Town and Country Days starts June 13

On Saturday, June 13, the 5 and 10K and two-mile walk/run will start at 9 a.m. with runners starting at the Regional Park on the south side of Lake Koronis and finishing up at Veteran’s Memorial Park on the north side. Rollerbladers are also encouraged to participate.

Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Park. Registration feesare $10 in advance, $13 race day and $25 per family. There are eight age group divisions. Trophies will be awarded to the top three in each age group, in addition a trophy will go to the overall winner, prize for first one up half way hill on Northwest Koronis Road and first Paynesville address runner. Anyone interested can contact Jay Thompson, 320-243-3887.

Sunday, June 14, will feature the 11th Annual Peepers Family Picnic and Car and Tractor Show. The events are scheduled to take place at the Gazebo Park and elementary school playground. The cost of the noon picnic is an item for the Paynesville Area FoodShelf.

Gates open at 8 a.m. for car and tractor show exhibitors. There are 11 classes ranging from 1889 to 1931 stock cars to motorcycles. Dash plaques will be presented to the first 50 entrants. Awards will be presented to the top three vehicles, those coming the longest distance, and club participation.

During the afternoon, kid’s games, horse and wagon rides, balloons, clowns and more will be on the grounds.
In case of rain, the car show will be moved to the Paynesville Area Senior Center.

On Monday, June 15, the annual queen pageant to select Miss Paynesville 1998-99 will be held at 7 p.m. (note time change) at the Paynesville Area Elementary School. There are nine girls vying for the honor to represent Paynesville at area festivities. (See the following story for more information about the contestants.)

1997 Miss Paynesville Deanne Neuroth will be on hand for the coronation of her successor. 1997 Princesses were Rissa Elliott and Michelle Glenz.

Chamber president Rick Paul will extend a welcome to those present. Emcees for the evening are Mary Janotta and Rick Hoyme. Escorts for the contestants are Ross Jenniges, Craig Keller and David Hemmesch.

On Tuesday morning, June 16, at 10 a.m., the annual Pet Show will be held on the Good Samaritan Care Center lawn. Owners are requested to have all dogs on a leash and carriers available for smaller pets.

The Merriam Midway will open at noon in downtown Paynesville on James Street and runs through Wednesday night. Advance tickets for the midway can be purchased at Corner Drug, Peepers Distinctive Eyewear, Jerry’s Jack and Jill, Wally’s G&T, Paynesville Office of the Melrose Credit Union, Farmers and Merchants State Bank and at the Community First National Bank. Tickets will be on sale from June 10 until stores close on June 15.

At 2:30 p.m., the annual Kiddie Parade will line up at the Good Samaritan Care Center. The parade will get under way at 3 p.m. and head down Washburne Avenue and turn on Mill Street and end in front of the elementary school.

Tuesday night, June 16, will feature games night for elementary students on Washburne Avenue. Games are being organized by the Paynesville Jaycees.

A kid’s pedal pull will be held on Washburne Avenue in front of the Antique Mall. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m. with the pull starting at 7 p.m. The idea is to see who can pull the most weight the farthest distance. There will be eight age groups starting with 4-year-olds. Trophies will be awarded to the top three place winners in each age group. Each contestant will receive a cold can of pop just for entering the contest.

This is a sanctioned pedal pull and the first and second place winners are eligible to compete in the state pull in Hutchinson on Sept. 12.

Besides the games, the Little Miss Dairy Queen and Dennis the Menace Look-a-Like pageant will be held at 7 p.m. on James Street. Check at the Dairy Queen for a list of contestants.

A new item this year is a “Kiss The Pig” contest as a fund raiser for the Paynesville Area Transit. This will run after the Little Miss Dairy Queen pageant on James Street.

Contestants are Don Torbenson, Peter Jacobson, Steve Brisendine, Bill Ryan, Jennifer Wendlandt, Dave Peschong, Doug Stang, and Joe Spaulding.

The person raising the most money (votes), will get to kiss a pig. The second place person will get a pork dinner and the person with the least votes will be kissing the back of the pig, according to Janell Hoffman, organizer.

The contestants will be available at the queen pageant Monday night to explain why people should vote for them.

People can vote ($1 per vote) for their favorite person at either the Paynesville Office of the Melrose Credit Union, Community First National Bank or at the Farmers and Merchants State Bank.

Other festivities on Tuesday and Wednesday include the Rebekah Lodge pie sale, near the corner of Washburne and James Street; the Crow River Trail Guards, root beer stand; Jaycees, mini-donut stand, and the Paynesville Lions Hamburger stand.

The grand parade will be held Wednesday, June 17, at 7 p.m. with nine bands scheduled and more than 100 parade entries. Bands coming and their sponsors are: Paynesville Marching Band, Paynesville Office of the Melrose Credit Union; Sartell Junior High Band, Peeper Distinctive Eyewear; Bertha-Hewitt Marching Band, Paynesville Press; Albany Marching Band, Albany Office of the Melrose Credit Union; Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Marching Band, Lieser Insurance Agency; Becker Marching Band, State Farm Insurance; Foley Marching Band, Jacklitch Chiropractic; Milaca, Community First National Bank; and Princeton Marching Band, HF Paul Insurance.

The parade route will start at the Industrial Park and head south on Washburne Avenue, turn west at Mill Street by the elementary school and then turn south on Maple Street and end at the St. Louis Catholic Church. The awards ceremony will take place on the front steps of the Catholic church. (Note the parade route has been changed due to street construction. Check map for new route.)

A four-team baseball tournament will be held Thursday through Saturday, June 18 to 20 with Roscoe, St. Martin, Paynesville and Regal competing against each other. On Thursday at 8 p.m., the Paynesville Pirates will face the Roscoe Rangers. On Friday at 8 p.m., St. Martin Martins and the Regal Eagles will play.

On Saturday the losers of these games will face off at 5 p.m. with the winners playing at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, check out the Town and Country Days schedule on the Press website at: www.paynesville area.com.

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