OPINION
A Section
w w w.b on i f ay now.c om
Page 4
Wednesday, xxx xx, 2013
The origin of the Watermelon Festival The Prattler must turn Pageant, directed by to his crutch “Setting It Pat Balboni and, later Straight” to correct an Aldine Adams, was a main error of last week. The attraction. correct date of death for South AlabamaJohn Julius Fussell, is Northwest Florida June 10 and the date of the Horseman’s Approved funeral is June 12. Horse Show was staged at Traditionally, my topic the Agri-Center Arena, and for “Perry’s Prattle” just was chaired by Washington prior to the week-end of County newcomer, Dick the watermelon festival, Kneiss. The third event is devoted to the festival was the Big Watermelon event. In the Contest and column’s eleventh Auction, with melon year of existence, games for children, the big question plus serving in the writer’s refreshing red ripe mind is: “just sweet watermelon how much more to our guests. can be written Secondary PERRY’S about the gigantic activities included watermelon event a Free Fun Night PRATTLE Perry Wells which, without on Friday night question, has put preceding the Chipley and Washington big day. Credit is given County on the map?” to Lamar Townsend for It seems that history providing the improvised buffs want to know that the stage for this fun event upcoming festival is the and to Dalton Carter, who 57th one and the “buffs” could take a small budget still want to know its of $150 and provide quality origin. J. E. (Red) Davis. musical entertainment to longtime Washington fill a full evening of exciting County Agriculture fun and frolic. The Shrine Extension Agent, was Club Pancake Festival, the the first chairman of the 5K road race and the big festivities and remained parade through downtown in that job 20 years. The Chipley, joined in the “prime movers” in the festive occasion early in its earlier days include Ross history. Deal, on whose property After my departure as the first event was held, chairman seven years ago, which later evolved into county judge Colby Peel, today’s mammoth two day agreed to take the reins extravaganza. and, as the late journalist Your writer was and national newscaster, “drafted” into the job of Paul Harvey would report, chairman in 1976 and chairman Peel is presently served for 30 years. The carrying out “the rest of activities of the daylong the story.” event in those years Other key people were confined to three involved in the humble main events. The Beauty beginnings of the festival
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were Austin F. Townsend, Walker Hughen, Henry Hargrove, V. J. Collins, Andrew (Andy) Griffin and Farrell Nelson. Now days, we depend upon prison inmate labor to do the grass cutting and landscaping of the grounds at the Agriculture Center in preparation for the yearly festival. In earlier times, Maxwell Hudson, an employee of the county, had those duties, plus other details of carrying out the massive custodial chores of staging the festival, plus the clean up that followed. He was fortunate to have a young family, mostly girls, whom he enlisted to assist him in the task of carrying out the watermelon festival. They were not paid for their labors, and it has been my privilege to personally thank them for their voluntary and faithful assistance so many years ago. The brochure advertising the watermelon festival in 1978 and 1979 was printed on a legal size sheet of colorful paper. It was personally typed in the Agriculture Center Office and duplicated on copy machine available at that time. Later, the advertising flyers were more professionally printed and folded for easy handling and for mailing. This style of promoting the festival returned to the full length, legal size paper in 2003, when advertising was sold for the first time to businesses, lending agencies, and others in
Perry Wells, Chairman rides in his 1988 Chevrolet Pick Up Truck with improvised signing and without the colorful, sprawling umbrella, which became his trademark covering from the heat many years ago. His wife, Hester, is shown as his driver. order to bring sufficient money to pay better known talent to our event, thus attracting more visitors. This is the year that we hired the IBMA Entertainer of the Year, The Del McCoury Band, which produced a record turnout in the air conditioned auditorium for a stellar concert that is still being talked about to this day. Dr. Shane Collins, of WPAP Radio Fame in Panama City, was the MC for this mammoth year of top entertainment. As chairman, I told the committee that I was not ready to make public the price required to attract this popular bluegrass/ bluegrass gospel group to our festival. After it went well, and with
ample money to pay all the expenses of the event, the figure of $10,000 was revealed. For the past seven years, this figure pales to the total expenditures of $35,000 now required to attract and pay all the top quality entertainment that the present leadership continues to bring to the historic watermelon festival. Where can you receive a full weekend of fabulous talent, performing free and in an air conditioned facility, with organizers furnishing free slices of delicious, sweet and cool watermelon for you the visitor to enjoy? A new style, colorful promotional flyer was introduced by the current chairman this year. A
broader coverage with the watermelon festival’s own web page has produced over 220,000 “hits” with the festival more than a week away, according to Chairman Colby Peel. Entertainment and wholesome fun and festivities is the order of the two day event, June 28 and 29, 2013 and I hope all of you are making plans to attend. The Washington County Historical Society Museum at 685 7th. Street will be open Friday, June 28 and Saturday June 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. expressly for selling the Heritage of Washington County Books in a “last call” effort to close out sales of the 4th. Printing. See you all next week.
