Festive events make happy Fair fans
Lou Marzeles
News Editor
From the opening chords on the violins of the Old Time Fiddlers and the Pee Wee Horse Classes Thursday morning, all the way through Sunday's Goat Obstacle and Agility Course, the 2009 Klickitat County Fair was a non-stop feast of fun and frolic.
Events were rolling early on the first day, as cattle, sheep, swine, rabbits, poultry, and big and miniature horses all made their way through their respective competitions. The animals were paraded all four days before endless strings of judges who handed out a relentless stream of ribbons to very happy winners. (See page 8 for all the Fair results.)
Traditionally something of an unofficial evening start to the Fair was the Thursday night Kick-Off Barbecue. A dazzling array of meats and fresh vegetables greeted the throng that waited patiently in long lines to get their plates piled high.
"It's great," said one person lucky enough to be early in the line. "There are a lot more people here for the barbecue than I recall from last year. Besides the great food, it's just a wonderful chance to connect with people from all over the community. And look at all the families here-this is a great place for kids."
"You can't beat it," said another upbeat barbecue fan. "It's warm, it's friendly, it's lots of fun-it's us. It's our fair, and we just love it."
The Fabulous Farelanes, always a fair favorite, entertained the dinner crowd with their classic rock 'n' roll tunes. And entertainment was plentiful this year, ranging from face painting, to the accomplished bluegrass band Fiddle Grass, to the dulcet tones of the marimba band Jamba. Clowns, balloons, and magic acts lit up many a child's face throughout the four days at the fairgrounds.
"It's a celebration of our life here," said one happy parent with kids in tow. "We're a part of the life of the county, and the county fair is a part of our life. It's really just a great time. Everybody gets to have a great time. And everybody needs that. That's what the fair is for."
Taylor takes first round in primary election results
An unofficial cumulative tally of votes provided by the Klickitat County Auditor's office from last week's primary election shows that state Rep. David Taylor easily won his primary race for the position of Legislative District 15 State Representative.
Taylor is presently serving as representative by having been appointed to his position to fill out the term of Dan Newhouse, who became director of the state Department of Agriculture. His primary win places him a step closer to being elected to his position. With almost 67 percent of the vote, the 37-year-old Ellensburg native handily defeated Donicio Marichalar and John Gotts; the latter candidate remained on the ballot although he was no longer eligible in the race.
In other primary results:
• Proposition 1, the Dallesport Water District measure, took close to 81 percent of the vote to sweep into victory;
• Dallesport Water Commissioner Position 1 was won by Chris Jones, with almost 80 percent of the vote;
• With 76 percent of the vote, Dallesport Water Commissioner Position 2 was taken by Craig H. Stephens;
• Dallesport Water Commissioner Position 3 was won by Ken Thiemann, with almost 77 percent of the vote.
Flaggers send cars into each other
Confusion at the Highway 97 work zone led to a collision between a 2005 Ford Excursion and a 2000 Freightliner on Aug. 18.
Ericka Tremble, 35, of Goldendale, was stopped in the Excursion, heading east at the intersection of Highway 142 and Highway 97.
The Freightliner, driven by Juan Maravilla, 37, of Bakersfield, Calif., was heading south on Highway 97.
Both drivers were instructed to proceed by two separate flaggers.
Maravilla struck Tremble's Excursion on the driver's side causing neck pain and a laceration to Tremble's foot. She was taken to KVH for treatment. Maravilla was uninjured, but his truck was disabled and left at the Highway Department scales.
The incident is under investigation. |
