Festival draws crowd

Hedley was a busy place last weekend as the 59th annual Cotton Festival provided lots of fun things to do on Friday and Saturday.

There were generally more things to do and more fun to be had than in recent years as organizers worked hard to build up the celebration.

The Lioness Club got things rolling Friday evening with a Chili & Stew
Supper at the Lioness Den, which was followed by the Hedley Owls defeating the Lubbock Home School athletes for a Homecoming victory.

Blackie Johnston won all three divisions of the tractor show; and car show winners were as follows: first – Grady Milton of White Deer with a 1930 Model A, second – Redell Johnston of Howardwick with a 1966 Mustang, third – John Redmon of Amarillo with a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Limited Edition, and People’s Choice – Stephanie Wilkinson with a 1967 Ford Mustang.

Boss Lion Vernon Patton said he thought the Lions Club served about 275 people during the barbecue lunch.

Kiddie Parade and Community Parade results were not available at press time.

Among the drawings held Saturday, Bonnie Lesley won the quilt from the Lioness Club, Chuck Howell won the pistol from the Senior Citizens, and

Dennis King won the wooden bench from Moffitt’s Hardware.

The Hedley School Reunion was well attended with Nancy Mullins traveling all the way from Tennessee to be there. Nell Gray represented the oldest class present (1940), and the youngest class represented was 1980.

A street dance featuring Broken Jonez was also held Saturday night.