STAFF REPORT
For years, quilting and the Amish community have been sononymous with Crittenden County's Back Roads Tour.
This year, the three-day event, April 25-27, is taking on some new flavor as Marion hosts its first Cherokee Pow Wow. It is the third such event organized by the Mantle Rock Cherokees, now based in Marion, but the first time it will be held here. The Pow Wow previously was held at Birdsville Campground in Livingston County.
Organizers wanted to move the Pow Wow to Marion last year; however, the event was cancelled because of rain.
Between 2,000 and 4,000 people are expected to visit the Native American event, which will showcase traditions, crafts and demonstrations at the Crittenden County Fairgrounds.
"The Back Roads Tour was originally designed for quilters in Paducah to have something else to do besides just attend the annual quilt show, and to showcase our Amish community," said Chamber of Commerce executive secretary Jeanne Hodge. "Over the years it has ballooned greatly."
School children from throughout the area will visit the Pow Wow on April 25 to see native skills and traditions such as drumming, singing, dancing and flute playing. Numerous demonstrations will be provided, and students can also get a personal tour of a tepee village. A Grand Entry, which will simulate the Cherokee's elaborate walk into the fairgrounds arena, will begin at 1 p.m. Demonstrations continue until 9 p.m.
"If estimates that Momfeather Erickson (elder of the Mantle Rock Cherokees) have given us are correct, there could be 2,000 to 4,000 people, because that's how many people visited at Birdsville," Hodge said. "We feel like that crowd will spill over in downtown, but since we don't have any history with the Pow Wow we don't know if will be 500 or 5,000 people."
Hodge said Chamber and Main Street officials are excited about the potential impact the April 25-27 events might have on Marion businesses.
"When there's lots of people here, they have to eat somewhere, they'll probably look at antiques, shop, some may camp out four or five days and they may need electric or plumbing supplies, and who knows what they might need," she added.
This marks the 13th year the Chamber of Commerce and Marion Main Street have co-organized and sponsored activities for the Back Roads Tour. As always, the two organizations will offer their usual Back Roads services, including maps of the Amish community intended for self-guided tours. Those maps and other pertinent information will be available at the courthouse gazebo both days of the celebration.
At least one bus tour from Bowling Green has been scheduled to stop in Marion, take in the sites, have lunch and tour the Amish community.
Crittenden County Homemakers are sponsoring quilt show this time at the former First Presbyterian Church on East Bellville Street, which is the future site of the Bob Wheeler Museum. The former church located on the corner of College and Bellville has been donated to the Crittenden County Historical Society to be used for a new museum.
Quilters or quilt owners are invited to display their quilts. They do not necessarily have to be made by the exhibitor. Patty Gilbert, quilt show committee member, said the show is an opportunity for the public to view the oldest church in Marion and to see some beautiful quilts.
Quilts can be registered from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Saturday. Each quilt will include an information card listing the owner and maker, date made and pattern, if known, and other information. Cards will be available at the show or can be picked up in advance at the Crittenden County Extension office at the courthouse.
The Quilt Show is free and will be open for viewing by the public from 10 a.m., - 3 p.m. Spectators will vote for the show favorite called "The People's Choice Award." The winner will be announced at 3 p.m., and quilts can be picked up by owners from 3-3:30 p.m.
Previous Back Roads Quilt Show award winning quilts are not eligible for show favorite, but may be displayed.
The show is sponsored by the Crittenden County Extension Homemaker Association. For further information, contact Patty Gilbert at 965-4741.
Another quilt show is scheduled at the Woman's Club of Marion from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., on April 25.
Rose Kirk looks through the glassless windshield
of the Bookmobile and shows off her only trophy,
a tiny turkey wing feather.
TURKEY TERROR: Big bird crashes Bookmobile
Rose Kirk's tactics for taking a turkey differ from those employed by most spring hunters scoop it up with your vehicle.
In her case, Kirk actually bagged her gobbler with the Crittenden County Library's Bookmobile on her way to deliver books to patrons of the patrolling book service.
She was travelling along Ky. 91 toward Tolu Tuesday coincidentally on the first day hunters could legally hunt wild turkeys in the county when the fowl projectile took her by surprise, slamming into the driver's side windshield, shattering it, and sending glass and feathers flying.
Kirk was shaken, but managed to pull off the road and remove what remained of the windshield.
"I pulled off at Papa's Store," she said, pulling bits of glass from her hair, and chuckling. "They weren't open and I couldn't get any service on my cell phone, so I just pulled out the glass and came back to town."
Kirk said she didn't hold out much hope for the turkey's survival.
"It was a big one, but he's probably in the ditch somewhere," she said. "I'm surprised I was able to keep control. God was just with me."