Trick-or-treaters compete in costume contest before seeking goodies in downtown Morris

MORRIS – Colder-than-average temperatures didn’t stop the children in Morris from coming out Thursday night in their creative Halloween costumes to compete for prizes at the annual Morris Lions Club Costume Contest.

Costumes are judged on originality, cuteness and on being unique, according to Lion Judy Miller, who noted that even though attendance was down there were some hard decisions for the judges as they chose grand prize winners in each of seven age groups, followed by first-, second- and third-place finishers, as well.

“I came as a zombie because I know a lot about zombies,” Lucas Poett, 10, of Morris said as he stood with his age group to be judged. “Zombies are really cool.”

Other contestants didn’t think the traditional scary costumes would give them the edge they needed. Autumn Litrento, 6, of Minooka showed up with her red yarn hair and a smiling face.

“I’m Raggedy Ann,” she said. “I thought I would win this way.”

Both children were on to something with their costumes. Autumn took second place, coming in behind Parker Barry, who was dressed as a fish aquarium, and Vanna Winchell, who also donned yarn hair as a Cabbage Patch doll. Lucas took second place, edged out by Blake Wallin, who came dressed as a Lego man, and Danielle Britt, who showed off her feathers as a peacock.

“My grandma came up with the costume,” said Danielle, 9, of Sheridan. “It was a good idea. The feathers are my favorite part.”

As the judges made their way through the age group they were assigned to they saw firsthand how much creativity abounds at this time of year.

Jolene Barry carried her 3-year-old son, Jaxon, with fake legs and a fireplace mounted to him he portrayed Elf on the Shelf.

“I was looking around the house to see what we had to make a costume,” Barry said. “I went through the Christmas boxes and thought we could do an Elf on a Shelf. Both of my children love the Elf at Christmas time.”

After the contest concluded, the ghosts, punk rockers, Frankensteins and vampires took to the streets of downtown Morris where retailers waited for them with buckets of candy.

Donna Ramirez of Sweet Tooth in Morris said she looks forward to the downtown trick-or-treating every year.

“They come to my store all year long for candy. This is my way to say thank you and give back to them,” she said from the porch of her store.

Ramirez said it isn’t just the kids who are offered treats at her store.

To help keep warm, she treated parents to a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

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COSTUME WINNERS

Winners of the 2015 Morris Lion’s Club Contest winners are as follows. Names were provided by the Lion’s Club.

0-2 AGE GROUP

• Grand Prize – Emellyn Winchell, Cabbage Patch Doll

• First Place – Kimari Nelson, Popcorn Box

• Second Place – Vail Sandeno, Cow in a Barn

• Third Place – Maleia Poett, Cruella

3-4 AGE GROUP

• Grand Prize – Bristol Sjostrom, Christmas Tree

• First Place – Thomas Krople, Robot

• Second Place – Addillin Stronk, Cupcake

• Third Place – Lilian Hougas, Bag of Potatoes

5-6 AGE GROUP

• Grand Prize – Vanna Winchell, Cabbage Patch Doll

• First Place – Parker Barry, Aquarium

• Second Place – Autumn Litrento, Raggedy Ann

• Third Place – Easton Kempiak, Spider Buddy

7-8 AGE GROUP

• Grand Prize – Destiny Thacker, Elf on the Shelf

• First Place – Tanner Kempiak, Little Red Riding Hood

• Second Place – Payton Wallin, Queen of Hearts

• Third Place – Camden Harrington - Frankenstein

9-10 AGE GROUP

• Grand Prize – Danielle Britt, Peacock

• First Place – Blake Wallin, Lego Figure

• Second Place – Lucas Poett, Zombie

• Third Place – Nathan Etavarg, Gandolf

11-12 AGE GROUP

• Grand Prize – Loren Mikula, Skeleton Genie

• First Place – Brynn Hofreiter, Mary Poppins

• Second Place – Joelei Carbone, Black Sassy Cat

• Third Place – Brandi Johnson, Hooded Huntress

13 AND UP AGE GROUP

• Grand Prize – Austin Neil, Snowman

• First Place – Linda Larsen, Mother Nature-4 Seasons

• Second Place – Stephani Pethtel, Firefighter

• Third Place – Shirley Kiss, Gay ‘90s Lady