Lake of Egypt Living Memorial Day 2021

LAKE OF EGYPT

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

JIM & JO ELLEN

ANDERSON Back where it all began

RUSTY'S HOME CENTER

|

LAKE OF EGYPT WATER

Dine Out More Discover your Outdoor Kitchen in our Stone Gallery!

Appointments Monday thru Friday 7-4 & Saturday 9-12

610 N Illinois Ave F-W-S.net

Carbondale, IL 618-457-2326

Emergency care.

Recognized nationally. Available locally.

CHEST PAIN CENTER

30-MINUTE PLEDGE GASTROENTEROLOGY

STROKE CARE

INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

CARDIOLOGY

ORTHOPEDICS

VASCULAR

When you have an emergency, turn to the emergency department at Heartland Regional Medical Center with confidence.

• We are an American College of Cardiology Accredited Chest Pain Center. This prestigious accreditation indicates that we have achieved a higher level of expertise when dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack.

• We are an Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital, as designated by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

It means that we have complied with stringent criteria in providing emergency care for stroke patients.

• The 30-Minute Pledge means we will work diligently to have you initially seen by a medical professional within 30 minutes of your arrival.

All this, plus specialists in Cardiology, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Gastroenterology, Podiatry, and Vascular, means we are at our best when you need us most.

Current Average ER Wait Time HeartlandRegional.com

3333 W. Deyoung St., Marion, IL 62959

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. • Specialists are Independent and Employed Members of the Medical Staff at Heartland Regional Medical Center.

115048_HEAR_ERcapabilities_7_375x9_875c.indd 1

Memorial Day 2021

5/7/21 4:19 PM

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@LAKEOFEGYPTLIVING FOLLOW US ON

Welcome back to the lake for another beautiful summer season!

Spring brought a lot of home building and remodeling to the lake. And several new retail projects with the new Road Ranger, Wendy’s, Rusty's Home Center, Oasis and Suits Equipment Rental, Lake of Egypt Docks, El Ranchitos at Mack’s Marina, Pyramid Acres expansion, automated ice building and Egyptian Hills Resort upgrades. We are so excited to watch our lake community grow.

We have been blessed because of the wise foresight of good infrastructure in our utility systems, safety infrastructure and highways. New upgrades to those services and new fiber optic internet are just some of the upgrades that are happening daily.

What’s so special about the Lake of Egypt is not only do we have this picturesque natural wonder surrounding us, including the Shawnee Forest and State Parks, but we are in the midst of a transformation to upscale resort amenities and infrastructure that will rival any high end resort community.

You can feel it coming, it's palpable!

In any thriving, growing community you need all of these things. There is one other infrastructure or community building block that ties everything together. Communities bond with good communication. An informed group of people become good neighbors.

We at Lake of Egypt Living work very hard to be a part of this infrastructure through our printed magazine, website, and Egyptian Hills Resort Facebook. We communicate to every lake resident and hopefully, through these channels, the lake residents better communicate to each other.

We work diligently to produce The Lake of Egypt Living 4

Lake of Egypt Living

magazine free of charge to each and every lake resident. This is no small task to produce a high quality magazine but feel it's a privilege to serve our neighbors. Many of you have requested to have a mailed subscription to the magazine, we decided at the outset that this would be a community service and the only way to accomplish that would be to give it freely to everyone.

We would like to fulfill the request to have a mailed copy but the only way for us to accomplish this is to mail them all. So after a lot of thought we would like to create an association of lake neighbors to receive our magazine and to receive timely important information and events that happen in between our scheduled printed magazines.

All we ask is to fill out our member form, we need your mailing address, email and cell phone number (for texted updates that you can always opt out of). We will mail, free of charge, the magazine so that rain or shine you will get your Lake of Egypt Living. (And so I won't have to listen to my kids complain about running up and down our famous steep driveways.) Please help us by filling this out on our website, www.lakeofegyptliving.com. Those who do not sign up will unfortunately no longer get a free version of the magazine.

We thank you so much for helping us and have a great summer season!

Micah Merrill

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

WHAT'S INSIDE

LAKE OF EGYPT

LIVING

60

Memorial Day 2021 Issue EDITOR: Terrance Geese CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Tyler Couty ADVERTISING SALES: Micah Merrill CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Jennie Baer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Patrick Austin Victoria Sprehe Mark Faulkner Tim Serles Dr. Mike Troop Angela Rowe Matthew Hackman

FEATURES

PLUS...

16

BEHIND THE BUSINESS

7

INFORMATION

Rusty's Home Center is new to the lake community, but it's been a success since 1993.

9

THE LAKE SCENE

FULL CIRCLE

22 IN THE KITCHEN

Jim and Jo Ellen Anderson are enjoying their retirement on the lake.

60

LAKE OF EGYPT WATER The employees of the Lake of Egypt Water District are on a mission.

©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.

15 FISHIN' REPORT 28 REAL ESTATE 32 SWING AWAY 34 SPIRITS 54 TECH TALK 56 TALKIN' PETS 70 DECORATING 73 UPCOMING EVENTS

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LARITA NANCE

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75 Egyptian Parkway, Creal Springs, IL 62922 (618) 751-4556 • lakeofegyptliving.com Reproduction or use of the contents in this magazine is prohibited.

ABOUT THE COVER: Jim and Jo Ellen Anderson had their first date on the Lake of Egypt, and now they've come full circle, building their retirement home right where it all began. See more on page 40.

Memorial Day 2021

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Lake of Egypt Living

INFORMATION

Where's that?

Where are the nearest emergency rooms?

HEARTLAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

3333 W. Deyoung St. Marion, IL 62959 (618) 998-7000 HERRIN HOSPITAL

201 S. 14th St. Herrin, IL 62948 (618) 942-2171

Where are the nearest drug stores?

GOREVILLE PROFESSIONAL PHARMACY

901 S. Broadway Goreville, IL 62939 (618) 995-1555

Where are the nearest grocery stores?

GOREVILLE FOOD MARKET

KROGER

4SIWI

1704 W. Deyoung St. Marion, IL 62959 (618) 993-6330

3307 W. Commercial Marion, IL 62959 (618) 997-7494

ALDI

1305 N. Russell St. Marion, IL 62959

Where are the post offices?

GOREVILLE

117 S. Broadway Goreville, IL 62939 CREAL SPRINGS

112 W. Blue Ave. Creal Springs, IL 62922 MARION

205 E. Main St. Marion, IL 62959

Where are the town halls?

GOREVILLE

700 W. Main St. Goreville, IL 62939 (618) 995-2421

105 W. Collins St. Goreville, IL 62939 (618) 995-2157

CURDS GENERAL STORE

CREAL SPRINGS

14668 Sulphur Springs Rd. Creal Springs, IL 62922 (618) 996-3368

507 N. Walnut Grove Rd. Creal Springs, IL 62922 (618) 996-2311

DOLLAR GENERAL

MARION

12000 Lake of Egypt Rd. Marion, IL 62959 SMALL'S MEAT MARKET

1005 E. Main St. Marion, IL 62959 (618) 993-2735

1102 Tower Square Plaza Marion, IL 62959 (618) 997-6281

FRONTIER

(866) 255-9802 SHAWNEE COMMUNICATIONS

120 W. Lane Equality, IL 62934 (800) 461-3956

Where are the nearest restaurants?

WHIFFLE BOYS PIZZA & MORE

221 S. Broadway Goreville, IL 62939 (618) 995-9433 TRIPLE E BBQ

12146 Lake of Egypt Rd. Marion, IL 62959 (618) 964-1809 LONGHORN CAFE

IL-37 Goreville, IL 62939 (6187) 771-6831 SUGAR CREEK CAFE

105 W. Blue Ave. Creal Springs, IL 62922 (618) 996-8289 EL RANCHITO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

How do I get cable, phone or internet access?

12024 Laguna Drive Marion, IL 62959 (618) 422-9500 Memorial Day 2021

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Buy, sell, and trade with your neighbors!

Find everything you need for less on the...

MARKETPLACE

lakeofegyptliving.com

FIBER INTERNET

IS COMING TO LAKE OF EGYPT

Shawnee Communications continues to respond to the needs of our Southern Illinois friends and neighbors by expanding our Fiber to the Home network to more rural, underserved communities. Whether you work from home, have students in remote learning programs or just enjoy a high-tech lifestyle, Fiber Internet will provide immediate benefits to your household.

Visit shawneefiber.com or call us at 800.461.3956 to register your need for Fiber Internet!

8

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!

THE LAKE SCENE instagram @LAKEOFEGYPTLIVING

The Lake Scene

Show us how you embrace the lake spirit – share your moments, stories and snapshots by tagging @lakeofegyptliving

Andrea Sczurko Leas

Buck

B.J. Richardson

Chuck Schaeffer

Connie Bassler-Lihs

Jennifer Dalton

Kim Evans

Randy Moore

Andrea Sczurko Leas

Memorial Day 2021

9

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Indoor/Outdoor Rugs Interior Blinds and Shutters Rubber Flooring Blacktex

We’ve got your floors and window treatments covered!

OUT FOR A RIDE WITH YOUR FURBABY? STOP ON BY... OUR STORE IS PET FRIENDLY!

3017 S. Park Ave • Herrin, IL 62948 • (618) 988-0731 • shopflooringnow.com

LOANS HOME, CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT

from the

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BankofHerrin.com 10

L ake of Egypt Living

THE LAKE SCENE instagram @LAKEOFEGYPTLIVING

Kristen Bocook

Jonathan Caldwell

Casey R.

