|
|
|
JASPER, Mo. – Fog filled the air in downtown Jasper as 25 participants in the brand new Fun Run lined Grand Avenue at 8 a.m. to kickoff Saturday's Jasper Appreciation Days.
Down the street at the local VFW post, residents lined up for a biscuit and gravy breakfast to fortify themselves for a day of reminiscing and celebration.
Sheri McWilliams, one of the events organizers, said there was a lot of interest in the celebration this year, so they tried to include something for everyone.
Lowell Davis autographed books in the Christian Church and there was a tractor show in the parking lot. Further down the street, over 30 vendors, classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles, and a quilt show, vied for the crowd's attention.
McWilliams said that during the planning stages for Jasper Appreciation Days, "people started reminiscing about how things used to be, and what they used to do."
That input helped make the day a pleasure for everyone, but McWilliams added; "We have already seen things we want to add for next year."
The Fun Run was a new event, organized by Austin Bunn, a 2001 Jasper High School graduate and track record holder at JHS. He grew up attending Appreciation Days and wanted to do something more this year.
Though Appreciation Days usually evoke images of a business to customer relationship, many of the organizers and participants used this opportunity to show their appreciation for the community and are trying to do more to revitalize the town. Part of the children's scavenger hunt included collecting a pamphlet promoting a bond issue for the school.
Grand Avenue was closed for the event, but it was still the busiest street in town.
Retired men drifted between classic cars and vintage tractors, clearly recalling fond memories of both, while their wives walked through the quilt and art shows.
Parents hurried after their dashing children as they collected clues for the scavenger hunt. A young bed-racing team ousted the perennial champions by a four-second margin, and the whole downtown came to life again.
McWilliams enjoys traveling to big cities across the country with her husband, artist Dan McWilliams, but enjoys coming home the most. She wants more people, especially younger people, to feel the same.
JASPER, Mo. – Fog filled the air in downtown Jasper as 25 participants in the brand new Fun Run lined Grand Avenue at 8 a.m. to kickoff Saturday's Jasper Appreciation Days.
Down the street at the local VFW post, residents lined up for a biscuit and gravy breakfast to fortify themselves for a day of reminiscing and celebration.
Sheri McWilliams, one of the events organizers, said there was a lot of interest in the celebration this year, so they tried to include something for everyone.
Lowell Davis autographed books in the Christian Church and there was a tractor show in the parking lot. Further down the street, over 30 vendors, classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles, and a quilt show, vied for the crowd's attention.
McWilliams said that during the planning stages for Jasper Appreciation Days, "people started reminiscing about how things used to be, and what they used to do."
That input helped make the day a pleasure for everyone, but McWilliams added; "We have already seen things we want to add for next year."
The Fun Run was a new event, organized by Austin Bunn, a 2001 Jasper High School graduate and track record holder at JHS. He grew up attending Appreciation Days and wanted to do something more this year.
Though Appreciation Days usually evoke images of a business to customer relationship, many of the organizers and participants used this opportunity to show their appreciation for the community and are trying to do more to revitalize the town. Part of the children's scavenger hunt included collecting a pamphlet promoting a bond issue for the school.
Grand Avenue was closed for the event, but it was still the busiest street in town.
Retired men drifted between classic cars and vintage tractors, clearly recalling fond memories of both, while their wives walked through the quilt and art shows.
Parents hurried after their dashing children as they collected clues for the scavenger hunt. A young bed-racing team ousted the perennial champions by a four-second margin, and the whole downtown came to life again.
McWilliams enjoys traveling to big cities across the country with her husband, artist Dan McWilliams, but enjoys coming home the most. She wants more people, especially younger people, to feel the same.
