LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL September 27 - 29, 2019
2 A Special Section of Courier-Tribune
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
September 27 - 29, 2019
Get ready for 2019 Liberty Fall Festival This year’s theme for the Liberty Fall Festival parade, “Bridging Liberty” sets up for a refreshed connectivity as the Missouri Highway 152 bridge is back open and traffic is again flowing to and from Liberty. There is no better way to celebrate then at the Liberty Fall Festival. This year, booths open at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 27, for those who want to start out early, seeing the variety of food offerings, arts and crafts creators and commercial vendors. After school is out that Friday, the carnival will open at 5 p.m. As the company has previously, Jones & Company Carnival will be bringing the rides and midway games. Gayle Potter, the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce president, said the carnival company will bring two state fair rides that are great for teens and young adults.
“We are not getting bigger, but we are getting better,” Potter said. In keeping with that note, the Brothers Walker will be back on the festival main stage. “They were an awesome duo and stayed around for 45 minutes after their concert,” Potter said of the act’s country performance during last year’s festival. “I loved their interaction with the community. We enjoyed them so much.” Saturday night’s entertainment on the main stage is Three Drink Minimum, a regional favorite band. Potter and Membership Specialist Nancy Bishop are again celebrating that vendor spaces are more than full as the chamber has a waiting list. Bishop said she is excited to again see a mingling of food vendors along the festival grounds.
Unique food offerings include chocolate-covered fruit kabobs, noodle dishes, fruit drinks and burritos. The festival is a chance to reunite with old friends and rekindle old connections. For families, the festival may put smiles on the faces of parents and grandparents watching children unplug from technology to look up to see the world around them and play. While there are plenty of new things to explore at the 2019 Liberty Fall Festival, there are also tried-and-true established vendors and activities. “These are some of the reasons that people come to the festival,” Potter said. “Others crave the new and we have listened to offer some new amenities. Whatever the case, we are all creating and getting the chance to make new memories.”
COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
Elite Dance Co. students high kick their way down Franklin Street during last year’s Liberty Fall Festival parade. This year’s parade is Saturday, Sept. 28.
Thursday, September 27 - 29, 2019
A Special Section of Courier-Tribune 3
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
Bridging Liberty draws on festival excitement, lends theme to weekend of fall fun
KELLIE HOUX/STAFF PHOTO
The Liberty Fall Festival includes a midway full of carnival games and rides.
In an effort to keep a positive economic spirit going during the construction of the Missouri Highway 152 bridge, the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce and the Liberty Tourism Committee created an effort to spur shopping and dining in the city called Bridging Liberty. To celebrate the bridge opening and the culmination of the efforts, a $5,000 prize will be drawn Friday, Sept. 27. Chamber President Gayle Potter said she started chatting with Shawn Barber, one of the founders of CONRAD’S Restaurant and Alehouse, and the movement started to see something encouraging for all of Liberty from the historic downtown to the Liberty Triangle and Liberty Commons and every business in between. Guild Content CEO Justin Ricklefs joined in the mix. “The efforts are to promote our local businesses and drive major awareness to the entire city,” he said. “It’s an effort to unite the entire community, that’s the play on Bridging Liberty. ... It’s about creating a different conversation and positive awareness.” Potter said the campaign is a partnership that businesses giving shoppers and diners reasons to frequent the area during construction. “Businesses offered $25 gift cards,” she said. “We held drawings and people enjoyed the efforts to shop locally.” The big effort was to have shoppers bring in $100 in receipts during this construction period. Their names were entered into a drawing for $5,000 in cash that will take place during Liberty Fall Festival. “We have had 28 partnering businesses,” Potter said. “It’s going to be a great tie-in to give the money away at Fall Festival. It’s been a bit organic and a whole lot of fun.” The presentation will be part of a live radio broadcast from Dana and Parks, the afternoon show on KMBZ’s 98.1 FM. The drawing will take place around 6 p.m. during Friday’s festivities.