Janie Morris

@theresortategyptianhills

Susan Da Rosa

Sam Stuckel

Jen Lynn

Kristen Bocook

Memorial Day 2021

11

SCHEDULE YOUR ANNUAL CHECK-UP TODAY

299

$

SIGN UP AT LAKEOFEGYPTDOCKS.COM Includes: Annual Safety Check • Power Wash & Cleaning • Spray for Spiders • 50-Point Inspection • Tighten Boards & Beams • Check for Electrical Current in Water Around Dock • List of Suggested Maintenance We’re committed to making our lake as safe as it can be. That’s why with every new dock, we will be including a ShockIQ for FREE! And if you’d like to put one on your dock, give us a call.

THE ONLY DOCK BUILDER ON THE LAKE OF EGYPT SERVING THE LAKE FOR OVER 50 YEARS!

618-596-3379

LAKEOFEGYPTDOCKS.COM

12

L ake of Egypt Living

THE LAKE SCENE instagram @LAKEOFEGYPTLIVING

Jan Ping

Nancy Winkler

Tami Browning

Lex Steele

Patsy McDonagh

Rachel Klus Wright

@theresortategyptianhills

Stefanie Kaytor

@lakeofegyptliving

Memorial Day 2021

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THE LAKE OF EGYPT TEAM! Thought about selling your lake home?

WE HAVE BUYERS! ING

PEND

1290 EGYPTIAN HILLS CREAL SPRINGS $298,500 3BD/2BA

790 LUXOR LANDING RD, GOREVILLE, IL 4BD, 4BA, 4,411 SQFT $489,000 This custom built home is nestled in the trees of Luxor Landing Subdivision. Just feet away from the Lake of Egypt. It offers all the amenities of living on the lake with its very own boat slip. The covered front porch is so inviting and as you walk in to the living room you will find vaulted ceilings and fire place. The kitchen and formal dinning look out over a wooded area and private deck. Perfect for all your family gatherings. Master bedroom and bathroom are beautifully laid out. You will find that each room is very large with His and Her closets. One of my favorite features of the house is the the open walk way looking down into the living room, it really makes the house unique. 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!!

!!

SOLD

385 MARINA CIRC CREAL SPRINGS $79,000 2BD/2BA

ING

PEND

735 POPLAR RD TUNNEL HILL $185,000 3BD/2BA

75 DOGWOOD LN TUNNEL HILL $175,000 3BD/2BA

!!

!!

SOLD

SOLD

45 WHITE PINE CV TUNNEL HILL $249,000 4BD/3BA

!!

SOLD

13387 N SHORELAND DR, MARION $349,000 4BD/3BA

2205 KINGSPOINTE DR MARION $695,000 5BD/5BA

!!

SOLD

540 MALLARDS LANDING TUNNEL HILL $252,000 3BD/3BA

AVRIPAS SOUTHERN REAL ESTATE G. DAVID GREEN (618) 923-1111

Making you feel right at home is what we do best!

MICHELLE MERRILL (618) 771-0281

Managing Broker Kurt Avripas • 112 E. Main St., West Frankfort, IL • (618) 937-3040 14

L ake of Egypt Living

FISHIN' REPORT

O

Just Add Water

One of the things I get asked while working at Just Add Water Bait and Tackle is “What are they biting on?”

My answer is always a question: “What are you wanting to catch?”

May is a favorite month on Lake of Egypt for fishing. Bass are winding down their spawn right now and hanging around in many places as they move out offshore and start chasing shad. The last week we have been productive using flukes, swimbait, crankbaits over and outside the new emerging shore grass but we are following the fish deep to their feeding spots. Some were caught on ned rigs and other bottom lures.

Just about anything you use right now will catch you some fish. Water is quite clear in places and lighter line is helpful.

We saw water temps in the high 60s moving into the 70s. The size of fish we are catching range from small 12 in fish - up to 18 and a few 20s. The last few trips we have landed 20 to 30 fish so go get them.

The crappie has been along the weeds and around structure in 3 to 12 feet eating jigs and live minnows. Brush piles and laydowns have been productive. Move around. The clear water makes them spookier, and we seem to catch a few and then they stop biting.

Size has ranged from ten to 12 inchers with a few 13s. Early in the day and late evening have been most productive.

Bluegills are getting ready to spawn and can be found along shore weeds, wood and can be caught on crickets, worms, and mealworm light jigs. Been catching a few nice red ears this year

BY MATTHEW HACKMAN

off my dock in 12 feet of water around my brush piles. In the next 4 weeks look for them in shallow water on beds.

Use small flies and slow sinking baits.

Stay off the beds get as close as you can without spooking them and take plenty of crickets. The bigger gills and the big red ear tend to spawn a little deeper so if you visually find a bedding area fish a little further out and you may catch a few nice ones. II you catch Butter, our golden retriever, on a good day she may pick you out a hot lure and bring it to you; some customers swear by her choices. It is the best time of year to

fish LOE so get off the couch, let your grass grow and put up some fillets. n Mathew is an experienced fisherman with a lot of knowledge about fishing conditions on LOE, stop by Just Add Water and let Matthew or any of our employees assist you in finding what you need to get out on the water.

NEED BAIT? Just Add Water 12092 Lake of Egypt Rd, Marion, IL 62959 (618) 964-1944

Memorial Day 2021

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BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Rusty's Home Center There is a new business Lake of Egypt residents are finding to be convenient, friendly and filled with items they need to maintain and improve their lake dwelling.

Rusty’s Home Center, located on the south end of the village of Goreville, is new to the lake community, but it has been a successful operation since 1993.

Stores at Vienna and Anna have enabled the operation to hone its skills, and increase a line of quality products that lake dwellers and visitors find to be enticing.

Eric Flamm and Greg Lambert-Goheen, who are managing the Goreville store, are veterans of the hardware business and they are bringing those talents to the most recent Rusty’s store 16

L ake of Egypt Living

Flamm and Lambert-Goheen have concentrated on stocking the store with quality products, and then they add strong and personalized service. The customer leaves with a product that can be trusted, a complete explanation of what is ahead and enthusiastic service after the sale.

The store offers almost everything in the home maintenance and improvement line – hardware, Valspar paints, Milwaukee power tools, Traeger grills, Stihl power equipment, Owens Corning shingles – and many more lines of items.

Service is a focus, Lambert-Goheen says. “Our main focus, and the focus of Rusty, has always been to treat our customers right. We focus on customer service and ensuring that everybody has a good experience when they walk into the store, and we want them to come back,” he says.

BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Many do return, time after time. “That’s how we survive,” Lambert-Goheen says.

Flamm says he has noticed people are reaching to the top-shelf items these days. “They are no longer just buying” he says. “Normal people want bigger and more extravagant items.”

The result is they are buying top-notch deck materials, vinyl railing and high-grade siding.

“People are spending more on doors and windows now.”

To assist those customers, Rusty’s has worked to offer better pricing, he says.

The hot item for this summer appears to be the Traeger line of grills, the managers say. And weed eater sales this year “started off with a bang.”

With summer arriving and COVID fears dropping, it appears people are turning to the outdoors. For the past year, Flamm and Lambert-Goheen say sales of items for around the home work had been brisk. People devoted time at home to catching up on things they had put off doing.

Memorial Day 2021

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LAKE OF EGYPT LOCATION IS NOW OPEN! STOP IN & SEE WHAT WE OFFER! 3 locationbsestot! serve you

VIENNA, IL 505 E VINE ST, 618.658.3761

AUTHORIZED LOCAL STIHL DEALER

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L ake of Egypt Living

ANNA, IL 418 E DAVIE ST 618.833.2101

GOREVILLE, IL 805 S Broadway 618.995.5068

Now Open!

BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Lots of people were doing interior painting, and deck material was a hot item as people were doing work they had put off.

While COVID generated sales for home projects, it also has brought a problem, the two said. Suppliers are far behind on shipments and wait times have stretched. Demand around the country has pushed wait times to as much as quadruple normal, they say. At first, that was a problem for customers who couldn’t wait, but they soon found all stores had the same problem.

“No one can get it any faster, and given Rusty’s reputation for service, customers are retained,” they say.

“I thank the community for being very patient with us as we put the store up,” Lambert-Goheen says. “And I am also thankful for the support we have received so far.”

“I go home with a smile on my face every day,” Flamm says.

“The people and the community are so supportive.”

We are new, the two managers say. Many already have stopped at Rusty’s to check for items, and the managers hope their business growth will parNEED SUPPLIES? allel the booming growth around Rusty's Home Center 805 S. Broadway, Goreville, IL 62939 the lake. n (618) 995-5068

Memorial Day 2021

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L ake of Egypt Living

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Memorial Day 2021

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A

IN THE KITCHEN

The Cookie Trilogy

According to a data study conducted by TOP Data, cookie consumption is up by 25% since this crazy pandemic began. The same study also ranked the United States based on cookie consumption by state. Here are some of their findings: #1 Utah, #2 Idaho, #3 Oregon, #18 Missouri, and #26 Illinois.

Illinois ranks higher (a lot higher) in cookie consumption than it ranks in fiscal responsibility, LOL. The TOP Data organization also reported that 1 in 5 Americans eat 3 or more cookies per day which qualify those Americans as “cookie addicts”.

Well, okay then.

In support of those that need 3 or more cookies per day, and since Illinois loves cookies so much, it seems fitting to share with you three of my classic, go-to cookie recipes. All three recipes are made using the “creaming method” and the makeup of the cookie is the “drop method”.

