Old Settlers Days Set For Aug. 31- Sept. 3

Celebrate the history of the Lodgepole community

this weekend with Old Settlers Day. "Return, Renew & Relive!" is the theme of the

94th Old Settlers Celebration.

The celebration is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 3.

The event kicks off with a 5K Old Settlers Reunion Glow Fun Run Friday. Registration begins at 6:15 p.m. at the north park. Registration is $10 and includes neon glow. Participants under 6 years of age are free. Bicyclists are welcome. The 4-H Shooters will be selling snow cones.

Saturday starts with the Platte Valley Tractor Pull, a sanctioned truck and tractor pull, on Front Street near the south park. The event is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Registration and weigh-in starts at 8 a.m.

Sand and mud volleyball contests will also be held throughout the day.

The museum will be open noon to 3 p.m. The school reunion dinner is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Community Hall.

The night closes with a street dance and beer garden 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. hosted by the Lodgepole Volunteer Fire Department at the Lodgepole Community Hall.

Sunday starts with church services at South Park by Gloria Dei Lutheran Church at 9 a.m. The 2018 Old Settlers Golf tourney also starts at 9 .m. The four-person scramble costs $200 per team and is limited to 16 teams. The tournament will be held at Chappell Golf Course. To sign up call Bill Taylor at 308-250-0530 or Justin Misegadis at 308-249-5969.

The afternoon will be busy with kids games and the museum opens at 1p.m. There will also be a flower show at the museum.

The parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 3 with lineup starting at 9 a.m. Dan and Linda Markel are the Grand Marshalls for the parade. The Markels have lived in Cheyenne County and Lodgepole most of their lives. Dan farmed around Lodgepole since graduating from Lodgepole High School. He farmed for his parents for a short time on land that had been in the family since 1927. Linda is a Sidney High School graduate. She worked at Federal Crop in Chappell. After retiring, she worked at the after-school program in Sidney and was a volunteer at Creek Valley Elementary. Presently, she is an active member of the Lodgepole Depot Museum.

In 1968, Dan and Linda moved to the Meadows Ranch where they raised cattle and irrigated corn, and children Tracey, Jeff and Greg. They were involved in many activities including 4-H, county fairs, high school rodeos and school events.

They moved to Lodgepole in 1998 and continued following their six grandchildren. Today, they also have two great-grandchildren.

A freewill donation barbecue will be held at South Park at 11 a.m. Gloria Dei Lutheran Women's Fellowship also selling pie.

There will also be a program in South Park with local entertainment, Country Store drawings and a quilt raffle. There will also be kids activities in South Park, and Horseshoe Pitching at the North Park horseshoe pits. Registration for the horseshoe throwing starts at 12 p.m.

Crafters and vendors are welcome all weekend. No charge for spaces.

A handmade quilt, donated by Janet Robert and Jamie Curtis, will be raffled. Tickets are $1 each or six tickets for $5. Lodgepole t-shirts will also be on sale for $15 each.