Fancy Carts, Good Music and a Repeat Hot Dog Champion Highlight State Theater Fest
Photos by Lisa Gallagher, Barnesville Area News
Downtown Barnesville took on a different look Saturday as the volunteers of the Barnesville State Theater staged the group’s second summer fest along West Main Street.
The one-day festival, dubbed “Movie Magic on Main – Golf Cart Cruise In”, saw the 200 block of West Main Street with 12 golf carts entered in the golf cart decorating contest.
Major sponsors who made the festival possible were Baker IT Services (2nd year), Joe’s Tire (2nd year), Morgan Stanley Investment Services of New Albany – Jeff Simpson and Allan Covert, Gina and Greg Wehr, William Knox, CPA and Grenadier Energy Partners III.
The group also thanked Tenley Hughes and John Dabrowski for making this year’s shirts and scoreboards.
Decorated Buggies
Building on the theme established last year when the State Theater awarded a golf cart, this year the theme was a Golf Cart Cruise In. A total of 12 festively decorated golf carts lined both sides of West Main Street.
Vying for top honors were these entries:
- A Christmas Story – Lisa Robinson & Cindy Ferguson
- Christmas Vacation – Janie Burkhart
- Elf – Richard & Christeen Johnston
- ET – Vicki Magers
- Finnian’s Rainbow – Tom & Cathy Butler
- Friday Night Lights! Go Shamrocks – Rick & Ronna Allen
- Ghostbusters – Greg & Kathy Batts
- National Lampoon Christmas – Steven & Karen Hill
- Pee Wee’s Big Adventure – Lorie Marnell
- Snoopy & The Red Baron – Marsha McCort & Shelley Jefferis
- Top Gun – Lynn Spiczenski
- Wizard of Oz – Greg Milliken
Three winning entries were selected:
Kid’s Choice – Snoopy & The Red Baron by Marsha McCort
President’s Choice – Top Gun by Mike and Lynn Spiczenski
Mayor’s Choice – Elf by Christeen and Richard Johnston
Hot Dog Eating Contest
It appears the hot dog eating contest is gaining in popularity as 10 contestants, all men, vied for the State Theater Hot Dog Eating Contest. Last year, six contenders took part in the 10-minute timed eating contest.
This year’s class of candidates expanded to two school districts – Barnesville and Union Local! Taking part were:
- Dirk Davis, Bethesda village administrator
- Micah Fuchs, Barnesville Schools superintendent
- Hank Johnson, member of the 179th Cyberspace Wing of the Ohio National Guard, representing the Barnesville Kiwanis Club
- Richard Johnson, representing Blue Moon Tavern
- Kyle Jones, representing Chestnut Lanes
- Joe Hershberger, representing Joe’s Tire
- Mike Hershberger, representing Joe’s Tire
- Brad Mason, representing retired guys everywhere
- Zach Shutler, Union Local Schools superintendent
- Mike Spiczenski, last year’s golf cart raffle winner
Fuchs and Hank Johnson were repeat contestants. Last year Johnson won with 11 hot dogs downed followed by Micah Fuchs with 9.
In a nailbiter that came down to the wire, Johnson repeated as champion, besting his previous record by one with 12 hot dogs consumed.
Coming in a close second was Joe Hershberger who stalled at 11 with a minute remaining on the stopwatch.
Micah Fuchs came in third at 10, also increasing his previous record by 1.
Other contestants in order were: Mike Hershberger – 8, Dirk Davis – 7, Zach Shutler – 7, Kyle Jones – 6, Richard Johnson – 5, Brad Mason – 5, Mike Spiczenski – 4 and Josh Mayberry – 3.
For his repeat performance, Johnson, who was on leave, will return to base $250 the better while his sponsor, the Barnesville Kiwanis Club, will also receive $250.
Now that the second annual contest is history, the obvious question is: will some ladies step up in 2026 to vie in an expanded contest also featuring a women’s division?
Entertainment
The festivities began with the local band Flushed playing classic rock songs that the crowd tapped their toes to and sang along. Favorites included songs from The Doors, Creedence Cleerwater Revival, Johnny Cash and Prince. If you have not heard this young, talented band, Flushed will be playing at Generations Restaurant & Pub this Saturday, August 2, from 9-12, and you can follow them on Facebook.
Following the hot dog eating contest, The Shuman band took the stage. As always, they entertained the crowd with familiar songs.
Raffles
The 50/50 winner was Sheryl Shaner. She donated her winnings back to the cause.
Gift certificate winners were: $200 Way2Go – Brenda Brown, $500 Barnesville Vet Services – David Plumly, $5,000 Uniglobe – Dave Plumly.
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