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Inside Apple Blossom 2011:

Apple Blossom Queen and Court:Tara Cutler......................................E3,E4Tess Warzyn....................................E4, E5Kaley King ....................................E5, E11

Dave Eckman: 1968 Pontiac GTO.................................E6Grand MarshalsJim and Margaret Boyle ......................E7Junior MarshalPaige Holcomb......................................E8Outlaw Lawn Dragsters.......................E9

About the Cover:2011 Apple Blossom Queen and Court finalists (from left) Tara Cutler, Tess Warzyn and

Kaley King will represent the Apple Blossom Festival throughout their senior year atPayette High School. The three contestants are the finalists among eight participants whotried out for this year’s queen and court positions. Should one of the contestants not beable to fill her duties on the Apple Blossom Court, alternate Lindsey Turpin will take theirspot for the remainder of the year.

This year’s Apple Blossom Festival theme is “Fairytale Fantasies”. The contestantswere photographed against a white wall and their images were put in front of theCinderella Castle at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The photo of the castle was pro-vided by everystockphoto.com.

Congratulations to all the Apple Blossom Queen and Court contestants.

Tara CutlerThis is a paper I would have never

thought I would have to write, and evennow it seems almost unreal. My name isTara Lee Cutler, I am 17, and have grownup both in Payette and Stanley, Idaho. Inmy opinion there are four main keys to be-ing a well rounded person, physical, spir-itually, intellectually, and leadership.

I have always been a hands-on type ofperson. At a young age I developed mycompetitive side. In 2000, at the age ofseven I began racing snowmobiles.Growing up in Stanley for a portion of mylife, I grew up around the sport. I compet-ed for a total of three years racing in vari-ous events, from the kitty cat to age groupsabove me. I won several medals over thistime period and met several people. I alsotook part in a small commercial forPolaris, having to ride around the racecourse and give an adult a high five on thefinish line.

After snowmobiling I tried my hand inother various sports, soccer, softball andkarate. As a family we joined karate, I did-n’t enjoy it as much as the rest of my fam-ily did, but I still competed in a tourna-ment in Boise and I received a trophy formy involvement which showed me theimportance of staying with somethingeven through the hard times. Even ifkarate was not my thing I soon gained aninterest in volleyball. I began enjoyingvolleyball more and more as I got older. Ihave been playing volleyball since theseventh grade. I have won and lost withmy team, I have been on the bottom and Ihave been on top and I never gave up. Theoverall experience that I have receivedfrom playing this sport is positive, I havelearned to hold conversations with peoplethat I wouldn’t have normally. I havegrown into a leader that encourages theteam to try their best.

In the eighth grade the high school col-or guard came down to the middle schooland hosted a small clinic for anyone inter-ested in going out for the team in highschool. I never thought of myself as any-one who could go out and perform for anaudience, but a few of my friends talkedme into trying out. I instantly loved it. Iwas catching onto the motions of the flag,almost instantly. My freshman year weperformed the field show Aqua, the firsttime I had ever marched out on a footballfield. Looking back now I can rememberthe awful one piece uniforms, the cheesyroutine, and the incredibly difficult drill,but it was also one of the best experiencesof my life. My confidence sky rocketed; Iam now captain of both marching season,and winter guard. I am one of the only fewpeople within the Treasure Valley, that canthrow over a six with a rifle and handle asaber.

Even though athletics are great, beingspiritual is a major factor in becoming agreat Apple Blossom representative, and

an overall leader. You’re outlook effectsnot only you but the people you inspire. Ihave volunteered for countless churchlunches and dinners. I was a group leaderin my church’s annual vacation bibleschool during the summer. In this up andcoming summers a small group for thechurch is pairing up with a Nampa churchto travel to Seattle for a mission trip. Wewill be volunteering at the local food shel-ters as well as other things. Since sixthgrade I traveled to different towns, for achurch camp, called Shebang. I have metmany different people throughout that ex-

perience and that has strengthened myfaith. I believe we are on this world tomake a difference, so I have participatedin the past four Relay for Life events andlast year I donated my hair to Locks ofLove.

I am not the top scholar in our school,but I do try. I have been on the honor rollevery year and I have also receive theParade of Champions. I am currently tak-ing Intro to Women Writers and AmericanSign Language over at TVCC in the run-

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CONTINUED ON PAGE E4

ning start program. Last term I finished upwith Film Studies, where by the end of theterm I completed the class with a high B.

