85th annual July Fourth Fest: Another best ever Independence Day years ago
Members of the Peabody Fourth Fest Society have added another spectacular celebration to their list of top notch patriotic shows.
"The guys lighting the ground displays on the field said there was lots of cheering this year after every set piece was fired," said Fourth Fest member Kristi Silvernale. "The conditions were perfect and it was a great evening."
Silvernale said the head count for the fireworks display was about 3,000.
"Button sales accounted for 2,878 people," she said. "Add to that the vendors, carnival staff, fireworks crew, and volunteers and it's probably just over 3,000."
Silvernale said pledges and donations are still trickling in to help pay for the fireworks so she isn't sure how much the final tally is, but she is confident there will be enough to pay for the celebration next year.
"All-in-all, it was a great year, especially considering it was in the middle of the week," she said.
Winners have been announced for events held on the Fourth in conjunction with the fireworks extravaganza. There were drawing winners, parade entry winners, and winners of the car show, horseshoe tournament, dog show, and kids' games.
Drawings are successful
The Peabody Community Quilt project quilt was won by Katherine Penner of North Newton. She works with Judy Starkey at Prairie View and Judy sold her the winning ticket. The quilt project group raised nearly $1,000 with ticket sales. The money will be donated to a fund to help pay for new playground equipment for Peabody City Park.
Winners of the drawing for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary prizes were Molly Costello won a boy's bicycle, Jerry Foth won a television, and Janet Oursler won a gift certificate.
Parade entrants win prizes
The "Freedom Isn't Free" parade, organized by Tammy Whiteside and Rose Thomason, included the following winning entries:
Adult float winners — Patti Mitchell, first; Red Hat Society, second; Todd and Myrna Henderson, third.
Kids' division — Trace Jost, Ronnie Harms, Helen Stanford, Rebecca Gillet, Chris Bielefeld, Kenny Johnson, Kylie Terronez, Bailey Woodruff, and Arianna Wilson.
Winning cars span decades
Best of show — Mike and Dod Franklin, 1935 Terraplane Sedan; Myron Laflin, 1972 Mustang Mach I, first; Russell Lemon, 2006 Ford Mustang GT, second; Calvin Dirksen, 1971 Plymouth Cuda, third; Richie Grace, 1975 Chevy Laguna S-3, youth division.
Dog show attracts 27 entries
The dog show was sponsored once again by Peabody American Legion Auxiliary. This year's competition attracted 27 entries.
Grand champion — Snort, an Australian/Border Collie owned by Janie Hampton.
Judges' favorite — Harley, owned by Rushanna Smith, first; Josie, owned by Sherri Bowlby, second; Patches, owned by Sarah Chapman, third.
Cutest — Matty, owned by Austin Savage, first; Mercedes, owned by Ashlynn Hatton, second; Kya, owned by Karissa Martin, third.
Smallest — Hank, owned by Mike LaRue, first; Dapple, owned by Cierra Foth, second; Mimi, owned by Paula Harris, third.
Largest — Penny, owned by Ashley Weems, first; Bailee, owned by Jenny Hurst, second; Misty, owned by Adam Sheffler, third.
Waggiest tail — Rufus, owned by Charlene Garcia, first; Gator, owned by Paige Barnes, second; Harley, owned by Rushanna Smith, third.
Best kisser — Matty, owned by Austin Savage, first; Moose, owned by Sherri Bowlby, second; Little Bit, owned by Samantha Pickens, third.
Best dancer — Mercedes, owned by Ashlynn Hatton, first; Ginger, shown by Kenny Johnson, second; Brutus, owned by Connie Sheffler, third.
Best catcher — Snort, owned by Janie Hampton, first; Hank, owned by Mike LaRue, second; Prue, owned by Lynndon Bais, third.
Most talented — Snort, owned by Janie Hampton, first; Libby, owned by Sarah Hofkamp, second; Bailee, owned by Jenny Hurst, third.
Best dressed — Rufus, owned by Charlene Garcia, first; Ivey, owned by Paige Barnes, second; Mimi, owned by Paula Harris, third.
Look-a-like — Mocha, owned by Lily Partridge, first; Crea, owned by Sherri Bowlby, second; Ginger, shown by Kenny Johnson, third.
Adults and kids compete
The horseshoe tournament, organized by Kip Pohlman, was won by Jim Theas and Kevin Schlimme of Americus; Brian Alexander of Herington and Mark Tajchman of Marion, second; Tim Douglas of Halstead and Gilbert Davis of Wichita, third.
Peabody-Burns Recreation Commission sponsored kids' games.
Hot shot basketball — Christian Gard.
10-12-year-old division triathlon — - Christian Gard. 13-15-year-old division triathlon — Aaron Topham. 16-18-year-old division triathlon — Andrew Topham.
Dodge ball — Austin Savage, Hunter Pickens, Justus Hilliard, and Wyatt McFarland, elementary team; Jesse Riggs, Ethan Riggs, Jacob Simmonds, Martin Hofkamp, and Caleb Hilliard, junior/senior high.
