The walk started off with a speech from Luke Garland (far right), the son of Fayette County Commissioner Jim Garland and his wife, Melissa Garland. According to Luke, $8,600 was raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation last year.
The ninth-annual Great Strides 5K Walk/Run for Cystic Fibrosis was held Saturday and started at the McHenry Field off Circle Avenue in Washington Court House. Community members checked in upon arriving and registered if they hadn’t done so before the event. Standing in the top-left corner is James Town, a security employee at American Services and Protection. Sitting at the table helping people (back-front) is Susan Waddle, Amy Deangelo and Judy Gentry.
The first Farmers’ Market of the season was this past Saturday. Gail Hitch (left) and her daughter, Gwen Laurens (right), were working the information table. This table provides the location for a $5 coupon to be picked up by Farm Bureau Members, active duty and reserves military, veterans and spouses of veterans. The coupon can be gained once each market. They also have a dollar-for-dollar match for SNAP EBT—good only for fruits, vegetables and food producing plants. Credit and debit cards are accepted. Laurens said, “They can come and double their money and stimulate the economy.”
Kim Mickle (left) purchased Milkweed from Katrina Bush (right) during the Farmers’ Market. Milkweed is necessary for Monarch caterpillars as it is the only plant they will eat—this is why Monarch butterflies will lay their eggs on the Milkweed. The Monarch caterpillars will starve if laid on any other plant. Last season, Mickle grew Milkweed and kept caterpillars in her home in a shoebox. Once they transformed into butterflies, she released them. Mickle plans to do the same again as a lot of the natural Milkweed in the Fayette County area has been destroyed and she’s noticed a decline in the butterflies.
The Fayette County Farmers Market is open Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. It is located in the municipal parking lot on the corner of South Main and East East streets in Washington Court House.
Ben Hunter (left) and his fiance, Tonya Fausnaugh (right), were running a table at the Farmers’ Market for Relay for Life. Both of these individuals are on the Fayette County Relay for Life committee. Hunter explained, “I do it for fun and because my family is affected by it.” According to Hunter, so far their numbers are down from last year, but he hopes to gain more participation from the community as the Relay for Life event gets closer in June.
