Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 23

Page A3 -Central IllinoisCommunity- "A Decatur, Illinois, Monday, July 5, 1982 you have the most fan this July id Murphy and Wayne Pinnell and their clan weren't ready to take a back seat in the fun department to anyone, anywhere. Leave the sack races, ball games and Frisbees for the younger folk what these folks want is the shade and the chance to catch up on each other. "We're happy-go-lucky," Partlow, the "oldest boy" said. "We've got what we want." They, like the basketball playing group, said they chose the smaller City Park over Moore Park to avoid the crowds. Over the barbecued chicken, beef and noodles and "Boody Kohlrabi," as Wayne Pinnell described it, the family found out who's died, who's been born, who's moved and who's out of work.

This was the seventh annual reunion of the Partlow family at the park always set for the first Sunday in July. The count was about 30, one of the larger ones in recent years. "It's funny," said Walter Murphy of Areola, "Some people will come 400 miles to the reunion, and some who live three to five miles away aren't here." So, who had the most fun? These candidates here? The two bare-chested boys wrestling near the ball field? The young couple on the Ferris wheel? Or the people leisurely laying out lunch under the generous shade of the maple tree? Or was it the lake and they were shooting aerial bombs from the east side. "One of them that hadn't exploded fell just about as far from me as I am from that car there," he said, motioning to an auto not 8 feet away. "I was sitting in the second row, and it broke the leg of the boy sitting in the first row," he remembered.

"Then somebody was smart enough to kick it into the lake, because it hadn't gone off yet." Cole notes that the more things change, the more they stay the same, at least for Sullivan's July 4 "They've added a watermelon contest, the parade's bigger every year and the carnivalis larger" but the traditional blast of firecrackers were a reminder that the essentials of the Fourth stay put. In Mattoon, Brad Betty slowed down long enough to say that HE might have the most fun this Fourth. Fun for this 13-year-old is experiencing as much of the Peterson Park events with grandfather Alonzo Reardon as he could. "I've been around through the concession stands," Brad reported. His favorite game? Most likely the dunk tank he says he fired the balls at the target, but he looked as though he would have been better off being the one dunked.

He also took in the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans memorial in By DICK ZAKER Herald Review Staff Writer Who REALLY had the most fun this Fourth of July in Central Illinois? Well, there are lots of candidates. Take, for example, Ashley Dawn Duncan. This is only the second Fourth this eternal smiling machine has ever seen-. By midday, she was viewing Sullivan's Wyman Park from a variety of positions. First, she'd be looking down at it, then peeking from ground level, then peering down again.

Actually, the Shelbyville girl was it up, just within sight of the parade route. "She's really wound up now," father Larry Duncan said of this candidate for Most Fun. "She was over there at the concessions, loving the corndogs and caramel popcorn. -A little bit later, we'll take her over for the good food." Duncan predicted that Ashley would have to pack all of her fun in by 5 o'clock. That's usually nap time, but with activity buzzing all around her, Sunday may have been a different story.

We'll have to disqualify Wallace Cole from our contest. At least, it's hard to imagine he could beat the excitement of that first Fourth in his memory, half a century ago. "I wasn't even in school yet," the rural Sullivan farmer said. "We were over there, on the west side of the park before noon. "Gotta go," he said tersely.

"I'm gonna get ready for the fireworks tonight." Clearly, his fun was not done. Ray Murphy said he had the best time of it in Areola, anyway. Murphy, of Garrett, was playing the basketball game of "Horse" with his wife, and brother-in-law, Robert Humphrey of Areola. At the same time, he was gloating over the sweet revenge he won over sister-in-law Audrey Humphrey. Earlier in the day, it seems that he poured some ice cubes down Mrs.

Humphrey's blouse, "and made sure they got down into my shorts," she added. While Murphy continued to chuckle over this accomplishment, Mrs. Humphrey explained the background. "A couple of years ago, we had them over to our house for dinner, and he had the nerve to criticize my cooking. Well, it's OK if he-knocks the cooking in his house, but not at mine.

"So, we happened to have some Redi-Whip topping at the table, so he got it right in the neck," she said. Mrs. Humphrey also suggested that the last shot in this mini-war had not yet been fired Sunday. "There's a big pool of water' over there she warned her brother-in-law. Just across Areola's City Park, the Partlow family reunion was taking place.

