After a trying year in 2007 and again in 2008, the village of Chaseburg is hoping to kick off 2009 with a new outlook and large turnout for the community’s 39th annual Trail Days festivities on Jan. 17 and 18, 2009. Flash flooding in August 2007 wiped out a large portion of Lower Chaseburg, forced families to relocate and left businesses closed. Just when residents of this close-knit community were ready to cut Mother Nature some slack, this unpredictable dame devastated the community, county and state with a second round of flash floods.

The 2009 event kicked off on Jan. 10 with the crowning of new royalty at the annual Chaseburg Trail Days Queen’s Banquet. Carley Peters and MacKenzie Hermeier will represent the community of Chaseburg at area festivals throughout the year. The new royalty replaced outgoing Queen Emily Manske and her attendant Yvonne Nelson.

This year six young ladies competed for the opportunity to become the 2009 Chaseburg Trail Days royalty. Contestants included: Erica Berra (DeSoto High School) the daughter of Ed Berra and Jeni Proksch; Katie Bluske (Westby freshman) the daughter of Ken and Kay Bluske; Taylor Buckmaster (Westby junior) the daughter of Brian and Rhonda Buckmaster; MacKenzie Hermeier (Westby freshman) daughter of Brian and Nicki Whisler-Dayton and Glenn and Michelle Hermeier; Karina Joholski (Westby sophomore) daughter of Cary and Lynn Joholski and Carley Peters (Westby sophomore) daughter of Rory and Carmen Peters.

Festivities kick off on Saturday, Jan. 17 with a hearty breakfast at the Tippy Toe Inn, a live radio broadcast with Gary Gilbertson, followed by the traditional poker run, which ends at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18(17?), at the Chaseburg Village Hall. The poker run brings people from surrounding communities together as they collect stamps from assigned stopping points. This year’s poker run participants will stop in Chaseburg, Coon Valley, Genoa, Stoddard and Romance. Poker run participants must collect as many stamps as they can and return to the village hall before 6 p.m. in order to qualify for the grand prize drawing.

Following the poker run live music will be provided by “Stoney Ridge” at 7:30 p.m.

The first clue for the second annual medallion hunt was announced at the annual princess banquet on Saturday, Jan. 10. The medallion, which is a small replica of a snowmobile is hidden somewhere in the village limits. Additional clues will be posted on time increments on the Chaseburg Village Hall main doors beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17 if the medallion hasn’t already been found. The winner of the hunt will collect $50 and be announced on Sunday after the parade.

The “Best Ever” charcoal chicken dinner showcases Sunday events beginning at 11 a.m. at the Chaseburg Village Hall. The Princess Royalty Tea begins at 11:30 a.m. at Tippy Toe Inn and at 1:30 p.m. spectators begin lining the road to watch parade entries make their way up State Highway 162, from lower to upper Chaseburg.

Festival winners will be announced at the Chaseburg Village Hall after the parade. Spectators are invited to stop by, watch football play-off games in the lower level of the building and help bring an end to Chaseburg Trail Days 2009.