by Twila Pierce

Little Chicagoís Hoodlum Days has taken on a new theme for this yearís celebration in honor of our 125th anniversary of our community after becoming a statutory city on October 30, 1883.  The theme chosen for this year is ìLittle Chicago celebrates 125 years with Freedom Daysî.  

When making the plans for these summer celebrations we try hard to plan for all age groupsóthis year again the committee has accomplished this.  But if you have any ideas of events or would like to sponsor an event, please feel free to submit your ideas to city hall. 

While you are out and about in our community and parks today and in the future please take note of the donations made for our flower boxes from Sistyís Greenhouse and the new bench and flower box in front of the post office.  The bench was built by the FFA students and the flower box was built by Sentence To Serve.  We are thankful for the many hours of hard work provided by our garden clubs and community members for all their hard endeavors. We are amazed and lucky to have dedicated people and businesses.  Wealth of a community is found in the people who live there and make a conscious effort to volunteer. We are a very rich community.

This year's celebration gets started on Tuesday, July 1 from 5-7 p.m. with the community church garage sale as well as on Wednesday, July 2 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church. Stop in and take advantage of the great deals you will find.  If you have items to donate, please drop them off at the church before Tuesday (Please note no electrical appliances or equipment.) 

We then take a day on July 3 to do final setups and get ready for the weekend. Of course not all take a break, as I am sure Wayne Olson will tell you he will be busy all week with the forklift along with the Lionís members, so please if you want something to do stop by, they would appreciate the help.

Letís get the weekend started on Friday, July 4.  We can get all revved up with the 4th annual ATV and lawn/garden tractor pull. The Eagle Bend Fire Department will be sponsoring this event and it promises to be a power driven event with a ton of fun for participants as well as the spectators.  Contact Jason Nelson or city hall for more information.  Refreshments will be served by the Eagle Bend Fire Department and Eagle Bend Development Corporation.

Now if you want a place to kick up your feet at the day's end the Vets Club is hosting Karaoke/DJ with ìHot Rodî.   

New to the list of things to do is a teen dance with Allen Bailey as the DJ. This fun time will be held at  the Eagle Bend Fire Hall and starts at 8:30. A local teen youth group will be on hand for refreshments. 

Here we are already the 5th of July. The day starts with an eye awakening breakfast of pancakes and sausage for you early risers serving begins at 7:00 a.m. and for those of us not so early to rise in the morning, the United Methodist Church workers will serve until 9:30 a.m.  No reason to start the day hungry this all-you-can-eat breakfast is a community favorite.  Once you have fueled up with breakfast head out and see what treasures you can find at the community garage sale at 8:00 a.m. Tammy Notch 738-6793 is the person to contact if you are interested in participating or if you would like a map.  Donít forget on your way to get a good seat for the parade make sure you stop in the Senior Center for a pie and ice cream social and purchase your tickets for the quilt drawing that will be held at 2 p.m.  

When it comes to show and tell the Eagle Bend Museum will be the place for the Boys Toys show hosted by the Historical Society and while strolling through the Museum stroll on over to the Eagle Bend Library side for the annual book sale hosted by the Friends of the Library, all this starts at 8 a.m.  

Quilt-A-Bee quilt club will again this year grace us with the talents of our community members at their annual quilt show to be held at the Assemblies of God Church social hall at 9 a.m.

Make sure to travel up to Nelson Park and check to see if your favorite team is playing in the 3 on 3 basketball tournament.  Dustin Schlichting from Noonan Sport Specialist 320- 808-9632 and Tyler Notch 218-738-3396 are the guys with the info.   

For all you treasure seekers the first clue for the Medallion Hunt will be posted at city hall every hour starting at 10 until the medallion is found.   Sponsored by the VFW Club, a $100 in Eagle Bend Bucks is the prize for anyone who can find that well hidden treasure and bring it to the VFW and claim your prize.

Listen for the sirens and all the flashing lights as itís the start of the Grand Parade sponsored by Star Bank.  Northland Dairy also helps the volunteers by giving them an easy ride from all points on the parade route and throughout the day to run errands making the job a lot easier.  The theme is Freedom Days so make sure that if you are participating and that you come early to line up. Participants can preregister by calling Jane Schultz at 218-738-5260 or Corliss Seward at 218-738-6492.  If you are one of our precious parade watchers come early for a good seat, the Grand Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. 

Attention all you car collecting enthusiasts if you have a collector vehicle and you would like to drive it in the parade and have it on display after, please park in the Faith Lutheran church parking lot. It will be reserved for you until 2 p.m. and the public can have viewing these unique units and remember days gone by.

  After all that you have been doing this morning, it must be time to replenish the tummy.  The VFW auxiliary will be serving a chicken dinner under the Lionís tent on Main Street starting at 11 until 1:30. It promises to be finger lickiní good.  The Lionís will be serving at the tractor pull and donít forget the Senior Centerís Luncheon.

The Eagle Valley Chapter of the Deer Hunterís Association will be hosting their 3-D shoot for kids in Jerryís Body Shop (new building) on Main Street at 12 noon.  Take care of your curiosity, stop by and see what is happening. 

Tractors Pullers start your enginesóthe Annual Eagle Bend Lions Tractor Pull begins at 12 noon sharp.  Billy Warren is the one to contact for this event.  

If you are one who likes to stay in the shade you can enjoy listening to some country music under the Lionís Tent on Main Street featuring ìSocial Security Expressî from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. While Mom and Dad are tapping their feet to a country beat kids can run around the corner to Eagle Lanes on Central Ave for the kidís rides and petting zoo sponsored by the City of Eagle Bend and Arvig Communications and make sure you stick around for the Kiddies Tractor Pull on Main Street at 2:30 p.m.  This is sponsored by Neilís Service Center, Napa, BW Transmission, Star Bank and Shirleyís Gas and Groceries.

If you are more the wandering type and like artistic things Nelson Park is the place for you.  This yearís ìArt in the Parkî will have a new element to the displays. There will be a horticulture display, all hosted by the Petal Pushers Garden Club.  Pam Pontius is the contact person if you are an artisan or master gardener and would like to display your talent.  While you are visiting Nelson Park, stroll around the walking path and through the meditation garden by the chapel.  The Chapel of the Flowers will be open for viewing.  

Itís time to venture on down to Main Street again the Eagle Bend Fire Department along with some of their friends will be hosting water fights at 6 p.m.

Maybe after this fun filled day you need a place that offers some good southern gospel music to rejuvenate your spirit then you will need to venture on down to the Assemblies of God Church for a gospel concert featuring ìThe Red Letter Bandî sponsored by the Eagle Bend Area Development Corporation and a little help from a free will offering this will be a concert for all ages starts at 7 p.m.  

Team Squidwheelies is a motorcycle stunt team that will be performing at 7:30 on mainstreet.  This amazing visual performance with high-energy action is new and last minute to the line up of events this year sponsored by many of the local businesses.  This will be a performance you wonít want to miss.

Kick up your heels with ìWyatt Earpî at the street dance at 8:30 p.m. sponsored by Eagle Bend Liquor Store, Vets Club and Eagle Bend Lionís Club.

Top off the day with a spectacular display of bright colorful Fireworks that are sure to make you go ìOOO and AAAAHî at Dusk (10 p.m.). Listen for the boom to start this event it is sponsored by the Eagle Bend Fire Department Relief.