Dieterich's July 4th Celebration Events

Mark your calendars now and take note that Dieterich's 4th of July event will be held on Friday evening, July 3 and all day Saturday, July 4.

The committee has been busy making plans for this annual event to be held at Dieterich's Liberty Memorial Park. On July 3, the band "Rock Bottom Country" will be playing from 8:00-11:00 p.m. at the park. There will be a beer garden and sloppy joes, hotdogs and chips will be available.

The parade will start the day on July 4th at 12 noon and the theme is "Cheers for Volunteers." The Parade Marshal will be Clark Wiebking. In recent years, the parade has become more popular with more entries and this year should be no exception. To sign up, contact Paula Rae Johnson weekday mornings at (217) 925-5410 or anytime at (217) 821-4679 or be in the parking lot before noon on July 4. Lineup is at the Immaculate Conception parking lot on Vine Street and south on Vine to the Christian Church.

We'll have lots of fireworks as well as the beer garden, Roach the Rooster's duck race, pony rides, youth fishing tournament, washer tournament, pedal tractor pull, lots of kids games as well as the inflatable rides, the popular pork burgers (cooked up by the Jasper County Pork Producers), and more food and drinks (some new ones this year!). All these events will start shortly after the parade in the park. Fireworks will be at dusk.

Also returning this year are the popular and very entertaining 4-wheeler pull and the bed races! The 4-wheeler pull will begin at 2 p.m. at the park. If you would like to participate, please call Jim Boerngen at (217) 925-5355 or Doug Boerngen at (618) 686-2044 or be there with your prized 4-wheeler. The bed races are under the direction of Burl and Audrey Griffith. Get your team together, come up with the craziest idea for a "bed" and give them a call at (217) 925-5629. Challenge another team to participate. It's always been fun watching the Dieterich Fire Department go up against the Montrose Fire Department. They sure know how to have fun.

Don't miss out on the Roast Hog Dinner held in air-conditioned comfort in the Dieterich Civic Center from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They will be serving BBQ Pork, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Potato Chips, Cake and Ice Cream, Lemonade, Tea and Coffee. Price is $7 for Adults and $3 for children.

The Cash Raffle returns this year. Get your tickets at the Village Hall in Dieterich for $5 each or from any committee member for a chance to win several cash prizes. This year's prizes are: $1,000 Cash Grand Prize, Two $500 cash prizes, ten $100 cash prizes and numerous other prizes from area merchants and donors.

The Talent Show will be outside this year at the park, across from the pavilion, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Contact Janelle Eck at (217) 739-2395 if you would like to enter. The young queen and king contest will be held right before the Variety Show beginning at 7:00 p.m.

If you like to move about early, make plans to enter the 5K Walk/Run at the park in Dieterich with sign up at 7 a.m. with an 8 a.m. start. Entries must be turned in by June 27. $15 entry fee if signed up by June 27 or $18 entry fee after June 27. Free T-shirt is guaranteed with advance entry by June 27 and on a first come/first serve basis the day of the race. There will be NO entry fee refunds. Also, no bikes, roller blades or pets allowed. Awards will be given to the top 2 men and women in each age division. For questions and to sign up, contact Roch Westendorf at (217) 925-5751. Proceeds from this Walk/Run go to the Dieterich Education Foundation.

If you're looking for a fun-filled celebration for the entire family, mark your calendars now for Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4. We're looking forward to visiting with our neighbors in the surrounding communities.

If you would like to help in any way, please call Jean Bohnoff at (217) 821-7553. And, remember high schoolers, this is a great way to get in your now required Community Service Hours.