Rotarians Learn About Gopher's Grill

(FROM LEFT, ROTARY WEEKLY STUDENT GUEST MASON HULL, GUEST PROGRAM CHAIRMAN CARRIE CRIPPEN, AND WEEKLY PROGRAM GUEST KEVIN HOENE)

Effingham Noon Club Rotarians heard about one of the community's newest businesses at their meeting March 7.

Kevin Hoene, a co-owner of Gopher's Grill, was on hand to share information about the eatery that also features a variety of drinks and a host of games including video games. You can even play Pac Man.

The establishment features golf simulators and hunting simulators, as well as a meeting room that includes a ping pong table and bags games.

Hoene also discussed the history of the building on Jefferson Avenue housing the establishment. The building most recently was the home of The Zone, but housed Jansen's Department Store before that and was originally built as the Effingham Opera House. Hoene said they've found playbills in the upper reaches of the building from some of the plays that were presented in the building.

Hoene, Aaron Niebrugge and Nick Schuette have teamed up on the venture. Carrie Crippen substituted for Ron Schettler as program chairman.

The Rotary weekly student guest was Mason Hull, the son of Phil Hull and Joy Ely and a senior at Effingham High School.