14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 3, 2015
Polk County News
Falls City big top circus delights crowds
“I love the circus,” she
said.
Miya wasn’t Leo’s only vic-
FALLS CITY — Miya Alter- tim — ehh, volunteer.
matt, 9, was surprised when
Dallas resident Jessie
Leo the circus clown picked Markeo also was picked
her from the crowd.
from the crowd to keep the
“He wasn’t looking at me,” fun going as the circus crew
she said.
set up the final act, the im-
Miya, who lives in Dallas, pressive “Wheel of Destiny.”
was selected to help enter-
This time, he was sup-
tain the crowd in Falls City posed to be the model for
during Wednesday’s first Leo’s venture into portrai-
show of the Culpepper & ture. Yes, there were a few
Merriweather Circus.
e m b a r ra s s i n g c o s t u m e
She more than held her changes involved.
own with the practiced pro-
Markeo took the ribbing
fessional, who dressed her from the crowd — he has
up in a costume, had her family in Falls City — in
p e r f o r m g o o f y s t u n t s stride.
around the
“ I ’ m
circus ring,
happy to
“Bringing the circus
and falsely
play al-
here is fun. It’s good
accused
ong,” Ma-
her
of
rkeo said.
for our community.
shooting
“I just fig-
Some of our kids
air darts
ured
I
wouldn’t be able to
into his
would do it
backside.
with family
see it otherwise.”
L e o ’s
here. It was
—Amy Houghtaling
lucky Miya
really fun.
has a sense
The clown
of humor — the latter gag was really nice.”
was her favorite part of her
Wednesday’s two shows
time in front of the crowd.
were a fundraiser for the
“It was funny,” she said Falls City Parents Group and
grinning.
Falls City Arts Council. Amy
Being selected to be in the Houghtaling, with the par-
act made Miya’s first circus ents group, said ticket sales
all the better. In addition to were on par with when
being a star for a few mo- Culpepper & Merriweather
ments, she was able to ride a came to town two years ago.
pony for the first time in the
Houghtaling said it isn’t
circus’ midway. The trip was just the shows and fundrais-
supposed to be kept secret ing that makes putting on
from Miya and her younger the circus worth it. She said
sister, but the clever 9-year- Culpepper & Merriweather
old knew exactly where they gave away a number of chil-
were going.
dren’s tickets for free.
“It was supposed to be a
“Bringing the circus here
surprise, but I guessed it,” is fun,” she said. “It’s good
she said.
for our community. Some of
Spoiling the surprise didn’t our kids wouldn’t be able to
dampen the experience.
see it otherwise.”
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
The finale act Wheel of Destiny has two brave and skilled performers flying almost to the top of the circus tent in —
or outside in one case — two adjoined rings. The louder the crowd cheered the faster the rings flew.
Jonathan Morales rides a
unicycle on a tightrope.
PHOTOS BY JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Leo the circus clown performs during a break with volunteer helper Miya Altermatt.
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