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HHD: From a zip line to a Bush impersonator
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · July 31, 2014


What will you do first?


Ride the zip line?

Join the hunt for green apples, in hopes of winning a prize?

Kick back in the shade tent after visiting the food court?

Check out the West Branch High School robotics team demonstration?

Launch a medicine ball over a net?

Run in the 5K?

Bask in the sounds of popular live bands, like Lonesome Road?

Whatever you choose, the theme for the weekend is “Celebrating Families,” and organizers hope families find lots to do together.

Hoover’s Hometown Days lands in West Branch starting 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, through Saturday, Aug. 2, with yet another long list of fun, food, sights and sounds for all ages.

Among the new in this year’s weekend event is an actor and Missouri native who looks and sounds like the 43rd president.

“President George W. Bush will take the stage at 7 p.m. (Saturday),” read a press release from the Herbert Hoover Presidential Foundation. “Well, not the real George Bush, but Brent Mendenhall, known for his uncanny representation of the President.”

The zip line — where riders wearing a helmet and harness slide down a long wire — is new to Hoover’s Hometown Days this year and will go up on Main Street near the obstacle course, West Branch Public Library Assistant Librarian Becky Knoche said.

“I’m super excited,” she said about the ride.

She also encouraged visitors to look for a wandering magician, who will spend three hours seeking out children to show some tricks.

Main Street West Branch Program Director Mackenzie Krob said the centrally located food court around Heritage Square comes from listening to feedback of visitors.

That, and a shade tent nearby on Downey Street for anyone wanting to escape the sun if it gets hot.

“It’s a better atmosphere,” Krob said.

Knoche also mentioned this, saying it puts “all sorts of different food and drinks” in one area.

She said many local restaurants get big crowds, which is good, but this makes it easier for those looking for several choices to find them close together.

Taking a cue from Christmas Past and the Elf On A Shelf game, organizers planned for a similar activity involving green apples placed throughout downtown businesses. Participants can pick up cards near the bounce houses or any participating business, and Krob said the drawing for the prizes — a girl’s backpack and a boy’s backpack, both filled with school supplies — will take place late Saturday night.

Lonesome Road’s performance will take place 8 p.m. Saturday night. Krob made a point to mention this because the popular group was inadvertently left off some schedules. They play at the fire station stage.

On Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., organizers will offer free pony rides on Main Street near Poplar Street.

“That will be super popular, I’ll bet,” Knoche said.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the award-winning high school robotics team will show off their rookie year creation in a demonstration that involves a dunk tank. Krob said she does not know the details but hopes she can see it when they set up near Jack & Jill grocery store on Main Street.

Returning by popular demand are many events and activities, like the classic cars and tractors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street, the sand pile for children to play in Jack & Jill’s parking lot, and bounce houses on Village Green.

The $10,000 raffle returns with a slight change: only 300 tickets will be sold.

“That’s to increase the odds,” Krob said.

Some tickets have been sold already, but she expects that, like last year, there will be a rush Friday and Saturday night.

“Last year at the drawing people were excited and there was a lot of yelling — we got a lot of response,” she said.

Knoche said the biggest feedback she hears about Hoover’s Hometown Days is that it costs so little to participate.

“They love the fact that it’s free,” she said. “A lot of hometown festivals cost an arm and a leg. Here you can do stuff all day and not spend a ton of money.”

Among the first activities of the weekend is the popular Fire In the Hole bags tournament, which takes place inside the fire department.

Stages for music and other events are set up at the fire department and along the Downey Trace — the trail that extends Downey Street into the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site — near the Hoover Library-Museum. The “Acciona Windpower Stage” in the Hoover Complex will serve as the backdrop for the Hoover Life Celebration, which begins at noon.

The Mayor’s Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, staging in Pedersen Valley on West Orange Street and looping through the downtown.

The annual fireworks display will cap off the night, starting at about 9:35 p.m.

While many preparations continue behind the scenes, one thing to look for this week is the installation of eight new wayfinding signs — red, metal signs with the MSWB logo meant to guide both pedestrian and vehicle traffic to permanent attractions around the city. Look for them to pop up throughout the downtown district prior to this weekend.

Krob said the number of people to step up and help put on Hoover’s Hometown Days has been encouraging.

“We’ve had great volunteer help,” she said. “People are coming out of the woodwork.”

Two years ago, a heavy storm swept through the city during Hoover’s Hometown Days weekend, sending people scurrying indoors. While organizers hope that will not happen again, the National Park Service has developed a disaster plan which will be shared with vendors and volunteers, showing them where to go in case of bad weather.

“Two years ago, we handled it well, but we were lucky,” Krob said.

The primary shelter will be at the West Branch United Methodist Church on Green Street, a block north of Main Street between Downey and First Street.

“I hope we have good weather,” Krob said. “There’s plenty to do and 99 percent of it is free except for the food.”