Heat may have put damper on crowds

Desloge Labor Day Picnic has activities for Sunday, Monday

By CHRIS CLINE
Daily Journal Staff Writer

DESLOGE — Desloge Chamber of Commerce officials believed the heat kept the crowds down at the Desloge Labor Day Picnic Saturday afternoon. Chamber President Debbie Kester said while she was happy with the number of people who did come, she also admitted the crowd was down from last year.

“We are not as busy as we usually are for this time of day on Saturday,” she said. “I think the heat is having something to do with that. We pulled a pretty big crowd this morning, but as the day has gone on the people have gone home to escape the heat.”

The National Weather Service reported a high temperature of 85 degrees on Saturday. The temperature is expected to be even warmer today with a high near 87 degrees. A high near 90 degrees is forecasted for Labor Day.

The picnic competed with the North County and Farmington football game on Friday night. Kester said that hurt attendance, but all in all she said the opening night proved to be a success.

“We pre-sold 320 wristbands for unlimited carnival rides,” Kester said. “I think as the night progressed our crowd got bigger.”

Whiskey Creek performed for the first time at the Labor Day Picnic on Saturday. Kester said she was very pleased with the crowd the local band attracted.

“They brought a crowd with them and they drew an even bigger one once they started performing,” Kester said. “They held the crowd throughout the time they performed. We couldn’t be more pleased with them.”

Brian Stidem of Desloge was at the Labor Day Picnic Saturday with his wife Toni and their two children. He said this was the first time he had been at the picnic in several years.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “I like seeing everyone. As I am walking around I get to see everyone I went to school with and it brings back a lot of memories.”

His wife Toni said she liked the variety of activities that were offered. The children said they enjoyed the carnival games the best.

Today’s activities begin with the First Free Will Baptist Church children’s ministry at 10:30 a.m. Joshua Kennon will get things started with the church’s contemporary band. Debbie Davis from Discipleland Ministries will then minister to children with singing and teaching.

At 11 a.m. Pastor Chuck Lotz will deliver a message of encouragement and hope. God’s Word will be featured at 11:30 a.m.

The Memphis Boys will perform from 2-7 p.m. and a street dance will be held from 7-10 p.m.

The parade line-up will get things rolling at 7 a.m. Monday. The actual parade will get under way at 9 a.m.

The antique tractor show will be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Registration for volleyball will start at 11 a.m. and play will begin at noon.

GTO will perform from noon to 5 p.m.

The chamber will be selling water bottles throughout the weekend at their booth for $2. The bottles can be refilled with soda at the chamber booth for $1.

“If it weren’t for our sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to have the activities that we have,” Kester said. “It wouldn’t be possible without our ambassadors and our sponsors. Even businesses that aren’t ambassadors have donated money and gifts for attendance prizes.”

The Fisher House will be having a fundraiser throughout the weekend of the Labor Day Picnic. A winner for the fundraiser will be announced at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Desloge V.F.W. Post 2426 has a booth and is promoting it’s “Unmet Needs Program.” The programs assists spouses and families of those serving in the military. The organization is also promoting the VFW National Home for Children and will be giving a way an MP3 player.

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