Overall being on the Apple BlossomCourt, the most important factor is beinga leader and representing your city withprice and honor. I have not only been co-captain and captain of our color guard, Ihave represented our city, and state. I wenton a school sponsored trip to Washington,D.C. and New York while I was in eighthgrade. I and one other student got the op-portunity to represent our state during theChanging of the Guard in ArlingtonNational Cemetery at the Tomb of theUnknown Soldier. We and two others

from California presented a wreath baringour state’s name.

I have done many things throughout mylife that have shaped me into the personthat I have grown to be. I believe that I amwell rounded physically, spiritually, intel-lectually and an all around leader and be-cause of this will be a great representativeof the Apple Blossom Court 2011.

Tess WarzynMy name is Tess Warzyn and I am a na-

tive daughter of Payette. My parents areboth teachers in the Payette SchoolDistrict and have been for over twodecades, so I literally grew up in the hall-ways of the Primary School. It is as if

Payette is woven into my DNA; it is cer-tainly a vital part of my identity. I love myschool and my town, and I especially loveparticipating in the annual Apple BlossomFestival.

I am very involved with my school andcommunity. My family and I are membersof the Payette United Methodist Church,where it feels more like a family than acongregation. Through my church I prac-tice my public speaking as well as donatemy time to charitable causes such as theRelay for Life. My father and I are bothmembers of the American Legion and Iwill be attending the Girls State confer-ence this summer. I have been an activemember of DECA, a professional-techni-cal organization that focuses on teachingstudents the principles of marketing, sincemy freshman year of high school. I havewon first place at the state competitionthree years in a row and placed third in thenation in 2010. This March I was electedCentral District Vice President of IdahoDECA, which means I will be a leader ofthe state association in the coming yearand plan the annual state conference. Ihave been a member of the Idaho Drug

Free Youth, an organization dedicated toeliminating underage drug abuse, sincethe sixth grade and have remained drugand alcohol free for the entirety of my life.I serve as an officer of this organization.From 2008 until 2010, I was a member ofthe student council and was held to thehighest standards of conduct. FromOctober to December 2010, I organized achildren’s book driver through the schooldistrict; in all, I was able to collect and dis-tribute 516 books to some very excitedyoung scholars. I also play golf, ski, andam a member of the math and scienceclubs at the high school.

I have distinguished myself academi-cally and have been recognized with mul-tiple awards. I have received a medal atthe Parade of Academic Champions everyyear since kindergarten and am currentlyin line to be the valedictorian of my grad-uating class. Just recently, I was named aBSU Capital Scholar, meaning I was rec-ognized as being in the top 10 percent ofhigh school students in the state of Idaho.The award I was perhaps the most hon-ored to receive was the Citizenship Awardin the eighth grade. It was judged on thecriteria of admirable personal conduct. Inthe summer of 2010, I spend five weeksliving and studying in St. Louis. There, Iattended Washington University’s HighSchool Summer Scholars Program andearned seven units of college credit.During my time away from home, I madelife-long friends and memories I will nev-er forget.

My favorite subject of study isAmerican history. I love the intrigue, thepower struggles, the twists of fate. Morethan anything, I enjoying gaining an un-derstanding of who we are as a nation andwhat led us to this point. I hope to one daybecome a lawyer specializing in constitu-tional law and eventually a judge. I havealways felt very passionately about justiceand need for order in a civilized society.

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Tess Warzyn


I grew up surrounded by strong femalerole models, so I believe a woman can doanything, be anything. I want to share thissense of empowerment with the younggirls of this community, with those girlswho are at a crossroads in their lives. Ihope to steer them in the right directionthrough my positive example.

Kaley KingAlbert Schweitzer once said, “Example

is not the main thing in influencing others.It is the only thing.” I can remember ex-actly where I was sitting in my parents’bedroom when my mother first broughtthese inspiring words to my attention.They hit me hard. I knew then that to makea positive impact on my world and on thelives of those around me I needed first tomold myself into the girl I wanted to be-come. Throughout my life I have tried myvery best to be an excellent example inboth word and deed.

