Downtown Walkers
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 3, 2009
They obviously didn’t walk, but Kadyn and Casen Bates as Raggedy Ann and Andy were first place Halloween costume winners in Saturday’s “Let’s Go Walkin’ Down Main Street” sponsored by Batesville Main Street and the Panola Partnership in cooperation with Mississippi Main Street. They are the twins of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bates, who obviously provided the pedestrian power in the family outing that attracted about 240 walkers of all ages and costumes. The Panolian photo by John Howell Sr.
By John Howell Sr.
Batesville Main Street’s “Let’s Go Walkin’ Down Main Street” celebrated both Halloween and Saturday morning’s sunshine as hordes of costumed youngsters and many adults turned out to participate in the statewide walk for emphasis on healthy lifestyles that ended with a “trick or trunking” on the downtown Square.
After a day and night of torrential rain across the Mississippi Valley from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes, the sun came out Saturday morning just before the 9 a.m. walk was to begin on College Street at Batesville City Hall. Scores of youngsters in outfits ranging from a witch on roller blades to Cinderella and hosts of ghouls, ninjas and whatchamacallits were accompanied by scores more parents, grandparents and well-wishers as they started down College Street, turned at Kyle, again at Brooks, again at Baker and onto Panola Avenue and back to the Square.
“I think this is a good thing,” said Lisa Pride, who hurried to catch walkers, taking a short cut from Kyle Street to Panola to meet the head of the spread-out column. “There’s so much going on, this is better than house-to-house,” she said of the vehicle trunks filled with Halloween candy and other goodies awaiting the young walkers at the end of their journey.
Pride said that she had let her children out with another adult while she found a place to park, and by the time she returned the walkers were well on their way.
As walkers strung out on the final stretch back toward the Square on Panola, their numbers had grown to about 240. The kids fared well. Most adults did also except for a few who wound up carrying their costumed charges.
When all walkers had arrived at the Square, door prizes were awarded before youngsters were directed to waiting trunks with typical and atypical Halloween goodies.
Batesville Main Street director Colleen Clark said that she was pleased with the large number of youngsters and adults who turned out but she said she was a little worried about the supply of candy and goodies on hand.
“After we ran out of candy we had the face painting by the Junior Auxiliary,” said Panola Partnership administrative assistant Merideth Fleming.
