Dedication of Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park September 11
It’s been six years since plans began and the ground breaking ceremony took place; thanks to the generosity of many individuals, families, businesses and organizations the flags will soon be flying over the Fennimore Veterans Memorial in Fennimore’s Memorial Park.
The Memorial Park committee in cooperation with the City of Fennimore invites the public to the dedication scheduled for Patriot’s Day, Sunday, September 11 starting at 1 p.m. at Memorial Park (corner of 8th Street and Lincoln Avenue) located in the heart of Fennimore’s Main Street district.
The memorial recognizes and honors Fennimore area Veterans who have served the United States in wars starting with the War of 1812 through WWII, Peacetime and military conflicts to present day. The Memorial is something the entire community should be proud of.
Members of the Fennimore Legion Post 184 will raise the flags at the Memorial for the first time. Members of the Fennimore High School band will provide music during the dedication. Linda Stephenson, City Council representative and committee member, will provide the welcome. Merry Cooley and Dagna Doan, Co-Chairs of the Memorial committee will provide the invocation and history of the memorial. Keynote speaker will be Fennimore’s own Brigadier General Richard Lofthouse, retired, followed by the official dedication of Fennimore Memorial Park. A 21 Gun Salute/Taps will be provided by Richard Hanson and Post 184.
Memorial Park committee members include: Dagna Doan and Merry Cooley, co-chairs. Betty Burkeland, Clara Peterson, Cindy Arndt, Linda Stephenson, Robert Griffith, Anita Wiest, Peter Finnegan and John Veld. Special recognition goes to the Fennimore Times for their coverage of the journey of the memorial project and all of the veterans stories printed in the Fennimore Times. WebWise Design and Marketing should also be recognized for their assistance and support of posting of information, photos and project status on the city website throughout the project and beyond. Thanks goes out to all of the behind the scene assistance that I’m not fully aware of. It took a community to build it; now it is up to all of us to give the memorial the reverence and respect it deserves.
Following the dedication there will be light refreshments served in the Legion Annex. Legion members will also recognize three Post 184 members for being Legion members 70 or more years.
Contractor for the memorial is Eternal Art Monuments of Boscobel owned by Roddy and Lorinda Dull.
Fennimore High School Celebrates Homecoming
Fennimore High School will be celebrating Homecoming Week Sept 12 through 17. The parade will be held Friday afternoon Sept 16. Watch for more details to be announced from the school.
Chamber sponsors Third Annual Bob on Into Fennimore Promotion
The Fennimore Chamber of Commerce will once again sponsor the popular “Bob on Into Fennimore” business promotion the last weekend of September. All Fennimore businesses are encouraged to offer Sidewalk Sales or sales within their business. The event is meant to entice travelers passing through the area for the Gays Mills Apple Festival and Cranberry Fest in Warrens to stop or should we say “Bob on into Fennimore” businesses Sept 23 & 24. ” Watch for red balloons identifying participating businesses. Businesses wishing to participate are asked to please contact Joy Bussan, Manager of Carr Valley Cheese at 608-822-6416 or joy@carrvalleycheese.com by Tuesday, September 6 so we can order pumpkins.
All roads lead to Fennimore Weekend of Sept 23-25
The smell of Fall seems to be in the air and plans are underway for an abundance of Fennimore Fall festivities taking place throughout Fennimore September 23 through September 25. Everyone is encouraged to “Shop Local” at the Bob on Into Fennimore participating stores then enjoy the following activities in town.
Saturday’s activities kicks off with Eagle Relays hosted by Fennimore Schools on Saturday morning – relays begin at 8:30 a.m. Please join me in welcoming visitors from many communities to Fennimore that day.
Two additional community events will offered starting Saturday evening.
Trinity E.F. Church Sponsors Bluegrass Gospel Music
King’s Countrymen Bluegrass Gospel music will be held Saturday, Sept 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Arborvitae Park located on 10th Street, just east of Fennimore Good Samaritan Society. The afternoon of family entertainment is sponsored by Trinity E.F. Church. The public is invited to attend for a time of inspiration and great family entertainment.
The King’s Countrymen are on the road for Jesus, playing and singing Bluegrass Gospel music. The founders, Lorn & Kristi Schultz, from Mondovi, WI, formed the group in 1994. They are well known for performing at county fairs, festivals, nursing homes, retirement centers and churches in the Midwest and beyond.
Members include Lorn Schultz, singing lead and playing rhythm guitar; Kristin Schultz, sound technician; George Cordwell, vocals and guitar; Mike Mansur, Banjo and Mandolin; Mary Pimblett, vocals and Upright bass; Dan Cavanaugh, Debro and vocals, and Jim Williams as product manager.
In case of inclement weather the music will be moved into the Trinity E.F. Church. For additional information please contact Brad or Sherry Swim 608-822-3646.
Tailgate Party Supports Fennimore Community Pool Fundraising
Fennimore Area Foundation will hold their second annual Tailgate Party from 4 to 9 p.m. along 8th Street and behind Nelson Properties building #2 and The Hilltop. FAF members are busy gathering donations and items for the auction and raffles. Bill Wood/Fennimore Lumber, Jon Miles/Century 21 or Pam Kreul/American Bank are a few of the members of FAF that you may contact in regard to donations.
TDS Telecom will once again supply the large screen TV’s for outdoor viewing of the Badger’s game against Michigan State Spartans at East Lansing, time TBD. Pork sandwich and all the fixings and beverages will be available to purchase at the tailgate party.