4 A Special Section of Courier-Tribune
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
September 27 - 29, 2019
Parade winds through downtown Liberty On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Liberty Fall Festival parade. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. and is expected to last two hours. There will be a 9 a.m. closure of Missouri Highway 152 at intersection with Missouri Highway 291. For businesses located in the Seaport plaza area, business leaders are asked to alert clients to access Seaport via Landmark and College streets during the parade. If the entrance to a business is along Highway 152, businesses should let clients know they will need to come down Landmark Street to Clayview Drive and alert the police officers in the area that the individual or family has an appointment in the Cobblestone, Liberty Landing or Westview Professional Center areas. The parade starts at the intersection of Fairview and Kansas streets, then continues down Kansas past Liberty City Hall to the intersection with Missouri Street. The parade then turns up Missouri to the north and then to the intersection with Franklin Street. The parade turns back west on Franklin Street toward Heritage Middle School, where the parade ends. Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce President Gayle
COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
American Legion Post 95 members ride in the Liberty Fall Festival parade.
Potter said there are 100 parade entries. “The theme for the festival and of course, the parade, is ‘Bridging Liberty,’” she said. “We are also inviting some of the William Jewell College groups as well. It is their homecoming weekend so we are going to give them some
space up front.” Jewell spokesman Cara Dahlor said the athletics department confirmed the football team and spirit team are in the parade. College President Elizabeth MacLeod Walls will also be in the parade.
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A Special Section of Courier-Tribune 5
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
Thursday, September 27 - 29, 2019
Longtime principal Marty Jacobs to lead parade as marshal BY SEAN ROBERTS sean.roberts@mycouriertribune.com
Former Liberty Public Schools administrator Marty Jacobs has been invited to be this year’s parade marshal for the annual Liberty Fall Festival. Serving LPS for 34 years, 10 dedicated to Liberty North High School and 24 to Liberty High School, Jacobs has spent most of his life in Liberty. He raised two kids through the local school system, Audry Jacobs and Josh Jacobs, and enjoys spending time with his local granddaughter, Nicolett Jacobs, 1. Over the years Marty has watched the community boom. It wasn’t something he expected, he said, but it’s been an exciting experience. As the community has grown, Marty said it has always been very supportive of him and the district he served. Being the parade marshal is another way he feels he’s been lifted up by Liberty locals. “It’s an honorable thing,” Jacobs said about being asked to be the parade marshal. “It feels good to know that you’re thought of that way.” Among his accomplishments, Marty helped rally the community to fundraise for another 300 seats in the Community Center Performing Arts Theater so it would be large enough for school performances. He also is remembered for the Fine Arts Department he fostered. Marty denies credit for programs that developed on his watch, beginning in the 1990s, saying he just had the pleasure of hiring extraordinary people who got it done.
SEAN ROBERTS/STAFF PHOTO SEAN ROBERTS/STAFF PHOTO
Marty Jacobs was principal at Liberty High School beginning in 1985, then became the principal at Liberty North High School when it opened in 2010. He worked 34 years for Liberty Public Schools, retiring at the close of the 2018-19 school year.
In addition to Laura Ackerman, Sean Nicewaner, David Young and Paul Warnex, Marty said all his staff helped develop a fine arts program that was top in the state before the high school split into two schools. The split is probably his fondest memory, Marty said. “The joys and challenges that accompany such an endeavor was quite fulfilling,” he said of Liberty North. “As an educator, I am not certain there is a more comprehensive and complete experience than that.” Marty was selected as parade marshal for his impact on families of Liberty. Now retired from the school district, this will mark the first time in years Marty has
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been available for the parade. Absent in this community tradition bringing in fall. the past attending track meets and different Saturday morning school events, Northwest Editor Sean Roberts can be reached at sean. Marty said he’s honored to lead others in roberts@mycouriertribune.com or 389-6606.
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At his retirement party, a long line of community members waited to congratulate Marty Jacobs. The stage in Liberty North High School was named the Marty K. Jacobs Theater in recognition of Jacobs’ years with the district. He will serve as this year’s Liberty Fall Festival parade marshal.
