Location(s)

What you choose to do between Spring Valley and Rushford is up to you, but the drive through southeastern Minnesota’s bluff country can take a weekend to complete. The Root River State Trail links 41 miles of land between Fillmore and Houston counties and runs alongside State Highway 16, one of the best drives in the state.

Yet aside from scenery and outdoor recreation, the area boasts of some of the best historic preservation efforts around, with old courthouses, laundries, village halls and churches now housing museums, antique shops and restaurants.

Highway 16 links about a dozen towns that, together, have more charm than any other region in the state. A magnificent trout stream meanders along one of the prettiest drives in Minnesota, cutting through bluffs thick with vegetation and limestone palisades.

Traces of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the founder of Sears, Roebuck & Co. and the possible inventor if the stapler can all be found in the 124-year-old Spring Valley Methodist Church. Almanzo and Laura attended church there in 1890-91. The museum’s two floors of exhibits include a Wilder photo display, Richard Sears exhibit, what was believed to be an electric cure for arthritis, chicken catcher and human hair wreaths from 1900. Yes, human hair.

Across the street, the Washburn-Zittleman House Museum is a 10-room, two-story house built in 1865. It features a parlor, sunken bedroom and costume room. It’s part of the city’s museum complex of four restored buildings.

Tiny Wykoff has little to see or do, but the former city jail has become the historic Wykoff Jail Haus Bed and Breakfast, a diminutive brick structure north of town. It includes an antenna for better TV reception – just like today’s real prisoners.

He was the town’s self-appointed collector of Wykoff memorabilia. Ed Krueger developed the Jack Sprat grocery store in 1933. Stop by Ed’s Museum and Living Quarters on the way out of town.

Visitors to Wykoff see history alive – much like they do in the other towns from Spring Valley to Rushford. It’s where Main Street hasn’t moved to the suburbs, and the grocer, post office and bank are all within a few locks of each other. There the scene is set for the remainder of the tour. In those parts, locals have made it their livelihood to preserve the culture and architecture of the past.

In Fillmore County, it’s not just the descendants of the area’s gunslingers who are familiar with the belly of the local jails.

For some, crime does pay.

Tourists who have never been bold enough to inhabit the austere confines of the big house can volunteer for a night of pampered incarceration at Preston’s Jail House Inn, built circa 1869. Twelve rooms in the restored former county courthouse and jail serve all sorts of tastes including those who really want to feel what it was like inside a jail. The “cell block” room is the original and can sleep four. It’s even got the original toilet and bars.

Have a mocha cappuccino at the Brickhouse in Main, a pre-Civil War building that is the former home of a Chinese laundry, and visit the restored Railway Depot Museum.

One of the area’s dozens of antique shops, The Red Bench occupies the building of one of Preston’s four former banks. Built in 1889, the building now houses the shop’s owners upstairs and their collection downstairs. The vault is original.

Just outside of Preston, at the junction of Highways 16 and 52, Amish buggies often park on the gravel turnoff, and homemade food and crafts make for a good deal. There $5.50 gets a passing visitor a loaf of warm wheat bread, a half dozen oatmeal cookies and a jar of cherry jelly.

It’s called the “heart of bluff country,” but Lanesboro is really the entrance to southeastern Minnesota’s valleys of lush bluffs and limestone cliffs. Lanesboro is Minnesota’s Moab. And like the southern Utah biking Mecca, the town of 868 teems with outfitters, cafes, art galleries and specialty shops.

Despite the hefty dose of tourism, though, small-town U.S.A. lives on. On a recent visit, we spotted a makeshift sign in a doorway that read: “Went to bank. Be back in a jiff.” There aren’t too many places around that boast an entire business district that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. Plaques marking the designation are everywhere along Highway 16.

Look for knick-knacks at Ye Olde Back Room Gift Shoppe, or feast on New Zealand lamb chops and sautéed shrimp at the Old Village Hall Restaurant and Pub. Built in 1886, it still serves the people of Lanesboro, just in a different sort of way.

The Root River brushes Highway 16 near Whalan as it snakes through the valleys awash in cornfields and telephone poles.

