Spring Fling successful

Spring Fling weekend brought quite a large crowd to town. By all accounts, the various events around town were well attended, the garage and yard sales did well and non-profit groups were also very happy with their fund-raising results.

Despite early morning rain, the Car and Bike Show at Spring Fling did well. Saturday morning, the rain slowed and then stopped, but the new stage built for the event was too wet to be used. Therefore, the music was moved into the garage owned by James Lathrop where the Franklin car collection is normally stored. The cars were moved to the street to facilitate dry and safe dancing and music.

The stage was used in the morning for open mic and singing. Richard Molsbee and his son Steven held the stage for a good hour with popular songs on guitar. Just before the headline band, the "Armed and Dangerous Band with Pam," Nate Lathrop played his well-known song, "Freedom at the Cost of a Friend" accompanied by the Molsbees and the audience.

Kenna Janke served as a roving photographer this year. Contact her for copies of photos or see more at the website solivagantography.myportfolio.com ot via email at mckjanke28@gmail.com.

There were 24 entrants, showing five bikes and 19 cars. Trucks were included with cars this year and were eligible for the cash prizes and a special People's Choice award. As more trucks are entered, a separate new class will be opened, perhaps as early as next year.

Winners in the car division were: First place, Marv Scott with a 1956 Chevy; second place, Mike Treadwell, Othello, with a 1932 Ford truck and third place Pat Gies, Odessa, with a 1958 Chevy Impala.

In the bike division, first place went to John Hardt with a 2005 Harlely-Davidson Heritage Softail, second place to Bob Cole with a 2007 Harley-Davidson Softail and third place to Kelly Watkins with his 2012 Victory Vision. All three are from Odessa.

In the truck/people's choice division, first place went to Mike Treadwell of Othello with his 1932 Ford truck; second place to Tim and Monica Hubbard of Ephrata with their 1972 Chevrolet pickup and third to Mike Janke of Davenport with a 1940 Chevrolet pickup.

Raffle prizes included hats donated by NAPA, hats and cups donated by Rocky Coulee Brewing Co. and other items from the Green Goat Art Gallery and Rolling Thunder Pizza.

Angel Phillips won the car/bike show banner, which includes the names of the event sponsors. The banner sponsors help pay for the band and the overall event and include Odessa Foods, Odessa Lions Club, Odessa Designs, the Scheller family, Seed-Rite, Inc., Carpenter, McGuire and DeWulf, P.S., Odessa Drug, The Odessa Record, Rolling Thunder Pizza and the Odessa Chamber of Commerce.

The minibike donated by Mark Allen of Odessa was won by Jacqueline Sweeney who also won the hardship prize after a fire ravaged her home.

A total of 17 players participated in Saturday's horseshoes tournament at Finney Field.

In Class A, Russ Phillips took first and Vic Muguns took second. In Class B, first place was won by Cindy Reeves and second was won by Matthew Butterfly who traveled from Inchelium with his wife and two-week-old baby. In Class C, Zack Knudsen claimed first place and in second place was Chuck Garrison who, along with his wife (also a player) came all the way from Alabama.

Mayor's Choice: Aurora by Jeanne Fischer, Ellensburg.

Favorite large quilt: Full Bloom by Kim Lantis, Ritzville

Favorite wall hanging: Night Watchman by Polly Cassel

Favorite baby or lap-size quilt: Spring Surprise by Marlene Diehl.

Favorite embroidered quilt: Lace Cabins by Florence Coffey, Spokane.

Favorite antique quilt: Untitled, owned by Juli Weishaar, Odessa.

Favorite pieced quilt: Feathered Medallion by Terry Engleman, Spokane.

Favorite applique quilt: Autumn Baltimore by Terry Engleman, Spokane.

Best hand quilting: Kathy Meyers, Odessa.

Best hand-guided machine quilting: Shelley Sieverkropp, Creston.

Best computer-aided machine quilting: 30's Butterfly Quilt, Wilma Pitman, Moses Lake.

Chairman's award: Antelope Canyon by Judy Main.

Chairman's Aaward: Gifts of the River by Anna Turner, Curator, Spokane.

Paul Scheller reported that the rummage sale made $2,958. He added that the museum had 14 visitors on Saturday afternoon.