Bollinger County celebrates its history

Today is the last day of the Bollinger County Sesquicentennial Festival, a weeklong celebration of a county with a rich and interesting history that actually began with the dinosaurs, as evidenced by the bones uncovered there, but officially began in 1851.

There will be a parade at 9 a.m. today in Marble Hill, an art show, a fiddling contest, an antique car show and finally a gospel concert. Postal workers will cancel mail with a special stamp honoring the county's birthday.

Bollinger County residents pride themselves in their close-knit community -- only 12,000 people live in the whole county -- and the safety and fellowship of small-town living.

It's appropriate that they should take a week to celebrate themselves and their 150-year-old heritage.