Coaches Overstake and VanMatre serve as parade grand marshals

With Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester and city council president Betty Jackman setting the pace, the 2012 Greene Countrie Towne Festival cruised down Jefferson Street on a sunny, 87-degree Sunday afternoon.

Local coaching legends Rick Van Matre and Dennis Overstake served as the 2012 parade grand marshals for the popular annual festival, sponsored by the Greenfield Rotary Club.

Coach Van Matre’s McClain Tiger teams won eight South Central Ohio League championships, 16 sectional championships, eight district championships, and were regional runners-up three times.

Coach Overstake has led the McClain girls basketball team for the past 31 years, racking up 490 wins – 18th on Ohio’s all-time list. His teams have won 17 sectional championships, six district titles and finished as regional runners-up once. He's won seven South Central Ohio League and two Southern Buckeye Conference titles.

In addition to local enforcement and the grand marshal Rotary float, the parade included entries from area churches and civic organizations, classic cars, vintage tractors, area fire departments, various event queens and their respective courts, and several candidates for local offices.

Kristen Free, a 2008 McClain High School graduate and Miss Ohio third runner-up, also participated in this year's parade.

The 2012 Greene Countrie Towne Festival queen and her court are: queen Roni Casebolt, first attendant Lindsey Parsons, and second attendant Samy Rowe.

During this year's opening ceremonies, Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop invited the community to attend this year's festival, which is held each summer during the third weekend of July. The festival offers residents and visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy free entertainment, explore the community’s rich history, renew old friendships and make new ones.

Proceeds from festival events help local organizations to operate for the good of the community. This year's Rotary auction raised approximately $22,000, including approximately $14,000 from the sale of prints, according to Rotarian and WVNU General Manager Pat Hays, who announced this year's parade.

For more information, go to http://rotary1.weebly.com/festival.html.