Page 16
Drusilla Allen is lining up a big event to start the Sumpter
CountryFest this year.
Allen, along with the members of the Sumpter Country
Fest Committee and the Sumpter Township Parks and
Recreation Commission, has organized the annual Country
Fest Parade that will begin at noon May 27 at the corner of
Judd andSumpter roads.
Allen, who is the parade chairman, said that the parade
will travel south down Sumpter Road from the corner of Judd
toDunnRoad and end at the festival grounds.
The theme of the parade, and the festival, this year isWe're
Still Country, and in addition to the individual category
awards this year, a special award will be presented for the
best dressed or decorated entry in
the parade with the special theme
AmericanHeroes.
Allen said the award presenta-
tions would take place at about 1:15
at the festival grounds, when the
parade is completed.
“We hope everyone will join us,”
Allen, who is also a member of the
Sumpter Townshipparks andRecreationCommission, said.
She added a special thanks to the parade sponsors this
year, Joe Nassar, Little Town Liquor and Deli and Sumpter
Pharmacy.
Parade celebrates community
Drusilla Allen
GrahamPark
Graham Park in Sumpter
Township is a part of the history of
the community.
The park is named for and was
dedicated to the memory of Roy
Graham, the only Sumpter Township
Police officer who lost his life while
on duty. The park was originally ded-
icated tohismemoryNov. 6, 1985.
The land for the park was first
purchased by the township in
November of 1971 under the direc-
tion of then Supervisor Elmer
Parraghi. The Sumpter Township
Parks and Recreation Commission
had only been in existence since
June of 1970.
The township paid $14,900 for the
10-acres of land on the northwest
corner of Sumpter and Wear roads.
Township officials named the first
park in Sumpter Township Wear
RoadPark.
A rededication ceremony took
place July 24 1993 and a memorial
plaque was installed in the park. In
2006, a 20-year memorial ceremony
took place attended by Ofc. Graham's
family, friends, area police officers,
township officials and a crowd of citi-
zens.
Banotai Park
Banotai Park has been an
amenity of Sumpter Township
since 1978.
Maintenance at the park began
in earnest in 1990 when Supervisor
Marvin L. Banotai assigned the
work to the Parks and Recreation
Commission and scheduled several
community events in the park.
Banotai enlisted the help of the
Huron Valley Conservation Club to
stock the lake and conduct fishing
clinics.
The park was renamed in 2004
in memory of Mr. Banotai. In 2005,
Supervisor Johnny Vawters and the
board of trustees agreed to a five-
year plan of the Parks and
Recreation Commission for
improvements at the park. In 2005,
more than $40,000 was spent in the
park on improvements, mainte-
nance and pavilions. Following
those improvements, an official
dedication ceremony took place
naming the park for Supervisor
Banotai and officially naming the
body of water SherwoodPond.
Since then, constant improve-
ments have been made at the park,
including wheelchair accessible
rest rooms and two fountains.
Township Parks are hidden treasures
Graham Park
Banotai Park
