Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Everett Heathman, an 18 month old blue monster was as fascinated with the goat as the goat was with him during the 39th annual Pumpkin Festival in Bessemer Saturday.
By IAN MINIELLY
Bessemer - The 39th annual Pumpkinfest kicked off Wednesday evening and ended with the 50/50 draw at the VFW and final poker run drawing at midnight Sunday. Saturday brought people from many states, some as far as away as Illinois, according to the license plates parked outside A.D. Johnston on Iron street.
By 9:00 a.m., the gymnasium was full of vendors hawking their products and many people were shopping. Gail and Walt Soulier's homemade salsas and jams had a premier location near the entrance, where every single person walked by their booth and had a chance to try samples of their special home made flavors.
Before the Daily Globe had moved a quarter of the way through the vendors, a buzz was moving through the assembled crowd about the size of the turn out at St. Sebastian School and the Knights of Columbus Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast. Al Gaiss, working the entrance table, took each customers $8.00, which authorized them to unlimited pancakes and sausage. So many people were coming in that Gaiss's plate of chow sat unfinished on the table, because he could not get a bite in with all the people coming through the door.
Gaiss said 170 containers of pancake batter were prepared and by 10:00 a.m., they were already down to 40. Gaiss said they would probably make about 2,200 pancakes. Gaiss did not mention how many sausages they were prepared to provide the hungry public. Coach Mark Mazzon, fresh off dishing out a plate of humble pie to L'anse Friday evening with the Miner's, was found behind the sink washing dishes. Mazzon tried to deflect the recognition, but it is difficult to miss when the head coach is washing dishes.
Walking up Sophie Street towards the street vendors and parade grounds from U.S. 2, the olfactory sense was held captive by the available foods. Small kids were enjoying a small goat and some chickens. Everett Heathman, 18 months and Violet Bogart, two and half years old, were fascinated by the penned goat and his small stature. The goat played along, licking the kids and standing on his hind legs towards the youngsters, captivating them.
The Gogebic Range Robotics Team had their robot on Sophie Street, manned by Jacobi VanHill. VanHill pointed out how the seniors had all signed the machine and was looking forward to another year of robotics.
The Pet Costume contest brought out 11 dogs and owners, competing for cutest pooch. Some of the dogs were large, while others were small and even tea cup sized. Judge Joel Massie, not having enough Monday through Friday with judging, was the emcee and judge for the contest. The winning dog was Marly, a tiny little fellow dressed up like a prisoner while his owner Ty, wore a police uniform. Marly could not have weighed more than a pound he was so tiny.
First runner up was Lucy, another small dog dressed up as Raggedy Ann and owned by Ali Willame and Bob Lane. All told, each contestant was a winner, taking home a prize of dog treats at a minimum for their efforts to get dressed up and entertain the masses.
On Sunday the Bessemer VFW hosted an all you can eat pulled pork and roast beef dinner with door prizes and a large offering of silent auction items available. John Frello announcing, as his wife Donna rolled the 50/50 tickets, informed the crowd it was their biggest sale yet, with 9,673 tickets sold, meaning the winner would pocket $4,836.50.
Shatha Beauchamp, of Bessemer, pulled the ticket, numbered 09634 and no one in the audience claimed it Sunday. Frello said the winner has 30 days to claim their money and informed everyone to hold on to their tickets in the event a winner does not come forward.
