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Serving Southeastern Illinois Since 2004 Kevin R. Shreve, Illinois Licensed Home Inspector License No. 450.001741 406 SECounty 2nd Street, Fairfi eld, East, IL 62837 15968 Road 1075 McLeansboro, IL 62859 618-246-8634 or 618-842-3004 shrevehomeinspection@yahoo.com
Conard Financial Group proudly introduces...
JOEY ALLISON Financial Advisor 618-842-7855 (office) 618-599-2256 (cell) joey.allison@raymondjames.com
JOEY ALLISON
Joey Allison (left) has joined the staff of Conard Financial Group in Fairfield, as a financial advisor. He is pictured with (clockwise) Senior Office Administrator Kristie Weaver, Office Administrator Amanda Hooper, and Branch Manager Chris Conard.
Conard Financial Group honors veterans with a reserved parking space at their office on West Delaware in Fairfield.
Investing in the community since 2003
510 West Delaware, Fairfield, IL 62837, 618-842-7855
Allison, Who Has Bachelor’s Degree At 19, Joins Conard Financial Group Conard Financial Group, LLC, 510 West Delaware Street in Fairfield, has announced the addition of a new financial advisor, and in doing so, has brought aboard a young man with almost unheard-of academic achievements. Joey Allison turned 19 in April, and on August 14th completed his Bachelor Degree in Finance. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, just 41 percent of first-time full-time college students earn a Bachelor’s degree four years after high school, let alone one. “Not only that, but he paid for college 100 percent on his own,” said Conard Financial Branch Manager Chris Conard. “The first time he approached me and told me he was going to college, he was still in high school. In conversations with him, I could tell he was highly intelligent, and he had a drive and passion that I did not see in others. “With him, I saw a diamond in the rough.” Conard’s keen eye didn’t fail him. When the bell rang at the end of the day at Cisne High School, Allison would drive to Olney Central College for additional school work. When he graduated as CHS’s valedictorian in 2019, he had already earned his associate’s degree, and carried over nine credits toward his B.S. at the University of Southern Indiana (USI). The son of Harlan Allison of Cisne and Tia Witter of Fairfield, Allison commuted to USI from August 2019 through spring 2020, then wrapped up his studies with five additional classes this summer. His courses included Principles of Investment, International Finance, Business Finance, Entrepreneurial Finance, Finance Institutions, and Finance Management. While doing that, he also obtained two licensures required to work as an Investment Advisor Representative (IAR): ~ Series 7 Licensure (General Securities Representative Qualification Exam), which Allison passed on his first attempt; less than 70 percent of test-takers do that. Continued On Next Page
Joey Allison is pictured at his desk at Conard Financial, where he has assumed his role as a financial advisor at just 19 years old. Allison said “It really sank in that I’d finally made it” when his boss, Chris Conard, gave him his business cards.
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406 S. E. 2nd Street, Fairfield, IL Penny Shreve, publisher 618-842-3004 outlookmagandtv@gmail.com 1
Allison Joins Conard Financial Group Continued From Last Page ~ Series 66 Licensure (Uniform Combined State Law Exam), which deals with law regarding securities. It all came natural to Allison, who has always found school work to be easy and was inspired to accelerate his education by his oldest brother, Nick “He graduated a semester early from Carbondale, and pushed me to get at least a year of college out of the way (during high school). I took it as a challenge, and thought I could complete two years,” said Allison. “At first, I wasn’t sure if I could do it, but then I just set my mind that I was going to do it.” As if schooling and licensure weren’t enough, Allison kept up the lawn-mowing business he started at the age of ten with his middle brother, Zach. If the boys wanted something,
they had to work for it. That’s just the way they were raised, and that’s how Joey paid for college. The number of
yards they tend to has been whittled down over the years, but even now, he still maintains yards for three longtime customers. Because of his work ethic, Allison’s success hasn’t shocked his teachers. In fact, Jennifer Timm, his FFA instructor at Cisne for four years, is not surprised at all. “He identified and focused on his goals early on in high school,” said Timm, noting Allison won the Illinois FFA Star in Agribusiness and the Illinois Turfgrass Management Proficiency Award (and was one of four national finalists) his senior year at CHS. “Joey’s commitment, genuine work ethic, and willingness to sacrifice allowed him to achieve what he set out to do. “I’m very proud of his accomplishments.” Allison has always enjoyed working with numbers and anything to do with money or budgeting. He confesses to being thrifty, if not frugal. “My brother and dad would joke about how I never want to spend money. It’s always about saving,” he 2
said. “I don’t have any student debt, but I haven’t begun investing yet because college drained me!” Allison is thrilled to be in the work force and has already secured a few accounts, including one “very sizable account (not a relative)” in the first week of his employment, said Conard. He has no plans to pursue his Master’s degree, and is content to remain at Conard Financial. “Wayne County is home, so I’m planning to stick around,” said Allison, who enjoys working for Conard. “Chris is very honest and he strives to conduct business as fair as he can. He understands, as small as our community is, that it only takes being unfair with one person, then everybody knows. The better you treat your customers, the more word spreads and the more custoContinued On Next Page
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Allison Earned Bachelor’s In One Year Continued From Last Page mers you get. “Also, he doesn’t turn any business away, and from what I’ve seen, there are some experienced advisors out there who stay away from smaller accounts,” he added. “But Chris cares about the people and the community, and he’s willing to take anybody’s business.” Allison is enjoying work because of the atmosphere that Conard has created. “He really cares about his employees and makes us feel like we’re part of the team. We feel like we don’t necessarily work for him, but with him. That gives me confidence.” The new man on board isn’t ashamed to say that his goal is to someday see the sign in front of the business
switch from ‘Conard Financial’ to ‘Allison Financial’—and that’s just fine with his boss. “I’m good with that!” Conard laughed. “I do want to assure people that I plan to be here for another 20 or 25 years, because I’m only 48. But yes, I do see myself slowing down eventually.” Now that he has a full time job, Allison has more free time than he’s had since he was a child—and honestly, he doesn’t know what to do with it. When he’s free, though, he does enjoy spending time with his girlfriend, Lexi Locke, a senior at CHS (she plans to become a veterinarian). Allison is ready to help you and your family obtain a more secure financial future. Give him a call today: 618842-7855 (office) or 618-599-2256 (cell).
