The City of Morrison Parks and Recreation Committee scored popularity points with people from across at least nine states, during the first “Summer Extravaganza” on Saturday, July 30, 2016. Vehicle license plates were noted from California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and Wisconsin. From noon to 8:00 p.m., under sunny skies and fluffy clouds, the Morrison Sports Complex offered a day packed with enjoyment, east of the City at Route 30 and Bishop Road, Morrison, IL.
Sports Complex Director Jim DuBois commented, “I think it was what we expected, what we were hoping for. We met our goals of attendance. There have been lots of positive comments, and people liked the kids’ land. The Beer Garden was empty when I turned the lights out [after the fireworks ended at 10:00].”
Free kids’ activities included
- obstacle course
- inflated human soccer balls
- bounce houses
- kids’ bean bag tournament
- a spontaneous hosing by Junior High Principal/Chamber Board member Joe Robbins
- cotton candy and Snow Cones
- dunk tank
- squirt gun fights
- face painting by the Morrison Pom Pon Squad.
Annabelle Blevins wears a hand-painted kitten face under her sunglasses.
Adult activities included a bean bag tournament, blind-draw volleyball tournament, and beer garden. Admission to the beer garden was $5 and included a first beer.
Over half of the bags and volleyball entry fees was returned as prize money. DuBois reported “all third place winners received their entry fee” amounts; first and second placers earned more. “The bags prize money was $600, and the volleyball [awards] were $720.”
There were crowd-pleasing food eating contests.
Hardee’s of Morrison sponsored the 2:00 p.m. 1/3 Pound Monster Thick Burger Contest. Thirty beef sandwiches were brought to the event, all outfitted the same with mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions. From a seven-man field, Sean Nichols of Green Bay, WI, emerged in first place.
Happy Joe’s of Morrison sponsored ice cream eating competitions throughout the day. Cameron McDonnell, age 11 of Morrison, won by eating four scoops of ice cream from a plate. His parents are Mark McDonnell and Dr. Denise Smith.
Buffalo Wild Wings of Sterling, IL, sponsored the 4:00 p.m. Blazin’ Wings Challenge. Five men competed, aiming to eat a dozen searing wings in less than six minutes. Two could not take the “heat of the meat” and gave up before finishing. Jimmi Palmer of Morrison, second from left, finished his basket in 3:20 minutes to take first place. Andy Herche took second place under the wire at 5:50. Manager Joe Zinanni noted, “It might be one of the better [competitions] I’ve seen!”
Palmer is no rookie chicken-wing-eater. He stated 20 years ago he entered college wings contests. What was his strategy? “Strip the meat to the top. Twist off the meat and swallow it–and try not to taste it!” What was his prize? “A t-shirt and glory,” he replied.
DQ Grill & Chill of Morrison sponsored 6:00 p.m. hot dog contests for kids and adults. The rules were the same: eat bun and meat, adding only “sips of water,” within the time limit, stated co-owner Ellen Smith, left. Bart Smith is second-from-left. Five youngsters took their challenge. The champion was 16-year-old Natalee Boone, who devoured “almost three” hot dogs.
Four men entered the adult round. They completed the three minutes in a four-way tie–all ate four hot dogs from their box of ten.
The overtime round began with two hot dogs apiece and fresh water bottles. Here is a tip. The contestant at the far left poured water all over his hot dog to soften–or compact–the bun.
Sean Nichols took his second first place win on the day. He would attend a third contest in Clinton, IA.
His strategy is that “a little water is bad. I drink a lot of water in food contests.”
Nichols brings plenty of experience. He said he has entered contests to ingest wings, ribs, brats, pizza, French fries, mashed potatoes, cheese curds, ice cream, garlic cloves, and sauerkraut!
When asked if he were a “professional” eating contestant, he answered, “I’m not a pro. You [have to] be ranked by an eating contest [organization].”
DuBois said there is interest about a Wisconsin professional eating organization. Perhaps there will be amateur and pro eating contests next year.
Ellen Smith wears the colorful Summer Extravaganza uniform. Sunny t-shirts are for sale at City Hall, 200 W. Main Street, Morrison, for $10. Call 815-772-7657 to see if they have your size.
Hometown favorite “30 West” performed from 4:15 to 8:00 p.m. Their first set was a rousing 34 minutes. Left-to-right are members Chris Mills, guitar; William Patton, drums; Nick Bonneur, vocals and percussion; Marshall Smith, bass; Mike Mills, guitar.
For their Corn Boil booth, Whiteside County Farm Bureau Adult Leaders brought 600 ears of sweet corn. Sales of foil-wrapped, buttery ears-on-a-stick were “not too bad,” according to one. Left-to-right are Emalie Sterenberg, Jeremey Geerts, Cliff Pfundstein, Jacob Smith, Matt Lillpop, and Greg Hanson.
Abigail Scott, age nine of Lancaster, OH, visited the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois table, to play a game of Bucketball. John Jones is a Recruitment Specialist for GSNI. The Council offers programs for girls from age 5 to 18.
Beginning at 9:35 p.m., 25 minutes of glittering fireworks lit the Morrison sky and Sports Complex grounds. Nostalgia Pyrotechnics, Inc. of Osco, IL, designed a fitting conclusion to the Parks and Recreation Committee’s successful celebration of community. Well done, all!
