Pekin Marigold Festival Medallion Hunt Sponsored by Jimmy John's ®

  Medallion Hunt Clues and Explanations:   The medallion was found just off the McNaughton Park’s Potowatamie Trail Sheridan Road access.   Every year my writing approach is the same:   once a hiding spot is selected, start writing clues that progressively reveal it.   As a tool for hunters, I’ll often find concepts, themes or other references to add to the mental exercise this treasured event partly is.    With the advent of AI, caution in crafting them became important. This year I was struck by two main ideas to use.   The first was the Marigold Festival’s excellent choice of Maureen Naughtin as Grand Marshal. Add “Mc” before her last name and you’re in the neighborhood.   The second occurred when listening to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”.   Check out the lyrics.   For example “in a tree by a brook”; “the forests will echo with laughter” “those who stand tall” (trees); “there are two paths you can go by”; “words have t...

  Clue #6 Are you humming the song that directs you Which way you have to go. Left may be right and right may be wrong,  A criss-cross as I send you to and fro.   You know what gathers no moss, A perennial leader who gets next Saturday going, Hard to get much growing tall. Will there be more steps that I’m bestowing?   Gary Gillis Cluemeister

  Clue # 5 Facticity in proper alignment, Always music to my ears A divine effort in what I told you to study Because the lyrics could get you near.   What’s out is in, or is it what’s in is out? It’s all in how the record is played. But this song in mind is so classic It’s heavy and you can’t afford the price paid.   Gary Gillis Cluemeister 

  Clue #4   Examine how Germans in World War 2 First interpreted the D-Day invasion. The main way you might approach this  Is to remember that on this occasion.   Growing from the beginning, Will you go four for four? A great song revered by we boomers, Gives a natural high you can’t ignore.   Gary Gillis Cluemeister   

 Clue #3 There’s colour in every hunt,  Defined in its own way. Clues can certainly be cryptic It’s not always in the way I say. Maybe mercurial in my construction, Sometimes going this way or that. The study of history in this application, Take note of just over 50 years past. Gary Gillis Cluemeister 

  Clue # 2 Remember that dismissive, That sees everything the same? Endorse it at your own peril. No one but yourself to blame. There’ll be plenty for armchair quarterbacks  Many verses will be somewhat lyrical But remember it always takes an effort Your pursuit well beyond purely physical Gary Gillis Cluemeister

  Clue #1 Here we go again my friends Another year of engagement Time to play with words and places Working around with various arrangements Concepts will again be part of this And some different history I’ll employ No flower beds but there’s a sweet sound That for so long we have enjoyed. Gary Gillis Cluemeister

  2024 Jimmy Johns Marigold Medallion Hunt   I knew that Tante Park would be my choice earlier than I usually choose my hiding spot. In early June I created an episode for my podcast   “What’s the Story, Pekin”, where I enlisted Pekin Library’s local historian, Jared Olar to research a special topic.   I asked him if he could look into how a number of iconic Pekin locations got their names.   We titled it “What’s in a Name” and it included places like FM Peterson Theater, CB Smith and Wilson Schools, James Field, McNaughton Park and more.   Jared found great information.   But the place that had him stumped was Tante Park.   In a sense it was a story that is perhaps “lost to history”.   But I knew I had found the Medallion’s future hiding location.   That podcast would be part of my conceptual framework.   Using it would be new, unpredictable, and unexpected- just what keeps the Medallion Hunt special for many.   Besides,...