This weekend Bessemer celebrated its 33rd Annual Pumpkinfest. Saturday, pumpkins were everywhere in the
city. At EJ Oas’ field a Trebuchet was catapulting
pumpkins at a fort across the field. The device propels
the pumpkins with a tremendous force when the trigger is
released and a 900 pound weight cooperates with gravity.
Pictured above is three year old, Owen Eli, selecting
just the right ammunition.
More sociable uses of pumpkins could be found at
city hall where a Pie Social took place. Pumpkin pies
and other high sugar pleasures were plentiful, and you
could enjoy the dessert as you listened to the
Washington School Choir sing 21 songs selected by the
k-4 students. The kids were performing under the
direction of Lowell Roderick.
Later in the afternoon the Gogebic Range Concert
Band performed at the Pie Social. Earlier in the day the
band performed at a wedding ceremony in Hurley. The band
played songs including: Buglers Holiday, Witches Waltz,
The Adams Family and many more od their audiences
favorite melodies.
above - helium filled balloons fly above Sophie
Street. Each balloon was purchased by sponsors. The
fundraiser grossed $600, however, the cost of the helium
has double over the past year.
Outside on Sophie Street there were more Pumpkin
Pies. A pie eating contest was held just north of city
hall. The winner of the 5-8 year class was Angelo
Harville, Jamie Kapelka
won the 9-11 year old class, and winning the 12-14 year
class was Becky Deitz.
The day began with a Kiddies' Parade down Sophie
Street. Although the morning began unseasonably cool, it
was just fine at parade time. Mom and Dad’s as well as
family pets accompanied the kids all dressed up in their
Halloween attire.
After the parade the kids could play in a Tony the
Tiger themed jump house as usual it the was the center
of attention for the younger kids. For the adults there
were vendors all along Sophie Street.
Dave and Skippy returned to Sophie Street. The
ventriloquist act is very popular with the kids.
Skippy and Dave have logged many miles and over
3,000 performances across the country at schools, clubs,
concerts, colleges, conventions, libraries, and
countless fairs and festivals.
Dave's cast of characters includes Skippy (his right
hand man), who accompanied Dave to Bessemer.
Before making the switch to full-time ventriloquist,
Dave was a singer and songwriter on the college circuit
who has recorded and released four albums and three
videos
Some of the highlights of Skippy and Dave's career have
been opening for the likes of magician David
Copperfield, being featured in the nationally
distributed book Dustin's Big School Day, and performing
as a main attraction at the world's largest aviation
convention.
The Tired Iron Antique Tractor Club presented a
tractor show and a tractor pull. The event took place in
mud pits behind the BP Station. There was a large crowd
on hand to watch the tractor pull; and there were many
great tractors being shown.
An Arts and Crafts Fair was hosted at A.D. Johnson,
where there were many shoppers as well as vendor. The
fair also include an exhibit in the school woodshop.
There the Gogebic Range Woodcarvers displayed some of
their great work and patrons could tour the shop and
meet the artists. The woodcarvers are now working with
students using soap as their carving medium. No more
wood or tools thanks to the newly elected state
government slashing school budgets.
Polar Bear
Cookbook
Thank you
to everyone who submitted
recipes for the Polar Bear
Hockey Cookbook. The cookbooks
are now available. The cost for
the cookbooks are $10.00 so make
sure to grab one for yourself
and maybe one or two as a gift.
They can be purchased at the Pat
O'Donnel Civic Center concession
stand or by contacting Kerry
Roehm or Micki Sorensen.
