The Minonk E.S.D.A is announcing a beard contest for the city's upcoming 150th anniversary celebration on June 11-13. Ron Redenius, coordinator of the event, said that beards can be grown retroactively from January 1, 2004. Those who want to be judged must sign up by March 25.

The beards will be judged on June 12th at Sutton's Park at 7:00 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories.

• Full beard
• Trimmed beard
• Moustache

Buttons are being sold to both beard and nonbeard persons.

• Buttons for Bearded Brothers - $2.00
• Buttons for Clean Shavers - $3.00

Buttons may be purchased at City Hall, MinonkTalk office at Fifth and Walnut, and from Ed Renken. Buttons must be worn on celebration days. Those men caught without wearing a button are at risk for being arrested and thrown in jail. The bail or fine for such offense is $4.00.

Get your buttons early as you may be able to purchase the buttons that mispelled 'sesquicentennial'. These limited edition buttons are sure to become collector's items just like misprinted stamps. The next batch of buttons will be spelled correctly.