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CHEROKEE —
Friday rains changed some plans, but Saturday was great for the 30th annual Cherokee Homecoming.
“We’ve had a very good turnout,” said Jennifer Dowell of the Cherokee Ruritan.
The homecoming is a combined effort of the Ruritan and the Cherokee American Legion.
“The rain Friday night kind of messed everything up, so we’re trying to cram everything into Saturday,” Dowell said. “We did go ahead and have the bean feed Friday in the park, and we had a great turnout for it despite the rain.”
The crowning of the king and queen didn’t take place, but the two got their crowns anyway.
“We just kind of announced them during the parade,” Dowell said. “Matthew Fleck was king and Amanda Scruggs is queen.”
The parade started with flag presentations by the Cherokee American Legion and guests.
“The Erie American Legion came, and we had some from the Weir American Legion,” said Randy Bole of the Cherokee post. “We also had three of our Legion Riders.”
Others participating included the Cherokee and Sheridan Township Fire Departments, Cherokee Police, Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, the Southeast High School Lancers marching band, the Cherokee Crawford County Community High School 60th anniversary class of 1952 and several political candidates.
Also participating was the Sunset Manor bus.
“We have some residents from the Cherokee area and we always come to hit the parade route,” said Amie Feagan, Sunset Manor activity director. “The residents really enjoy seeing familiar faces and really having all the people wave back at them.”
Carl Swartz Sr., a member of the CCCHS class of 1952, took part, but didn’t ride on the truck with his classmates.
“I walked along side the truck,” he said. “I walk two miles a day.”
Swartz said he used to operate a taxi and ambulance service in the area, then moved to Kansas City and now lives in Joplin.
“We had 35 in our class and 21 of them showed up, which isn’t bad,” he said. “We weren’t the Lancers then, we were the Cherokee Braves.”
Swartz enjoyed coming to the homecoming, but said it has changed.
“It used to be double this,” he said.
His daughter, Carolyn Mynatt, Joplin, formerly of Pittsburg, came with her five grandchildren.
“We’ve been here since 8 a.m., and the kids had a blast,” she said. “They really enjoyed the carnival games at the First Baptist Church.”
There were several vendors, including Stacy Burns, Cherokee, who operates the Fudgery and provided free samples.
Friday rains changed some plans, but Saturday was great for the 30th annual Cherokee Homecoming.
“We’ve had a very good turnout,” said Jennifer Dowell of the Cherokee Ruritan.
The homecoming is a combined effort of the Ruritan and the Cherokee American Legion.
“The rain Friday night kind of messed everything up, so we’re trying to cram everything into Saturday,” Dowell said. “We did go ahead and have the bean feed Friday in the park, and we had a great turnout for it despite the rain.”
The crowning of the king and queen didn’t take place, but the two got their crowns anyway.
“We just kind of announced them during the parade,” Dowell said. “Matthew Fleck was king and Amanda Scruggs is queen.”
The parade started with flag presentations by the Cherokee American Legion and guests.
“The Erie American Legion came, and we had some from the Weir American Legion,” said Randy Bole of the Cherokee post. “We also had three of our Legion Riders.”
Others participating included the Cherokee and Sheridan Township Fire Departments, Cherokee Police, Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, the Southeast High School Lancers marching band, the Cherokee Crawford County Community High School 60th anniversary class of 1952 and several political candidates.
Also participating was the Sunset Manor bus.
“We have some residents from the Cherokee area and we always come to hit the parade route,” said Amie Feagan, Sunset Manor activity director. “The residents really enjoy seeing familiar faces and really having all the people wave back at them.”
Carl Swartz Sr., a member of the CCCHS class of 1952, took part, but didn’t ride on the truck with his classmates.
“I walked along side the truck,” he said. “I walk two miles a day.”
Swartz said he used to operate a taxi and ambulance service in the area, then moved to Kansas City and now lives in Joplin.
“We had 35 in our class and 21 of them showed up, which isn’t bad,” he said. “We weren’t the Lancers then, we were the Cherokee Braves.”
Swartz enjoyed coming to the homecoming, but said it has changed.
“It used to be double this,” he said.
His daughter, Carolyn Mynatt, Joplin, formerly of Pittsburg, came with her five grandchildren.
“We’ve been here since 8 a.m., and the kids had a blast,” she said. “They really enjoyed the carnival games at the First Baptist Church.”
There were several vendors, including Stacy Burns, Cherokee, who operates the Fudgery and provided free samples.
“A lot of people still like the chocolate fudge, but I sell a lot of other flavors, too,” she said. “People really seem to like my pumpkin fudge.”
Cherokee American Legion Auxiliary sponsored games for all ages at 12:30 p.m., and the evening concluded with a street dance at the American Legion with music provided by the Bill Duling Band.
“Every year we just try to get everything together,” Dowell said. “We had a very good turnout Saturday and I’m very impressed.”
Activities today will include a classic and antique tractor pull at 2 p.m. on North Vine Street, with weigh-ins at 12:30 p.m., a dog contest at 2 p.m. in Albert Pouch Park, bingo from 4 to 5 p.m. at the park with a $1 donation for each card.
Hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks and chips will be available all day, and a free watermelon feed will follow bingo.
Final homecoming event will be a community worship service at 7 p.m. with Pastors Larry Davolt, Ben Scott and Bob Banks officiating.
