Writer encourages a visit to Odessa's Spring Fling

To the Editor:

Spring Fling! I’m not sure how long ago Spring Fling started, but it is here and going strong. Spring Fling a time to clean up the yard and the house, and get ready for a productive and happy time of year. But it is also about and full of quilts. Spring Fling, I think, got started around the time the quilt show started. I think this because a few years back I tried to start a car show to supplement it and bring business to my downtown pizza shop in the old Historic Rolling Thunder building, once home of the Pastime Tavern and before that Dad Odell’s place, built in 1902.

Anyhow, the Chamber at that time asked me if perhaps I could move the car show to Spring Fling to supplement the activities already in place, like the garage sales all around town, the quilt show and other town activities. We started the car show in July 2016 with about six cars, and four of them were ours. We have since moved to Spring Fling, doubling in size nearly every year, to around 30 cars and 14 bikes last year, which was nearly rained out. This year with good sunshine we can expect upwards of 60 cars, or so I think. We now have a new truck class in the show, and we would love to see a wheat truck or two.

Though I organize the Car Show, it is not intended to belong to me or to the Pizza Shop. It is for the Town of Odessa, a place I love. So I thank you for your support, both financially (several local businesses are banner sponsors) and by simply attending with your cars, or looking at and enjoying the work of others, be it quilts, cars or music. A lot of love, work and time goes into all that we will see this Spring Fling. Look and know that it is here for us to enjoy this weekend in Odessa. So thank you for looking. See you the last weekend in April, on Saturday the 27th.

The music that we bring is always what is needed to get the town dancing. Again this year, we have the “Armed and Dangerous Band” from 1-4 p.m. This year we will have some great local music in the a.m. from 10 to noon featuring Christina Leffler with her great covers and original work. Also you can see and dance to Richard Molsbee and his son Steven in their duets of country, gospel and rock hits. Sign in and bring your cars, bikes and trucks to Odessa this year on 27 April, Saturday. Sign in at the Odessa Giant Guitar and Rolling Thunder Pizza. Call Nate with any questions or vending requests at his home at the ranch in the Nile. Of course we would love also for a few volunteers for parking, sign-in and such. See you in Odessa. Ride and drive safely.

Nate Lathrop

Nile/Odessa