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Special Events & Festivals

Turning it loose


Photo by Steve Clark.

Chris Furnish (right) lets fly a bean bag as Brandon Hensly gets ready for his turn at the Salamonie Summer Festival Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, July 2, at the old light plant.

SSF water slide


Photo by Steve Clark.

Kade Brown comes tearing down the water slide at the Knight Bergman Center, in Warren, during the Salamonie Summer Festival on Saturday, July 2.

Creepy-crawly


Photo by Steve Clark.

To demonstrate the climbing ability of his tree frog, Mark Kohlhorst (left) places the critter on volunteer Isaac Smelser during the Mark’s Ark animal show in the Salamonie Summer Festival downtown tent, in Warren, on Saturday, July 2.

Tailgating


Photo by Steve Clark.

The Tailgaters, featuring (from left) Chris Ferrara, Joe Bachman and Brian Walsh, perform outside the Wagon Wheel, in Warren, during the Salamonie Summer Festival on Friday, July 1.

Parade float wth a message


Photo by Steve Clark.

Rock Steady Boxing participants from Heritage Pointe, in Warren, show off their form atop a float during the Salamonie Summer Festival parade on Friday, July 1. Rock Steady Boxing aims to help people with Parkinson’s disease combat its effects through boxing.

George draws a ticket


Photo by Steve Clark.

George Washington (middle), portrayed by actor Bob Haluska, draws a ticket out of a hat for a prize giveaway during Freedom on Main, a celebration of America held on Main Street in Roanoke on Thursday, June 30. The celebration featured historical figures, food and drink by Joseph Decuis, face painting and a concert by Heartland Sings.

Patriotic painting


Photo by Steve Clark.

Vivian Reusser (right) gets painted up to look like an American flag in the Sweetcakes Entertainment tent during Freedom on Main, a celebration of America held on Main Street in Roanoke on Thursday, June 30. The celebration featured historical figures, food and drink by Joseph Decuis, a prize giveaway and a concert by Heartland Sings.

2016 community service award


Photo by Cindy Klepper.

The volunteers of the Bargain Basement, a community thrift shop located at the Knight Bergman Center in Warren, received the 2016 community service award during a breakfast on Friday, July 1, at the Knight Bergman Center. On hand to receive the award were (from left) Nancy Surfus, Suzy Boxell, Jan Weight, Linda Tharp and Mary Daugherty. The breakfast was a kick-off to the Salamonie Summer Festival.

Morning speaker turns into Jones Pioneer Award recipient

Steve Ackley (left), the brother of last year's Samuel Jones Pioneer Award winner Mike Ackley, who died soon after receiving the award, gives the introduction to this year's Pioneer Award winner, Jim Howell, on Friday morning, July 1, at the Knight Bergman Civic Center.
Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Jim Howell, whose mission has been to hold the graduates of Warren High School together, was named winner of the 2016 Samuel Jones Pioneer Award during a July 1 breakfast held in the building that once housed the school.

“When I left this morning, my wife was still in bed,” Howell said, as his wife and other family members lined up in the back of the room. “I’m just really stunned.”

49th annual Salamonie Summer Festival shows competitive edge this year

Urban Legend will bring some of the music to the Salamonie Summer Festival in one of two concerts set for Friday, July 1, the first night of the celebration. Urban Legend plays at 9 p.m. on the downtown stage, and Joe Bachman & The Tailgaters play after the parade in the Wagon Wheel parking lot. The festival continues through Monday, July 4.
Photo provided.

This year’s Salamonie Summer Festival will introduce a couple of events tailor made for anyone with a competitive streak — and an affinity for the out-of-the-ordinary.

First, there’s a “porcelain chariot” race utilizing, you guessed it, toilets.

Then there’s the Rough Mudter, a race so grimy that there’s a shower station at the end.

“It’s going to be awesome,” says Brittney Morton, manager of Warren Health and Fitness, sponsor of the Rough Mudter.

Party band at SSF


Photo provided.

Joe Bachman & The Tailgaters, a “party band” based in Nashville, TN, will play in the Wagon Wheel parking lot after the Salamonie Summer Festival parade on Friday, July 1.

Announce winners of HD Kids Pulling for Riley tractor pull

The official results of the Kids Pulling for Riley kiddie tractor pull that took place Saturday, June 18, during Heritage Days has been announced.

The winners are:

Featherweight division
First place – Karstynn Updike.
Second place – Macie Maher.
Third place – Kaden Kuehnert.

Lightweight division
First place – Ethan Johnson.
Second Place – Caiden Pohler.
Third place – Dawson Husband.

Getting first pick


Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

Kim Nelson (left) of Kim’s Katered Affair picks out cupcakes ordered by Cindy Bellamy, of Huntington, at the beginning of JeFFFest, Sunday, June 19, in downtown Huntington.