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Rainstorm fails to dampen fair’s opening ceremonies

By Rebekah Sungala 2 min read

DUNBAR – A brief rainstorm didn’t put a damper on the opening ceremonies that kicked off the 52nd annual Fayette County Fair. Taking part in the ceremony Thursday evening, fair board President Bill Jackson welcomed fairgoers, while last year’s fair queen Deanna Liptak introduced each girl competing in the annual Fair Queen Contest.

Fayette County fire departments also took part in the action, participating in the Firemen’s Parade.

Numerous bystanders took in the sights and sounds of the parade – watching as fire trucks passed, waving to the girls competing for this year’s crown.

Many who were in attendance chose to sample food from various vendors. The New Salem Volunteer Fire Department had the most popular food booth, with people lined up to purchase the department’s “famous” pork sandwich for $3.50.

New Salem fireman Robert “Tweety” Yatsko, who’s been selling sandwiches at the fair for the last five years, said people wait all year long to sample what he referred to as the “best pork sandwich in the county.”

Yatsko said the department will sell more than 3,000 sandwiches during the fair, which will run 10 days through Aug. 5.

“I don’t get a chance to see much of the fair, since I’m in this booth working,” Yatsko said. “I’m here from 7:30 in the morning till 11:30 at night.”

Jackson, who was at the fairground until 11 p.m. Wednesday night preparing for the kick-off ceremony, said the 2006 fair started without a hitch.

“Things are underway,” he said. “Everything’s going well. We had a few minor glitches, but nothing major.”

Jackson said the fair board made several improvements to the fairgrounds this year. Five hundred seats were added at the Outdoor Arena and 200 to 250 more parking spaces were created, bringing the grand total to about 550.

Following the opening ceremony, the girls competing for the 2006 fair queen crown were taken to the Fiddler’s Building where the competition began at 7:30 p.m.

The results from the Fair Queen Contest were not available by press time Thursday.

Those competing for the title were Shauna Couch of Hopwood, Rebecca McGee of Dunbar, Kalie Minick of Woodale, Rebecca Springer of Uniontown, Darcey Lee Korsh of Haydentown, Katie Lee of Farmington, Heidi Wiltrout of Connellsville, Kelsey Breakiron of Hopwood and Rebecca Giles of Belle Vernon.

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