Community gathers for a Saturday of fun
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on May 31, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Evan, 2, and Collin Krull, 5, prepare to go down an inflatable slide during the fifth annual Princeton Community Day held Saturday at Princeton Elementary School.
Katy Brewer lined up the shot with her bow and arrow -- the deer was in her sights.
Kim Knight, a sergeant with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in Johnston County, helped her hold the bow steady to ensure an accurate shot.
The 10-year-old drew the bow taut, then released -- the arrow slammed into the fake deer. It was a direct hit.
Her aunt, Jennifer Blitz, said her father would be proud and that she really should go hunting with him more.
"I'm too cold-natured, like my momma," Katy said. "But today was hot enough. I'm burning up."
Katy, who is from Decatur, Ala., is on summer vacation and staying with her aunt in Rosewood. Both Mrs. Blitz and Brewer attended Princeton's Community Day on Saturday, taking part in the myriad of festivities available.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's booth was only one of many attractions.
This was the fifth year the event has been held, and it has grown each year.
"We do it for the kids," Mrs. Knight said. "They really love the bow and arrow. Last year we brought a pellet gun and a portable range and let them shoot those. We try and do something different every year."
She said the commission has also brought a safari pelt trailer that had animal coats and furs from animals native to North Carolina.
"Kids really love to touch the pelts and learn about the different animals around here," Mrs. Knight said.
Princeton's Community Day, hosted at Princeton Elementary School, began as a day to inspect child safety seats. The town's police chief, Tyrone Sutton, partnered with the Johnston County Partnership for Children -- just to inspect car seats.
Then, the event exploded.
It became so large the town board needed to take over to free up Sutton so he could continue to perform his policing duties.
The event ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and by 11:30 a.m. more than 550 people had entered at each gate, rocketing the total number of attendees to well over 1,000.
Though the Johnston County Partnership for Children still has a booth at the event, the group is no longer able to conduct child safety seat inspections. There are just too many people.
"The Partnership for Children is still a beneficiary of the event, and they still receive a chunk of the money raised here," event coordinator Deborah Allen said.
Johnston County Partnership for Children Coordinator Jennifer Williams said demonstrations on child safety seats are still performed for free at the community day, and parents are also educated about car safety for children in general.
A sedan was parked beside the booth -- the outside temperature read 97 degrees. Inside the car was 115 degrees.
"That's to show just how hot it can get inside a car so parents can see why they need to not leave their kids in the car," family support specialist Erica Reid said.
Also present at the event was Corey Lancaster with Boon Hill Gallery.
Lancaster carves various sculptures out of large logs -- with a chainsaw.
"It started when my grandfather took me to an event where they were doing this," Lancaster said. "I eventually tried it, and when I figured out I could do it and pay the bills, I picked it up and started doing it."
He was carving a bulldog -- Princeton's mascot -- at Saturday's event. He said he would probably take the sculpture back to his shop and sell it after the event.
The event Saturday also had its first-ever custom truck show, with 49 different trucks coming out to strut their stuff.
"We had one less than we were supposed to, but it still turned out nicely," Mrs. Allen said. "Everybody looks like they're having a really great time. It's hot, but they're all having fun."