June 30, 2025
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Town & Country Days make a splash on Saturday

By Earleen Hinton

Kylee Diaz, 12, of Polo sprays water on a plastic ball during the kids' water fights during Town & Country Days on June 18. Kylee's dad, Brendan King, is a Polo firefighter and Kylee was helping register kids for the event. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

POLO — The weather was perfect and the water was very wet at the Polo Fire Department’s Water Fights held Saturday during Town & Country Days.

First, kids stepped up to the temporary tank in front of the fire station and tried to push a big plastic ball across the water before their opponents did.

Kylee Diaz, 12, of Polo, didn’t let a broken left wrist stop her from competing.

“I had to just use my right hand, but it was fun,” she said. Kylee and her sister Leeann, 14, were helping run the kids’ event because their dad, Brandon King, is a Polo firefighter.

Trent Jordan, 10, of Chadwick, sprays water on a plastic ball during the kids' water fights during Polo's Town & Country Days on June 18, 2022. Trent's dad, Health, is a firefighter for Chadwick and was competing in the Polo Fire Department's Water Fights later that day.

Trent Jordan, 10, of Chadwick, sprays water on a plastic ball during the kids' water fights during Polo's Town & Country Days on June 18, 2022. Trent's dad, Health, is a firefighter for Chadwick and was competing in the Polo Fire Department's Water Fights later that day. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Trent Jordan, 10, of Milledgeville, also had a dad in the hunt.

“My dad’s a firefighter, so I thought I’d try this too,” said Trent.

After the kids’ event ended, Trent’s dad, Heath, stepped up with the Chadwick crew to try and best teams from Polo and Hooppole.

Trent watched from the shade along the sidelines with his family as his dad’s team held on in one of the matches to win.

When asked if he had any pointers for his dad, Trent said, “No, he did OK.”

The water fights were just two of the events held Saturday at the festival. Events on Sunday include a grand parade and carnival.

Polo firefighters Dana Sellers, Kyle Terhark, and Denise Clothier battle another team during the Polo Fire Department's Water fights during Town & Country Days on June 17. Crews from three departments took part in the competition which also helps firefighters hone their skills. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Polo firefighter Dakota Meyer stands in a spray of water as his crew competes during the Polo Fire Department's Water fights during Town & Country Days on June 17. Crews from three departments took part in the competition which also helps firefighters hone their skills. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Franklin Grove firefighters David Atkinson Jr., Joe Uphoff, and Mike Brauhn battle another team during the Polo Fire Department's Water fights during Town & Country Days on June 17. Crews from three departments took part in the competition which also helps firefighters hone their skills. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Kaden Mon, 10, and Dominic Escobar, 9. of Polo battle it out in the kids' water fights on the street in front of the Polo Fire Department during Town & Country Days on June 18. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Chadwick firefighter Heath Jordan takes the lead on the fire hose as his team battles another during the Polo Fire Department's Water fights during Town & Country Days on June 17. Crews from three departments took part in the competition which also helps firefighters hone their skills. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Leeann Diaz, 15, of Polo takes a break to cool off ftr heling at the kids' water fights during Town & Country Days on June 18. Kylee's dad, Brendan King, is a Polo firefighter and Leeann and her sister, Kylee, were helping with the event at the Polo Fire Station. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Earleen Hinton

Earleen Hinton

Earleen creates content and oversees production of 8 community weeklies. She has worked for Shaw Newspapers since 1985.