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A Special Section of Courier-Tribune 7
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
Thursday, September 27 - 29, 2019
Local groups fundraise with pancakes Saturday morning As in years past, the weekend of Liberty Fall Festival will also feature two pancake breakfasts, raising funds for local civic and charitable groups. The first is an all-you-can-eat breakfast featuring Chris Cakes pancakes, sausage and a drink. It is being held by the girls and boys in Scouts BSA Troop 374 from 6:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at First Presbyterian Church, 138 N. Main St. in Liberty. “We’ve been doing this for over 25 years now,â€? said Scoutmaster Paul “Gatorâ€? Crooks. “... The more people the merrier.â€? Meals are $5 for children 12 and under and $8 for adults. Tickets will be available at the door. For more details, email Crooks at 374gator@gmail.com. The second breakfast, Cakes for Kids, will run from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, in
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the Franklin Elementary School gymnasium, 201 W. Mill St. The event is hosted by the East Clay Rotary Club and Franklin Elementary School PTA. Proceeds benefit the PTA and Rotary. The East Clay Rotary has worked with and donated to Feed Northland Kids, Wreaths Across America and Martha Lafite Nature Sanctuary. “It’s our third annual,� said Rotary President Stephanie Kleyh. Tickets are $7 in advance and $8 each at the door. “There is a chance for prizes for preorders. We have a $50 Hy-Vee gift card,� said Kleyh. Advanced tickets can be picked up at the Edward Jones Building at 9 N. Water St. on the downtown Liberty Square. For advance tickets or more informaMETRO CREATIVE tion, contact Kleyh at skleyh@yahoo.com Two pancake breakfasts the morning of Saturday, Sept. 28, will take place during the Liberty Fall Festival weekend. Both benefit local groups. or 797-8558.
8 A Special Section of Courier-Tribune
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
September 27 - 29, 2019
NEW: Panning for gold, gems A new attraction at this year’s Liberty Fall Festival will provide families a glimpse at a career from the nation’s early years and will provide an opportunity to take home a souvenir unlike others. DREAM Prospecting provides festivalgoers with an educational, hands-on mining experience through panning. “They buy a bucket of sand and then take it over to the flume and get to mine for items. … It’s different. It’s something that is fun and something we’ve done for a long time (as a way to earn a living),” said Dean Andrews, whose family owns DREAM Prospecting. DREAM stands for Discovering Radiant Gems and Minerals. Andrews assures those who plan to visit his activity booth that all items found will be of quality. “It’s real. Our goal is to provide a quality product,” he said. “You’ve got to have a good product to provide the level of service and I
want everyone to be happy. Everything they find is real.” Items that may be found during a panning session include arrowheads, gold and gems. Minerals and gems used come from across the United States and around the world from places like Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Africa. “It’s a little harder with things like arrowheads as they are harder to find, but we get items from all over the world,” said Andrews. The Andrews family purchased the business about 15 months ago after their son did a panning experience and fell in love with it, the business owner said. “It’s a great time and nobody has anything like it,” he said, adding he awaits the smiling faces he is sure to see at his booth during Liberty Fall Festival. The mining experience will be available Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27 and 28, and possibly Sunday, Sept. 29.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
DREAM Prospecting provides families with an educational, hands-on mining experience through panning for gold and other minerals. The activity will be one of the new vendors at this year’s Liberty Fall Festival.
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LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
Vendors open Friday, Saturday throughout downtown Liberty Fall Festival will feature over NEW VENDORS 175 booths of art, crafts and food vendors. DREAM Prospecting will be one of several news booths at this year’s Goods for sale will include unique clocks, festival. Other new booths include Sassy Treats by Mindy Perez that will feature lamps made from china in addition to texchocolate-covered fruit kabobs, Humorous Clocks by Jim Mofhitz and Shut the tiles, paintings, wearable art, hand-crafted Front Door whimsical home décor by Kelly Hunt. jewelry, wood carvings, clothing, leather and photography. Booths will be open Friday and Saturday, painting, nonprofits and metal work. Gayle Potter of the Liberty Chamber of Sept. 27 and 28. They will also feature face “I’m excited about a lot of these vendors,” Commerce said, giving special mention to
a new food offering at this year’s festival. “There will be chocolate-covered fruit kabobs. That is so unique.” Food vendors will be located near the carnival in addition to being comingled among other vendors. Although it wasn’t planned to have much of the food in the same area, many food vendors will be grouped together along Water and Franklin Streets.
