Rains don't halt weekend festivities on west side

— There was no lack of things to do in Gentry last weekend, with a quilt show in the library, homecoming festivities at the high school, garage and yard sales everywhere, a brief and then rain-soaked cruise night and a beautiful afternoon in the park for the annual fall festival.

Quilts went on display in the McKee Room of the Gentry Public Library on Friday, and therewas no shortage of entries. The quilts filled the room and remain on display yet this week.

Garage and yard sales were dampened Friday and many moved under shelter - tents, buildings and the large pavilion on Gentry’s Main Street. The rains didn’t keep the bargain hunters away. And, those who didn’t brave the rains and wet weather on Friday were out in force on Saturday.

Gentry’s homecoming parade was canceled on Friday due to the rain, but things cleared upbefore the game and homecoming festivities on Friday night. Homecoming captains and queen were crowned and the Pioneers took on the Lincoln Wolves, though many wish the game had gone better for the home team.

On Saturday night, the skies clouded up and the sprinkling began just as cruise night was getting under way. Within a half hour, those sprinkles changed to heavy rains with bolts oflightning and the crashes of thunder right above the city. Needless to say, the weather put a damper on things; but the rain was still much appreciated after a hot and very dry summer.

The weather was near perfect on Sunday afternoon, and the park filled with people at the annual fall festival. Wagon and carriage rides were available, some pulled by draft horses and some by antique tractors. Singers, young and old, displayed their musical gifts on stage and entertained the audience in the annual talent contest.

The mutton bustin’ competition again drew a large crowd as young riders did their best to hold onto a buckin’ sheep and achieve an award-winning ride. For those a little younger, there were chickens to catch. And older children chased calves in an attempt to pull the ribbon from a calf’s tail and earn a prize. The recent rains made a portion of the rodeo area of the park a mud pit, complicating things for the calf chasers. Some even lost shoes in the mud, so the next group - the boys - went barefoot instead.

Though the rains on Saturday night hampered attempts to show off their cars and trucks, there was ample opportunity to do just that on Sunday afternoon in the park. Cars, trucks and the police and fire department Hummers lined the circle sidewalks.

All-in-all, the weekend was a good one. Not only did the area receive some much-needed rain, the community yard sales, the quilt show, car show and other activities gave area residents and visitorsplenty to do and see, and money was raised for the Gentry United Way, which supports more good things in Gentry.

A listing of contest winners at the festival follows. Pumpkin decorating: Best Carved - first place, Britney Brewer; second, Rebecca Tisdale;

Best Decorated - first place, Carrigan Mayberry;

second place, Charlotte Harborer;

Community Favorite - Sheila Jesperson.

Talent show winners: Junior Category - first place, Brice Bennett; second place, Katie Smith;

Senior Category - first place, Kevin Parish and Mark Bunce; second place, Shelby Helsner; third place, Sorey Robinson;

Adult Category - first place, Sarah Goodman; second place, Kristy Bergthold; and third place,Tiffany Fisher.

Chili cook-off winners: Dusty Thompson, first place;

Keith Thompson, second place.

News, Pages 1 on 10/17/2012