Another Kernel Days weekend is in the books

Published 10:31 am Monday, August 17, 2015

United South Central Superintendent Jerry Jensen was the first to volunteer for the Communities Fighting Student Hunger dunk tank on Friday. His own secretary, Deb Lackey, was just one of many to successfully dunk him. - Kelly Wassenberg/Albert Lea Tribune

United South Central Superintendent Jerry Jensen was the first to volunteer for the Communities Fighting Student Hunger dunk tank on Friday. His own secretary, Deb Lackey, was just one of many to successfully dunk him. – Kelly Wassenberg/Albert Lea Tribune

WELLS — Wells Kernel Days has come and gone once again.

Downtown hosted a few of the weekend’s events such as the Maple Valley Classic Car Show and the Wells Area Jaycees street dance, which featured the band Pop Rocks. The majority of the events, however, took place at Half Moon Park.

Entertainers like the Walking Eagles band and the Unlimited Possibilities Dance Studio dancers took to Bevcomm stage while the park’s volleyball pits and baseball diamond hosted tournaments throughout the day Saturday. Nine different inflatables were open from Friday evening to Saturday night as were Lions Bingo, various food stands and the beer garden.

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Other activities were scattered throughout the weekend including a state-sanctioned kid power pedal tractor pull, a reptile and amphibian zoo show and speaker Al Batt, an author and nature enthusiast who pens two different weekly columns for the Tribune.

While the turnout wasn’t quite as big as last time, Wells Kernel Days Committee member Ila Teskey said it was to be expected. Last year, the All School Reunion ran concurrently with the celebration, bringing in many more alumni back to the area to tour the old school building — which has since been demolished — and visit the new school.

Even after taking this into consideration, Teskey was very pleased with the number in attendance.

“I think it’s been good in spite of the heat,” she said.