In sleepy Whalan, Randy and Lynette Whalen (just a coincidence) bake more than 150 pies a week at the Whalen Inn, which has been serving what it boasts as the “world famous” homemade pies for 10 years. Cross the street and walk up the cobblestone sidewalk to Monique’s Antiques. Nearby, a wooden street sign directs locals down Main Street toward the town’s other avenues named Oak and New streets.

While it’s not the final stop on the highway (Houston and Hokah lie between it and La Crescent), Rushford is a fitting place to complete the tour. A variety of Victorian architectural models has been preserved along with the 1913 jailhouse, 1867 rail depot and the early 20th-century schoolhouse.

But it’s not just the historic preservation in this town of 2,000 that is the draw. The Friday night fish fry – that enduring midwestern tradition – is alive and well. In the span of one block, three restaurants – Stumpy’s, KC’s Norske Diner and the Mill Street Inn – all pack in locals and tourists alike with their weekly offerings of broiled and battered fish.

At the Mill Street Inn, antique tricycles and Victorian lamps hang from the rafters; the remainder of the spacious restaurant is occupied by a set of steer horns, moose head, Betty Boop thermometer, fully dressed turkey, neon lights, cash registers, a barber shop pole and various other miscellany of Americana spanning a century.

There, Erma and Don MacKenzie have converted the upper floor into a living area and decorated the former hardware store extensively since they purchased the building in 1999. The 130-year-old building served Rushford’s residents until 1985, when it was converted to a restaurant, beginning a long run as one of dozens of buildings in the area that has outlived its initial use.

Along Highway 16, that’s pretty common.

Every year just before Lent begins a faded movie replays in my memory, a movie that’s been on repeat like a thousand episodes of “Law & Order” during a TNT marathon. There’s a distinct scene in which I'm sitting on a bench at a long table at one of the area VFWs (or was it the American Legion?) with my family some time in the late ‘70s.

I recall a big metal drum either full of beer or loaded with freshly fried whitefish. Either way, the scene – and all the sensory recollections that accompany it, including the cacophony of a hundred happy conversations and the blur of old men and little children and new friends – continue to replay to this day.

Catholicism is so deeply rooted in the area that non-South Siders don’t believe me when I tell them that we introduce each other as members of the local parish (St. Cajetan, St. Christina, St. Barnabas) rather what neighborhood we're from (Morgan Park, Mount Greenwood, Beverly). You are, after all, defined by your parish.

And what’s always gone hand-in-hand with Lenten Fridays is the trusted old fish fry. That night back in the late ‘70s was my first, and I remember it well.

I recall long tables, friendly strangers, cigarette smoke, the smell of beer and grease. And I remember feeling right at home.

And that tradition of the Lenten fish fry thrives to this day throughout the area, where countless mom-and-pop operations and local churches offer great deals on delicious all-you-can-stuff-yourself-with juicy battered cod and perch and pollock, homemade cole slaw, steamin’ hot baked beans, crunchy french fries and a cold, refreshing brew.

Although most restaurants and bars graduated from perch to cod several years ago, the parish basement affairs tend to stick to the basics. For example the popular St. Christina fish fry, which serves hundreds of Mount Greenwood families each week during Lent, is in its 15th year, but dozens of volunteers spend every Friday during the penitential season still serve up the old standby – perch – alongside spaghetti and grilled cheese.

In true South Side, get-to-the-point fashion, the fish fry remains a hardy tradition – but one whose origins are rarely discussed. Some say it stems from the Catholic custom of abstaining from meat on Fridays, but these days diners of various denominations pack local restaurants and bars and American Legion halls for a cheap end-of-the-week supper during the cold, dark days of late winter. Some of the more popular fish fries turn over customers four or five times a night every Friday.

Many of them retain their signature carnival-like atmosphere – noisy, crowded and a feast for the senses. And that’s the way we like it.

So as we approach the midway point of Lent, let’s agree that as long as there’s a fish fry somewhere – with its friendly strangers, long tables, the sweet smell of beer and, of course, deep-fried fish – we’ll be there.

