Miss West Concord crowned; citizens honored at Survival Days
It was a busy evening at the West Concord Historical Society Friday night as McKenna Rubin was crowned Miss West Concord 2015, Marvin Hanson announced as Citizen of the Year and Al and Rita Gilbert as recipients of the Mayor’s Key to the City Award.
Hayden Rubin was named the first runner-up in the Miss West Concord Pageant and Claudia Hodgman was named Miss Congeniality.
McKenna Rubin is the daughter of Todd and Kristin Rubin and was sponsored by L&E Farm Drainage. Hayden Rubin is also the daughter of Todd and Kristin Rubin and was sponsored by Cardinal Realty.
Hodgman is the daughter of Frank and Sarah Hodgman and was sponsored by Hodgman Drainage.
Sixteen West Concord residents were nominated for Citizen of the Year with the selection made by past recipients.
Hanson, who owns Hanson Trucking, was introduced as a loyal and dedicated resident of West Concord and supporter of other businesses.
He has served in the U.S. Army, a member of the American Legion and a supportor of the FFA program, Charter School and Christmas in West Concord as well as volunteering with his church.
Al and Rita Gilbert shared the Key to the City Award, having operated Gilbert’s Café from 1977 to 2002. The two have served on numerous community organizations and clubs with Al Gilbert a former mayor and current City Council member.
Winners were also announced in the Baby Photo Contest.
In the 0-12 month category, third place winner was Scott Hodgman, son of Nick and Mackenzie Hodgman. Second place winner was Wyatt Wojahn, son of Kim Barnhart and Zack Wojajn. First place went to Grady Jones, son of Brian and Christy Jones.
For youngsters 13 to 36 months old, third place went to Olivia Hodgman, daughter of Nick and Mackenzie Hodgman; second place to Brody Johnsen, son of Kari and Josh Johnsen and first place to Autumn Madery, daughter of Mason and Amanda Madery.
There was also a contest for our four legged friends with 121 pets entered in the Pet Photo Contest.
Third place went to Brutus owned by Whitney Dressel, second place to Fletcher owned by Stephanie Schaeffer and first place to Walter owned by Erin Klemmensen.
Survival Days activities had actually got off to an early start Friday morning as the Methodist Church opened their coffee shop with homemade donuts at 7 a.m. and the city wide garage sales got under way at 8 a.m. A garden tractor pull and classic and antique tractor pull both started at 6 p.m. and a 5K run/walk at 7 p.m.
And the festivities did not end with conclusion of the program as Mayor Jeff McCool made his way to Main Street to be the first “victim” of the dunk tank, followed by a dance under the Big Tent and fireworks.
The streets were busy Saturday with activities beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing until midnight.
Saturday morning saw the Scott Hodgman Classic Car and Bike Show and the awarding of two scholarships in memory of Hodgman to Alex Finne and Haley Redican.
Children headed to the Methodist Church Saturday afternoon to see the reptiles and amphibian program from the RAD Zoo in Owatonna. Highlight of the afternoon was probably Osceola, a young alligator, who made an appearance along with zookeeper Melissa Pastika. Many of the youngsters said they remembered last year’s program when Snaggletooth, a young male alligator put up a bit of a fight to get him bank in his tank.
Survival Days concluded on Sunday with a community worship service, a Pie and Ice Cream Social from Trinity Lutheran Church, the Grand Parade and the Firefighters’ Water Fight features fire departments from Kenyon, Wanamingo, Pine Island, Kasson and Mantorville, in addition to West Concord.