Carla, Jason, Jesse, Kio, Linda, Nader, Naima, Self-Portrait, Self-Portrait Project, Teresa, WPC - Reminder

Selfie Project – June 2022

July 1, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I hope you are prepared for lots of pictures of me over the next couple of days. Today I’m sharing the pictures from the June Selfie Project. Tomorrow I’m sharing the photos from June’s FatMumSlim Photo Challenge. Those pictures are also all selfies. With the exception of one day, I took separate pictures for each challenge. The one day I didn’t wasn’t on purpose. I just forgot to get my second selfie.

Here are some of my favorites June of THE SELFIE PROJECT:

June 2

June 4

June 6

June 7

June 8

June 10

June 11

June 12

June 13

June 14

June 15

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

June 20

June 22

June 23

June 24

June 25

June 26

June 27

June 29

June 30

Sometimes I think I need to get more creative with my selfies for THE SELFIE PROJECT, but sometimes I don’t. If July images look different, you will know which angel on my shoulder won.

I might also wear too many gray shirts. I could claim it is my homage to the gray card, but truth is I probably need to get more color back into my wardrobe. I also need to wear the alligator shirt more. It is a fan favorite, since its debut on Alligator Movie Night.

Of course, there can only be one selfie to represent each day and while June might not have been a super active month for me, there are plenty of alternates to share that didn’t make the cut.

Hopefully I leave my house more in the month of July. I do badly need to take a vacation from the Computer Mine. I’m just not quite sure when that will be. A week in July or a week in August. Maybe a week in July and a week in August. I do have the PTO to burn.

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This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is ENTERTAINMENT:

ENTERTAINMENT

WARNING: NEXT MONDAY IS THE 4TH OF JULY. SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS INDEPENDENCE DAY (EVEN THOUGH NOTHING HAPPENED ON THE 4TH OF JULY). I DON’T KNOW WHAT MY PLANS INCLUDE YET, BUT IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT I WON’T BE IN A POSITION TO SEND OUT ANY REMINDERS. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT YOU WILL GET SUPER BUSY NEXT MONDAY AND FORGET TO SUBMIT. PLAN ACCORDINGLY. CAUSE WHILE THE BANKS AND THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE TAKING NEXT MONDAY OFF. THERE ARE NO DAYS OFF AT PHOTOGRAPHY 139. NO REST FOR THE WICKED(LY AWESOME!).

ENTERTAINMENT! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is an ENTERTAINMENT image? It is simply a picture of something that is used for ENTERAINMENT or something that ENTERTAINMENTs you. Examples would include things like theaters (like in the theme reveal) or concerts or plays or anything you would do to pass the time in an enjoyable way.

Happy photo harvesting!

Contests, Flowers, Jay, Macro, Monica, Pufferbilly Days

Late Morning Lullaby

June 30, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

It is less than one month until the deadline to turn in your pictures for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. This is my second year running the contest, so I had time to make a few changes this year. But first, I actually had two flyers made for this year’s contest. One by Jay and one by Monica.

Jay’s Flyer

Monica’s Flyer

Here are a few of the things I’ve changed this year:
+ Eliminated the photo categories: Photoshop and Photojournalism.
+ Added the photo categories: People, Trains, Planes, & Automobiles. and Black & White.
+ Split up the age divisions, so now there is a separate age category for ages 13-17.
+ Added a Best in Show.
+ Added the People’s Choice Award. Where people will vote online for their favorite.

For the most part, the rules haven’t changed, but the form is drastically different:

Here is where to go to download the entry form:

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Entry Form

The rule to really note is the pictures should be mounted on foam board because, while I have a plan, and Andy and I should start working on the plan soon, to help keep the photo display window cool. It does get toasty in there. Might have to throw a thermometer in there to see how toasty it gets in there.

Entries are due on Friday, July 29 by 5 PM at the Chamber Office. Located at 903 Story Street.

The photos will be judged (tentatively) on Wednesday, August 3. Then we will put the photo display up on Thursday, August 4. In the morning. Before the sun starts beating down. The photo display will be displayed in the KWBG windows. Located at 824 Keeler.

At that time, the People’s Choice Award voting will open.

I hope some of you will enter. If you can’t enter, I still could probably use a few volunteers, here and there. Just in the last 7 days, the ball has really started moving on this whole thing. But I definitely could use a couple hands to get the display put up on Thursday morning and then taken down on the following Monday. I don’t pay cash, but I do buy breakfast. I might need some administrative help and I might need help running a scanner. If either of those appeal to you, you know how to get a hold of this guy.

In case you don’t know, you will probably get sick of hearing about this contest between now and then. You’ve been warned.