There’s more than one fish (fry) around. Check out these within a 15-minute drive:

St. Cajetan Parish, Memorial Hall
2445 W. 112th St.
(773) 238-4100
5 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
$9 adults, $5 seniors or $20 per family
Sponsored by the Men’s Club

St. Bernadette Church, O’Brien Hall and Adult Formation Center
9343 S. Francisco Ave., Evergreen Park
(708) 422-8995
5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Sponsored by the Holy Name Society

Stony Creek Golf Course Clubhouse
5850 W. 103rd St., Oak Lawn
(708) 857-2433
5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Fridays
$12.99 adults, $9 children ages 8 and younger

St. Christina School basement
11005 S. Homan Ave., Chicago
(773) 779-7181
4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. every Friday during Lent
$9 adults, $6 for children ages 5 to 12
Sponsored by the Holy Name Society

St. Benedict Church
2339 York St., Blue Island
(708) 385-8510
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m. every Friday during Lent
$8 adults, $3 children ages 3 to 12 and $1 younger children

St. Albert the Great Parish
5555 W. State Road, Burbank
(708) 423-0321
$9 per person
4 p.m. – 7 p.m. every Friday during Lent

Midlothian VFW Hall
14817 S. Pulaski Road, Midlothian
(708) 371-5227
5 p.m.-8 p.m. every Friday during Lent
$8 adults, $4 children ages 12 and younger

There were children sitting on the curb and neighbors waving flags. There were fire trucks and squad cars with their lights on.

But no one was throwing candy. There were no floats, and unlike a parade, there was silence.

It was a funeral procession for Christopher Wheatley, who called the neighborhood home. On this hot, muggy Friday afternoon, hundreds of his friends and fellow pubic safety personnel honored him in the procession that from St. John Fisher Church.

Wheatley was killed Monday in a grease fire at a Loop restaurant. Assigned to the South Loop’s Engine 5 firehouse, the 31-year-old fell 35 feet to his death while carrying 75 pounds of equipment.

There’s something about a parade that brings people together - in this case the parade wasn't celebrating the South Side Irish or Memorial Day but the life of a man who joined the Chicago Fire Department as a paramedic 10 years ago ... and in a neighborhood that is home to thousands of Chicago’s public safety personnel, that's the best parade anybody could ask for.

Location(s)

Once again I am involved in trying to win money for Cassell School – this is the school my daughters attend.

Kohl’s is giving away $500K to 20 schools in the Kohl’s Cares contest. This contest in being held on Facebook – so you must have a Facebook account to participate. If you have a Facebook account and you are over 13 you can help Cassell win!

1. You must go to Kohl’s fanpage and click the “Like” button (it is the one with the thumb’s up near the top) – it will ask you to share info with Kohl’s and the only info you are sharing is your name and profile picture… this is done to try to prevent voter fraud. It's here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/kohls?v=app_126473777365966&ref=ts

2. Find Cassell Elementary School – you can click the link or enter the school's zip code of 60655. Here's the link: http://bit.ly/a9HizJ

3. Click the Vote button on Cassell’s page – you get 20 votes but, can only use a max. of 5 for any one school (so, you can vote for another school(s) as well)

4. As long as you are on Cassell’s voting page you can read all the ideas people have submitted on what they think Cassell should do with 500K if they win. You can even submit your own idea.

This contest runs until Sept. 3rd – so get out the votes today!

WHY HELP CASSELL?

Cassell recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is experiencing some growing pains. This school year each classroom will have almost 40 students (some will have more) and with budget cuts there is no money to hire teachers aids to help manage all those students.

The school does not have a playground as the old playground could not be used and had to be removed from years of vandalism. The paved surface the kids use to play kickball and four-square is in need of repair as well.

There are structural issues as well – every time we have a good rain – several of the classrooms flood so bad the kids must relocate until the classroom has dried out. These teachers must be creative in the placement of books and supplies so they are not affected by the incoming water.

