding bocconcini is a challenge) •

Sprinkle the cheese layer with balsamic vinegar, salt and

Wrap tightly in saran and place the loaf on a sheet pan.

Assorted Italian deli meats (soppressata, capocollo, sala-

Place another sheet pan on top of the loaf and place a

mi, etc.)

large weight on top to press the sandwich down.

•

Balsamic Vinegar

9.

•

Salt and Pepper, to taste

10. When you are ready to serve, remove the wrap. Trim the

Refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Overnight is even better. edges of the loaf and cut into individual serving sizes.

Instructions

This will give you clean, sharp edges and will showcase

1.

Cut the ciabatta loaf in half, so you have a top and bottom.

the layers of the sandwich perfectly. Wrap in parchment

2.

Generously butter the inside of each side. Important: The

strips and tie with a string for an added presentation flair.

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Lake of Egypt Living

[ IN THE KITCHEN ]

Veggie Pasta Salad This recipe is a meatless and serves picnic use better as you don’t have to worry about the temperature of the meat but adding cubed chicken and/or ham make it a meal in itself. Again, you can create this salad using whatever veggies you have in the fridge or add and delete based on your likes and dislikes.

Ingredients • 12 oz. of farfalle pasta (I like to use mini farfalle for picnics, but really any pasta is fine. Tri-color pasta is a pretty alternative, too.)

• 3 T olive oil • 1 zucchini, cut into bite-sized pieces • 1 small head of broccoli or broccolini, shopped • 1 bunch of asparagus, cut into bite-sized pieces • 1 yellow pepper, 1 red pepper, 1 orange pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces • 1 ½ cup grape tomatoes, cut in half • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced • Salt and pepper, to taste • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced • ½ cup of vinaigrette (white balsamic is good, but if you don’t want to make your own, bottled dressings can be used. Olive Garden’s Italian is actually a good alternative.

Not organic, but it works.)

• Grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions 1. Cook the pasta in boiling, salted water according to package directions, but definitely no more than al dente. Drain pasta and immediately rinse in cold water to halt the cooking process. Set aside.

2. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini, broccoli and asparagus first, sautéing for a quick 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.

Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and add the bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Continue to sauté for 4 to 5 minutes more until the vegetables achieve desired doneness. I prefer my vegetables to be crisper, but everyone is different. When they are almost done to your liking add the red onion and sauté for 1 more minute.

3. Remove from the heat and spread on a cookie sheet to cool as quickly as possible so that carryover cooking doesn’t overcook your vegetables.

4. Once cooled toss the vegetables with the pasta and drizzle with the vinaigrette or other dressing. Top with Parmesan.

5. You can serve right away or you can store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Pecan Squares Ina Garten always has it going on. These scrumptious squares are the perfect treat for a picnic. No fork needed.

Crust • 1 ¼ pounds unsalted butter, room temperature • ¾ cup granulated sugar • 3 extra-large eggs • ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract • 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour • ½ teaspoon baking powder • ¼ teaspoon salt

3.

Topping • 1 pound unsalted butter • 1 cup honey • 3 cups light brown sugar, packed • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest • ¼ cup heavy cream • 2 pounds pecans, coarsely chopped (Mixed nuts also work well and sometimes I leave them whole for a more dramatic look. Or try, roasted pecans with sea salt.)

Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. For the crust, beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, until light, approximately 3 minutes. Add the eggs and

the vanilla and mix well. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 18 x 12 x 1-inch baking sheet, making an edge around the outside. (Don’t be afraid to make the edge high because it will shrink and you need it higher to keep the filling from running under the crust.) It will be very sticky; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Allow to cool.

For the topping, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and zests in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wood spoon to stir. Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and pecans.

Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan. (Place a larger baking sheet below the pecan squares to catch any filling that might drip over – it will happen.) Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is set (don’t overbake). Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.

Cut into bars and serve. It’s ok to store in the fridge for up to a week.

PS… if you are making these for something other than a picnic try dipping one end of the cut pecan bar in melted chocolate… yummo!

SUMMER 2021

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[ REAL ESTATE ]

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The basement has a large family room with 9’ ceilings and full bath. You will also find an unfinished room perfect for a theater room and a utility garage. As a member of the Luxor landing you have access to the community club house, pool, boat slip, and boat launch. This house is a MUST SEE!

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0 Mark Dr LOT 246, Goreville

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55 Pond Dr, Creal Springs

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Lake of Egypt Living

12576 N SHORELAND DR •

380 CLIFTY HEIGHTS DR • 13461 S EGYPT SHORES DR • 55 POND DR • 790 LUXOR LANDING DR •

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SUMMER 2021

29

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

LAKE OF EGYPT

LIVING

Kitchens should be designed around what’s truly important... fun, food, and life.

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There is beauty in simplicity.

An informed community is part of what makes a great community. Since the beginning, we’ve believed that this magazine should be given freely to the residents of the Lake of Egypt.

Over time, many lake residents have asked that their magazine be mailed directly to them. We would like to fulfill that request, but the only way for us to accomplish this is to mail them all.

So, after thoughtful consideration, we’ve decided to create an association of lake neighbors to receive our magazine and other

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timely important information that happen in between our scheduled printed magazines.

Sign up at www.lakeofegyptliving.com to receive the next issue of Lake of Egypt Living. Those who do not sign up will unfortunately no longer receive the free print edition.

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L ake of Egypt Living

1804 Clark St., Carterville•618.985.3684 cartervillewinsupply.com

[ ADVENTURE ]

Beginner’s Guide to Kayaking

K

ayaking is a water sport that can be beneficial to the mind and body. Just about anyone willing to spend a day on the water can benefit from learning about kayaking and how to get started with this rewarding activity.

The history of kayaking is interesting. The word “kayak” means “hunter’s boat,” and the Inuit used to rely on these small vessels to catch food by sneaking up on their prey from the water’s edge. Some people still hunt and fish from their kayaks, but many are happy to use them for sightseeing and exercising.

“Paddlesports are increasing in popularity among Americans who desire to connect with the outdoors,” said Christine Fanning, executive director of The Outdoor Foundation. The Outdoor Foundation and The Coleman Company, Inc., found in a Special Report on Paddlesports that 21.7 million Americans enjoyed paddling on rivers, lakes, streams, and other waterways in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available.

Paddlesports include canoeing, rafting, kayaking, and stand-up paddling.

Learning how to kayak does not involve a significant initial financial investment. The outdoor experts at REI say there’s a good chance a novice kayaker will not go out and buy a boat immediately. It’s important to first get a feel for the sport and then go from there.

Although it’s not absolutely necessary, it’s recommended that novices take paddling lessons to hone their kayaking skills.

Learning the proper technique can help people avoid strain on their neck and back and safeguard their arms from fatigue.

Novices should practice on calm waters until their technique is honed. Lakes are a great place to learn, as rivers and places with mild currents can overwhelm those new to the sport.

One of the easiest ways to get introduced to kayaking is to go with an experienced paddler or tour company. Such companies charge a set price for an excursion that will provide transportation to the drop site as well as the equipment needed for the voyage. Tours may include travel down several miles of a relatively calm waterway, allowing novice kayakers to get a feel for paddling and take in the scenery.

