Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Both the weather and the berries were perfect for the 70th annual Copper Country Strawberry Festival.
Thousands of people flocked to Chassell over the two days to grab a sweet strawberry shortcake and enjoy the festivities at Centennial Park.
At the auction Friday night, an 8-quart batch of strawberries went for a record $2,000 with other items like chocolate covered strawberries and white chocolate strawberry tarts going for as much as $500.
All of the proceeds from the auction go toward the Chassell Lions scholarship fund.
The Citizen of the Year went to Dean LaTendresse of Chassell, owner of Erickson Feed, Seed and Pet Supply, and the Youth Citizen of the Year Award was given to the Chassell girls’ basketball team, who finished as the 2018 Class D state runner-ups.
Eight contestants competed in the Strawberry Queen pageant with the crown going to Sydney Danison, sponsored by the Chassell Women’s Club. The runner up was Anabel Needham, sponsored by Apple Blossom Mercantile, and Maddie Jelic, sponsored by Armando’s and the Douglass House, was named Miss Congeniality.
The Crane family won the Sweepstakes Award.
In the 2018 Strawberry Festival parade, Superior National Bank was named the best commercial float with Angler/Young Angler fishing tournament second.
Brady Tervo won in the Patriotic category followed by Melissa Davis.
In the Strawberry category, it was Strawberry Bugs Forever—Denise Moyle 1970 Volkswagen first with Superior Family Chiropractic second.
Tom Gerborkoff’s 1979 Mark V Lincoln Continental was named top Antique…followed by Don Hambley’s 1933 Ford.
Sturgeon River Kennels had the best Equestrian.
The top Music honors went to the Lake Linden-Hubbell High School Band, second was the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City High School Band.
The Best In Show went to the Palosaari Dairy Farm.
