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THE TELEGRAPH (Macon, Georgia) 05 July 08 Turtle racing part of Fourth of July tradition (Becky Purser)
Wrightsville: As long as Wrightsville has had a Fourth of July celebration, turtle racing has been a part it, reckons native Ron Blaxton.
"It's a tradition here during the Fourth of July holiday," said Blaxton, the "master of turtles" for Friday's races.
About 1,500 people, Blaxton estimated, flooded the grounds of the historic courthouse in the Wrightsville public square for the turtle-racing event.
But first, the turtles were judged for beauty.
Part of the tradition includes painting the box and snapping turtles.
First prize in the small turtle division, for example, was claimed by the turtle that was painted to look like the American flag. Second place went to another one painted pink. A turtle that was painted to resemble a child's view of Desert Storm took third place.
Pearson Lee, an 11-year-old rising sixth-grader, said the turtle saved from the side of the road was painted like Desert Storm in honor of U.S. soldiers because it had been injured.
Once the turtle named Desert Storm, which has a mouth injury, fully recovers, it will be given its freedom, said Erica Williams of Dublin.
In all, she and her family and friends entered four turtlesin the races. She said she has participated in the races for the past 10 years.
The turtles are plucked from the side of the road a couple of days before the contest and returned to the wild afterward, she said.
Lisa and Chris Troup, with their children Allison, 8, and Michelle, 12, traveled from their home in Greenville, S.C., to be a part of this year's 32nd annual Fourth of July Celebration which also commemorated Johnson County's 150th birthday celebration.
"This is home," said Lisa Troup. She and her husband are natives of Wrightsville. "We come home every Fourth."
Their girls entered "The Johnson County Pride," a huge turtle, in the event.
The turtle was scooped up from a pond the night before by the girls' grandfather and will be put back there after the paint is washed off, Troup said.
The turtle didn't place but made a good run for it in the large turtle division. The first- and second-place winners were separated only by the longest outstretched neck as the two turtles scurried across the finishing line side by side.
The turtles are corralled in a silver ring that's lifted at the start of the race. The silver ring is in the center of a large white circle painted on the lawn. The winner will cross a line of the circle first. First-, second- and third-prize ribbons are awarded.
But there was one turtle that refused to participate. Painted like a John Deere tractor, the turtle withdrew inside its shell where it remained throughout the race.
In addition to turtle racing, Friday's Independence Day celebration included a beard contest, a potato sack race, a pet show and other events including a parade. The event also featured arts and crafts, children's rides and plenty of food.
http://www.macon.com/198/story/396817.html
Turtle racing part of Fourth of July tradition

DAILY TRIBUNE (Mount Pleasant, Texas) 05 July 08 Annual turtle races draws 95 entrants (Ashley Tompkins)
Much like Indiana Jones himself, Tai Lung faced off against his competitors and the circle of speed on Friday, coming out victorious in this year's Tribune turtle races.
His reward? Seeing his owner, eight-year-old Rex Grissom named top winner after besting 94 other contenders.
Grissom, 8, was excited about his win, especially since it was only his second year to race.
"I'm just guessing I won because the turtle was really fast, that's why. This is my first win. Last year I was really bad," Grissom admitted.
He said Tai Lung, named after the turtle featured in this summer's "Kung Fu Panda" movie, is a hard worker and is now going to enjoy a little time off.
As for the turtle's future, Grissom plans on keeping him forever.
"I might bring him back next year, since he won and all," he added.
Second place went to McKinna Wooten, 4, who donated her red, white and blue clad turtle after the races to a woman who is organizing turtle races later this month in Mount Vernon.
Both Wooten and third place winner Hannah McGee, 5, were excited about their prize money, each holding tight to their winner envelopes.
"I'm going to buy everything that I want," exclaimed McGee, who walked away with $10. She was still undecided about sharing her prize money with her younger brother when the family left the races.
McGee said she planned to keep her turtle "forever and ever and never sell it."
In all, 95 kids, each armed with a turtle n some babies, some pushing the two-pound weight limit n swarmed around Mount Pleasant's VFW Hall on Friday, eager for their chance at the crown.
Tribune Publisher Bob Palmer said he was impressed with Friday's crowd, especially given this Independence Day holiday is part of a three-day weekend.
"It was a lot of fun. We had great participation," Palmer said.
The races, which began in 1976, were held in conjunction with the VFW's annual Fourth of July ceremonies.
"We really appreciate the VFW and we're glad we could be part of the flag retirement ceremony, which I found very moving," Palmer added.
This year's turtles featured rhinestones, red, white and blue paint, army men strapped to their shells, shiny toys, and even some glitter.
Titus County sheriff-elect Tim Ingram served as judge of the most patriotic contest and bestowed the crown on five-year-old Faith Logan, who with her mom got up early Friday morning to decorate her turtle with a glittered red, white and blue flag.
"It was my idea," she proudly boasted. "I picked glitter because it was sparkly and I knew it would sparkle in the sun."
Logan may have been a newcomer at Friday's races, but as her mother Marilyn pointed out, her turtle is a veteran in life.
"He's been injured in war. He only has three feet, but he has the heart," Marilyn Logan explained.
Taking this year's theme to heart, Hailie Johnson, 15, equipped her turtle with his very own Indiana Jones doll, complete with had, jacket and whip.
"The doll didn't come like this. We had to put him together this morning," she explained.
Across the racing circle, Ryan-Rose Mendoza was taking advantage of this year's circle of speed theme, arming her small turtle n barely larger than a silver dollar - with his very own Lego blocks race car.
"I wanted a little car. I like race cars. I thought I'd add a flag so it was patriotic. I like NASCAR racing, that's why I wanted a car," Mendoza said. She and her three siblings attended the Tribune races for the first time this holiday weekend, but there was no sibling rivalry.
Those unsuccessful in their bid for this year's title can try their luck again next Fourth of July, said Tribune Marketing Director Amy Hinton.
"Just like Indiana Jones, all good things must come to an end, but we'll return next Fourth of July to start the next sequel, so stay tuned," she said.
Annual turtle races draws 95 entrants