Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
2 Geode Fests possible next year
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
HAMILTON, Ill. - The geode tourism business could become a gold mine for Hamilton and the Tri-State Area.
“We are going to have quite a year,” said Hamilton Mayor Stephen Woodruff Monday. “We'll need volunteers for (Bald Eagle Appreciation Days) Eagle Days and we are considering two Geode Fests this year.”
Woodruff said the most recent Geode Fest attracted more than 400 people and tour groups are making inquiries for rockhound opportunities.
Woodruff and Mike Shumate, president of the Worthen Earth Searchers in Hamilton, have been discussing the possibility of having two events. Shumate said people from 16 states and Canada participated this fall.
Since the Geode Fest in September, a group of rockhounds from Indiana has asked to come in the spring of 2009. A group from North Carolina also is interested in busing north to find Mississippi River geodes.
If another event is created, it would be a spring time hunt for rockhounds coming in by charter bus.
“The big thing is the concern of not having enough geode sites available,” Shumate said. “There's geodes everywhere, but for some reason, people don't want to let people hunt them.”
The Geode Fest this September brought participating landowners an average profit of $1,500 to $1,800 for allowing the five guided hunts in three days, Shumate said.
This year is the first time the Geode Fest was held in Hamilton. The three previous events were in Keokuk, but there are no geode sites available in Lee County so the event moved.
Woodruff and Building and Grounds Committee Chairman Bill Johnson also reported that progress continues at the new Hamilton Community and Senior Center.
When the community would not support building a new community and senior center at the site of the old ambulance service property on North 18th Street, the city council decided to lease the Elm Street side of the former elementary school for a handicap accessible center.
The center is located in a newer addition to the old school and also houses the American Legion office.
That part of the building was remodeled into a center complete with a seniors' dining room, full kitchen, large community room, pool room and several other areas yet to be designated.
With the help of building owner Jerry Lanning and his son, Woodruff and Johnson recently finished moving the heavy items from the old location on Broadway to the new center on Elm Street.
A few details, such as adequate space for silverware and more electrical plug-in areas, are still in the works, but on the whole, the project is complete.
“I'm really content with the way it's looking,” Woodruff said. “Jerry's been really good to work with.”
A Hancock County BizLink Breakfast meeting was held at the center in September.
Council members decided Monday to establish new fees for rental of the new community center: the community room plus kitchen is $25 per hour for a three-hour minimum or $125 for a full day; and the senior dining room is $75 for a full day (except when being used by senior citizens).
“We are going to have quite a year,” said Hamilton Mayor Stephen Woodruff Monday. “We'll need volunteers for (Bald Eagle Appreciation Days) Eagle Days and we are considering two Geode Fests this year.”
Woodruff said the most recent Geode Fest attracted more than 400 people and tour groups are making inquiries for rockhound opportunities.
Woodruff and Mike Shumate, president of the Worthen Earth Searchers in Hamilton, have been discussing the possibility of having two events. Shumate said people from 16 states and Canada participated this fall.
Since the Geode Fest in September, a group of rockhounds from Indiana has asked to come in the spring of 2009. A group from North Carolina also is interested in busing north to find Mississippi River geodes.
If another event is created, it would be a spring time hunt for rockhounds coming in by charter bus.
ADVERTISEMENT |
The Geode Fest this September brought participating landowners an average profit of $1,500 to $1,800 for allowing the five guided hunts in three days, Shumate said.
This year is the first time the Geode Fest was held in Hamilton. The three previous events were in Keokuk, but there are no geode sites available in Lee County so the event moved.
Woodruff and Building and Grounds Committee Chairman Bill Johnson also reported that progress continues at the new Hamilton Community and Senior Center.
When the community would not support building a new community and senior center at the site of the old ambulance service property on North 18th Street, the city council decided to lease the Elm Street side of the former elementary school for a handicap accessible center.
The center is located in a newer addition to the old school and also houses the American Legion office.
That part of the building was remodeled into a center complete with a seniors' dining room, full kitchen, large community room, pool room and several other areas yet to be designated.
With the help of building owner Jerry Lanning and his son, Woodruff and Johnson recently finished moving the heavy items from the old location on Broadway to the new center on Elm Street.
A few details, such as adequate space for silverware and more electrical plug-in areas, are still in the works, but on the whole, the project is complete.
“I'm really content with the way it's looking,” Woodruff said. “Jerry's been really good to work with.”
A Hancock County BizLink Breakfast meeting was held at the center in September.
Council members decided Monday to establish new fees for rental of the new community center: the community room plus kitchen is $25 per hour for a three-hour minimum or $125 for a full day; and the senior dining room is $75 for a full day (except when being used by senior citizens).
 |
 |
|
| Trane says Midwest Academy isn't closing | Woman faces first-degree theft charge relating to theft from her employer |
Reader Comments
| Please log in or create an account by filling out the form on the right. | |