I am told that as a baby I seldom cried.Instead of howling for a bottle I resortedto nibbling on my firsts to communicatemy need for food. Apparently I was suc-cessful in getting the message across be-cause not long after my birth I virtuallyexploded. As a rule, we do not call people“fat” in our family. My sisters found a wayto get around this rule. I became known as“Fluffy”. Despite my chubby cheeks androbust appearance I made my way in andout of hospitals around the valley. I onlyvaguely remember these experiences buteven at a young age I realized that life isprecious and each day is a marvelousblessing. There is simply no room for re-grets or time-outs.

There were two important lessons that Ilearned in the first grade. I learned to readand then I learned the value of honesty.My class was discussing the great civilrights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. Thenit hit me! I had found the perfect way togain the admiration of my entire class. I

raised my hand and blurted out, “Mrs.Gebert, this man is my uncle!” the atten-tion was immediate. Suddenly I was a su-perstar! Mrs. Gebert marched me out ofthe classroom. The lecture I receivedabout the importance of telling the trusthas stayed with me ever since. It took meyears to finally figure out how she knew Ihad told a fib.

Part of being a good example is doingmy best in everything I do. I understandthat knowledge is power and so I am de-termined to take advantage of my educa-tional opportunities. Even as a young girl,getting good grades was a priority. Thisremains important today. I have been ableto maintain a 4.0 my entire school careerand have received the Parade ofChampions medal every year. After hav-ing learned the tough lesson on integrityin the first grade I can honestly say that Ihave done this by working hard and notcheating from others.

If I entered middle school as a caterpil-lar, I emerged as a butterfly. I felt like I hada world of opportunity at my fingertipsand I was determined to try it all. If bas-ketball, volleyball, tennis and cheerlead-

ing weren’t enough, I also starred asCinderella in the school play, directed thestudent news network, was an IDFY offi-cer, and was elected student body presi-dent. During these years I experiencedrapid changes. I was both shocked andconfused to realize that I actually like (ofall things) a boy! Where had the cootiesgone? Middle school truly raced by in ablur. Before I knew it I was leaving theworld of insect collections, that first kissbehind the bleachers, lunch break fun, anda world of precious memories behind.

Growing up, I played all types of sportsand participated in every activity possi-ble: soccer, basketball, volleyball, track,cheerleading, and dance. Some wereshorted lived because they were not com-

petitive enough. Thanks to decent genes, Iwas fast and agile. I played on teamsaround that traveled around the valley. Iremember playing teams from Boise andlooking at those girls who seemed to beseveral feet taller than I was and whosethighs were three times bigger than my lit-tle legs, and thinking to myself, “Ohgoodness, we’re going to lose!” And losewe often did. However, something aboutthose days and playing against all thosegirls made me feel good inside and I knewI would try and try again. The competitivespark had been ignited. I have alwaysbeen a year-round athlete and am a three-sport athlete at Payette High School. Even

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SCOTT FORD | ARGUS OBSERVER/INDEPENDENT-ENTERPRISE

Fruitland natives Dave and Teresa Eckman stand next to their 1968 Pontiac GTO, whichDave built from the ground up starting in 2001. The project was completed in the springof 2007. The Eckmans will have their car at the Fabulous Rods of Ages car show in Payetteduring the Apple Blossom Festival.

SCOTT FORDINDEPENDENT-ENTERPRISE AND

ARGUS OBSERVER

PAYETTEWith the 2011 Apple Blossom Festival

coming up, Fruitland native Dave Eckmancan’t wait for the Rod of Ages car show toget here.

The car show will take place May 14 atKiwanis Park in Payette. Eckman is theowner of a 1968 Pontiac GTO, which iscompletely restored from the ground up.His GTO has a 400 cubic inch engine whichhe built himself, and he has had up to 95mph at Firebird raceway near Emmett.“I always wanted to build a car from theground up, just to see if I could do it,”Eckman said. “I wanted something differ-ent and unique.”

When Eckman was a young man he saidhe had a 1965 Chevy pickup and he fixed itup and got it sporty looking then drove thatsame truck for more than 20 years.

Eckman’s quest to build his hot rod began atcar shows, where he would look at all the dif-ferent entries to see what he liked in the carsand what he did not like and during his inves-tigations, he said he noticed that there were notmany late ’60s GTOs at these shows.

So in August of 2001, Eckman got start-ed when he bought two 1968 GTOs, what

he called fixer uppers, but soon realizedthey were more junk cars than anything, butthey did have potential.

“I tore down both cars completely andstarted sorting parts,” Eckman said. “ Iwanted to build the perfect car.”

