The City of Checotah showed off its bold stripes, bright stars and brave hearts this Fourth of July after working countless hours so residents could celebrate their freedom with lots of family fun and fireworks. Freedom House Adult & Teen Challenge received front row seating at the event and the ladies were the honorary guests at this year’s festival. They were even given the pleasure of pulling the switches to set off some of the fireworks.
It was a red, white and brew morning as organizers started their day with coffee and set up tables and trophies for the Freedom Fest 5K Fun Run that kicked off at 7 a.m. top begin a day full of activities at the Checotah Sports Complex. Approximately 100 runners began showing up just before kickoff time to run with family and friends.
In the 5K Overall Results, Alan Cox, 41, from Porter, came in first with a time of 18:29. Fred James, 64, from Wilburton, came in second and Derrick Cohee, 25, from Dover, was third. Melanie Mattison, 15, of Muskogee, was the first female across the finish line with a time of 23:23 but Ruta Reed, 46, from Fort Gibson was hot on her heels coming in with a time of 23:38. Krystle VanDerKarr, 41, from Pearland, TX, came in third overall female with a time of 24:24.
After the 5K Run tournaments began for cornhole, basketball, pickleball and more. The kids fishing derby was a happening spot with lots of kids 12 and under competing for fishing gear and cash prizes. Kactus Roper sparkled with cuteness when she won with the biggest Crappie caught at 1 pound 13 ounces. Even the judges were impressed with that catch of the day!
There was also a fierce competition for the cardboard boat races where some sank immediately and others sailed on to victory. Then there was cash prizes for those who got closest to the Hole in One, cash prizes for top competitors in the kids tractor pull and even the new event this year, the Obstacle Mud Run, which proved to be quite the challenge for many who literally battled their way through muck and mire finding golf balls in the mud for more cash prizes sponsored by People’s National Bank.
The events for the day ended with the Kids Power Wheel Races and the crowd laughing at the antics of wheel barrel races and wheel chair races which were quite entertaining.
As the evening started setting the crowd grew bigger and bigger as they visited vendors, ate from the food trucks and listened to Shiloh & Goin’ For Broke. But the highlight of the whole day was getting to watch the City of Checotah workers put on the biggest firework show in the county for well over 30 minutes making everyone proud to be an American and born in the U.S. –Yay!
