Kasey Roe leans into a turn as she speeds by the Snowsfest crowd during the kids snowmobile races Saturday, February 14. She was the only racer registered in the champ class. Hundreds of spectators and participants enjoyed sunny weather last weekend during the Wild, Wild West-themed Les Cheneaux Snowsfest in Cedarville.

The festival began Friday, February 13, with cardboard sled races, a spaghetti dinner, and a pub shuffle.

Saturday started with a pancake breakfast, followed by a snowman burning, arts and craft show, a poker run, horse drawn sleigh rides, chili cook off, children's snowmobile races, snowshoe races, cross country skiing, a dog show, emergency ice rescue demonstration, "best west dressed" contest, and open skating.

The annual weekend winter festival was capped off Sunday with an ice golf scramble, rifle fun shoots, and the announcement of fishing contest winners.

Donated prizes were award- ed of swimming pool passes, candy, sleds, cash cards, gift baskets, and gift certificates.

Cardboard box sled races

Gordy and Derek Burger sit in the "Prairie Schooner" sled they made for the Cardboard Box Sled Races behind the Cedarville school. The brothers won second place in the seven and older division. About 35 children and adults climbed to the top of the hill behind Les Cheneaux Community Schools for the Snowsfest Cardboard Box Sled Races Friday. Under clear and sunny skies, they competed for the fastest and best decorated sled in the Wild, Wild West themed competition.

Lily Freel and her "Little Bull" sled won first place in the six-andyounger race. Mikcail Bickham and his "Yamaha" sled also won a saucer sled and a pizza for second place.

Elena Storey and her "Cow" sled won first place in the sevenand older races and her sled traveled the longest distance.

Darek and Gordy Burger took second place with their "Prairie Schooner" sled.

Silas Dunn won third place with his "Wells Fargo" sled. He also won for Most Amazing Crash when his covered wagon sled flipped over, breaking in half. Before his sled broke, however, he won Best Looking Sled.

Silas Dunn runs toward the finish line in the Snowshoe Hare Relay Race Saturday, February 14, during the annual Les Cheneaux Snowsfest. Each relay member had to collect an article of "rabbit's" clothing, including shorts with a rabbit's tail, a headband with rabbit ears, and mask, for the team anchor to wear when it was his turn to run. He anchored the winning team. Avrey Freel won prizes for using mostly cardboard for his sled, and his mother, Brianna Freel, won the adult race.

Organizers Ross Sherlund and Jason Haske gave away donated soda pop and candy.

Snowshoe Hare Races

Lee Kanitz was the fastest snowshoe runner in the Snowshoe Hare Race on the football field behind the school.

Riley Malorey and Paigey Kanitz won second and third place, respectively.

Later in the afternoon, Liz Merchberger, Kayla Merchberger, Grace Dunn, and Silas Dunn won the relay snowshoe hare race near the warm up tent. Each team was timed running around the gazebo, where they had to grab an article of "rabbit clothing," including big shorts with a rabbit tail, rabbit ear headband, and rabbit mask, for the relay anchor to wear while running.

The youth who entered into the Snowsfest snowmobile races included (front row, from left) Kevin Richlin, Evan Jones; (back row) Lauren Miller, Kasey Roe, Zack Ryan, Michael Laracey, Mitchell Laracey, Brian Patrick, Trevor Warner, Wade Warner, Chase McCready, Alex McCready, Jay Freel, Kaleb Kohlmann, Cooper McGinnis, and Nick Ellis. Dog Show

Kayla Merchberger led her dog, Sam, over two hurdles and a flight of stairs to win first place in the Snowsfest dog show obstacle course, and Kim Dunn and her dog, Lucky, won second. Both received gift baskets with doggietoys and treats.

Hayley Sexton dressed her dog, Sabrina, in a red bandana and brown vest to win the best-dressed contest. Karley Shattuck dressed her dog, Lucky, in a gray sweatshirt and red bandana to win second.

Liz Merchberger's blind dog, Turner, also won for Best Trick for obeying "sit," "lay down," "shake," and "play dead" commands.

Bill Kohlmann crawls toward Clark O'Brien in an emergency ice rescue demonstration at Snowsfest. The Clark Township Fire Department says the best technique for someone who falls through the ice and is unable to get out is to hold onto the ice, letting their arms freeze in place. A person can survive in freezing water for five minutes before the body starts to shut down. Kitty Cat and Kids Snowmobile Races More than 15 youth raced in four classes on an oval-shaped track on the ice in Cedarville Bay Saturday afternoon.

