Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 26

LIFE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 DECATUR, ILLINOIS Associated Press Samuel Badgely holds a rod in place with a chisel for Eric Woll to work the metal at Rasmussen Museum and Blacksmith Shop in Lewistown. Hot blooded LEWISTOWN (AP) In what's shaping up to be the most sizzling summer in decades, Erik Woll revels in extreme heat. By trade, the 28-year-old is a chef at The Herbst Landing in Canton. By hobby, he's a blacksmith. "I don't know what it is about me and hot careers," he said cheerfully.

"I must have a penchant for Not to mention a spouse who is curator at the Rasmussen Museum and Blacksmith Shop, a collection of local artifacts and tributes to a vanished way of life. Opened by Danish immigrant Nels Rasmussen in 1893, the shop was operated by his son Don Rasmussen until 1969. Almost 120 years later, smithing is a rare occupation. Thanks to the Lewistown Society for Historical Preservation founded by Erik Woll's great-grandfather the Rasmussen shop remains on the same site, looks much as it did for 80 years and retains many original tools and architectural highlights. "This is one of the last, original, fully-functioning blacksmith shops," said Ashton Woll.

"It's very rare someone can come and see blacksmiths working where blacksmiths have worked for Despite heat, man revels as blacksmith repetition in this trade. Eighty-two-year-old Lloyd Jenkel of East Peoria had been a machinist at Caterpillar Tractor Co. While scouting the implements on display, he looked over a list of 46 kinds of horseshoes. "A farrier, that's an art of its own," Jenkel said. Kathy and Gary Knapp drove from Peoria.

He has his own small forge for metal-working. "I knew he would enjoy it," 64-year-old Kathy said. "He has an anvil." She should know. She bought it for him. Kathy Knapp gift-wrapped the 38- pound chunk of metal on the porch where it was delivered rather than lugging it inside, more or less saying she had to draw the line somewhere.

Thirty-three-year-old Samuel Badgley of Bellevue offered to help Erik Woll demonstrate, using a chisel to steady a glowing bar of metal as Woll split it. Badgely is learning some of these skills from his father, who is a member of the Illinois Valley Blacksmith Association. "Blacksmithing is a dying career," said Badgely, who works for Integrated. "I'm doing it as a hobby." And Rasmussen is the hottest place where those two things meet. "Someone can come and see blacksmiths working where blacksmiths have worked for 100 Ashton Woll, historian 100 years." The 24-year-old was a history major at Knox College in Galesburg.

She's thrilled to have a hands-on place to ply her own trade so much so that she lobbied to have live blacksmithing demonstrations once a month throughout the summer, as well as a regular feature during Spoon River Drive. At last month's demonstration, a small but avid niche group gathered around the blazing forge. "Why aren't you using a heavier hammer?" one of the spectators asks Erik Woll. "Because it wears your arm out faster," he replies. The group laughs.

Many of them worked in similar occupations. They know the toll of Palillo, 63, of '70s sitcom dies Actor remembered for role on 'Welcome Back, Kotter' WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) Ron Palillo, the actor best known as the nerdy high school student Arnold Horshack on the 1970s sitcom "Welcome Back, Kotter," died Tuesday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He was 63. Palillo suffered an apparent heart attack at his home, said Karen Poindexter, a close friend of the actor.

Palillo was inextricably linked with the character he played from 1975 to 1979 on "Kotter," the hit ABC sitcom, in which Gabe Kotter returns to his Brooklyn alma mater to teach a group of loveable wiseguys known as the Sweathogs. Horshack was the nasally teen who yelped, "Oooh, ooh," and shot his hand Associated Press skyward whenever Kotter posed a question. This 1978 photo shows cast members, from left, The show was a pop cultural phenomenon, Ron Palillo Arnold smart-Alec such as Horshack, Robert Hegyes injecting phrases as "Up as Juan Epstein, foreground, John Travolta, rear, your nose with a rubber hose" into the main- as Vinnie Barbarino from 'Welcome Back, stream and propelling co-star John Travolta Palillo died Tuesday. He was 63. to stardom.

But the series only lasted as long as a high school education and its end, for He told interviewers that his dying father's Palillo, brought difficulty. voice inspired Horshack's trademark wheezHe said he felt throughout the 1980s, ing laugh, but when he auditioned for "Kotunable to find parts and sinking into depres- ter" he thought he'd be passed over for othsion. When offers did come, he felt typecast ers who had more of a tough-guy look. as Horshack. "When Ron walked into the audition and "While I loved him, I really loved him, I did his first line, 'Hello, how are you, I'm didn't want to do him forever," he said in 1994.

