A splash of color

You don’t necessarily have to use paint to “Paint the Town Red.”

The Family Resource Center’s entry in the fifth annual “Paint the Town Red” event will be using red and yellow Duplo building blocks, while Heather Horton at Sweet Designs Cakery refuses to reveal just what she’s going to use in her store decorations.

“It’s top secret,” she said. “I’ll just say that we’re using a sweet dessert theme.”

The annual campaign is always held before Pittsburg State University’s first home football game to showcase community and business support for PSU.

Blake Benson, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce president, had predicted there would probably be 100 entries this year. Christina Peterson, Chamber membership services director, said that he was right.

“We’ve had a great response this year,” she said. “And this year the campus is taking part as well. Last year the Greek organizations participated, and we’ve now opened it up to the whole campus. Twenty PSU departments have notified us that they will be decorating.”

The Center usually decorates, according to Monica Murnan, director.

“We didn’t decorate last year because we’d just moved here, so we’re going all out this year,” she said. “PSU is one of our founding fathers, along with Pittsburg USD 250 and Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center, and we continue to have a close relationship.”

PSU students Josh Johnson and Kevin Huebner created the giant Duplo Gus Gorilla split-face in the Center lobby.

“We worked on it for four hours over three days,” Huebner said. “The kids separated the red and yellow blocks, which helped a lot.”

The split-face is 7 feet tall, 8 inches tall and 6 feet, 1 inch wide. Huebner believes there are at least 2,000 blocks in it.

Campus decorations will be judged this morning, and remaining entries will be judged all day Friday.

“The judging here might be interesting,” Murnan hinted. “There might be live things involved.”

The decorating contest is just part of “Paint the Town Red,” with arrangements being coordinated through the Chamber and the PSU Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations.

A huge community pep rally with free pizza will be held at 6 p.m. today in Carnie Smith Stadium.

“All sports will be recognized, so this will be a great opportunity for the public to see all the coaches and players,” Peterson said.

Jack Overman, PSU’s biggest fan, will be present to give a message and lead a cheer.

You don’t necessarily have to use paint to “Paint the Town Red.”

The Family Resource Center’s entry in the fifth annual “Paint the Town Red” event will be using red and yellow Duplo building blocks, while Heather Horton at Sweet Designs Cakery refuses to reveal just what she’s going to use in her store decorations.

“It’s top secret,” she said. “I’ll just say that we’re using a sweet dessert theme.”

The annual campaign is always held before Pittsburg State University’s first home football game to showcase community and business support for PSU.

Blake Benson, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce president, had predicted there would probably be 100 entries this year. Christina Peterson, Chamber membership services director, said that he was right.

“We’ve had a great response this year,” she said. “And this year the campus is taking part as well. Last year the Greek organizations participated, and we’ve now opened it up to the whole campus. Twenty PSU departments have notified us that they will be decorating.”

The Center usually decorates, according to Monica Murnan, director.

“We didn’t decorate last year because we’d just moved here, so we’re going all out this year,” she said. “PSU is one of our founding fathers, along with Pittsburg USD 250 and Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center, and we continue to have a close relationship.”

PSU students Josh Johnson and Kevin Huebner created the giant Duplo Gus Gorilla split-face in the Center lobby.

“We worked on it for four hours over three days,” Huebner said. “The kids separated the red and yellow blocks, which helped a lot.”

The split-face is 7 feet tall, 8 inches tall and 6 feet, 1 inch wide. Huebner believes there are at least 2,000 blocks in it.

Campus decorations will be judged this morning, and remaining entries will be judged all day Friday.

“The judging here might be interesting,” Murnan hinted. “There might be live things involved.”

The decorating contest is just part of “Paint the Town Red,” with arrangements being coordinated through the Chamber and the PSU Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations.

A huge community pep rally with free pizza will be held at 6 p.m. today in Carnie Smith Stadium.

“All sports will be recognized, so this will be a great opportunity for the public to see all the coaches and players,” Peterson said.

Jack Overman, PSU’s biggest fan, will be present to give a message and lead a cheer.

Local third graders will have a great afternoon Friday at the stadium, including a balloon launch at 2 p.m.

“We opened it up this year to every school in Crawford County, so we’re going to have 381 third graders on Brandenburg Field,” Peterson said. “We decided to take it a step further with a PSU athlete autograph session at 1 p.m.”

President Steve Scott will talk with the third graders and do the countdown for the balloon launch.

At 7 p.m. PSU Alumni and Constituent Relations will present the movie “Shrek Forever After” on the Jungletron.

“Last year 1,500 people watched ‘Up’ on the Jungletron, and we hope even more families turn out for this,” Peterson said. “They can just spread a blanket on the field and watch the movie.”

Activities Saturday will include a 7 a.m. 5K run to benefit SIFE at PSU, and a tailgate party prior to the noon Gorillas game against Chadron State.

“Paint the Town Red” winners will be announced during the half-time program, and pictures of the decorations shown on the Jungletron. In addition to the glory, winners also receive a traveling trophy, game tickets, parking passes and PSU merchandise.