Monday, July 27th, 2015
Lake Fest weekend a big hit
By Shelley Grieshop
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
The Celina High School marching band struts down Main Street in front of the Mercer County Courthouse during Saturday night's annual Celina Lake Festival parade.
CELINA - A storm-free weekend and a big-name band helped make this year's lake festival a huge success, organizers said.
"We didn't want any rain and we were very fortunate," Celina Lake Festival Co-Chairwoman Michelle Emerine said early this morning as a light shower fell downtown.
For the first time in about four years the garden tractor pull went off without a hitch, she said.
"It always got rained out on Sunday. We were finally able to pull that off," Emerine said.
Friday night's activities drew thousands of people to Grand Lake's shores. Tethered hot air balloon rides were available for the first time at the festival but were canceled on Saturday due to the wind, she said.
More than 350 vehicles were on display Saturday for the annual cruise-in and 32 Amphicars splashed their way into the lake just prior to the big fireworks show across the water.
Saturday night's scheduling of more costly entertainment - Mr. Speed, a popular Kiss tribute band - paid off, she said.
"We wanted to bring the crowd back to the festival after the parade. Some of our vendors said it was the best Saturday night they had in years. We couldn't even get a golf cart down through the crowd," said Emerine, who has co-chaired the festival for about 17 years.
About half of this year's vendors pre-paid for a spot next year - a very good sign, she said.
"I think we had a pretty profitable year," Emerine said, adding final figures aren't yet available.
The parade on Saturday night was led by grand marshal Bud Schoenleben, a local businessman honored for his continued support of the festival and community. This year's parade drew 110 entries, according to festival organizer Randy Diegel.
Celina Police Chief Tom Wale said thousands of people lined the parade route. Everything went smoothly but the outcome could have been different, he said.
Celina police got a call from St. Marys police about 7:45 p.m. Saturday regarding two women who had allegedly stolen a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu from Villa Nova Carry-Out and were heading west "at a high rate of speed."
"It was right after the parade and we had all these people," Wale said.
Police spotted the stolen vehicle but Wale ordered officers to wait until the car was clear of the festival and crowds before attempting to pull it over, he said.
"I was afraid that if we attempted to stop the vehicle, they would flee and put people in danger. It was a good call," he said.
The car was stopped by police in a parking lot along U.S. 127 and the women immediately exited.
"They didn't get far" due to police presence, Wale said.
The suspects - Autumn Moon Netzley of Dayton and driver Taucha L. Keeton of New Castle - face stolen vehicle and drug charges and remain in the Mercer County jail, he said.
A near-tragic accident also occurred at 3:09 p.m. Saturday when 4-year-old Dandre Kelly of Sidney - strapped in a stroller - fell from a concrete walkway into about 4 feet of water along Lake Shore Drive.
According to Wale, the child's mother, Heather Samari, was playing with her two other children and the father was watching the boy in the stroller. The father reportedly was looking toward his wife and other children when the stroller rolled into the water.
"This was also witnessed by Celina native, 58-year-old Jerry Barger. Mr. Barger took immediate action and jumped into the water," Wale said.
The child was under water for about 45 seconds before Barger, an off-duty city employee, lifted him and the stroller out, Wale explained. Celina nurse Jenny Snider also was on the scene and began caring for the child before handing him to a police officer who took him to paramedics.
The boy was treated and released from a local hospital and is expected to fully recover, Wale said. No charges are expected.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
A large crowd assembles Friday night to watch Amphicars splash into Grand Lake while hot air balloons float in the background.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Jackson Zolman, 5, of Sandusky, rides a swing Friday evening at the Celina Lake Festival. The child was in town visiting his grandmother, Carol Henderson.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Lincoln Fennig, 5, of Coldwater, rides a pony.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
The rides in Lake Shore Park are seen above from a tethered hot air balloon.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Crew members inflate a hot air balloon Friday evening prior to giving rides to customers at the Celina Lake Festival.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
The Cheeseman Trucking entry participates in the Celina Lake Festival parade.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
A group of Amphicars on Friday evening drive along Main Street.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Cars on Saturday afternoon line Main Street during the collector car show.
