ROZEL — A water slide on a hot summer day seems like a great idea.
Throw a protected interior slide into the mix and youngsters agreed the water slide sponsored by the Rozel Lions Club was a big hit.
Larry Milch, a Lions Club member, said a member from the Rozel Pride Committee asked the Lions Club whether they’d be interested in sponsoring an event for the first-ever Rozel Celebration, which plans on staging an annual summer celebration.
Milch said he had a good experience booking Inflate-O-Fun Inc., an inflatable and entertainment company based in Inman for the city’s annual Christmas celebration. Inflate-O-Fun featuring a wide variety of inflatables, including bouncers, all-in-ones, obstacle courses, riders, our incredible fun cities.
“I was looking what inflatables the company had and it looked like ordering a water slide was a good idea for a hot day,” Milch said. “The kids have loved it. They’ve been running through it all day long. I think the kids and their parents think it’s a great idea.”
The water slide took about 30 minutes to set up and gave the youngsters protection against the direct sun with an indoor slide complete with a water drip mechanism. Outside of adjusting a slide out of place, club members said it was a fun and entertaining option for the youngsters. Younger children rode a motorized mini train. Other children’s games were available at a nearby park.  
Milch had plenty of help from his fellow Lions Club members David Schartz, Robert Hammke, Jerry Knauf and Michael Knauf.
The pace was much slower at the Rozel Community Center, where several vendors sold collectibles. No one was having more fun than the five members of the Great Bend Woodcarvers Club, where patience was the motto of the day.
Club members Kenneth Holinde, Barry Bowers, Don Kazmaier, Kenneth McHenry and Robert Button displayed their work. They each crafted their individual projects during the day, showing amazing dexterity and patience to fashion their work.
Button has displayed Navajo chief blankets and wood carvings of Native Americans. He has regularly displayed his work at the Great Bend Historical Society. Button specializes in birds and Native American woodwork. He carries several dozen cutting instruments and can take anywhere from 30 hours to more than 100 hours of precision handwork to finish an item.
Rozel’s Celebration was scheduled to wind down with a concert by the Jacob Martin Band after an early evening barbecue dinner. Sunday starts with donuts at North City Park at 8:30 a.m. and a preacher on horseback featuring Scott Stinemetz of Caring Hearts Ministry at 9 a.m. for a community church service.