Morrison Chamber of Commerce and Cottonwood 4-H Club hosted the Annual Halloween Parade and Costume Contest, on Saturday, October 27, 2018. “About 130 entries received Chamber treat bags,” reported Chamber Coordinator Meridith Layne. Registration and line up was from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., at Community State Bank, 220 E. Main Street, Morrison, IL.
Police Chief Brian Melton, left, led the procession westward to the Post Office. Officer Mike Moon, right, safely protected the last Group entrants from traffic.
A dozen participants comprised this Group entry titled “Now Playing Jurassic World 3-D.” Details were impeccable! Note the popcorn hat; dollar bill cap on the money bag baby; drink straws; mounded blue Icee drink; two-tone 3-D folded glasses; near-perfect reproductions of movie theater food and beverage containers; variety of container sizes; color variations.
Beth Howell (Usher) said she “had the ideas and details,” and her partner James Saffell (Glasses) “was the builder.” She added there were “many weeks” involved, with “lots of late nights, cardboard, time, cut out letters, and paint.”
Four families from four Illinois towns worked on this handmade entry. Combined artistry would earn first place in the Group category. The lead film character was a Tyrannosaurus Rex (Corina Landis.) Lori Williams (Mike-Ike box) and her son Chance (Dots) are from Morrison. Linda Mitchell (Junior Mints) and daughter Kiylie (Sign Board) live in Prophetstown. James Saffell (Glasses) and Beth Howell (Usher) and their children Jada (Cookie Dough Bites), Spencer (Coke), and (Bag of Money) baby Sabastian live in Rock Falls. Jayla (Popcorn) and Joslyn (Icee) Landis and their mother Corina are from Dixon.
Adults love costume parades, too. Kathy Fredericks of Morrison is disguised as a Garden Gnome, complete with a carved walking stick.
Leading others, “Geriatric” George Selburg celebrated his first birthday in early October. His parents, Rev. Mike and Katie Selburg, crafted George’s lightweight walker, using PVC pipe and duct tape. He would take second place in the 0-3 Year Olds class for “Scariest/Funniest” costume.
Listed are the 2018 Costume Contest winners. Editor’s note: Children are not always standing in the correct 1-3 order. Meridith Layne supplied the first photo. Katie Ryder submitted the next ten winners, not including the first place Group winner.
0-3 Year Olds
Most Original: 1st Jaxten Sigel, 2nd Beckham Dersiden, 3rd Wyatt Melton.
Cutest: 1st Avery VenHuizen, 2nd River Mahoney, 3rd Camden Lachman.
Scariest/Funniest: 1st Kaiden Roggy, 2nd George Selburg, 3rd Reid Hill.
4-7 Year Olds
Most Original: 1st Vaughn Polenske, 2nd Camden (Grobe or Grove), 3rd Henry Selburg.
Cutest: 1st Jace Velasco, 2nd Coraline Rider, 3rd Lucas Haan.
Scariest/Funniest: 1st Sawyer Marinangeli, 2nd Reagan Marinangeli, 3rd Ryliegh Hill.
8-12 Year Olds
Most Original: 1st Amelia Richmond, 2nd Ava Robbins, 3rd Daniella Morgan.
Cutest: 1st Ilmeta Dzeladini, 2nd Remzye Dzeladini, 3rd Hannah Roggy.
Scariest/Funniest: 1st Noah Robbins, 2nd Naomi Kershaw, 3rd Rhyis Polenske.
Group Category
1st Howell Family (Now Playing Jurassic World 3-D)
2nd Rehan and Lumjeta Dzeladini (Astronout and Alien, respectively)
3rd Seth, Cora, and Will Stralow (Mary Poppins)
