PHOTO BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

It was a battle for the ages. A competition like no other. Ali vs Foreman, Tyson vs Holyfield, Billie Jean King vs Bobby Riggs, Spartacus vs Rome, all of these have been turned to dust and reduced to ashes in comparison to the town vs town, mayor vs. mayor event that will be shouted about in history classes and whispered about from generation to generation, the phenomenon forever known as Brian vs. Brian.

Chosen champion of Toledo, Mayor Brian Sokol, was up first in the dunk tank. The young competitor ascended to his perch and sat casually with his feet nearly touching the water, his armor a t-shirt and a pair of Hawaiian trunks. A line quickly started to form, and within moments it had begun.

After a soggy Sokol slunk out of the tank, it was time for the second gladiator, Tama’s chosen champion, Mayor Brian Hanus. If Hanus was nervous, you couldn’t tell. While Sokol had changed into trunks in preparation for the event, Hanus went a different route in his armor. The Tama Mayor whipped off his hat and glasses, then proceeded forward in a ‘let’s do this’ manner, as he wore his jeans, belt, shoes, and socks in the dunk tank. As he barely got situated on the seat, the first ball came catapulting towards its target and brought the mayor down into the depths of the water.

Whether it was to work off a little pent-up acrimony over a pothole or because it was for a good cause or just for fun, citizens of all ages came to try and dunk the mayors. Toddlers and grade school children, mothers and family members, even Brian was dunking Brian. After every splash down that resulted in water cascading onto the cement floor of the firehouse next to a caution slippery when wet sign, the mayors would wipe their wet eyes, then, like Sisyphus with the boulder, they’d reset their seat and ascend again.

The clash between local leaders driven by pride and years of community rivalry, also generated a fair amount of capital. Brain Hanus raised $182 compared to Brian Sokol’s $1,245. In a triumphant and dominant victory, not only for Toledo but anyone who travels outside, the rivalry felt far from over.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

Rumor has it a rematch between the Brians may happen at the annual Toledo Stoplight Festival in July.

The carnival and other activities started on Thursday evening. On Friday, due to inclement weather, some activities were halted, such as the scheduled participants of the EMS dunk tank. Although Saturday started overcast with a cool, cutting breeze, a legion of citizens showed up for the early morning parade. Children caught thrown candy, adults waved at friends and family, and a giant bucket of popcorn swerved through the street.

The Tama Police Department had a demonstration of K9 Officer Creed’s skills to a large group of onlookers. Officer Creed started by finding drugs planted on a city pickup truck, before demonstrating his biting skills on Officer and AEMT Chris Harris by pulling him out of the truck by his arm. Also taking a turn at wearing the padded sleeve and getting on the business end of Officer Creed was Sheriff Casey Schmidt and a deputy. During another demonstration, three people were given items to get their scent on before throwing them on the Civic Center lawn. Officer Creed sniffed around and found the items with ease. In the one demonstration that didn’t involve Officer Creed, a young man volunteered to get tased. Tama Police Chief Jason Bina and Officer Harris held him so he wouldn’t fall, as Officer Ayala-Pagan tased the young man in the back.

Inside the Civic Center, the STC Art Club painted faces, and Barb Jacobs drew caricatures. In the fire station little dancers with Gail’s Academy of Dance put on a show, and Katie and the Honky Tonks rocked the house.

Although the weather wasn’t pristine every moment of the festival, the spirit of the event still ran rampant through everyone who attended. From the parade to the epic Brian vs. Brian showdown, this year’s festival was one for the books.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS AND JONATHAN MEYER