Museum gives Arcola woman 'chance to be a kid again'

Joni Gruelle Wannamaker beams with family pride as she takes a group of Japanese tourists through the Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum in Arcola.

A young-looking 65, Wannamaker shows visitors the murals, art, memorabilia and hundreds of dolls as she tells the story of how her grandpa, Johnny Gruelle, an Arcola native, created the character in 1915.

More than 100,000 tourists have visited the museum since it opened in 1999.

Also on this date

• Underground project key to making fuels more Earth-friendly
• Mother who hurt her son seeks governor's clemency
• Champaign County inmates eat pretty well on $4 a day
• State has a new drive to discourage underage drinking
• Fisher man held on charge of shooting friend
• Man wanted for robbing gas station
• Operating a tower crane is a job full of challenges
• Champaign using five tower cranes — more than Indianapolis
• It's your business: Subs out, gyros in at Neil Street shop
• Obituaries