Monday, Sept. 25
Marthaville Good Ole Days festival has come to another end and it was enjoyed by the crowd of all ages. By Friday evening, booths of all kinds made their way to sell and the crowds were coming in to buy. A new booth this year was the paint booth. It was a big hit for all ages. Everyone enjoyed the Friday night gospel show.
Vernon Birdwell, 90, played his harmonica and proved to the crowd that he is still alive and kicking. Not too long ago, he fell and broke his hip. He is at home with his wife of 60 plus years, Louise. Singing Friday night were Justin Cruse, Faith x 8, Bethel Christian Academy, Bethel Congregational Methodist Church, Life Church of Many, Crossroads Baptist Church, Beulah Methodist Church, Marthaville First Baptist Church and the Red River Cowboy Church Band featuring Leighton and Becky Birdwell Kniffen. Former Gov. Edwin Edwards and his wife, Trina, and son Eli, 4, arrived right on time and he greeted people with hand shakes and was smiling for the camera. Thanks to Robert Gentry and his wife Laurie, I was able to smile right along with Edwards.
For someone 90, Edwards looked good, enjoyed the crowd and talked to everyone. You could tell his son, Eli, was crazy about his daddy. After the parade, the youth music show took place, starring Sarah Dyess, Pink Couch Studios and Faith x 8. Then it was Miss Marthaville Good Ole Days Festival Queen Shelby Leigh Greer and her court and visiting queens.
There was $1,125 in prize money. The winners were: Best miscellaneous float first place, $100 and trophy to Marthaville Pep Squad; second place and $50 and trophy to Crossfit Creek Bottom; Best Antique car and $50 and trophy to Arden Settle, Best Antique truck $50 and trophy to Howard Laramy; Best Decorated Royalty Vehicle first place $50 and trophy to Miss Zwolle Tamale Lillian LaTour; second place $25 and trophy to Teen Miss Cure on the Cane Jordan Rodriguez. Best Church Float $100 to Marthaville First Place Church; Best Pep Squad $50 and trophy to Marthaville Pep Squad, Best Jr. High Cheerleaders $50 and a trophy went to Marthaville Jr. High Cheerleaders, Best High School Spirit Group $50 and trophy to Natchitoches Central Chiefettes; Best High School Danceline $50 and trophy to the Natchitoches Central Maroon Line; Best Performing Group $50 and trophy to Dazzle Dance Center. For the high dollar winning groups were first Place $200 and trophy to Natchitoches Central Chiefettes, second place $150 and trophy to the Natchitoches Central Maroon Line and third place $100 and a trophy to the Marthaville Jr. High Cheerleaders. The Marthaville Class of 1967 had a reunion and rode in the parade.
Those attending were Bill Alford of Shreveport, Don Flores of Coushatta, Terry Jordan of Marthaville, Martha Sepulvado Wall of Robeline, Judy Winn Bridges of Shreveport, Sherry Lewis Humphrey of Mena, Ark., Eunice Withers Taylor of Haughton, Mattie Eason Rachal of Shreveport and Lois Ann Strebeck Tillman of Batesville, Ark.. At 2:30 everything shut down for the afternoon break. At 6 p.m., the music started with Sarah Dyess, Justin Cruse, Kerry Singletary and Friends and The Becky Birdwell Kniffin Band featuring Leighton Kniffin. It was a great night to finish up the 25th Marthaville Good Ole Days Festival. I cannot say enough about Fuzzy and Shirley Hennigan. Fuzzy works tirelessly getting everything ready for the festival. This year our stage took on a new, bigger and better look thanks to Fuzzy, who has his hand in everything. Shirley designed the T-shirts and sold them. Jason Singletary and Angela Hennigan Kelso announced the parade. Karen Rawls, Sonya Parks, Mitzi Roe, Jamie Carnline and Jenny Crump were the parade committee. I want to remind everyone about the Lambert Town Cemetery Homecoming Oct. 1 at Shamrock Advent Christian Church in Robeline.
A devotional and singing begin at 10 a.m. with business meeting at 11 a.m. It will be followed by fellowship with friends and relatives and dinner on the grounds. If you cannot make it, be sure you send in your donation for the upkeep of the cemetery.