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As soon as my eyes shut the slide show begins
Yesterday is gone now and panic sets in
With a weight upon my chest
And a ghost upon my back
And the numbing sensation of everything I lack
that leaves me
Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming,
Your real world away

Flower Thursday baby!

I didn’t get to enjoy my lilacs much this year. They bloomed shortly before my Miami Beach trip, and were mostly gone by the time I got back. On the positive, the lilac that I planted into my front yard seems to have survived. Maybe in 3 years it will bloom. Maybe sooner, but I think 3 years is probably about right.

Art, History, Railroad, Road Trip, Ruins

Cherokee and O’Brien County Aux – Vol. 1

June 29, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Back in February I cruised around Cherokee County and O’Brien County harvesting their town signs. This is the first collection of auxiliary images from that trip. Although a good portion of the pictures from this collection were actually taken in Woodbury County.

Correctionville

Washta

Quimby

There are still plenty more images to share from this road trip.

Art, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

TOWN SIGN PROJECT: APPANOOSE COUNTY

June 28, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A few weeks back after I went down to Pella to photograph some tulips, I went down to Appanoose County to harvest their town signs. It was a good day.

Here are some facts about Appanoose County:
+ Population is 12,462, making it the 60th most populous county in Iowa. Below Wright County and above Union County.
+ Largest town and county seat is Centerville.
+ Formed on February 17, 1843.
+ Named for the Meskwaki Chief.
+ Home of Lake Rathbun.
+ Major highways are: IA-2, IA-5, and IA-202.
+ Adjacent counties are: Monroe, Wapello, Lucas, Davis, and Wayne.
+ Population peaked in 1920 at 30,535.

The Appanoose County courthouse is beautiful:

The Appanoose County Courthouse in Centerville, Iowa.

The Appanoose County Freedom Rock is located in Centerville:

With Appanoose County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

77 counties conquered. 77.8% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Here are the town signs of Appanoose County:

Centerville, Iowa
CENTERVILLE
Population: 5,412 (-116)

Moravia, Iowa
MORAVIA
SINCE 1851
Population: 636 (-29)

Moulton, Iowa
MOULTON
SINCE 1869
Population: 607 (+2)

Mystic, Iowa
MYSTIC
Population: 322 (-103)

Cincinnati, Iowa
Cincinnati
Iowa
Population: 290 (-67)

Exline, Iowa
EXLINE
THE LITTLE TOWN WITH A BIG HEART
Population: 160 (No Change)

Unionville, Iowa
UNIONVILLE
IOWA
EST. 1843
Population: 75 (-27)

Numa, Iowa
NUMA COMMUNITY CENTER
Population: 68 (-24)

Plano, Iowa
PLANO
SINCE 1879
Population: 59 (-11)

Rathbun, Iowa
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF RATHBUN
ESTABLISHED 1892
GATEWAY TO RATHBUN LAKE
Population: 43 (-46)

Udell, Iowa
UDELL IOWA
Population: 28 (-19)

First, I’m pretty startled by the population drops over just 10 years in Appanoose County. I get it, nobody wants to live close to Missouri. It is an absolutely horrible place. But I thought Lake Rathbun would be enough of an economic generator to help the towns in the area and Centerville is a pretty nice town, from what I’ve seen. I guess last person left in Appanoose County, turn off the lights.

However, I have a theory why Appanoose County has lost over half its population in the last 100 years. It is the fact that so many of the towns have the terrible (what I call, because that is where I first saw their infestation) Highway 34 signs. They are a scourge of southern Iowa. Three towns have them and spoiler, Centerville also had one. All three of those towns tie for the worst town sign in Appanoose County.

Who gets the purple ribbon though? I like Cincinnati’s sign. I like Exline’s sign. I also like Unionville’s (suck it confederacy and confederacy fanboys*), but it really is a two horse race between Centerville and Rathbun. I’m giving the nod to Centerville.

Centerville – Best in Show – Appanoose County

Centerville had a few alternate signs:

Puke

Centerville – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams County

Best in Show – Appanoose County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Black Hawk County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Bremer County

Best in Show – Buena Vista County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Cass County

Best in Show – Cedar County

Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Best in Show – Cherokee County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

Terril – Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Dickinson County

Best in Show – Emmet County

Best in Show – Floyd County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Fremont County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Grundy County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hancock County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Sow – Harrison County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Iowa County

Best in Show – Jackson County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Jones County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Lyon County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Mahaska County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills County

Best in Show – Mitchell County

Best in Show – Monona County

Best in Show – Monroe County

Best in Show – Montgomery County

Best in Show – O’Brien County

Best in Show – Osceola County

Best in Show – Page County

Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Best in Show – Plymouth County

Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Ringgold County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby County

Best in Show – Sioux County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Taylor County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago County

Best in Show – Woodbury County

Best in Show – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Keokuk County.

