Boys Elementary- Curwood Kings (Gavin Barnes, Adam Stowe, Jordan Waters, Joeseph Jafri)

Boys Middle School- Team Snyder (Danny Snyder, Andre Melean, Seth Facketty)

Boys HS GOLD- Radio Shack (Joe Blanchett, Justin Carsten, Troy Landris, Brandon Dotson)

Boys HS BLUE and OVERALL HS CHAMPS- Fab Four (Jordan Weekley, Tyler Jones, Andrew Nieman, Garrett Barnes)

Girls HS- Roadrunners (Nikki Davis, Alex Green, Alex Hallenbeck)

Mens League Overall Champs- The Horsemen (Rick Hayward, Scott Selbig, Jason Mannec, Jack O'Brien)

As of press time eight breweries from across the state have agreed to be represented, while seven others will also be featured. “We have requested that each brewery send a representative to be on hand to answer questions about their product. Festival volunteers will be pouring the tasting samples along with assistance from the licenced wholesale distributors in the area” according to Michael Espich with Curwood Festival Inc, one of the areas largest non profit organizations.

The event takes place on Sunday June 8, 2008 from 2 pm till 7 pm with “last call” @ 6:30. From 2 pm to 3 pm tasters will be treated to an introduction to Micro-Brews by Mr. Rex Halfpenny, the editor and publisher of the Michigan Beer Guide, the state’s largest distributed publication. “It only seemed fitting to our committee to have someone as renowned as Rex to be part of this inaugural Curwood event” said Espich. “Our community is already fortunate to have two local guys who have had the vision of introducing Shiawassee County to the micro beer world”. He’s referring of course to Ryan Kuchar and Brian Ozbun of Corunna’s McNeil Street Market who will be partnering with Curwood Festival to sponsor the speaker fees. Their store and soon to open restaurant, currently features 350 micro beers from not only Michigan but around the country. “A vast majority of the beer that we will feature will be available for purchase from McNeil Street Market after the event”.

Advance tickets will be available starting today through June 7th for only $15 which will include 10 tastings as well as special introduction tastings while the speaker is discussing the differences in styles and content. Additional sample tastes will be available for just $1.00 the day of the event. A seperate home-brewers "dry" education class ticket may also be purchased for an additional $15.00 in advance and those are limited to the first 40. Tickets at the door will be priced @ $22 for either event but are expected to be extremely limited due to the tent capacity and the demand for advance sales. “The word has been out for about 3 months now and I expect we will sell out before the festival starts.”

“This is the perfect opportunity for both first time micro tasters, as well as our more seasoned ones to join us without the large crowds associated with the state’s annual beer tasting festivals. With at least 15 different brewers and each featuring up to six styles, you can see the opportunity to experience what tens of thousands of enthusiasts do every year; enjoy Michigan’s finest craft beers”. According to the Michigan Beer Guide, there are currently over 70 Brewpubs and Microbreweries across the state. Of those the following breweries will be represented: Atwater Block, Bell's, Frog Island, Jolly Pumpkin, Leelanua Brewing Co, Michigan Brewing Company, New Holland Brewing & Schmohz. In addition, area distributors will feature Arcadia, King Brewing, Dragonmead, Darkhorse, Kuhnhenn BC, Motor City Brewing, & possibly Founders, Traverse Brewing, Short's out of Bellaire and Keweenaw from the U.P.

Advanced Tickets are available at the Curwood Festival Office located in front of the Matthews Building at the corner of Water Street and M-21 in downtown Owosso or at McNeil Street Market, 444 East McNeil Street in Corunna. Telephone orders can be made by calling Espich @ 989 725-6395 or the festival at 989 723-2161. Internet information can be obtained @ http://www.curwoodfestival.com/events.htm.

Partnership opportunities for this event and several others still exist; contact Espich or the festival for additional information. For directions to the event, go to www.curwoodfestival.com or contact Michael Espich at 989-729-6176 days or at 989-725-6395 evenings.
Event speaker Rex Halfpenny, a BJCP Certified Beer Judge since 1997 and home brewer since 1992, is widely known in Michigan as the publisher of the Michigan Beer Guide. In the past ten years of publication he has actively participated in and recorded the evolution of the Michigan craft brewing industry. Through his efforts came the formation of the Michigan Brewers Guild and the statutory recognition of home brewing in Michigan. He is a certified beer judge and travels around the country evaluating beer by invitation. Mr. Halfpenny's articles have appeared in most of the country's beer industry periodicals and he can be heard speaking on the subject of beer every week at local venues. For more information go to http://michiganbeerguide.com/ and for information about the MBG try http://www.michiganbrewersguild.org/ .