Getting in and out of a kayak can be challenging for beginners. The resource Kayakpaddling.net offers helpful illustrations and animated tutorials about entering and exiting kayaks as well as paddling techniques and safety.

Kayakers should bring some essentials along. A dry pack can keep electronics, food and equipment dry. Remember to wear sunscreen and a hat to keep safe from the sun. A life vest also is essential.

Exercise, fresh air and enjoying the open water are just some of the many draws of kayaking. n SUMMER 2021

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Lake of Egypt

Country Club 413 North Market Street | Marion, Illinois 62959 Phone: (618) 993-6337 | Fax: (618) 993-3383 32

Lake of Egypt Living

1181 Club House Road, Marion, IL 62959 (618) 995-2661 | www.loecc.com

[ WHAT HAPPENED ]

WATER DISTRICT

T

Wins “BEST TASTING WATER”

he Illinois Rural Water Association, the state’s largest rural utility association, selected the entry from Lake Egypt Water District as its “Best Tasting Water” at their 39th Annual Technical Conference in Effingham.

BEST WATER

The Illinois Rural Water Association’s “Best Tasting Water” Award is given to a water supply based on scoring by a panel of unbiased judges in a “double blind” water taste test. Out of all entries, Lake Egypt Water District entry was decided to be the best tasting overall. Lake Egypt Water District received a Certificate from the Illinois Rural Water Association and will be invited to send an entry to the National Rural Water Association’s Annual Taste Test at their “Rural Water Rally” in Washington, D.C. in February of 2022.

Accepting the “Best Tasting Water” Award for 2022 at Illinois Rural Water Association’s Annual Technical Conference in Effingham, IL was Chris Boyd, the Lake Egypt Water District’s General Manager.

The Illinois Rural Water Association is a private, not-for-profit association of small water and wastewater systems, and is dedicated to training and technical assistance to those individuals who work in the water and wastewater industry. For

CHRIS BOYD, WATER DISTRICT GM, ACCEPTS AWARD AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

more information, visit IRWA’s website at www.ilrwa.org. n

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34

L ake of Egypt Living

[ SPIRITS ]

a

perfect match PATRICK AUSTIN

O

ne of my favorite ways to unwind and relax is with a good bourbon and cigar. People have their favorites; however, most will keep an open mind and try new brands. It is fun to discover and then sample how the two in conjunction will best satisfy your palate and bring you the most enjoyment.

There is a plethora of articles online and the consensus is that you should match your liquor to your cigar. So, head to your local Speakeasy, pick up two or three of your favorite smokes, and we will help you get them paired.

Match the cigar and whiskey according to flavor profile. For example, try to match a mild cigar with a mild whiskey, on the other hand, match a bold cigar with a bold whiskey. You might want to stay away from an extremely smoky scotch since this will only accentuate the nicotine flavors of the cigars. Here are a few pairings you can get at Speakeasy.

We will start with Bourbon because it plays best with cigars. Most of the time, bourbons are paired with a full-flavored cigar. Typically, bourbon has a strong taste profile of cherry, caramel, maple, & charred wood. These flavors lend the sweetness to stand up to a bold leathery full-bodied cigar or with a fuller medium smoke. That is your choice. In my opinion, the bourbon most difficult to pair is a barrel proof, due to its very bold barrel flavor, it can only be paired properly with a heavy full-flavored cigar.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon This bourbon has a sweet, spicy, warm and creamy taste. It has full and rounded character, which starts with caramel and vanilla but spice and oak hit the back to create a balanced and delicious taste.

Cohiba Black This fantastic cigar, with its dark maduro wrapper, Dominican and Mexican filler, brings a combination, which has a full-bodied profile that delivers notes of spice, wood, wheat, and licorice.

PRO TIP:

Match the cigar and whiskey according to the flavor profile On the other side of the spectrum, we have Tennessee Whiskeys. Due to the charcoal filtering process, these pair nicely with a medium to light cigar.

George Dickel #8 This well-balanced light and mellow whisky has aromas of light caramel and wood. It has a warm vanilla finish with hints of maple and butter corn.

Macanudo Inspirado Wrapped in a Honduran leaf overtop Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan long-fillers, the Inspirado produces a rich, buttery blend with almonds and pepper at its core. This cigar stands up to any other medium to light whisky.

Irish whiskey tends to be smoother than bourbons. They usually have a light floral body with hints of spice, nut, and SUMMER 2021

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Lake of Egypt Living

[ SPIRITS ]

vanilla. This combination of flavors pairs best with a mild cigar. Irish whiskey also mixes well with coffee. So, do not hesitate to pair this with a Java cigar.

Green Spot Irish Whiskey This whiskey starts with a heavier mouth feel and has a nice less sweet finish. The body of this whiskey has notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar. Some people will detect a hint of earthy flavor and green apple with Green Spot.

My Fathers La Gran Oferta This cigar has a beautiful dark Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper with a mixture of Nicaraguan binder and long-fillers to present a medium profile. You will find the classic Don ‘Pepin’ Garcia has black pepper up front, notes of dark chocolate, and a rich fruity sweetness to finish.

Canadian Whisky, traditionally blended to be smooth and easy on the palate, is best paired with a mild cigar. Canadians are unique because they vary from spicy

to sweet with everything from vanilla to earthy and pepper notes.

Canadian Club 12yr This is a spicy whiskey with hints of creamy vanilla, rich wood, and honey. The finish carries strong notes of oak and caramel. There is a moderate amount of peppery spice with hints of chocolate and marzipan.

Despite the spice, this whisky still finishes smooth.

Fuente Cazadores This cigar has Dominican fillers rolled in top-grade Ecuadorian Habano wrappers. Cazadores are very easy to smoke, which allows you to taste the creamy, aromatic, and medium-bodied flavor brimming with woody, nutty, and sweet spice.

This article is a quick and easy overview of available pairings you can currently pick up at Speakeasy. These pairings are my personal opinion and I am sure they will not be for everyone.

When in our Speakeasy stores, please let

Helping you protect what matters most since 1999

us know what you have tried and liked or disliked. Feedback from our customers is important to all of us and not taken for granted.

Until later, smoke, drink, and most importantly . . . relax! n

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Lake of Egypt Living

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Lake of Egypt Living

STORY: TERRANCE GEESE

a stroke of luck

PHOTOS: JENNIE BAER

I

t was luck that allowed them to even find the lake after several failed attempts. It was luck that allowed them to meet occupants of an old pontoon boat. It was luck that the couple had a camper on the lake they were ready and willing to sell.

The lucky day was back in the early 1990s, a time when Lake of Egypt was almost the biggest secret in Southern Illinois.

The couple, both with roots northwest of Chicago, had both attended Southern Illinois University. The two enjoyed the lifestyle and people of Southern Illinois and Walt, armed with a business degree, and Peggy bought a restaurant in Marion.

After lots of long days and attention to detail the enterprise was a success and, finally, the couple could take some time for themselves. They decided they wanted a place on the lake to relax.

“But, first of all, we had to find the lake,” Walt says. Back then there were no signs to indicate the location of Lake of Egypt.

After a few attempts, they finally found a body of water and the Egyptian Hills Marina.