Sylvester Partlow, Walter Photo by Dick Zaker Larry Duncan pushes Ashley Dawn. ecaiur By CURT HENDRICKS Herald Review Staff Writer With temperatures in the 90s, Harold McMillan was digging holes in the ground Sunday afternoon. Into the holes. McMillan and his partners placed steel pipes pointing into the air at an angle. After sundown, when Nelson Park was filled to bursting with people, the pipes were where McMillan, his brother Gerald and several others launched the Decatur Jaycees fireworks.

"It's just incredible," McMillan said. "You can see people lined up all along Lake Shore Drive and cars stopped on Lost Bridge Road waiting for the fireworks to start." Steve Payton, chairman of the Jaycees" Fourth of July project, claimed this fireworks display would be the largest in Central Illinois. It contained several hundred separate shells, including 255 in the finale alone. Total cost: $6,500. The largest shell measured 10 inches.

When it blew up over Lake Decatur, its colorful sparks spread for 600 feet across the sky, McMillan said. The shells were from China, Japan and the United States. McMillan said the Orientals' shells are more colorful. He noted that they've been making fireworks longer than anyone else. The Americans are Sandy Ammons, Argenta, took a splash in dunk tank.

Argenta celebration varied Kids find arts on the Fourth Take that and that! By RON TAYLOR Herald Review Staff Writer ARGENTA Sunday's humidity and heat did not wilt the enthusiasm of young children for Fourth of July activities in this Macon County village. Gathered in the shade in front of Argenta-Oreana High School, children from 3 to 10 years old were participating in the community's fourth "Arts Under the Trees" program. While the Rev. Bill Keagle and his wife, Barbara, painted the faces of some of the children, jugglers from Champaign showed others how to juggle. Another group of youngsters was busy working with wood and glue, and a fourth group was discovering the fun of making leaf impressions in clay.

Rainbows, flowers and butter aycees works gradually becoming more creative with their fireworks, he said. "We budget to lose money on the fireworks," Payton said, explaining the Jaycees make up the loss with various projects throughout the year. The rest of the Fourth's activities, including the concessions and bingo, are budgeted to break Last year, when it rained, the Jaycees did not break even. "We lost $9,000," he said. It was not raining Sunday afternoon, but Payton conceded the heat and humidity were keeping people away.

"It'll pick up later," he said. "People are just waiting for it to cool off." Still, the heat had its advantages. Dan Hanfland. chairman of concessions, said soft drinks were selling like crazy. So were slices of chilled watermelon.

Many families picnicked on the hills next to the lake. The crowd could listen to live music or watch puppet shows and dance routines. Other activities included a dunking booth and a car smash. Payton said about 40 Jaycees have spent several hours a week since March planning the Fourth of July project. "You might point out that while everyone else is out here having fun, we're out here working," he said.

"That's a very good question." Flynn said. "I think the kids get a charge out of being able to tear something up." Same with adults, he added. "It feels good." said Tommy Hise. 10. Why does it feel good? "Well ah I like beating up on stuff," he said.

Not all the car-smashers were that young. Roger Arney, 22, who works in an automobile body shop, said, "I like to tear the heck out of a car and not have to fix it." Flynn said the cars were donated to the Jaycees, and he speculated they would be sold as scrap when everyone was through beating on them. gir! 1.11 Ksi asii JERSEY COUNTY A Decatur child was killed and several others were injured in a two-car accident at about about 11:25 p.m. Saturday on Mississipi River Road. Dead is 7-monthrold Melissa A.

Carter of 3325 Rob Lee Lane. According to Illinois State Police, Glen E. Carter, 25, of 3325 Rob Lee Lane was eastbound when his vehicle was struck head-on by one driven by John H. Mendenhall 26, of Godfrey. According to police, Mendenhall was traveling west in the eastbound lane at a high rate of speed.

Carter and Mendenhall were listed in satisfactory condition at St. Joseph Hospital in Alton. Percy in Shelbyville today SHELBYVILLE U.S. Sen. Charles Percyt will talk with area residents today at a "town meeting" in the Shelby Electric Cooperative Building, on the north edge of Shelbyville along Illinois 128.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Area woman killed by car RAMSEY A woman was killed about 9:30 a.m. Saturday on U.S. 51 when she stepped into the path of a car. According to the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, Laura Hill died in Pana Community Hospital.

