What began as a sketch made under artificial lights in downtown Traer on the evening of Sept. 6 is now the finished, vibrant and whimsical mural ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ by artist Dan Hatala. The mural – commissioned by members of the Traer Mural Project Committee as part of the community’s 150th-anniversary celebration in 2023 and financed through grants – is located directly east of the Traer Public Library on the west side wall of Denny Berger’s building. Be sure to stop by the mural next time you wind up in Traer. A second Sesquicentennial mural is currently in the planning stages.