Combined Kids Fair, Baby Shower draws more than 200

Pleasanton Rural Fire Department Captain Jeff Wisdom lets 4-year-old Aurora try on a self-contained breathing apparatus pack at the Kids Fair. (Photos by Roger Sims/Linn County Journal)

MOUND CITY – The Linn County Health Department's combined Kids Fair and Community Baby Shower was deemed a success by department officials following the event on Friday evening, June 23.

With activities ranging from Touch A Truck and cooling off appreciative children with a fire truck's water cannon outside to face painting, free hot dogs and a photo booth inside, the First Baptist Church in Mound City was abuzz with activity.

Amanda Snyder, department director, said that more than 220 adults and children registered at the the event, however, she said it was likely that some of the attendees who entered by a side door didn't get counted.

She estimated that this year's attendance was about the same as in 2022.

"We were very pleased with the outcome," Snyder said.

Photographer Bonnie Riley, from left, waits for the digital photo booth capture the tongues-out image of Mallorie and Mia.

Danyka Pointer carefully brushes paint on the face of 6-year-od Arbor at the Jayhawk-Linn High School cheerleaders' face-painting booth. it was one most popular activities at the event.

Kaitlin Bruner with the Marais des Cygne Extension Service helps a girl make Cake in a Mug at her table.

Nova Clarke, from left, and Heather Peters from the Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge discuss items on their display with Beckett. The taxidermy specimen of a river otter is named "Wally."

As the event wound down, county firefighters turned on a water cannon to cool down the children at the end of a hot day.