Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >> Mark Mulligan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Dakota Beck, 17, of Moses Lake hangs on during a bull ride Sunday at the Pro West Rodeo. Mark Mulligan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Jessica Williams (center), 14, of Arlington screams on a ride at the Evergreen State Fair on Sunday afternoon. "You think it's done, but it just keeps going," said Williams as she recounted her ride on the Super Shot Drop Tower.  Photo Gallery: The Evergreen State Fair   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, September 1, 2008 Fair's been quite a ride By Katya Yefimova Herald Writer MONROE -- It was a long walk to the fairgrounds, but little Victor Rodriguez didn't care. He was sitting on his father's shoulders Sunday afternoon, and all he cared about was getting to the rides. Victor Rodriguez Sr. of Lake Stevens carried his 3-year-old son on his shoulders as he was walking with his family to the Evergreen State Fair. Along with many other fairgoers, Rodriguez's family had to park by Lake Tye Park because the fairgrounds parking lots were full. Rodriguez said he came out for a day at the fair to spend time with his family, so the traffic and trouble with parking didn't matter that much. What mattered was that they were going to eat, laugh and relax, and that little Victor was going to have fun. Rodriguez and his family were no exception Sunday afternoon as thousands of people flooded the fairgrounds on the day before the end of the fair. Many came to take one last look at the animals, to see the last shows and to ride their favorite rides for the last time. Teresa Atkeson of Bellevue and her father, Russ O'Dell of Kirkland, came to the fair to strengthen their bond. "If we spend the day together and there are no distractions, we are ready to kill each other in two hours," O'Dell said with a laugh. He said getting through the traffic took a long time but it was worth it. "We knew it would be fun no matter what." Atkeson said she hadn't been to the fair in many years and it was good to be back, enjoying the food and her dad's company. Sherill Aumiller of Bothell and her mother, Rita Aumiller of Mount Vernon, said they have been going to the fair together for several years. Rita Aumiller said the fair is a great place to buy Christmas gifts, clothes and lots of other things. "We have already taken two bags of stuff that we bought to the car. Our feet are getting tired," she said. Even so, Sherill Aumiller said the crowds and the long lines in front of all the attractions have not been too exhausting. "It's the fair. It's all just part of it. Just go with the flow," she said. The Aumillers said the shows and exhibits are always different, but the best part of the fair is always the same -- being together and sharing the experience with the people you love.

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