As the process labored on for six years ashe methodically went through the parts oftwo cars, cleaning, fixing, and bringingthem back to life before he finished his hotrod in spring of 2007. Eckman said hewould work on the car for a couple of hoursa night during the week, 10 to 12 hours onthe weekend and would use his vacationtime each year and devote all that time tobuilding his hot rod.

Eckman said he figures that he spentabout $200 to $300 a month on parts for sixyears on the restoration project. But whenasked what the car was worth, he said he re-ally did not know.

“When I first got it done, someone askedme what it would take to buy the car and Itold him $150,000,” Eckman said. “ I knowits not worth that, but at the time, after allthat work, that’s what it was worth to me.

“It is nice to know that every part of thiscar, all the work was done by me,” Eckmansaid. “At these car shows you will see signsthat say motor done by so and so, or interi-

Eckman puts heart andsoul into 1968 GTO


WILLIAM ANDERSONINDEPENDENT-ENTERPRISE AND

ARGUS OBSERVER

PAYETTEBeing a fixture in the community for

years, along with having the freedom topursue a passion has led to a lifestyle ofchoice for a Payette couple.

That couple, Jim and Margaret Boyer,have owned and operated the A & WRestaurant in Payette for nearly 30 years,since taking over the shop in 1980, fromMargaret’s father, who had owned it since1967.

The Boyer’s purchased the restaurant in1980 and have kept the restaurant in thefamily since then.

Recently, the Boyers received word thatthey were selected to serve as AppleBlossom Festival grand marshals, for the88th annual Apple Blossom Festival.

“Jody (Clements) called me a week orso ago,” Jim Boyer said about receivingthe honor. “I said ‘I am not old enough yet.There are a lot more people that deserve itmore.’”

Nevertheless, the Boyers remained theselection as grand marshals.

“Basically, they were selected for theactivities they do to support Payette,”

Clements, the Apple Blossom vendor co-ordinator and secretary said. “They were

nominated by numerous people viaFacebook.”

This year, just as last year, the nomina-tions for grand marshal were taken in byFacebook, and looked through to come upwith the right couple.

For both Jim and Margaret, Payette hasbeen home for quite a while, as both grad-uated from Payette High School.

After high school, Jim enlisted in theservice, and spent his time in Vietnam andJapan, servicing aircraft.

The two were married before headingoff to Japan.

Following the service, Jim went into thefabrication business.

When the Boyers purchased the restau-rant, they thought they could build off thesuccess, and turn it into a profitable busi-ness.

Purchasing the business has allowedJim to spend time on his passion — build-ing street rods.

Jim has built and owns a 1941 customFord street rod.

He also helps others and builds for oth-ers.

“I have been into cars my whole life,”Jim said.

This passion, combined with a restau-

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Boyles selected as Apple Blossom grand marshals

WILLIAM ANDERSON | ARGUS OBSERVER/INDEPENDENT-ENTERPRISE

Payette residents, and A&W Restaurant owners Jim (left) and Margaret Boyer havebeen named grand marshals of the 88th annual Apple Blossom Festival. Both Jim andMargaret graduated from Payette High School, and have spent most of their adult livesin Payette.


SHERI BANDELEANINDEPENDENT-ENTERPRISE AND

ARGUS OBSERVER

PAYETTEPaige Holcomb, 9, a third-grader at

Payette Primary School, has been chosenas this year’s junior marshal for the AppleBlossom Parade that will be Saturday,May 14.

“It’s cool that I was chosen. I wouldhave never expected they would havepicked me,” Paige said.

“I think it’s great she has been chosen.She has worked really hard this year,”

Mike Holcomb her father said.Paige was born in December 2001 to

Mike and Marci Holcomb and has an old-er sister, Anna, who is 11.

She has been honored as an AcademicParade of Champion recipient by thePayette School Board for four years andhas also been selected by her classroomteacher as Student of the Month each year.

“Paige is a class leader and role model,”Kip Mckenzie Payette Primary Schoolprincipal said. “She is an all-around goodkid, well-balanced and well-mannered.”

Her favorite subjects are reading and

math.“She is very avid reader and just fin-

ished the Harry Potter’s series and she hasread over a million words this schoolyear,” Mike Holcomb said.

Paige enjoys playing with her cousins,swimming, and creating art projects.Paige also enjoys dancing and serves inher church.