“When we pulled up there, (we got out) and sat on a picnic table, watching this old pontoon boat come in, from way, way far away.

“He ended up pulling right up to the dock. We started talking to them and learned they were the last of an original group of four couples. They wanted to sell, and we ended up buying their

SUMMER 2021

41

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teps away from the Lake of Egypt, This beautiful custom built home is nestled in the trees of Luxor Landing Subdivision. It offers all the amenities of living on the Lake, including it’s own boat slip. As a member of the Luxor Landing Subdivision you will have access to the community clubhouse, pool, and boat launch. This house is a MUST SEE!! The covered front porch invites you inside where a spacious vaulted living room with fireplace awaits. The kitchen and formal dining look out over a peaceful wooded area and private deck. Perfect for all your family gatherings.

Master bedroom and bathroom are laid out beautifully. Each room is very large with His and Her closets. One of my favorite features of the house is the open walkway which looks down into the living room, it really makes the house unique. In the basement you’ll find a large family room with 9’ ceilings and a full bath. You will also find an unfinished room perfect for a home theater, and even space for a utility garage.

This house is truly a place to call home.

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L ake of Egypt Living

camper and boat,” Walt recalls.

the lake from the power plant. The home

The Nieds made use of the camper

included about 200 feet of lakefront and

and pontoon boat for seven or eight

a point.

years before they decided they wanted

They bought it.

a more permanent place to stay when

“The place was pretty rundown at the

at the lake. So, they started looking at

time,” the couple recalls. So, the family

properties. Their present home, which

would go to the lake to repair the prob-

had been among the first homes at the

lems. The lake house saw many good

lake, became available.

years, but it came the time when the

The view was great, it is directly across

couple wanted to upgrade a bit. They

again started looking at properties and decided none equaled the location of the original house.

Remodeling the home was essential, and they knew there would be a lot of work ahead, but, “Hey, let’s go for it,” Walt recalls.

About two years of remodeling got under way.

Peggy gets the credit for most of the project; she had a concept “in her head” and that concept was turned into the present home by their builder, Terry Dahmer and his son, Adam, whom Walt describes as being real master craftsmen.

“With Peggy’s vision and their craftsmanship, it really came out great. The view –– the view is the most important thing.”

That view is enhanced by the largest window Dahmer has ever installed, Walt says. A large patio, the yard and a lower patio, next to the water’s edge are special attractions for Peggy. That’s where, any given morning, you will find the couple sitting, drinking the first cups of coffee.

The sun will be rising behind them, casting a glimmer across the lake.

SUMMER 2021

43

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Lake of Egypt Living

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VIEW OF THE LAKE FROM THE NIEDS KITCHEN

All senses are affected at that spot as Walt engineered a gurgling fountain that brings lake water to the patio where it meanders over rocks back into the lake.

Plumbing for the fountain is deep enough to keep it running throughout the year, even when the lake surface is frozen as it was last winter.

The large patio is large enough to accommodate Walt’s hobby, raising and caring for tropical plants. A daily task, when they are at the lake home, is moving them from the confines of the home to the patio. That is about 50 percent of the time as the couple also maintain a home in Marion.

When inside the home, needed humidity and moisture is easily provided as the couple has an indoor Michael Phelps swimming spa for exercise during the winter months.

Walt, who loves the water, swims in the lake when weather is conducive to that activity.

The morning coffee really doesn’t have to switch location from patio to house

during the winter. The same awning over part of the patio not only protects from the glare of the sun, it can be lowered to keep the cold out, and there is a heating system included.

All is made complete by fireplaces and a complete grill area.

During the bitterest cold, or simply for a few minutes of relaxation, the coffee spot can switch location to a very unique area just off the second-floor great room.

Peggy came up with the idea to have a second intimate dining area upstairs to enjoy the best view of the lake.

It is like a small café, with café-type seats at a table.

“We can sit up there for coffee or wine,” Walt says. And they often take dinner to the café, where they can eat and relax watching the home’s main TV of several in the home. It is a much more cozy than the downstairs dining area with a table that seats 12 for family events.

There also is a second-level patio just off the great room and the couple makes use of it even during winter months.

“But first of all, we had to find the lake” There is a heater on that patio, too, to allow winter use.

The remodeled four bedroom, three and a half bath home is so totally changed; it is like a new home.

The couple recalls they had gotten their money’s worth from the original home, but it was getting outdated, with features such as the baseboard heating.

The electric service had deteriorated and squirrels occupied the attic. It was time for change.

The remodeling of the home was so very extensive, “We pretty well gutted it out,” Walt says. A spacious garage with a basement was added to the original structure, replacing a garage that was reSUMMER 2021

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L ake of Egypt Living

SUMMER 2021

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Lake of Egypt Living

built as part of the house. A sitting room

sure the floor would not be scratched by

with full views of the lake and access to

dogs or grandchildren” Walt says. “Dogs

the patio also was added.

can go upstairs or downstairs and not

Other parts of the home were rear-

scratch the floors, he says. “It is pretty

ranged, or eliminated to make way for

dog friendly.”

Peggy’s concept of the ideal lake home.

“And kid friendly,” Peggy adds, noting

And there were other considerations

the home contains a ping-pong table as

needed in the remodeling. “It is a good

it is a family sport.

place for dogs, so we wanted to make

The lake home provides a great time

for kids, with a side yard for kicking around a soccer ball and the lake for swimming.

Materials for the remodeling had one major requirement. The source had to be a local business, not chain stores. The Nieds operate a local small business and they wanted their suppliers to be local small businesses whenever possible.

Walt says they were very lucky to have the Dahmers on the job. When there was a problem, they were very good at coming up with solutions, he says. And they were adaptable. As work progressed Peggy’s vision of the perfect house grew, and the Dahmers made suggestions that also improved the concept.

The fountain came about because years before, in a project at the Marion home, rock was encountered. The Nieds had piled the rocks and the rocks rested there until Peggy had an inspiration: Why not have a trickling fountain at the lake home and construct it from the rockpile?

That part of the project required a bit of engineering as there were trees at the lake’s edge and, Peggy recalls, care had SUMMER 2021

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L ake of Egypt Living

SUMMER 2021

51

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Lake of Egypt Living

“...we kept making it a little bigger” to be taken not to damage the root systems. A landscaper (Jon Housman) aided, and came up with suggestions that now make the Nieds’ Point on the lake a highlight of the remodeling. Sunsets are particularly spectacular from this point.

Walt says he now spends a lot of time at the Point. “When there is nobody around, I look around in amazement at how beautiful Lake of Egypt is, and how beautiful this area is,” he says.

The remodeling of the home was a smooth operation, Peggy recalls, except “we kept making it a little bigger. That’s why it took two years.”

Walt recalls Terry Dahmer, the man doing the work, did question one of Peggy’s requests.

“You know how most windows have white trim? Peggy wanted black so it wouldn’t take away from the view.”

“I didn’t want to look at the trim. I wanted to look at the view,” Peggy says.

It works, and Walt says, “Once (the Dahmers) had it all done, they said, ‘That was a pretty good idea.’”

With the remodeling in the books, the couple began a new project.

