The Weekly Post
Thursday August 7, 2014 Vol. 2, No. 24 Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790
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Ronnie returning to headline Old Settler’s Days By BILL KNIGHT
BRIMFIELD – Ronnie McDowell is so familiar to Brimfield audiences he’s almost an Old Settler himself. Headlining the Old Settlers’ Days several times, the 64year-old country singer is returning to the stage Saturday for 6 and 9 p.m. sets in Brimfield, where he’s almost as well-known as Elvis, you might say. McDowell’s string of hit For The Weekly Post
records started with his 1977 tribute to Elvis, “The King Is Gone,” cowritten with Lee Morgan, which sold 5 million copies for Scorpio Records. Now living in the McDowell Nashville area, the Portland, Tenn., native had a dramatic rise in the
music industry. After being mentored by country & western stalwart Conway Twitty – with whom he did a duet on Twitty’s 1958 standard “It’s Only Make Believe” – McDowell recorded for the Epic and Curb companies, and he’s produced more than 30 Top-40 hits. Besides the 1986, Top-10 duet with Twitty, McDowell has teamed up with Jerry Lee Lewis for a rocking duet that McDowell wrote, “You’re
Never Too Old To Rock N’ Roll.” But his own numbers are the most memorable: “I Love You, I Love You, I Love You”; “Older Women”; “Personally”; “Wandering Eyes”; “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation”; “You Made A Wanted Man Of Me”; “All Tied Up”; “In A New York Minute” and “Watchin’ Girls Go By.” Although McDowell is the headliner, Brimfield’s Old Settlers’ Days offers even more. First held in 1869 – and once
drawing about 7,000 visitors to Brimfield for ballgames, balloon ascensions and band concerts – 21st century activities range from carnival rides and an arts & crafts fair to a parade and food and beer tents. The festival opens at 5:30 today (Aug. 7), 5 p.m. on Friday (Aug 8) and then Saturday (Aug. 9) at 6:30 a.m. with breakfast at the American Legion. Also Saturday, the parade is at 1 p.m. Continued on Page 2
Elba Salem dismisses firefighter
ST. JUDE SUCCESS
Local runners assist record St. Jude event By JEFF LAMPE
Area runners chipped in nearly $100,000 out of a record $4.1 million raised for St. Jude last weekend during the 33rd annual St. Jude runs. In all there were 35 runs from local communities to Peoria, as well as a group of 2,200 runners who made a 465-mile trek from Memphis to Peoria’s Civic Center. Local efforts included an established run from Elmwood and second-year fund-raisers from the Kickapoo-Brimfield area and from
By BILL KNIGHT
Weekly Post Staff Writer
Continued on Page 8
For The Weekly Post
Runners from the Kickapoo-Brimfield to Peoria Run near the finish of last Saturday’s St. Jude’s run into Peoria. The Kickapoo-Brimfield group raised $38,000. Photo by Collin Fairfield.
Dog death has owners worried about ‘lepto’ By TERRY BIBO
ELMWOOD – One night was cheerful chaos at Jody Dunbar’s house. Her Scottish terriers, half-siblings with the same father, were yipping and chasing each other and generally tearing through the place. She barely caught a teetering lamp as it was about to crash off the table. “They play like bear cubs,” the 61year-old Dunbar says. The next morning was another For The Weekly Post
YATES CITY – Twenty years ago this week, Steve Frakes’ 12-year-old daughter died after a year of aid and support from the Elba Salem volunteer fire department and other first responders, which inspired Frakes to pay them back by volunteering, too. “I owed a debt to the community,” Frakes says. This week, Frakes Inside has been removed from • Coverage of the Elba Salem Fire Elmwood and Protection District rosFarmington ter. city council Melissa Frakes had a meetings. heart disorder requiring See Page 14 a defibrillator and several trips to hospitals, and Frakes said local firefighters, BYE Ambulance and neighbors were always helpful. “Even her visitation showed community encouragement,” he says. “There were 400 or 500 people there.” Thirteen men attended July 29’s special meeting of the Elba Salem Fire Protection District (ESFPD), and its Board of Trustees took 10 minutes to discuss and dismiss Frakes. Recalling recent fire and rescue calls, Trustee Gregory Wessel said the commu-
story. Her 13-month-old Scotty, Brody, threw up as soon as he got to the kitchen. Immediately, Dunbar knew this was something more than the latest mess. There was no grass or food in the dog’s vomit, just bile. Brody threw up three or more times. His puppy pep vanished. Dunbar already had an appointment at Brown Animal Clinic a few days later. Brody was weak and lethargic, and Dr. Suzanne Harshbarger was
concerned about his rapid deterioration. Bloodwork confirmed something was seriously wrong. Despite injections and IVs and brief rallies, the pup’s health continued to fail. “This went on for two weeks,” Dunbar says. “I have never felt so physically and emotionally exhausted in my life.” She waited one last weekend, alternately hopeful and hopeless. On Monday, June 9, Brody could barely hold Continued on Page 10
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