* Also known as racists.

Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Derrick, Elizabeth, Evie, Jen, Jesse, Joe, Kim, Kio, Layla, Linda, Logan, Macro, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Shannon, Steph, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – 354 – SELF-PORTRAIT

June 27, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I though SELF-PORTAIT would be a popular theme. Do you think I was right? Well, you’ll have to scroll down to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, June 20, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

+ Becky Parmelee – 1 week
+ Mike Vest – 1 week
+ Angie DeWaard – 2 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 5 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 7 weeks (4
+ Jesse Howard – 9 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 11 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 12 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 14 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 22 weeks (2)
+ Tamara Peterson – 22 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 22 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 23 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 24 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 25 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 26 weeks
+ Cathie Morton – 30 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 31 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 33 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 36 weeks (4)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Linda Bennett – 8 weeks

Linda Bennett

Mary Green – 1 week

Mary Green

Michelle Haupt – 24 weeks

Tamara Peterson – 23 weeks

Tamara Peterson

Bill Wentworth – 27 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Carla Stensland – 23 weeks

Kio Dettman – 37 weeks

Kio Dettman

Kim Barker – 12 weeks

Kim Barker

Angie DeWaard – 3 weeks

Angie DeWaard

Elizabeth Nordeen – 32 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 23 weeks

Stephanie Kim – 1 week

Lori Backous – 1 week

Joe Duff – 13 weeks

Logan Kahler – 15 weeks

Dawn Krause – 6 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 1 week

Willy McAlpine – 1 week

Micky Augustin – 25 weeks

Cathie Morton – 31 weeks

Jesse Howard – 10 weeks

Monica Jennings – 1 week

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 33 weeks

Andy Sharp – 26 weeks

Layla Gorshe – 1 week

Evie Gorshe – 1 week

Derrick Gorshe – 1 week

Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week

Mike Vest – 2 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks

31 participants! A new record. Smashing the old record of 26 participants for FLOWER. That is a great week!

There were a few milestones achieved. Jesse reached double figures. Andy joined the Half Year Club.

Derrick submitted for the first time this year. True Jen was heavily involved in that, but I would consider that a good thing.

There was a time when I was sure Andy and Shannon’s epic streaks were going to be history, but they came in with submissions with a few minutes to spare!

Here are the current top streaks:

9. Teresa Kahler – 23 weeks
9. Tamara Peterson – 23 weeks
9. Carla Stensland – 23 weeks
8. Michelle Haupt – 24 weeks
7. Micky Augustin – 25 weeks
6. Andy Sharp – 26 weeks
5. Bill Wentworth – 27 weeks
4. Cathie Morton – 31 weeks
3. Elizabeth Nordeen – 32 weeks
2. Shannon Bardole-Foley – 34 weeks
1. Kio Dettman – 37 weeks

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:

ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

While considering possible subjects for your ENTERTAINMENT image, meditate on the following quote:

Art is moral passion married to entertainment. Moral passion without entertainment is propaganda, and entertainment without moral passion is television.
-Rita Mae Brown

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of ENTERTAINMENT in this place that at least entertains me next Monday.

Black & White, Formal Portrait

Jayton – Volume 5

June 26, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

It is another Formal Portrait Sunday and time once again for another collection of pictures from one of Jayton’s senior picture photo shoots. These are all taken around downtown Boone. One thing about downtown Boone is that it doesn’t have much art, but it has a pretty solid collection of places to take portraits. Especially if you like brick wall backgrounds and guess what… I do! I do like brick wall backgrounds!

Next Formal Portrait Sunday we will check back in with one of Kyle’s senior picture photo shoots.

Black & White, Christianity, History, Road Trip

Jackson County Aux – Volume 2

June 25, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Back in late January I made a trip out to Jackson County to harvest the balance of their town signs. Here is the second collection of the auxiliary images I took on that trip:

Saint Donatus

La Motte

Zwingle

Cedar Rapids

Most of the pictures were taken in Saint Donatus. I did not walk the Way of the Cross there to the chapel because it was closed. It is on my list of things to do in the future. I have quite the list of places I want to visit again after I complete THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT.

The next time we hit the open road to look at auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Cherokee and O’Brien counties.

Animals, Art, Black & White, Flowers, History, Self-Portrait, Street Photography, Travel, WPC - Reminder

Miami Beach – Day 5 – A7II – Uno

June 24, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Trending back to Day 5 of my Computer Mine trip to Miami Beach. This was the only day I got to do much photography. We actually left the convention center at a decent time. We had an appetizer party hosted by the sales team that I attended, but then I snuck out early cause I wanted to go to the botanical garden. Unfortunately, when I got there it was closed for the day. However, I did go visit the Holocaust Memorial that was right next to the botanical garden. Here are some pictures from that walkabout:

Miami Beach Work Trip - Day 5 - May 2022

One more collection of photos from this trip still left to share.

