Beech Tree News Network

Despite threatening weather much of the day that relocated the beauty pageants to Butler County High School, the park was dry earlier this evening as the 2015 Green River Catfish Festival kicked off at the Charles Black City Park in Morgantown.  Opening ceremonies were held at 6 p.m. with Butler County High School's NJROTC Color Guard presenting the flags and Hannah Renfrow singing the National Anthem.  Morgantown-Butler County Chamber of Commerce President James Runion and Morgantown Mayor Billy Phelps both offered opening comments and welcomed everyone to the festival.

"This is going to be one of the busiest festivals we've had," said Runion.
"I hope everyone has a great time and enjoys the festival … and wins a lot of money," said Phelps.
The main part of opening ceremonies is the drawing of the envelopes for the fishing tournament, which starts Thursday, July 2 and runs through Saturday, July 4.  Approximately 43 tagged catfish were released into Green River on Tuesday, June 30.  Fish are sponsored by local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce and range in value from $100 up to $2,000. 
Below is a list of tagged fish sponsors:
$2,000 - Chamber of Commerce
$1,000 - Drawing for Dry Land Fish/Chamber of Commerce
$1,000 - Jones Funeral Chapel, Judge-Executive David Fields, Drake's Farm Service, Aberdeen Grocery, and Master One Tax Services
$500 - StarTek Recycling
$500 - Henderson Land Surveying
$250 - Hocker Family Insurance
$250 - C&L Used Cars
$250 - Butler County Farm Bureau
$200 - Chad's Self Storage & Outdoor Billboards
$200 - Chad's Body Shop & Wrecker Service
$200 - Landmark Realty
$150 - Circuit Clerk Melissa Cardwell, County Clerk Sherry Johnson, PVA Suzanne Brosnan
$100 - Dale and Martha Franklin (five fish worth $100 each)
$100 - Randy and Gina Tynes
$100 - Embry & Watts CPA (three fish worth $100 each)
$100 - Delta Faucet (five fish worth $100 each)
$100 - Beech Tree News (three fish worth $100 each)
$100 - Morgantown Utilities, Water and Gas
$100 - Landmark Realty
$100 - Whitetail Properties and Real Estate (three fish worth $100 each)
$100 - Morgantown Care and Rehab
$100 - SERVPRO
$100 - Green River Feed Mill
$100 - Graves-Gilbert Clinic (three fish worth $100 each)
$100 - Coleman Brothers Motors
$100 - State Farm Insurance/Baker Gardner (three fish worth $100 each)
$100 - Bluegrass Oral Health Center

Beauty pageants were the main event scheduled for tonight but projected inclement weather pushed them to the high school.  Pageants being held tonight were the local pre-teen, Jr. Miss, and Miss Catfish, ages 8 through 21.  The pageants are sponsored by Tiffany's Tanning, Beech Tree News, and Delta Faucet.
Several food, commercial, and non-profit vendors were open on the midway and the carnival rides were in full swing.  Two different musical groups were also slated to perform - Melinda Chaney at the Ross Melton Pavilion and the Rye Davis Band at the basketball court.    

The 35th Annual Green River Catfish Festival, which is sponsored by the Morgantown-Butler County Chamber of Commerce, runs through Saturday, July 4.  The festival will conclude with the announcement of fishing tournament winners and an Independence Day fireworks show sponsored by the city of Morgantown. 
Stay connected to Beech Tree News and the New Q/WLBQ 101.5 for the most comprehensive local festival coverage.