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Tonganoxie sets stage for annual celebration

By Shawn Linenberger - | Jun 7, 2006

Vendors, vendors and even more vendors.

With roughly 90 vendors registered for the 21st annual Tonganoxie Days event on Saturday, organizer Connie Torneden said this could be the highest number of vendors to register for the event.

“I think that’s more because I’ve got the usual three blocks from Mutual (Savings) clear on down to Midwest Carpet,” Torneden said. “Those three blocks are full, and we’re working on the block near the Methodist church.”

Vendors normally line Fourth Street in downtown Tonganoxie from Green Street east to Main, but Torneden is looking to extend the vendor area a block west — between Green and Shawnee. Tonganoxie United Methodist Church is on the southwest corner of Fourth and Green.

Torneden said she was “amazed” by the number of vendors slated for this year’s festival.

Last year, roughly 75 vendors signed up for the event. The year before, there were 65. Vendors will begin selling at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Torneden hopes a local celebrity will attract residents to the downtown area as well. Tonganoxie native Danni Boatwright will be signing autographs starting at 11 a.m. on Fourth Street. Boatwright won $1 million by becoming the Sole Survivor on the CBS reality show “Survivor Guatemala.”

“We’re hoping quite a few people come out to see Danni Boatwright,” Torneden said.

In addition, the Leavenworth County clerk’s office will offer chances for voters to practice on the county’s new voting machines — which will be in use for the first time in the Aug. 1 primary election. A voting machine will be set up in front of The Mirror office, 520 E. Fourth.

Other events planned for Tonganoxie Days include regular activities such as the Country Cruisers Car Show and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Flag Day ceremony, both at VFW Park.

The car show runs from 8 a.m. to noon, while the Flag Day ceremony will begin at 11:45 a.m.

The Friends of the Library 10K/5K run and 5K Fun Walk again will take place during Tonganoxie Days. The run begins at 7:30 a.m.

Also returning this year is the Kansas Miniature Horse Club Fun Show at 9 a.m. at the fairgrounds. The show will include events such as jumping, obstacle maneuvering and costumes. Also, a performance by the Boy Scout White Shield Native American Dance Team from Camp Geiger is planned from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. downtown.