Three groups are planning all-American activities during the upcoming Fourth fun.

Citizens who like to watch sports on holidays can head to Liberty Park for the Prell-Bland American Legion Post 271 Fourth of July baseball tournament. Four teams will compete beginning with a 10 a.m. Friday, July 3, Batesville vs. Columbus game, according to member Fran Effinger.

Kokomo plays Madison at 1 p.m., then the two winners face each other at 4 p.m. and the two losers at 7 p.m.

Hillcrest Country Club will offer a fireworks display to members Friday at dusk. The community may watch from public areas, reports employee Barbara Whalbring.

On Saturday, July 4, Batesville Christian Church members will host the third annual 4 on the 4th, a four-mile road race to raise money for the Batesville Area Ministerial Association Food Pantry. The 8:30 a.m. event, which begins and ends at the church at 1294 Columbus Ave., is open to all ages and skill levels.

The Rev. Steve Yeaton points out hungry people need food year-round, not just around Thanksgiving and Christmas when residents are in charitable moods. “With the recent downturn in the economy, the requests for food from the pantry have increased dramatically.”

Despite rain, 100 participated last year, raising almost $1,000.

There will be awards for the top male and female walkers, and the top two runners in 12 age divisions. A free fun run for children under 10 takes place after the four-miler.

The entry fee is $15. Registrations forms are available at the church’s Web site at www.batesvillechristianchurch.org. This year the first 100 entrants receive not only T-shirts, but running performance shirts and goody bags.

Persons registering that day should arrive between 7:15 and 8:15 a.m.

Besides paying the race fee, participants can help the pantry by contributing cans of food. For each one up to four, participants will receive a door prize ticket.

The American Legion double elimination tourney continues Saturday at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and, if needed, 5 p.m. The winner will receive a plaque.

Spectators can enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, popcorn and cool drinks at the diamond both days.

An Independence Day parade organized by veterans in that group precedes the traditional Legion Day at Liberty Park, reports Commander Jerre Hampson. “This is the good old-fashioned” procession that includes antique tractors, horses, candy throwing and balloons. “Anyone is more than welcome to come out” and jump into the lineup at the Batesville Memorial Pool by 11:45 a.m.

The parade begins at noon. The route: east on West Pearl Street, south on Main Street, east on Catherine Street and south on Park Avenue to the park pavilion, where Legion Day activities will begin.

“It’s just a fun family day. There’s baseball, games, community togetherness. It’s to serve the community and area veterans,” says Hampson, a retired 20-year U.S. Army sergeant first class who mostly served as a chaplain’s assistant and was in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down.

Legion members will be grilling brats and metts, he says. The auxiliary will sell pulled pork sandwich plates that include chips and cole slaw from 11:30 a.m. until about 4 p.m. and then chicken and roast beef dinners with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, slaw or applesauce, reports Treasurer Sally Wilhelm. Beer and soft drinks are available until activities wind down about 10:30 p.m.

Adult games include a raffle with four $100 cash prizes and also pull tabs.

Legion Day proceeds help support the organization’s community service activities, such as the Halloween parade and helping overseas troops and area disabled veterans. “We provide assistance to any veteran who needs help,” the commander points out.



More options in the area

Other towns are doing the holiday up right:

I The Ripley County Chamber Fireworks Night Friday, July 3, boasts the Osgood Grub Co. Open Wheel Spectacular at Ripley County Fairgrounds Park, Osgood, grandstands. Nonwinged sprint, midget and minisprint cars begin racing at 7:30 p.m. “That’s going to be a big deal,” says chamber director Amy Thomas. Opening at noon are booths containing antiques, crafts, food and flea market items. Persons interested in free booth space can call the chamber at 812-689-6654. Several jumping inflatables, live bands and fireworks at dark will keep the crowd entertained. The event is sponsored by the chamber, Gilmore & Golda Reynolds Foundation and Ripley County Park & Recreation Department.

I The Metamora Fourth of July Celebration, sponsored by the merchants association, goes Saturday from 11 a.m., when the firemen’s fest begins, to fireworks at dusk. Free hourlong concerts by "Papa Joe” Kretschmer are presented by the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site and sponsored by Historic Metamora at 2:30 and 4 p.m. On the Metamora grist mill's porch, the musician will play his witty and amusing versions of folk music on guitar, banjo, harmonica, dulcimer and kazoo. A 6 p.m. parade is followed by the fifth Ducky Derby in the canal. Meanwhile, firefighters will sell chicken dinners. Info: 765-647-2109 or mail@ metamoraindiana.com.

I Milan Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6234 will host a midday cruise-in featuring cars, trucks and bikes at its North Warpath Drive site. Members will be serving steak dinners to the public starting at noon.

I The nonprofit Whitewater Valley Railroad operates a Civil War train at noon July 4 from Connersville to Metamora (with a two-hour layover) and back again. “Be in the middle of the action as a Union Army attachment protects the U.S. government payroll while along the line a relentless group of Confederate soldiers, simply known as Morgan's Raiders, plan and wait,” reports the Web site www.whitewatervalleyrr. org/. Round-trip fares are $20 for adults and $12 for kids. Info: 765-825-2054.

I Versailles Lake will mirror fireworks at 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Versailles State Park. These are sponsored by the park and freewill donations that night. There will be free admission at the gate from 8 to 10 p.m., says office manager Carol Evans.