Small Town Celebrations: Show Low Days and Superman Trivia

The Morning Brew with Chris Bennett serves up another delicious blend of White Mountain community news, special guests, and hometown humor in this fast-paced episode celebrating both local events and national observances.

The show opens with a heartwarming tribute to Women's Veterans Day as Virgil the Cowboy calls in from Eager, Arizona to highlight the four Army veterans working on his team. This touching moment of recognition transitions seamlessly into a playful game called "Jerky or Just Quirky" in honor of National Beef Jerky Day, where listeners learn that while bringing your own hot sauce to restaurants might just be quirky, invading someone's personal space in line is definitely jerky behavior.

The spotlight turns to upcoming community events when Show Low Mayor John Leech Jr. stops by the studio to promote Show Low Days, happening Friday and Saturday at Frontier Park. This Chamber of Commerce fundraiser promises something for everyone - live music from bands like AZ Winehouse and Stone Country, dance performances, a pie-eating contest, and a free kid's zone - all for just $5 admission. Mayor Leach's enthusiasm for the White Mountains summer festival season is contagious as he emphasizes there's never "nothing to do" in the area.

Things take a superhero turn when Paul from Beaumont, Texas joins the mayor for a Superman trivia challenge in honor of Superman Day. The friendly competition reveals unexpected comic knowledge from Mayor Leach, who claims victory despite not having read comics since childhood. The episode wraps with a call from crime correspondent Kirk Nurmi, who playfully teases Chris about an upcoming 50th birthday while promoting his appearances on Court TV.

From celebrating veterans to highlighting community events to simply sharing laughs with friends, this episode perfectly captures the charm of small-town radio. Subscribe to catch more Morning Brew moments and never miss the latest happenings in the White Mountains!

Transcript

Virgil the Cowboy Calls In

Speaker 1 0:00

From the Horn Auto Center Studios Chris Bennett and the Morning Brew. Good morning, it's the Morning Brew with Chris. Who's this?

Speaker 2 0:08

Hey, good morning, my friend.

Speaker 1 0:09

Heck, yes, it's Virgil the Cowboy, everyone's favorite cowboy, out of Eager Arizona. What do you got going on today?

Speaker 2 0:19

I have four veteran ladies that work for me.

Speaker 1 0:22

Heck, yes, did they hear my tribute to them this morning? Yeah, that's why I'm calling that's awesome, yeah Women's Veterans Day. Four of them. What branches were they all in? In the Army, in the Army, holy moly. Well, thank them so much from me for their service. It means a lot and I'm glad they have a day where we can celebrate them and their sacrifices. Right, yeah, it means a lot and I'm glad they have a day where we can celebrate them and their sacrifices right, yeah, well, they're listening to you right now.

Speaker 1 0:47

You tell them Heck, yeah, well, listen, ladies, thank you so much for your sacrifices and for serving our country. On this Women's Veterans Day, I'm so thankful to you and the many sacrifices you have made for this great place we call home. You are amazing indeed. So, virgilgil, did you have another song you wanted to hear for him? Or, I have a game. I have a game we could play too.

Speaker 2 1:12

You want to play? Yeah, I can do that. I'm cooking for these ladies right now.

Speaker 1 1:17

Oh you're cooking for them for a change. Nice, well, what song do you want to hear? And then we'll come back and we're going to play a game.

Speaker 2 1:26

They want to hear Some Gave, all by Billy Ray.

Jerky or Just Quirky Game

Speaker 1 1:30

Heck yeah, some Gave All by Billy Ray Cyrus Going out to all our women veterans, especially the ones out there in eager working with Virgil today, our cowgirls, we love you, virgil. In addition to it being Women's's veterans day, it's also beef jerky day. You a fan of beef jerky? Oh yeah, heck yeah. What's your favorite type of meat to use for beef jerky?

Speaker 2 1:53

yeah, the beef jerky with the peppered one oh heck, yeah.

Speaker 1 1:57

Well, I thought, in honor of national beef jerky day, we play a game called jerky or Just Quirky. I'm going to give you some scenarios and you tell me if the person in the scenario is being a jerky or just a little quirky. You ready, okay, okay. They loudly FaceTime in a public restaurant. Keep their phone on speaker Jerky or just quirky? Jerky, quirky, quirky, that's what I do. Bring their own hot sauce to restaurants and use it openly. Is it jerky or just quirky Quirky? That's what I do. Yeah, I think it's just quirky. I don't think there's anything wrong with bringing your own hot sauce. What's your go-to hot sauce?

Speaker 2 2:54

Mine is.

