News : Local residents among Iowans attending Lincoln Highway Association meeting

The national Lincoln Highway Association (LHA) annual conference was held in Dixon, IL June 22-26, 2010.

Fifteen Iowa members (including Mike Kelly and his wife, Sandra of Vinton) from across the state attended the conference which included seminars on topics related to the historic highway and tours east and west from the host city.

Jeff LaFollette (Clinton) serves as Iowa's Lincoln Highway State Director and Annual River to River Road run coordinator. Van Becker (Cedar Rapids) is an At-Large Director the the LHA.

An Art and Photo Show focusing on the Lincoln Highway was held June 23. a Mike Kelly and Sandra Huemann-Kelly (Vinton) exhibited photographs and John Fitzsimmons (Boone) showed sketches with Lincoln Highway themes. The annual banquet June 25 included awards presentations. Van and Bev Becker received an "Exemplary Friend of the Highway Award" for their work in hosting an annual amateur radio event at the Youngville Café in Benton County. The Beckers secured the permanent call letters "NY2SF" - New York to San Francisco, the route of the Lincoln Highway. The city of Clinton was also awarded an "Exemplary Friend of the Highway Award" for their impressive signage and use of the Lincoln Highway logo in the district. Clinton County Pioneer Cemetery Commission was awarded a grant of $2500 for the Hess Cemetery revitalization project to rebuild damaged headstones, add new wrought iron fencing and restoration of prairie grass. The cemetery is along the 1913 alignment of the Lincoln Highway. The Iowa Lincoln Highway Association will meet Saturday, July 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the Belle Plaine Historical Museum. Agenda items include updates on Iowa's participation for the first time in the annual Lincoln Highway "Buy-Way" yard sales August 5-7, 2010. The yard sale is slated to run along the Lincoln Highway through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia and Ohio. Other agenda items include updates on the annual "River to River Motor Tour" sponsored by the Iowa Lincoln Highway Association scheduled for August 26-29 which runs east to west this year. Updates on the Lincoln Highway Byway designation and signage is also on the agenda. The ILHA web site includes information on all of the above: http://www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org/iowa/ Photos attached to this story include: Wall Dogs Pole Painting by Sandra Huemann-Kelly (Vinton, Iowa) Belle Plaine, Iowa mural project 2009 included several that highlighted Belle Plaine's Lincoln Highway connections. The "Wall Dogs" group was painting murals photographer S. Huemann-Kelly captured the muralist painting the pole painter painting a pole. Lincoln Highway pole painting is evident across Iowa. Title: Self Portrait by Michael Kelly (Vinton, Iowa) The mirror finish of the antique headlight puts Youngville Café (Benton County) and the photographer on view in this 'self portrait'. Title: Pie Power by Michael Kelly (Vinton, Iowa) Youngville Café in Benton County, Iowa is known for its pie. Against the quaint backdrop you can almost grab a fork and have a bite. Title: Bypass Surgery by Michael Kelly (Vinton, Iowa) The Highway 30 expansion project near Tama/Toledo proceeds providing a glimpse of the new four lane route beside the old 2 lane.