Flick: One big bird and some devoted alums

One busy group of devoted high school supporters and one busy oaf of a 4-foot-tall bird being elusive in Central Illinois.

A pair of stories for your Sunday fare:

Until the insurance company Liberty Mutual began those commercials that star "Doug" and "LiMu," few people knew much about an emu, a gangly, long-necked, rather awkward example of a bird with a creaky gasp of a voice. 

Not anymore.

In the case of Central Illinois, and towns like Danville, Hoopeston, Fithian and most recently Gifford, near Rantoul, it's getting downright hilarious.

About eight months ago, a 4-foot-tall emu escaped from a home in a rural stretch of Danville.

Winter set in.

Sadness prevailed.

Central Illinois’ version of LiMu, it was presumed, was gone. 

But alas!

A couple of months ago, people began reporting that they’d seen a brown, gawky-looking animal with long legs roaming stretches of nearby Champaign County. 

The suspected owner of the not-able-to-fly bird was notified, and he ventured out to various locales, but could not find the emu. 

But others have! 

This emu escaped several months ago from its owner in the Danville area, and has been spotted in various places in Eastern Illinois.

He (we’re assuming it's a he, but it could be a she) has been sighted in yards. 

He's been videoed in newly sprung corn and bean fields.

He's been spotted along rural roadways.

He showed up at a grade school in Gifford, just east of Rantoul.

"It made for an exciting last week of school for the kiddos," the school's principal, Maggie Woodham, told WCIA-TV, which has even begun doing regular reports on the elusive emu through its meteorologist, Jacob Dickey.

"I’m convinced this is some sort of tour or it's a door-to-door salesman in disguise," Dickey muses. 

One night recently, the emu found Interstate 57 and Illinois State Police set out to chase, but the bird — capable of running up to 35 mph — evaded them.

"I imagine the troopers thought, "Who signed me up for this’?" says Rhonda Gordon, a Pantagraph reader in Penfield. "My husband, Danny, says it gives a whole new meaning to birdwatching."

Meantime, you do have to wonder if this would all make a great commercial for, yes, Liberty Mutual. 

"Liberty … Liberty … this emu is enjoying his … liberty."

Of that four-year life splice called high school — classes, a driver's license, dating, pimples, peer pressure and all the mounting social issues, somehow even getting through it all — fond memories also evolve.

For one group of Normal Community High students, they continue, in a most positive sense.

And they graduated way back in the 20th century.

Maybe you’ve heard of them.

Mostly grads out of the ‘70s and ‘80s, with only a goal to perhaps contribute some cash in times of tightened athletic-purse strings, in 2006 they opened a concession stand at football games, with any proceeds going back to NCHS and its athletic fun.

The A-Train Concession Stand serves food at Normal Community High School football games.

Two years later, when Adam Denzer, an outgoing guy, devoted supporter and former NCHS running back, died in a tragic farming accident and his wife, Marie, donated a concession trailer, they adopted a name to the memory of Adam's nickname back on the football field — the A-Train.

They sold pork chop sandwiches, so delicious they began selling between 250 to 275 pork chops a game.

In 2021, in an inaugural competition hosted by the Illinois High School Association and the Illinois Pork Producers Association, the A-Train even won another state championship for NCHS, for "the best pork chop concessions sandwich in all of Illinois."

Here's the kicker:

Through their concessions, the A-Trainers have also donated $60,000 in money and services to NCHS.

These Normal Community High School alums make up the award-winning and money-contributing A-Train.

It's gone toward a new scoreboard for the football field, clock timers for the swim team, mats for the cheerleaders, backboard lights for the basketball team, cash for fans’ coach-bus travel to playoff football games.

Thus, the group was honored the other night by Unit 5, the school district; plaudits were passed and a "Service to NCHS" award bestowed.

And mild-manneredly, the A-Train team accepted the gratitude and announced its intentions:

"We’re looking forward to football season," says Dave Reynolds, NCHS Class of ‘75.

Iron workers deluxe.

Chuck Lewis talks about his 1962 Corvette and the Bloomington Gold event.

Bloomington-Normal Rotary members march in the Memorial Day parade on Monday in Bloomington.

Rick Parker of the Marine Corps League detachment 988 in Bloomington rides down Lee Street to Miller Park in Bloomington on Monday.

A young helper joins Normal Mayor Chris Koos, front, and town council members Chemberly Harris (waving), Karyn Smith and Kevin McCarthy in the Memorial Day parade through downtown Bloomington on Monday.

State Sen. Tom Bennett, R-Gibson City, talks to parade attendees on Monday in downtown Bloomington. Bennett represents the 53rd District, Bureau, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, Peoria, Putnam, Tazewell, Will, and Woodford counties.

A 1953 B-57 Canberra is featured during the Memorial Day parade on Monday.

The 2023 Memorial Day Parade on Monday in Bloomington headed down Lee Street to Miller Park.

The Bloomington High School Marching Band played the Battle Hymn of the Republic during the 2023 Memorial Day Parade on Monday in Bloomington.

Members of the local Scouts BSA and the Cub Scouts march with American flags in the 2023 Memorial Day parade on Monday near Miller Park in Bloomington.

The Bloomington High School Marching Band performed the Battle Hymn of the Republic in the 2023 Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 29 near Miller Park in Bloomington.

The Bloomington High School Marching Band performed the Battle Hymn of the Republic in the 2023 Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 29 near Miller Park in Bloomington

State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, and Matt Strupp of IBEW #197 attend the Memorial Day parade and ceremony on Monday.

The Prairie Aviation Museum brought a Hughes TH-55A Helicopter to the 2023 Memorial Day parade on Monday in Bloomington. The TH-55A was flown by the U.S. Army from 1964 - 1967.

A truck for Altitude Trampoline Park is followed closely by one from That Kid Place spraying bubbles and foam at onlookers during the 2023 Memorial Day parade on Monday near Miller Park in Bloomington.

Onlookers are sprayed with foam and bubbles by That Kid Place during the 2023 Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 29 near Miller Park in Bloomington.

Onlookers are sprayed with foam and bubbles by That Kid Place during the 2023 Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 29 near Miller Park in Bloomington

9-year-old Griffin Underwood of Bloomington plays in bubbles sprayed at him from That Kid Place during the 2023 Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 29 at Miller Park in Bloomington.

Lt. Col. Kraig M. Kline, department chair of ROTC at Illinois State University, delivers remarks at a Memorial Day ceremony in Miller Park to honor military members who died in service to the country.

Lt. Col. Kraig M. Kline, department chair of ROTC at Illinois State University, addresses attendees at a Memorial Day ceremony in Bloomington's Miller Park on Monday.

Audience members take in the Memorial Day ceremony Monday in Miller Park.

American Legion Honor Guard member David Brown is among those who attended the Memorial Day ceremony Monday at Miller Park.

Bill Flick is at [email protected].

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