A great community effort

June 28, 2006
page 12

A few of the Centennial Committee members are
Myrtle Hagen, Jackie Olson, Milton Olson and Anne Torgeson.

'A great community effort'

Many hands reach out to plan Ambrose Centennial

By Cecile Wehrman

The plans have all been laid and the town has been spruced up.

“We're just waiting for the day to get here,” said Jackie Olson, a member of the Ambrose Centennial Committee.

Just don't call her chairman.

“It's really been a great community effort,” Olson said. “Everybody's just pitched in.”

She describes her involvement as “spearheading” rather than leading.

“I have the most notes,” she laughs. “I started out with one folder, now I've got two.”

Those notes are all about planning for the celebration Saturday, July 8, 2006.

A trail ride actually gets going two days earlier, on July 6. Champ Christianson is heading up that part of the celebration.

The wagon train will start out four miles south of the Can-Am Connection with a campout Thursday night.

Friday includes breakfast, lunch and a barbecue and bean supper and dance.

Following breakfast Saturday, the wagon train will pull into Ambrose in time for the 2 p.m. parade.

Registration will get under way Saturday morning.

There will be displays of photographs and Ambrose memorabilia at the community hail. That display is being put together by Donna Haslett-Nelson and Roger and Joy Schlarb. The Schlarbs have also been in charge of an Ambrose website, keeping people informed about the Centennial, and providing a place for historic photographs and stories.

Souvenirs, including hats, t-shirts and sweatshirts will be on sale Saturday, along with raffle tickets on items to help support the celebration.

“Everything is on Main Street so there won't be a lot of walking,” Olson said.

The post office will cancel mail with a special stamp starting at noon.

The 2 p.m. parade will be followed by games for children. Olson suggests people line up at 1:30 p.m., north of the elevator. No pre-registration is necessary.

“Just come,” she said. “Anybody and everybody is welcome to participate in the parade.”

At 5p.m., a barbecue supper will be served. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

Olson said they're planning to serve 800 people, but at this point, attendance is just a guess.

People have been putting their names in at www.ambrosend.com, but no official registration will be conducted until the day of the event. People may continue to register online, but should also check in at the registration table Saturday.

At 8:30 p.m., “Balderdash” will play at a street dance.

Raffle drawings will be conducted at 9 p.m.

A service Sunday morning will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Ambrose Lutheran Church.