NOTE: Before you get started be sure that you have a kitchen scale on hand as most of the ingredients for these cookies are weighed not measured.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (Yield 5 lbs, approx..33-34 cookies using a 2 ½” scoop) Ingredients 10 oz. butter 8 oz. granulated sugar 8 oz. brown sugar .25 oz. (1 ½ tsps.) salt 6 oz. eggs 2 tsps. vanilla

BY VICTORIA SPREHE

10 oz. cake flour 10 oz. all-purpose flour .25 oz. (1 ½ tsps..) baking soda 1 lb. 4 oz. chocolate chips or chunks (I prefer the extra chocolaty richness of chocolate chunks) 8 oz. chopped walnuts or pecans (optional…my family says “no nuts” but I love these cookies with walnuts) Instructions 1. Scale all ingredients accurately and have all ingredients at room temperature.

(Make sure butter does not become too warm or the cookies will spread during baking. 66-68 degrees is ideal for butter temperature.)

2. Place the butter, sugars, and salt in the mixing bowl. With the paddle attachment, cream the ingredients at low speed until light and fluffy.

(Again, do not overbeat as it will warm the butter and cause an imperfect cookie. About 2 minutes should do.)

3. Add the eggs and vanilla. (Add slowly scraping the bowl on the sides and down to the bottom.) Blend in at low speed.

(To measure eggs by the ounce, you may need to beat eggs first and measure to get exactly 6 oz... Three large eggs usually will not quite do it, but four is too much.)

4. Sift in the flours and baking soda, mixing until just combined.

5. Blend in chocolate chips, and nuts, if using.

6. On a parchment-lined baking sheet drop the cookie dough by scoops far enough apart that they will not spread into each other. (I typically use a 2 ½”

scoop but you can use whatever size you like.)

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes depending on the size of your cookie and also, your oven.

(I rarely use a timer as I prefer to judge their doneness on my own. When the cookies seem set and just begin to brown, I take them out and let the “carryover cooking” finish the baking process. This ensures a soft cookie. If you want a crisper cookie, simply leave them in the oven longer.)

8. When the cookies have set, remove them to a cooling rack to completely cool. Store in an airtight container.

OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES (Yield 3 lb. 11 oz., 25-26 cookies using a 2 ½” scoop) Ingredients 8 oz. butter 1 lb. brown sugar 1 tsp. salt 4 oz. eggs 2 tsp. vanilla 1 oz. milk 6 oz. cake flour 6 oz. all-purpose flour .5 oz. (1 Tablespoon) baking powder .25 oz. (! ½ tsp.) baking soda 10 oz. quick-cooking rolled oats 8 oz. raisins 8 oz. walnuts or pecans, optional Instructions 1. Scale all ingredients accurately and have all ingredients at room temperature.

(Make sure butter does not become too warm or the cookies will spread during baking. 66-68 degrees is ideal for butter Memorial Day 2021

23

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Lake of Egypt Living

IN THE KITCHEN

temperature.)

2. Place the butter, brown sugar, and salt in the mixing bowl. With the paddle attachment, cream the ingredients at low speed until light and fluffy.

(Again, do not overbeat as it will warm the butter and cause an imperfect cookie. About 2 minutes should do.)

3. Add the eggs, vanilla, and milk. (Add slowly scraping the bowl on the sides and down to the bottom.) Blend in at low speed.

(To measure eggs by the ounce, you may need to beat eggs first and measure to get exactly 6 oz... Three large eggs usually will not quite do it, but four is too much.)

4. Sift in the flours, baking soda, and baking powder mixing until just combined.

5. Blend in oatmeal, raisins, and nuts, if using.

6. On a parchment-lined baking sheet drop the cookie dough by scoops far enough apart that they will not spread into each other. (I typically use a 2 ½” scoop but you can use whatever size you like.)

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes depending on the size of your cookie and also, your oven.

(I rarely use a timer as I prefer to judge their doneness on my own. When the cookies seem set and just begin to brown, I take them out and let the “carryover cooking” finish the baking process. This ensures a soft cookie. If you want a crisper cookie, simply leave them in the oven longer.)

8. When the cookies have set, remove them to a cooling rack to completely cool. Store in an airtight container.

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES (Yield 3 lb. 12 oz., 20-21 cookies using a 2 ½” scoop) Ingredients 12 oz. butter

8 oz. brown sugar 8 oz. granulated sugar 1 tsp. salt 12 oz. peanut butter (Be sure to weigh.. do not estimate based on total jar weight.)

4 oz. eggs 8 oz. cake flour 8 oz. all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda

Instructions 1. Scale all ingredients accurately and have all ingredients at room temperature.

(Make sure butter does not become too warm or the cookies will spread during baking. 66-68 degrees is ideal for butter temperature.)

2. Place the butter, sugars, and salt in the mixing bowl. With the paddle attachment, cream the ingredients at low speed until light and fluffy.

(Again, do not overbeat as it will warm the butter and cause an imperfect cookie. About 2 minutes should do.)

3. Mix in the peanut butter, scraping sides, and bottom of the bowl.

4. Add the eggs. (Add slowly, scraping the bowl on the sides and down to the bottom.) Blend in at low speed.

(To measure eggs by the ounce, you may need to beat eggs first and measure

to get exactly 6 oz... Three large eggs usually will not quite do it, but four is too much.)

5. Sift in the flours and baking soda, mixing until just combined.

6. On a parchment-lined baking sheet drop the cookie dough by scoops far enough apart that they will not spread into each other. (I typically use a 2 ½” scoop but you can use whatever size you like.) These cookies are technically a “molded method” cookie which means after you drop them you gently flatten the dough. (Not too much, just enough to make an impression…I use a meat mallet to give them a dimpled look on top. Sprinkle with sugar.)

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes depending on the size of your cookie and also, your oven.

(I rarely use a timer as I prefer to judge their doneness on my own. When the cookies seem set and just begin to brown, I take them out and let the “carryover cooking” finish the baking process. This ensures a soft cookie. If you want a crisper cookie, simply leave them in the oven longer.)

8. When the cookies have set, remove them to a cooling rack to completely cool. Store in an airtight container.

Just a few other notes regarding cookie baking in general….

-Use a commercial cookie sheet when you can. Cheap, thin pans do not conduct the heat efficiently.

-Make sure the pans are completely cooled between batches- remember, the warmer the dough the flatter the cookie.

-I actually drop my cookies on the cookie sheets and put them in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes before baking.

-Using an ice cream scoop gives you a nice, tall, perfectly rounded cookie.

“Today me will live in the moment, unless it’s unpleasant, in which case me will eat a cookie.”

-Cookie Monster n Memorial Day 2021

25

get your grill on!

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Locally Owned Company

618-694-2985

solutions@americanshoreline.com

americanshoreline.com

Shoreline Solutions for Waterfront Properties in Southern Illinois!

• Rip Rap Installation • Weed Removal

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L ake of Egypt Living

• Natural Stone Steps • Beach Installs

Memorial Day 2021

27

STAY AWHILE

Real Estate

Homes and land available on the beautiful Lake of Egypt.

790 LUXOR LANDING RD, GOREVILLE, IL

4BD, 4BA, 4,411 SQFT $489,000

This custom built home is nestled in the trees of Luxor Landing Subdivision. Just feet away from the Lake of Egypt. It offers all the amenities of living on the lake with its very own boat slip. The covered front porch is so inviting and as you walk in to the living room you will find vaulted ceilings and fire place. The kitchen and formal dinning look out over a wooded area and private deck. Perfect for all your family gatherings.

Master bedroom and bathroom are beautifully laid out. You will find that each room is very large with His and Her closets. One of my favorite features of the house is the the open walk way looking down into the living room, it really makes the house unique. 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!!

HOMES 515 Timberwolf Dr, Goreville 3bd/2ba, $135,000 3065 Egyptian Hills Dr, Creal Springs 4bd/3ba, $235,000 11775 Ridgewood Dr, Marion 3bd/2ba, $325,000 735 Poplar Rd, Tunnel Hill 3bd/2ba, $185,000 11809 Laguna Dr, Marion 4bd/2ba, $1,198,000

LOTS / LAND Lot 227 Eagle Ridge Ln, Goreville 1.49 ac, $51,250 0 Eagle Point Bay Rd, Goreville $26,500

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Lake of Egypt Living

0 Egypt Shores Rd, Creal Springs .95 ac, $36,500

0 Hawthorn Point, Goreville 2 ac, $24,000

Eagle Point Bay Rd, Goreville 6.42 ac, $24,000

Lot 397 Eagle Ridge Ln, Goreville 1.03 ac, $19,900

Lot 47 Bermuda Dr, Marion $29,900

Lot 112 Egyptian Hills, Creal Springs .31 ac, $59,000

Lot 48 Bermuda Dr, Marion $29,900

515 Deer Ln, Goreville 3.14 ac, $27,900

Saint Vincent Ln #59, Marion $29,900

0 Adams Ct, Marion 12.24 ac, $183,600

Saint Vincent Ln #57, Marion $29,900

115 Lake Shore Dr S, Goreville 9,583 sqft, $55,000

Lot 33 Raven Ln, Goreville 1.33 ac, $49,900

Lot 395 Eagle Ridge Ln, Goreville 1.4 ac, $19,900

13 Sugar Creek Rd, Goreville 5 ac, $49,500

3104 Parrish Ridge Ln, Goreville 1.26 ac, $57,000

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Memorial Day 2021

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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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L ake of Egypt Living

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Memorial Day 2021

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SWING AWAY

L

It's About People

Last fall about 18 members are sitting outside on the deck watching golf on tv and the tv goes out. It won’t come back on. No lights, no sound, nothing. Floyd says we need a new tv (he’s pretty sharp like that). Matt googles new tv’s and figures we need $450 and volunteers to go get one. In about 5 minutes those 18 members have donated $450 for a new television. Of course Genius George hits a button in the back of the broken tv and it comes back on and Floyd has to give everyone their money back.