Geff Frontier Days October 3rd The Geff Ruritan Club is planning to hold its annual Frontier Days celebration in the Geff Park, but due to concerns over COVID-19, the event will be scaled-down. As of Outlook’s deadline, organizers had scheduled it for just one day—Saturday, October 3rd. No activities are planned for Friday or Sunday—no parade, bounce house, bean feed, church service, or Sunday dinner. There will be a security guard on hand Friday night to assure the safety of tractors and other items that folks may have on the grounds. The schedule for October 3rd is as follows: All day—Tractor display. All day—Disc jockey will play music. 8 a.m.—Set up displays and booths.
8:30-10 a.m.—Car/truck show registration. 10 a.m.—Kids games (all day). 11 a.m.—Geff Ruritans will sell sandwiches, pies, funnel cakes, drinks, and cider. 1 p.m.—Car show awards. 5 p.m.—50/50 drawing. 7 p.m.—Little Miss Frontier Days Pageant and gospel singing. Vendors are invited to set up booths. If you are interested in that, or need information on the car/truck show, call Britt McNeely at 713-203-3875. Julie Hall is organizing the Little Miss event (618-927-1642). Ruritan representatives Howard and Beverly Tanner confirmed that club members voted to hold the event, but acknowledged that it could still be cancelled, depending on how the coronavirus situation pans out. Watch next month’s Outlook or visit the Geff Frontier Days Facebook page for any updates.
Fun Fest, Bean Days Cancelled This Year Due to the coronavirus, both the Fairfield Fall Fun Fest and Wayne City Bean Days events—usually held in September—have been cancelled for this year. Organizers are hoping to return with their festivities in 2021. 3
Digital Mammography At Grayville Fairfield Memorial Hospital (FMH) will hold a mobile mammography event at the Horizon Clinic, 319 West Commerce Street in Grayville, on Saturday, August 29th, with appointments starting at 8 a.m. FMH’s Digital Mammography Truck will be set up. No physician order is needed for those who are over the age of 40; however, it must have been at least one year since your last mammogram. Patients are asked to bring their insurance card, photo ID, and doctor’s contact information. To secure an appointment, call the FMH Diagnostic Imaging Department at 618-847-8249. Screening mammograms take only about 15 minutes to perform.
$440K Contract For Kiddie Kollege The Illinois Department of Human Services has awarded Kiddie Kollege Early Childhood Center a Child Care Assistance Program contract in the amount of $440,000. These funds will be used to help parents pay for child care. Parents must be working and meet the newly-increased income eligibility guidelines; parents will pay only a small co-pay, based on their income. Eligibility is determined on-site, and parents will immediately know if they qualify.
I have decided to retire! I want to thank my many wonderful customers that have patronized my business for the past 24 years. Your loyalty has been greatly appreciated!
