Woman Who Spearheaded Local Tourism Retires

The woman who has spearheaded tourism in Vermilion County for decades was honored Tuesday during a retirement party at the Palmer Arena. Bill Pickett has the story….

Jeanie Cooke has seen local tourism numbers grow substantially over the years as her office worked on various events…

{AUDIO:  “There’s so many. There’s Balloons Over Vermilion. There’s the NJCAA Tournament every year, and the list just goes on and on and on.  But I’m also most proud of our community because we couldn’t do these things without the community volunteering – helping and jumping in.  I feel very blessed to be in Danville, Illinois.”}

(Cooke addresses the crowd at her retirement party Tuesday, June 24, 2025.  In other photo Cooke chats with Bill Pickett.)

Cooke is a co-owner of the Danville Dans Baseball Team which plays in the Prospect League.  Last month it was announced she is being inducted into the Prospect League Hall of Fame.  She was one of the people who helped save Danville Stadium…

{AUDIO:  “When my business partner, Rick Kurth, came and said they were going to tear down Danville Stadium – it was in such terrible shape.  And he was right, it was in terrible shape.  It was the only ballpark that had potential and it’s the right size for what I call ‘real baseball’. So we jumped in – that was 1998, maybe. And here we are yet today and just finished a wonderful renovation, so I would encourage people to come on out to the ballpark.”}

Cooke’s office supplies information to thousands of people who head to Balloons Over Vermilion each year…

{AUDIO:  “Ron Crick would be thrilled if he were with us today.  Ron Crick and two or three of us started them on that very first year. Our balloon meister was a great human being that helped us.  He would be so proud as to how it’s grown and keeps getting bigger and bigger. And people can’t wait until it comes back again.}

(This Year Balloons Over Vermilion is on July 11^th and 12^th at the Vermilion Regional Airport.)

While being honored Tuesday at her retirement lunch, Cooke thanked the hundreds of volunteers who have helped with events over the years – such as the NJCAA Division II Mens National Basketball Tournament at Danville Area Community College….

{AUDIO: “And it’s grown. There were four teams the year we first began. So, it has grown into a truly national competition.  So, you can count on the fact that I will be at the NJCAA Tournament next year.  It’s one of my favorites.”}

Rhonda Ellis, who has worked in the Danville Area Visitors Bureau Office for the past eleven years, has been named interim Director.  Gary Hackler, chairman of the board for the Bureau, says the search will begin soon for a new permanent director.

(** In top photo Cooke is with State Representative Brandun Schweizer at Tuesday’s lunch.)