Hedley plans 57th festival

M.O. and Sue Weatherly will be the parade marshals for the 57th annual Hedley Cotton Festival this Saturday, October 11, 2008. 

Activities for the festival begin Friday with the Hedley Lioness Club’s Chili and Stew Supper at 5 p.m. followed by a Hoot-N-Nanny at the Lions Den at 6 p.m.

Saturday’s activities begin with entertainment provided by Joe Davis of KLSR radio. The Lioness Quilt Show and the Tractor and Car Show both start at 10 a.m. A bake sale benefiting Rowe Cemetery will run all day.

Hedley Senior Citizens will serve hamburgers all day and sell tickets on a quilt. Other activities include Bingo at the Senior Citizens Center, a Chicken Drop, Face Painting, and lots of homemade ice cream.

The Lions Club will serve barbecue at 11:30 and sell chances on a bale of cotton.

The Kiddie Parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. followed by the Community Parade at 2 p.m. with Sue and M.O. leading the way.

The Weatherlies have been married for 62 years and have lived in Hedley all of that time. 

M.O. was the City Manager in Hedley for 35 years, from 1952 – 1987, and Justice of the Peace for 30 years from 1960-1990.  He was also in the Hedley Lions Club for several years and served as Treasurer. He was on the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department and served as Fire Chief, and he has been in the Hedley American Legion for 59 years and served as secretary.

Sue worked at the Hedley Security State Bank for 45 years, from 1954 – 1999, where she served as president for five years.  She made and worked on many floats for the Cotton Festival for almost 50 years. They were some of the prettiest floats in this area.  Sue has been manager of the Hedley Housing Authority from its beginning in 1980.  She was a member of the Hedley Sodalitas Club and also a charter member of the Hedley Lioness Club, where she served as treasurer for many years.

M.O. and Sue have always been great supporters of Hedley, and we want them to know that the community proud and honored to have them as fellow “Hedley Friends.”

Following the parade, the Hedley School Reunion will start at 3 p.m., and the Hedley Fire Department Auxiliary will sell brisket sandwiches at 4 p.m. at the Lions Den.