Richard Waters Cisne Auto & Truck Repair
618-665-3311
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Hot-Handed Travis Dickey Will Play Basketball For Greenville Wayne City High School Basketball Coach Jim Corrona, who is known worldwide for his shooting camps, considers 2020 WCHS graduate Travis Dickey to be one of the best shooters he’s ever taught in his 50-plus years of coaching. That’s one reason why he thinks the 6-2 Dickey will do well with the Greenville University Panthers, for whom the 18-year-old son of Brian and Tammy Dickey will suit up next season. “He will be very successful, because in college, shooting is paramount—and the program he’s going into puts a premium on shooting. Not defense, not passing, not guarding, not rebounding, but shooting,” said Corrona. “I’ve said it ever since I heard Greenville got him: they have no idea how fortunate and blessed they are to have landed him.” Dickey’s presence was certainly felt with the Indians, as he pumped out career averages of 17.1 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game, and helped the Tribe get to the regional championship round in 2020 for the first time in a dozen years. Besides wrapping up his four years as WCHS’ eighth all-time leading scorer (1,126 points), his other accolades included: ~ MTC Player of the Year Runner-Up (2018-19). ~ MTC All Conference Honorable Mention (2017-18). ~ WC Holiday Tourney All-Tourney (2017, 2018). ~ Christopher All-Tourney (2017, 2018, 2019). ~ All-Tourney, MTC Conference Tourney (2019). ~ ABV Illinois All South Honorable Mention (2018-19). ~ IHSA 3-Point Showdown Regional Champ (2018, 2020). ~ WCHS single-game 3-point record holder (9). ~ Personal-best scoring game (36). ~ 2020 Lions Club All Star. “My first memory with basketball is playing with my brother (Chad) and his teammates when I was in fifth grade,” Dickey said, noting they were strong influencers in his life as a boy. “We traveled everywhere playing ball all summer. It was definitely the most fun I’ve had during the summer, and that’s one of the main reasons basketball stuck with me all these years. “Now that I’m older, the people who have influenced me the most have definitely been my parents,” he added. “I realize now more than as a kid how much they have helped me, and I’ve started to listen and really soak in everything they have to teach me about life, in general.” Hoops were all fun-and-games until his freshman year, when Dickey got serious about it because he wanted to play in college. “When I was younger, I saw the stress that college brought to our family with expenses and all that comes with college. I really wanted to make it easier on my mom, and get as much money as I could to play basketball somewhere and get college mostly paid for. It changed my entire perspective on how I approached basketball,” he said. “I really started dedicating myself, especially when no one was there to coach me through it.” Greenville is an NCAA Division III school, so they don’t offer sports scholarships. However, things panned out nicely for Dickey, who picked up the Greenville University Dean’s Scholarship ($12,000 Continued On Next Page
TRAVIS DICKEY 5
Dickey Going To Greenville University Continued From Last Page per year), Greenville University Award ($3,500 per year), and Greenville’s W. T. Hogue Award ($1,500). “I chose Greenville because they really made me and my mom feel at home when we went to visit the campus,” said Dickey, who had been approached by recruiters from two of Greenville’s conference opponents. “Everyone was very kind and acted as if we were already family.” Stephen Groves, who recruited Dickey, said the coaching staff was very impressed with him when he visited the campus. “Greenville is a Christian institution, and it was clear to us that Travis would fit in well with our campus and team culture. He is humble, mature beyond his years, and had a desire to continue his education in a Christian setting,” said Groves. “As a basketball player, he is athletic and affects the game in many different ways. “We think his athleticism will fit in well with our pressing, up-tempo style.” Dickey feels that his shooting and basketball IQ are strengths he can bring to the Panthers, but has been working hard to improve his athleticism by gaining strength and endurance, which he knows he will need to succeed at the next level. “Two of the biggest challenges for Travis, and with
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most high school players, will be the speed and physicality of the college game. If Travis wants to maximize his potential, he will need to invest a lot of time and energy in the weight room,” Groves said. “Additionally, there is no substitute for experience in playing with other collegelevel players. Our fall pre-season activities will allow him the opportunity to see where he stacks up against other players on our roster, and what areas he needs to improve in.” Corrona said college teams work hard to chase players off the three-point line—where Dickey is deadly. “Travis will have to improve his game in terms of scoring off the dribble with his mid-range jumper, which is a lost art in today’s game,” said the veteran mentor. “But he is such a treat to coach, with his work ethic and his desire for the team to do well. He always came ready to play, whether it was practice or games. He improved so much in those last two years of high school and became a very good all-around player in terms of defense and passing.” Not only that, but Greenville could not ask for a better young man, said the Tribe’s chief. “Travis is one-of-a-kind in caring for his teammates and serving his teammates. He is very unselfish,” Corrona said. “He’s going to be very successful in the things that are really important in life, because he puts other Continued On Next Page
Census Counting Ends Early The U.S. Census Bureau will end all counting efforts for the 2020 census a month sooner than previously announced, which means that critical door-knocking efforts and collecting responses online, over the phone, and by mail will all end on September 30th. With roughly four out of every ten households nationwide yet to be counted (and already delayed by the coronavirus pandemic), the Census Bureau and its partners now have less than one month remaining to reach the historically undercounted rural residents of Wayne and Hamilton counties. “The concern is making sure we make a push to get the word out as quickly as possible to boost our self-response rates to avoid being undercounted,” said Mark Elliott of the Wayne County Health Department. “With the Census Bureau ending all counting efforts a month earlier, we run a huge risk of being seriously undercounted and losing out on millions of dollars of federal funds for our schools, roads, and services for our children and seniors.” To be counted, go online and visit 2020census. gov and follow the prompts. It takes only a few minutes, and the U. S. Census Bureau keeps answers safe and confidential.