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This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is SELF-PORTRAIT:

SELF-PORTRAIT

But what is a SELF-PORTRAIT? Please don’t play coy. It is simply a portrait of one’s self. Now a SELF-PORTRAIT doesn’t necessarily have to be a picture of your face. It could be of your hands or feet or whatever body part. It doesn’t even have to include you at all. It can be a picture of something that is uniquely you. For example Wily keeps pretty much every pair of running shoes he has ever had. He has maybe an excess of 100. A picture of his running shoes with or without his feet in them would be a SELF-PORTRAIT. OR you could even take a picture of somebody taking a SELF-PORTRAIT.

Happy photo harvesting!

Black & White, Flowers, Macro

60 Years On

June 23, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

“Yes I’ll sit with you and talk, let your eyes relive again.
I know my vintage prayers would be very much the same.
And Magdalena plays the organ, plays it just for you.
Your choral lamp that burns so low, when you are passing through.
And the future you’re giving me holds nothing for a gun.
I’ve no wish to be living sixty years on.”

Flowers.

Marigolds, petunias, daisies, and dahlias… oh my!

Art, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Floyd County

June 22, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

A few weeks back I cruised around Floyd County to harvest their town signs. It was a good trip.

Here are some facts about Floyd County:
+ Population is 15,713. Making it the 49th most populous county in Iowa. Behind Clay County and above Page County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Charles City.
+ Established in 1854.
+ Named for Charles Floyd who died on the Lewis and Clark Expedition near Sioux City, Iowa.
+ Site of the last lynching in Iowa. (Wasn’t racially motivated.)
+ Major highways are: US-18, US-218, IA-14, and IA-27.
+ Adjacent counties are: Mitchell, Chickasaw, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Howard, Bremer, and Franklin.
+ Population peaked in 1950 in 21,505.

The Floyd County Courthouse is mostly meh, except for the fascinating “Floyd” part:

The Floyd County Courthouse located in Charles City, Iowa.

The Floyd County Freedom Rock is located in Rockford, Iowa:

With Floyd County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

76 counties completed. 76.8% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Note, Nashua is partially in Floyd County, but is mostly in Chickasaw County. I will reveal that town sign when we get to Chickasaw County. Greene is also partially in Floyd County, but is mostly in Butler County. I already revealed this town sign when I revealed the town signs of Butler County.

Here are the town signs of Floyd County:

Charles City, Iowa
Charles City
welcomes you!
Est. 1854
Population: 7,396 (-256)

Nora Springs, Iowa (Partially in Cerro Gordo County)
WELCOME TO NORA SPRINGS
Population: 1,369 (-62)

Welcome to ROCKFORD
HOME OF THE DEVONIAN FOSSILS
Population: 758 (-102)

Rudd, Iowa
RUDD, IA
Population: 358 (-11)

Floyd, Iowa
Welcome To FLOYD
Population: 313 (-22)

Marble Rock, Iowa
WELCOME TO MARBLE ROCK
Population: 271 (-36)

Colwell, Iowa
Established 1915
Incorporated 1922
Welcome to COLWELL
“The biggest little city in Floyd County”
Population: 55 (-18)

Floyd might not have a superstar sign, but there are several solid signs in there. But Easily the worst belongs to Nora Springs. Boring. Boring. Boring.

For best in show, for me it is really a two sign race. It is Colwell or it is Marble Rock. I’m going to give it to Marble Rock by a nose.

Marble Rock – Best in Show – Floyd County

There is only one alternate town sign in Floyd County that I found:

Rockford – Alternate

There are lots of these old Amoco (I think) signs out there that have been reporuposed as town signs and I am here for it.

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Black Hawk County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Bremer County

Best in Show – Buena Vista County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Cass County

Best in Show – Cedar County

Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Best in Show – Cherokee County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

Terril – Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Dickinson County

Best in Show – Emmet County

Best in Show – Floyd County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Fremont County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Grundy County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hancock County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Sow – Harrison County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Iowa County

Best in Show – Jackson County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Jones County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Lyon County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Mahaska County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills County

Best in Show – Mitchell County

Best in Show – Monona County

Best in Show – Monroe County

Best in Show – Montgomery County

Best in Show – O’Brien County

Best in Show – Osceola County

Best in Show – Page County

Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Best in Show – Plymouth County

Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Ringgold County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby County

Best in Show – Sioux County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Taylor County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago County

Best in Show – Woodbury County

Best in Show – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

Next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Appanoose County.

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RULES

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