Kevin Reichlin won first place in the Kitty Cat class for riders younger than four . Evan Jones, the only other racer in the class, took second.

Mitchell Laracey won the amateur class, which had the most racers, including Nick Ellis, Cooper McGinnis, Kaleb Kohlmann, Jay Freel, Alex McCready, Chase McCready, Brian Patrick, Heather Patrick, Michael Laracey, Zack Ryan, and Lauren Miller.

Wade Warner beat his brother, Trevor, to take first place in the professional class. The brothers raced against Kasey Roe, who was the only entry in the champ class.

Mikcail Bickham sits in his "Yamaha" sled next to Lily Freel in her "Little Bull" sled. She won first place in the six and younger division, and he won second place. First-place winners received duffle bags and candy, and all participants received goodie-bags filled with candy.

Kids Cowboy Games

Zachary Watona of Wayne, Craig Bolton of Livonia, and Jayden Smith of Hessel each won first place in their age divisions in the horseshoe toss for landing closest to the pin.

Wade Warner of Goetzville, Gordy Burger of Cedarville, and Silas Dunn of Cedarville took first place in the Stick Horse Races, and Hope Hester of Cedarville and Jewell LaForest of Hessel took first in the Three-legged Race.

Chili Cook Off

Sixteen crock-pots filled with chili were entered into this year's Chili Cook Off, held in the main tent Saturday afternoon. More than 100 taste-testers voted on the chilies.

Becky Kogelschatz of Hessel won first place in the individual division. Mary Ann Hansen of Cedarville took second and Tony Lee of Hessel won second and third, respectively. Ang-Gio's Restaurant was awarded a plaque to hang for winning first place in the commercial business division.

Karley Shattuck and her dog, Lucky, are awarded a gift basket for second place in the Best Dressed Dog contest during the Snowsfest Dog Show in Cedarville. Poker Run and

Best Dressed Contest

Maryann Hansen won $300 for first place in the poker run at Bumpas'. Todd Salo won $200 for second and La Leball won $100 for third, and Jeff Cason was given a plaque for the Worst Hand.

Jason Haske and Kathy Trevarrow won the Best Dressed Contest. Mr. Haske wore a poncho and large sombrero, and Ms. Trevarrow wore a cowboy hat, vest, and pink handkerchief. Winners were announced at Bumpas' Saturday, February 14.

Snow Sculptures and

Snow Buddy Contests

Curt Patrick of Cedarville won $100 for first place in the On Ice Snow Sculpture contest for his "Western Hat" sculpture. The Great Lakes Boat Building School won $50 for its "Old West Jailhouse," and Tim LaJoice of St. Ignace won $25 for his "Woodaline the Beaver" snow sculptures.

Tristen's Toys and Tots Daycare in Cedarville won first place in the snow sculptures business division. Wendi's Runway Bar own second and Bethel Lutheran Church and Autore Oil tied for third place. The office of Dr. Blake Slater in Cedarville won first place in the Snow Buddy Decorating Contest, while Ang-Gio's Restaurant and Islands Insurance of Cedarville won second and third.

Ice Hole Golf Scramble

John Torsky and Dean Haddad shot a 28 to win first place in the men's division of the second annual golf scramble. Chip Autore Sr. and Jeff Autore, and Roger Rutledge and Duncan Martin both shot a 30 to win second and third place, respectively.

Jess Fusco and Ahsley Overlock shot a 40 to win the women's division, and Andy and Lora Brown shot a 29 to win the mixed division, while Jessie Torsky and Tony Boscarino took second with a score of 29.

Pike and Perch Fishing Contest

Jonas Carpenter of Cedarville won both first and second place for catching the largest perch, measuring 15.25 and 14.06 inches, respectively. He won $100 for first place and $50 for second. John Edington of Pickford took third with a 13.5 inch perch, worth $25.

Brad Causley of Cedarville took first place for catching the largest pike, winning $100. It was the only pike measured in the weekend fishing contest.

Christopher Belevender of Cedarville won first place, and tied for second place with Silace Dunn for largest perch in the youth division. The first place fish was 10.5 inches, and the two boys each caught a 10-inch perch to win second place. First place was awarded $50, second $25, and third $10. Thirty-eight anglers participated in second annual fishing contest.