The big day is over for another year but the work goes on as paperwork needs to be finished and filed and lots of things need to be stored for another year.
Nobody knows the amount of work and time it takes to arrange the activities, get volunteers and let the area know that we here in Zanesville are really a part of Wells and Allen County. Our town just celebrated it’s 175th birthday and we have always been overlooked. I guess we need to form our own little entity as we seem to be in the “Twilight Zone”.
I have not had the time to get all the reports together on the Lions Festival but I will report to you that two of our new signs have been installed thanks to Town Council President Issac Zent and his two boys and Councilman John Schuhmacher. They worked really hard to get them up before the festival. You will see one on the south entry to town just before you cross the Eight Mile Bridge and the second one is on the entry triangle on the north edge of town and is just north of the Dollar General. The other two will be installed soon.
You can give them a personal thank you by attending the Aug. 15 Town Council meeting. They will be discussing many things you will be interested in and all are welcome to attend. The meeting is held in the town hall on Wayne Street and begins at 6:30 p.m.
I also want to thank Tara Bowersock who has always, through the years, been one of my go to’s for everything as she keeps our Facebook page full of information and helps with all things going on in town. She is currently the Zanesville Town Clerk.
Diana Miller has, for years, also headed up the townwide garage sales and they certainly were a success this year. Thanks Diana!
An oldtime attendant of the Lions Club’s Car Show, Mr. Connett, told my daughter Robin, who runs the show every year, that he has been to over 12 shows already this summer and he considers Zanesville Lions show the very best! Another friend called to tell me that he thought the festival over all was the greatest! Thanks guys!
Thanks to our Lions Club members who volunteered all over the place for the day. At the car show were members Robin Phillips, Larry Herron, Gary and Cheri Steed and past District Governor, from Ossian, Roger Cash. At the Zanesville Community Church of God food booth were members Tom and Cheryl Tracy, Steve Whetstone, and Frank Ratcliffe. In the clubhouse selling apple dumplings and ice cream were members Ann and Herman Hans, Helen Trevino, Melanie Martin and Melba Edwards. Annette Best volunteered her time again this year. She just celebrated her 95th birthday. Members Ron and Stephanie Hartman helped with delivering our food products. Members Ken and Steve Keesler, who are always on hand to help, could not make the day as Steve had a surgery scheduled. We wish her a quick recovery.
By the way Roger Cash brought with him two of his wife’s grandsons from Ohio who were a great help at the show as were also my grandsons the Bennett boys.
I had to call on my grandchildren and their offspring to walk in the parade as reading the first of this column you will realize that we did not have any Lions left to hand out beanie-babies to the kids. I guess they deserved to walk in this particular parade as these grandchildren represent the sixth generation down from grandfather Jonathan Michael who came to Zanesville when he was 21 years old in 1854.
Zanesville was only 6 years old at the time. He stayed in the Zanesville House Hotel that I now live in. He was coming from Clear Spring, Maryland, and going to Fort Wayne to be a shoemaker. He didn’t like Fort Wayne so he returned to Zanesville and bought the hotel in 1861. He passed away in 1910.
Those walking for history and the Lions Club were granddaughter Abigail Miller Tarpein, her husband Micheal and sons Lexin and Mosen from Columbia, Missouri. Granddaughter Baili Bennett Spangler, her husband Travis, and son Issac of Fort Wayne, granddaughter Amber Miller of Fort Wayne, grandson Andrew Miller, his wife Stephanie, and their baby girl Emmie from Kansas City, Missouri.
The great-grandkids that participated with their parents are the seventh generation. Here is the lifeline: Jonathan Michael, Almissa Michael McBride, Donald McBride, Melba McBride Edwards, Melba’s children, Melba’s grandchildren, and Melba’s great-grandchildren.
Jonathan Michael bought a farm south of town in 1866 that now belongs to fourth generation, the Dave McBrides.
The family members were home for the wedding of granddaughter Ashley Miller and Landen Roth. Ashley was a resident of Zanesville when she met across the road Landen years ago!
Back to town happenings:
Centershot, the Zanesville Community Church of God archery program, continues on Monday evenings from 6 to 7:30 p.m. until Aug. 28. The students will be shooting their best and you are welcome to bring a lawn chair and enjoy.
Remember to be watchful for school buses and kids as school begins soon.
Please help the Lions by being watchful at the park for vandals. Just a day or two before the festival, Lion Larry Herron had to spend time washing away chalk writings inside the open pavilion. If you have any information on who did this let me know.
Do you need some delicious apple dumplings that come with caramel syrup? The Lions have some to sell to you. They are frozen and will keep just fine for your Thanksgiving or holiday meals. You may like to give them to people as gifts on birthdays. They are $3 each and we can meet you at the clubhouse or maybe in Markle or Huntington. Just call me at 638-4327 to order or text Robin at 758-2263.
I did not have time to get our commemorative buttons done so they will be available at the community picnic or by calling me in few weeks. The emblem on the button was designed by Jeremiah Edwards and was placed on all the trophies, and dash plaques and is a scene of life in Indiana. The picnic will be sponsored by the Zanesville Community Church of God and the Lions Club and will be held on Aug. 26. There will be a free program with food and games. Mark your calendars now.
There are still some more tourneys at the ballpark so go on over and enjoy watching.
