Special Events & Festivals

Not a single cloud in sight as the hot, heavy days of the previous week lifted for the 58th Annual Huntington Heritage Day Parade Saturday, June 18.

As early as 9 a.m., chairs were being lined up and down Jefferson Street, holding places of spectators for the event. The owner/operators of Trend Boutique & Décor, Kathy Dill and Kari Lahr, staked their claim in front of their store with family members Josh and Julie Lahr, while children of the family, Ava 13, and Grant 10 sat on the curb in the sunshine.

Newly-crowned princesses are, (from left) 10-year-old Brailey Inks, Junior Miss for the 2022 Heritage Days and Marleigh Lavine, 7, Little Miss for the 2022 Heritage Days.

 Past and present Chiefs of the Flint Springs Tribe are, front row from left Darlene Stanley, 2013; Rosie Wall, 2011; Bill Hancher, 2007; Stan Bippus, current chief; Marj Hiner, 1989; Ruth Marsh, 2015 and Bob Burnsworth, 2021. In the back row, from left are John Niederman, 2019; Wilford Hahn, 1998; John Easterday, 2010; Mike Perkins, 2016; Stephen Zahn, 1990; Dr. John Regan, 2006; Michael Zahn, 2012 and Steve Mason, 2009.

 Kelly Willour , Mya Willour, Addalin Wilkinson, and Peggy McCool enjoy fresh strawberry sortcake as part of the Heritage Days festivities hosted by The Police Atletic League (PAL) club.

The winners and runner ups from Little Miss Heritage and Junior Miss Heritage were announced after interviews with contestants and a modeling competition. Everyone who competed received a flower and a small trophy. Larger trophies, flower bouquets, and small tiaras were only awarded to the top five runner ups. Winners were awarded a flower bouquet, trophy and full-size tiara.

The crowd roared with laughter when all the subterfuge was over and newly-named Chief of the Flint Spring Tribe, Stanley Bippus, was announced.

You see, Bippus had been summoned to the 53rd Annual Chief of the Flint Springs Tribe Breakfast on Thursday morning, June 16, under false pretenses. During the presentation of the Legacy Gift, outgoing Chief Bob Burnsworth presented Bippus’ charity organization, The Piddlers, with that particular accolade. It was how Bippus was present to be announced chief without his prior knowledge.

In support of the Huntington County 4-H program that takes place each summer, the Huntington County 4-H Fair Association, Inc., will be hosting the Biennial Huntington County 4-H Benefit Auction on Saturday, April 16.

Heritage Days will once again include two vehicle shows as a part of the celebration for 2022. A downtown Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show, sponsored by MetroNet, will take place on Friday, June 17, from 5 to 9 p.m. The Huntington County Disaster Team Car and Truck Show will be held on Saturday, June 18, from 3 to 8 p.m., at Huntington North High School. Huntington University is the official sponsor of Heritage Days 2022, celebrating 125 years in the community.

Huntington University at 125 years will be the theme of Heritage Days 2022. The rich history of Huntington’s local university and its contributions to the area and the world will be celebrated Wednesday, June 15 to Sunday, June 19 throughout the community. Huntington University is also the sponsor of Heritage Days 2022.

Roanoke Elementary School Principal Jami Craft appeared as an Elf on the Shelf in different places around the school each morning the week before Christmas break so that the students could find her.

Five Huntington County Community School Corporation (HCCSC) students have been selected as the winners of the corporation’s annual Christmas card cover design contest, with two winners coming from Riverview Middle School and one winner coming from each of Crestview Middle School, Lincoln Elementary School and Salamonie Elementary School.

Christmas From the Heart is a new book featuring a collection of non-traditional romance stories including “Baby in the Barn” by Roanoke author, PeggySue Wells.

Roanoke Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher Kriston Hosler purchased a double sweater and had the twins in her room try it on for Christmas Sweater Day. Pictured are Alex (left) and Allen Kuhns wearing the sweater.

The students at Salamonie Elementary School participated in a special project for the holiday season.

During their class counseling lessons with Counselor Melinda Huber, students listened to the story “Silver Packages” by Cynthia Rylant. This is the true story of the Christmas train, which began running in the Appalachian Mountains in 1943.