Hundreds enjoy Fourth celebration

July 09, 2008 11:28 am

— It was a grand old Fourth of July celebration last Friday night as hundreds enjoyed a $15,000 fireworks show, great music, good food and a new watermelon seed spitting champion was crowned.
The weather was perfect for the annual Kiwanis Fourth of July celebration, which featured the annual Main Street Pauls Valley’s World Championship Watermelon Seed Spitting Championship.
Sixty-seven contestants competed in the 51st annual Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest with several states represented, including Arizona, Texas and Minnesota.
The grand champion with a spit of 39 feet 4 inches was Tommy Felan, who is among the group of past winners.
Pauls Valley’s banks and local merchants donated the prizes given this year’s holiday event.
The winners in the female category, ages 12 and under were:
•Sophia Landers, 1st with a 29 feet 2 1/2 inch length.
•2nd, Jessica Dobbins, 20 feet 9 inches.
•3rd, Tiffany Johnson, 20 feet 7 inches.
Males - 12 and under:
•1st, Anthony Brakefield, 26 feet 9 inches.
•2nd, Harrison York, 24 feet 7 inches.
•3rd, Zachary Jones, 16 feet 6 inches.
Females - 13-18 years old:
•1st, Sabra Landers, defending champ, 29 feet 9 inches.
•2nd, Emily Agee, 29 feet 4 inches.
•3rd, Kalea Dobbins, 22 feet 7 inches.
Females -13-18 years old
•1st, Derek Reed, previous winner, 26 feet 1 inch.
•2nd, Tucker Kelly, 21 feet 1 inch.
•3rd, Justin Cheatham, 20 feet 1 1/2 inches.
Males -19 and older:
•1st, Heather Campbell, 29 feet 9 inches.
•2nd, Dessie Daugherty, previous winner, 28 feet 8 inches.
•3rd, Elizabeth Granquist, from Northfield, Minnesota, 25 feet 5 inches.
Males - 19 and older:
•1st, Tommy Felan, previous winner, 39 feet 4 inches.
•2nd, Kent Harris, 38 feet 1/2 inch.
•3rd, Harrison Smith, 35 feet 8 inches.
The Toy and Action Figure Museum also participated in the fesitvities by giving away a vintage yellow Corvette just prior to the huge fireworks display.
Peggy Saunkeah of Ada was the lucky winner of the Corvette.
While the event was deemed a huge success, the Kiwanis Club is still seeking donations to help pay for the event.
“Our biggest expense was the fireworks show,” said Kiwanis President Howard Grider. “We spent $4,000 more this year on a fireworks show that lasted around 40 minutes. We still need donations to help pay for those fireworks as well as other expenses incurred for the event.”
Donations can be sent to the Pauls Valley Kiwanis Club, P.O. Box 126, Pauls Valley, OK 73075.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.