September 27, 2003
Plains- Peanut lovers big and small spent their day in Plains enjoying typical festival fun, but peanuts weren't the only thing on everyone's mind.
Nine year old Colby LaDuke says his favorite part was the basketball game, but for parents it was the learning experience they appreciated.
"He's able to be near by something that he sees and reads in his school books and it's something he can see up close and personal," explains Kristi Sizemore.
Brian Knippers traveled all the way from New Hampshire to be at the event. He and hundreds of others stood in line for hours just to have President Jimmy Carter and his wife Roselyn sign their books.
"He went on to aspire to much larger things but he never forgot the people who made him what he was and all the great things he did that made him who he is today," says Knippers.
Members of the Red Hat Society all the way from Florida hope the former first lady will never forget the honorary membership they gave to her.
"Mrs. Carter to me is a role model for American women and it's going to be a highlight of my life and I think I can speak for the whole group of their life to be able to give a previous first lady a hat," says Queen Mother Lynn Mawhinney.
The thrill of being in Carter's hometown is something the City of Plains is hoping will keep the peanut festival alive.
The festival will re-open Sunday at 10 AM. President Carter and the US Secret Service will also play a softball game against Plains High School alumni beginning at 4 PM.
Posted at 6:10 PM by elaine.armstrong@walb.com
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