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KELLIE HOUX/STAFF PHOTO
This year, Liberty Fall Festival vendor booths will be open Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27 and 28.
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10 A Special Section of Courier-Tribune
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
September 27 - 29, 2019
COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
Three days of activities await at the Liberty Fall Festival.
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12 A Special Section of Courier-Tribune
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
September 27 - 29, 2019
KELLIE HOUX/STAFF PHOTO
Hudson Barker, 5, paints a pumpkin with lots of blue paint at the Liberty Fall Festival. This year’s festival will provide children and family fun opportunities starting Friday, Sept. 27.
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A Special Section of Courier-Tribune 13
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY, SEPT. 27 FF Booths open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. FF Golf cart shuttles are available from noon to 6 p.m. on the Historic Liberty Square. FF Carnival opens at 5 p.m. in the parking lots along Kansas and Missouri streets. Guests can buy tickets for $1 each or 32 tickets for $25. FF Brothers Walker will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. on the main stage outside the Rooney Justice Center, 11 S. Water St.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 FF Booths are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. FF Carnival opens from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Guests can buy tickets for $1 each or 32 tickets for $25. FF Parade begins at 11 a.m. at Kansas and Franklin streets. The parade route can be found on page 4. FF Golf cart shuttles are available from noon until dusk. FF Three Drink Minimum, a local favorite band, will perform on the main stage from 7 to 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 29 FF Booths open from noon to 4 p.m. FF Carnival is open from noon to 4 p.m. Wrist band deals are available for $20.
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14 A Special Section of Courier-Tribune
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
September 27 - 29, 2019
Latest sculpture installation ready for viewing
ART ALL AROUND US BY KELLIE HOUX
Matthew Duffy’s work, ‘Sunrise/ Sunset,” sits in the lot next to the Clay County Archives on Franklin Street.
installation piece at the corner of Water and Franklin streets. When people view her piece, they can walk through it and look up, taking a look at the glass circles of greens and oranges. It’s a piece that invokes change and movement, Willis said. “If you are here on a sunny day, the sun will move through the colored glass,” she said. “Just moving to the corner of the piece and looking up, it changes again.” Willis, who hails from Peoria, Illinois, has had pieces as part of other public art walks, but never west of the Mississippi River. “I decided it was time to go west,” she
kellie.houx@mycouriertribune.com
During the 2019 Liberty Fall Festival, visitors and participants will get to experience the third year of the annual rotating downtown art display. While the first year only brought in one artist, last year there were six installed pieces around the downtown square. This year, there will be nine pieces installed around downtown, with most up in time for the festival’s start on Friday, Sept. 27. Jaci Willis brought in “Tangerine Daydreams,” made of stainless steel and colored glass. While it’s not meant for climbing, it is meant to be walked through as an
KELLIE HOUX/ STAFF PHOTO
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LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
A Special Section of Courier-Tribune 15
KELLIE HOUX/STAFF PHOTO
Greg Muller’s “Prairie Ship” is on Missouri Street between Mill and Kansas streets, between the James Rooney Justice Center and Liberty City Hall.
KELLIE HOUX/STAFF PHOTO
Joe Sackett’s piece, “The Stellas,” is at the intersection of Franklin and Main streets on the historic Liberty Square.
KELLIE HOUX/STAFF PHOTO
Artist Jaci Willis’ “Tangerine Daydreams” is at the intersection of Water and Franklin streets.
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LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
Thursday, September 27 - 29, 2019
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14
KELLIE HOUX/STAFF PHOTO
Steven Maeck’s piece “Neithernoreitheror” sits near the entrance of the police station on Missouri Street.
