The Second Annual Pig Parade Contest Winners
Second Chance For Pet Adoptions Uses Apple and Pork To Raise Awareness
While many groups were out fundraising this past weekend, one group was both fundraising and awareness-raising.
Second Chance Pet Adoptions of DeWitt was both fundraising, but primarily trying to raise awareness for their group and the animals they have. Heather Wantland with the group explains they are a non for profit that will focus on getting pets adopted from owner relinquish and animals in kill shelters. She says the numbers of animals they have continues to grow, mainly due to the tough economic times.
The Apple and Pork Festival not only serves as a great awareness raising opportunity for Second Chance, but also they were able to raise some funds. Saturday and Sunday Wantland says they had t-shirts, magnets, and even homemade dog treats for sale.
Second Chance had adoption applications available all weekend for those who came by interested in adopting. Wantland explains there is quite an extensive process to adopt. She says they want to make sure the dog is going to go into a good home, with a good situation.
The primary purpose for funds raised over the weekend will go towards vet care costs for their animals. Wantland says that makes up the majority of the costs they have.
Those who attended the Apple and Pork Festival may have noticed dogs walking around with orange vests on. Those were pets currently in Second Chance's foster care system.
To learn more about adopting a pet or becoming a foster care partner, you can contact Second Chance for Pets by phone at 217-935-3488. You can visit their website at secondchanceforpets.com. Or you can email them at
secondchanceforpets@yahoo.com.
2012 Apple and Pork Festival Huge Success
Records were set for the 44th annual Apple and Pork Festival this weekend.
Over 100-thousand people made their way to the Clinton community for the annual event held the final weekend of each September. Clinton Police Chief Mike Reidy explains most of the people came out Saturday, but Sunday sent the number into the hundreds of thousands.
Many, many volunteers and countless hours go into making this weekend a success in Clinton. One such person that has a hand in the happenings is City Administrator for Clinton, Tim Followell. He feels the Apple and Pork Festival plays a huge role for the city. He feels the city does a great job of showcasing itself.
Maybe the most influential person in making the Apple and Pork a yearly success is Manager of the CH Moore Homestead, Larry Buss. Buss is very pleased with the 44th Apple and Pork event. Buss feels the tradition of the Apple and Pork is what keeps it going.
Buss thanks those who have dedicated themselves to making the Apple and Pork Festival a continued success. He says their Board members each and every year realize the importance of the festival to them and he thanks them for their continued efforts.
Many vendors on the grounds of the CH Moore Homestead were sold out of their food by 3 pm and many more shortly there after. For many non for profit groups on the grounds of the Homestead, the Apple and Pork festival is their biggest fundraiser, if not their only fundraiser of the year.
Over the next several weeks, you will hear some of the sounds and stories from the 2012 Apple and Pork festival from the dozens of interviews done by Regional Radio over the 2-day event.
Clinton YMCA Booth To Accomodate Dieters & Allergy Stricken Eaters
If a gluten-free diet has restricted your eating habits at the Apple and Pork Festival in years past, this year one group would like to help change that.
The Clinton YMCA is known for their pork cutlet sandwiches they serve at the Apple and Pork Festival each year. Jann Martin, Executive Director of the "Y" says she sympathizes with those who may have diet restrictions as a result of allergies, so this year she would like to try and serve gluten-free pork cutlet sandwiches.
Each year the YMCA has their booth out in front of the Homestead, right off of Woodlawn Avenue. Martin says the weekend is a total team effort that just about everyone at the "Y" gets involved in and it is a great weekend for them to raise funds.
According to Martin, in a good Apple and Pork year, the "Y" can raise around $9-thousand. She explains while that is a good amount for them, 20% of the funds go to the Homestead, and Martin says, they support the Homestead and she doesn't see them moving off the grounds to avoid giving that 20% back to them.
Martin adds they are located next to the Boy Scouts on the west side of the sidewalk as you walk onto the Homestead grounds.
For those new to the Apple and Pork festival, there are dozens of choices of food, which are all served by DeWitt County's non-profit groups. Funnel cakes, apple cake, lemon shake ups, apple sheet Danish, and Kettle Korn are just some of the dozens of foods that highlight a weekend full of eating and entertainment.
For a list of the entertainment and food vendors, click the Apple and Pork icon at dewittdailynews.com. Or for other stories over the past month highlighting the Apple and Pork weekend, you can visit dewittdailynews.com.
Apple and Pork To Feature New Things
If you're making your way to the Apple and Pork festival this weekend, there will be a few new feature act for adults and kids, and also a new kids attraction.
A Springfield man will make the trip to Clinton for this year and showcase his abilities with a whip. Larry Buss, Resident Manager of the CH Moore Homestead explains "The Whip Guy" was on America's Got Talent and does some incredible things with the whip.
According to Buss, the same family will have an old time train car on hand for the kids to push around. The 'Gandy Dancer' is the person on the car that pushes it up and down the tracks, and kids can what it was like to operate one of those.
The Whip Guy will only be around the grounds on Sunday, and Buss says he will put on a great show for those who make their way out this year.
You can hear live coverage throughout the weekend from the Apple and Pork Festival on the Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW, and also 3-minute updates on 95.9 FM WEZC. The Apple and Pork Festival is this Saturday and Sunday in Clinton.
Clinton Police Department Readies For Busy Apple and Pork Weekend
The busiest weekend of the year in Clinton, means the busiest weekend for the Clinton Police Department.