TRAVIS DICKEY
Going To Greenville Continued From Last Page people first.” Dickey, who supported a 3.4 GPA in high school, plans to major in Sports Management. His dream is to play basketball overseas (such as the EuroLeague), or become a professional basketball trainer.
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Behavioral Health Counselor Michaela Harrison Joins FMH
In order to meet the growing needs of patients, Fairfield Memorial Hospital Horizon Healthcare has expanded its Behavioral Health Counseling Services with the addition of Michaela Harrison, LCPC, Behavioral Health Counselor, as the newest provider at Horizon Healthcare. A native of McLeansboro, Harrison attended SIU-E and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, then earned her Masters of Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University. She recently achieved her Board Certification as a Licensed Clinical Practice Counselor, and comes to Horizon with prior experience working as an Outpatient Therapist in Effingham and Mt. Vernon. “Fairfield Memorial Hospital is proud to be able to continue to grow and expand its Behavioral Health Therapy services, and we are ecstatic to have Michaela join our team,” said FMH CEO Katherine Bunting-Williams, Ph.D. “She comes to FMH with a caring demeanor and tremendous desire to help those in need. “We look forward to providing our community with her compassionate counseling to help with everything from situational stress to mental illness.” Harrison is excited to have the chance to provide services within her community, and said she is honored to do so. “Therapy is a wonderful outlet where we can provide a safe space for all individuals to address their needs,” said Harrison, who treats individuals 12 years and older. “My primary focus in therapy is to make sure my clients have the tools and skills they need to live a healthy and successful life.” The FMH Horizon Healthcare Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapy Program provides counseling services to individuals, couples and families, including children, teens, and adults in both the Fairfield and Carmi clinics. Those dealing with anxiety, depression, family conflict, medical illness, and behavioral difficulties could benefit from the program, as well as those with a more severe mental health diagnosis. A variety of interventions and coping skills are offered based upon individual treatment planning, and agreed upon by the patient and the healthcare team. To schedule an appointment with any of FMH’s Horizon providers, call 618842-4617.
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MICHAELA HARRISON, LCPC
The Growing Season
Frey Farms Founder’s Gutsy Book Reveals Story Of Overcoming Fear
When Sarah Frey was seven years old, her dad, Harold, made her pick up the biggest snapping turtle she’d ever laid eyes on, and throw it into the back of his pickup truck. She was terrified. “It could have easily taken my hand off. I begged and pleaded with him not to make me do it, but I also knew I couldn’t challenge my father’s authority. A switch flipped inside of me that said I had to overcome my fear,” she recalled. “So I took it by the tail, and in one scoop, flung it into the air. I heard a thud, and when I opened my eyes, I saw that it had landed in the back of that metal truck bed, and I knew I’d just taken on the biggest, nastiest, most treacherous creature in the world.” She was still mad at her dad, so when she climbed back into the truck, she gazed out the passenger window so he wouldn’t see her grinning. “It was the most satisfied that I’d ever been,” she said. “I will never be able to re-create that moment, but have been chasing that high ever since.” by Penny Shreve Fear, after all, can be a good thing. Once you overcome it, the feeling is transformative. It can motivate you to do great things, like emerging from a childhood so poor that oftentimes you have to harvest or kill the food you eat, to building a new life and company that has sold over a billion dollars’ worth of fresh produce. That’s what Sarah Frey did. But there’s more to her story than starting out with a small melon route to becoming the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Orchardville-based Frey Farms, a multi-state enterprise growing and delivering produce to thousands of stores nationally, including the nation’s top 25 retailers. With farms and facilities in seven states, Frey Farms employs 500 seasonal, part-time, and full-time workers, plus Sarah and her four older brothers: Ted, John, Harley and Leonard. Feelings of fear and isolation haunted her as child. She made a plan to escape rural Wayne County forever; however, as a young teen, she made a decision that changed her life’s landscape for good. But to learn more about that, you will have to read Frey’s self-penned book, The Growing Season: How I Built a New Life—and Saved an American Farm, released August 25th in hardcover by New York’s Ballentine Books, an imprint of Random House. The emotional and gutzy story, which can be ordered online or purchased at any major book outlet, has already been optioned for film (more on that in the near future). Frey never intended to stay on the family property where she grew up, a place they call The Hill. The idea of being a corporate attorney working in a skyscraper seemed more appealing to her. But she learned to appreciate her family, community, and upbringing enough to stick around when she saw past the imperfections life had presented and discovered the good, even in the most difficult circumstances. “There can be a sense of hopelessness for young teens, especially young girls, growing up in rural poverty. Everyone will find something in this book that resonates with them, but for me,
SARAH FREY when I picture who I wrote this book for, I see that girl,” Frey said. As a little girl, Frey would join her mother, Elizabeth (Reitz), as they delivered watermelons and cantaloupes they’d bought in southern Indiana to a dozen independent grocery stores. She loved it because it was a way to get off The Hill, so at the age of 16, she took over her mom’s melon route; thus, Frey Farms was born in 1992. Before long, she bought a pickup truck, then a trailer, and over the next few years, expanded deliveries to 150 retailers. Eager to get on with her life, Frey attended high school at Wayne City and classes at Frontier College simultaneously, earning her Associate’s degree soon after high school. She would later continue her education through programs such as the Tuck School of Business Executive Education Program (Dartmouth College). “There were opportunities everywhere. I just had to set my mind to following them when they were presented. My route was between Evansville and St. Louis, then I expanded north to stores in Continued On Next Page 9