KELLIE HOUX/STAFF PHOTO
Ben Pierce stands with his piece “Reach” at the intersection of Kansas and Main streets.
said. “I liked the landmarks that my daughter and I passed in the state. Hitting the Liberty Square, I have quickly fallen in love with the architecture. It’s a place with good bones.” Willis said she likes where the flower pots and greenery are situated around the Square, including near her sculpture. “This is my first sculpture to walk through,” she said. “I want people to experience the work and all the colors. I hope it’s a positive experience for people, especially as they see it for the first time at the festival.” Ben Pierce’s work “Reach” is at the corner of Main and Kansas streets. As people walk up the hill onto the Square, “Reach” will greet them in front of Restoration 1894. Pierce, from Cape Girardeau, is one of the more local artists. “I don’t dictate how people engage with my art, but I rather hope that people think about it,” he said. Pierce enjoys public art rather than galleries. “There’s a stigma that galleries or museums are sterile and hands off,” he said. “Here, the very name public art creates that connection. It’s right outside.” Initially, he had no idea that his piece would be
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Monday - Friday 9 - 5; Saturday 9 - 4
in such a prime spot. He said he can also tell there is a relevance to the city and its efforts. “There are new businesses that help make older towns relevant, but also actions like a public art display,” he said. “I like seeing the heart of downtown and knowing that my piece will be here for a year.” So while Pierce doesn’t define his art, he does share some inspirations. “I am always inspired by nature,” he said. “I think about the curves and bends of a river such as the Mississippi where I live. I may think of a young plant, growing and twisting toward the sun, uncurling its leaves.” The other pieces in place by Sept. 12 are: Joe Sackett’s “The Stellas” at Franklin and Main streets, Greg Muller’s “Prairie Ship” at Missouri Street between Mill and Kansas streets, Matthew Duffy’s “Sunrise/Sunset” next to the Clay County Archives and Steven Maeck’s “Neithernoreitheror” near the Liberty police station entrance on Missouri Street. The remaining pieces that should also be placed are: Ray Katz’s “Excelerator” at Kansas and Prairie streets, Nathan Pierce’s “Social Tones” at Gallatin and Franklin streets and Jim Gallucci’s “Oak Leaf Arch V” by the Liberty City Hall fountain. Southeast Editor Kellie Houx can be reached at kellie.houx@ mycouriertribune.com or 389-6630.
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LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
September 27 - 29, 2019
Brothers Walker bring back country sound Fans of country music will be seeing double as the twins Coty and Clinton Walker bring their act, the Brothers Walker, back to the Liberty Fall Festival stage as part of the Friday entertainment lineup Sept. 27. The men first performed at the festival last year. “We don’t take each other seriously and we make light of a lot serious issues, but we just have fun,” Clinton said in a Courier-Tribune interview. “People are so stressed out over everything, but we aim for good, fun entertainment.” The two men from Bernie, Missouri have found regional success and have shared a national spotlight on Team Usher on season six of NBC’s competition show “The Voice.” “In about six months with the show, we gained more knowledge and mentoring than we have gained in our careers thus far,” Coty said in a previous Courier-Tribune interview. “It was one of the best experiences for our career. The exposure was great as well as the behind-the-scenes treatment and camaraderie.” The brothers have since shared the stage with acts like Travis Tritt, Lee Brice, Johnny Cash and Peter Furler. “We started out singing in church when we were really little and we still do,” states the band’s website, www. brotherswalker.com. “We love to write country songs and share our original music everywhere we go. Our passion for Christ and love for entertaining are what drive us, but we don’t take ourselves, or each other, too seriously, and it comes out in our shows.” Their debut single, “The Life” made a
COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
The Brothers Walker from Bernie, performed last year at the Liberty Fall Festival. They will return to the main stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.
