When Nat King Cole recorded “Route 66,” he probably never thought it would be the inspiration for this year’s Carthage Maple Leaf Festival theme – “Maple Leaf Kicks on Route 66.”
Chosen out of 23 entries, Carrie Howard’s submission will be used throughout the 43rd annual festival scheduled for Oct. 10-17.
“I was coming back from Lockwood one night and saw a car pulled up along side one of those Route 66 historical markers on Highway 96,” said Howard. “Several people were standing around taking pictures of it. On the following Monday I saw the article about the theme contest and decided that would be a good theme. Carthage is full of historical themes, including Route 66. I submitted it, not thinking it had a chance and when I was told I won, I was shocked.”
Now that the theme has been chosen, the artwork contest is now under way based on the theme.
Howard said attending and participating in the Maple Leaf Festival has become a family tradition.
“The first year we were in it we all rode horses because we are all in the saddle club,” said Howard. “We did that for many years, then for a couple of years, we just sat on the sidelines and watched. Then in 2007, my daughter was the rodeo queen and last year my youngest daughter marched in the flag line in the junior high band.
“We go and just soak it all it,” Howard continued. “We went to the lip sync contest last year and had a ball; we went to the band competition one year and we even helped the saddle club one year with a little bull riding competition.”
Choosing the theme this year were members of the 2009 Maple Leaf Festival Committee.
Members of the committee are:
• Kenny Adams, car show chairman;
• John Bode, Carthage Chamber of Commerce;
• Chuck Bryant, Carthage Water and Electric;
• Wendi Douglas, Carthage Convention and Visitors Bureau;
• Cheryl Finley, individual;
• Tianna Fisher, Central Pet Care, dog show chairman;
• Beth Foust, 3 Minutes of Fame chairman;
• Susan Griffith, quilt show chairman;
• Pam Irwin, individual;
• Jeanine Poe, Hometown Bank, pageant chairman;
• Dana Redburn, Fair Acres Family YMCA, Fun Walk chairman;
• Linda Redshaw, Carthage Chamber of Commerce;
• Scott Rosenthal, parade chairman;
• Betty Saferite, Grundy’s Body and Frame Shop;
• Tiffany Shores, Florette by Countryside, Cobras chairman;
• Kip Smith, Smith Midwest Realtors;
• Corinne Waggoner, Arvest Bank, entertainment chairman;
• Mary Jo Waldo, Carthage Chamber of Commerce.