Welcome to the Lake of Egypt Country Club.

In the late 70’s it wasn’t unusual for a couple of board members to step up and pay the interest on the note when the Club didn’t have the funds to do so.

Those former board members are still with us in spirit, and the Club hasn’t changed a bit. The golf course has come a long way since opening in 1969, but the Club is still the same.

One of the biggest changes in our last 52 years was the introduction of zoysia grass to our fairways and tee boxes. In the club house there are pictures of the fairways with the strips of sod before it grew in. The zoysia came on pallets in 20” by 40” rectangles with five 4” perforated strips that had to be cut with box blade knives and laid in 4” grooves that ran the length of the fairways.

These grooves were made with a special tiller and had to be cleaned out with a hoe to make room for the sod strips.

Sound like a lot of work? It was.

32

L ake of Egypt Living

BY MARK FAULKNER

We had 22 Club members show up to volunteer to clean the grooves, carry sod, cut the perforated strips, and lay the strips in the grooves. There were men and women to help. I remember Margaret and Joni in particular, along with Wildcat. (I remember Wildcat telling Calvin that if he didn’t turn off that long-haired music on his truck radio he was going home). We have had the best fairways in Southern Illinois since laying that zoysia, and it could only happen with those volunteers. Welcome to the Lake of Egypt Country Club.

As the game of golf gained popularity the Club became prosperous and many improvements were made, including a new cart shed, swimming pool renovations, a new restroom on the course, additions of new equipment, and a total renovation of the interior of the club house. These have all helped to enhance the golf course and the membership experience that we have grown to love. The Country Club is and always has been one of the top private clubs in the area.

In recent years we have again counted on our volunteers to help out when necessary. When someone suggests a “work day” there are sure to be 12 to 20 members show up, many with 4 wheelers, side-by-sides, wagons, trailers, trucks, weed eaters, chain saws, shovels, rakes, hammers, lumber, etc. And they aren’t doing it for the free lunch or drinks. They do it because this is their Club.

The limbs they pick up, the gum

balls they rake and the leaves they burn are often from trees that were planted many years ago by volunteers. The railroad ties they remove to replace with rip rap around the tee boxes today were put in place in the early 80’s in part by volunteers. And yes, the many gumball trees, cypress trees, pine trees, and poplar trees these volunteers are removing or pruning were planted as saplings by volunteers such as Jim and Bob. And when the word got out that we were having a volunteer work day to mow the rough, seven guys with seven zero-turn mowers showed up.

Great golf courses are defined differently by different golfers. We like a long course with narrow fairways for the challenge. Or we like short, wide open courses so we can shoot a lower score.

We like perfect greens, beautiful trees, pristine fairways, scenic lakes, raked bunkers, fast carts and timely beverage cart drivers. Who wouldn’t want that?

But we have realized over the last 52 years and especially over the most recent years that as great as those things are for a golf course, they aren’t necessarily what makes a great club. A great club is defined by its members. A club isn’t about grass or trees or bunkers or lakes or carts or pools or food or money. It’s about people. And we’ve got the best. Welcome to the Lake of Egypt Country Club. n

WANT TO PLAY? Lake of Egypt Country Club 1181 Clubhouse Rd., Marion, IL 62959 (618) 995-2661 loecc.com

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1181 Club House Road, Marion, IL 62959 (618) 995-2661 | www.loecc.com Memorial Day 2021

33

SPIRITS

Bourbon Whiskey

BY PATRICK AUSTIN

Most people have heard that, “all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.”

There are many people extremely interested in this liquid, so let’s take a look at the process and what by law defines bourbon.

Despite popular belief, bourbon can be made anywhere in the U.S. For years we heard and believed that bourbon must come from Bourbon County Kentucky. To be bourbon, it must meet all criteria defined by Federal standards. Furthermore, It must have a mash bill of at least 51% corn. A mash bill is the amount of each grain used to make whiskey. In order to create a different taste profile for the whiskey, distillers will adjust the amount of grains comprising the mash bill. Bourbon must be distilled to no more than 80% alcohol by volume or 160 proof. The distilled whiskey will be cut with water to a maximum of 62.5% alcohol by volume or 125 proof before being put in barrels. The whiskey must be placed into a charred new oak barrel. Then, bourbon must be bottled at a minimum of 34

Lake of Egypt Living

40% ABV or 80 proof.

The process for making bourbon starts as the trucks pull in carrying corn, barley, rye, & wheat. The grains are usually crushed by a grain mill and then stored separately in bins. The grains will be transported to the cookers where the process includes mixing with water. Each type of grain has a different time and temperature required for cooking. The cooked grains will be combined to create distiller’s beer.

After the process of fermentation, it is time to distill.

During this step, the distiller will heat the beer in a column still or in a traditional pot still. The heated beer will release a vapor that is captured at the top of the still. This vapor will be routed past twisted cold water lines to be cooled. When the vapor is cool, it transforms into alcohol. Distillers will then run the new alcohol through one more distillation in a doubler.

The leftover grains and liquid will be added into to the next batch the distillers produce to insure consistency. This step yields a product called white dog.

At this point, the white dog is barreled and bourbon is made.

Note, that during this barreling process, there are no laws for the time it has to be stored. To be called Straight Bourbon, it must be rested two years and be bottled in Bond four years.

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SPIRITS

The law states that charred new oak barrels must be used and that each barrel can only be used one time to make bourbon. Most bourbon barrels find a second life storing some other type of spirit or wine. Barrels are made from wooden slats called staves and are held together by metal bands. After the barrels are filled, they are stored in buildings called Rick houses. Rick houses are up to seven stories tall and hold up to fifty five thousand barrels. They depend on temperature differences between the top floor and the bottom floor to produce a variety of taste profiles from the same bourbon. An Important fact is that the bourbon manufacturers pay taxes on the gallons in the barrels when they are filled and every year thereafter.

The barrels will lose up to ten percent every year, which known as the angels 36

Lake of Egypt Living

share. Angels share is the reason for such a price difference between year statements. Some barrels will rest in the Rick for twenty five plus years; however, the majority is eight years or less.

To bottle the bourbon, barrels are removed from the Rick houses and most are blended to match a brands taste profile. Some bourbon is filtered and some is not, this is a master distiller’s decision. Water will be added to the newly un-barreled bourbon to cut it to the normal bottling proof. Some distilleries have automated systems for everything from dumping, bottling, labeling, to boxing. Interestingly, brands like Blanton’s are still hand rolling their barrels on rails to the dump station.

This article presents a quick description of the process and the required laws for making bourbon. There are

several things we left out such as Cold Chill Filtered, Barrel Proof, and Single Barrel. The staff at Speakeasy and Lucky’s is very knowledgeable so please feel free to ask questions. All of us would love to help you get started or to grow your bourbon collection.

One more thing, while visiting Buffalo Trace, I had the honor of meeting Freddie Johnson, he told me bourbon is made to be enjoyed, so find a friend or family member and open that great bottle!n

NEED A DRINK? Speakeasy Liquors 1310 Halfway Rd, Marion, IL 62959 (618) 998-9463 speakeasyliquors.com

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Memorial Day 2021

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Lake of Egypt Living

MICHELLE K MERRILL

AVRIPAS SOUTHERN REAL ESTATE 618-771-0281 Michelle@AvripasSouthernRE.net

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Memorial Day 2021

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T

FULL

CIRCLE

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Lake of Egypt Living

BY TERRANCE GEESE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIE BAER

Lake of Egypt has been at the center of the lives of Jim and Jo Ellen Anderson. They had their first date on the waters of the lake, a day of water skiing, and now they have completed the circle, carving their retirement home out of a piece of forested land, removing 35 to 40 trees to accommodate a dream home that includes an extensive piece of Lake of Egypt shoreline.

“We wanted it to look like it belongs here; a part of the environment,” Jim says. Part of the home’s natural look came about by accident.

When work started for the foundation, rocks blocked progress. Those rocks, some are massive boulders, now enhance the shoreline side of the home.

Their new home, completed in 2017, blends into the surrounding tree line on the peninsula. The location of the lot, 2.3 acres, allows the Andersons to have their own cove, private beach, including a pavillion with an outdoor kitchen, a point and a large access to the shoreline, 800 feet, which greatly pleases Jo Ellen as she is a beach lover.

Jim describes the home as a hybrid timber frame; hybrid because the couple decided to use some conventional construction styles mixed with the timber frame major style.

The home is on three levels with Douglas fir timbers inside. There are large trusses in the great room and loft that are arched with mortise and tenon joints.

There are big Douglas fir timbers on the first floor to support the arches of the great room and loft, Jim says.

Throughout the home you will find Douglas fir timbers.

From the start of the design process, the Anderson home has been unique. A good part of that may be because this is not the first home built by the couple. They have the experience of building four houses in their 42 years of marriage.

