To schoolchildren, the start of the North Washington Rodeo each August signals that their summer vacation will soon be over.

Regardless, the rodeo - this year is the 46th - is an upbeat community event that people of all ages can and do enjoy. And, it is held for a good cause - to raise money for the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department.

The rodeo festivities began with a parade on Monday. Actual rodeo competition began on Tuesday, and the rodeo ends this weekend. Thus, there still was time, as this issue of the Butler Eagle rolled off the press, for people to enjoy this year's event.

This year's rodeo has been blessed with mostly good weather, coupled with the always pleasing North Washington hospitality.

A headline in Friday's newspaper said "46th rodeo lassos fun, adventure." It also again lassoed the hundreds - if not thousands - of people for whom summer would be incomplete if they did not attend the rodeo.

Butler County isn't Texas, but, thanks to people in North Washington, it can hold a rodeo about which it can feel upbeat and proud.