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rant, has helped Jim and Margaret create acruise night, every Thursday night.

The cruise night runs every week, but re-ally kicks off in May, when the hot rods be-

gin making it to the restaurant.“The only requirements are to bring your

car, and have fun,” Boyer said.This passion has also left an impact on the

restaurant, with many automobile fixturesand decor.


Paige Holcomb is Apple Blossom junior marshal

Paige Holcomb

It’s cool that I was cho-sen. I would have never ex-pected they would havepicked me.

— Paige HolcombPayette Primary School student’


JESSICA KELLERINDEPENDENT-ENTERPRISE AND

ARGUS OBSERVER

PAYETTEThe riding lawnmowers Dennis

McGehee and Jeff Kubal will be showingoff during the upcoming Payette AppleBlossom Festival won’t be used to mowany lawns.

In fact, they can’t. That’s not their pur-pose. Their purpose is to go fast — real fast.

McGehee and Kubal and are two mem-bers of O.L.D. — Outlaw LawnDragsters — and, instead of cutting grass,their customized riding lawnmowers areused for fun — racing.

“There’s nothing really left of them formowing,” McGehee, president of theO.L.D., said. “We only use a certain per-centage of the (original) body.”

While the O.L.D. has certain rules aboutpower and dimensions of vehicle parts thatmembers follow, the machines are built forspeed.

“Basically, it’s like any other drag rac-ing,” McGehee said of the lawn mowerdrag racing.

The O.L.D. club’s season begins in latespring and continues through early fall.McGehee said the group has been partici-pating at the Payette Apple BlossomFestival for a number of years, and it is oneof a few the group does not charge event or-ganizers insurance fees for participating.

“We race everywhere from Boise toGoldendale, Wash.,” he said.

Two races, including the Apple BlossomFestival, are in Payette. O.L.D. members

also race in Kuna before heading towardHermiston, where the group has members,up to the Tri-Cities area and Dayton inWashington.

McGehee said, even though there are oth-er lawn mower racing groups, the O.L.D. isthe only one he knows of that races on anasphalt course complete with timing lightsto determine the winners.

“We just do it for entertainment,”McGehee said. “It seems like most peopleenjoy it. They keep coming back.”

The races, which last between an hourand an hour and a half, feature two classesof lawnmower race. In the A class races, thelawnmower drivers can not complete the100-yard course in less than 2.2 seconds. Inthe AA class races, riders don’t have thoserestrictions and can go as fast as they want.

And even though the racers are all mem-bers of the O.L.D. and members are all fa-miliar with another’s vehicle, McGeheesaid winners are hard to predict.

First, he said, at the beginning of the race,riders draw numbers and are paired up assuch, making pairings luck of the draw. Hesaid, during an all-day event, there’s a goodchance, in almost every different individualrace, there will be a different winner.Because the race course is such a short dis-tance, he said, a lot of variables come intoplay, including “cutting a good light” orhaving good reaction time at the start of therace, and making a clean run.

“You would think there would be thesame person who dominates the wholetime, but that’s not exactly true,” McGehee

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Outlaw Lawn Dragsters hit the course in last year’s Apple Blossom Festival. Theevent is a big draw in the annual event and racers enjoy bringing the sport to thespectators each year.

Outlaw Lawn Dragsters:These aren’t your father’severy day lawnmowers


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said. “That’s what makes it a lot of fun.”The club does keep track of points based

on races won, which are tallied up at the endof the season, but the overall winner is hardto predict, McGehee said, adding sometimethe last race of the season ends up determin-ing first and second place.

McGehee, who said he can’t rememberfor how long he has been racing, said helikes it because it’s something he can enjoyand doesn’t have to devote more time ormoney to it than he wants, unlike drag rac-ing with cars, which is both time-consum-ing and expensive. He said, for an entireseason, a racer might only spend $50 or lesson fuel, and other than a tune up at the be-ginning of the season, lawnmowers don’trequire the upkeep that cars do.

“I guess it’s kind of like a hobby,” he said.“I don’t want to work on it all the time. It’snot something you have to work on everyweekend.”

Kubal, a welder-fabricator, said lawn-mower drag racing is a hobby for him aswell, although he enjoys building the ma-chines as well as racing, which he said is anadrenaline boost. He also likes that O.L.D.

racers, both men and women, are competi-tive without being “super-serious,” al-though he said the women do like it whenthey beat the men, and the men enjoy beat-ing the women just as much.

