Pumpkin patches popping up

As October moves on, it's hard not to think of Halloween and the decorations that come with it, many of which are pumpkin-based.

Gene Peterson got a surprise when he planted pumpkins this year, putting down 12-20 plants and seeds in some manure he got from the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds. Though he spread them out in a small area, they took off to Peterson's amazement.

He chose to put up a sign to let people know they could come and pick the pumpkins. He didn't charge anything, but donations were accepted; he saw about $30 total, compared to the $200 it cost him to prep the growing area.

Peterson said the field, located at 409 South Third, has been worked over pretty good, mainly by kids but also some parents. He noted some were taking up to four to a family, but there were still a few green ones poking out from underneath their leaves and he had some ripe ones set aside.

Children who stopped by got a lesson in how to use cutters to cut their own pumpkins, and Peterson said doing that may have been more fun for them than just going to a store and picking one out.

Aside from providing pumpkins for people, the pumpkins left out have also become something of a treat for deer roaming in the area.

The pumpkin patch in front of the Law Enforcement Center will again be happening this year as well, Oct. 20 and 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The patch is for children age 9 and under. Sheriff Lou Falgoust said the patch began as a campaign event when he was first running for sheriff in 2001, for the term beginning in 2002, and is now in its 17th year.

Falgoust said he decided to continue it because it's a good thing for the children and will have a positive effect on them. Done under the auspice of the Hot Springs County Sheriff's Office, Falgoust said he funds the patch. He goes to Hessenthalers to get as many as he possibly can, then supplements with pumpkins from Riverton. He typically provides 300-600 pumpkins at the patch each year.