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FIRST
TRACTOR PULL. DeLeon Truck and Tractor Pull Council members
Mark Nowlin and Monty Stewart at the new DeLeon Community Park
tractor pull arena. A pull is scheduled for this Saturday,
September 29, to raise funds for work on the tractor pull arena.
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DeLeon area residents will have a unique
opportunity this Saturday, September 29, to participate in a historic
event -- the first ever tractor pull at the new DeLeon Community Park.
“The money from this event is earmarked
for the improvement of this arena,” said Monty Stewart, one of the
event organizers. “The pullers will be paid, but no one else is taking
a dime. It won’t go to the ball park, or the RV park, it will go to
build this tractor pull arena.”
“We’ve even formed a non-profit
corporation,” said Mark Nowlin, another event organizer. “It’s called
the DeLeon Truck and Tractor Pull Council. It’s sole purpose is to
have benefit pulls to pay for improvements -- strictly for this
arena.”
“We’re not planning on doing just one,”
Stewart said. “We’re looking to do several.”
“And we’re not trying to push the
Festival out of the way,” Nowlin said. “The people doing this are the
same ones who will be out here next August. We’re just doing the
benefit pulls to raise money.”
Nowlin said that lighting and fencing are
among the top priorities for the arena.
“People are probably going to wonder how
we could do this pull if we don’t have lights out here yet,” Stewart
said, “but we’ve got portable lights that were donated by Green Acres
Rental. And we need to thank L.T. Lewis for moving some bleachers from
the old tractor pull site.”
Stewart said that even though there is
now some seating available, people might want to bring lawn chairs in
case additional seating is needed.
“And the DeLeon Livestock Association is
going to handle the concession stand,” Nowlin said.
Nowlin said that organizers have been
encouraged by the participation and cooperation level so far.
“People have been willing to help,” he said, “they just needed to know
that the money isn’t going in to the city’s general fund.”
Nowlin said that Mayor Danny Owen had
encouraged the DeLeon Truck and Tractor Pull Council to keep their
funds separate from the city’s.
“If not, in the future, when he’s not the
mayor, the new administration (not understanding the situation) might
take the money to fix a road or something,” Nowlin said. “This way,
there won’t be any problems.”
“It would be different if it were a one-time deal,” Stewart said. “But
there will be improvements to be made here for years to come, and we
want to do this again.”
Both Nowlin and Stewart noted how much
the city, and city workers have contributed to get the tractor pull
arena to this stage of completion.
Among those set to participate in
Saturday’s pull are members of the Texas Truck and Tractor Pull
Association (TTTPA).
“This is a TTTPA sanctioned event,”
Stewart said.
“This is all the little hot-rod looking
tractors, two different classes, or three,” Nowlin said. “And there
will be pro-stock pickups, which are higher-performance four-wheel
drive pickups. And of course, the local pickups.”
“There are two semi-trucks who plan to
participate too,” Stewart said.
Stewart also noted that a pull
association in Priddy had rescheduled one of their events so that it
would not conflict with DeLeon’s.
An antique tractor pull is scheduled for
earlier in the day. “That starts at 10 in the morning,” Stewart said.
“It’s free to the public, but donations will be accepted.”
The cost for the primary pull, scheduled
to begin at 6:30 p.m., is $8 per person, with 10 and under admitted
free.
Some of the sponsors for this event
include: F&F Drilling, F&F Pump Service, Clark Tractor & Supply,
Helena Chemical, Lindley Transport, Comanche County Tractor, Comanche
Livestock Exchange, Dr. Performance, Gooden Petroleum, Inc., Prado’s
Mexican Cafe, Dalton Watson Construction, Green Acres Rental, Gilder
Realty, Freddie’s Shortstop, First National Bank, Dairy Lot Cleaning,
Golden Oak Milling, DeLeon Auto Supply, Farley Farm Supply, Inc.,
DeLeon Bistro, J.Leek & Associates and Stockman Seed and Fertilizer.
Nowlin and Stewart noted that more sponsors are needed.
“Since the DeLeon Truck and Tractor Pull
Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, donations are
tax-deductible,” Nowlin said. “There has been an account established
at First National Bank, in DeLeon, and people can make donations
there.”
“We’re still looking for volunteers,”
Stewart said, “and for more people to join our council.”
“Yes,” Nowlin said, “we would appreciate
their time helping out here, but we’re also looking for other people
to join this organization.”
For more information on how to
participate, call Heath Matteson at 893-7649, Monty Stewart at
842-8634, or Jackson Jobe at 842-7023.
“We just want to invite everyone to come
out Saturday night,” Nowlin said. “It’s going to be good, family fun.” |