Jo Ellen designed the floor plan for the new

Memorial Day 2021

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268 ACRE

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L ake of Egypt Living

retirement home, then the couple worked with architects from Natural Elements Homes of Sweetwater, Tenn. Natural Element Homes architects then began the conversion of Jo Ellen’s dream into a reality.

The firm did all of the preliminary design work, based on Jo Ellen’s ideas, and when that was complete, the Andersons were able to tour their home in a virtual computer tour. They were then able to make changes in the plan before it was finalized.

Working with the Andersons and the design firm was builder Kurt Cornell of Midtown Builders, a Waterloo firm and specialists in the type of home the Andersons wanted.

In coming up with the base design, Jo Ellen says she wanted to live on the main floor.

“Then, when we had family gatherings, we could spread out all over the place,” she says.

To make that concept possible, she incorporated a master suite into the main floor design.

The couple has three sons and she wanted to allow private space for them and their families which includes 9 grandchildren with #10 arriving in July.

She wanted an open-style, so little separates the kitchen and dining room from the great room; only an open stairway.

“We can see everything on the main floor, with the exception of the master suite,” she says.

’’

We had no idea we would ever be back here like this

Included in the home’s rooms is a grandchildren’s room with three bunk beds and unique items for the kids, such as games on the walls. The theme of the room is “All Fun & Games in Here”.

Jo Ellen says she also wanted to display the beauty of the lake, so the positioning of the home is such that when you enter the foyer, you instantly see the lake through an abundance of windows.

“You go right through to the great room from there, and you get the same view again,” she says.

“There is a great view of the water from any part of the house,” Jim says. Some of it was by design, other parts of the view were not anticipated.

Memorial Day 2021

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Lake of Egypt Living

Memorial Day 2021

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L ake of Egypt Living

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In the kitchen, the cabinets were special made by RDM Designs. The Amish built cabinets had a special element of design. Jo Ellen is 5-foot-tall, so cabinets were built to accommodate her daily work. Other types of cabinets were not appealing to the couple because of shelf height. The hutchtype arrangement, met all the requirements of the Andersons.

Jo Ellen says when it came time to furnish the lake home, new furnishings were purchased for the main floor. Precious family items, such as a rocking chair and hutch and table that belonged to Jo Ellen’s great-grandparents became a part of the home.

Jim says attention was paid to make the home easy to maintain. LP Smartside siding was used for the exterior to eliminate any maintenance. Marvin Integrity casement windows also are of a no-maintenance variety, he says.

For the roof, shake shingles were used on the gables and the main roof is a standing seam metal roof designed for a 50year lifetime.

“It may not be maintenance free, but it is pretty close to maintenance free,” Jim says.

The Andersons selected geothermal for HVAC for economy. “It is super-efficient,” Jim says. “Our electric bills are very low.”

The lake has been special to the Andersons since that first

Memorial Day 2021

47

date. Jim’s first job was at the power plant. The couple then moved on. Jim has completed a career as a chemical engineer to the power and chemical industry. Jo Ellen as a school administrator, although she refers to be referred to as a teacher rather than administrator.

“That was where my heart was, in the classroom,” she says, and she attempted to spend time in the classroom one or two periods a day.

They retired from work and were living in O’Fallon before they completed their full-circle back to Lake of Egypt.

The return to the lake was a retirement choice for the Andersons because it is home turf for them – Jo Ellen is from Marion and Jim, Vergennes – and they enjoy water activities.

“We had no idea we would ever be back here like this,” Jim says. “It is really nice.”

Many weekends, their sons, daughters -in-laws, and grandchildren gather at the lake where water skiing is the family sport. Jim, at 67, continues to slalom water ski and barefoot.

His sons say they expect to see him continuing that when he is 70.

Jim first skied at Crab Orchard Lake at age 9. Jim is the man who has taught many high school- and college-age people to ski, and he currently has a most important set of kids he is teaching – his grandchildren.

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Lake of Egypt Living

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Lake of Egypt Living

Memorial Day 2021

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Jo Ellen says she sits back and takes the pictures.

Fishing is an important enjoyment and they have vacationed on houseboats at various lakes throughout the country.

Both Jim and Jo Ellen express surprise with the twists and turns of life that started at Lake of Egypt. They were able to make friends across the nation, find success in their careers and return to the lake where it all started. n

52

L ake of Egypt Living

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Memorial Day 2021

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TECH TALK

Done Right the First Time

BY TIM SERLES

T Throughout the state of Illinois, solar installations have been booming. The Prairie State is seeing a huge influx of installations thanks to the Federal Investment Tax Credit and the Illinois Shines state incentive program.

The people of Illinois are capitalizing on these incentives and, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), the state ranked 17th in the nation in 2020, which allowed for the creation of over 5,500 solar jobs!

Decreasing solar prices and increasing electricity rates mean that businesses are trying to cash in on the booming market.

In the past few months AES has gotten three very notable calls. One was a system installed by a national company that they left without the battery component working. The client was having 54

Lake of Egypt Living

to take legal action to get the system they paid for functional. Their lawyer reached out because our founder, Aur Beck holds a NABCEP Inspector certification. The second was a system where AES was the fourth installer to work on it. The system was in rough shape; panels in suboptimal locations, mixed racking and poor wiring. We were able to get things in proper order but it cost the homeowner. The most recent is a multi-location project the size of 100 average home systems. The installer basically abandoned it leaving incorrect equipment installed, wiring a mess and the system not entirely functioning. Our crew put hundreds of person hours into the project.

All three cases have one thing in common, it would have been more cost effective for us to do the work initial-

ly. We stand by our work with the AES Advantage, a five-part program which affords peace of mind for our clients. We provide Complete First Year Care – if something needs done, we do it. We also believe in correcting our mistakes, and our 10-year Workmanship Guarantee means that we do it for free.

Monitoring to ensure your system is up and running. Because of our diligence we are able to guarantee to produce at least 90% of what we predict – if it falls short, we make it right.

Repairs are expensive and frustrating, make sure your system is installed properly from the start with AES Solar!n

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Memorial Day 2021

55

TALKIN' PETS

F

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are two of the most frequent pet care concerns we deal with concerning our patients at Troop Veterinary Service. The mild winters, wet cool springs, and hot, humid summers are the perfect environment for fleas and ticks to live. With the heavy vegetation found around many of the Lake of Egypt communities, we have a tremendous amount of fleas and ticks attacking our pets. While prevention is the best defense against these parasites, it’s important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of fleas and ticks so you can help your pets if necessary.

Fleas Fleas are the most common external parasite to infect dogs and cats. They are easily visible, wingless insects that feed on blood, can jump up to two feet high and are present in huge numbers in the environment.

Symptoms of Fleas on Dog and Cats Fleas are most commonly noticed on a pet's abdomen, the base of the tail and on the head. Common symptoms of fleas on pets include: • Droppings or “flea dirt” in a pet’s hair coat (looks like flakes of pepper) • Flea eggs (tiny, white grains) • Allergic dermatitis—infected or inflamed skin • Excessive scratching, licking or biting at skin • Hair loss • Scabs and hot spots • Tapeworms

56

Lake of Egypt Living

BY DR. MIKE TROOP

Causes of Fleas • Fleas are easily brought in from the outdoors. In the fall, we often see an increase in fleas due to their desire to move indoors where it is warmer.

• Fleas thrive in warm, humid climates at temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees.

• Adult fleas spend most of their lives on the animal, laying eggs in the hair of dogs and cats.

• These eggs drop off the pet onto rugs, upholstery, bedding and furniture; the new adult fleas will, in turn, find a dog or cat to live on.

• Fleas are often spread by wild animals such as squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, and opossums.

Ticks Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of cats and dogs. In southern Illinois, we have most of the species of ticks found in the United States. Deer and small mammals are constant sources of ticks to infect your pets. Ticks are

most active in late spring and summer and live in tall brush, grass, and trees.

When a dog or cat walks through these areas, the ticks quickly attach to their hair coat and move down to the skin.

They can be found anywhere on a dog or cat but prefer the ear canal and the head area. Ticks can range in size from tiny “seed” ticks barely visible to engorged ticks the size of small grapes.

Complications Associated with Ticks • Blood loss and anemia • Tick paralysis—a serious neuromuscular disease that can often times be completely reversed by removing the tick from the infected dog.

• Skin irritation or infection • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever—a serious disease that can be fatal to humans.

• Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis— bacterial like organisms that can cause serious illness in dogs. We see several cases of Ehrlichiosis in dogs every month.

• Lyme Disease—this is serious bacterial infection than can infect pets and can cause serious illness in people.

• Cytauxzoonosis—this is also known as “bobcat fever” in cats.

Ticks who feed on bobcats may transmit the infection to domestic cats, for whom the disease is often fatal. This disease is becoming more prevalent in southern Illinois due to the increasing numbers of bobcats. By the time a cat is show-

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TALKIN' PETS

ing clinical signs of this disease, it is often too late for treatment to be effective.

Tick Treatment and Removal If you find a tick on your pet, it is important to take certain precautions when removing it. The #1 rule is to not touch the tick with your bare fingers.

Use some type of instrument such as a pair of tweezers or a tick remover to pull the tick off your pet. Any contact with the tick’s blood can potentially transmit infection to your pet or even to you. My guidance counselor in high school became infected with Rocky Mountain Fever by improperly removing ticks from his Golden Retriever. It is VERY important not to touch the tick with your bare skin.

How to safely remove a tick from your pet: • Using a pair of tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the animal’s skin as possible.

• Pull straight upwards with steady, even pressure and place the tick in a glass jar.

