Fun on the Fourth of July!

Touted as the largest Fourth of July celebration in southern Iowa, the Osceola Independence Day Celebration kicks off Friday, June 30, and keeps rolling until the fireworks end Tuesday night. The theme for 2017 is “Osceola Blast From The Past.” A schedule is available in both the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune and the Advertiser.

Leading the way

This year’s Grand Marshal is longtime resident Mickey Thomas, who just recently retired at age 88. He’s been active in Osceola since moving here over 70 years ago. Thomas has served on the city ce4wsouncil, the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of Clarke County State Bank and several other committees.

“Mickey has been so involved in the Lions and in the Fourth of July for many, many years,” said Osceola Independence Day Celebration Committee member Tammy Thomas – no relation.

Thomas was a local landlord for decades and has worked on numerous projects to improve life here in town. He also contributed a weekly column to the newspaper for 10 years. Recently, the entries were collected and published in three volumes of “Tales From the Aisles.”

Joining Thomas is the Junior Grand Marshal for 2017, Essa Jones, 8, daughter of Amanda Jones and Tobey Clark, who is headed into third grade this fall.

“She’s a very active fundraiser and donates her time to many important causes,” said Thomas.

Jones is one of the town’s top Girl Scout cookies salespeople, she raises money to help shoulder costs at the Clarke County Animal Shelter and Jones helped run the dunk tank during the fourth of July celebration last year. Her efforts raised nearly $300 for the festivities.

Five, fun-filled days

The Osceola Chamber Main Street Fire Cracker Run begins 7 a.m. Saturday, July 1, at 200 W. Washington St., across from the Osceola Volunteer Fire Department. Registration begins at 6 a.m. for those who didn’t pre-register. The route will take runners down Highway 34 to the new restaurant Percussion and back again.

Following the run will be a full day of fun at the Clarke County Animal Shelter, with pet shows and door prizes available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and all day on the Square with Kenny’s Funland Carnival. Good music and great times will be available on tap.

Kids’ Day on Sunday, June 2, will feature a tractor pull, watermelon eating contests and more for the young folk, while Monday gets down to some serious eating with the Pie Contest, and the Cupcake Contest, new this year.

“We’ve always had a pie contest, and what they would always do is cut the pies up, walk through the crowd and sell them,” said Thomas. “Two years ago, we thought ‘Why don’t we do a pie auction?’ Cupcakes are kind of a hot thing right now too. So far, the response has been really good.”

Winners receive prizes, while pies and cupcakes will be saved and auctioned off after Tuesday’s parade, which starts at 11 a.m. From classic motorcycles, tractors and cars early in the afternoon to the Osceola Talent Show starting around 2:30 p.m., there will be plenty for visitors to do all day on July 4, including watch fireworks at Lakeside Casino starting near dark.

Making the magic

A handful of people are responsible for putting together the celebration each year. The committee members for 2017 are: Bobbie Jubell-Cook, president and committee chair, Byron

Jimmerson, vice president, Luci Sullivan, secretary, Nicole Jimmerson, treasurer, Art and Evelyn Pritchard, Richard and Tammy Thomas, Ryan Sullivan, Chuck DeVos, Mike and Mary Pederson, Austin Taylor and Mickey Thomas.

“I have been the president/ chair for the last million years it feels like,” said Jubell-Cook.

It’s a big job, especially when the committee makes it a point to switch things up each year, and it takes a lot of work – and a great deal of community help – to pull off. Without the sponsors, volunteers and visitors supporting the celebration, it couldn’t be what it is today.

Those interested in helping preserve the tradition can make donations to Osceola 4th of July Committee, P.O. Box 303, Osceola, Iowa 50213.

One Fourth of July favorite will be missing

While free bull rides will be back, repeat visitors won’t be seeing Whistle-Nut & Ole, the rodeo-clown-and-bull duo out of Humested. Jack Dent, performer and auctioneer, will be busy competing on the reality show Big Brother 19, premiering 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, and Thursday, June 29, on CBS.