The identity of the driver is unknown. Terry Stephens, Cisco, other activities, said Beatrice Davenport, a member of the tion association. The purpose is to kindle the flame of imagination and foster an understanding of the arts in the children, she added. This year, the children's activities were joined by the finale of the community's Summer Session for the arts. Each year, the arts council and education association offer a month of study for middle school children in an area of the arts.

This year, they worked on drama and folk arts. Photos by Doug Gaumon takes aim to dunk Sandy. Sunday, while the folk arts were on display nearby, the drama students were in the high school preparing to perform a play. Behind the high school, adults who sweltered under the 92-degree July sun preparing for the evening's activities said they expected the village's residents to begin showing up shortly after "the play. Dale Miller, president of the Argenta-Oreana Civic Club, said a beef and pork dinner was scheduled at 5 p.m.

following the play, along with square dancing, a cake walk, youth games and the traditional Fourth of July fireworks. Coles County memorial honors 17 Vietnam vets flies were the favorite designs of the children getting their faces painted, said Keagle as he arched yellow beneath the red of a rainbow. "Because you get to play in clay and things like that, that you don't get to do every day," 10-year-old Susie Keagle said when asked why she was there. It is something different, 11-year-old Diane Hartsock explained. Her cheeks colorfully decorated with a heart and a butterfly, Diane said the annual program offers a break from the usual summer fare.

Sponsored by the Argenta-Oreana Education Association and the Decatur Area Arts Council, the activities are planned for the Fourth of July each year to give the younger children something to do while the adults are busy with 'The upright 'V symbolizes our pride! Pride in being a vet, or the pride you feel for your veteran. The in-' verted 'V symbolizes our frustration! Frustration about our treatment at home. The cross itself symbolizes our sacrifice! Sacrifice that doesn't seem to "Vietnam Veterans' Cross" is displayed and explained: "The upright 'V symbolizes our pride! Pride in being a vet, or the pride you feel for your veteran. The inverted 'V symbolizes our frustration! Frustration about our treatment at The cross itself symbolizes our sacrifice! Sacrifice that doesn't seem to end. All three of these deep, personal feelings are what Vietnam represents to us." Just below, you see a bald eagle, proudly gripping the American flag.

And below that are the concluding words, "For those who fought for it freedom is something the protected will never know." Children with sledgehammers beat them to death Sunday afternoon at Nelson Park. The victims' were a Chevrolet Caprice and a Fiat Spider, both dating from the late 1960s. People could plop down 50 cents, grab a sledgehammer and smash both cars for as long as they wanted. "We weren't doing too good at three hits for 50 cents," said T.R. Flynn, who watched over the activity.

He said he then started telling children they could swing for as long as they wanted. "One kid stayed in for a half hour. He had a little more umph than we thought," Flynn said. But why, when an economy car costs about $7,000, would anyone want to smash up two still good, though slightly deteriorated, cars? Photo by Dick Zaker War veterans. By DICK ZAKER Herald Review Staff Writer MATTOON As Broadway runs out of downtown Mattoon into Peterson Park, you see it.

Simple, yet stately, it's tucked under a flagpole, with a yellow bench at its right hand. It stands just about 6 feet high, this black granite tribute "For those who fought and died in Vietnam." The monument was dedicated in the late morning of this July 4, reinforcing the vital connection between the. ultimate sacrifices of these Coles County veterans and the independence they helped defend. The names and the honor of 17 veterans are etched into the stone. One, Army veteran James Larry Phipps, is listed as missing in action.

Others listed are Marines Nelson Earl Van Gundy, Philip Henry Rathe, Gary Don Shields, Benny Lee Butler, Robert Joe Overmyer, Dale Earl Shumbarger, Michael Keith Friese, Joseph Robert Pierce and Donnie Joe Clough. These Army veterans are listed: Stanley Robert Terry William Shoot, Robert Gene Hoop, August Emil Czerwonka. Michael Paul Simpson, Lowell Williams and George Ray Morrison. This was a project of Mattoon VFW Post 4325. The rear of the memorial is no less impressive than the front.

The In Mattoon, memorial in black granite honors Vietnam.