Janet (Jan) Hitzner (Fries)

We have gone on the Spoon River Drive several times.  We always started at about Louisille, we never finished the whole route as it is a lot for one day.   Each little town has specialty foods, crafts, some have music.  It runs From Oct 3rd,4th and is also on October 10th and 11th.  The time yo spend will depend a lot on how much you want to walk around and see what everyone has to offer.  We always enjoy it.

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

We went one time to the Spoon River Drive and the line of traffic was bumper to bumper..  We pulled off to look at something and had a terrible time getting back into the line of traffic.  We never went again.

I didn't realize there was a Spoon River Anthology.  I looked it up on Triftbooks.com. and found it.  

For anybody that likes poetry, my Grandson, Logan Singletary, has written two books of poetry.  They can be found on Amazon and Triftbooks.

 Here's another cute joke. Thanks to Facebook.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Larry:

Thanks for your contacts.  Feel free to write to me on this Message Forum too!  You might be able to include other people to join in our conversation.  But, for sure, you can always address the message to me.

Bless you and thanks for reaching out!

Linda

David Brock

Marv--you mentioned the Bourbon water tower.  There is another little town down that way-- maybe Sullivan or Cuba,  has 2 water towers--1 says HOT and the other says COLD.  They are also on I-44.

James (Jim) Rookus

HAPPY   BIRTHDAY

JUDY WALKER !!! 

HOPE YOU HAVE 

A WONDERFUL

JOY FILLED AND 

BLESSED DAY ! ! !

YOUR RAIDERS CLASS OF "64

James (Jim) Rookus

Disturbing News Flash !  We just received a text from classmate GEORGE DRYE's wife Lena.  She told us George is in Hospice Care and not expected to be with us much longer.  George was a close friend through my years at BHS and my room mate at the U of I.  We were as different as night and day but nevertheless remained close friends forever.  Carol and I visited with them while in town for the reunion.  Shortly after that I posted what he gave me permission to say that he had just finished a long battle with stage 4 cancer and was at that time cancer free.  Lena did not give any details but presume a reoccurance.  ALSO a month before we saw them Lena was diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs Disease and was still very mobile but finding it difficult to speak.  They were "helping" eachother where he was weak, she was strong and where she was weak, he was strong.  Please pray for them both, as I know this is very difficult for Lena to handle alone.  All the four kids live out of town.

Jack Keefe

Jim -- disturbing indeed, and sad. George and Lena may be on our prayer list at church but without their names being used. The cases sound familiar. George was Director of Engineering and Water for the city of Bloomington for several years, and will be fondly remembered by many of our residents, most of whom I doubt he even knows. 

James (Jim) Rookus

Yes JACK ... George is the most humble of men and would be embarrassed to know that many would think so fondly of him !🙏🙏🙏

Nancy Weaver (Cupp)

Keep looking up!

just wanted to agree in prayer for George and Lena.  I don't remember them, but, God does!  May the Lord strengthen, encourage, and heal them both!

Debra (Debbie) Fitzsimmons (Price)

Hi to all! As you probably know , Fall is  flooding Florida and other Southern States and we are facing Hurricane Milton in a few days. The East Coast where I live will probably just have effects as  the storm crosses over the state, but nothing compared to our West Coast as the storm hits! As you look at your beautiful fall colors please think of so many and prayers for safety for so many here in Florida. Love to all, Debbie 

James (Jim) Rookus

HAPPY BELATED 

    BIRTHDAYs

MADELON HENDERSON

    NEWSOM (10/2) !!!

DICK BRIGGS (10/5)!!! 

HOPE YOU BOTH HAD

A WONDERFUL

JOY FILLED AND 

BLESSED DAY ! ! !

YOUR RAIDERS CLASS OF "64

James (Jim) Rookus

Happy Birthday !!!

Sandy Jeakins Sizemore                       And ... Ann Bailen

Hope you have a great and wonderfully blessed day !!!

Linda Bristow (Elias)

We have several people from our class who live in Florida.

Hurricane Milton is suppose to land there Wednesday night.  Are you evacuating or staying in place?  Do  you need anything?

Linda Elias

James (Jim) Rookus

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

SHELBEE BATES HUDSON

& KAREN WEBER

        FRANCAVIA  

And BELATED TO:

Sharon Myers Wetzel 10/5

Patti Miller Popejoy 10/7

HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT

AND BLESSED DAY ! ! ! 

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Happy Birthday to Shelbee, Sharon, and Patti!

Where would we find Shelby and Sharon living today?

