Of pyrotechnics, paintballs

WINTERSVILLE - Many area residents turned out for Thunder in the Valley on June 26-27 to see the festival's fireworks display and four public officials attempt to dodge a barrage of paintballs.

The two-day event also offered rides aboard the Spirit of America, a motorized train for children, and a karaoke contest, live music from Paul Grant, the Word of Life Church and The Fossils and an assortment of food and crafts.

A paintball range was the newest addition to the festival and offered the event's organizers an opportunity to raise funds with the help of Wintersville Mayor Bob Gale, councilmen Jason Mattern and Robbie Martin and Dan Bove, a member of the Indian Creek school board and local business owner.

Tom Straka, the festival's chairman, expressed thanks to the four for agreeing to serve as moving targets and to volunteers with the Steubenville recruiting office of the U.S. Army for assisting with the paintball range on both days.

Wintersville Councilman Bob Merriman submitted the highest bids, at $25 each, to blast paintballs at the four but enlisted his 13-year-old son, Josh, to shoot at two of the targets.

Merriman said he hadn't told his colleagues of his plans to submit bids.

"They were wondering all afternoon who was going to shoot at them," he said.

There was a lot of kidding as each "target" donned a protective vest, jacket and face mask before entering a range comprised of stacks of hay bales and even after they emerged with splotches of yellow paint on various parts of their bodies.

Wayne Everhart, Bove's business partner, said, "Josh, if you hit him, there's $20 in it for you."

Gale remarked that he suffered no injuries with the possible exception of a pulled muscle sustained while attempting to outrun Josh's shots.

While ducking behind one of the haystacks, Mattern plucked a small U.S. flag from the top and waved it to indicate surrender.

"It was all for a good cause, for Thunder in the Valley," Bob Merriman noted.

"Next year we'll have more celebrities," said Straka, who added the festival's new location outside the Treasure Island Market Place has provided an excellent opportunity for it to become "bigger and better" in the future.

Straka thanked the owner and staff of Treasure Island and many local businesses for supporting Thunder in the Valley and Wintersville Police for its assistance through the years.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)