By Roger Allen
Extensive promotion, favorable weather, free (sponsored) admission, public support and other factors all combined to make the Lions club’s January 29 Toy and Craft Show a definite success.
Chairman Ron Hensel reported nearly 300 persons came to the show. He was equally pleased that 30 vendors participated, offering not only toys but also the widest variety of crafts in the three-decades history of the event.
Hensel talked with the vendors toward the end of the show and the strong consensus was that they were pleased with their results. Several vendors were “first-timers” and most indicated they would plan to return next year.
Admission was free, compliments of sponsorship by Home Plate Sports Cards of Oskaloosa, owned by Lions club member Eddie Pierson. Everyone attending received a ticket for the drawings for door prizes that were held about every 20 minutes of the six-hour show.
Those attending had the option of purchasing tickets for chances to win the grand prize, a model-size Case-IH combine kit with two grain harvesting headers. It was won by the son of vendor Robin Anderson of Sully.
Dani Turner, phlebotomist, represented Poweshiek County Public Health, offering free preliminary screening for pre-diabetes, along with distributing educational materials about Type 2 diabetes and its prevention.
Four area Lions clubs including Montezuma are among the sponsors of the screening and follow-up diabetes awareness, screening and follow-up lifestyle-changes program.
