Own an old beetle? You are wanted

Volkswagen owners are invited to join the Putnam County 4-H Fair parade on July 18 to participate in the Fourth annual VW Brigade.

Participants will meet at the Greencastle Middle School on that Friday between 5:30 and 6 p.m.

Decorating your car and throwing candy during the parade are optional according to Dick Funk, organizer of the Brigade.

This is the fourth year for the Brigade, which started with 18 of the German cars. Last year the group grew to 38 cars and this year Funk hopes to have at least 50 cars participating.

"I think the VW parade helps hold the parade together. The kids want to see the beetles. So we scatter candy and make a mess," said Funk.

The group joined the 4-H parade after people began asking Funk, who owns DK Beetle in Greencastle and restores vintage Volkswagens, why they didn't have Beetles in the parade. The chairman of the parade that year happened to be a VW owner and the brigade was born.

Any VW owner interested in driving in the parade with the Brigade can call Funk at 653-3466 for information or show up at the Greencastle Middle School between 5:30 and 6 p.m. on the day of the parade.