Union County foliage still green for ColorFest special events

UNION COUNTY, Ill. -- Though there is plenty going on, ColorFest is missing two ingredients this year. The first is color. Most leaves in Southern Illinois are still green, a result of summer drought and recent warm temperatures.

Also absent this year from Union County's annual celebration of fall in Southern Illinois is Pumpkin Town, U.S.A., a popular tradition at Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Development Center in Anna. In past years, many people drove along the center's drive to see the work of teams who created scenes made of pumpkins and hay bales. The institution didn't sponsor the event this year because of "budget reasons," a spokesman said.

Perhaps as a result, the number of people cruising Union County this weekend for activities may be slightly off, some observers said. But there's a big variety of things to do, from state championship bird calling to barbecues with music to historical tours to car shows. Most wineries in the county are open and have planned special events.

The Illinois State Championship Duck, Goose and Three-Man Pit Goose Calling Contest begins at 10 a.m. today at Trail of Tears Lodge on Old Cape Road east of Reynoldsville. More than 100 callers from Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee are expected. In the 60th year for the contest, the goose-calling champion wins $500, and the duck-calling winner qualifies for the world championship in Stuttgart, Ark.

Other contests for calling wild turkey, owls, crows and coons also are scheduled.

Dog run

Saturday, the lodge was the scene of an archery contest in the morning and a coonhound drag race Saturday afternoon.

The drag race was run in heats, with coonhounds released at the beginning of a trail salted with coon scent. A raccoon in a cage hung from a tree 150 yards up the trail. The first dog that barked at the coon won each heat.

Mike Roach, a construction laborer from Anna, trained the dogs that finished first and second in the drag race. His son, Michael Roach Jr., won with his dog, Slyde, with Jim Ralls' dog, Jane, finishing second.

A breed called treeing walkers are generally considered to make the best coonhounds, Roach says. He has 15 coonhounds.

He says people hunt coons for two reasons: to train their dogs and for the pelts. Coon season begins Nov. 10.

A coonhound competition hunt was scheduled for Saturday night. In the competition, points are awarded for the first dog that barks at a coon and for the first dog that trees a coon.

At the square in Jonesboro Saturday, Marla Rendleman was selling the Leepy's Gourmet Foods she and her husband, Lee Roy, produce in Anna. They consist of pickled beets, pickled garlic, jams, salsa and a variety of others.

Asked if there's anything that can't be pickled, Rendleman said, "Not that I know of."

Margaret Williams, a member of the ColorFest organizing committee, said about 500 people came out to hear a band on the square in Jonesboro, and most stayed when the rain began.

ColorFest is an important tradition no matter what the weather or state of the foliage, she said.

"It's almost like homecoming."

The Union County Busy Hands, a quilting group with 15 members, sold raffle tickets for a quilt. Proceeds from its raffles are used to help people who have lost homes to fires or to buy food baskets for people who are needy.

The Jonesboro Public Library and the Jonesboro Fire Department also had booths on the square.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182