“For me, it’s very competitive, and wetake it very seriously, but it’s still all fun,”he said.

“We don’t race for money,” he continued.“Basically, we race for bragging rights.”

Safety, Kubal and McGehee said, is themost serious aspect of the sport and some-thing racers are very conscientious of,wearing helmets, gloves, leather or ridingjackets, boots and pants. The machines areequipped with tethers that automaticallycut the engine in case of a wreck or roll-over. The courses are also designed withsafety in mind, McGehee said, and eachcourse has water-filled barricades runningdown each side to protect spectators.

Kubal said the O.L.D. club members al-ways have a good time performing at thePayette Apple Blossom Festival. Other rac-ing events, he said, are usually in conjunc-tion with car shows.

“It’s kind of our season opener race,” hesaid of the Apple Blossom Festival. “We’reall about the families and the kids.”


or done by this shop, but not on my car. Itsays done by Dave Eckman.”

Eckman said that for some of the partsthat he could not fix or restore, he usedeBay as his parts store.

“I guess I just picked the right time to dothis project,” Eckman said. “Becauseevery time I went to eBay looking for apart, I found it.”

Eckman said his love for cars has al-ways been a part of his life, so much, thathe became a mechanic for most of his life.

Now Eckman, 53, works for the SnakeRiver Correctional Institution as a main-tenance man.

Eckman said he never could have donethis project if not for the support of hiswife, Teresa Eckman.

“She was there for me through out theentire project,” Eckman said. “There weredays I was so frustrated, but she would letme vent my frustrations and then supportme and keep me going. It takes a verygood woman or wife to put up with a buildlike this.”

Now that the project is done, Eckmansaid he still has not had that wow factor hithim yet.

“I guess it is because I can still remem-ber all the work and frustration that wentinto building the car,” Eckman said. “ Ihave a lot of my own DNA in this car,”

Eckman said referring to the skinnedknuckles, scrapes and scratches he re-ceived on the build.

Eckman said this was a once in a life-time build for him and he said the advisehe gives to others that come to him aboutbuilding their own hot rod from theground up is, “Don’t do it.”

Eckman said most folks do not know orunderstand the work involved, the moneyit takes and the time needed to complete aproject like that.

“I always ask the ones that come to meif they have a place to build the car, dothey have all the tools to build a car andcan they afford to drop hundred’s of dol-lars into the car,” Eckman said. “And if

they answer no to any of those questions,I tell them they are not ready to build theirown hot rod.”

Now that his car is complete, Eckmansaid he wonders if the project was worthit, but quickly said, “Yes, it was worth it.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE E6I guess it is because I can

still remember all the workand frustration that wentinto building the car. Ihave a lot of my own DNA in this car.

— Dave EckmanCar enthusiast’

as a 5-foot, 2-inch freshman, I held theschool record for vertical jump. Not badfor a little girl!

I have been fortunate to have had the op-portunity to travel from sea to shining seaof our great nation and to visit several for-eign countries. I have experienced thehustle and bustle of New York City, with-ered in the humid Florida heat, and sun-bathed in California. I have felt the icyspray of the Niagara Falls in Canada andhave learned much about the culture ofMexico. These experiences have broad-ened my horizons and have given me firsthand knowledge of the world around me.My travels have caused me to realize howmuch I truly love my hometown. Thiscommunity is eventually where I want tomake my home and raise my future fami-ly. I love this town!

Of all of the trips I have taken, the mostmemorable and exciting has been (andcontinues to be) my journey through highschool. If I thought my cup was full of op-portunity in middle school, it overflowedonce I entered Payette High School.Sports, clubs, and countless activitieswere wedged between homework andother events. Prioritizing and organizingbecame a must. My success depended onmy ability to manage my time wisely.Don’t get me wrong; I only had four yearsleft until the real world would hit me. Imade time for Friday night lights, movie

nights, school dances, shopping and thecaptain of the football team that won myheart. Truly I have been blessed.

I know that all good things come fromGod. Faith has been a fundamental princi-ple in my life and has been a significantpart in shaping me into the person I am to-day. I love God very much and owe every-thing to him. I have morals and values thatI stick to and stand up for. I have manywonderful role models in my life; theirgood examples inspire me to constantlybe trying to be better myself and improvemy life.

