BY NANCY ROLLINGS SAUL
THE COURIER

Celeste Rogers is peddling intrigue.

The new director of Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County wants to deliver just enough information about the county’s attractions to make people eager to check things out for themselves.

Rogers said 80 percent of the leisure travelers who visit non-destination locations do so to visit family and friends.

Her goal is to excite area residents about Logan County sites, so they can share them with relatives and other guests.

"You have to remind people about stuff so they can talk about it," she said.

To kick off the campaign, she has launched a new website, as well as two contests that will have a different focus each month.

The website, at www.tourlogancounty.com, will have maps, emergency numbers and facility information for people who plan their itinerary by computer. It will include a link to each town in the county, as well as links to attractions in neighboring counties.

"We can offer them a bigger package to see," Rogers said. "The more you can offer to entice people to come, the more likely they are to come."

Individuals and organizations can submit activities to be added to the site or contact the tourism bureau by e-mailing tourlogancounty@ccaonline.com.

One contest, the Volunteer Historian Contest, will reward people who contribute to the pool of information about Logan County.

Lincoln Chautauqua held its first event in a newly constructed steel building in August 1904. During July, people who submit verified and documented information pertinent to the Lincoln Chautauqua Building or events held there will receive a free tourism mug.

The second, the Tourist Find Contest, gives people an opportunity to explore the county and discover more about its wealth of attractions.

This month, contestants will search for the grave of Revolutionary War veteran Henry Kime, who died Aug. 22, 1833. His grave, in the northeast portion of the county, is in a prominent county-maintained cemetery. It has been marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Contestants must go to the site and have their picture taken there. They must submit the photo, along with the approximate address and directions to the site. The names of everyone with the correct answer will be placed in a drawing for an embroidered tourism bureau polo shirt.

Information for both contests must be delivered to the bureau on the second floor of Union Planter’s Bank, e-mailed to the above address or mailed to the office at 303 S. Kickapoo St., Lincoln, Ill. 62656. Entries must be in the office by July 30.

The contests are open to everyone except professional historians, people paid to do historical documentation or evaluation or people associated with the tourism bureau and their families.

"It’s part of a whole drive to familiarize the area," Rogers said Thursday afternoon. "I want to bring Bloomington people here and intrigue people from other locations.

"The biggest thing we have going for us is location."

Rogers is also seeking volunteers who can make the history of the county come to life for visitors.

Postville Courthouse State Historic Site at 914 Fifth St., Lincoln College Museum on the Lincoln College campus and Hawes Elevator in Atlanta are a few of the sites that need volunteers who can commit as little as two hours a week.

"All history is a grand story," Rogers said. "You pick out the parts you like."

Rogers also is seeking people who would like to serve on the tourism bureau’s hot-air balloon crew during the Lincoln Balloon Festival in August.

"I would like to give people a chance to crew who have no opportunity through other balloon sponsors," she said.

Volunteers can call the tourism bureau at 732-8687.