Celebrating the 4th
It's hard to believe it's already the end of June and the 4th of July is looming on the horizon. We'll be printing the newspapers a day early next week so our employees can enjoy the holiday with their families. That means earlier deadlines — 5 p.m. Friday — for stories, news releases, classifieds, and all other advertising.
Speaking of the 4th of July, Marion County is fortunate to have a variety of celebrations.
To kick things off, Aulne United Methodist Church will host a fireworks display Sunday evening. Entertainment will begin at 7 p.m., followed by ice cream and cake at 8, and fireworks at dark. There is no charge to attend this event, but donations always are welcome.
An old-fashioned July 4th Eve celebration will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Schaeffler House Museum in Hillsboro.
U.S. Congressman Jerry Moran will be on hand as will Rep. Don Dahl as Abe Lincoln. Children's games and a red, white, and blue patriotic parade will be held. Entertainment will include the Schnigglefritz Polka Band and Bob Delk and the Boys. A hot dog meal also will be available.
On the 4th, Marion County will be bursting and bustling with activity from north to south.
At the north end, Ramona's annual 4th of July celebration will begin at 8 a.m. with the Redneck Run, followed by a biscuit and gravy breakfast.
Other activities throughout the day include games, a tractor show, and cake walk. The parade will begin at 7 p.m., with line-up at 6. The theme is all about living down on the farm.
Following the parade, more entertainment and activities are planned, including pie-eating and corn-eating contests and a watermelon crawl. The Redneck Relay promises to have everyone laughing, as well.
The grand finale of Ramona's 4th of July is "Redneck Rockets," a fireworks display that will begin around 9:30 on the south end of Ramona.
At the southern end of the county, Peabody is gearing up for its 86th annual 4th of July celebration.
Peabody is legendary when it comes to the 4th of July. If you've never attended a Peabody 4th celebration, you're in for a treat.
A horseshoe tournament will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed at 8 by a flea market in the park. Other events include a classic car show and dog show, as well as kids' games throughout the day.
The "Rocking in the 4th" parade will begin at 5 p.m. with lineup at 4. Red, white, and blue is about the only prerequisite for this parade and it's a Peabody tradition. Part of the tradition is a good spraying by the fire department during the parade, so if you don't want to get wet, watch from the designated "dry zone."
After the parade, Second Nature will perform at the Peabody park. All this leads up to the 86th Annual Fireworks Extravaganza about 10 p.m., featuring 16-20 ground displays and more than 800 aerials including the famous "Battle of New Orleans."
Peabody 4th buttons are available for $3 each and can be purchased at local businesses. The button gets you into numerous activities that haven't been mentioned here and helps offset the cost of this huge celebration.
So there it is, a rundown of 4th of July celebrations in Marion County.
Whatever you do, have a safe and happy Independence Day.
— DONNA BERNHARDT