“It doesn’t look like it, but we are downsizing,” Walt says. “We don’t have a lot of junk on our counters, and we are doing the same in Marion. If it is sitting in a box in Marion, I don’t want it to come and sit in a box here.”

The couple has preserved some heirlooms, but very few. The result is a home that looks like it could be featured in a magazine. n

SUMMER 2021

53

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Lake of Egypt Living

[ GREEN LIVING ]

Harness the Sun Bob and Sharon Fletcher-Iltis knew solar was going to be part of their homestead from the very beginning.

TIM SERLES

T

hey designed their

of its experience and its commitment to

back to the utility, over three times what

house to harness the

the community. Bob and Sharon knew

came in off the grid. And in May of 2021,

power of the sun pas-

what they wanted and AES was posi-

sively; allowing the low

credits from exported power offset all

tioned to deliver. They wanted a ground

winter sun in for warmth

of the grid power and a portion of the

mounted array that was high in the sky

and blocking out the hot summer sun.

connection fee, making what could have

and energy storage.

They were waiting for the right time to

The low edge of the array is over eight

been a $200 bill less than $40.

install a solar energy system to utilize the

feet off the ground. The pole-mount pre-

sun for their electrical needs.

vents their livestock from disturbing the

Part of Bob’s motivation was his father,

solar panels. “We are noticing that shade

Theodore Iltis. Ted was a nuclear engi-

from the array provides a cool place for

neer who helped design the Nautilus: the

some of our poultry pens. The space

first nuclear powered ship. Ted’s interest

isn’t lost. The poles aren’t in the way and

in alternative energies and environmental

shade tolerant grasses are thriving.” says

conservation passed on to his son. For

Iltis.

“While installing the system”, iltis com-

Bob the photovoltaic system is a tribute

“The batteries can store power for the

ments, “There were very few problems.”

to his father and he says, “Dad would

freezers in a power outage but mostly

He says “We have been impressed by

have loved this”.

save by providing the electricity to run

the ability for the system to provide data

Bob and Sharon decided to go solar in

systems through the night”, says iltis. In

which can be viewed easily by AES. That

late 2019. They chose AES Solar because

October of 2020, the system exported,

means they have our back.” n

“AES seems to have their ducks in a row when it comes to knowing about all the possible incentives available.’ said Iltis, “They were really helpful in approaching the bureaucratic hurdles that a typical homeowner would find confusing or overwhelming”.

SUMMER 2021

55

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Lake of Egypt Living

[ PETS ]

HEARTWORM DISEASE in Dogs & Cats DR. MIKE TROOP

L

iving by the Lake of Egypt has tremendous benefits for both us and our pets.

Unfortunately, the same body of water that we all enjoy is also the perfect environment for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are not only very annoying, but also can transmit very serious diseases to both humans and animals.

These diseases include West Nile Virus in people, encephalitis in horses, and heartworms in dogs and cats. In this article, we are going to discuss heartworm disease in dogs and cats.

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and especially in southern Illinois. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart and lungs of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body. Heartworm disease primarily affects dogs but can also rarely affect cats, ferrets, and coyotes. In southern Illinois, the abundance of coyotes act as a constant reservoir for mosquitoes to bite and then transmit heartworms to our pets.

The dog is a natural host for heartworms, which means that heartworms that live inside the dog mature into adults, mate and produce “baby heartworms. It is these baby heartworms (or microfilaria) that mosquitoes ingest when they bite an affected dog and then transfer to another pet when biting it. If untreated, their numbers can increase, and dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies.

Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone. For this reason, heartworm prevention for dogs is by far the best option to protect your dog from becoming infected with heartworms.

Heartworm disease in cats is very

different from heartworm disease in dogs. The cat is an atypical host for heartworms, and most worms in cats do not survive to the adult stage due to this natural immunity. Cats with adult heartworms typically have just one to three worms, and many cats affected by heartworms have no adult worms. In over 30 years of practicing veterinary medicine in southern Illinois, I know of less than a dozen cats diagnosed with heartworm disease. There are several heartworm preventatives available for cats but due to the natural immunity against the worms that cats have, preventatives are not typically recommended.

How is heartworm disease transmitted from one pet to another? The mosquito plays an important role in the heartworm life cycle. Adult female heartworms living in an infected dog, fox, or coyote produce microscopic baby worms called microfilaria that circulate in the bloodstream. When a mosquito bites and takes a blood meal from an infected animal, it picks up these baby worms.

Then, when the infected mosquito bites another dog or cat, the immature heartworms are injected into the new hosts skin. Once inside a new host, it takes approximately 6 months for the larvae to

develop into mature adult heartworms.

Once mature, heartworms can live for 5 to 7 years in dogs and up to 2 or 3 years in cats. Because of the longevity of these worms, each mosquito season can lead to an increasing number of worms in an infected pet.

What are the signs of heartworm disease in dogs? In the early stages of the disease, many dogs show few symptoms or no symptoms at all. The longer the infection persists, the more likely symptoms will develop. Active dogs, dogs heavily infected with heartworms, or those with other health problems often show pronounced clinical signs.

Signs of heartworm disease may include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss.

As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop right sided heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to fluid building up in the abdomen (ascites). Dogs with large numbers of heartworms can develop sudden blockages of blood flow within the heart leading to a life-threatening form of cardiovascular collapse. This is similar to a blood clot in the lungs of people and can be life threatening.

SUMMER 2021

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What are the signs of heartworm disease in cats? Signs of heartworm disease in cats can be very subtle or very dramatic. Symptoms may include coughing, asthma-like attacks, periodic vomiting, lack of appetite, or weight loss.

Occasionally an affected cat may have difficulty walking, experience fainting or seizures, or suffer from fluid accumulation in the abdomen.

Southern Illinois is an endemic area for Heartworms. When I graduated from veterinary school in 1987 and moved to southern Illinois, the practice where I worked at treated over 300 dogs for heartworms a year. Fortunately, the incidence of heartworms has decreased dramatically due to preventatives but we still diagnose several dogs with heartworms every month. In this area, heartworm prevention is recommended to be given all year long while in other parts of the country it is recommended to be given only part of the year or not at all.

These recommendations in other areas are due to the harsher winters affecting mosquito population and also the low incidence of heartworm disease. Our recommendation is that any dog living in southern Illinois be started on prevention as early as possible and the preventative be given year round for the life of the dog. Even if the pet rarely goes outside, remember that one mosquito bite can infect a dog with a fatal dose of heartworms. It is very likely that if a dog in southern Illinois is not on heartworm prevention it will develop heartworm disease.

How is heartworm disease diagnosed? There are two tests commonly used to diagnose heartworm disease.

One is to check a blood sample for the “baby heartworms” or microfilaria. If the microfilaria are present than there must be adults present. The other test is an antigen test for the adult heartworms

and is much more specific and is the test that is most commonly used. If a pet tests positive for heartworms on the antigen test, then we routinely check for the microfilaria to confirm the diagnosis.

When should my pet be tested?

Dogs: We recommend that all dogs be tested annually for heartworm infection and this is usually done during their wellness exam. The earlier in the course of the disease that heartworms can be diagnosed, the less the damage that has been done to the heart and also the higher the effectiveness of the treatment.

