Warsaw Lions Minstrel Show travels to the country
WARSAW – The 59th annual Warsaw Lions Minstrel Show traveled a country road with the title of “Lion Country” this past weekend. Playing to large audiences on Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon the cast clad in jeans, flannel shirts, cowboy hats and boots had the audience in stitches – read that as lots of belly laughter – with the usual antics of The End Men, Diamond Dave, and a favorite of everyone – the little people. Or something like that. That particular skit is actually hard to explain if you were not there. If you did attend, you do know and that’s all there is to that.
There were a number of great performances by some extremely talented local musicians: Jenna Hord, Andy McElroy, Ed Kent, The Three of Us Plus One, Mackenzie & Krista Stoffer, Donovan Rice, Charlie Wright, Mary Knicely, Nick Fischer, Angie Speicher, Jamie Shamel, Todd Lupher, Rorey Wesney, Margie Lee, the Lions Quarter and of course, the Entire Company. The Lions Club Quartet was; Larry Pepper, Nick Fischer, Bob Knicely and Todd Lupher. The Three of Us Plus One was; Elaine Jensen, Maxine Metheney, Doris Granger and Cindy Kaiser. And of course, not to be outdone, The Entire Company provided solid singing throughout.
Band members were: Todd Lupher, Chad LeCraft, Rorey Wesney, David Esselburn and Jason Pendola. Jim Bartlett was the Interlocutor. The End Men were; Larry “Crazyhorse” Pepper, Nick “Digger” Fischer, Max “Porkchop” Mercer, Bob “Corncob” Buxton, Ed “Popbottle” Kent, Bob “Da Coach” Knicely, Fred “Choo Choo” Wachtel and Dave “Bones” Woodmansee.
Larry Pepper provided thoughts to consider for life at the conclusion of the program.
Chris Sycks, current Warsaw Lions Club President, said, “This is a lot of fun. We are one big, happy family and as of tonight (Saturday) we had around $13,000 or $14,000 and we turn around and all of that goes back into the community and around the state for charities, like the local schools, the Boy Scouts, things like that, around the state for diabetes, eyeglasses repair and much more.
“We so much appreciate all of those people participating that are not Lions Club members, they come each year and they give of themselves and their time again and again. We get them into the hall of fame (two new inductees this year were Maxine Metheney and Audrey Phillips) and everyone is so happy for everyone else.
“We have so much talent in the county that every year it is just amazing the number of soloists we have.”
Sycks said that she did not know what to say about the folks that work behind the scenes, except “Thank you and I deeply appreciate them. They have hours and hours and lots of fun and lots of practice in this but it is all worthwhile in the end.”
In referring to director Jean Haumschild, Sycks said, “Every year she takes us from I don’t know where – I guess the beginning – but by the time we get on stage that first night she has everyone whipped into shape and we’re hitting our keys and hitting our mark. She is a special lady.
“It’s so nice to see so many familiar faces in the audience and I hear people say how much they enjoyed it and the River View Park gets some money from the dinner. It’s just all around good community support and an activity. I also think it is sort of like a homecoming for some people. They come back year after year, not only from Coshocton County but some from out of the county too.”
The Warsaw Lions Club supports various charities and projects including: Ohio Lions Eye Research Foundation, Diabetes Research, Ohio State School for the Blind, Lions Club International Foundation Charities, Ohio Lions Foundation, Central Ohio Lions Eye Bank, Used eyeglasses collection, Clothing drive, Coshocton 4-H & 4-H Cloverbuds, junior fair auction, Camp Echoing Hills, River View Leo Club, Higher Hopes Therapeutic Riding, RV FFA Washington Leadership Conference, RV FFA Country Christmas, Robert Wells Scholarship, Warsaw Lions Scholarship, Jordon Fischer Memorial Scholarship, Lynn Fischer Memorial Scholarship, J. Haumschild Choir Scholarship, Hugh ‘O Brian Leadership (HOBY), RV Music Boosters, RV School Calendar & Yearbook, Honor Choir, Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout Project, River View Park, Walhonding Valley Fire Department, Veterans Council – Honor Flight, Joy International, Leo Club, Coshocton Safety City, Sponsor Mentoring Center Bowl for Kids, Sponsor Relay for Life, United Way, Salvation Army / WTNS Christmas Castle, Walhonding Valley Historical Society, New Castle Cemetery Restoration, State Route 60 Clean Up, County Fair Golf Cart Taxis and others.
The Warsaw Lions Club meets the first and third Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Walhonding Valley Fire Department and new members are always welcome.
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