Computers are also an issue – Cassell need a computer lab where all the kids in a classroom can get on computers at the same time… these computers need to have enough memory and speed to be able to be effective with the type of projects students are being asked to do… not to mention the standardized computer based assessment testing the Chicago Public School has implemented at Cassell.

The school’ s wish list a mile long: more classrooms, smart boards, in-classroom lockers, printers, copy machine, curtains for the stage, and the list goes on and on.

Location(s)

Once again I am involved in trying to win money for Cassell School – this is the school my daughters attend.

Kohl’s is giving away $500K to 20 schools in the Kohl’s Cares contest. This contest in being held on Facebook – so you must have a Facebook account to participate. If you have a Facebook account and you are over 13 you can help Cassell win!

1. You must go to Kohl’s fanpage and click the “Like” button (it is the one with the thumb’s up near the top) – it will ask you to share info with Kohl’s and the only info you are sharing is your name and profile picture… this is done to try to prevent voter fraud. It's here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/kohls?v=app_126473777365966&ref=ts

2. Find Cassell Elementary School – you can click the link or enter the school's zip code of 60655. Here's the link: http://bit.ly/a9HizJ

3. Click the Vote button on Cassell’s page – you get 20 votes but, can only use a max. of 5 for any one school (so, you can vote for another school(s) as well)

4. As long as you are on Cassell’s voting page you can read all the ideas people have submitted on what they think Cassell should do with 500K if they win. You can even submit your own idea.

This contest runs until Sept. 3rd – so get out the votes today!

WHY HELP CASSELL?

Cassell recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is experiencing some growing pains. This school year each classroom will have almost 40 students (some will have more) and with budget cuts there is no money to hire teachers aids to help manage all those students.

The school does not have a playground as the old playground could not be used and had to be removed from years of vandalism. The paved surface the kids use to play kickball and four-square is in need of repair as well.

There are structural issues as well – every time we have a good rain – several of the classrooms flood so bad the kids must relocate until the classroom has dried out. These teachers must be creative in the placement of books and supplies so they are not affected by the incoming water.

Computers are also an issue – Cassell need a computer lab where all the kids in a classroom can get on computers at the same time… these computers need to have enough memory and speed to be able to be effective with the type of projects students are being asked to do… not to mention the standardized computer based assessment testing the Chicago Public School has implemented at Cassell.

The school’ s wish list a mile long: more classrooms, smart boards, in-classroom lockers, printers, copy machine, curtains for the stage, and the list goes on and on.

Standup @ The Station is back! For all you folks who missed our first standup night - this is your chance to see comedians featured on Comedy Central right here in Beverly!

Hosted by Mike Gleeson - and featuring Michael Palascak, fresh off his appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Come on out for a great evening of laughs!

Standup @ The Station: Wednesday, 7/28 (9pm - 11pm, $10 Cover, BYOB)

All Fruits Ripe LIVE @ The Music Station!

Come out for another great night of music and fun with AFR and special guests at The Music Station! Cost is $5.00 at the door. This is the new date for the show that was postponed back in May and it is sure to be a good time. We are really looking forward to this one so we hope to see all of you there!

~~PERFORMERS~~

Folliard & Friend
Wilma DJ Set
ALL FRUITS RIPE

Que Lastima & Hoodrat

Que Lastima is a Jazz/Blues/Rock group featuring Danny Cohen on guitar, Joey Fishman on keyboards, Joe Duncker on bass, and Jake Fansler on drums. Que Lastima's influences range from Miles Davis to Jon Brion, and Santana to the Chicago blues scene itself, explaining the wide array of influences discernible in each song. Joined by the local rock band "Hoodrat" - this will be a show not to be missed!

Que Latisma & Hoodrat: Thursday, 7/29 (8pm-11pm, $5 Cover, All Ages)

Member for

1 year 33 weeks

A 10-year-old girl and her 11-year-old cousin were injured last night in Morgan Park after a drive-by shooting at 10947 S. Racine Street.

Police say the shooting occurred just before 6:30 p.m. by someone driving a silver, four-door vehicle.

One of the victims was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, and the other to Roseland Community Hospital. Both are listed in stable condition.

Calumet Area detectives are investigating.