The Growing Season: Sarah Frey Continued From Last Page Charleston, Urbana, and past Champaign,” Frey said. “But launching the business to a national scale very quickly? I have Walmart to credit for that.” Walmart had established its home in rural communities like Fairfield, and the managers at those stores were a lot of the same folks that Frey had been doing business with all along. When Walmart started converting their discount stores into Super Centers, those ordinary folks she’d known from the early days were doing extraordinary things. “We all watched Walmart grow into the company that it is today. They were so rooted in rural communities, and it was just so natural for me to do business directly with Walmart stores—not because Walmart could take a lot of volume, but because the people working in those stores fundamentally understood who I was and what I was trying to accomplish, not only in business but in my life,” she said. “I had a great deal of respect for Walmart associates. Their work ethic and the pride they took in their communities and helping others was inspiring. “My greatest reward, and the break I needed, was doing business with the people who worked in those stores.” But then her big break got even bigger. “When the Walmart Distribution Center (DC) was built in Olney, I had been delivering fresh produce to Walmart stores. I walked into the DC not having a good understanding of what they were going to be doing there,” Frey said. “I knew they would distribute products and goods, but I didn’t realize they were going to have a fresh produce buying office.” So—clad in work boots, blue jeans, and a ball cap— Frey stepped in to meet the DC’s newly-appointed fresh produce buyer. “I simply offered to bring the produce that I was already delivering to the Walmart stores directly to the DC, because I felt like it would save me time. I was a onewoman show, and if they could distribute the melons for me, I could get them more volume,” she said. “In a matter of 15 minutes or less, the buyer said ‘that’s fantastic’ and that she needed so many loads of cantaloupes and watermelons per week. I said ‘no problem, I can do it.”
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No sooner than the words had left her mouth did it occur to Frey that the buyer didn’t want pickup truck loads of produce. She wanted semi truck loads. “I was literally a kid, and the biggest thing I had was a 16-foot trailer pulled behind a one-ton dually. I smiled at her, but I was having a sidebar conversation in my mind that I was going to need semis. My first thought was, ‘oh my gosh, I have to learn how to drive one’!” said Frey. “Before I got out of the driveway at DC, I knew I had to grow the product and lease the trucks.” Her first call was to her brother, John, who was attending the University of Louisville. At that point, they knew the business would require all of the Frey boys to return home to help their sister. It ended up being a great development for The Hill, which like many small farms continuously faced financial uncertainty. By this point Sarah had taken over what was left of the family farm, but now—at just 19 years old—she was mapping out a plan for her family and its growing enterprise. Oddly, she wasn’t afraid. “I felt very confident that I would make good on my Continued On Next Page
The Growing Season: Sarah Frey Continued From Last Page word,” Frey said. “I didn’t know exactly how, but I knew that I would make it happen, no matter the cost. By that young age I was already conditioned to overcome fear, and nothing was scarier than what I felt I had already survived.” And just like that, she was off to the races. Today, Frey Farms—which started out growing cantaloupes and watermelons—ships hundreds of semi-loads per day of tomatoes, sweet corn, watermelon, squash, and some Florida citrus, and is the nation’s largest shipper of fresh market pumpkins. Locally, the biggest emphasis is on pumpkin production; in fact, Frey Farms sells more pumpkins than any other U.S. farm. If you bought a carving pumpkin from Walmart in the last 20 years, it was likely grown or distributed by Frey Farms; they also grow unique pumpkin varieties from seeds sourced from around the world. In many parts of the world, pumpkins are a dietary staple, consumed as often as potatoes are in America. “Was it a lot of work? Yes, but no more than what we were accustomed to doing on the farm where we were raised. Driving a truck and slinging melons? There was nothing glamorous about the job, but I didn’t care,” she said. “We all made sacrifices, but I didn’t feel like I was giving up anything that I wouldn’t enjoy later in life. I was doing work that I loved with people that I loved more. I wanted to build something worthy of my growing family, and for future generations. “It was never my goal to stay on the farm; I wanted to escape. Now, ironically, this place is the escape.” Since then, millions of produce items have passed through the hands of the Freys. Early on, they’d work from 4:30 a.m. until 1 or 2 a.m. the next day. You have to want it more than you want to breath, is Frey’s philosophy. If
ed in seeing how they respond to the beauty of The Hill, the gorgeous sunsets, and the locals I introduce them to,” she added. “Everyone that comes here from the outside comments on how sweet the air smells, how beautiful the rolling hills are, and how friendly the people are.” That’s when city folks are on Frey’s stomping ground. But when she’s on theirs (that is, in the early years of her success) it was another story. When she rubbed elbows with billionaires at cocktail parties, folks just assumed that she was some rich man’s trophy wife. Or if she was a business owner, she surely must have gotten her Master’s from an Ivy League school, then had her company handed down to her from a wealthy father. But nope. Her humble upbringing and real-lifeWayne-County education is what she credits her accomplishments to. Her negotiations have become published case studies at Harvard Business School, but that just kinda rolls off her like water off a duck’s back. “I’m still the same girl that hauled melons in an old pickup truck with sideboards when I was 16. No matter where I go or what I do, when I look in the mirror, that’s the person I see,” Frey said. “I’ve known a lot of professionally successful individuals who have had their personal identity tied to their careers. When they no longer hold the position or have the power, it’s difficult to readjust or feel fulfilled. “For me, keeping one boot firmly planted in the dirt here in Wayne County is my way of making sure that I don’t suffer the same fate. Really, the only question for my peace and happiness is ‘Have I raised good humans?’ I think I’ve done that,” she said, referring to her sons, William, 16, and Luke, 14. Continued On Next Page
you don’t want it more than you want to breath, forget it.
