Hometown Pride by Bennett Krohne
West Washington County is a place where almost everybody knows everybody. I live in Okawville, a small town in Southern Illinois. Okawville is surrounded by many other small townships such as: Addieville, Venedy, Lively Grove, etc. All these towns come together and form one big community, and a huge family. Okawville is most commonly known for the Original Springs Hotel. Also, Okawville is recognized for being a basketball school. Those things would not be possible if it were not for the people of this town.
Okawville Jr. Sr. High School is the home of the Rockets. Although only five players are able to be on the court during a basketball game, the Rockets seem to have a sixth man. In 2017, the Okawville Rocket basketball team took a trip to state. Sadly, the boys came out in second. Although the Rockets lost, the sixth man took home hardware of their own; they were the best 1A student section in the state. The next year, the Rockets took another trip to state and won the state championship! For the second time in a row, the sixth man won hardware. In 2019, the Rockets lost at super sectionals. The student section went on to win for the third time in a row! Okawville’s fan section is the three-time reigning champion of IHSA, class 1A, and hoping to make it four.
Okawville is not only known for basketball. Okawville has a hotel that is named the Original Springs Hotel. The historic hotel was established in 1867. It is said to be haunted by the former owner, Anna Schierbaum, and her son Ben. Recently in 2019, A&E’s Ghost Hunters came down to our little town to investigate. The hotel hosted a watch party for the premier of their episode. Watching the episode was very memorable. I, along with pretty much the entire community, will never forget that day. The community respects the Original Springs and helps keep the hotel up and running.
West Washington County is one big family and one huge support system. Through thick and thin, everyone sticks together. All 1,400 people in Okawville help make up this amazing community. West Washington County is the place to live because it’s peaceful, the people are great, and the town has history. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.