WINTERVILLE MARIGOLD EXPRESS |
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The Marigold Express is the center piece of the Winterville Marigold Festival & is the featured attraction of the Marigold Parade.
The Marigold Express has participated in the Athens Christmas Parade and has also participated in Parades in Colbert, Crawford and Watkinsville. The Marigold Express participates in Winterville Christmas activities and is used by local churches and schools. The Marigold Express was constructed by Ed Fleeman and his son Daryl in accordance with the prophecy in Isaiah 2:4, ...:and they shall beat their swords into plowshears,... Engine No. 1, The Mighty Evert Dirkson, was an military airport tug and the cars were constructed on bomb carriges. During the 1996 Marigold Festival the editors of the program book hatched a foul plot to omit the traditional picture of Ed and the Marigold Express from the program book. Despite wide spread knowledge of this plot no member of the city council intervened. The editors of the program book were not satisfied with omitting Ed from the program book. They also attributed the labor performed by Ed’s son, during construction of the Marigold Express, to the Fire Department. No member of the Fire Department so much as lifted a finger during construction of the Marigold Express. The editors of the program book used a picture of Daryl Fleeman in the mistaken belief that Daryl was a member of the Fire Department The editors of the program book also had the audacity to used a copyrighted graphic, that belongs to your Gentle Editor, on the cover without permission. Ed Fleeman is also the only member of the city council ever denied a seat on the Marigold Festival Board of Directors. After voting Ed off the board, the directors had the audacity to order Ed to plant the Marigolds. Ed Fleeman is the only person that puts in a full day, in the service of Winterville, on a daily basis and it seems that the more Ed gives the less the council appreciates his efforts. Ed Fleeman and his crew spent two weeks putting up Christmas lights and decorations for the Christmas season. Acknowledgment of this service, in the Gazette, was conspicuous by it’s absence. The Gazette was able to devote three and one half column inches to a plug for Donny Seagrave’s latest literary effort but could not spare three words , Thank you Ed, for the services performed gratis on a daily basis by Ed Fleeman. Of course the council expected Ed Fleeman and your Gentle Editor to run the Express. The following proposal went over like a lead balloon William H. Harris, President My Dear Mr. President, The Crew of the Marigold Express feel strongly that use of the proceeds of the Marigold Festival should be determined by the people actually laboring in the fields. We propose that all projects funded by Marigold moneys be determined by ballot vote. The Association Secretary should compile a list of qualified Electors. Qualification as an Elector to consist of personally raising money or performing physical labor. Occupation of an office, seat or chair would not confer electoral status unless one of the prime prerequisites was also met. All projects should be sponsored by an Elector and the cost determined. All projects under consideration should be placed on a paper ballot by the Association Secretary. The ballot should specify the total assets of the Association, The title & a description of the project & the cost. Each Elector could then vote for any number of projects up to the total assets of the Association. We suggest that the projects be arranged on the ballot in ascending order of costs. That is, the least expensive first & the most expensive last. The Elector should mark the ballot, the ballot certified by the Secretary, the Elector checked off the list & the ballot placed in the ballot box. At close of voting the box would be opened & the results determined. The crew of The Marigold Express will be pleased to add it’s funds to the general fund under such a system. However, the crew of The Marigold Express feels that in the absence of Elector control of the general fund that the crew should maintain control of Marigold Express funds & have veto power over use of Marigold Express proceeds. Ed Fleeman, Engineer Click on title at top of page to view The Marigold Express Main Page |