“When you’re building your own company, it’s all-consuming. But at the time, we were all single, young, full of youth and vigor. We also felt like we were unstoppable, because we were all conditioned at a very young age to work hard, really hard like adults, so it felt very natural,” Frey reasoned. “And I don’t feel like it’s an occupation, but a lifestyle. So many things are intertwined: family, business, friendships, everything. “I’ve hosted people at my home that work for my company, or business associates that fly in from other parts of the country, and I’m always interest-
Larry & Jade Hester Fairfield, Illinois 618-842-6900
Mt. Vernon, Illinois 618-242-6969
“With God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26
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The Growing Season: Sarah Frey Continued From Last Page Of all the work Frey has put into the business, it wasn’t as difficult as bearing her soul in her memoir—The Growing Sea-
son: How I Built a New Life— and Saved an American Farm.
Over the years, she has rarely shared her story with others, but when she did, she discovered that it gave people hope “and sometimes the courage to change their lives, to take risks, to take a stand, to forgive, and to forge ahead,” she said. “It scared me to share more about my life, but once I had that revelation, I couldn’t silence the voice inside of my head. “The stories I share are deeply personal, but ultimately are a reminder that we can all overcome fear, and the timing of this book makes me understand and appreciate its greater purpose,” Frey added. “Right now, the country is paralyzed with fear (due to COVID-19) and people are feeling isolation and uncertainty, but the book reminds us that we can overcome these things, because in life and farming, no two growing seasons are alike. “It might be great one year, and wiped out by a drought the next. But the seasons that are fallow teach us just as much as those that are bountiful.”
Sarah Frey looked up to find the way out of an impoverished upbringing, to build a company that has sold over $1 billion worth of produce. She hopes a new book about her experiences will help others overcome difficult circumstances. Outlook’s cover image this month shows Frey in one of her fields. 12
Music, 5K, Fireworks September 5th
Orry Kraw To Headline Grayville Days Grayville Days will be held this year, but due to the coronavirus, has been cut back to a one-day event. The celebration will take place on Saturday, September 5th, and will feature three concerts and several other attractions. Orry Kraw, a popular southern Illinois band that specializes in music “from Chuck Berry to Buckcherry” is the headliner. Here’s the schedule: 8 a.m.—Firecracker 5K. 9 a.m.—Craft fair opens. 10 a.m.—Vendors open. Inflatables open ($10 for all-day arm band). 1-2 p.m.—Talent time on stage. 3 p.m.—Parade (lineup at 2 p.m.). Theme is “Rock the Block”. 4:30 p.m.—Brittany Loyd on stage. 6:30 p.m.—Jason Sturgeon on stage. 8:45 p.m.—Fireworks. 9:30 p.m.—Orry Kraw on stage. Firecracker 5K The 5K will start and end at the depot, located on the corner of East North Street and South Water Street in Grayville. Registration is from 7 to 7:45 a.m. on race day (cost is $20), with the 5K starting at 8 a.m. An awards ceremony will be held at the hospitality tent (at the depot) immediately after the race, with the top three finishers in each age group being honored. If you need more information, call Nicole Bradfield at 618-382-8247. The Guardian Center, a non-profit organization committed to the protection and healing of physically and sexually abused children and their families, is sponsoring the 5K.
