Looking Back for March 18: DeBuhr and Son Honored by Mattoon Association of Commerce | Lifestyles

MATTOON — A change to operating conditions on every division of the Big Four Railroad system, which includes the St. Louis division, is due to take effect Sunday at midnight. After this date, locomotives hauling passenger trains on the St. Louis Division will begin to run directly from Indianapolis to St. Louis. And vice versa, without changing Mattoon, as has always been the custom except for a brief period about 10 years ago. There will still be a change of crews at a stop in Mattoon, but the locomotives will remain attached to their trains. The change will have no effect on the train crews, but at the roundhouse, where the locomotives are maintained, the workforce will be reduced by 34 men from the 215 to 220 men currently employed in this service… PARIS – A public hearing took place is held yesterday in Paris to discuss the merits of the various proposed routes for Route 16, better known as the Big Four Trail. Governor Small and officers from the State Highway Department were present along with over 200 men from various locations along the Big Four Trail. Particular attention has been paid to this part of the route from Paris to Windsor. Three routes were discussed between Paris and Charleston: The Warrington Road, the route through Dudley and Grandview Road. Between Charleston and Mattoon, Fred Hudson of Charleston came out in favor of what is called the “northern route” between the two cities. LA Hedrick, speaking on behalf of the City of Mattoon, said the residents of Mattoon want the road to go through Mattoon and that route selection should be left to state engineers.

MATTOON – DeBuhr and Son Seed and Feed Store, 2001 Western Ave., has been chosen as the first company to be honored in the Mattoon Association of Commerce’s new “The A of C Salutes” program. The Association of Commerce founded the program to honor an outstanding local business each month. Herman and Henry deBuhr opened the business on March 1, 1913, at the current location. Both father and son were former farm and garden workers at the IOOF home. Current owner Bernie deBuhr joined the company in 1946 after graduating from Mattoon High School… MATTOON – During the current academic year, 189 Coles County students are enrolled at the University of Illinois and 19 other county residents are enrolled in correspondence courses. A total of 476 UI alumni reside in the county. This includes 11 doctors, five dentists, five pharmacists, 37 lawyers, two veterinarians, a nurse and an occupational therapist. UI staff residing in Coles County include Louis Christen, Ms. Patsy Luedke, Terry D. Atchison and Ms. Susan Greco… MATTOON – Ms. Helen Hill of Mattoon was awarded a lifetime membership in the PTA this week during the regular meeting of the Colombian PTA school. She received the certificate from the president of the Columbian School PTA, Roger Glass. The newly elected officers were Terry Strain, President; Ms. Don Griffin, vice-president; Charles Kramer, Treasurer; and Mrs. Stanley Wagoner, secretary.

MATTOON — Arthur-Lovington’s Staci Kingery was named the 1996-97 JG-TC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. Kingery led Arthur-Lovington to a 29-3 season record which also led to Lancers coach Dale Schuring being named coach of the year. Other members of the women’s all-zone team include Beth Bacon, Mattoon; Sarah Crimmins, Charleston; Lydia Benson, Arthur –Lovington, Emily Fathauer, Shelbyville; Jamie Fearday and Jesi Schumacher, both of Neoga; Sara Garver and Rachael Hibschman, both of Casey-Westfield; Katy Kendall, Sullivan; and Bridget Monahan, Arcola… MATTOON — The Mattoon United Way raised nearly $227,000 in 1996, surpassing its goal of $205,000, trustees learned at their quarterly meeting. Proceeds from United Way’s first golf outing and the highly successful auction helped push the campaign beyond its goal. Donations to Mattoon United Way help support 19 nonprofits that provide services to Mattoon-area residents… CHARLESTON – Unionized Trailmobile employees will vote this week on an incentive plan as part of the contract settlement of the last summer. Gary Collins, president of the United Paperworkers union, said the incentive plan is the latest part of the contract union members approved last summer to end a six-month lockout by the company. Collins said there were still about 100 union members who were still in layoff status. About 1,200 people worked at Trailmobile when the lockout began in January 1996 due to stalled contract talks.