Generous sponsors have donated hundreds of bicycles to the Whiteside County Fair, delighting five or six children annually. Mead’s Bike Shop, 414 Locust Street, Sterling, IL, was publicly thanked, on Saturday, August 19, 2017, for providing five cerulean blue prizes during Fair Week. The owner is competitive racer Bryce Mead. Sponsors of the bike purchases were
- State Farm Insurance, Morrison, IL
- Farmers National Bank, Morrison
- The Cornerstone Agency, Inc., Morrison, and Tampico, IL
- Downie & Associates, CPA, Rock Falls, IL
- Community State Bank, Morrison.
The Editor noted that approximately 90% of the children who win a bike, over the last eight years, said they really needed one! That makes their good fortune even better! The children whose names were drawn randomly are listed below.
Tuesday, August 15: Ashlyn Hoy, 6, is a kindergarten student in Thomson, IL. “She has a little bike with training wheels,” said her mother. “We will need to adjust the seat” on the new one. Ashlyn has a “nice, blacktop driveway ro ride.” Parents are Luke and Brianne Hoy.
Wednesday, August 16: Charlie Pruis, 8, said, “I’m gonna need a new one,” because “he’s too big” for the current bike, according to grandfather Mark (Connie) Pruis. Charlie said he will not ride his bike to school, but “I just ride…around the block.”
Thursday, August 17: Bridgette Kennedy 9, is a Morrison fourth grade. Bridgette said she has “a bike, but the front brakes don’t work. The cord is broke.” She will ride her new one on the road around her area; she lives “nine miles away from school.” Her parents are Andrew Kennedy and Amanda Styles. With Bridgette is Fair Board member and donor, Todd Mickley, owner of The Cornerstone Agency, Inc.
Friday, August 18: Jayde Mullen, 11, of Baldwin, IA, daughter of Adam and Kellie Martin, is the granddaughter of the folks who run the carnival. Her mother stated, “She needs [a new bike]!” Jayde works at the carnival, “helping with the food wagons [selling and taking money] and filling in when someone needs a break.” She is “very good” with money and has attended this fair “since she was born,” added her mother. Jayde has “a long lane” on which to ride her new bike. Sister Kaylee Thumma, 15, won a bicycle last year.
Saturday, August 19: Cassandra Fleener, 11, of Moline, IL. This sixth grader has attended the fair for eight years and always entered the drawing. She has outgrown her current bike. Cassandra “possibly” will ride her bicycle to school.
