Sue Sitter/PCT Chuck Chaffee, of St. Therese Little Flower Parish in Rugby, cooks some of the 2,600 cobs of corn served at the annual Little Flower Parish Corn Feed.

The sleepy Pierce County town of Balta came alive last Sunday as residents and visitors enjoyed some August traditions: a demolition derby and plenty of corn on the cob.

Jay’s Automotive Services and St. Therese Little Flower parish in Rugby celebrated two annual events for the first Sunday of August once again, and as in past years, met with success.

Jay Loughman, owner of Jay’s Automotive told the Tribune a “good sized crowd” gathered at a track near the Balta Dam for Sunday afternoon’s demolition derby.

“There were two classes of events (at the derby),” Loughman said. “We had big cars, and ‘Herbie’ cars.” Loughman counted 17 larger cars and 11 “Herbie” cars in the competition.

The “Herbie” cars are small cars nicknamed after Herbie, a Volkswagen Beetle featured in the Disney movie “The Love Bug.”

Kyle Arends of Bottineau won the top prize in the larger car class. The “Herbie” class was divided into two competitions, with Alex Hoffart, Rugby, winning the first and Rylie Wangler winning the second.

A corn feed sponsored by Little Flower Catholic Parish near the kitchen facilities followed.

Parish member Karl Koehmstedt, who helped organize and supply the event, said the church purchased 2600 cobs of corn and “49 cases of hot dogs” for the event. “I don’t know how many (hot dogs) are in a case, though,” he added.

“We bought (food items and supplies) at the Rugby Leever’s,” Koehmstedt noted. “Little Flower Parish supports local businesses.”

The early August fun will continue for Balta when the Balta Bar holds a street dance tonight at 9:00 p.m.