Every year, we see several dogs that are on year round prevention that still test positive for heartworms. This is due to the possible missed doses, the pet not ingesting the whole medication, or the fact that there isn’t a single heartworm preventative that is 100% effective.

Cats: Heartworm infection in cats is harder to detect than in dogs, because cats are much less likely than dogs to have adult heartworms. The preferred method for screening cats includes the use of both an antigen and an antibody test (the “antibody” test detects exposure to heartworm larvae).

What is the treatment for heartworms? Most of the time, heartworms can be successfully treated. The earlier in the course of the disease a diagnose is made, the higher the chance that treatment will be successful. Unfortunately, due to the advanced stage of the heart disease sometimes caused by the heartworms or other disease conditions present, it is the unfortunate truth that treatment is not always successful.

Treatment for heartworms is done in 3 stages. The first stage is to clear the pet of the microfilaria, administer heartworm preventative to prevent further infection, and start on medications (doxycycline and prednisone) that make the stages 2 and 3 more successful. Also, exercise restriction is initiated to prevent the possibility of blood clots.

The next two stages involve giving injections to kill the adult heartworms. Four weeks after the first stage, the dog is given an injection in the muscle of the back that is absorbed and starts killing the adult heartworms. Four weeks later, two more injections are given 24 hours apart that kill the rest of the adult heartworms.

It is critical that following these injections

that the pets exercise is severely restricted.

How are heartworms prevented?

Fortunately, there are several medications available that are highly effective at preventing heartworm disease. They all act in a similar manner in which they block the growth of the heartworm larvae injected from the mosquito bite from developing into the adult heartworms.

Since most of these preventatives block this growth from a bite in the past six weeks, we recommend that puppies be started on preventatives as soon as possible.

There are several different routes by which heartworm prevention can be administered. There are topical preventatives such as Revolution and Advantage Multi. There are oral preventatives given monthly such as Interceptor and Heartgard. There is also an injection called ProHeart that provides protection from heartworm disease for a year. There are advantages and disadvantages to all of these such as cost, palatability, ease of administration, ability to prevent other parasites, etc. The two preventatives we most commonly recommend at Troop Veterinary Service are Interceptor as a monthly preventative and the ProHeart annual injection. Ask your veterinarian which preventative they feel comfortable with and would be the best option for your pet.

Key points about heartworm disease: 1. Southern Illinois is an endemic area—if your dog is not on heartworm prevention, it is highly likely it will get heartworm disease 2. Dogs and cats can both be infected with heartworms but cats have a natural immunity and it is very rare for cats to develop heartworm disease.

3. Early diagnosis is very important for successful treatment and full recovery.

Annual testing is recommended for all dogs.

4. Treatment is highly successful but can be very expensive and the heartworms can cause permanent damage to your pets’ heart and lungs.

5. There are several heartworm preventatives available but remember that none are 100% effective. n SUMMER 2021

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HEROES OF THE

T

he emergency rescue squad vehicle emitted a loud warning signal as it was backed into place for the next call at the Lake of Egypt Fire Protection District station. As they have after many emergency runs, paramedics Lt. Robert Musolino and Capt. Matt Blue dismounted, but this time was different. Instead of the grim look of men who handle the injured, ill or dying, a broad smile was evident on the face of each.

This day the men, two firefighters of the seven full-timers of the department, 62

Lake of Egypt Living

had just delivered a baby.

Delivering a baby certainly is not the type of call normally answered on a shift, but the unusual is not that different from a normal day’s work. Blue and Musolino answer all calls for assistance, and that can range from fire calls to live rescue calls. “Just anything we are called for. We cover both fire and EMS,” Blue says.

Musolino, who attended John A. Logan College, wanted to be a paramedic.

The nearby college offers a Emergency Medical Services program, and Musolino received his training. With his family living within the district boundaries, it was

natural for him to apply, and be hired, to a full-time position. He serves the district in a unique position, firemedic/diver.

Musolino is not native to the area. He came downstate to become a paramedic. He was from Chicago.

He says firefighting is basically the same in both the city and rural areas, with one big exception, water supply. A city firefighter has a nearby hydrant, but that advantage often doesn’t exist in a rural area. Accepting that factor was a lesson he had to learn.

The lifestyle of Southern Illinois is what attracted him away from the city, he says.

LAKE

Blue has his roots fully in Southern Illinois as he is native to Goreville, where he first worked as a volunteer firefighter. In 2005 he became a part-time shift worker at Lake of Egypt and he moved to fulltime in 2006.

Blue says working as a firefighter and paramedic is satisfying work. “Being able to help people in their time of need” makes his day complete.

“We always meet people on their worst days possible, so being able to help them with their problems is always rewarding,” he says. And every once-ina-while someone they meet on a worst

The entire department is a wellhoned instrument through training that is mainly in-house

day stops at the station to say thank you That makes for a great day for the paramedics.

Thankfully, the two say, their district was not hit too bad by COVID-19. For them the greatest change of routine procedure was making certain they were wearing the property protective gear.

After COVID began its spread in Illinois, Musolino says he was thankful he has relocated to a more rural environment.

The entire department is a well-honed instrument through training that is mainly in-house and meeting the high standards

of the Insurance Service Office, or ISO, a rating service used to determine insurance rates across the United States.

The department was formed in 1974 and covered a small territory. It has grown and now covers emergencies in a huge territory, about 240 square miles, and operates six fire stations.

Blue, who functions as the department’s training officer, says a large training area has been set aside for the continuing, and regular, training. A few training sessions are conducted on line, Blue says. For the major training, the 40- and 80-hour courses, the department SUMMER 2021

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The department utilizes large cargo containers for training turns to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, as do most all fire departments in the state.

Large cargo containers on the department’s grounds have proven to be a useful tool in training.

Blue says the department has a smoke generator and the containers can be arranged in patterns for training days, such as rooms of a typical house. Injection of smoke and unexpected obstacles serve to make the “house” as real as is possible to the types of situations firefighters might encounter at an actual fire.

In a rural area such as the area the department serves, the greatest fire hazard with the potential for the greatest loss comes when a property owner burns

leaves and brush, Blue says. “It can get away from them quickly,” he says. And then, to compound the problem, “they wait too long to call us.”

While a rural department, the department serves an unusual mix of territories.

Living quarters for people in the district range from campers and mobile homes to high-end three-story lakeside homes.

Population-wise, a large percentage of the 7,500 people in the district are retirees who have moved to the popular lake area.

The area of expertise of Musolino and Blue had its introduction to the department in 1993 when ambulance service was first offered. That offering grew, and the level of training increased, until now the department has two Advanced Life Support units, allowing advanced care for critical patients, and in reserve, one Basic Life Support unit.

The call volume for the service is high, approaching 800 calls per year.

On the paramedic side of the department’s work, a lot of the calls involve vehicle accidents. The department serves an area with a lot of hills and blind curves and two interstates.

The pattern did not follow the rest of the nation where statistics show fewer accidents that resulted in more vehicle deaths during the COVID-19 months. In the Lake of Egypt area, paramedics say the numbers remained about the same as always.

Handling serious accidents often

requires use of specialized tools for extrication. The department has the tools and the members are trained in their use.

