Forestburg

THANKS IN part to nicer weather, the Forestburg Melon Festival saw a much bigger turnout than last year.

An estimated 500 people passed through the small town of Forestburg for their annual Melon Festival on Saturday, Aug. 17. The event featured its popular car show, with 76 entries, a free-will donation meal of porkloin sandwiches and watermelon, vendors and a play area for the kids that held bouncy houses, a petting zoo, and a wagon train ride. Live music was also provided during the afternoon by the Billy Lurkin band.

A 50/50 drawing was also conducted, and the winner, who preferred to stay anonymous, donated the $345 they won back to the event. Money raised from the event will go towards the community’s roads, infrastructure, and clean up.

A beanbag tournament was also held and run by Cornhub City Cornhole from Mitchell, who supplied the equipment and donated additional money to the town, as well. There were 26 teams of two, and cash was paid out to the top six.

In addition to the money donated and earned from the 50/50 drawing and bean bag tournament entries, in the evening, Janet Eining also challenged festival-goers to donate, and she would match up to $2,500. Attendees, indeed, stepped up and donated $671, scoring a total of $1,342 from her challenge alone.

The committee is open to suggestions from anyone on how to use the money raised to improve the Forestburg community. You can reach them by messaging them on their Facebook page.

…See more pictures and read the results of the bean bag tournament and car show in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!

Inside a large tent, tables held interesting historical and fun memorabilia.

Included in the memorabilia was a personal collection of over 100 “Forestburg” labeled business promotional giveaway items. A detailed plat of a Forestburg cemetery was of particular interest to many.  The Ruskin Park roadside sign, big band posters, pictures and copies of newspaper memorial editions of the Park brought back many memories of good times at the Park.  Forestburg School items included a 1924 orange sweater, a 1953 athletic jacket and a 1927 felt pillow, all in mint condition.

Examining Forestburg school annuals and school newspapers (including 1919 -1920 editions), it was learned that the Buccaneers were once called Pirates.

LaMoine Torgerson supplied the tent, and Mike and Joe Tlustos supplied their trailer for even more displays.

What was a special delight were the many conversations the historical items generated with the guests who visited the tent. Plans are already being discussed regarding future events.                                                   

For more information about the efforts to preserve Forestburg area history, contact Curt Talley at 605-999-3989.

…See pictures in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!

Members of PFC Gunnar Becker’s family were given the honor of unveiling the sign that now stands at the bridge crossing the James River on Hwy 34. 

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, PFC Gunnar Becker was honored and memorialized for giving his life for his country during his service in the United States Army while stationed in Iraq. A huge crowd gathered in the 4-H Building in Forestburg to pay tribute to Becker and to witness the unveiling of the sign that will now stand at the bridge crossing the James River on South Dakota Highway 34 just east of Forestburg.

PFC Gunnar Becker was the son of Debey and Doug Senska of Forestburg. He graduated from Artesian-Letcher High School in 2003 and joined the Army in the fall of 2003. He was deployed to Iraq in February of 2004 and was killed on Jan. 13, 2005, while serving there.

…Read more about and see pictures of the event in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!

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