Crowds brave the heat for Viola Valley Homecoming
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As usual, spectators lined the streets of Viola with kids filling bags, buckets, and whatever else they could find, with what must have been hundreds of pounds of candy thrown from the passing floats and vehicles.
Viola Mayor Kevin Lawrence said he appreciated the support of the community and the effort of all those involved.
‘I think it went well,’ Lawrence said. ‘Considering the heat and the weather that we had. Everything went well, we had a good Friday night. The tractor pull went great, and the parade went well Saturday.’
Lawrence said he noticed the weather didn’t have quite the negative effect he expected.
‘People stayed around all day,’ Lawrence said. ‘I figured during the middle of the day when it was so hot that everybody would just leave, but they didn’t. They stayed around, sat around in the park under the shade trees. Then that night we had the ‘On the Road Again’ show, and that was a big success, so everything went really well.’
Many spectators were amazed by the number of people actually in the parade, which some estimated being in the hundreds.
‘I know what they’re talking about,’ said Lawrence. ‘I didn’t ask anyone how many entrees there were, but I’d say there probably was that many. The parade was fine, really fine. I’d like to thank everybody for coming out and joining in our fun.’
This year’s grand marshal was Viola’s Citizen of the Year, Viola resident, and well-known local musician, Monte Swann. In addition to leading the parade, Swann, as is his custom, also lead a group of friends, family and fellow musicians in a lively musical jam-session at the gazebo called, appropriately, ‘Monte Swann and Friends.’
Swann’s reaction to his choice as Citizen of the Year was typically self-deprecating.
‘It feels strange,’ Swann said with a big grin. ‘I feel I’d be the last one for something like that.’
One of the things that most surprised him about the honor was the secrecy involved, since some had known from early in the year about the choice, but managed to keep it from him.
‘Everyone kept the secret from me where I never suspected this would happen,’ Swann said. ‘I swear I don’t know how they kept a secret that long around here,’ he added with a laugh. ‘But they did. But it felt nice, it felt really nice. It’s just one of those things, you know. If you love this old place, you love it, and the people around it. You make fun of each other, and then you go help each other.’
Elisabeth Rose Morrison was crowned Little Miss Viola Valley 2007 in the annual pageant. The pageant was held at the park gazebo during the homecoming activities.
Some tense moments came not from the heat of the day but after the judges’ final scores resulted in a tie for the winner. In a first for the pageant, after the four contestants made their appearance in front of the judges, two of them were tied as the winner.
After the scores were tabulated for a second time, the tie was broken and Morrison, 6, was named the winner. She is the daughter of David and Karen Morrison.
The reigning queen Savannah Skye Saylors, daughter of Jamie and Chantel Saylors, was present and crowned Morrison as Little Miss Viola Valley 2007 immediately after the announcement was made.
The remaining contestants were Hallie Meghan Cook, 6, Katie Elisabeth Bost, 5 1/2, and Livia Junae Brewer, 6. Each were presented with gift bags and trophies.