Wintersville ready to celebrate
By BRIANNA LAUTTAMUS, staff writerWINTERSVILLE - Members of the Wintersville Fourth of July committee are preparing for the village's annual parade Saturday.
Organizers for the event said they are anticipating a larger turnout than in years before.
"The weather has always been an issue. It's been rainy in the past," Mayor Bob Gale said. "If the weather cooperates, we'll have a nice crowd."
Organizer Dee Martin noted the size of the parade has grown in the past two years.
"We have about 50 units this year," Martin said. "It gets bigger every year. I'd like to eventually see us get 100 units participating."
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Riesbeck's Food Market and will end at Kroger on Main Street.
Gale added that in addition to the parade, the featured event for the Fourth of July holiday will be the memorial service following at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park on Winters Drive.
"We're looking forward to many residents attending the memorial service," Gale said. "We'll be saluting our local police and fire departments, along with our military veterans."
The ceremony will begin with an invocation, given by Monsignor Kurt Kemo from Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Lourdes churches.
Gale will present an award of recognition to retired police Chief Victor Calabrese and to Wintersville Fire and Rescue during the ceremony.
"The main speaker will be Bryan Felmet, former Jefferson County prosecuting attorney and lieutenant colonel in the Army," Gale noted.
The American Legion Post 557 Ladies Auxiliary will place a wreath at the gazebo, honoring all deceased police, fire and military veterans, and the American Legion Post 557 Color Guard will fire a 21-gun salute, Gale noted.
Special song arrangements will be performed by Jefferson County Commissioner Thomas Graham, and taps will be performed by Michal LaRue from Catholic Central High School.
Randy Sells, pastor of the Colonial Baptist Church, will close the ceremony with the benediction.
Following the service, Gale noted the annual community picnic will take place at the Walnut Street Park.
The picnic is planned from noon to 2 p.m., and there is no charge to attend. Food and entertainment will be provided, Gale noted.
"We'd like to see everybody there," Martin said. "It's going to be a great event."
(Lauttamus may be contacted at bsadler@heraldstaronline.com.)
