Having a weekend of great weather, followed by another outstanding day on the start of the work week, is a rare trifecta on the path around the Falls, but the string won’t last through the week. Heavy rains are again forecast for later in the week. Last week’s rain made it appear in a few places that the swamps and wetlands were rising up to retake the earth.
The 40 days and 40 nights of rain in the days of Noah must have left quite a mess. The recent rains did the same. Early Friday morning, Klaus Lake Road included a stretch that appeared to have sunk about 8 inches in one low spot. Several other fields had substantial areas of standing water.
Memorial Field in Oconto Falls had standing water on Friday near the spectator entrance. That forced the Lions 50-50 raffle to relocate from the usual spot. The slight relocation did not seem to have much of an impact on the proceeds, which were to benefit local Boy Scout Troop 1024.
Lawns seemed to thrive on the additional moisture. One of this observer’s lawn care projects included a mowing on Thursday, and another mowing of the same lawn on Sunday. The zero-turn Cub Cadet earned its keep this summer even though it took a weekslong break in July.
Mother Nature smiled on the Lena Lions on Saturday as they had no standing water for Lena Dairyfest. The weather was outstanding and brought crowds for the event. The nearly hourlong parade was cheered by the thousands lining the route.
I had the opportunity to be in the bright red Ford F-150 pulling the Oconto Falls Area Chamber float. Rodney Woods loves showing off his truck and borrowed a couple of Peterson Ford signs to stick on the front doors. There were lots of compliments for the truck and the float. Perhaps it generated a few referrals for sales.
The saying used to be “Race on Sunday and sell on Monday.” That has always been the rationale for factory participation in the racing circuits. Maybe now the theme should be “Parade on Saturday and sell on Monday.” Factory sponsorship of parades is in the infant stage in Oconto County, but it might have a future. It won’t be too long and Rodney will be working the showroom with his order forms. As a result, we may see him in a few more parades.
The chamber unit was toward the end of the parade. Judging by the number of youngsters seated at the edge of the parade route with bulging bags, the parade featured more than just eye candy.
Speaking of parades and eye candy, there might be some complications with this year’s Oconto Falls High School homecoming parade. The parade route has taken a number of alternative routes over the years, but invariably, it included a segment of Main Street in Oconto Falls. Right now, it doesn’t matter how eye-catching your vehicle is or whose sign is on the side of the door, you can’t parade down Main Street, given the road construction, or more accurately, the utility construction that is under the road.
The homecoming game is set for Friday, Sept. 26, the same day as the communitywide rummage sales that are part of Falls Fest. Throw in the road construction, and you have an almost perfect storm of traffic congestion. Maybe this year’s homecoming parade should be a big circle of the high school parking lot.
For those who have not toured the lot recently, it looks a bit different now that the combination restroom/concession building is getting its finishing touches. The natural stone-colored concrete blocks and the gray steel roof make for a very attractive building. We can envision that color combination being repeated a few more times as further work on the high school and future athletic complex starts to take shape.
It is expected that in another month the earth-moving equipment will be on site and begin to reshape the surface. Word has it that the majority of the grading could be completed in a three-week span.
Taking a page from the development of Lambeau Field, perhaps small pieces of the existing practice surface could be boxed and marketed for treasured Christmas gifts. Rather than a personalized piece of the Frozen Tundra, there could be Patches of Panther Turf. All that rain should make a good supply.
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