As the country prepares to celebrate Independence Day 2019, nowhere is the spirit higher or the sentiment greater than in small town America. From the Gerty and Atwood Alumni reunions this Saturday to the traditional activities at Calvin on the 4^th and the new festivities at Allen on Saturday, the 6^th .

Gerty’s annual school reunion will take place this Saturday, June 29^th , at the Gerty Community Building. Doors open at 10:00 am; the potluck meal will be served at noon. The Classes of 1954, 1959 and 1964 will be honored and a door prize will be awarded to the person who traveled the most distance to attend.

The Atwood school reunion will also be held this Saturday from noon until 8:00 pm in the Lowell Wilkerson Community Building (next to the First Baptist Church). Their potluck dinner has been set for 5:00 pm, followed by a brief business meeting. All former students, teachers and residents are invited. Bring your favorite dish and enjoy the afternoon.

On Thursday, the 4^th of July, Calvin steps up and begins their festivities at 10:00 am with a patriotic parade. Turtle Races will be held right after the parade near the Methodist Church building. The “Kickin’ Grass” lawnmower races will begin at 1:00 pm at the Peanut Plant, and that will be followed by a Cornhole Tournament at the Methodist Arbor. Always fun is the “Calvin Idol” karaoke contest which begins at 3:00 pm at the baseball fi eld.

Dinner will be served, starting at 6:00 pm, under the trees and then it’s time for the Ranch Rodeo, sponsored by Wes and

Keri Brines. The teams will enter the arena at 6:30 pm and compete for

bragging rights.

The traditional fi reworks display will start at “Dark-Thirty” and the night will end with the Street Dance and Quicksand Race at the Peanut Plant.

New to the 4^th of July celebrations is Allen’s planned activities. Not to conflict with the other celebrations, they have set their event for Saturday, July 6^th , with activities being held at both the Allen City Park and the Softball Field.

The morning begins at 9:00 am with a Softball Tournament and Home Run Derby at the fi eld south of town. At the park with be a bounce house, food and merchandise vendors, and much more. Tickets will be sold throughout the day on a 50/50 Raffle. Vendors selling their wares will include the Softball Boosters selling funnel cakes; the Allen Cheerleaders will offer smoked bologna, homemade ice cream and ice chest tea; also on hand will be Froggy’s Frozen Fluff sno’cones and Christina’s concession wagon.

Also at the Park, the town’s swimming pool will open at noon and registration will begin at noon for a Corn Hole Tournament (see Melissa Walker, cost will be $20 per team). A hot dog eating contest will be held at 12:30 followed by a Pie Baking Contest with a panel of impartial judges. The Corn Hole Tournament will begin at 1:00 pm, along with a Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest.

A Scavenger Hunt will take place starting at 1:30 pm and that will be followed at 2:00 by Turtle Races. Sack Races, Volley Ball, and a 3-on-3 Basketball Game will be held following the conclusion of the Corn Hole Tournament.

A Horseshoe contest will begin at 4:00 and then a Tug-of-War contest will end the activities at the Park.

Everyone is then encouraged to move to the softball field where they can enjoy a free barbecue sandwich meal starting at 6:00 pm and music by R.T. Valine and Conner Wilson at 7:00 pm. The winner of the 50/50 Raffl e will be announced at 8:00 and a fireworks display will begin at dark.

Event organizers are hoping to make each year’s event bigger and better. They want to extand a huge thanks to everyone who has made a donation, working a booth or shared information for the group. A list of donors will be listed as it becomes available. They have been overwhelmed by the amount of support received.

Make plans to celebrate America and attend the activities of your choice.