• Do not twist or jerk the tick. This may leave the mouth-parts embedded in your pet.

• Do not squeeze or crush the body of the tick, because its fluids may contain organisms that are then injected into the pet’s skin and can cause illness.

• If you or your pet become ill after being exposed to a tick, bring the tick in the glass jar to your doctor or veterinarian for species identification.

Flea and Tick Treatment and Prevention Consult your veterinarian if you suspect or see that your pet has fleas or ticks.

It is important that all of the pets in a 58

Lake of Egypt Living

multi-pet household are treated. There are many products that are effective against fleas and ticks and some that aren’t effective anymore due to resistance being developed.

• Topical treatments—these include products such as Revolution, Advantix, Advantage, and Frontline.

The active ingredient in Frontline, fipronyl, is no longer effective against fleas in southern Illinois due to resistance to the product.

• Oral treatments—There are some excellent, new oral preventatives and treatments for fleas and ticks.

Examples includes Credelio and Nexgard, (both given monthly), and Bravecto (given every three months) • Collars—Seresto is the one collar available that is very effective against fleas and ticks. In the past weeks, there has been concern about the safety of Seresto collars reported on national news and online. I believe that this is due to counterfeit collars being sold online and that genuine Seresto collars are very safe and I use one on my dog.

Be sure to buy Seresto collars from a reputable dealer and not online.

• Combination Products--Heartworm Preventative and flea and tick treatments. There are several older products such as Advantage Multi and Trifexis that are effective as a heartworm preventative and as a flea treatment. We typically don’t recommend these due to their ineffectiveness against ticks and the need to use another product for tick control. This requires paying double for a flea control and adds a considerable cost to the prevention of both fleas and ticks. There is a new product, Simparica Trio, that is effective against heart worms and fleas and ticks. Experience has

taught me to wait on prescribing a new product for a year to make sure it is effective and safe.

• It is very important not to use products on your cat that are intended for dogs. Advantix for dogs can be fatal if applied to a cat.

• In severe cases of flea infestation, thorough treatment of your home and vehicle may be necessary. In these situations, we recommend using a professional exterminator.

• Keeping your lawn mowed, clear of brush, and free of wild animals can be very helpful in reducing flea and tick exposure for your pets.

Ticks and fleas can cause very serious and possible fatal diseases in pets and people. There are excellent products available to prevent ticks and fleas from infecting your pets and possible infecting you. Always be careful when removing ticks from your pets. Many of the products require that the tick attach itself to the skin for the medication to be effective. For this reason, you may see live ticks on your pets and sometimes attached to your pets skin. If you are using an effective flea and tick control product, the tick and flea will die and fall off reducing the need to remove it. If you see live fleas or attached ticks that are growing, the product you are using is not effective and ask your veterinarian for advice on an alternative. n

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) r e t a w ( t p y g E f o e k a L So much more than recreation.

It's the drop of life to thousands of users and one of Southern Illinois' hidden resources.

BY TERRANCE GEESE

The employees of the Lake Egypt Water District are on a mission. They are supplying water and service with an added plus: Customer-friendly from source to faucet.

Having a consumer-friendly district was the top goal of Chris Boyd when he became the district’s 60

Lake of Egypt Living

manager in March 2020, and employees of the district are enthusiastically delivering that type of service.

While new to the district, operating an efficient, progressive and friendly water system was not a new thing for Boyd. He is a veteran of the industry.

He went to work for Southern Illinois Electric Cooperative

at Dongola in 1997 at a time when the Co-op was building a new entity, a regional water system called SouthWater.

Boyd went on to work for the co-op for 23 years, he recalls.

The experience was varied and extensive, as his efforts began at the very start of the system.

“I kind of built that water system – the plant, distribution,

tanks. We built this state-of-the-art water plant that would serve the communities that had older water treatment plants that they were shutting down. Then we picked up the rural customers along the way,” Boyd recalls. “We were putting in miles and miles of water system.”

At the time when that was happening, Boyd says all the Memorial Day 2021

61

small cities and villages had water plants of about the same age and they were due for replacement, However, the federal USDA Rural Development agency did not want to spend millions on many plants and wanted, instead, to build one plant that would serve everybody.

It is with that comprehensive background that Boyd arrived at Lake Egypt Water District at a rough time for all, right at the start of the COVID-19 concerns. Despite COVID, he began his work of maintaining and updating a water system that has 14 employees to serve 87 square miles in Williamson and Johnson counties, with a bit of Union County tossed into the mix. Most of the mileage is water service only. However, the district provides sanitary sewer services to about 2,000 customers in the immediate area of the lake.

The water utility has 4,400 retail water customers – homes, churches, businesses and industry, including the power plant.

It also serves five wholesale customers, such as the village of Goreville, Lick Creek water district, Burnside water district, Creal Springs, and Devil’s Kitchen water district. In the instance of the five bulk customers, the customer operates its 62

Lake of Egypt Living

own distribution system after delivery of water by the Lake Egypt Water District.

The District’s 14 workers have proven to be efficient and a sufficient number, but that could soon change. “Right now, our area is booming with growth,” Boyd says, “Especially around the lake.

“We are seeing people building in areas where we never dreamed they would.”

That growth is creating an increased workload for both water and sanitary sewerage service.

One of the current big challenges to Boyd and the District’s employees is the process of going through the entire system, testing and checking for any part of the infrastructure that is not working properly.

A problem that has developed for the District due to modern technology is damage to water lines by contractors.

“We’ve got contractors coming in running fiber optic cable, and they are absolutely hitting us on a daily basis, on the average one or two times a day,” Boyd says.

The problem happens due to the method used to install the

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of the water line repair.

Too often water crews are not able to take care of planned tasks, he says. Instead, “We are fixing everything they are tearing up”.

“It has been a battle, but I also understand it also will be a help to promote the area down the road because people really need high-speed Internet now as much as they need water.”

Individual water customers can assist the district in elimi-

fiber optic line. Instead of an open ditch, bores are made five feet below ground. At that depth the water lines are mostly safe.

“The problem happens when they are going up or down” Boyd says.

Just two days before Boyd spoke with us, he had an especially bad situation. A contractor hit a water line at the elbow, forcing the utility to cut off water to a couple hundred homes in order to make a repair.

Boyd had hoped to have the crews setting water meters that day. Instead, the entire afternoon was devoted to taking care

64

Lake of Egypt Living

nating water line breaks, Boyd says. Anytime you are digging, Boyd encourages you to make use of the states JULIE program by calling 811 or 1-800-892-0123. That starts the free process of utilities marking the location of their underground lines in the area of your project.

While overseeing both routine and emergency maintenance of the system, Boyd also is looking to the future.

A major undertaking for the District currently is being taken care of – the painting of water towers. Two are due for repainting with one to be done this year.

A new generator has been installed at the water treatment plant, Boyd says. “Previously we had a backup generator at the finished water tank,” he says. The generator handled the pumping system for the million-gallon tank so that, in event of a power failure, there would be a million gallons that could be used to supply the system.

A million gallons sounds like a huge number, but it is only enough water to supply the system for a day.

The new generator will handle the office, the water plant and the finished water tower. That allows the old generator to be used to power other water pumps.

“So now we can run our plant for three or four days (without outside power) if we have to,” Boyd says. “That was a big project for us this year, just to get a bit of insurance (of power availability.) We can do what we need to do in event of a natural disaster,” he says.

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L ake of Egypt Living

CHRIS BOYD, DISTRICT MANAGER

Were it possible, inter-connection of water systems would be ideal and the idea has been discussed.

“I see it happening, but I don’t know how much potential is there because of the way these water systems were set up.

They were pretty much designed for their own purposes. We have had some conversations with Marion about doing that, but it may be a situation where if Marion does hook up with us, we can get more water from them than we can actually give them, just because of our pumping stations and how they are set up. It is great concept and would work to help in certain situations, but it is not like electricity where, if you have a big enough line, you can hook into somebody and serve it all the way to California.

“There are too many hills and valleys, big lines and small lines and no water storage, and all of that would be an issue.”

Unseen by the water user, the work of the system’s crew is unending. As with any utility that deals with thousands of customers, quality customer service should be a top priority.

Boyd says he is thankful for the crew he has now at the District. “Our employees are some of the most dedicated people I have ever known. They go above and beyond what is expected, and work well together to make sure our customers are treated fairly and professionally.” Among other plans for this year, and for years ahead, is the replacement of booster pumps and a lot of maintenance of “things that have been neglected a little

bit.”

While the district has no plans for expansion of territory, an in-house addition of about a mile of line to serve 17 customers recently was completed.

Boyd says a group of neighbors wanted water and they paid the cost.

Like most water systems, Boyd says the District works extremely hard at reducing water loss, historically about 25 percent. He would like to see it at about 15 percent or less.

Anytime he gets word of a leak or break, crews try to fix it as soon as possible. But there are some leaks that are almost impossible to locate.

“It is an older system, and we don’t know exactly where every one of our water mains is at,” he says. “And we have a lot of creek crossings, and we have lines that run across the lake.

If something like that is leaking, we would never know it.”

’’

We can't give the farm away, but we can try to help the customer as best we can

The system also faces a large relocation project as about nine miles of state Route 37 will be widened and water lines need to be moved from the current right-of-way.

Customers, Boyd says, are pleased with the quality of the treated water. “I think we have a very good product,” he says.

And others are in full agreement. The district’s water was declared the best tasting in the state in 2007 by the Illinois Rural Water Association.

