Photo by Mike Brothers
Melon Eater
With seeds, juice and rinds flying Wren Winburg of Belleville concentrated on his watermelon slice as he competed in the 5 to 7 age group during the Fourth of July watermelon eating contest held at Wyman Park.

•July 11, 2018•

Following the 4th of July parade crowds moved to Wyman Park where the turtle races drew 61 entrants from every pond and creek in the area.

After several heats in the blistering sun, the masters of the turtle circle prevailed. In the finals: Elijah Peters, Ayden Peters, Rhett Colbertson, Olivia Matheson, Kaiden McKinny, Hunter Hackett, Gavin Helnuth, Madison Highland.

The Grand Champion turtle racer was Daisy Richardson of Sullivan.

The Watermelon Eating contest moved to the shade with volunteers from the American Legion, Post 68 Auxiliary and Sons of Legion cutting, preparing, serving and counting eaten rinds to determine the winners.

Ages 0-4: First place - Paisley Cole, Sullivan; second place- Alex VanArsdale, Decatur; third place- Hunter Farris- Sullivan.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.