James Edward McFatter Jr (Jedd) wins Prudential-Davis Award In a recent ceremony It recognizes state at the University employees who have Center in Tallahassee, shown outstanding Jedd McFatter ways to serve received top state the citizens of recognition for Florida in a more saving Florida efficient and $400, 000. cost-effective His innovative way. work as state Twenty-eight training additional state administrator for HAPPY CORNER employees the Long-term Hazel Wells Tison also received Care Ombudsman recognition at Program at the the banquet Department of Elder where Gov. Rick Scott Affairs earned him the praised the recipients Prudential-Davis Award. for their productivity In addition to the improvements. cost saving to the state, A total of 468 awards McFatter’ increased will be given this year the efficiency of the statewide for cost saving department by installing improvements of $514 on-line training million certification programs Jedd grew up in for volunteers which Bonifay the only son of cut training time from 4 the late James Edward days to one. McFatter (Coach Mac) The award affirms and Madaline Steverson Jedd’s philosophy that McFatter. He attended government should be Bonifay Elementary, as efficient as possible Bonifay Middle School, in using tax payers’ and graduated with money. honors from Holmes “Government should County High School in be a good steward of 1998 where he starred public money, “he said. in athletics, especially A $500.00 cash award basketball. accompanies the honor. Jedd graduated from McFatter is now Florida State University working with the with a degree in National Ombudsman English/creative writing. Resource Center in After studying for a Washington D.C. to semester in England, he develop an online then attended Denver training system based Seminary where he on Florida’s model, earned a Masters degree according to Elder in The Philosophy of Affairs spokesman. Religion. Prudential Davis After his marriage Awards were begun 25 to Michelle Liles, they years ago by the Davis served in Uganda brothers who founded for two years as Winn Dixie and Tax missionaries in the Watch. Food For The Hungry
His innovative work as state training administrator for the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program at the Department of Elder Affairs earned him the Prudential-Davis Award. organization. The couple has two daughters, Leora and Analise Rael named for a girl Michelle helped in Uganda. They currently reside in Tallahassee. In addition to his work with the Department of Elder Affairs, Jedd is pursuing a Doctorate at Florida State University. The McFatter family have contributed greatly to our community. Beloved “Coach Mac” touched the lives of thousands of kids and young people as he coached all Physical Education classes at Bonifay Elementary School and Bonifay Middle School, as well as coaching basketball at the high school and assisting with the football program there. He organized bicycle safety derbies. He coordinated field days. He directed Vacation Bible School recreation. He drove the bus and chaperoned for hundreds of school and church trips. I’ll never forget two trips to Ridgecrest with Coach Mac as the church bus driver. Once we broke down
on the interstate and had to wait on the side of the hill for a charter to come and get us. Another time, we broke down in Columbus, Ga. We spent hours at an Arby’s where our youth group entertained the patrons with several acapela songs. This many talented family have been assets to our community and continue to be in the places where they make their adult homes. All the McFatter girls which include Joni Kitching, Jana Manuel, Jill Chester, and Jami Kimbell are quite talented musically and often added to our worship services at First Baptist Church when they were growing up. Mother Madaline, a multi- talented lady, taught special education courses at Holmes County High until her retirement, but continues as a frequent substitute teacher. The McFatter family mean a lot to Bonifay and Holmes County and we are very proud to see Jedd recognized at the state level.