Jason Sturgeon Orry Kraw co-founder Todd Bailey and his Sturgeon began pursuing music in 2003, touring the tri-state on band plan to perform at Grayville Days. weekends with his band after pulling 60-hour work weeks as a product development engineer in Bloomington, Indiana. In 2009, he met in Browns. “He was quite a character, and former John Mellencamp drummer Dane Clark, who began writing with we thought he was pretty cool, so we modiSturgeon and produced his first solo album, bringing in ex-Mellencamp fied the spelling and became ‘Orry Kraw’,” bandsmen Troye Kinnett (keyboard) and Jon E. Gee (bass) to work on said Bailey. “We played together until the recording. That spring, Sturgeon left his job and started his own re- 1991, when other obligations and interests cord label, Toolpusher Records. seemed to become more important, and His first single in 2010, “Simple Life”, hit the airwaves, and he em- we just gradually drifted apart. barked on a 34-state radio tour to promote the song. Penned by Stur“For a decade, the band remained only geon and Clark, the song was played on hundreds of radio stations a memory in my mind.” across the country; the video was viewed on CMT, and charted at #41 But in 2000, Bailey found his old bass on Billboard. guitar in a pawn shop and bought it. It didn’t From his second album in 2013, “Cornfields & Coal”, the song “Time- take long for him to realize how much he bomb” worked its way into the Top 40, and the video featuring 20-time still wanted to play music, “so I formed Orry World of Outlaws Winged Sprint Car Champ Steve Kinser debuted in Kraw, and we have been playing everythe Top 5 on CMT.com. It then moved to #1, competing with releases by where since 2003,” he said. “Our first gig Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, and Jason Aldean. The second single, was Hogrock 2003 on the beach, and it has “Angel Eyes”, hit the airwaves that summer. been a wild ride ever since!” Current band members are Bailey Orry Kraw (bass/vocals), John Ellis (drums), Andrea Formed in 1986 by Todd “Supercat” Bailey, Stevie Hurt, and Lon- and Justin Davis (vocals), Knowles (guitar), nie “Lonestar” Knowles, the band was named after a man that lived and Jerry Barnes (guitar/vocals). 13
Unforgettable Bender
I was spending too much of my time on Facebook, like I always do. I saw a picture of my old friend Bob Bender. He looked pretty much the same as he did the last time I saw him 25 years ago. I commented that he somehow kept all of his hair. His niece, Angie, answered me. This Angie said, “He did, and he’ll be missed.” It took me a minute to realize what she was saying, and I was shocked that he died. It’s not unusual at my age to have friends pass away. When I look through my Facebook friends list, probably 40 of them have passed away. Fairly often I have former classmates take the long trip home. While that’s more normal as I live longer, this one hit me a little harder. Bob and I had shared some adventures. Here’s just one of them. The year was 1992. I was enjoying my morning coffee in my newly created office on the Scott AFB flightline. I was a recently minted Master Sgt. without a real purpose other than to consume coffee and scowl disapprovingly. I exceeded expectations in both, and was sure to be promoted anytime. Master Sgt. Bob Bender stopped in looking for a regulation and a purpose to exist. With both of us being promoted beyond being useful, and with a shared disgust for young Airmen, we became friends. Bender and I had backpacking in common. He’d backpacked in real mountains on the left coast, and I had once read about backpacking in real mountains. We decided to spend a long July 4th weekend on the infamous Tom Sauk Trail in Missouri. Many had tried to hike it, many had died. Truthfully, none died but I feared I’d be the first. It seemed like a hard hike with miles of more miles. It also had a strange feature not found in Illinois, called “hills”. Bender prepared for the trip by working out in the base gym and running on the treadmill. I prepared by reading about working out. He bought new hiking boots and a new pack. I borrowed his old pack and I found boots at the Goodwill that didn’t smell real bad. We took off and arrived at the campground well before dark. We sat up a tent and sat in front of the fire, complaining about Airmen and politicians and officers.
The next morning at “oh-dark-thirty” we packed and took to the trail. Bender called it “Death march”, referencing the WWII marching of American prisoners in the Philippines. I don’t think he read the part where people died, and I thought we were going to join them. He set an impossible pace as I planned my last will and testament. We made camp before I died much. I was almost out of water and the creeks were dry. It must have been 100 degrees and miserably miserable. I longed for a large soda and a Sonic burger, but munched my dehydrated trail gruel. I remember Bob had a Pringles can of Ritz crackers that he did not share. I hid my last half-cup of water from him and dozed off. The next morning painfully broke. I sipped my last ounces of water and Bender produced a Mountain Dew from somewhere. I swear his drink was frosty cold, and wet. My drink went down like boiled sludge. We got back on the trail. By mid-morning I was dehydrated and couldn’t keep up with Bender. His workout must have been superior to mine. We saw a drip of water falling into leaves. We took a break and as he sipped another Dew. I slurped water off of the ground. There was something about those leaves. Bender remembered an old Boy Scout trail on the map. It was a shortcut to the truck and water and Sonic burgers. We veered and I felt a new optimism. We marched for a few hours and Bender finally spoke. Out of nowhere he said, “I know where we are”. We walked a few more minutes and the trail was noticeably not there. Bender slowed down, which is something he never did. My visions of burgers and potables faded. Continued On Page 16
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Frontier Athletes Make The Grade In Classroom Frontier Community College’s athletics teams have all received 2019-2020 NJCAA Academic Team Honors. These awards recognize academic excellence among sports teams based on individual and team grade point average (GPA). Across all three teams, 22 students were personally honored for outstanding GPA’s. Honors received by the teams are as follows:
Baseball The baseball team, which includes 39 members, compiled a 3.1 team GPA, which ranked the Bobcats 101st of 403 teams nationwide. In addition, a dozen student/athletes were named to the NJCAA All American Academic Team, including: ~ 1st Team (4.0 GPA): Samuele’ De Simone, Anik Haldar, Brendan Reid, Caleb Rush, Andrew Shoultz, and Eli Tensza. ~ 3rd Team (3.6-3.79 GPA): Craig Carscadden, Angel Figueroa, Mac Grant, Zach Moore, Ben Scartz, and Chaney Trout.
