Local veterans Don Vanmiddendorp and Dennis Vance prepare to raise the colors at a flagraising ceremony that opened the Independence Day festivities at the Logandale Fairgrounds on Monday morning. Photo by Vernon Robison.

Moapa Valley Progress

Local residents celebrated Independence Day in traditional Moapa Valley style on Monday. The weather was overcast softening the harsh heat of the direct sun that is more customary at this time of year.

The festivities began with a flagraising ceremony by local veterans organizations. A crowd gathered at 7:00 at the Logandale Fairgrounds to participate in the ceremony and to recognize the sacrifice of local veterans. PFC Darrell Moffet of Overton assisted by presenting the colors at the ceremony.

Following the brief ceremony, the member of the Moapa Valley Rotary Club served a free pancake breakfast for the community in the Fine Arts Building.

At 9 a.m. the kids gathered on the Fairgrounds fields for a candy grab. Over 200 lbs. of candy had been loaded into air cannons and were soon fired into the air to rain down upon the grass. Delighted children scrambled to scoop up the candy. There was plenty for all.

Parks and Rec staff then provided a variety of water games to keep the youngsters occupied until the fire trucks arrived.

Autumn Boren, 12, gives it everything she’s got on her way to winning the July 4th junior pie eating contest at the Clark County County Fairgrounds. Photo by Mike Donahue.

By 10:30 a.m. the local volunteer fire departments had set up and prepared. They opened up the water cannons and hoses on the crowd to squeals of delight from children.

The morning festivities also included a pie eating contest. The contest had three divisions: Men, Women and Juniors (under 14). The winner of the junior division was Autumn Boren, 12, of Logandale. The women division was won by Victoria Karvonen, 15, of Moapa. The men’s division winner was Robin Brimer of Alaska.

The final morning activity was a watermelon bust provided by the Overton Senior Center. A very competitive watermelon eating contest also took place before the morning was over.

In the evening, crowds gathered again at 6:30 for a Flag Retreat Ceremony.

This was followed by the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce serving dinner to the crowds. The Pit BBQ meal was cooked to perfection (as it is every year) by Chamber member Dennis Freeman.

The evening program featured country singer Eric Dodge performing music for the crowd. It also included a fitting tribute and appreciation to current and past service-men and -women.

The festivities ended with the community fireworks display.