The crowd was smaller than usual, but the music, the food, the fireworks and everything else associated with Independence Day in the Park in Jasper was big and bold on Saturday evening.
Organizers believe it was the oppressive heat combined with high humidity that kept the crowd size down. Here in Jasper we recorded a high temperature of 95° at 4:23 p.m. on Saturday, and that was after rain showers moved through earlier in the day resulting in high humidity.
Those in attendance enjoyed three and-a-half hours of music from local favorites Jennifer Cuellar and the Furlough family band, known as “Jen and the Furs”.
After nightfall, the crowd enjoyed the annual fireworks show which was once again designed and executed by Craig George of Campti, LA and synchronized with music over a massive sound system from ShowTech Productions out of Dallas, TX.
This was the first year that Independence Day in the Park was organized and produced by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce and its Director, Beverly Holley. For the previous 20+ years, the event was headed up by KJAS Radio.
HULA HOOP CONTEST WINNERS
4-5 YOA
1st Place - Viola Scott
2nd Place - Julie Good
6-7 YOA
1st Place - Whitley Melton
2nd Place - Katie Suberville
8-9 YOA
1st Place - Arya Gentry
2nd Place - Emily Lund
10-12 YOA
1st Place - Allison Slaton
2nd Place - Tyson Bordton
13+ YOA
1st Place - Tah'lia Tobin
2nd Place - Cheyenne Farquhar
WATERMELON EATING CONTEST WINNERS
5-8 YOA
1st place-Anidjah Williams, Jasper Tx
2nd place-Allie Erdmann, Orange, Tx
3rd place-Jase Gillespie, Newton, Tx
9-12 YOA
1st place-Wy'Unique Williams, Jasper, Tx
2nd place-Emma Clark, Newton, Tx
3rd place-Julie Suberbiell, Jasper, Tx
13-16 YOA
1st place-Heather Adams, Jasper, Tx
2nd place-Micah Furlow, Jasper, Tx
3rd place-Jayden Saia, Jasper,Tx