Hundreds come to courthouse square for lights, parade

Only 20 minutes into the chili cookoff that was a part of Friday’s Jasper County Courthouse Lighting ceremony, the cooks were already scraping the bottoms of their pots.

That’s how much enthusiasm hundreds of people had for this year’s 82nd annual lighting event — and they arrived hungry. After polishing off the supplies of all four of the Young Professionals of Jasper County Chili Cookoff entrants, the spectators still had time to get hot chocolate, take a Plume Hill Carriage ride or inspect the Festival of Trees inside the courthouse before the lighting occurred.

When Virginia Versteegh was finally able to hit switch and the lights went on, cheers went up from the hundreds of area residents who took advantage of the mild weather. With temperatures in the upper 30s and a tolerable breeze, most of the crowd stuck around to hear the music of DJ Nick Hoskins and watch the short parade and/or take a carriage ride.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we had almost 1,000 people come out this year,” City of Newton Development Specialist Craig Armstrong said. “We’ve had some years where the temperature was in the teens with ice and snow all around, but it was better this time, for folks who were bundled up.”

Versteegh’s name was chosen in a drawing from people who made a donation of at least $5 to the courthouse lighting fund. She said the donation was on behalf of her entire family, but family members elected her to be the one to switch on the lights.

Versteegh said she made the donation in the name of her mother, Maud Kling Versteegh, who enjoyed many years of courthouse lighting ceremonies before she passed away in 1994.

Dalene Ogden’s entry was chosen by the people as the trophy winner for the best chili. The local baker and restaurateur said she hadn’t concocted a special recipe or name for the tasty supplies she brought to the contest.

“It’s just good old-fashioned ‘Bun in the Oven’ chili and cornbread,” she said, smiling.

The parade included about 11 entries and used the theme of “’Twas the Lights Before Christmas.” TPI Composites, Inc., Newton’s OPEN Program, Iowa Speedway and the Jasper County Historical Museum were all represented, along with Newton fire and police personnel.

Long after the brief parade concluded, visitors were still looking at the Festival of Trees 4-H decorations inside the courthouse and there was still a long line for Plume Hill Carriage rides.

Armstrong praised first-year Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce Director Amanda Price and many others for their had work in putting the event together.

“Amanda really did a phenomenal job with this,” Armstrong said. “That’s a lot to coordinate, and it went terrifically.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com