TMP homecoming bonfire is a father/son tradition (VIDEO)

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It’s long been a tradition at TMP-Marian High School for fathers of senior class students to build the homecoming bonfire, usually with help from their sons.

Dean Haselhorst worked with his son Kolby and several other parents and their sons to gather and stack approximately 500 wood pallets donated by various Hays businesses.

“We had a lot of good help from a lot of good people the past three days. It’s always fun,” Haselhorst said.

Dean Haselhorst tosses farm diesel fuel on 500 stacked pallets.

Haselhorst was in charge of fueling the bonfire shortly before dusk Thursday night.

Under the watchful eyes of several Hays Fire Department firefighters, Haselhorst filled a bucket several times with farm diesel and tossed the fuel on the stack in the open field southeast of the school.

Kevin Gottschalk, father of Kaylor, who is a homecoming queen candidate, was in charge of building the outhouse on top of the stacked pallets.

“It’s a tradition, I’m not sure why, to have an outhouse on the very top of the bonfire,” Gottschalk said with a smile. “We built something that kind of looks like an outhouse, and the kids painted it.”

TMP-M sophomore ??? takes a whack at the "Plainville opponent." ??? is the tight end for the Monarchs. — TMP sophomore Thomas Cole takes a whack at the “Plainville Opponent.” Cole is a tight end and linebacker for the Monarchs.

Following a car-bash fundraiser sponsored by STUCO and the blessing of fall sports and activities, a large crowd gathered at a safe distance from the bonfire as it was lit by a Hays firefighter.

The TMP 2014 homecoming pep rally was underway.

TMP-M cheerleaders rally the crowd — TMP cheerleaders rally the crowd in the light of Thursday’s homecoming bonfire.

Activities continue through Saturday.