Nola Sizemore
Harlan Daily Enterprise
One of the most favored events of the Pennington Gap Lions Club Lee County (Va.) Fair is the Demolition Derby held every year. This year’s event, on Sept. 1 at approximately 5:30 p.m., will be even more exciting when Harlan County Sheriff Marvin Lipfird and Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons face off on the track.
“It’s a battle for the county line. I’m putting out a big dare for sheriff Lipfird to come over to my jurisdiction,” said Parsons with a laugh. “I’ll be sending sheriff Lipfird packing back across the county line when he comes over to Lee County. This is my fourth year in doing this and Lipfird, as we all know, is inexperienced so it won’t be any problem taking him out of the derby. We’ll find out who’s the better driving sheriff when all the dust clears.”
Lipfird said he is anxious to take part in this year’s Lee County Fair Demolition Derby and accepts the dare from Parsons.
“Sheriff Parsons thinks he’s going to send me packing, well the only packing that’ll be done is when we pack him off the field when he passes out from the fear of me being on the track,” said Lipfird with a big smile. “The only reason he thinks he’s an expert driver is because he’s sat in a car for the past four years, had his picture taken and climbs out so one of his deputies can drive for him. Sheriff Parsons couldn’t run a possum over the county line let alone the Harlan County Sheriff.”
Keith Harless, one of the organizers of the fair, said there will be lots of other locals from Harlan County, Lee County and the surrounding areas competing in the demolition derby. He said if anyone would like to participate in this year’s derby, they may do so by calling Tony Lawson at 276-393-7649 or email at tony@leecountyfair.net. You may also visit their website at www.leecountyfair.net for rules and regulations.
“For the last few years we have enjoyed having our sheriff participate in this event,” said Harless. “A lot of people like to build a car and participate just so they can get a little pay back against the sheriff. It’s all in fun and sportsmanship.”
The Lee County Fair will be Aug. 29 through Sept. 1 at the Leeman Field Park on U.S. 421 in Pennington Gap, Va. Admission to the fair is $5 for adults and $2 for children aged 11 and under on Wednesday and Thursday. Admission for Friday and Saturday will be $10 for adults and $2 for children aged 11 and under. Beginning on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. there will be a beauty pageant for Miss Lee County Fair and a midway carnival by Cole Amusement Shows. There will be unlimited rides, with an arm band, for a cost of $20, which will be available every night for those who attend the fair.
Thursday night, beginning at 5 p.m., will be their gospel night and will feature a fun horse show. Friday night’s entertainment will also begin at 5 p.m. and will feature a roping horse show event and a tractor pull, along with stage entertainment from local groups and Harlan County’s Cumberland River Band. Cooter from the Dukes of Hazard, along with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys will also be on stage to perform on Friday night. Saturday’s fair will begin at 10 a.m. and will feature a horse show and an outdoor boxing event at 3 p.m. The demolition derby will begin at about 5:30 p.m. and will be the fair’s main event.
“The Demolition Derby is probably the most favored event of the fair and always draws a large crowd,” said Harless. “This year’s event, featuring the battle of the sheriffs, will be even more exciting.”
To kick off Fair Week, the Pennington Gap Lions Club will host their annual in-ground pit barbecue, which will be held at Leeman Field Park on Saturday, Aug.25 at 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $10 per plate. There will be live entertainment and games for the kids.
Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com
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