Parking Profits Benefit Local Groups
By Tiffany Watkins

Judy Newton, above, with the Cancer 3-Day Walk volunteered for parking duties at the Ramona Rodeo to raise money for the Walk. Photo courtesy of Sharon Garcia

A dollar goes a long way for many non-profit organizations that will have group members pointing fair guests to their designated parking spot at the 2006 Ramona Country Fair.

"The fair has been giving the parking profits to different organizations in Ramona for 10 years," said Artie Thomsen, Ramona Country Fair parking coordinator and vice president of the Ramona Parks and Recreation Association.

According to Thomsen, RPRA will receive 10 percent of the parking profits and the other

90 percent will be split among the different groups that volunteered with the parking. Thomsen added that many of the parking volunteers at the fair will be parents and students.

Groups participating include, the Ramona Soccer League, Ramona Outdoor Community Center, Ramona High School Track Team, Ramona Ag Boosters, Ramona High School Baseball. He expects to add to the list before the start of the fair.

"This year there will be one little change to the fair parking," Thomsen said.

He said that drivers will still enter the fair by first stopping at the toll on the corner of

Fifth and Aqua Lane and paying $1 for parking.

Cars will then proceed to enter through the girl's softball area and park near the softball field and the carnival area.

When exiting, drivers will make a loop, exiting through the Ramona Outdoor Community Gate and onto Second Street.