Memorial Day 2021

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Knowing their product is good, Boyd says, all at the water District are focusing on service. An example of customer-friendly innovations is the availability of automatic notification by text message or e-mail when a boil order is in effect.

You can sign up on the utility’s website. Customers can now pay their bill by ACH.

The effort for sterling service extends from the top. Boyd says the board has service and satisfaction as a high priority.

“We can’t give the farm away, but we try to help the customer as best we can,” Boyd says, pointing out the District has not had a rate increase since 2014.

Boyd says the District is trying to get away from charging extra fees for service. “We are trying to do things that are a lot more commonsense,” he says.

While Boyd is trying to hold costs down for customers, the state highway project looming in the future most likely will bring an increase. The cost of moving water lines off the current right-of-way will be about $2 million dollars.

Additional cost pressure is caused by the increasing price for construction materials, especially PVC pipe, which is tied to the petroleum industry, Boyd says.

Water is something you fully expect to come out of the faucet in your kitchen. It follows a much more complicated path to get there than you might think, Boyd says. From acquisition through treatment and through an extensive infrastructure to your home, water is not cheap, yet it is one of the best buys you make. n

Memorial Day 2021

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DECORATING

Peaceful Outdoor Sancutaries

BY ANGELA ROWE, DDCD

T

Today’s homes have as much thought and style brought to the outdoor areas as to their interiors. Patios, porches, and sunrooms all offer homeowners a peaceful sanctuary as a prescription for their stressful lives.

Creating your perfect outdoor space will be the result of the successful combination of many design elements: landscaping, stonework, carpentry, furnishings, lighting and accessories.

Careful pre-planning will be the key to the creation of your personal sanctuary, so begin with creating your personal wish list.

Start your plan with a few simple questions…Do you plan to frequently entertain outdoors? Do you spend time outdoors in the evenings simply relaxing? Is outdoor grilling a year-round requirement for you? Do you enjoy 70

Lake of Egypt Living

planning simple family meals outdoors?

Are you working around a swimming pool? Do you prefer lots of shade or direct sun exposure? Do you want a TV as part of the design? All of these questions will be the starting point of your design.

Next on the wish list will be comfortable furniture. This should be the most important element in your design.

Many outdoor furnishings have been manufactured to withstand all that Mother Nature can bestow. The age of folding, vinyl strapped furniture is definitely now obsolete. Many furniture pieces of today look identical to indoor furniture but have been constructed and designed to stand up to all the outdoor elements. Just as with interior furniture, outdoor furniture comes in many levels of quality.

In a sunroom, the furniture only needs to be sun and fade resistant. If on the other hand you are planning a patio with little to no cover, you will need outdoor furniture tailored to harsh sun, wind, and other outdoor elements.

Manufactures have categories such as “Outdoor Limited Exposure” and “Outdoor Weatherproof.”

Many better lines of outdoor furniture feature cushions that are mesh bottom and manufactured to drain the rainwater quickly. The biggest name in outdoor fabrics today is Sunbrella. This

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Also, on the wish list needs to be lighting. Be sure to incorporate various types of lighting in your outdoor space design, just as you would inside your home. Landscape lighting, overhead lighting, ceiling fans, sconces, and decorative side table lighting are all great ideas. Develop a creative lighting plan to help you create a space with increased ambiance and functionality.

So, after your wish list is complete, it is time to combine all the elements to create your outdoor dream area. Taking time to plan and making an investment in design will make your outdoor personal sanctuary truly your own. n

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UPCOMING EVENTS

MARKET DAYS FLEA MARKET & VENDOR FAIR May through Sep 11 Address: 800 S. 27th St. Mount Vernon IL 62864 Phone: +1 618-242-3151 Located at Veteran's Park, 800 S. 27th St., Market Days occurs on the second Saturday of every month from May to September. At Market Days, a variety of vendors sell diverse items such as antiques, collectibles, handmade items, plants, jewelry, blacksmith, flea market finds, produce, baked goods, kettle corn and much more. Admission is free and concessions provided by Billy Bob's BBQ. Visit, shop, and enjoy the Market atmosphere at Mt. Vernon's Market Days.

OLD SETTLERS DAYS Jun 03 to Jun 05 Address: 109 N Maincross Galatia IL 62935 Phone: +1 618-268-4027 This family fun event offers free rides and entertainment each evening, starting with Nashville star Kendell Marvel, hometown hero. Lions Club food tent Is open each day with their famous BBQ. There is a small flea market, including popcorn, henna painting and flea market vendors. Saturday morning Kiddie Games include Frog Jumping, Bubble Gum blowing and more. At 1:00pm is a Giant Auction. A parade begins at 5pm.

U-PICK FRESH LAVENDER Jun 5 to Jun 20 Address: 480 Brown Section Rd Cobden IL 62920 Phone: +1 618-534-4659 Actual picking dates are June 5 & 6;

June 11-13; and again June 19 & 20, 2021.

A gift shop, open only during U-pick weekends, offers lavender-related lotions, soaps, home décor and other items. The farm also blends bulk teas with their lavender, selling these hand-blended teas at the gift shop, in local stores and online. The lavender lemonade recipe is available, too. And if you want to try your hand as a grower, Doug will share his knowledge of how and when to set the plants you can purchase at Shawnee Hills Lavender.

ANNABELLE STREET FESTIVAL Jun 11 to Jun 12 Address: Main St Anna IL 62906 Phone: +1 618-833-6311 The Annabelle Street Festival will be held in downtown Anna, IL. There will be a car show, Fri evening, vendor booths, children’s games, Flower show, arts and crafts and numerous other activities. In the Anna Arts Center, kids games, speakers, music, carriage rides and of course our famous Annabelle Hydrangea. The name Annabelle is a nod to the Kirkpatrick “belles” from Anna that originally discovered the wild specimen.

The Annabelle hydrangea has been a mainstay of the ornamental shrub world since its release in the 1960s.

This showy shrub is filled with beautiful snowball-like flowers that adorn its spindly branches each summer. The blooms begin as pretty green puffs that turn white at maturity, often lasting six to eight weeks throughout June and July, and gradually changing to a tan color to provide interest throughout fall and winter.

PAWFEST Jun 13 11:00am - 3:00pm Address: 800 S. 27th St. Mount Vernon IL 62864 Phone: +1 618-242-3151 PawFest returns to Veteran’s Park on Sunday, June 13th from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Browse a variety of vendor booths with special pet products, crafts, food, games, and more. Your doggie won't want to miss this celebration of pets!

For more information contact The Mt. Vernon Convention & Visitors Bureau at tourism@mtvernon.com or (618) 242-3151. Visit our Facebook page for additional updates about the event.

MISS ILLINOIS SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT Jun 14 to Jun 19 5:00pm - 10:00pm Address: 800 Tower Square Plaza Marion IL 62959 Phone: +1 618-997-4030 Competition week will consist of preliminary competitions for the Miss Illinois and Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Teen programs. The Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Teen Finals will take place and Miss Illinois will be crowned. In addition to these competitions, we will continue with the Miss Illinois Princess Program.

For information on ticketing, contact the Marion Cultural and Civic Center.

The Miss Illinois Scholarship Association is a duly-accredited state preliminary scholarship association in the Miss America Organization - the world’s largest provider of scholarship and cash assistance to young women. Some events will be held at The Pavilion. The Marion Cultural and Civic Center will Memorial Day 2021

73

UPCOMING EVENTS

host preliminaries, Outstanding Teen pageant, and overall finals.

to coincide with the annual Superman Celebration.

ASA PRO/AM ARCHERY TOURNAMENT Jun 24 to Jun 27 Address: 5729 U.S. Highway 45 Metropolis IL 62960 Phone: +1 770-795-0232

There will also be plenty of vintage and newer Superman collectibles. Other vendors include one specializing in celebrity signed photos, one who sells vintage Star Wars collectibles, another producing movie props, and one with homemade horror and monster-themed dolls and action figures. The Metropolis Super Con, located caddy-corner from the Lois Lane statue, is open on Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday 9 am to 7 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 2 pm.

Archery Shooters Association's Illinois Championship 3-D Archery Tournament for men, women and Children. Archers from all over North America visit Metropolis for one week each summer to compete for cash and prizes and the title of Illinois Champion, and National Champion.

TERRY SPRAGUE MEMORIAL RACE Jul 29 to July 31 Address: 9000 Foyt Road Marion IL 62959 Phone: +1 618-969-2051 Back at SIR in 2021 will be the Terry Sprague Memorial! The biggest non wing outlaw micro sprint race of the year will take place July 29-31st on the Highbanks! It will have a Saturday night feature with large payout. The event will kick off with an open practice on Thursday. Then on Friday the preliminary night will take place. The top 6 from Friday night will lock into the dash and A-Main on Saturday night. We look forward to honoring a great racer, man, and friend again this year!

METROPOLIS SUPER COMIC CON Jul 30 to Aug 01 Address: 715 Market Street Metropolis, Metropolis IL 62995 Phone: +1 270-210-1868 Metropolis Super Con features a record number of vendors for the free admission event held at 715 Market Street 74

Lake of Egypt Living

SUPERMAN CELEBRATION Jul 30 to Aug 01 Address: 607 Market St Metropolis IL 62960 Phone: +1 800-248-4373 Metropolis, Home of Superman, holds a celebration the second weekend in June each year celebrating the 'Man of Steel.'

A Superman Drama kicks off the weekend of contests, music, food and fun, as well as a comic book & artist show, fan films, street vendors, a carnival, costume contest and a Super Car Show. Celebrating all things Super! The schedule is filled with events for young and old.

