Sunday, August 1, 2010

“Games, contests and softball part of Vail Fun Days” plus 3 more

“Games, contests and softball part of Vail Fun Days” plus 3 more

Games, contests and softball part of Vail Fun Days

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 11:03 PM PDT

Kids' games, a strongman contest, "Golf Around Vail", a slowpitch softball tournament and a performance by The King and His Court softball team are among a full slate of activities planned for Vail Fun Days scheduled for Saturday, August 7.

Following is the schedule of events:

Saturday, August 7

9 a.m. – slowpitch softball games begin

9 a.m. – car show starts

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – lunch served (hot dogs and burgers)

11 a.m. – kids' games begin

Noon – strongman registration (3 p.m. contest start), $20 entry fee

 2 p.m. – greased pig contest

2 p.m. – "Golf Around Vail ($5 entry fee)

fire department water activities (afternoon time to be set)

3 p.m. – pool races

4 p.m. – third annual duck race (ducks can be purchased until start time for $5 each)

5 p.m. – pulled pork supper

9 p.m. – Fishheads concert ($5 admission)

Sunday, August 8

9 a.m.-1 p.m. – breakfast at the community building before the ball games

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of southwestiowanews.com.

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Kids Day also eases parents' minds

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 09:28 PM PDT

There was no doubt it was Kids Day on Saturday outside and inside Freedom Hall.

Hundreds of youths of all ages bounced in a jumpy house, climbed into a Morton firetruck and police car, sprayed a fire hose, wore a fireman's gear and played games.

They also helped release 350 balloons in a contest that offers a $25 prize for the balloon that travels the farthest, and they won bikes in a raffle drawing.

Despite the children's activities, however, it also was parents day. Dozens of moms and dads went home with free child identification kits provided by members of Morton Masonic Lodge No. 352 as part of the Illinois Masons' Child Identification Program.

Each kit contains an information sheet that includes a child's height, weight and birthmarks, DNA sample, fingerprints and a CD with a photo of the child and 45-second interview.

All can help law enforcement find a missing child, especially the photo and interview, which can be distributed by media outlets to reach a large audience.

"We try to draw out a child's mannerisms and speech patterns during the interview," said Brad Whitaker, worshipful master of the Morton Masonic Lodge.

Lodge member and Morton police Chief Nick Graff was one of the interviewers.

While he didn't need to use his police interrogation skills, he did need to be creative to find out kids' favorite movie, movie character, pet name, school or best friend's name.

Vicki Marshall drove from Delavan so her son Brandon Marshall, 11, could participate in the program. Her son will be in fifth grade this fall at Delavan Elementary School.

"Brandon is in the Morton library's summer reading program and got a bookmark about Kids Day. That's how we found out about it," his mother said. "I'm very thankful for the child identification program. Every parent should take advantage of it. It didn't take very long to do it after we waited in line."

The Morton Tourism Association and Health Solutions of Morton sponsored the third annual Kids Day, which also included vendor booths and food sales. This was the second year the child identification program was part of the activities.

Susan Pyles from the Tourism Association and Dr. Rob Richardson from Health Solutions agreed the Kids Day crowd nearly doubled last year's turnout of about 400 despite a drizzle that fell during the first hour of the four-hour event.

Pyles said a major reason for the bigger crowd was probably the distribution of nearly 5,000 bookmarks that advertised Kids Day.

Health Solutions put on the first Kids Day at Jefferson Elementary School in Morton, then joined forces with the Tourism Association.

"We started the event because there wasn't anything like it in the area," said Richardson, who donated the bikes for Saturday's raffle.

Mark Czesak of Pekin and Emma Skinner of Morton won the bikes, selected from about 200 entries.

Nonperishable food items brought by families that filled four boxes and proceeds from food sales will be donated to the Before-After School Christian Experience day care center in Morton.

Last year's Kids Day raised more than $300 from food sales and donations for the Tazewell County Resource Centers.

 

Steve Stein can be reached at 686-3114 or stevestein21@yahoo.

