Hose-coupling contest new for Festival Days

The Havre Fire Department, the current state champions in hose-coupling, is challenging Havre businesses and residents to a hose-coupling contest.

The Fire Department will hold the contest on Sept. 21 in conjunction with Havre Festival Days. The contest will start at 1 p.m. in the 200 block of Third Avenue in front of the Atrium Mall.

The hose-coupling contest is a timed event that consists of a four-person team attaching three lengths of fire hose and a nozzle to a water supply and knocking over a target and then changing out the center section of the hose and knocking over the second target.

The two targets will be Mayor Bob Rice and Havre Fire Chief Dave Sheppard.

The Havre department won the state championship in a competition with other Montana fire departments this summer.

To enter the contest, a team needs four members and must be willing to get a little wet.

A practice session will be held Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at Pepin Park for any teams that want a little help and advice from Havre firefighters.

The Bears Paw District of the American Red Cross is sponsoring a Hug the Hog contest, a vote by donation fund-raiser for disaster relief programs in the area.

Seven community-minded people are participating. Volunteering their arms for a good cause are: former Hill County Sheriff Tim Solomon, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway employee Marlin LaTray, Wolfer's Diner owner John Davison, Havre school board member Dr. Joe Marino, Tammy Nelson of J.M. Donoven Designs in Fine Jewelry, Tony Vigliotti of Valley Furniture, and Lights football coach Walt Currie.

People can vote for the person they want to see hug a pig by contributing dollars in cans with the individual's picture on it. Cans are located in various businesses around town.

Each year the local Red Cross assists families who have lost their possessions to fire or other disasters. The help is free to them, but the Red Cross relies on community support to fund assistance.

The kickoff for the campaign was at the Great Northern Fair. The winner and all participating individuals will be at the opening celebration of the Town Square park in downtown Havre next Friday at 6 p.m. The winner will hug the hog after the pitchfork fondue dinner.

Buttons commemorating the 22nd celebration of Havre Festival Days are on sale at many of Havre's Chamber member businesses and the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce office. The theme of this year's celebration is "A Celebration of Havre's Heritage."

To celebrate the theme, a new twist has been put on this year's buttons. There are four different buttons this year, each one depicting a part of Havre's heritage: the railroad, commerce, farming and ranching. The buttons are numbered 1 to 2,000 The buttons are selling for $1 each.

Button wearers are eligible to receive shopping discounts at participating merchants during Festival Days. A button also will entitle the wearer to a chance to enter the Festival Days Trivia Contest and to register for a drawing for free plane tickets donated by Magic Carpet Travel.

Following the parade on Sept. 21, the Ambassadors of the Chamber will host their first Great Ball Drop on the steps of the Hill County Courthouse, about 12:30 p.m.

A total of 3,000 balls have been numbered to match tickets that have the same numbers. Purchase a ticket for $3, two for $5 and five for $10. If your ball crosses the line first, win $750. Second is $350, third is $200, and fourth place will pay $150.

Funds raised by the committee go to purchase holiday trees and decorations for less fortunate families in Havre during Christmas.

Tickets may be purchased from any Chamber Ambassador or at the Chamber office.

The 2002 commemorative Havre Festival Days mugs are on sale at participating businesses for $5. Local participating taverns will offer 50-cent refills of the mugs from 6 p.m. next Friday through Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.

This is the 15th year of the partnership between the Hill County Tavern Association and the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce's Festival Days Celebration. The commemorative mug first became part of Havre Festival Days in 1987.

Mugs are available at: Dairy Queen, Tip It bar, Yummy Yogurt, Duck Inn, Eagles Club, Chamber office, PJ's, Black Angus, 15 West, Gallery Lounge, McLean's Grocery, Shamrock's, Corner Bar, Boxcars, Lucky Lil's and Northwinds Athletic Club.

The Festival Days Run/Walk on Sept. 22 is open to runners and walkers of all ages.

Race day registration will start at 9 a.m., with the 5K run/walk starting at 10 a.m. and the 1-mile run/walk at 11 a.m.

All events start and finish at the Montana State University-Northern 11th Street east parking lot.

Entry fees are $5 without a T-shirt and $19 with a long-sleeved race T-shirt. All entry fees include race refreshments and door prizes. Prizes will be awarded to the first-place, second-place and third-place winners, male and female, of the 5K race.

Prerace registration is encouraged, and is required to receive a T-shirt prior to race day. Registration forms may be picked up at Gary and Leo's IGA, Independence Bank and the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce office.

The Pet and Doll Parade will again be hosted by Gary and Leo's IGA. The Pet and Doll participants will enter the parade at the Dairy Queen on Fifth Avenue and exit the parade at the VFW parking lot. Line-up will be at 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at the Dairy Queen. Parents need to be at the VFW parking lot when the kids reach that point if the parents are not walking in the parade. All entrants will receive treats and a goodie bag courtesy of Gary and Leo's upon arriving at the VFW parking lot.