Arnold I said 'That's him, That's Ronald Paolillo was born April 2, 1949, in the Kaplan said. Cheshire, eventually dropping the first Palillo went on to get a host of bit parts in from his surname. His father died of lung shows from "The Love Boat" to "Cagney and cancer when he was 10 and he developed a Lacey" to "The A-Team," and played himself stutter. His mother thought getting him for a time on the series "Ellen." But he involved in a local theater might help. He fell remained best-known for his role on "Kotter," in love with the stage and overcame his and focused in his later years on stage directspeech impediment.

ing and writing. Longest U.K. comic 'The Dandy' may end LONDON (AP) Britain's son stressed it has yet to When "The Dandy" first longest-running comic book decide on the future of "The went on sale, it cost 2 pence, is facing closure after 75 Dandy," but will ensure all of and it became so successful years in print. its characters live on in its publisher launched a simThe publisher of "The other platforms hinting ilar comic strip, "The Dandy" said Tuesday it is that their adventures may Beano," within months. reviewing all of its titles to soon be available online.

Anita O'Brien, curator of meet the "challenges of the "There are many chal- London's Cartoon Museum, rapidly changing publishing lenges within the industry at said "The Dandy" originally industry." present, but we're excited offered young readers someCirculation of the weekly that the digital revolution has thing new: more action and comic book, first published also given us an opportunity more visual material than in 1937 and best-known for to innovate and develop," the contemporary magazines. cartoon cowboy Desperate publisher said in a statement. But "The Dandy" fell Dan and Korky the Cat, "The Dandy" chronicles behind the times and many dropped to less than 7,500 in the adventures of Desperate news agents have not stocked the second half of last year. Dan, a strong cowboy with a it for years, O'Brien said. A At its peak in 1950 it sold weakness for "cow pies," or re-launch of the publication some 2 million copies.

enormous meat pies with as "Dandy Xtreme" in 2007 Scotland-based DC Thom- horns sticking out of them. did not halt its decline. www.herald-review.com Navy helped The other night waiting for the Cardinal game to start, I was watching one of those "Music of Your Life" shows. It accomplished its purpose; I did go back, to the spring of '56. Like 533 others in my class, I was contemplating what I was going to do now.

My dream, playing for the Cardinals, was just that, a dream, and totally unrealistic. I liked, and did well in mathematics, history and sciences (except physics). I had thought about the field of medicine, but that meant 10-plus years of college. Even with a scholarship, I didn't have the money. I had already been forced to say no to a college in the east for just that reason.

Grudgingly, I thought about engineering. My counselor had told me to find a job working outdoors; I just wasn't "college material," even when I pointed out that I had the grades, test scores and class rank. Three degrees later, I think it's safe to say, she may have been just a bit wrong. Anyway, in fairly rapid succession, I went with a friend to the Navy recruiter, took a test, was offered a school of my choice, talked my 1 folks into signing the papers (I was only 17), took the physical, and knew what I was going to do for the next years. What I didn't know would probably fill an encyclopedia, beginning with: read the fine print in any contract, Rosella Young Editor's note: This is the first in a series of stories about hard-working volunteers.

ILLIOPOLIS Rosella Young is an extraordinary volunteer. At the Illiopolis Christian Church, she is the organist, pianist, bell choir leader and Sunday school teacher. She takes communion to church members in hospitals and nursing homes. She waters the church grounds, assists with the annual chicken fry and turkey dinner and sews Christmas stockings for Dove Inc. in Decatur.

She also teaches in vacation Bible DECATUR American Legion Post 105 David Parker was installed as commander of American Legion Castle Williams Post 105. Ed Cassel Sr. is vice commander, Bill Dressen is second junior vice commander and Mike Dempsey is finance officer. The Ladies Auxiliary president is Carolyn Seymour. Kathy Kracht is senior vice president, Shirley Schwesig is chaplain, Gerry Schmidt is secretary, Eula Snow is treasurer and Ruby Condiff is sergeant at arms.

Scholarships were given to: him find JOE TRIMMER Prairie Talk and always expect the unexpected. The Navy did send me to school (Aviation Prep) as promised (kinda'). I thought I was signing for Aviation Electronics school. Nope. Not enough time left on my enlistment.

The school required 3 years; I had 2 years, 11-plus months. I signed up for another year. After being in the Navy for nearly six months, I now had more time to serve than when I started! By the way, I was the honor man in my class. By regulation, I was guaranteed my choice of schools, with no exceptions. When I had found that little goodie, I went back to the officer who had me extend.

His reply, "By golly, you're right." OK, being a Navy man, he didn't say it like that. "Did you sign this paper? (Yes.) Did I or anyone force you to sign? (No.) Congratulations Airman, and do well in Memphis." If you had given me a million chances on that day I was contemplating my future, keeps busy school. She helps at Intercession, the used clothing store operated by the church. As leader of the Kitchen Band, she takes it to the Vonderleith Nursing home in Mount Pulaski once a month and to nursing Young homes in Decatur. She helps plan programs for the Illiopolis Community Club.