Mayor Leach on Show Low Days

Speaker 1 2:55

El Pato, el Pato, heck, yeah, all right. Last one. They stand right behind you in line. They're a personal space violator. Jerky, or just quirky, jerky, jerky. I agree that was jerky or just quirky. On this National Beef Jerky Day. Virgil, we love you, best friend. Say hi to all the cowgirls and cowboys out there and we'll talk to you soon. I am so excited to have a guest in studio this morning. It is Mayor John Leach Jr, the mayor of Show Low Coming in, and, mayor, there's a lot of stuff going on in Show Low.

Speaker 3 3:32

Oh, my gosh, chris, good morning.

Speaker 1 3:34

Good morning, best friend.

Speaker 3 3:35

There's so much going on in this mountain. I always say this community, but it's the whole mountain from Snowflake, taylor, springerville, pinetop, lakeside. Overgar's got live music this weekend, so there's a lot going on. I mean a lot.

Speaker 1 3:48

Yeah. So what do you say to people that say, oh, there's nothing to do in the White Mountains this weekend?

Speaker 3 3:53

You need to Google it because this is our busy time of year. You know it kicks off the first weekend in May with our barbecue contest.

Speaker 1 3:59

Yep, that was so much fun. Contest, yep, that was so much fun. And doesn't stop, yeah. And in Show Low we have Show Low Days, show Low Days. It's happening this Friday and Saturday. It's put on by the Chamber of Commerce, right? Yes, it is.

Speaker 3 4:10

It's their biggest fundraiser of the year and I can tell you they're doing a fantastic job. They've got live music both days. They've got some great bands coming in Duck Pluck. They've got a Kid's Zone. They've just got everything going on out there.

Speaker 1 4:24

Yeah, and one of my first experiences when I moved up here to the White Mountains was Show Low Days and it is such a great experience and really feels like small town USA.

Speaker 3 4:33

Oh, definitely.

Speaker 1 4:34

It's such a fun event. It's Friday and Saturday. How much does it cost? It's at Frontier Park, right.

Speaker 3 4:40

It's at Frontier Park and it's $5 a person, I think. $12 and under is free, I believe.

Speaker 1 4:45

Okay.

Speaker 3 4:45

I can't read that right now, but the $5, you know, back in the day it used to be free and when they started charging people were like wait a minute, but they're really getting some great bands and it helps pay for those bands too.

Speaker 1 4:57

Yeah, you guys have a free kid's zone. Going on and talking about the great bands, on Friday you have this band that I know from down in the Valley AZ Winehouse. They're an. Amy Winehouse cover band so if you love Amy Winehouse, you'll love them. They start at 3.30. All events. The gates open up at 9, right 9 to 9 both days 9 to 9 and a free Kids Zone live music On Saturday at 5 pm.

Speaker 3 5:27

We have stone country with ashley westcott, our friend of the morning brew, and also at at three o'clock that same day on saturday. Before ashley's um is calvin rainwater. He's a local. I I've never heard him before, but I believe he's a local oh, nice, and that's at three o'clock three o'clock on saturday uh, there's so many events coming, uh, coming up.

Speaker 1 5:42

we are back with mayor of show Low, john Leach Jr, talking about all the great events going on this weekend, particularly Show Low Days.

Speaker 3 5:50

Show Low Days happening this weekend, friday and Saturday, from 9 to 9.

Speaker 1 5:54

9 to 9. A lot of great events. It's $5. Kids 12 and under get in free.

Speaker 3 5:59

I think. So I can't read it on that flyer. It's kind of hard to see, but I think that's what I've heard, but don't quote me on that. Don't get there and say it was 12 and under free, because the mayor said it. This is not a show, low event.

Speaker 1 6:13

This is a chamber event.

Speaker 3 6:13

So they put it on and we help sponsor it, of course, and it's their biggest money fundraiser of the year. So come out and support them for sure it's a lot of fun.

Speaker 1 6:23

Friday and saturday. Friday, like you said, doors are going to open at 9 am both friday and saturday. 10 am they're going to have an opening prayer. 11 am they uh have their first performer going on. 1 pm they have square dancing. 3 30 they have az winehouse playing music and at 5 pm they have the band Shakedown.

Speaker 3 6:41

That's Friday. Local band right there.

Speaker 1 6:43

Another local band.

Speaker 3 6:44

Another local band, shakedown Heck. Yes.

Speaker 1 6:46

And on Saturday, starting at 9 am, you have the Folk Low Rico Dance Group. 10 am you have the Persnickety's Pie Eating Contest.

Speaker 3 6:56

Are you doing that?

Speaker 1 6:57

Well, I'm going to be out of town unfortunately I have a comedy show down in the Valley, but I would. That sounds delicious.

Speaker 3 7:04

I would not.

Speaker 1 7:05

At 12 pm you have the Apache Crown Dancers that are from up here in the White Mountains as well, and then at 2 pm on Saturday you have the Pet Allies, duck Pluck, and at 3 pm Calvin Rainwater, who's from up here is going to be playing music.