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Kids, Seniors Day brings magic to the fair

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 10:23 AM PDT

Publish Date: 7/31/2010
Magician Marty Wayne, left, does a trick with audience members Emmitt Cooper, Craig Cooper, Ian Solano and Rebekah White at the Fremont County Fair on Friday.
 Jeff Shane/Daily Record

Kids, Seniors Day brings magic to the fair

Carie Canterbury
The Daily Record

Pony rides, a magic show, live entertainment, a bounce house and inflatable slide, several games, booths and exhibits and the excitement of the hatching of two baby chicks kept fair-goers busy Friday during Kids and Seniors Day at the Fremont County 4-H Fair.

"We had lots of awesome kids," said Verla Noakes, Fremont County extension agent. "Lots of daycares and families and lots of people."

Noakes said close to 100 seniors came for breakfast Friday morning and viewed the projects and animals and listened to the Red Bow Tie Band.

Dakotah Johnson, 14, is in the Tally Ho 4-H Club, and was one of the many 4-H students who took a turn at running game stations during the day.

"We do a lot of community service projects," she said, "and we thought it would be nice to do something for kids day."

Dakotah has been active in 4-H for about 10 years, she said, and has been involved in Kids and Seniors Day for as long as she can remember.

Not only is she the reporter for Tally Ho, she also is an alternate senator for 4-H council.

"It gives younger people a chance to take on responsibility," Dakotah said, "and to be able to finish a project is a really good feeling."

Caitlin Craig, 14, also a Tally Ho 4-H Club member, helped with the ring toss and penny drop games.

"I enjoyed having the little kids come and have them enjoy the activities," she said, "and being able to help the little kids."

Also popular on Kids and Seniors Day was the Mr. Potato Head contest, the stick horse rodeo, the pee-wee rabbit show and the "good-enough-for-fair-food" — including Noakes' famous sticky buns.

Brieana Chavez, 11, and her brother, Rueben, 9, are not 4-H members, but Brieana is thinking about joining next year.

"We looked at all the animals and we looked at my friend's sheep," she said. "I like seeing all the animals."

If Brieana chooses to join 4-H, she said she is interested in dog training and cake decorating, and possibly sewing.

Kids and Seniors Day is an annual event for the school age students at Rocky Mountain Children's Discovery Center.

"We brought 20 today," said group leader and co-teacher Damon Donahue. The students made ceramic masks and entered them in the open division.

"Last year we did ceramic frogs and pet rocks," he said. "Every time we come up here, they just look at everything that was entered and looked at all of the animals everywhere; we even have lunch up here."

The children love to see if they won any ribbons, said co-teacher Bev Miller.

The Fremont County Fair will continue through Sunday.

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Games, info at health fair for kids atg McHenry County College

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 10:02 PM PDT

The annual McHenry County Children's Health and Safety Fair will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14 in Crystal Lake. Admission is free.

This year's theme is "Makin' a Splash!" With more than 40 exhibits, games and prizes, the fire department's smoke house and a visit from Ronald McDonald, the fair delivers on its promise to entertain and educate.

Children will receive a free school supply box when they turn in their stamped cards after visiting exhibitor's booths. They also will be entered into a raffle to win one of two free bicycles and helmets.

Reduced-cost immunizations and dental exams will be provided for resident school-age children on a first come, first served basis. Medicaid will be accepted. Parents must bring their child's updated immunization record in order to receive required immunizations.

A limited number of reduced-cost school physicals will also be available by appointment only for qualified families.

Make your appointment now by calling the Family Health Partnership Clinic, (815) 334-8987.

The fair is sponsored by the McHenry County Children's Health & Safety Fair Coalition.

They are a dedicated group of professionals representing: Community Action Agency/Head Start, Centegra Health System, CL Graphics, Family Health Partnership Clinic, Family Service & Community Mental Health Center for McHenry County, League of Women Voters of Illinois Education Fund, McHenry County College, McHenry County Department of Health, McHenry County Mental Health Board, McHenry County Sheriff's Office, Mercy Health System, United Way of Greater McHenry County Volunteer Center, STAR 105.5 and Youth Service Bureau.

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