2026 Onamia Days Medallion Hunt

Many Stories, One Community is the theme of the year
This little town has so many narratives to hear
In fact, telling stories is one of my favorite things to do
I'm sure I could use some stories right here in the clues
I've read many a book during my time as a teacher
Some that are NORMal and some with made-up features
Books about AN airplane, a castle, or BRead
And even some stories I've made up in my heaD
I've read many books about dogs but none that went down a WELL
That dog had another special feature to tell

The last few years I've taught first grade but long ago I taught third
Reading chapter books definitely meant learning more words
Novels like Harry Potter, Stuart Little, and I Survived books
All of these tales were kept in our cozy reading nook
We read Chocolate Fever, Wayside School, and Roald Dahl
After recess we would settle down and come in from the hall
To sit at our desks and listen to a chapter or two
From the books that we read and I've named quite a few
One book I seem to recall quite clearly
Is the story of a girl the same age those kids turned yearly

It's true when people say I let my personality into these clues
I find it enjoyable to invite you to walk a mile in my shoes
Every person reading has gone through some form of schooling
And knowing the stories will help reveal the final ruling
So how will you travel through the eyes of this author?
Will you jog, ride a bike, or use a car with a chauffeur?
Just be like the tortoise against the hare and keep going
Trust in the tales and the clues will keep flowing
If you feel like you're struggling try to read these again
And just keep repeating, "I think | can, I think I can..."

These clues aren't always the easiest puzzles to create
The deadline assures me I can not be late
I need to channel all of my skills as a writer
If I want the hunt to last and be a nail-biter
I must use the correct number of syllables and stanzas
To make these small poems is no great extravaganza
Sometimes I find myself stumped on a clue
Without a rhyming word or knowing next what to do
It's a rough thing to find yourself with a case of writer's block
Like hitting the proverbial wall with everywhere to walk

The only good thing about a writer's block is it must come to an end
I can finally look at these words again like a friend
When your story has that moment of great inspiration
A lightbulb goes off and allows continuation
Lucky for you dear reader this story will go on
At least until someone has found what is gone
I hope this story of stories will not cause you to stray
Though the sun will be setting on this final full day
If you continue to search after dark, bring a light
The end of the tunnel is almost in sight

If we've made it this far then take a moment to reread
The story of the clues will have all that you need
The first clue mentioned a big dog that was red in his hue
But even a red dog will pee on any hydrant in view
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 gave the number of sides
For the sign you will see where the medallion hides
The train runs on Railroads like the road through our town
And the proverbial Wall is a street to go down
Put these together, and what will you see?
A light up above is where the medallion will be