A wet celebration

Area residents celebrated the 100th birthday of Belden’s swimming pool Saturday and Sunday with a wide range of activities for all ages. Mason Dickens (right) takes a slide into the festivities Saturday. The slide and the pool weren’t the only things to provide water fun over the weekend, though. The skies opened up, dropping rain on the events Saturday night. Anthony Caligiuri (below) of Des Moines, Iowa, takes a break from activities at the Belden fire hall to watch the heavy rain outside. He was attending the pool’s 100th birthday celebration with a friend. Belden’s pool is thought to be the oldest continuously operated pool in the state and the third oldest, opening July 23, 1923. Those attending the birthday bash enjoyed cake, live music, free swimming, a car and a tractor show. The planning committee hoped to raise $100,000 for pool upkeep and repairs through freewill donations and raffles during the celebration. An anonymous donor also agreed to match $25,000 raised at the event.