The Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph compiles an annual “10 to Watch” list of central Illinois residents who are rising fast in prominence and influence.
One who made the list is Geoff Ladd of the Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County, who’s already attracted attention for his preservation efforts of an area Route 66 icon.
Ladd started working for the tourism bureau little more than a year ago, and recently formed the Route 66 Heritage Foundation to help bring more into the county. One such project is the restoration of the former Mill restaurant into a Route 66 museum; that work is underway.
“No one thought that Mill could be saved, and after seeing Ladd’s plan, everyone is just so excited about it,” said Bartelmay. “He’s definitely got a lot he’s working on and is just so aggressive with all his endeavors.”
Another thing Ladd is working on is moving a giant covered wagon and giant Abe Lincoln from Divernon, Ill., to Lincoln.
One interesting tidbit about Ladd that’s revealed in the Pantagraph story: He’s a paranormal investigator.