COBDEN PEACH FESTIVAL Aug 06 to Aug 07 4:00pm - 10:00pm Address: 117 S Appleknocker Dr Cobden IL 62920 Phone: +1 800-248-4373 Celebrate the local peach harvest, sponsored by the Cobden Lions Club. Join us for fresh peaches from local orchards, carnival rides and games, crowning of ‘Miss Peach Queen’, homemade food and peach cobbler & pie with a 5K run/walk and parade on Saturday. Free admission.

MT. VERNON HOMEBREWERS FESTIVAL Aug 07 12:00pm - 5:00pm Address: 9th St. Mount Vernon IL 62864 Phone: +1 618-242-3151 21+ Event - Mt. Vernon's hottest new festival is back for 2021! Stay tuned Mt. Vernon Homebrewers Festival's Facebook page for announcements and updates. This event sold out quickly, so you won't want to miss your opportunity!

The Mt. Vernon Homebrewers festival showcases the art of homebrewed beer, produced by local homebrewers! For one great price, you get access to the festival, a commemorative tasting glass and a huge variety of beer samples. The festival will have food available and live music all day!

CRAB ORCHARD KENNEL CLUB AKC DOG SHOW Aug 07 to Aug 08 8:00am - 5:00pm From $5.00 Address: 1602 Sioux Drive Marion IL 62959 Phone: +1 618-993-2657 This Annual AKC Dog Show boasts many additional amenities. Sign up to bring your dog to the hearing clinic or get their nails trimmed while you wait.

Over 100 breeds will try to make it to the Best In Show ring. There will also be vendors of dog treats, toys, beds, blankets and more. Since 1958, the Crab Orchard Kennel Club has been dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs. Our mission is to advance, promote and protect dogs of all breeds and to educate the fancy and the general public in responsible dog ownership. We encourage good sportsmanship at all dog events as

UPCOMING EVENTS

recognized by the American Kennel Club.

MIDSUMMER PICNIC PAIRINGS, A WINE & FOOD PAIRING EVENT Aug 07 to Aug 08 10:00am - 6:00pm Address: 2865 Hickory Ridge Road Pomona IL 62975 Phone: +1 618-218-4402 With summer in full force, a relaxing outdoor picnic is just what the doctor ordered. Grab a few friends and enjoy fresh, local foods of the season with award-winning reds, whites and rose's from your favorite wineries. How it Works: Pre-purchase your ticket online and select your starting point. The first winery that you visit will give you a souvenir wine glass and your tasting ticket. Bring your ticket to each location along the trail to enjoy your pairings. Leave your completed/stamped tasting ticket at the last winery visited to be entered for a chance to win a great prize from one of our associate members. We invite you to join us for a progressive tasting along the trail and enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of our wines paired with delicious samples.

UNION COUNTY FAIR Aug 20 to Aug 28 Address: Fairgrounds Anna IL 62906 Phone: +1 618-833-8923 Carnival games, rides, farm and agriculture exhibits, rodeos, horse racing and tractor pulls, Queen contest, demolition derby and other entertainment in the grand stand.

SHAWNEE HILLS 100 Aug 28 to Aug 29 Address: 3760 Ondessonk Rd. Ozark IL 62972 Phone: +1 618-695-2489 There will be miles and miles of great running through the beautiful Shawnee National Forest, the best food, a plethora of free beverages, and swag give away. We will also, have the kids Fun Run, vendor expo, and the totally rustic Camp O cabins.

Camp Ondessonk, in the heart of the Shawnee National For

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est, will be the play host to the Shawnee Hills 100 race. The runners will get to explore some of the most stunning and extraordinary rock formations and waters falls that Shawnee National Forest is well known for, vegetation consists largely of oak-hickory, maple-beech, and pine forests. The course will take you deep into the sandstone canyon systems of Southern Illinois' Shawnee Hills Natural Division while traversing Jackson Hollow and the Bay Creek Reservoir and several waterfalls along the course including Pakentuck Falls (the tallest free-falling waterfall in Illinois), Jackson Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Cedar Falls along with some inspiring views from Salomon's Ridge.

POPCORN DAYS Sep 10 to Sep 11 Address: 109 S Kimbro St Ridgway IL 62979 Phone: +1 618-559-9235 Popcorn Day celebration is the second weekend in September every year.

During this weekend we have live entertainment, vendors, amusement rides, games, free popcorn, and the big parade on Saturday at 1:00 pm.

Ridgway is also home to the unique family owned business, Dinger Bats.

Here, the first wooden bat company in Illinois crafts wooden baseball bats for players at every stage of the game from little league to the Major League.

MURPHYSBORO APPLE FESTIVAL Sep 15 to Sep 18 Address: 110 S 14th St Murphysboro IL 62966 Phone: +1 618-684-3200 Celebrating the area apple harvest.

Events include a downtown street 76

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carnival with rides and concessions, live nightly entertainment on the Appletime Stage, an arts & crafts fair, two parades, a high school marching band competition, car/truck/motorcycle show, queen scholarship pageant, walk/run race, and much more.

CAVE-IN-ROCK FRONTIER DAY Sep 18 Address: Along the Ohio River Cave-in-Rock IL 62919 Phone: +1 618-287-4333 Cave-In-Rock Frontier Festival is held on the banks of the beautiful Ohio River. The festival, which commemorates the extensive and colorful history connected to Cave-In-Rock and the surrounding community, is an entertaining and fun filled community event.

First held in the 1960’s, the celebration includes a parade, carnival, various entertainment held in the Old Opry House, food and craft vendors. A Little Miss and Mister Frontier Days and Frontier Queen pageant is a highlight as well as various other activities. Come join the festivities for a day of fun and entertainment.

SHRIMP FESTIVAL Sep 18 Address: Pope County Courthouse Golconda IL 62938 Phone: +1 618-683-6246 A “Shrimp Festival” may sound like a crazy celebration in a quaint river town in Southern Illinois but it is one you don't want to miss! No, you won’t find shrimp in the Ohio River, but what we do have are local and sustainably farmed shrimp (prawn) from Tanglefoot Ranch and lots of other festivities to enjoy. Come enjoy the streets lined with vendors serving a wide variety

of shrimp dishes sure to satisfy every shrimp lover’s appetite. Plus, 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 Open annually from mid September through October 31st; this fun, Fall destination is host to many family fun activities. Walk the corn maze, ride the hayride, slide down the slides or play in the corn pile in the barn. If you think you're a sure shot, take aim with the corn cannon or just sit back by the fire and drink a hot chocolate. Grab a snack from the concession stand (try the sweet rock candy) before heading home with the perfect Southern Illinois grown pumpkin!

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!

cabin rentals SINGLE & DOUBLE CHALETS

The Resort offers both single and double chalet models to accommodate your whole family. Chalets include a fully furnished kitchen, bathroom, living area, wood deck with grill and boat dock.

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1 - 6 Guests

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Full Size Bedroom

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2 Loft Bedrooms

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1 Bathroom

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Non-Smoking

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A/C Unit

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Dogs Allowed

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Free WIFI

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Towels & Linens

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Oven & Stove Top

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Microwave

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Refrigerator

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Deck with Grill

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Boat Dock

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Cable TV

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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

(618) 751-4556 • EGYPTIANHILLSRESORT.COM

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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.

WANDER DOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL Oct 08 to Oct 10 Address: 1206 Touch of Nature Rd Makanda IL 62958 The Wander Down is hosted by The

Way Down Wanderers who play multiple sets throughout the weekend.

Additional National touring acts with a roots, Americana and bluegrass focus will perform on the beautiful lake stage as well as the main stage, located at the heart of the festival grounds. Music will be relocated to Indoor stages in the event of inclement weather.

Alto Pass IL 62905

HARE AND HOUNDS SAILING May 08 to Oct 09 Address: IL 127 on Hazlet State Road Carlyle IL 62231 Phone: +1 314-325-9283

Address: 600 Makanda Road

Hare and Hound events are open to all classes of boats and we encourage you to take friends and family out for the 10.7 mile course starting and finishing at CSA by way of Coles Creek and Allen Branch. Make an afternoon of sailing with the emphasis on fun. Crew opportunities available to anyone on each sailing day by advance reservation.

No experience neede. After the race, come back to the CSA pavilion for the results and free beverages. Plan to make a day of it by chillin and grillin afterwards.

FALL COLORS AT THE BALD KNOB CROSS OF PEACE Oct 16 Address: 230 Hwy 127

Phone: +1 618-713-8516 Lunch served, face painting, music and games, with local arts and crafts, photography, and inspirational gifts.

VULTURE FEST Oct 16 to Oct 17 Makanda IL 62958 Phone: +1 618-457-7739 Each fall, vultures fly over Makanda and the surrounding areas and signal the beginning of fall and the arrival of the incredible fall colors of Makanda and southern Illinois. Artists from the surrounding area will have on display their finest works for viewing and purchase.

Live music is scheduled to take place at the Makanda Pavilion and in the Rainmaker’s Garden, with bluegrass, jazz, blues and various other music by local bands for the duration of the two–day event. Enjoy the relaxation and entertainment in the unique town of Makanda. Free admission, 10am-6pm Due to COVID-19 some events may be canceled or have restrictions. Please contact the venue for more information.

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 78

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Piano Tuning & Sales

618.942.5115

baldwinofherrin.com

Making your Lake Home Dreams come true.

www.myfsb.com

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