big impact on YouTube and their self-tiThe Brothers Walker will be bringing My Baby, My Bullets,” “Treehouse,” and tled debut album tells stories of what their playfulness to the Liberty main “Fish in the Sea” at 7 p.m. Sept. 27. it was like to grow up in a small town. stage with their songs like “My Bible,
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20 A Special Section of Courier-Tribune
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
September 27 - 29, 2019
Three Drink Minimum pleases crowds with acoustic set
A local Liberty band, Three Drink Minimum, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, on the Liberty Fall Festival main stage at the Rooney Justice Center as one if its final big performances before the group disbands. “We are excited about getting the opportunity to play in front of a lot of our friends, family and neighbors,” guitarist Dave Logan said. The band is made of three members who met while playing in the praise band at Liberty United Methodist Church. Members are Logan on guitar, Heath Nuckolls on vocals and Jeff Black on percussion. “We eventually all started playing in another band called Highway A,” Logan said. “That band actually played at Fall Festival quite a few years ago.” As people left and only the three remained, Three Drink Minimum was born. “We’re an acoustic band and we play a variety of music from classic rock to 90s alternative to current songs,” Logan said. “All covers.” The band has been performing at local venues like North Kansas City’s SEAN ROBERTS/STAFF PHOTO Christine’s Firehouse for six years. What Three Drink Minimum formed in Liberty, having met in a contemporary praise band at Liberty United Methodist Church. The band will be winding makes performing at Liberty Fall Festival down its final year together with a big performance at Liberty Fall Festival this month.
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Thursday, September 27 - 29, 2019 so special, Logan said, is the age limit isn’t 21 and older. “It is a big event for the city of Liberty where the whole family can come,” he said. “Being able to play in front of everybody where you can bring friends and family is pretty exciting for us.” Logan said it is an added pleasure to see their neighbors in the audience and hopes everyone in the community attends the Saturday show. Performing at an annual favorite event in front of thousands of people while coming home to Liberty is a nice way for the band to cap its final year together, Logan said.
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LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
Second stage back by popular demand
IF YOU GO Other performances will he held on the “Second Stage,” which is really the area along Main Street across from the Presbyterian Church. Performances include music, dance and other performance art.
COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
Conservatory of Dance Education students perform a hip-hop routine as part of the entertainment at last year’s fall festival on the second stage area near the intersection of Main and Mississippi streets. The second stage is returning to this year’s festival.
The second stage at the intersection of Mississippi and Main streets will return to the festival for a second year. Chamber President Gayle Potter said families enjoyed setting up chairs on the sidewalk and the hillside near the First Presbyterian Church gazebo on Main Street. “It draws people down to a street that doesn’t get as much traffic either,” Potter said. “We use the street so there is not that traditional stage per se, but it brings families through those vendors.” Many of the dance and performance groups of this year’s Liberty Fall Festival will be in this area. The groups or soloists will perform every 30 minutes. “We get to see our community groups there,” Potter said.
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22 A Special Section of Courier-Tribune
LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL
September 27 - 29, 2019
Volunteer cleanup crew full of unsung heroes BY SEAN ROBERTS sean.roberts@mycouriertribune.com
While unseen by most, volunteers from Desperation Church who clean up after the annual event, according to Gayle Potter of the Liberty Chamber of Commerce, are the unsung heroes of Liberty Fall Festival. “Every year,” she said as emotions flooded her, “dozens of volunteers from Desperation Church come out on Sunday morning to help clean up after Fall Festival. What they get done in an hour would take us all day.” Jon Peterson, pastor of Ministries and Administration for the church, said congregation members have been volunteering for a decade. With about 100 volunteers this year, Peterson said the church group doesn’t do the work for accolades, but to help the community where it counts.
“We see the trash in the streets,” Peterson said. “We came out with our families and decided this would be a good way to help.” Volunteers from the church meet at Rotary Plaza around 10:15 a.m., pass out trash bags and use golf carts provided by the chamber to go around and clean the Square. “Sunday is pretty quiet,” Peterson said. “Fall Fest is mostly shut down and no one is around. We just felt we wanted to do something to help.” At the end of their clean up, volunteers take a group photo and share a group meal. “They call me every year,” Potter said. SUBMITTED PHOTO “They’ll ask, ‘Are we good? Can we come After cleaning up the Liberty Square, Desperation Church volunteers gather on the steps of the out?’ They ask, ‘Can we?’ It is such a Clay County Administration Building for a group photo. blessing.’” “We were doing something once a we could do in the community.” month on Sunday,” Peterson said. “We After a while, the idea to help at the fall Northwest Editor Sean Roberts can be reached at sean. would cancel church and find something festival came to him. roberts@mycouriertribune.com or 389-6606.
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