Battery-operated spreaders, cutting tools, a combination cutter-spreader and hydraulic ram are onboard Engine No. 4, the first out of the station when there is a call needing extrication. They also carry stabilizing struts and cribbing. Bags help prevent an unforeseen tipping of a vehicle and a variety of straps help to save lives of both the victim and the rescuers.

Accident calls, especially those on the Interstate, pose increased danger to the firefighters and paramedics. Passing motorists are distracted by gawking at the accident and on the Interstate, the danger is increased by the driving speeds.

“We try to have a truck parked a ways back and a lookout to warn us when traffic is not moving over,” Blue says.

“Everybody is in charge of their own safety when we are out there,” State Police also work at slowing traffic SUMMER 2021

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L ake of Egypt Living

and keeping the workers at the scene safe, Musolino says.

Not all of the work facing the firefighters is at the scene of a blaze or on a highway. True to its Lake of Egypt name, the department also handles water rescue calls with a rescue watercraft and a rescue staff of four divers. The divers are given assistance by other firefighters in handling the boat and equipment, Musolino says.

He is one of the department’s divers.

The Lake of Egypt divers get assistance from other dive teams in the area when there is an incident and the department assists other departments.

The department has the needed equipment for diving in all types of weather conditions, Musolino says. While the department’s boat is equipped with sonar, more often another mutual aid department with very high-tech sonar handles that part of a search mission. There is a sonar team that covers the entire area he explains.

While technology and the divers’ skills are the preferred method of conducting a water mission, Musolino says the department continues to carry the old tried-and-true dragging equipment, “for use whenever we have to.” But that is the last resort for a team.

Levels of specialization are high among Lake of Egypt firefighters. Aside from a broad spectrum of EMT and paramedic skills and diving abilities, the department has firefighters trained at the technician level for the regional mutual aid box alarm system (MABAS) haz-mat team and Technical Rescue Team. All fulltime and part-time firefighters are certified to the EMT Basic or paramedic level, giving the department 10 paramedics and nine EMT basic level people.

Days can be very exhausting for a firefighter. Boring days are hard to find, especially when you are a paramedic. Family support means a lot to the two men.

“I come from an extended family with a lot of firefighters,” Musolino says. “And my wife is very supportive, so it is not such a big deal.” She expects and understands there often are long shifts, 24 to 48 hours, and he may not be home at an expected time.

Blue has the same type of support at home. He says he and his wife have been together since high school. His family knows normal family events can’t be quite the same as the neighbors.

“We have to get together and plan our birthdays and other family get-togethers around my shifts,” he says.

As his kids get older, there is a new element of comradeship with them. The kids like to come to come to the station to hang out and help with routine maintenance.

“There is nothing unusual about them coming out on Sunday afternoon and having dinner with us,” he says.

And that brings to the fore the old firehouse question: “Who is the better cook?”

“Our shift,” the two paramedics declare, and in an apparent act of diplomacy they add, “the chief is not a bad cook.”

The two fire officers give a lot of credit for progress to Fire Chief Jerry Odum, who is able to lend years of practical experience to the department. Odum is retired from the Marion Fire Department.

Odum says he continued to love working in the fire service when he retired and, fortunately, the position at the Lake of

Egypt department opened at the same time.

Even with the hours away from family and inherent dangers of their job, both Musolino and Blue say it is a good field for young people to consider for employment.

“To be a firefighter, you have to have it in the blood,” Blue says. “You might spend a lot of time sitting around between calls, but then when something happens, it makes a difference – it is someone’s life.

“When you come to work every day, it is just like a second family,” he says.

“When you come to work, your office is a fire engine or an ambulance,” Musolino says. “My career is based on using it, knowing how to operate it and using all of the tools on it.”

The department operates with a minimal manpower, seven fulltime employees, eight to 10 part-time employees and six paid per call volunteers.

There is always a demand for more volunteers and the two department officers say the need for pumper drivers is especially high. Training for specifics of driving a firetruck will be provided in-house, as will be the training for operating the equipment on the truck. n SUMMER 2021

67

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Area Rugs for Every Room ANGELA ROWE, DDCD

W

ith the popularity of hardwood and laminate floors, area rugs are being used more than

ever in interior design. There is more to selecting an area rug than the color and pattern.

First, let’s discuss the construction of the rug. This is one of the primary factors of the cost of a rug. Looking at lowest to highest we will start with machine woven. These are manufactured much like broadloom carpet on a large loom machine. They are typically lower in price than handmade rugs, have very little variation from piece to piece, usually will not shed, and are suitable for high traffic areas since it’s easy to clean.

Machine woven rugs usually won’t last as long hand woven.

Next is hand woven and hand loomed.

As the name implies, these are woven on a large hand operated loom or peddle loom. These can be cut pile, loop pile, or cut and loop pile; often a solid color base is hand carved to create a subtle design. Hand woven can also be over tufted or printed to create a textural and colorful design.

Hand tufted and hand hooked are made using a hand tool to punch the yard through a canvas. Many textures and patterns are easily achieved with this method. Size, design, and color may vary slightly because of the handmade nature and more shedding than other constructions may occur.

The most luxurious and usually most expensive are hand knotted rugs. These are made completely by hand tying each individual knot across the row and beat

ing the knots close before proceeding to the next row. An artisan product, hand knotted rugs have the highest perceived value and are very durable (except in delicate materials) and can achieve intricate details.

Many fibers are used in today’s area rug manufacturing. One of the most luxurious is New Zealand wool. The fibers from New Zealand sheep’s fleece is spun into yarn. This wool is higher quality than normal wool and has more softness, natural sheen, and less shedding. All wool sheds, however, this varies depending on the quality and will reduce over time. All wool yarn is sustainable, biodegradable, highly durable, and highly resilient with natural oils that provide softness.

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before it is formed into yarn. It is highly durable, moisture, fade, and stain resistant, with minimal shedding or color variation.

Synthetic fibers are typically found in machine made rugs.

Viscose is a hybrid of natural cellulose pulp and synthetic fibers and should not be used in high traffic areas due to the matting that can make stains more difficult to clean. Viscose does give a lovely sheen to the yarn in imitation of silk. For high traffic areas, keep viscose below 20%.

So now you know about construction and fibers, let’s talk size and style. One of the things I see repeatedly is a rug that is too small. In a dining room, the rug should be 2 foot larger in each direction than the table. This allows the dining chairs room to move in and out without falling off the edge of the rug. In a living room or family room, ideally the front legs of all the furniture in a grouping should be on the rug. It gives a more cohesive feel to the area.

Area rugs can define a space, especially in open floor plans.

A rug can distinguish a seating area from the dining area and of course give color and/or texture to the design. When planning the size of rug, think about the edge of it near walkways. You

first, then add the upholstery pieces and drapery, and lastly the wall color.

Area rugs can anchor a room, define it, add warmth, and help layer a room’s decor. But, like any investment, a rug must be properly taken care of if it is to last. Most manufacturers recommend vacuuming an area rug with the beater bar turned off.

never want one foot on the rug and the other foot off of it. I like

From bold and bright to neutral, the sky is the limit with area

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rugs. n

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[ UPCOMING EVENTS ]

Phone: +1 618-695-2489

league to the Major League.

