Rock marks Labor Day

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ROCK - A variety of activities were enjoyed by area residents and visitors attending Saturday's annual Rock Labor Day Festival, a sure sign that summer is winding down.

That's just what one of the parade entrants expressed with its "Kiss Summer Good-bye" float of a huge fish with huge lips. The entry by Perennial Paradise of Rock earned third place in the floats division, said Kathy Wojda of Rock. She and her husband, Zig, were parade organizers.

"This year we had 68 entries. There was more of a variety this year, I think," Kathy said Sunday. "The community seemed to be pleased... Everybody really enjoyed it." The very sunny skies also helped the day be a success, she said.

A Delta County Sheriff's Department patrol car led the parade followed by several color guards fLions Club grounds at the north end of town.

The variety of parade entrants included business and church floats, children, walkers, marchers, cars and trucks, politicians, labor unions, and other community groups.

Winning first place in the float division was Faith Lutheran Church. Herb's Bar placed second followed by Perennial Paradise. Superior Pipes and Drums earned second place and Players de Noc performers placed second in the walkers and marchers category.

Children parade entrants included the local Boy Scouts which earned first place. The Girls Scouts placed second. Entrants in the miscellaneous category included the Manistique Shriners placing first with their go carts. Lusardi Taxidermy earned second place. Third place was Billy and Jingle the Clowns.

Bill Charon and his Model A placed first in the cars participating in the parade. Mike Kanerva placed second with his 1940 Hudson. In the trucks division, Larry Clausen received first place honors with his 1972 Chevy while Jason DeMeuse earned second with his 1996 Ford.

In addition to bingo and other games available along the midway, other contests held throughout the day ranged from horseshoes and paintball tournaments to cow pie and chicken poop bingos.

Horseshoe champions were Rod Trudell and Guy Trudell. The cow pie bingo was won by Cassidy Hanson who picked the winning spot marked by a calf. Several people won in the chicken contests.

A paintball tournament, organized by Splat-U-Later, included several area teams and individuals competing throughout the day. Taking home first place trophies were members of the team Happy Rock Heroes - brothers Jacob, Karl and Noah Krycia, of Gladstone. Second place was earned by the team Motorboat made up of John Johnson, Paul Ammel and Jessie Peacock. Third place went to the team ABV with Ian Bader, Jeremy Bosk and John LaPine.

This is the 66th year the Rock Lions Club has sponsored the annual Labor Day festival.

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Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.netrom across the region. After the raising of the American flag, the parade continued in downtown Rock ending at the