The club earned a blood drive award for having the most contributed blood for the number in the community. CLUBS Mariah Henderson, Meridian High School Laci Davis, Eisenhower High School a Mallory Hart, Mount Zion High School Andrea Gasow, Mount Zion High School NEOGA Central Illiana Dowsers The Central Illiana Chapter of Dowsers meeting will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, in the Neoga Municipal Building, 533 S.

Chestnut Ave. Dowsing interests to be covered include oil, water, maps, treasure, health, missing Chicago jazz saxophonist Von Freeman dies at 88 CHICAGO (AP) Earle Lavon Freeman, a tenor saxophonist and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, is remembered as a jazz great who made every song his own with a husky, melodic sound. Freeman, who died over the weekend at age 88, never became of a major star but was highly regarded by other jazz practitioners. Miles Davis reportedly wanted him in the 1950s, but Freeman refused to leave his native Chicago, taking only the briefest trips to perform. The musician told the Chicago Tribune in 1992 that because he didn't have to worry about fame, he could pursue what critics called an idiosyncratic and intellectually demanding style.

"An extraordinary saxophonist with a sound all his own, Von Freeman's contributions to jazz and specifically Chicago's jazz history are numerous," Rocco Landesman, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, said. His son, Mark Freeman, said his father died Saturday of heart failure. Born in Chicago on October 3, 1922, Freeman came from a musical family. His mother sang in the church choir, his father was an amateur trombonist, and a grandfather and uncle were guitarists. his wings I would have never guessed that less than two years later I would be flying off a deck of a carrier.

On April 29, 1958, that's exactly what I did. We had landed on the carrier, Forrestal, five days earlier. I was 19. Again, in rapid succession, I had finished school in Memphis, been assigned to VAH-5 in Sanford, elevated in rank to E-5, attended school, flown with six different pilots before being assigned to Crew No. 13.

The crew: pilot, bombardier and me. My job was to assist in navigation, and operate the radar-controlled 20mm cannons. Over the next four years, I flew, officially and unofficially, all over the world, and in many different types of aircraft. A few near misses. Good pilots, and rarely, a bad one.

Many things I'm proud of, and a few I sincerely regret. But those are stories for another time. I turned 20 in October of '58. A couple of days after my birthday, my pilot and I were flying back to the ship from Port Lyautey, Morocco. He wished me a happy birthday, and asked, "Know what I was doing on my 20th?" "No sir, probably in college." "I was flying Wildcats over Guadalcanal." Joe Trimmer is a retired educator and a Decatur historian.

volunteering She takes care of the flowers, shrubs and the "Illiopolis" sign at the west edge of town. She is a member of the Illio Gals, who take turns as host at a luncheon in their home or in restaurants in Decatur and Springfield. On the personal side, she takes care of a husband who needs help walking and bathing. She does deep water aerobics three times a week at the Decatur Family YMCA. "She is one busy volunteer who needs to be recognized," said Sharolyn Griesheim.

"I'm sure I've left out several other things she does." objects and other subjects, as requested. Those interested in dowsing or those with dowsing skills or problems are invited. The meeting is free, however, donations are accepted. Anyone wishing to make a presentation should call 895- 3488. -00 Club news is published free in Wednesday's Life section.

Send information, with daytime phone number, to: Club news, Herald Review, 601 E. William Decatur, IL 62523, fax 421-7965 or email bfall OBITUARIES Grubb CHARLESTON Peter M. Grubb, 89, Charleston, died Monday (Aug. 13, 2012). Arrangements incomplete: Bishop Funeral Home, Greenup.

Schwab MATTOON Leonard Schwab, 83, Mattoon, formerly of Decatur, died Saturday (Aug. 11, 2012). Private graveside services: Friends Creek Cemetery, Argenta. Arrangements by: Moran Goebel Funeral Home. Send condolences: www.moranandgoebel.com.

Plunkett GREENVILLE Laura Slatton Zeller Plunkett, 51, Mettlerville, died Monday (Aug. 13, 2012). Arrangements incomplete: Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home, Greenville. Porter SHELBYVILLE Carl W. Porter, 85, Shelbyville, died Tuesday (Aug.

14, 2012). Arrangements incomplete: Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville. BIRTHS Earl Freeman "I got all this music by osmosis," Freeman told the Tribune. He played saxophone with Gene "Jug" Ammons at DuSable High School. After a stint in the Navy during World War II, Freeman returned to Chicago and played with his brothers in the house band at the Pershing Hotel Ballroom, which was frequented by jazz musicians such as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.

Until recently, Freeman regularly performed Tuesdays at a South Side club in Chicago. He was awarded the Rosenberger Medal in 2010 by the University of Chicago in recognition of his talent, and the National Endowment of the Arts named him a jazz master earlier this year. Decatur Memorial PAYNE, Maurice Andre and Beth (Scherer), Decatur, girl, Aug. 12. DUDLEY, Brittany, Decatur, girl, Aug.

13. WILSON, Zachery Allen and Lauren Spellman, Decatur, girl, Aug. 14..