The biggest trial that I have faced waslosing my beautiful, cherished five-monthold niece. The terror and tears of thatmorning will be with me as long as I live.How precious life is and how important itis that we tell our loved ones how we feel.I would give anything to be able to holdher close and look into her baby-blue eyesonce again.

Growing up in a family that stressed theimportance of being involved, standingup for what is right, helping those less for-tunate, and contributing positively to so-ciety has allowed me to acquire manyleadership qualities. Others have shownthat they see me as a leader. My advisersand coaches have recognized me as some-one who can lean and motivate others. Ihave the desire and initiative to want tomake changes and make things happen.

When walking through the halls of my

high school I try to always meet people’seyes with a smile. If others around me arein need of help, I try to be the first to lenda helping hand. Serving others is so veryimportant. I have served every time theopportunity is presented. I have preparedhumanitarian kits for soldiers and strug-gling families; chopped wood for individ-uals who need firewood; stitched and de-livered blankets for people in need in mycommunity. Every Christmas my churchyouth group prepares and delivers fruitbaskets and secret Santa gifts to familiesin our community. Having these opportu-nities has taught me that when I am serv-ing my fellow man, the person who bene-fits most is myself.

I am a firm believer that my life will bewhat I make it. Positive thinking and op-timism are critical. Sad circumstances arebound to occur; how someone deals withthose situations makes a person who sheis. I am a young, 17 year-old girl with alifetime to fill with wonderful experi-ences. I am energetic, outgoing and cre-ative. I look forward to many new chal-lenges and am determined to do my verybest and never leave a job unfinished.

Albert Schweitzer recognized the im-portance of example. I, too, believe thatthrough my example I can be a powerfuladvocate for our community and for thepeople in my hometown that I know andlove.

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Her mom says she is helpful, sweet, kindand thoughtful and has a large vocabulary.Paige plays soccer and has taken piano les-sons for three years. She also plays golfwith her dad and sister.

Besides being in the Apple BlossomParade, she will be involved in other activ-ities throughout the festival such as serving

at the Ice Cream Social and she will bedancing also, Paige said.

She said this is the first time she hasdanced in Payette. She used to tumble inWeiser.

“I decided to dance because all myfriends are dancing,” Paige said.

“She’s a little shy, so this will be a goodexperience for her to get in front of every-body,” her father said.


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Carnival Pre-Ticket Sales:The All-Day Pass will be $20.00 per day. Included in this pass will be a $3.00 credit that can be used for food or gametokens within the Carnival area. Tickets are available from the following businesses:ALBERTSONS — MEECHAN’S — JERRY’S MARKETMINIT MARKET — ALL VALLEY AGENCYLAST DAY OF PRE-TICKET SALES IS THURSDAY, MAY 12 AT 4 P.M.

SATURDAY, MAY 7THApple Blossom Queen Coronation Dinner at Senior Citizen Center on Main St. Social Hour, 6:30 p.m., Dinner servedat 7:00 p.m. Price: $14.00 per person. Tickets available at Intermountain Community Bank or Contact: Jamie White at208-405-3177 or any Civic League member.

MONDAY, MAY 9THIce Cream Social from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Serving ice cream and homemade cookies. In Central Park under the AppleBlossom Event Tent. Entertainment provided by “The Dancing Nancys”, “Squeeky Strings” fiddle group fromWeiser, the “Gem Valley Cloggers” and “Treasure Valley Dance Co.” Sponsored by the Senior Citizens Center.WHAT A GREAT WAY TO KICK OFF OUR APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL!!!!

TUESDAY, MAY 10THPayette County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. under the Apple Blossom Tent in CentralPark. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, ham, coffee and juice. Presale tickets are $5.00 per person, $3.00 per child,sold at the Chamber Office. $6.00 per person at the event and $3.00 per child.Apple Blossom Talent Show held at the Payette High School Auditorium, starting at 7:00 p.m. Come down and enjoyall our local talent. Under the direction of Friday Musicale Club. Admission: $2.00 adult, $1.00 for children 12 andunder, $5.00 for a family. Proceeds go to the Music Scholarship for our local students. Contact Leora Johnson at 642-2823 or Kathy Borgholthaus at 642-4161 if you have any questions.Cash prizes courtesy of the Apple Blossom Festival.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11THFood Vendors will be setting up and opening at 11:00 a.m.“Arts in The Park” will be setting up and opening at 11:00 a.m.Museum Open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.Pretty Baby Contest – Registration at 5:30 p.m. at the Apple Blossom Event Tent in Central Park. Contest begins at6:30 p.m. There is a $5.00 entry fee. Three age groups: Birth to 1 year old, 1 to 2 years old, and 3 to 4 years old.Categories are: “Prettiest Eyes”, “Rowdiest Hair”, “Cutest Smile”, “Best Dimples”, and “Judges Choice”. Sponsored byPHS Dance Team. Prizes are courtesy of Apple Blossom Festival.Karaoke on the stage in Central Park. Registration starts at 5:30 and starts at 6:00 p.m. Two classes: youth and adult.COME AND ENJOY THE MUSIC!!!