May through Sep 11

There will be miles and miles of great

Murphysboro Apple Festival

Address: 800 S. 27th St.

running through the beautiful Shawnee

Sep 15 to Sep 18

Mount Vernon IL 62864

National Forest, the best food, a pleth-

Address: 110 S 14th St

Phone: +1 618-242-3151

ora of free beverages, and swag give

Murphysboro IL 62966

away. We will also, have the kids Fun Run,

Phone: +1 618-684-3200

Market Days Flea Market and Vendor Fair

Located at Veteran's Park, 800 S. 27th

vendor expo, and the totally rustic Camp

St., Market Days occurs on the second

O cabins.

Celebrating the area apple harvest.

Events include a downtown street

Saturday of every month from May to September. At Market Days, a variety

Camp Ondessonk, in the heart of the

carnival with rides and concessions, live

of vendors sell diverse items such as

Shawnee National Forest, will be the play

nightly entertainment on the Appletime

antiques, collectibles, handmade items,

host to the Shawnee Hills 100 race. The

Stage, an arts & crafts fair, two parades,

plants, jewelry, blacksmith, flea market

runners will get to explore some of the

a high school marching band competi-

finds, produce, baked goods, kettle

most stunning and extraordinary rock

tion, car/truck/motorcycle show, queen

corn and much more. Admission is free

formations and waters falls that Shaw-

scholarship pageant, walk/run race, and

and concessions provided by Billy Bob's

nee National Forest is well known for,

much more.

BBQ. Visit, shop, and enjoy the Market

vegetation consists largely of oak-hick-

atmosphere at Mt. Vernon's Market Days.

ory, maple-beech, and pine forests.

Cave-In-Rock Frontier Day

The course will take you deep into the

Sep 18

Union County Fair

sandstone canyon systems of Southern

Address: Along the Ohio River

Aug 20 to Aug 28

Illinois' Shawnee Hills Natural Division

Cave-in-Rock IL 62919

Address: Fairgrounds

while traversing Jackson Hollow and the

Phone: +1 618-287-4333

Anna IL 62906

Bay Creek Reservoir and several water-

Phone: +1 618-833-8923

falls along the course including Paken-

Cave-In-Rock Frontier Festival is held on

tuck Falls (the tallest free-falling waterfall

the banks of the beautiful Ohio River.

Carnival games, rides, farm and agricul-

in Illinois), Jackson Falls, Horseshoe Falls,

The festival, which commemorates the

ture exhibits, rodeos, horse racing and

and Cedar Falls along with some inspir-

extensive and colorful history connected

tractor pulls, Queen contest, demolition

ing views from Salomon's Ridge.

to Cave-In-Rock and the surrounding community, is an entertaining and fun

derby and other entertainment in the grand stand.

Centralia Balloon Fest Aug 20 to Aug 22 Address: 210 East Broadway

Popcorn Days

filled community event. First held in the

Sep 10 to Sep 11

1960’s, the celebration includes a parade,

Address: 109 S Kimbro St

carnival, various entertainment held in

Ridgway IL 62979

the Old Opry House, food and craft

Phone: +1 618-559-9235

vendors. A Little Miss and Mister Frontier

Centralia IL 62801 Phone: +1 618-532-6789

Days and Frontier Queen pageant is a Popcorn Day celebration is the second

highlight as well as various other activi-

weekend in September every year.

ties. Come join the festivities for a day of

Three day hot air balloon festival fea-

During this weekend we have live en-

fun and entertainment.

turing live music, craft vendors, food

tertainment, vendors, amusement rides,

vendors, activities, and balloon glow

games, free popcorn, and the big parade

Shrimp Festival

displays. Event runs Friday, August 20

on Saturday at 1:00 pm.

Sep 18 Address: Pope County Courthouse

through Sunday, August 22.

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Golconda IL 62938

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ily owned business, Dinger Bats. Here,

Phone: +1 618-683-6246

Aug 28 to Aug 29

the first wooden bat company in Illinois

Address: 3760 Ondessonk Rd.

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Non-Smoking

•

A/C Unit

•

Dogs Allowed

•

Free WIFI

•

Towels & Linens

•

Oven & Stove Top

•

Microwave

•

Refrigerator

•

Deck with Grill

•

Boat Dock

•

Cable TV

•

Cookware

• PIZZA • SANDWICHES • SALADS & MORE CALL FOR PICK UP!

RESERVE YOUR CABIN NOW!

Visit egyptianhillsresort.com to take a virtual tour of our cabins, view availability or make your reservation.

THE ULTIMATE OUTDOOR FAMILY GETAWAY

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Lake of Egypt Living

[ UPCOMING EVENTS ]

Southern Illinois but it is one you don't

activities. Walk the corn maze, ride the

want to miss! No, you won’t find shrimp

hayride, slide down the slides or play

in the Ohio River, but what we do have

in the corn pile in the barn. If you think

are local and sustainably farmed shrimp

you're a sure shot, take aim with the corn

(prawn) from Tanglefoot Ranch and lots

cannon or just sit back by the fire and

of other festivities to enjoy. Come enjoy

drink a hot chocolate. Grab a snack from

the streets lined with vendors serving

the concession stand (try the sweet rock

a wide variety of shrimp dishes sure to

candy) before heading home with the

satisfy every shrimp lover’s appetite. Plus,

perfect Southern Illinois grown pumpkin!

we have much more than just shrimp to eat. You can also find award-winning BBQ along with corndogs, funnel cakes, and much more.

Bandy's Pumpkin Patch Sep 18 to Oct 31

Address: 15020 Pumpkin Patch Road Johnston City IL 62951

Phone: +1 618-983-8676

trucks, and so much more!

Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days

Sep 25 to Sep 26

Address: 700 Logan College Road Carterville IL 62918

Phone: +1 618-985-3741 Join us in celebrating the Southern Illi-

Mt. Vernon Fall Fest Sep 24 to Sep 25 Address: 9th St.

Mount Vernon IL 62864

Phone: +1 618-242-3151

nois Hunting and Fishing Days. We have 200 plus vendors crowd onto our campus that weekend and 35,000 plus sportsmen that show up every year. Parking Fee $5 or Bag of Non-Perishable GoodsWe will have many food vendors and various

Get ready for the 9th Annual Mt. Vernon

music and entertainment.

Fall Fest, September 24-25. Enjoy Free live entertainment both days on the main

Attend a casting workshop, watch the

stage. Enjoy festival foods, listen to great

dock dogs compete, listen to the water-

Open annually from mid September

music, shop from a variety of vendors,

fowl callers try archery, and check out all

through October 31st; this fun, Fall

participate in our Crossroads Community

the latest gear and much more! Saturday,

destination is host to many family fun

Hospital parade, view classic cars and

September 25th 9am-5pm through Sun-

SUMMER 2021

75

[ UPCOMING EVENTS ]

day, September 26th 9am-4pm. See Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel or visit with Lacey Jones from the hit show Naked and Afraid.

Makanda Mushroom Festival Oct 01 to Oct 03

Address: 1327 Camp Cedar Point Lane Makanda IL 62958

Phone: +1 618-319-2168 Join us for the first annual Makanda Mushroom Festival held in the gorgeous Shawnee forest Country in Southern Illinois.

