Sean C. Morgan
See our extensive photo gallery from Sportsman’s Holiday at http://www.sweethomenews.com/photos/07_17_2019!
In her first official act as Sportsman’s Holiday queen, Makayla Griffin officially opened Sweet Home’s annual community festival Thursday evening following her selection and coronation.
She was crowned by 2017 Sportsman’s Holiday Princess Kylie Armstrong after being unanimously named Miss Congeniality by the other princesses. Brook Womack was selected as First Princess by the panel of judges, including Karyn Hartsook, Dave Bauer, Mayor Greg Mahler, Miriam Swanson, Chelsea Corliss, Mindy Lee and Patty Holk.
The four-member court, including Taylor Goodwin, Griffin, Womack and Collette Valentine, spent the next two days attending various activities around the community. Their selection process included an interview, a speech and answering an impromptu question.
Each princess received a $500 scholarship. Miss Congeniality received an additional $500, and the queen received an additional $1,000 scholarship.
Griffin said she was surprised to win the crown.
“I honestly had no words,” she said following the ceremony at the River of Life Fellowship. “The whole group was just amazing. I didn’t know who was going to win. We all had our own qualities. They were all very positive. We always complimented each other and built each other up. No matter what, no matter who won, we’ll always stay true to our friendships.”
The four girls all grew up together, she said.
For her impromptu question, Griffin was asked what nonprofit she would create if she could. She answered, “A soup kitchen – because I see a lot of homeless people.”
If they don’t have to spend so much time trying to find food, she said, it could give them the time to find a way to get back on their feet.
During her speech, she expressed thanks for the opportunity to serve on the court, and she talked about her plans to attend Western Oregon University to study pediatrics.
“I want to create a stable environment and be a role model for as many kids as I can in the future,” Griffin said.
“Queen Makayla, she’s always kind and genuine,” said Krissy Mathers, court chaperon. “She’s a very hard-working young lady who has a lot of potential and really wants to be involved in her community. Her love for her family is really a part of everything she does.”
Griffin said, after she was crowned, that she was looking forward to the Grand Parade on Saturday. “That’s where the kids will be. Seeing them happy really builds our confidence too.”
In the coming year, she and the court will be involved in numerous community events, from the Oregon Jamboree to the Chamber of C-ommerce community awards.
“I want to be involved as much as possible,” Griffin said. “Being crowned queen is my biggest accomplishment so far. I just want to show everybody I’m very thankful for this opportunity.”
Their involvement started right away.
A dinner followed the coronation, and then the court headed for Les Schwab Tire Center during the Cut the Gut event, which brought drivers and their cars down for old-fashioned cruising. Dozens of drivers revved their motors as they cruised and gathered along a route from A&W to Les Schwab to Cedar Shack.
The Kidzone carnival and festival kicked off Friday morning at the Sweet Home Events Center, 4001 Long St., and Sweet Home country singer Trevor Tagle gave a free performance Friday evening.
A Kiddie Parade, featuring a long line of Sweet Home children ran from the Boys and Girls Club, 880 18th Ave., around the corner to Sweet Home High School, 1641 Long St., prior to the Chips ‘n’ Splinters variety show.
During the show, spectators guessed at the identity of masked singers – and they did it well, identifying all eight acts, which included Moriah Winn, Tim and Gina Riley, Theresa Brown, Kris Latimer, Colby Montigue, Sean Morgan, Mike Hall and Trisha Ann Mark and George Medellin.
The show raised some $3,000 in funds through sponsorships and a raffle to pay for backdrop curtains and rigging for the high school auditorium, said Director Shirley Austin.
“In spite of a few technical issues, it was a fun show with some great community members. They stepped up not only to entertain the audience but also to support the cause and to be a part of keeping with the tradition of the Sportsman’s Holiday Chips ‘n’ Splinters.
“We are grateful for everyone involved, the sponsors for their support and the volunteers, like Karen Craig, who is amazing with costumes. And I love how Wendi (Melcher) and Heather (Search) just go with the flow during the technical issues and did a wonderful job emceeing.”
The Cascade K-9 Jamboree kicked off its second annual event Saturday morning to raise funds to pay for the Sweet Home Police Department’s drug detection dog program.
Last year, the event was held in September and drew about 200 people, who were invited to bring their dogs for a variety of games and activities for the pets and their owners. Visitors were also entertained by the Dogtown Festival, operated by Mike Allen. The Dogtown Festival featured a variety of competitive events, including Xtreme Air Wave, Xtreme Air RapidDisc, Xtreme Drags and Xtreme Hi-Jump.
“Attendance is up,” said organizers Connie DeBusschere of the K9 festival. “We had a lot more people come with their dogs.”
They seemed to enjoy it, she said. They learned some new things, different things to help their dogs, from training to products.
“Really good fun for the family and the dog,” DeBusschere said. “It was a good turnout. The parade was a lot of fun. I had a blast. I got to meet some really neat people and some really nice dogs.”
Gemma, SHPD’s Belgian Malinois drug detection dog, served as grand marshal in the Sportsman’s Holiday Grand Parade Saturday morning.
The parade featured some 44 entries. Winners in seven categories received a wood disk etched by Magnum Metalworks.
Best Vehicle went to Aloha Limos; Best Truck to Cascade Timber Consulting; Most Original to Hocu Pokie Dancers; Best in Theme to Woods Roadhouse; Best Performing Group to the Grand Ronde Tribe; Animal Float to My Little Dog Training; and Best Decorated to Sugar City Brews.
The town festival and Kidzone continued Saturday, with the return of the traditional stick horse races after a long hiatus and the addition of a watermelon eating contest. Nelia Taraski gave a comedic performance later in the day before crowds began flocking to Foster Lake for the Sweet Home Volunteer Firefighter Association’s fireworks display.
Also following the parade, local working loggers gathered at the Events Center for the annual Logger Olympics.
Brock Cota and his team from THI broke a five-year winning streak held by Willy Sieg and his team from CTS and beat a record set by his father Jim Cota and his team in 1992 for the Working Logger Relay with a time of 1:21.51, a quarter second faster.
“I talked to the guys about it the last couple of weeks,” said Brock Cota, noting a 10-year rivalry with Sieg. “I told them Willy’s bested me the last 10 years. We had to get it done this time.”
In the Working Logger Relay, loggers complete four tasks, production power saw, choker setting, obstacle pole bucking and hook and tender, all tasks they complete on a regular basis while working in the woods.
THI team members were Kody Marvin, Cota, Brandon Greenlee and Kolton Collins.
Following the Logger Olympics, contestants and volunteers sang “Happy Birthday” to emcee Milt Moran, celebrating his birthday.
“I think we had fun,” said Chamber of Commerce Manager Mackenzie Thomas about Sportsman’s Holiday. “I think it was great. I kind of loved all of it, from coronation to Cut the Gut all the way to the end of the K9 Jamboree. It was all just a super fun weekend in Sweet Home.”