Carnival owner Meeker appreciates honesty
Today we continue with the front-page story from the Columbia Basin Herald on Aug. 17, 1978, written by then-Herald staff writer Nancy Wolff. The headline was: “Recipe secrets, mobile life all fun of carnival living.” Read on.
John Patheal, general handyman and “jack of all trades” is responsible for all electrical work connected with the show. Like most of the regulars, Patheal enjoys the transient life and the work.
Keeping the carnival well stocked with balloons, glassware, stuffed animals and souvenirs is the responsibility of Paul Galbraith. Pausing in the midst of setting up another “joint” (carny slang for game booth) Galbraith spoke about his job as concession supervisor.
He is responsible for setting up and dismantling the booths. He keeps a daily inventory of all stock needed at each joint and sees to it that the stands don’t run out of prizes.
At the balloon/dart concession Art and Margie Farrell reminisced about carnivals in the ’30s. Known to the Meeker people as “Mom and Dad” the Farrells are longtime employees.
Back in the ’30s “when the carnival traveled in horse-drawn carts,” said Farrell, “I used to be a wrestler in the sideshow. There were midget performers then, but during the war they all went to work for the government and the sideshow was discontinued. Now only the circuses have sideshows.”
Besides wrestling Farrell used to do some bareback riding, bronc riding and bull dogging.
“We try to keep the people happy,” said Shaw the carnival is a good life and they “wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Ralph Meeker, owner of Meeker Shows, appreciates honesty. Hearing a young lad attending the opening night of the Grant County Fair with Herald carriers who had free rides say he wasn’t a carrier and was going to “Pay his own way,” Meeker said, “You’re honest, you don’t have to pay either, have fun on me.”
E-mail from Cheryl
Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:
From the CBH on Oct. 12, 1976:
Class to probe wheat hedging
Hedging is a marketing tool available to wheat producers.
Many growers and agribusinesses in the Columbia Basin area have indicated an interest in learning more about how to use the wheat futures market to increase their profits.
Growers that hedged this year will receive equivalent of $1-$1.50 per bushel more than those who didn’t hedge, said David L. Gossett, Grant-Adams Area Extension agent.
The Cooperative Extension Service of Washington State University is sponsoring an in-depth study of hedging starting Nov. 2 in Moses Lake.
The course will consist of four sessions, tentatively set for Nov. 2, 16 and 30 and Dec. 14, at the Moses Lake PUD auditorium. Classes will start at 10 a.m. and last until about 3 p.m.
A registration fee of $11 per person or couple will be charged to cover the cost of a textbook. Advance sign-up is required. Interested persons may contact Gossett at the Grant-Adams Area Extension Service office by Oct. 18 in Ephrata.
Homemakers Club to meet
Iy-o-pta Homemakers Club meet at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Central Recreation Center.