MENTONE — Community leaders in Mentone and Kosciusko County gathered Thursday afternoon to celebrate major renovations to Mentzer Park.

Improvements include a new pavilion complete with restrooms, a resurfaced basketball court and a new walking path that connects other nearby amenities.

[caption id="attachment_118424" align="alignright" width="176"] Rita Simpson Price[/caption]

Total cost of the project was around $720,000, and the project relied on numerous funding sources, including money from former President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan Act from the pandemic and the K21 Health Foundation.

It was another project coordinated by Hoosiers Enduring Legacy Program, which has worked closely with the Indiana Office of Rural Affairs and led locally by Amy Roe, the county's Community Coordinator, who has been the driving force behind completion of other recent community projects in Pierceton, Milford and Etna Green.

Such an undertaking was a huge one for the town of Mentone and included some delays and hiccups, but Mentone Clerk-Treasurer Amanda Yaprak was excited to see the results.

“We didn’t know what we were getting into, but it turned out better than what we could have imagined,” Yaprak said after the ceremony.

Mentone Chamber of Commerce President Rita Price Simpson said the project could not have happened without a broad network of support.

One of the things that came to mind to me immediately when I came down there and saw what was happening, I thought, ‘Do you know how many chicken barbecues we’d have to do to set aside that (amount) of money?’ More than we could have ever done in a lifetime,” Price Simplson said.

“That’s why the grants are so important to us and that’s why a small town can really make such a difference in having that kind of money. It does take a lot of extra work by the county people as well as the local people so I want to thank them publicly for all the hard work they’ve put in on this process,” she said.  

Lindsey Hammond, OCRA northeast community liaison, said, Tte project Exemplifies the purpose of the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, as well as OCRA’s overall mission to help rural communities thrive and improve quality of life for their communities."

Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting cutting Thursday afternoon to celebrate the renovations to Mentzer Park in Mentone. 

The town is hosting a contest to name the new pavilion, and suggestions are being accepted at the town hall offices. The Town Council will choose the name within a few weeks.

Officials are already working on a second phase of improvements, which would include a golf disc course and pickleball courts.

[caption id="attachment_118434" align="aligncenter" width="1004"] Plan for a second phase of park improvements are already in the works. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_118433" align="aligncenter" width="720"] A view of the new pavilion after Thursday's celebration. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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MENTONE — No matter when and for how long you were a Mentone Bulldog, you’re always a Bulldog, and that’s the theme for the 2024 Mentone Egg Festival.

The three-day annual festival kicks off at 5 p.m. today in uptown Mentone with flea markets, crafts, food vendors and the kids area.

At 7:30 p.m. at the fire station, The Bulldogs, formerly Spike and the Bulldogs, in memory of Russell and Leona Eber, will perform. The Bulldogs have been a part of the Egg Festival for at least the last 15 years, according to Mentone Chamber of Commerce President Rita Price Simpson.

She said the Ebers were great benefactors to the Mentone community and provided the funding for The Bulldogs to continue to perform every year at the festival.

On Friday, from 11 a.m. to close at the tent, will be Bell burgers and more by the Bell Museum. Flea markets, crafts and food vendors will be uptown from noon to 9 p.m. Inflatables and games uptown will be 2 p.m. until dark.

Always a big draw, the 28th Annual Egg Festival Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show begins at 4 p.m. Friday on Tucker Street. The Echoes of the Past Tractor Show will be in the parking lot next to the fire station. The tractor show will not be a judged show but a demonstration, according to Price Simpson.

Enjoy 1950s and ’60s music uptown from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, along with a silent auction. The band Ell River will perform from 6 to 9 p.m., too, on East Main Street at The Barricade.
Wake up Saturday to enjoy a pancake breakfast by the Tippecanoe Valley Football Team at the fire station from 6 to 10 a.m.

Registration for the 5K race will take place from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m. at the fire station, with the Egg City 5K Run starting at 8 a.m. The Beta Epsilon chapter of Psi Iota Xi sorority is putting on the race. The chapter has been in existence since 1929.

There will be a backyard barbecue cookoff at 9 a.m. in front of Hartzler Funeral Home. Awards for the barbecue cookoff will be at the fire station at 4:30 p.m.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday uptown will be inflatables and games, flea markets, crafts and food stands.

Judging of the parade entries takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday at the parade line-up site. The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. downtown Mentone, with the parade marshals being the graduates from Mentone’s last graduating class 50 years ago.

An open house and reception will be held in the Mentone gym from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, put on by the Mentone Alumni. A lot of memorabilia will be on display at the open house.

At the tent at 11 a.m. Saturday will be Real Deal Food by the Mentone United Methodist Church.
Following the parade, at 12:30 p.m. at the stage, will be Miss Chick and Mr. Rooster Contest.

Kids games will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the stage, with the garden tractor pull at the park at 1 p.m. The kiddie tractor pull will be at the stage at 1:30 p.m., followed by the egg toss at the stage at 2:30 p.m.

The cake walk takes place at the fire station at 6 p.m., followed by the winners of the cute baby contest at 6:30 p.m.

Crowning of Miss Mentone will be at 7 p.m. at the fire station, with music at 7:15 p.m. The three Miss Mentone contestants this year are Jayden Yarian, Jetta Hughes and Olivia Fuller.
The festival events conclude at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the fire station with the Family Feud game show.

To see the entire event schedule, click here.

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