Hundreds gather at Sand in the City

By SCOTT NILES Courier staff writer

July 08, 2007 11:02 pm

— OTTUMWA — Hundreds of people gathered in the Bridge View parking lot on Saturday to play in the sand.
Thirteen teams, including the sponsor, South Ottumwa Savings Bank, worked diligently in the heat to compete for the best sand sculpture.
With the sun beating down and sweat pouring from peoples foreheads, water was not just used on the sand. Though focused on the competition, it was obvious that the event was a lot of fun.
Some teams came up with a theme sculpture that had to do with the business they represented; others were at random.
Several members of the Cargill team worked to chisel every feature of a relaxing hog out of the gritty materials while a team from AmericInn/Main Street Ottumwa sculpted different items from the classic movie “The Goonies.”
Each team had its own unique style, using various items from straws to fertilizer pumps for moisture and even utensils, such as spoons and whisks.
Co-Coordinators of the event, Peggy Shaw and Sarah Hartley, said this year’s event was fantastic.
“We really expanded from last year,” Shaw said.
The thirteen teams worked for six hours on the elaborate sand sculptures, while staying upbeat with some energetic music from the DJ. Alcoholic refreshments were also available at the “sand bar.”
“We wanted this year’s event to be even bigger and better,” Shaw said.
During the fun in the sun, those observing the event could take a break from the heat and go inside and still find more to do. While the competition was going on outside, the Bridge View Inc. committee put together a “midway” event inside for kids and adults. People were able to walk inside and get a free massage from Indian Hills Community College Students or a caricature drawing by students from Buena Vista University, along with other activities.
The atmosphere was relaxed and everyone seemed to be having a great time.
Shaw said there were three more teams present this year compared to last year.
“That allows us to do a little more,” she said.
All of the proceeds from the team registration will go to Bridge View Inc. Arts and Entertainment, and a portion of the money raised at the inside events is being split with 4-H, which helped out.
This was not just a competition to see who could create the best sand sculpture, but a way to build community support.
Several businesses donated items to the event.
“This event was put together with a lot of support and donations from places all over Ottumwa,” Shaw said. “There was more support for it this year too.”
This year’s expansion did not come as a surprise to the Master Sculptor and originator of the Sand in the City competition, Burt Adams, who was hesitant to bring the event to such a small town last year.
“I usually don’t do many smaller towns,” he said.
Last year he said he was awestruck by the amount of people that came to the event and participated in a town this size.
“This year I expected it to grow,” he said, having no hesitation to come back again. “The community here is great.”
Adams even observed some of the people who participated in the competition last year and noticed their improved skills in this year’s sculpting event.
The winner this year for the first place $1500 grand prize was the Heartland Humane Society with its sand replica of the Ottumwa Cemetery gates, along with two sand versions of the dog statues inside the cemetery, one with a lot of history behind it. Second place was the AmericaInn/Main Street Ottumwa team, who did a sculpture of “The Goonies.” Third was the Ottumwa Courier team with an unsuspecting man relaxing in an inflatable tube with a shark rising up behind him. The people’s choice award went to Cargill for its piggy in a frying pan titled “Bacon in the sun.”
Adams said he was very impressed with the turnout and, if asked again, will come back next year for the third annual “Sand in the City”.
Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.

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