THURSDAY, MAY 12THMuseum Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.“Arts in The Park” all day. Opening 11:00 a.m.Food Vendors in Central Park all day. Opening at 11:00 a.m. Contact Jody Clements at 989-0197.Vendors Set Up & Opening in Kiwanis Park. Contact Jody Clements at 989-0197.Portia Club Pansy Sale and Open House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Portia Club on 9th Street.CARNIVAL OPENS at 5:00 p.m. in Kiwanis Park!!!!!

“Gone To The Dogs” contest in Central Park! Registration begins at5:30 p.m. Entry fee is $5.00. Prizes will be awarded in 5 categories: “BestTrick”, “Best Dressed”, “Smallest”, “Biggest” and “Owner-Dog Look-A-Like”. ContactJoan Gill at 642-6022. Prizes are courtesy of Apple Blossom Committee.Live Music – 7:00-9:00 p.m. FREE CONCERT!!! Provided by Coltran. Location: Central Park. Bring your lawn chairsand enjoy the music!

FRIDAY, MAY 13THMuseum Open – 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.“Arts In The Park” in both Central Park and Kiwanis Park, opening 11:00 a.m.Food Vendors in Central Park all day.Apple Blossom Quilt Show – 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Payette Public Library.“Pie Eating Contest” – 4:00 p.m. Sponsored by Albertsons. Location: Apple Blossom Event Tent in Central Park.Competition will include three age groups: ages 1 to 8, 9 to 14, and 15 to adult. This will be limited to 6 finalists perage group. The 6 finalists will be drawn from the entries submitted to Albertsons. Pre-registration is required. Pre-reg-istration form provided on the back of this brochure. So, get your form into Albertsons and come and eat some Pies!!!!CARNIVAL OPENS AT 5:00 P.M.Outlaw Lawn Dragsters Race at 6:00 p.m. Location: Main Street. WOW! This is as close to NASCAR as we can get!Live Music – 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. FREE CONCERT! Featuring “Stacey Wayne” Elvis impersonator on the stage in CentralPark.Live Music – 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. FREE CONCERT! Location: On the Stage in Central Park. Music provided by“504 Plan”, playing classic rock and roll. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the music!

SATURDAY, MAY 14THRods of Ages Car Show – Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Location: 815 1st Ave. South. All day event. Come andenjoy the beautiful cars!“Arts in The Park” – at both Central Park and Kiwanis Park, opening 11:00 a.m.Food Vendors in Central Park, opening at 11:00 a.m.Apple Blossom Quilt Show – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Payette Public Library.Senior Citizen Hamburger Feed at the Senior Citizen Center on Main Street. Time is 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Also, they are having an indoor yard sale.CARNIVAL OPENS AT NOON“Help Them To Hope” BBQ in front of Patrick’s Pub. Serving chorizos. Sponsored by Patrick’s Pub.APPLE BLOSSOM PARADE BEGINS AT NOON. Theme: “Fairytale Fantasies”.Live Music – 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. FREE CONCERT! Location: Stage in Central Park. Music Provided by “To PraiseHim”. Gospel music.FFA BBQ at High School, starting at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Serving hamburgers, hot dogs and chips. Cost is by dona-tion only!APPLE BLOSSOM FINALE FIREWORKS DISPLAY at dusk. Location: High School. Hosted by Payette FireDepartment. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy the fun.

SUNDAY, MAY 15THCARNIVAL ALL DAY!!!!

PLEASE ENJOY THE EVENTS. WE DO ASK THAT YOU NOT BRING YOUR PETS TO THE EVENTS UNLESS ITIS TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY LISTED EVENT. THANK YOU.

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