Camp Manitowa at Cedar Point boasts a gorgeous backdrop for mushroom foraging hikes, food and fermentation workshops, a mushroom dinner with chef Anne Millard, live music from incredible local talent, art, vendors, camping, cabins, and much more. Perfect for families and people of all ages!

Fall Back to Metropolis Oct 01 to Oct 03

Address: 517 Market St Metropolis IL 62960

Phone: +1 618-524-5518 Super friends will gather in Metropolis for a variety of fun events over the weekend, such as a magic show, painting party, Q&A with Super Museum founder Jim Hambrick, meet and greet with Super heroes in front of the Super Museum, a dance party at Fat Eds, artists, writers, ghost tours at the River View Mansion, bounce house, and more to be announced...

Get ready to Fall back to Metropolis in the Fall!

Shawnee Sasquatch Festival Oct 02

Address: 110 E. Locust Street Harrisburg IL 62946

Phone: +1 618-253-1937 Harrisburg is the Gateway to the Shawnee National Forest.

Get trail information, take a guided hike, browse the market and hone your Squatch calling skills.

River to River Yard Sale Oct 07 to Oct 10

Address: 137 E Vienna St Anna, Anna IL 62906

Phone: +1 618-697-2435

76

Lake of Egypt Living

[ UPCOMING EVENTS ]

The River to River Yard Sale will follow

The Fat Tire Festival

ent weather.

Oct 15 to Oct 17

Hwy. 146 from East Cape to Cave in Rock, IL. There is no cost to attend the

Hare and Hounds Sailing

Address: 3760 Ondessonk Rd

yard sales. Bring cash! For more details

May 08 to Oct 09

Ozark IL 62972

on things to do, or places to stay in

Address: IL 127 on Hazlet State Road

Phone: +1 618-622-1693

Southernmost Illinois, visit www.south-

Carlyle IL 62231

ernmostillinois.com.

Phone: +1 314-325-9283

Wander Down Music Festival

Hare and Hound events are open to all

miles of great riding, the best food in all

Oct 08 to Oct 10

classes of boats and we encourage you

of Ozark, IL, a plethora of free beverag-

Address: 1206 Touch of Nature Rd

to take friends and family out for the 10.7

es, and mountains of schwag and prizes

Makanda IL 62958

mile course starting and finishing at CSA

to give away. We are also continuing the

Southern Illinois Fat Tire Festival (FTF) is back! As always, we will have miles and

by way of Coles Creek and Allen Branch.

CampO traditions; live music, climbing

The Wander Down is hosted by The Way

Make an afternoon of sailing with the

wall, vendor expo, bike demo’s, trail

Down Wanderers who play multiple sets

emphasis on fun. Crew opportunities

runs, hikes, zip lines and the totally rustic

throughout the weekend. Additional

available to anyone on each sailing day

CampO cabins.

National touring acts with a roots, Amer-

by advance reservation. No experience

icana and bluegrass focus will perform

neede. After the race, come back to the

Fall Colors at the Bald Knob Cross of

on the beautiful lake stage as well as the

CSA pavilion for the results and free bev-

Peace

main stage, located at the heart of the

erages. Plan to make a day of it by chillin

Oct 16

festival grounds. Music will be relocated

and grillin afterwards.

Address: 230 Hwy 127 Alto Pass IL 62905

to Indoor stages in the event of inclem-

Commercial • Residential • Siding • Decks Sidewalks • Driveways • Painting • Staining & More

618.922.4111 Insured • Marion, IL sipressurewash2020@gmail.com

SUMMER 2021

77

Making your Lake Home Dreams come true.

www.myfsb.com 78

Lake of Egypt Living

[ UPCOMING EVENTS ]

Phone: +1 618-713-8516

blanket traders, merchants, military units, fife and drum corps, and period-style

Nestled on a hillside in Pomona, IL, the

Lunch served, face painting, music and

food from more than 20 vendors. The

Holy Boulders is a world-class climbing

games, with local arts and crafts, photog-

encampment offers military drills, mock

area offering classic lines of all grades on

raphy, and inspirational gifts.

battles, along with story telling and chil-

perfectly textured sandstone. The boul-

dren's activities.

Vulture Fest

dering competition will help promote access to some of the finest sandstone

Haunted Hollow

Oct 16 to Oct 17

bouldering in the country, the climbing

Oct 24

Address: 600 Makanda Road

Address: 1206 Touch of Nature Rd

Makanda IL 62958

Makanda IL 62958

Phone: +1 618-457-7739

Phone: +1 618-453-1121

Each fall, vultures fly over Makanda and

area is known as “The Holy Boulders.”

The Holy Boulders have attracted professional climbers and strong athletes from around the country.

the surrounding areas and signal the

The Haunted Hollow provides a perfect

beginning of fall and the arrival of the

Halloween atmosphere for everyone with

incredible fall colors of Makanda and

a balance of laughs and gasps in a safe

Nov 13

southern Illinois. Artists from the sur-

and fun environment. Costumes are en-

Address: Visitor Center, Hwy. 146

rounding area will have on display their

couraged. The festivities will go on rain

Vienna IL 62995

finest works for viewing and purchase.

or shine, so we encourage participants to

Phone: +1 270-556-1679

Live music is scheduled to take place at

dress accordingly for the day’s weather.

the Makanda Pavilion and in the Rain-

Tunnel Hill 50/100 Mile Run

Flat, fast course on the Tunnel Hill Illinois

maker’s Garden, with bluegrass, jazz,

There will be interpretive nature walks,

State trail. From wildlife inhabited wet-

blues and various other music by local

a haunted hay-ride, a portable climbing

bands for the duration of the two–day

wall and family games for children of all

lands to gorgeous rock formations, this

event. Enjoy the relaxation and enter-

ages. Participants will also learn about

tainment in the unique town of Makanda.

and have the chance to hold snakes,

Free admission, 10am-6pm

lizards and other “creepy crawlers.”

Everything is family friendly and suitable

Fort Massac Encampment Oct 16 to Oct 17 Address: 1308 E 5th St Metropolis IL 62960

for all ages.

trail has it all. Smooth crushed limestone covered dirt bed is wide and contains no trip hazards. Best of all is the iconic tunnel... over 600' of thrills you'll always remember. Includes a 50-mile option... all the fun of the 100 miler, except you run

Annual Holy Boulders Bouldering Competition

the course once instead of twice.

Nov 06

Due to COVID-19 some events may

Address: 2 Tripps Lane

be canceled or have restrictions.

This annual reenactment of late-1700s

Pomona IL 62975

Please contact venue for more infor-

Illinois life on the frontier prairie features

Phone: +1 618-528-1788

mation. n

Phone: +1 618-524-9321

Tracy Wilson Shane Bennett Eric Ashby Co-Owners / Designers

618.942.2000 Follow us on Facebook

3108 South Park Avenue, Herrin, IL

fax: 618.942.2022 • email: cabinets@asakitchens.com

Piano Tuning & Sales

618.942.5115

baldwinofherrin.com SUMMER 2021

79

THE FIRST STOP ON YOUR

GRANDEST ADVENTURE 618-997-2378

PAGE 22

www.blackdiamondrv.com

2405 Black Diamond Dr, Marion, IL 62959