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Betts Bodoh
Correspondent

(Wabeno News) - Hi everybody.

Before I talk about anything else I have to let you know that we do have a relative who is in the service. Lonnie’s cousin Cedric Bodoh has a grandson, Brandon Tessier, who is an MP in the Army will be leaving for Iraq soon. My apologies for not knowing that. I guess I should stay more up to date on the relatives.

What a great event the Wabeno Winterfest turned out to be again this year. There were lots of kids visiting Santa at the Town Hall where they had their picture taken with Santa Claus and made lots of decorations and had cookies and hot cocoa with whipped cream on top which gave them a white mustache when they drank it.

Simply delicious chili and hamburgers were being served up at the Legion Hall right across the way from the Town Hall while Santa was hearing secret messages from the kids. Barb Schmidt sold tickets in The Town Hall for the horse drawn trailer ride for everyone. The cost was two dollars for the adults and one dollar for kids over the age of 12. It was very popular. One young man told me that it was his birthday and he said it was his job to make sure what the horse left on the street he had to shovel up. What a way to celebrate your birthday.

They had some great gifts that were given away as door prizes every hour over at the Legion Hall and other gifts that were for raffling. Dawn Jakubiak had her hands full at the Legion Hall with the chili cook off and the raffles. When I came in the Presbyterian ladies said their baked goods were selling well.

Every child had his picture taken with Santa. If you didn’t pick one up that day you can find it at Flowers From the Heart on the main street downtown Wabeno. Just go in and ask Ron about it and while you are there look around and see what a wonderful gift shop it is and right now many Christmas items are 50% off, so check it out.

At 5 p.m. the Lions gathered at Pichottas Pub and Grub Bar to light the luminaries and then go caroling on the way to the lighting of the Wabeno Bandshell Christmas Tree. Someone had broken a few branches off one side of the tree but it was still beautiful and looked even more so when it was lighted. There was a fellow by the name of David Engels who was all set to light the tree, when I arrived at the Bandshell. He told me he was going to light the tree. I really didn‘t know who this David was so when he said he was going to turn the lights on I really didn’t pay too much attention to him. He followed me onto the Bandshell and as I unlocked the door and turned the light on inside so I could see the switches, he said to me, “You turn it in on. I’ll tell you when it’s the right time.” The Lions people gathered on the hay trailer and started to sing the Christmas Carols and David turned to me and said, “They’re ready, they’re singing, you can turn it on.” I plugged in the tree and when the lights came on. “Wow!” he said, “It looks nice.” There were a few people watching in front of the Bandshell and a few children waiting for their special treats as the lights came on. David proceeded to give out the gifts that the Lions Club had put together for them.

I had met David Engels for the first time that evening. He is a really nice guy and he was pretty excited about all that was going on but then so was I and so was Larry “workabee.”

Larry had approached the Town Board to see if they would donate to this project but they said no (Scrooges). He wouldn’t let them ruin his plans; he got donations for the gifts from the local businesses and other local Wabenoites. His daughter Kari Rummel and Terry Korbus picked out all the stuff for the kids with that money, then Pastor Wendy found some kids and adults who volunteered to fill bags that were donated by Donna VerVoort.

Mesa Geiter and Paula Doyle were able to help with the children’s make and take projects during the Winterfest at the Town Hall and Shayna Trussell is another teen who Donna VerVoort brought to help her serve the cookies and cocoa. The ATV Club helped in many ways from beginning to the end. The high school donated cookies but because of the Wrestling Tournament going on at the same time most of the students were unable to attend or help us during the festival. Pam Schroeder, Mary Campion, Jeannie Weyers and I took pictures with our cameras and then printed them on Pam’s printers. Ron Drott who owns Flowers From the Heart ran the treasure hunt. That was so much fun. He also set up the Christmas music on the Bandshell.

Many of the businesses did the ice carvings again this year and they are great. The person who has to choose the winner will have a hard time. Didn’t know we had so many talented artists in Wabeno.

There were many, many people behind the scenes. Big congratulations should go to the Wabeno Chamber as a whole for putting the Wabeno Winterfest on. It is a lot of work. A separate pat on the back should go to Jim and Diane Hausinger as Winterfest was their inspiration and to their ATV Club who provide a lot of help for our events. A big thank you also goes to all of those who donated the gifts as door prizes and raffles, and to the Potawatomi Casino for their contribution for the advertising. As you can see it is a community effort. Last but not least of all a big thank you goes to all of the people who attended this years Winterfest. So many local people attended. It was each one of you who made the work worthwhile.

All in all it was a grand performance for the Wabeno Winterfest. Next year the fourth annual Winterfest and the second annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be even better. If you didn’t attend this year make sure you set aside Dec. 12 for 2009. Lord willing we will be Winterfesting again and you will be there with us celebrating that season again or maybe it will be your first time either way, see you there. Please forgive me if I have forgotten anyone or slighted anyone, it was not intentional. If you noticed any omission, please call me and or write me. Let me hear from you as to who or what it was. Thanks.

Don’t you just love this place? I do! Well gotta go for now.

Any news or interest write to Betts Bodoh, P.O. Box 222, Wabeno, WI 54566, e-mail lobolu@centurytel.net or call (715) 473-3808.

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