Monarch is proud to sponsor the concerts in the park in downtown Coldwater in the month of July.  This past Tuesday, the talent was introduced by Monarch’s new president, Rick DeVries.  Thanks to everyone who attended and who also supports our downtown!  Over 40o people were in attendance.

"Ms. Piggy" Peggy Day of Monarch came home from the Reuben Eating Contest Fundraiser with "Best Schtick" Trophy!

Taken from Battle Creek Enquirer:

Over 20 men and women competing in 5th Annual Pastrami Joe’s Reuben Eating World Championship Saturday also raised $13,880.67 for Fountain Clinic, a Marshall organization meant to help people with little or no medical insurance.

“Really, all these people are here raising funds for the Fountain Clinic,” Pastrami Joe’s owner Mike Caron said. “People have been raising money for the last six or eight weeks. The eating part is secondary.”

There was also a children’s competition pitting kids against one another in a race to finish building a pastrami masterpiece while running an obstacle course. Caron said activities like that help teach children about philanthropy.

Caron said last year’s face-stuffing event raised just under $7,000. Jars placed in the restaurant, as well as various locations around town, allowed people to donate to the local celebrity eater of their choice.

Kathy Miller, a Marshall city councilwoman, raised the most money, netting the free clinic $3,485.84.

“I have a great amount of people that care about the Fountain Clinic,” she said moments after tearing through as much of a Reuben sandwich as she could in five minutes.

She said the clinic doesn’t take any government funds and is dependent on donations.

“A member of our family was helped by the clinic,” Miller said, “and he’s probably around today because of the help they gave him.”

This was the first year the Reuben competition did not have a category for professional eaters, freeing up money that can go directly to the Fountain Clinic, Caron said.

That meant the celebrity eaters had to pick up the slack. One of them, Kathleen Oerther of Oerther’s Feed and Grain, came dressed as a queen, complete with handmaidens to help her through her royal pastrami stuffing.

She said her customers helped make the costume and decide on the theme; awards were given after the contest in various categories, such as best costume and best place setting.

As the announcer told the contestants to start, they began to devour the pastrami and sauerkraut stacks. Competitors like Marshall Mayor Bruce Smith, Congressman Mark Schauer, the Enquirer’s Bob Warner, Marshall High School Principal Dan Luciani and more gulped down the food, stopping only to soften things up with a quick swig of water.

Michigan State Trooper J.K. Haehnle of the Coldwater post won, with three sandwiches eaten in five minutes.

Caron said the previous record was 2 1/4 sandwiches.

Check out these great pictures of kids in the community who had a great time at Monarch Community Bank’s Kid’s Day on Saturday!  Thanks to everyone who came out to make donations to the Girl Scouts and the Branch County Humane Society.  What a wonderful community we live in!

CBPU brought the Hazard Hamlet display to show kids the danger of electricity.

Head Start/Early Start was on hand to provide information about their programs

CBPU brought a bucket truck to the event for arial views of Coldwater

Firefighter Barle shows kids the inside of a fire truck

Deb Argast did a fantastic job painting kids faces

Thanks to Jim Hurley from the Michigan State Police for doing child fingerprinting at the event

Kids loved the cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn!

The hit of the party was the animals that the Branch County Humane Society brought to adopt.

All Monarch Community Bank locations will be closed on Monday, May 31, 2010.  We will be open on Saturday and Tuesday with normal hours.  Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!