Marion columnist wins HerrinFesta 'Bigga Nose' contest
Shouts of "Who wants to touch my nose?" echoed through the Herrin Civic Center Saturday.<br />The offers came from Cheryl Ranchino Trench of Marion, winner of the 2017 Bigga Nose contest. Boasting a nose length of two and ¾ inches, she easily beat the other contestants, and bagged the $100 cash prize and plaque.<br />Standing up with Trench were Cindy Cola, Nick Wells and Joe Cunetto, all of Herrin. HerrinFesta Queen Jeanie Harmon, also of Herrin, served as judge, using a ruler to measure the length of each contestant's nose.<br />As a two-time Nose winner, Cunetto came prepared to win. "I won two years in a row," Cunetto said, referring to the 2013 and 2014 contests.<br />However, Cunetto said it was all in fun. "Hers was longer than mine, I can tell you that," he said, laughing.<br />Trench, the longtime author of the popular southern Illinois column "Paper Telephone," actually started the Bigga Nose contest herself in 1991, the year HerrinFesta Italiana began.<br />After winning, she explained to the crowd why this award is important to her.<br />"I want everybody to know something," she said. "In 1991, when we started this wonderful festival that you're all enjoying, this was one of my creations, the Bigga Nose contest."<br />She couldn't participate in the past, she said, because she was involved in the HerrinFesta Italiana organization. This year, she decided to enter instead.<br />"Well by gosh, today I entered, and I showed you the great nose from my Italian ancestors. So I am pleased to receive this."