Softball Frontier’s softball team (14 members) recorded a 3.49 team GPA, which was ranked 36th of 364 teams in the nation. Five student/athletes made the NJCAA All-American Academic Team: ~ 1st Team (4.0 GPA): Samantha Helms, Julia Schmid, and Courtney York. ~ 2nd Team (3.8-3.99 GPA): Brooklyn Edwards. ~ 3rd Team (3.6-3.79 GPA): Emma Staples.
IECC Adult Ed Program Receives $327,000 Grant
The Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) Adult Education Program, housed at Frontier Community College, has received a $327,000 grant allocation from the Illinois Community College Board—a $25,000 increase in funding over last year. Funds are designated for Adult Education and Literacy within the IECC District. People who are at least 17, without a high school diploma, and not currently enrolled in school can utilize the Adult Education services. IECC Adult Education and Literacy program offers Adult Basic Education (ABE) and Adult Secondary Education (ASE) courses to assist students with reading, writing, and math skills. The program also offers classes to prepare students to earn their high school equivalency through the GED test; it also provides college and career-readiness classes. The grant also funds English as a second language (ESL) classes at select locations in the district for community members whose native language is not English. Classes are held throughout the year and tuition and books for all Adult Education Courses are free to students through the Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Grant. You can find GED Test Prep, ESL, and Career Bridge and Transitions classes throughout the IECC district, including Robinson, Olney, Mt. Carmel, Albion, Fairfield, Flora, Lawrenceville and Newton. For more information, visit the AE page on the IECC website, or call (or visit) the AE office at 618-847-9157 on Frontier’s campus during regular business hours (7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. M-F).
Volleyball The 14-member Bobcat volleyball team compiled a 3.01 team GPA, ranking 96th of 330 teams across the United States. Five players were named to the NJCAA All-American Academic Team: ~ 1st Team (4.0 GPA): Shayla Potts. ~ 2nd Team (3.8-3.99 GPA): Ramsey Clark, Audrey Fleener, and Yaeriliz Maysonet. ~ 3rd Team (3.6-3.79 GPA): Genesis Santiago.
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Geezer Rock
Continued From Page 14 Soon, we were in brush and brambles. There were those same leaves, but what was it about them? We tried to go back, but couldn’t find anything that looked like a trail. I heard a hawk call, like in the Western movies when the protagonist is nearing death. Bender kept saying, “The trail was here”. I don’t get hills, what with their trees and all looking the same and obstructing the horizon and all. One of us decided to go downhill, hoping for water and roads and greasy food. My addled brain let me follow and plod along. Eventually, we found a road. There was a sign for a campground, and we stumbled into it. After slurping wonderful water out of a real faucet, we saw a car at a campsite. I asked a local aborigine directions to the campground where we parked. He said, “Golly, that’s like 20 miles. How long you fellers been walking?” Goober agreed to take us to the truck, because he likes to help people and we gave him $40, which was like $850 in today’s money. We liked riding and positively loved getting to Bob’s vehicle. We waved goodbye to the kind Missourian with the car and the tooth. Throwing our packs in, we hit the road. Bob produced a cold soda from somewhere. I drank some hot water from a bottle I found under the seat. Water never tasted so good. Next stop, Sonic. In about 3 minutes, the truck thumped and quit. Neither
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of us was in any mood to be broke down, but the truck didn’t care. Bob diagnosed a disintegrated universal joint and did some Air Force magic to it. We got back on the road, but had to stay below 40 MPH. We made it to Sonic and ordered Grease Burgers, extra grease. My face started itching. I looked in the mirror and my face was red. My eyes started to itch, then my arms. “What is it about those leaves”, I asked aloud. Bob grinned and backed out of Sonic. He just said, “Leaves of 3”, whatever that means. Master Sgt Bob Bender of Michigan went to the last roll call in August of 2020. The world is worse without him. Nobody will ever hike as fast again.
FMH Restricts ER Visitors Due to the advanced number of positive COVID cases in its service area, Fairfield Memorial Hospital (FMH) in mid-August regressed its visitor policy back to ‘no visitors’ in the emergency department, which is where things stood as of Outlook’s deadline. Exceptions are being made for pediatric and special needs patients who will be allowed one parent/caregiver; however, they must remain in the patient’s room at all times during their stay. If you have any questions, contact FMH at 618-8422611 or call the FMH COVID Hotline, 618-516-1062.
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