Sunday Sept 25 activities
On Sunday, September 25 the day’s activities will kick off with the Fennimore FFA pancake breakfast served in the Legion Annex from 7 a.m. to 12:30. Next door in Memorial gym the Fennimore FFA Alumni will hold their 29th Annual Farm Toy Tractor & Diorama Show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors at the show will offer for sale collectibles, toy tractor parts and an assortment of farm related hats and clothing. There is still vendor space available by calling Peter Winch 608-822-7806. Something new this year is expanded displays of dioramas; watch for more details and contest rules to come.
Each year during the toy show the FFA Alumni offers a limited number of show tractors. This year’s featured toy tractor is a 1/16 John Deere 4020 with narrow front end ROPS and canopy. This year’s show tractor is in memory of Ivan Johnson recognizing Ivan’s many years of service and support of the Fennimore FFA Alumni. This year’s tractors will be pre-orders only, please contact Pete Winch by Sept 2. Money raised from these tractors and toy show are used to help fund the local FFA chapter as well as community activities such as post prom, Fennimore Jr. Fair and area parks.
From the Memorial building jump on the trolley which will head up the street to the Fennimore Historical Railroad Society where their Annual Heritage Day takes place on the grounds of the Railroad Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Owners of Antique tractors, hit and miss engines, railroad memorabilia are invited to bring items to display. Kettle Corn and miniature train rides are all part of day’s festivities. The popular Train Robbery by the Hole in the Sock Gang will be held on the Railroad grounds at High Noon.
Across the street from the Fennimore Railroad Museum you’ll find the Friends of the Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum hosting activities on the grounds and within the Doll and Toy Museum. Their food stand opens at 10:30 a.m. with a peddle tractor pull taking place after lunch for area youth. The Doll and Toy Museum offers free admission for the day. Visitors are invited to participate in the Smurf scavenger hunt a special collection on loan to the Museum for the 2016 season.
Both museums are currently operating under fall hours; they are open weekends only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the Railroad Museum is by donation and the admission for the remainder of 2016 at the Doll and Toy Museum is just $1.
See the poster of weekend activities and the calendar of events
Trolley rides will be held throughout the day to shuttle spectators between all the Sunday, Sept 25 activities. Shuttle rides are coordinated through Fred Brechler and made possible by several sponsors.
Fennimore Great Pumpkin Contest
You may recall hearing news about a group of Fennimore area residents sponsoring Fennimore’s own Great Pumpkin Contest. Word has been received they will be weighing in pumpkins near The Hilltop early afternoon on Sunday, Sept 25 with several prizes awarded. Watch for more details to come!
AWANA at Bethany Alliance Church
School is back in session and it means it is time for Bethany Alliance Church to resume AWANA for youth on Wednesday evenings starting September 21. Area youth 5K-6th graders are encouraged to attend Bethany Alliance Church AWANA. AWANA begins Wednesday, September 21 and runs from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at Bethany Alliance Church, 1155 Jackson St. Their youth group meets following AWANA and runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m. If you would like more information, please contact the Bethany Alliance church office at 822-6946 or email awana@bethanyalliancechurch.com or check out the Church website www.bethanyalliancechurch.com
Call for 2017 Calendar of Events
Fall is here and kids are back to school. In the Promotions Coordinator’s office it means I am still working on compiling information and schedule of events to provide to publications for 2017. Do you belong to an organization that sponsors events for the public? If you would like those to be included in publications such as the Grant County Travel Guide, Hidden Valley magazine and WI Department of Tourism information, please submit information to me right away. Please submit name of the event, date of the event, time, location, fee if any, contact person and any other information that would be beneficial. Currently I have received information from Fun Fest (June 2 & 3, 2017) and O’Cooch Mountain Broadheads for their 2017 bow shoots. I am aware of dates for chamber activities but I need to hear from the rest of you by Sept 15 at the latest.
Information may also be submitted anytime throughout the year to the Promotions Coordinator for the Focus on Fennimore column printed three times a month in the Fennimore Times, Fennimore website calendar of events and other promotional opportunities; be sure to include all of the information listed above. Information should be submitted to the Promotions Coordinators office by Friday the week prior for the next week’s paper. Keep in mind the first Thursday of the month the Fennimore Chamber of Commerce prints their monthly newsletter in the Fennimore Times in place of the Focusing on Fennimore column. For example if you have an event taking place the first weekend of the month in order for that information to be in the Focusing on Fennimore article it would need to be submitted two weeks in advance. The easiest way to submit information is by email to promo@fennimore.com; information can also be dropped off at the office and there is room to slide posters and information under the door. Any questions, call me at 608-822-3599.
Girl Scout Registration Begins
The Fennimore Girl Scouts will begin to register girls in 5K – 12th grade.
Two nights have been set aside for registration. The first registration is Thursday, September 8 at the United Methodist Church from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The second night to register is Thursday, September 15 at St Peter’s Lutheran church from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. If you can’t make either registration girls may register at any time of the year. There is also a need for adult volunteers to assist with activities and meetings.
Girl Scouts is one of organizations that helps youth prepare for leadership opportunities throughout their life. Girl Scouts learn character, confidence and courage by learning new things through Journeys, badge work and special events. One of our first events will be participating in the Homecoming Parade on Friday afternoon September 16th.
For more information on being a Fennimore Girl Scout or volunteer opportunities, please call Rita at 608-822-3220 or 608-988-7675 and leave a message.
Youth Bowling Sign Up
It is also time for youth to start thinking about the bowling league starting at Fennimore Lanes. Sign up dates will be held Saturday, Sept 17 and 24 at Fennimore Lanes between 9 a.m. to noon.
