The Phil Weishaar Memorial BBQ Cook-off will be on the schedule on this opening day of the Chapman Labor Day celebration. The cook-off is named after the former longtime teacher, coach and later mayor of Chapman.

City Administrator John Dudte said Weishaar was a pillar in the community. “Spent his life serving the community in many different ways. ” Dudte noted when he arrived in Chapman, Weishaar was one of the first people to visit him. “A great legacy in Chapman. We’re just proud to just do something that honors him. Phil loved BBQ, he loved judging BBQ contests so we wanted to do something that tried to commemorate all the service that he provided through teaching and through coaching.”

Dudte added that through the tornado period Weishaar did all he could “to keep Chapman standing up. ” He worked hard to help the city recover from the EF-3 tornado that hit Chapman on June 11, 2008.  Weishaar passed away in April of this year after a battle with colon cancer.

To register for the BBQ call Austin Murphy at 785-223-7266.

The rest of the Saturday activities include a Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball Tournament beginning at 10 a.m. at the Beemer Ball Complex, a street dance downtown from 7 – 11 p.m. and the American Legion Beer Garden will be open in Sheeran Park from noon until 10 p.m.

Other activities will range from a fireworks show at 8:30 p.m. Sunday to the annual Lions Club Labor Day parade at 2 p.m. Monday.