The Fernandez sisters — Ellie, 10 (left) and Aiva, 9, of Breese — tread water during their visit to the Breese City Pool on July 4. (Photo by Bryan Hunt) The smell of sunscreen and the splash of water means one thing — it’s swimming season.
That season began a bit late, but started nonetheless for the staff of the Breese City Pool, which opened this past Saturday afternoon, after over a month’s delay, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
City leaders had been waiting for the right time to open the aquatic attraction, and saw the July 4 weekend, and the state’s progression to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan on June 26, as the perfect opportunity.
Area municipal pools usually open for their seasons on the Memorial Day weekend.
But the Breese City Council kept an eye on the state’s medical situation, with regard to the pandemic.
Taking their guidance from the Clinton County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health, the council held out hope the pool would open this summer.
On Saturday, pool fans got their wish.
The pool is open in three sessions: noon to 2 p.m., 2:45 to 4:45 p.m., and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pool staff will conduct cleaning of the facility between each session.
All hours are subject to the weather.
Patrons of Dairy King’s Breese restaurant enjoy outdoor dining on a mid-June afternoon. Inset: Owners Brad and Michele Maue are marking 25 years of owning the business. What "cool" events happened in 1995?
Microsoft Windows 95 was launched, "Batman Forever" was the top movie, and Brad and Michele Maue purchased a local ice cream shop in Breese.
The Maues are celebrating 25 years with Dairy King. On July 1, 1995, the Maues bought the little burger, fry, soda and ice cream shop.
The Maues thanked everyone who has been instrumental in the 25 years they have owned Dairy King, including customers, and employees, past and present.
"We are grateful for all 1,017 employees who have worked for us over the years," said Michele Maue. "We have so many friendships as a result."
Fun fact: over half of the employees worked for Dairy King for over three years.
"We are thankful for our customers and we do appreciate every time a customer comes back or someone suggests Dairy King to their friends and family over the years," said Maue.
A history of Dairy King
Dairy King started in the back room behind the Kozy Korner building (now Four Yoga & Fitness) in 1951. Frieda and Orville Von Alst decided Breese needed a place to serve ice cream which has always been a tradition. There was an old soda factory building owned by Charlie Dorries at the corner of Old Route 50 (Fourth Street) and Walnut, they started to build the original building in 1954, which opened in April 15, 1955.
Logan Kohrmann (Photo courtesy of McKendree University) In Bartelso, Illinois, you can look for another family more athletic or with more overall athletic talent than the Kohrmann family. But, you are not likely to find them.
How good are they? All five — father, mother, two daughters and a son — played a sport in college, for at least two years. At least four of them, two daughters and the parents continued to stay involved in the sports they loved as a coach after their playing experience was over. It is unclear if the baby of the family, Logan Kohrmann, a Breese Central graduate, will get an opportunity to coach basketball.
What is clear is the youngest of the children of Glenn “Big Arm” and Gigi Kohrmann recently finished a career, which took place at three different colleges, that could not be described as anything, but successful. Not only for the Class of 2020 graduate of McKendree University on the basketball court, but in the classroom as well.
“I learned so much from my family members,” said Logan Kohrmann. “Without my parents, none of this would be possible. My oldest sister (Shelby) showed me confidence from the way she played and my older sister (Torre) reminded me that defense is still a huge part of the game of basketball.”
Like the end of his high school career as a Central Cougar, when he garnered all-state status and helped them finish third in the Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Championships, his last year of college basketball was his best year of college basketball.
In his final year with the Bearcats, Kohrmann, who played in, and made 28 starts, averaged a team-leading 20.4 points per game. He averaged 35.4 minutes per game, also a team-high, and was one of two players to average in double figures. His 570 points was team-high by 253 points. He also had 150 rebounds, an average of 5.4 per game, 88 assists, 30 steals and 10 blocked shots. Kohrmann was second on the team in both assists and steals.
| Fri., July 3 | 446.66 |
| Sun., July 5 | 446.54 |
| Tues., July 7 | 446.30 |
| July 1 | .90" |
| July 2 | .82" |
| July 3 | .00" |
| July 4 | .00" |
| July 5 | .00" |
| July 6 | .00" |
| July 7 | .01" |