Dog & Cat Contests
Saturday, June 7th

Fees for contests are $8 to enter a cat or dog, and only $5 if participant can prove that they are currently involved in 4-H.
All participants of the contests MUST be current on vaccinations as per state law. All dog participants MUST be wearing their dog license as per state & local laws.
Dog and Cat food items left over will be donated to local animal shelters and rescue groups. Items can also be dropped off by residents for donations as well.
For more information about donating, volunteering, or participating, please contact Cindy Livingston at micbrs@charter.net or 989-723-1698.

Complete news article @
http://www.argus-press.com/articles/2008/06/09/news/news5.txt

Best Novice:
Liz Tomac & Jade, Stockbridge MI

Crowd Pleaser:
Deneane Hart & Ares of Southfield MI

Distance.Accuracy:
1st - Jeremy Drobeck & Chinook, Kalamazoo MI
2nd - Apryl Veener & EZ Ryder, Cedar Springs, MI
3rd - Abby Cline & Petey, Cedar Springs, MI

Freestyle:
1st - Scott Jones & Bolareo, North Branch, MI
2nd - Jason Stevens & Merlin, Saginaw, MI
3rd - Jeremy Drobeck & Chinook, K-Zoo MI

Overall Winner of the coveted Elite/Curwood AWI Trophy:
- Scott Jones & Bolareo, North Branch, MI

2008 K-9 disc Competitions sponsored by ELITE Pet Styling of Owosso, Saturday, June 7, 2008 @ 9:30 Registration @ 8:30 OMS Athletic Field, 219 North Water Street , Owosso, MI 48867 Contact Michael H. Espich @ 989-725-6395 or espichgoblue@aol.com for more info.

Open to both experienced and novice teams.

Each team can only compete once together. Each human can compete a max of twice and each dog can compete only twice as well.

For more detailed information please go to http://skyhoundz.com/localschedule.html

This year our contest is being sponsored solely by ELITE Pet Styling of Owosso and at her request there will be NO ENTRY FEE.

Format:
Distance & Accuracy; two rounds-60 seconds each. Plaques for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. see http://www.skyhoundz.com/distanceaccuracy.html for rules or www.skyhoundz.com for more general info.

Freestyle follows;1 round-90 second showcase per team; plaques for 1st, 2nd & 3rd. Individuals and pairs freestyle will be competing for the same plaques.

Overall Grand Trophy for top point total, as well as awards for best novice and our famous Crowd Pleaser Award.

Kevin Kregger Child Advocacy Center $35,739.87
Terry Ott Shiawassee Council on Aging $28,177.66
Jeff Smithingell Pleasant View Resident Council $12,076.81
Tim Thompson Habitat for Humanity $11,896.49
Eric Robbins MS Society of MI $1,526.23

Total Amount Raised: $89,417.06

2008 Mr. Owosso Kick-Off
Friday, May 9th at 7:00 p.m.
The Hot Spot - Capitol Bowl
The 2008 Mr. Owosso contestants will not be announced until the official kick-off.

The contestants are hosting events between May 9th and June 7th to try and raise the most amount of money for their organization.

2008 Mr. Owosso Coronation
Saturday, June 7th at 6:00 p.m.
Outpost Entertainment Tent

2008 Mr. Owosso Contestants
Eric Robbins - MS Society of MI
Jeff Smithingell - Pleasant View Resident Council
Kevin Kregger - Child Advocacy Center
Terry Ott - Shiawassee Council on Aging
Tim Thompson - Habitat for Humanity

2008 Mr. Owosso Kick-Off Winner -- Answering the most questions correctly in the Curwood Festival Mr. Owosso Kick-off game show 'Are You Smarter Than a School Teacher' was Jeff Smithingell, representing the Shiawassee County Medical Care Facility (Pleasant View Resident Council). Smithingell received a $100 donation toward his campaign from The Home Office Realty for the win. Smithingell (left) is shown with fellow Mr. Owosso hopefuls (left-right) Terry Ott (Shiawassee Council on Aging), Eric Robbins (MS Society of MI), Tim Thompson (Habitat for Humanity) and Kevin Kregger (Child Advocacy Center).


(Independent photo/Jackie Leone)

Children’s Events for 2008 will be on the front lawn of the Owosso Middle School, 200 block of N. Water, downtown Owosso, noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 8th.

There will be a free t-shirt for the first 50 participants, and there will be games and prizes for all! This is designed for children ages 11 to 12 years of age and younger.

For questions or persons wishing to volunteer, please contact the Curwood Festival Office at 989-723-2161.