Speaker 3 7:20

He's a local kid too, I believe. I don't know a lot about him, but I believe he might be a graduate of Show Low High School. Oh heck, yeah, I'm not sure.

Speaker 1 7:27

And then 5 pm we have Stone Country with Ashley Weska, who is a friend of the Morning Brew, and then there's going to be a lot of vendors, a lot of food trucks, there's a free kid zone, which is a fun-filled area for the little ones, with games, prizes and plenty of smiles, Mayor, plenty of smiles. Yeah, if you're looking for something fun to do, you've got to head down to Show Low Days. If you have not experienced Show Low Days, do yourself a favor and experience it this weekend, friday and Saturday.

Speaker 3 7:57

And you know, Chris, what I would also recommend real quick is bring an umbrella. Because, unfortunately, it's going to be warm with no wind, so bring an umbrella and chairs, maybe and chairs. Definitely bring lawn chairs or a blanket. Sit on the grass. It's all grass in there all right, awesome.

Superman Trivia Challenge

Speaker 1 8:12

We're going to be right back with some more fun, with the mayor of show low coming up next. It's everyone's favorite redneck mayor from beaumont, texas. You gave him. Gave him kind of a key to a city. We gave him a key.

Speaker 3 8:26

Key to the city. But now he just told me he's a candidate for mayoral in a few years.

Speaker 1 8:32

Oh you're going to run for mayor of Show.

Speaker 2 8:34

Low, I found my beer can in the room. Come on Nice.

Speaker 1 8:40

Hey, Paul, today is Superman Day. Are you a fan of some Superman?

Speaker 3 8:47

I mean maybe when I was a kid. I'm not really into all of them Me either, paul so hopefully we get true or false.

Speaker 1 8:53

Yeah Well, first we're going to do a little this True or false, or multiple choice.

Speaker 3 8:58

Yeah, something, because it's a throw up Well first.

Speaker 1 9:01

We're going to do a little this or that with Superman Powers. Find out a little bit more about the mayor and Paul from Beaumont with these questions. All right, this or that? Super strength or super speed, mayor, you go first. This or that, would you prefer super strength or super speed? Strength, strength. What about you, paul? Yeah, me too, yeah, I don't know, that would be a tough one.

Speaker 3 9:27

I, I, I like speed what are you gonna do once you get there in your week? Well then, I'll call you guys and that's why you have the avengers everyone teams up, all right.

Speaker 1 9:35

Uh, what about flying? Or invisibility? Invisibility, I mean I want to fly me too, I to fly. Except if it's like you're flying like one mile an hour and only like a foot off the ground, then forget about it. I want to like fly like Superman. All right, and last one ability to leap tall buildings or the ability to run faster than a speeding bullet.

Speaker 3 10:00

I like the leaping.

Speaker 1 10:02

Me too, I would love to leap bounds of tall buildings. What about you, paul?

Speaker 2 10:07

I'm already fine, so go ahead and give me the speed of the bullet.

Speaker 1 10:14

It is now time for. Are you Smarter Than a Redneck Paul? Today, your competition is the mayor of Show. Low Again, mayor John Leach.

Speaker 3 10:23

Jr.

Speaker 1 10:24

On this Superman day, we're going to do some Superman trivia. If you know the answer, say your name. That's your buzzer. Are you two ready?

Speaker 2 10:30

Yes, Well, hold on. The mayor's got to gavel this game into order.

Speaker 1 10:36

All right, All right, here we go. First question what is Superman's birth name? Is it A? Jor-el, B, Kal-El, C, Zod-El or D? Clark Kent, Mayor, Mayor, Clark Kent, that is not his birth name, Mayor. He was not born on Earth. What about you, Paul? Any guesses? Jor-el, Kal-El or Zadel?

Speaker 3 11:01

He's guessing too.

Speaker 1 11:03

A Jor-El. No, it's Kal-El.

Speaker 3 11:05

I didn't know it either guys.

Speaker 1 11:07

I would have said Clark Kent as well. That's a stupid name. That's a stupid name. All right, this next one's easy, so make sure whoever has the fastest. Kryptonite, kryptonite, kry. Kryptonite, kryptonite, kryptonite. Nope, which planet is Superman from? I'm not even going to give multiple choice.

Speaker 3 11:24

You have to. I don't know Superman.

Speaker 1 11:26

Well, where's he from? Is he from Mars, krypton, venus or Saturn?

Speaker 3 11:32

Mare Mare.

Speaker 1 11:33

He is from Krypton. Holy moly, Paul. He's up 1-0. But this last question is worth a million points. If he gets it right, he could steal it from you. Pick a number from 3 to 10, Paul 9. 9. Here we go. 9. Who created Superman? Was it A Bob Kane and Bill Finger, b. Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, c. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster or D. Steve Ditko and Joe Simon, mayor Mayor C. Is it C Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster? Yes, it is. How did you know that? I guessed.

