Flannery is Ohio Tobacco Festival Queen

Source from:  By WADE LINVILLE Associate Editor 09/04/2006

Thousands attend Ripley festival More than 20,000 people from areas throughout the United States made their way to the 25th Ohio Tobacco Festival over the weekend, marking another year in the history book of success for the event that has stood as Ripley's top event for a quarter of a century. Ranging from the Bed Race to the traditional Tobacco Spitting Competition, there was a wide array of entertainment that provided the motivation for people to attend this year's festival. Over the last 25-years, Scotty and Linda Wells, of Dayton, have attended every Ohio Tobacco Festival celebration. "We love it," said Linda Wells. "We've come every year." Scotty Wells could remember the "belly butting" contest held during the first Ohio Tobacco Festival in 1982 and said one of his favorite parts of the annual event was the parade. Ripley's Samantha Flannery, 18, brought the crown back to Ripley winning the 2006 Queen Pageant. Greg Applegate Ohio Tobacco Festival Committee president credited long-time volunteers who have dedicated their time to assure that the festival maintains its success. "They (OTFC members and volunteers) have all been appreciated over the years," said Applegate. This year's Tobacco Festival scholarship winners were Amy Moran and Cody Clifton, both graduates of Eastern High School. Ripley Police Chief Harvey Bowman was awarded the honors of this year's grand marshal for his many years of involvement in the festival, not only to provide security but to lend a helping hand in any way possible during the preparation for the event. "I've enjoyed being here all these years," said Bowman. According to Applegate, the Ohio Tobacco Festival could not have gone on for 25 years without the support of the Village of Ripley. Ripley Council President Charles Poole and council member Roberta Sidwell, received a plaque on behalf of the Village of Ripley for its ongoing support of the festival. Poole, while accepting the award, passed credit to the people of Ripley for the continued success of the festival. "You can't have a festival of this magnitude and this size without the support of the people (of Ripley) and they deserve a lot of thanks," said Poole. It was high school senior and former American Idol contestant Jessica Bothman, of Aberdeen, who walked away as this year's overall winner of the Talent Show Competition. Bothman was awarded studio time at Blue Sky Recording, who sponsored the event, giving her a chance to cut her recordings on compact disc. Ripley's Kira Fryman took first in the adult category during the Talent Show. Ashley Smith, 13, of Georgetown, stunned the crowd with her performance of country singer Loretta Lynn's, "You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man," winning her first place in the Talent Show's fifth through eighth grade category. Travis Slack, of Russellville, won the Tobacco Spitting Competition. Surprisingly enough, there were no women who competed in this year's Tobacco Spitting Contest. Toney Fowler, of Aberdeen; Derrick Jolley, of Aberdeen; Justin Spires, of Ripley; Davey Spires, of Ripley and Travis Yockey, of Aberdeen, made up the team called "Pure Garbage," who went on to take first place in the world famous Bed Race, defeating the Ripley Boat Club by a "bed rail." Mike Strong of Dayton, traveled to this year's Tobacco Festival to take first place overall in Sam Cooper's Arm Wrestling Competition. The local Country Hurricane Band provided live country music to get the crowd moving on Friday night and on Saturday, it was The Great Pretenders of Youngstown, who entertained hundreds with music from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Enditem