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RHINE NEWS!

After nearly a 10-year absence, The Pondtown Festival will once again take place this weekend in Rhine.
Thanks, that is, to the efforts of Rhine native, Kayla Williams, whose grandfather and former Rhine mayor, J.T. Williams, started the arts and crafts festival in Rhine in 1976.
"We're holding it in memory of him," Williams said. "He started it all those years ago, and we just wanted to get it started again." With the help of Randall and Miranda Rogers of Rhine and Buddy and Kim Clements of Abbeville, seven weeks of hard work has culminated in a fun-filled day of events.

This year's Pondtown Festival will begin on Saturday, June 26, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. Williams said that over 40 arts and crafts vendors will be there, along with entertainment including local dance groups, a horse-drawn carriage, the Richard Petty Driving Experience car and much more. A parade will begin at 2:00 p.m.
The festival will last until midnight, concluded with the band, Prism, beginning its set at 8:00 p.m. "We are devoting the day to the family, and then we will end with the band," Williams said. "It should be a lot of fun for everyone."

In addition to a car show and a visit from a robot from Atlanta, "Days of Our Lives" actor James Reynolds will be on hand to sign autographs for soap fans from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

After the elder Williams started the festival in 1976, Pondtown became an event that many people took part in each year. This year's festival will be held in memory of Williams and a few of those people like Lucille Conley, who was master of ceremonies for The Miss Pondtown Pageant each year.

Before her death in 1997, Conley could be seen on The Del Ward Show promoting Pondtown. She was married to the late Belvin Conley and owned and operated Belvin's Furniture for almost 40 years.

Also being honored this year are Harry Lee Collins and David Joseph Braden.
Collins served as an investigator and deputy for the Dodge County Sheriff's Department for over 10 years. Braden was a city councilman for Rhine for several years in addition to being employed with CSX Railroad for 28 years and U.T.U. Insurance for six years.

Chosen this year to be the grand marshals are Beatrice "Miss Bea" McCranie, Flossie Wells Rush, Limus Reaves and Frank Mizell Clements. All well-known figures in Rhine and Dodge County, most were involved in the public education system. Rush taught many students during her years at Rhine Elementary School teaching kindegarten. Moving from Eastman to Rhine, she said the move was definitely a good one.
"I love living in Rhine," she said. "Everybody knows me, and I know all the young people here. The people in Rhine are number one in my book. I want to thank the people for choosing me to be one of the grand marshals. This is a great honor and a blessing for me."
Rhine Mayor Jane Lann invites everyone to come see the revival of this famous festival.


The Dodge County News
Phone: 912-374-0360
Fax::912-374-0361
email:dcnews@planttel.net
or: dcn@dodgecountynews.com

 

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