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Well Pat and my Parade Marshalling days are over. It was a huge honor
and a lot of fun going through the Iowa County Farmers Appreciation Day
parade Sunday on the Gevelinger wagon and waving at all the people along
the parade route. It was especially great to follow all the veterans through
the route. They are all special people who have served our great country well!
I couldn't believe the applause we received at several points in the parade -
also the good words from parade announcer Bob (Ranger) McNeill at the
courthouse steps where he announced from!
*****
I'm featuring the Dodgeville Middle School Band from the Farmers Appreciation
Day parade in my column this week (see above photo).
*****
Due to Babe Ruth baseball tournament obligations, Pat and I were able to
sneak away from Centennial Park to be in the parade - but unfortunately we
had to get right back to the park after arriving at Harris Park. I understand
that good friend Kenny Von Rueden had some nice words to say about the
two of us when he was announcing part of the awards inside Ley Pavilion at
Harris Park after people were treated to a fine lunch!
*****
At Centennial Park I had a chance to run into one of my "like a daughters"
in Tiffany (Millard) Thompson who was at the games to watch her nephew
JJ Thompson play for the Dodgeville 15U team. I hadn't seen her for quite
some time. Her daughter, Abby, was with her. Boy has she grown up! Tiffany
said Abby is getting taller all the time while she is getting shorter!
*****
Saturday we also had the mini-Reilly Reunion at Centennial Park. I had a
chance to meet some relatives from that side of the family mainly from Potosi
- the Fecht family. Then, to my surprise, I found out that I'm a cousin to Tina
(Tim) Martin - of Dodgeville - as she is a Fecht originally from Potosi. Small
world isn't it?!!!
*****
I sure had great help in the concession stand at the 15U Babe Ruth Tournament
at Centennial Park last week. The parents of the Dodgeville team really
stepped up and worked - even during time their kids were playing. Now,
the 23rd-24th-25th will be the 16-18 Ohio Valley Regional here and a Sauk
City. That's when teams come from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky
and Wisconsin to play. We have three days while Sauk has those same
days plus the finals. It all brings a lot of people to the area and gives us great
exposure. The Dodgeville/Sauk team doesn't have to pay an entry fee or anything!
I hope I get as good of response to stand workers for this next tournament
as I did for the last one. Their kids get to be a part of a great tournament
and meet some pretty good kids who are also pretty darn good ball players!
*****
Cousin Jeanette, husband Jack, daughter Melanie, granddaughter Grace
and son-in-law Mitch are in town for awhile. The youngsters have to leave
shortly, but the oldtimers get to stay and "play" a couple of weeks longer!