Linda Bristow Elias

James (Jim) Rookus

Linda....  Shelbee is in Salem Oregon .... and Sharon is in Indianapolis Indiana 👍🏼😋‼️

Marvin Theobald

Linda’s post concerning the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton on our classmates led me to research the Class Directory and identify those that are at risk. No one appeared to be in a significant area in the path of Helene. One is in a dangerous location in the path of Milton and six are a distance from the eye but with some vulnerability. Hopefully they will not suffer any damage as this powerful Hurricane strikes.

James Fleener lives - Sarasota (direct hit)

Carla Fenstermaker Barrowman - The Villages

Debbie Fitzsimmons Price - Palm Beach Gardens

Fred Hougham - Ormond Beach

Ken Kerfoot - Port Orange

Linda Meister Goodwillie - Summerfield

Joanne Million DePree - Bonita Springs

Marvin Theobald

Larry Carson suggested I point out that “Spell Check” is in the menu at the top of the page when drafting your Message Forum posts. It is the box with the letters ABC with a green checkmark below. He is one of the many who has never posted anything but enjoys seeing the posts. Larry has admitted to being a terrible speller but observed that there are rarely any misspelled words in the posts. He wondered if everyone was that good at spelling or if spell check was in play. I guess those of you that don't use spell check must be that good at spelling and are equally skilled at typing.

Now if we could just get Larry and the other non-contributors to jump in! That is an invitation. 

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Fitzsimmons and all the rest:

I'm watching the news about hurricane Milton.  I'm praying for all of you.

Marvin:  Didn't find spellcheck.

Linda

James (Jim) Rookus

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y ! ! !

V I C T O R  J A C K S O N 

RAIDERS '64 ARE WISHING YOU

   A VERY WONDERFUL AND

        BLESSED DAY ! ! ! 

Marvin Theobald

Spell Check only appears when you are in the process of creating a Message Forum post. It is in the bottom of three rows of icons just above where your message is being captured. Look for the green check mark. To access it use the cursor to highlight the portion of your message to be spell checked and left click on the green check mark box. One at a time it will go to each misspelled word and allow you to make your corrections. Hope this helps.

Marvin Theobald

It has been awhile since I posted a photo of my great granddaughter and this one was especially fun so  thought I would share it along with a fall photo of the lake from my back yard. Life is good!

The lake has been lowered five feet for some maintenance work on the dam so the dock is on the ground until the spring rains bring it back up. The tiki bar is still floating and I took it out for a nice sunset ride with some neighbors last night.

James (Jim) Rookus

I Sadly report that classmate GEORGE DRYE has moved on to his heavenly home.  I HAVE ADDED THE OBITUARY FROM THE CALVERT & METZLER MEMORIAL HOME.  

George Avery Drye 78, of Bloomington passed into his eternal rest at his home on Friday October 11, 2024. George was born July 7, 1946, near Middleburg, Ky, a son of George Weatherford Drye Junior and Mary Eloise (Carman) Drye. He married the love of his life, Clarena (Lena Bakker) Drye, July 3, 1970, at Rock Valley, Iowa. She survives. Also surviving are his sisters; Mary J. Drye of Bloomington and Linda M. Drye of Erlanger, Ky.; their children Daniel (Renee) Drye of Crest Hill, Nathan (Qiana) Drye of Wheaton, David (Nicole) Drye of Riverside, Oh., Hannah (Bryant) Giorgi of Sault Sainte Marie, Mi.; their Grandchildren, Madison, Samantha, Joshua, Dylan, Reagan, Christian, Elizabeth, Dean and Blaise. He graduated from BHS and then the Univ. of Illinois with a BS in Civil Engineering. He worked for IDOT 10 years overseeing construction of parts of I-57 and I-55 and other projects, and then the City of Bloomington for 26 years. He retired from the City as Dir. Engineering and Water in 2004. He then worked part time for the Farnsworth Group for 5 years. George served Immanuel Baptist Church as Sunday School teacher and Elder. With Clarena, they also served many years as youth group leaders, taking the group on several mission trips to work with disadvantaged children in rural Mississippi. Public visitation will be at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home on Monday October 14, 2024, from 5-7 PM. A funeral service will be at Immanuel Baptist Church in Bloomington on Tuesday October 15, 2024, at 10 AM with Pastor Keith Throop officiating. Interment at Funks Grove Cemetery will follow the funeral. Memorial gifts can be made to the Youth Group Fund at Immanuel Baptist Church. George enjoyed building things including their home, serving at his church, and spending time with his wife, his children and grandchildren.

David Brock

Prayers and condolences to the Drye Family.  I know we may grieve and be sad but his physical sufferings are past..

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Marvin:

Your precious grandaughter has headlights for eyes.  Her acting ability has begun with imitating the dog.  How cute can she get?

Thanks for sharing.

Linda