Middletown Firemen's Fall Festival serves up lots of family fun

[September 29, 2015]  MIDDLETOWN - On September 25 and 26, 2015 the Middletown Fire Department hosted the town's Fall Festival Events included a community dinner, a service to honor veterans, and musical entertainment in addition to a 5K glow run, parade, firemen's water ball challenges, kid's games, carnival rides, food stands and vendors.

The festival helped mark the 60th anniversary of the fire department and replaced the homecoming festival the town normally celebrates. Located in west central Logan County and east central Menard County, the Middletown Fire Protection District was formed in 1955 and serves a 36 square mile area. District was formed in 1955 and serves a 36 square mile area. They respond to mutual aid calls throughout both counties. Chief Josh Gasparini noted they have worked with the Lincoln rural fire department at various times.

Assistant chief Scott Schriber stated that the festival "lets us get into the community and lets people see what we do." Honoring the department's heritage, Schriber drove his 1966 fire truck, one originally purchased brand new by the fire department in its early years.

One of the main events on Saturday afternoon was the Firefighter's Water Ball Fight, a contest in which two-three man teams attempt to force a water keg suspended from a cable past a line on the other team’s side using the high pressure spray of a fire hose. As in the game of tug-of-war, the team that moves the furthest wins. Schriber said there is a lot of friendly bantering between the teams made up of various fire departments.

In addition to two teams from the Middletown fire department, teams from the Mason City, San Jose, and Lincoln Rural Fire departments competed in the water fights. The Mason City Fire department won first place in the competition followed by San Jose in second place, Lincoln in third place, and the two Middletown teams in fourth and fifth place.

Following the firefighter's challenge, children had a chance to compete in a similar water ball game, though they used hoses to move a colorful basketball suspended from a rope.

In the children's challenges the groups were split up by age groups with Jayden Withers, Kindall Helton and Orion Monday winning in the six and under category; Malena Kirgan, Rhett Pharis and Miranda Nelson winning in the age seven to nine category; and Dominic Blair, Chloe Davison and Mya Kirgan winning in the 10 and up category.

The winners will get to ride to school in a fire truck.

Shay Smith and the dancing Minions

Other Saturday afternoon activities included Shay Smith and her dancing Minions performing the song "Happy" and Illinois Rail, a group from the Normal and Roanoke area performing Bluegrass music. Jack Dupp and the Empty Bottles provided Saturday evening's entertainment.

Illinois Rail

Saturday evening, all of the local firemen were also honored for their service to the community. Members of the Middletown Fire Department include Chief Josh Gasparini, Assistant Chief Scott Schriber and Captain Cody Peddicord, along with firefighters Bret Tripplett, Zach Gasparini, Shaun Skelton, Travis Fletcher, Severan Landstrom, Kiefer Willis and Craig Brannan; probationary firefighters Darron Stapleton and Brandon Leonard, and probationary EMT B Theresa Unger.

Shellie Jones, who is on the festival committee, said that the fire department hopes to have more festivals to take the place of the homecoming. She noted that they will also do other fundraisers such as a double feature movie night in October.

The Middletown Firemen's Fall Festival provided fun for the whole family, and appears likely to become a tradition for the small community.

[Angela Reiners]