Summer 2015 Recap

It happens every once in a while that our area ends up being profiled on national TV programs. The most recent one was the new show Untouchable: Power Corrupts, which featured the story of former Quincy doctor, and convicted murderer, Michael Swango. National TV Shows That Featured Stories From the Quincy/Hannibal Area.

It rained a lot over the summer, but we were very fortunate that major annual events like the K of C BBQ, Midsummer Arts Faire, New London Park Days and National Tom Sawyer Days all saw very pleasant weather. Unfortunately, the weather was not great for local baseball. Not only did the Gems and Cavemen face weather delays and cancellations, but Clemens Field also had to combat flooding during the summer.

Dinosaurs ruled the Box Office in 2015, with Jurassic World setting all kinds of records. Dinosaurs were also a big deal at the Oakley Lindsay Center, when Discover the Dinosaurs returned to Quincy in July.

First we found out that a local author had published a series of books that told a zombie story set in Hannibal. That was cool. Then we found out that a local filmmaker was going to adapt the first book into a short film, and that was also cool, and also a lot of fun for the volunteer actors who got to put on their zombie makeup and lumber around town!

On a serious note, this was probably the biggest news story of the summer. Some residents were without power for days following the July 13 windstorm that uprooted trees, damaged homes and vehicles, and left behind a mess that Quincy is still cleaning up.

Regular concert series like Blues in the District, Down by the River and Music Under the Stars kept locals entertained throughout the summer. Some national recording acts also came through our area. Jon Pardi and Natalie Stovall performed at National Tom Sawyer Days, the Adams County Fair brought The Voice's Craig Wayne Boyd and country music's Eric Paslay, The Swon Brothers, also from The Voice, appeared in Bowling Green at the Pike County Fair.

The long-awaited lighting of the Bayview Bridge in Quincy finally took place on August 22. Hundreds of people attended the bridge lighting ceremony, which included live music and fireworks over the Mississippi. The bridge lighting also coincided with Quincy's year-long 175th anniversary celebration.

You always think of the mall as a fun place to shop, but, outside of going to see a movie, it isn't necessarily the first place one thinks of for local entertainment. It probably should be. Quincy Mall did a ton of fun things over the summer. There was a carnival, a Disney Channel star came to sign autographs, they're hosting Jungle Safari once again, and the circus is coming back to Quincy Mall on Labor Day Weekend.