Carvings
pay tribute to namesake and birds of
Kickapoo Creek Park
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[February
03, 2020]
LINCOLN
- Taking a walk in Kickapoo Creek
Park is a pleasurable way to spend a
few hours. There are always
interesting things to see like deer,
wild turkeys, the occasional owl,
hawk and sometimes an eagle.
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Unique
foliage and trees are everywhere.
Park manager Joe Funk keeps the area
in beautiful condition. People walk
everyday and there is always a
friendly hello to add to the
pleasure. Joe knows every walker in
the park on a first name basis.
Now something new has been added to
the landscape.
Local woodworker Darrell Wibben has
begun creating sculptures in dead or
dying trees and stumps along the
road leading around the park. Joe
Funk picks out appropriate sites,
and Darrell begins carving owls and
historic residents of the area. He
uses a battery powered chain saw for
the rough cut, then gouges, chisels
and an electric sander for the
detailed work.
What started as a tribute to
Kickapoo Indian Chief Kennekuk has
morphed into figurines of screech
owls and barred owls.
“Chief Kennekuk
looks like he belongs in the park,
after all it was named after his
tribe. I saw an owl nest near the
road and decided to carve the
resident,” said Darrell. After the
sculpture is finished, it receives
several coats of linseed oil to
preserve it.
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Darrell has been a
woodworker his entire life. He is
known for his unique walking sticks
with unusual carvings on them, and
the large figure of Abraham Lincoln
at Zion Lutheran School. Darrell’s
mother Lydia and Violet Scully were
best friends. Mrs. Scully created
Kickapoo Creek Park for the
community to enjoy.
There are several other pieces of
art in the park, one by local artist
Moses Pinkerton. Look for more art
in the coming days.
[Curtis Fox]
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