HHS captures Carmi band contest
A new event was added to the annual Kiwanis Corn Days celebration this year and featured a contest of marching bands at Carmi-White County High School's football field.
Harrisburg High School took first place in the high school marching band division, earning a $750 top prize.
Second place and $400 went to Goreville Combined Schools while third place and $250 went to Benton High School
In the junior high division, Harrisburg Middle School took first and a $600 prize.
Second place and $350 went to Centralia Junior High School and third place and $250 went to Grayville Combined Schools.
By rule, Grayville combined band competed in the Junior High Division because the majority of its members are Junior High students.
Every band that did not place received $150 for their participation.
Harrisburg also swept the individual and section awards at the high school level, winning Outstanding Drum Major or Drum Majorette, Outstanding Drum Section and Outstanding Color Guard.
Outstanding Drum Major or Drum Majorette, Middle School, went to Grayville Combined Schools with Outstanding Drum Section, Middle School, going to Harrisburg Middle School, as did Outstanding Color Guard.
Fan Favorite, which was determined by fans, who voted by making donations, went to NCOE High School. The fan favorite donations were split 50/50, with 50 percent going to the winning band. In total, $383 dollars were raised, with $192 given to the NCOE band and $191 going to help support the competition.
Nine bands competed overall, which included more than 450 Jr. High and High School students from eight communities in Southern Illinois.
Benton High School, Carmi-White County Combined Schools, Centralia Jr. High, Grayville Combined Schools, Goreville Combined Schools, Hamilton County Jr. High, Harrisburg Middle School, Harrisburg High School and NCOE High School participated.
There were about 400 spectators in attendance at Bulldog Stadium.
A special note of gratitude goes out to Carmi natives Steve Bell, Mike Croghan and Barbara Karger for serving as judges for the competition. As always, they did an outstanding job.
Also, a special word of thanks is extended to CWCHS High School in general and to Principal Jarrod Newell and new CWCHS music teacher Zandrea Hafenenrichter for their generous assistance in putting on this event.
The Carmi Kiwanis Club thanks all Corn Day sponsors. It is because of their generosity and community involvement the club is able to put on a marching band competition that attracts so many schools.
The club also thanks all of the bands that participated this year. They put on an excellent show and contributed greatly to a great parade.