NEWS

Corey Rismiller, 2016 Tipp City Mum Festival president, said his planning committee has put together a quality event. He’s hoping area residents on hand for this weekend’s 58th festival enjoy the ride.

A Tipp City police officer and an avid motorcycle rider, Rismiller selected “Revving Up the Mums” as this year’s festival theme. His girlfriend’s son suggested the theme.

He said he’s had a motorcycle since his early years of driving.

“We are avid motorcycle riders. We ride all of the time,” he said of himself, his girlfriend and friends. “We put thousands of miles on the bikes every year. We just enjoy getting out in the air. It is a good stress release.”

Rismiller’s involvement in the festival began with the motorcycle ride, which this year is in its 10th year. He and Jay Taylor, a festival trustee, took over the event in its second year and have led it since.

The ride initially was on Mum Festival Sunday, but was moved up a few weeks a couple of years ago to provide alternate ride dates in case of rain.

This year’s ride was held Sept. 11. It was in memory of Tom and Del Krug, riding friends who were killed in a motorcycle accident in July in Preble County.

The ride proceeds go to Needy Basket.

When he was asked to serve as the festival president, Rismiller said he was happy to give back to the community where he has served as a police officer for nearly 15 years. During that time, Rismiller was seriously injured when hit by a vehicle while at an accident scene on Interstate 75.

While recovering in 2006, Rismiller said he received tons of cards and other support from the community, including local students. “I got more involved in the community after my accident,” he said. “They were there for me so I will do what I can to help them out.”

The Saturday morning Mum Festival parade will feature more than 50 organizations along with over 85 vehicles, floats and other forms of transport.

Among units will be a restored 1936 Meijer delivery stake bed truck and a new semi to illustrate the present and past.

A couple of restored military vehicles also are scheduled for the parade including a World War II-era Dodge command car carrying EMS Chief Jeff Calicoat, the parade’s grand marshal. Jeeps from WWII and the Vietnam eras also are expected.

At City Park, visitors will find an array of arts and crafts and merchant booths and a variety of food. Among food offerings will be walking tacos, Cajun, Chinese, ice cream, grilled pork chops, subs, pulled pork, roasted nuts, Boy Scout cobbler and the firemen’s waffles.

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