Jacksonville Main Street Honored with Governor's Home Town Award
 

Jacksonville Main Street won a 2007 Governor's Home Town Award for the Wall Dog Extravaganza Murals.

The awards were announced on November 27 at a ceremony in Springfield to recognize outstanding volunteer efforts that benefit local communities statewide. Nine Jacksonville representatives were on hand to accept the award at the luncheon: Martha Bangert and Troy Armstrong on behalf of the Jacksonville Theater Guild, with Joy French Becker, Kristan Becker Hoffman, Dorthy Brooks, Steve Varble, Dan and Judy Tighe, and Beth Racey representing the Jacksonville Main Street subcommittee that planned the mural event last year.

The Wall Dog Committee arranged for the housing, food, materials, equipment, and supplies for over 50 professional sign painters to produce 9 murals and a gilded door. Area businesses and more than 100 local volunteers assisted in the project, plus hosted a public party to thank the painters and unveil the heritage based mural creations to the community. Since mural completion in June of 2006, hundreds of individuals and groups have visited the sites, which have become a tourism draw for downtown. Production Press produced Mural Tour maps for Jacksonville Main Street and the Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote the attraction.

Jacksonville received a street sign to commemorate the Governor's Home Town Award. Watch for it to be posted at one of the main entrances to the city in the near future... and bring your friends downtown to see the murals!