As tens-of-thousands will make their way to the city of Clinton this weekend, the traffic around the area will definitely increase. Clinton Police Chief Mike Reidy says of the many problems a small community could face with that many people coming to a town, their biggest issue is traffic.
Something new officials tried last year was the closing of Center Street to allow for the tractor's providing transportation to move easier. Chief Reidy felt that was a move that paid off and he says they will do it once again this year.
Through the course of the weekend, extra officers will be out and about to patrol what will be busy streets of Clinton. Chief Reidy feels it is worth it to make sure an event like Apple and Pork can be successful. He notes this is a huge event for the community and it's organizations and groups.
Chief Reidy says in the many years he's been around the festival, he can't remember the last time there was bad weather for the weekend, and he hopes that trend continues. Center Street will be closed off early Saturday and Sunday from 6 am to 6 pm.
CPD To Collect Unused Drugs Saturday of Apple and Pork
Got expired medications? Bring 'em to Apple and Pork.
The Clinton Police Department will be collecting any unused prescription drugs to make sure they get disposed of properly. Clinton Police Chief Mike Reidy says many times prescription drugs are not disposed of properly, which can have devastating effects on the water systems from which thousands draw for drinking water.
Clinton Mayor Carolyn Peters encourages anyone coming into town to take advantage of this opportunity. The police department will be out collecting those unused drugs Saturday of Apple and Pork. She also notes this is not the only time to take advantage of the collection, as the department has this available year round in their lobby.
This is a good opportunity for anyone coming from outside the area who may not have a program like this in their town to see to it old, expired, or unused drugs get disposed of properly.
In late April of this year, the Police Department collected over 400-pounds of drugs.
Those wishing to take advantage of the program from outside of Clinton, the Clinton Police Station is at the corner of Washington and Quincy, one block off of Center Street.
Driving there on Saturday also may be challenge.
Clinton 4-H Looking Forward To Apple and Pork Festival
If you're making your way to the Apple and Pork Festival this year, one stop many people make is the 4-H stand at the fairgrounds.
Each year the 4-H stand is home to ice cream, sandwiches and cool beverages and once again this year they will have the same offerings. Youth Educator with the University of Illinois Extension Office Sherry Fulton says each year clubs volunteer to come out and serve at the festival.
Fulton explains each year, this is one of the biggest fundraisers 4-H has and it goes a long ways to maintaining the fairgrounds, which is done by volunteer help, and also the proceeds towards the 4-H Federation.
The 4-H Federation provides financial aid opportunities for young 4-H members to attend various camps through the year.
The Apple and Pork Festival this year is September 29th and 30th.
Apple and Pork Entertainment Line Up Set
People from across Illinois will converge on Clinton at the end of September for the annual Apple and Pork Festival.
While the festival features lots of traditional food and drink, arts and crafts, the entertainment of the festival is sure to keep the atmosphere of the event lively. Resident Manager of the DeWitt County Museum Larry Buss says the lineup for this year's entertainment is lined up and there's a lot of returning acts along with some new faces. Once again this year, the Clinton High School band kicks things off Saturday morning and a full lineup is on tap through the show for Saturday.
Sunday's lineup should be good as well. Buss says they were able to book a good group from the Chicago area called "The Rick Lindy And the Wild Ones". Buss notes they should put on a great show, and he notes there is entertainment scheduled for the whole day.
The Apple and Pork Festival for 2012 is set for Saturday and Sunday September 29 and 30. For the full lineup of entertainment or a site map of all the vendors for this year's festival, you can visit www.chmoorehomestead.org/apple-pork.
Organizers Readying For Apple and Pork Festival 2012
The largest event in DeWitt County is about a month away and final plans are being made.
The Apple and Pork Festival this year is slated for the final weekend in September. Resident Manager of the CH Moore Homestead, Larry Buss says they are still in need of volunteers. He says the more volunteers they have the better. He says it is not a time consuming matter either.
Along with not being a large time commitment, there are a multitude of opportunities to help out with. Buss says they offer anything from being a host in the CH Moore Homestead, to helping in the Museum's food booths, or just doing odd jobs around the festival.
Buss says the weekend before in preparing the site, they will be in great need of volunteers. He explains many times potential volunteers are helping with a group for the weekend or have other commitments, he says they have a lot of things to be done the weekend prior to the festival.
The Apple and Pork Festival for 2012 is September 29 and 30. To find out more about the volunteer opportunities for the festival or to find out more information about the 2012 Apple and Pork Festival, you can visit their website, www.chmoorehomestead.org/apple-pork. You can also call the Homestead at 935-6066, or you can email Buss at chmoore123@yahoo.com.
CLINTON APPLE AND PORK FESTIVAL SCHEDULE 2012
Saturday Sept. 29, 2012
9:30 am - Clinton High School Band
10: 45 am - Tracy Farmer
11:00 am - Stompin' Ground
12:45 pm - Tracy & Dennis Farmer
1: 00 pm - Vee's Group
2:45 pm - Tracy Farmer
3:00 pm - Close - Jesse and the South Sunday Sept. 30, 2012
9:30 am - CMC (Church Band)
10:45 am - Jesse Bugg
11:00 am- Prairie Country Classic Show
12:00 - Jesse Bugg
12:15 pm - Rick Lindy & Wild Ones
2:15 pm - Jesse - Tracy & Dennis
2:45 pm - to close -The Templeton Family Band
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