Speaker 2 12:10

You just guessed. Oh my gosh, I'll tell you why.

Speaker 3 12:13

I'll tell you why Because Mayor's a comic book nerd, yeah right, I haven't read a comic book since I was like 10.

Speaker 1 12:21

Well, Mayor, congratulations.

Speaker 3 12:25

You are smarter than a redneck. Yeah, it's my turn this time, Paul.

Speaker 1 12:27

Sorry, paul, our mayor is smarter than him. Well, can't win them all, that's true, all right, buddy, we love you. Drive safe out there and we'll talk to you soon, all right.

Speaker 2 12:37

Y'.

Speaker 1 12:44

Good morning. It's the Morning Brew with Chris. Who's this?

Speaker 2 12:47

Good morning, Chris. It's Kirk Nermy, your best friend.

Speaker 1 12:50

Oh, our best friend. Everyone knows Kirk Nermy. He's been our gritty true crime correspondent you can hear him on Court TV Weekly and a longtime friend of Chris Bennett and the Morning Brew. To what do we owe the honor of hearing from you today, Kirk? It's been a while.

Speaker 2 13:07

Well, Chris, I know your 50th birthday is coming up. You're a little squirrely about that. It is not Hold on. I know the mayor probably has made big plans big 5-0 for Chris Bennett in town and I know you're upset about it. So in support I came to make a major announcement.

Speaker 1 13:26

Well, okay, first, I'm not turning 50, mayor, I'm turning 45.

Speaker 3 13:32

45.

Speaker 1 13:32

45. A ways off from 50. But what's your huge announcement?

Speaker 2 13:38

Mayor, my sources say otherwise. We're looking for the paperwork, sir, and we'll get right on that.

Speaker 3 13:45

You think we can find a birth certificate?

Speaker 2 13:48

Yeah, I've talked to Chris's mom. There seems to be some ambiguity here, so we're looking into it. He looks every day at Pippi. I think we can all agree.

Speaker 3 13:56

But Not a day over.

Speaker 2 14:01

As a fellow senior citizen, to support you in this endeavor to announce in the media for the first time that yesterday I joined the AARP. Heck, yeah.

Speaker 1 14:14

Kirk Nermy, AARP. Now you're an old dude, not me, I'm young.

Speaker 3 14:19

I've been a member of AARP for years.

Speaker 1 14:24

Well nice. Do you get discounts on prune juice now, kirk Nermy? What are some of your benefits?

Speaker 2 14:31

I might get a discount on prune juice. I know I got a discount on car insurance, which is why I bailed into it, but what discounts have you been taking advantage of, kirk?

Speaker 1 14:39

Well, he just loves to razz me about turning 50. I don't get any discounts because I'm 44, okay.

Speaker 2 14:46

Do you get your pedicures at a discount, or what no?

Speaker 1 14:49

no, I don't like pedicures and I don't I definitely is that that's the one where they do the feet right.

Speaker 3 14:55

I can't have anybody touch my feet no one touching my feet. I don't even touch my feet. That's gross.

Speaker 1 14:59

I touch my feet every three months to trim them.

Speaker 3 15:02

You don't wash your feet. What? Who? He washes your feet With a washcloth. How do you wash your feet, Chris? How do you not touch your feet?

Speaker 1 15:08

So I wash my feet in the shower, I let the water and the soap run down my feet, I give a little top scrub on top and you know, maybe a little bottom scrub and that's it. Yeah, is that not normal?

Speaker 2 15:19

All right, yeah well, you said you didn't touch them. So I thought how are you going to wash them?

Speaker 1 15:25

Oh well, I'll touch them, but I don't like anyone touching my toes Stay away from my toes Some people like foot massages.

Speaker 3 15:32

Good to know, Chris.

Speaker 2 15:33

Good to know, chris Well.

Speaker 1 15:34

Kirk Nermy, congratulations on being AARP's newest member and I look forward to joining you in probably 10 years.

Speaker 2 15:44

I look forward to seeing that happy 50th flying over the deuce, Mr Mayor.

Speaker 1 15:49

All right, buddy, we love you.

Speaker 2 15:50

I look forward to seeing that this July.

Speaker 1 15:53

Kirk Nermy, you're the best. Have a great day, best friend. All right, bye, real quick, we could check you out on Court TV tonight, right?

Speaker 2 16:01

You can check me out on Court TV. I'm doing Vinnie Pauliton Investigates tonight. I'm on at 6 o'clock instead of 5. So we'll change up. Tomorrow I'm doing a podcast on the Crime Online Network, which is Nancy Grace's network. So, yeah, I'm going to be popping up everywhere for a little while.

Speaker 1 16:18

Keep your eye out for our best friend and senior citizen, Kirk Nermy.

Speaker 2 16:23

We love you best friend, bye All right, buddy, we'll see you at the bingo hall, all right?