DECATUR - Activities at Lake Decatur turned the Fourth of July celebration into a family affair.

The Rev. Martin Wheeler of Mount Olive Baptist Church proved to his family that he could be a winner after downing eight hot dogs and buns during the hot dog eating contest during Freedom Fest 2006.

"I just tried to eat, chew and drink water," he said about his technique. "I wasn't worried about the hot dogs, it was the bread."

Wheeler was also showed he was no Takeru Kobayashi when it comes to eating hot dogs. Kobayashi set a new record Tuesday by devouring 53 3/4 frankfurters in 12 minutes to win the annual Independence Day hot dog eating competition at the original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand on Coney Island.

An hour after his victory, Wheeler was in the background cheering for his son, Josh, 9, during the children's apple pie eating contest.

However, Josh's appetite for pie wasn't enough to take top honors. He lost to Dominique McMillan, 9, and Travis Bright, 12, who ate the most apple pie in 60 seconds.

There was also no barking, sniffing around too long or behaving badly for the nearly 30 pooches dressed in patriotic attire for the pet parade.

"My kids are too old to dress up, so I have to dress up my dogs," Leesa Diulio of Macon said.

Her mixed-mutt dog, Baby, was dressed like the Statue of Liberty. Her other dog, Brutus, a miniature pinscher, was a dead ringer for Uncle Sam with a white, red and blue striped hat and a white beard below his chin.

But judges with the Macon County Animal Shelter Foundation voted for Baby as being more representative of what this country stands for on this Independence Day.

"People love their pets and should be able to enjoy them at events," said Melinda Rueter with the animal shelter.

Children were in a patriotic spirit while riding in the bike parade. But it was Brooke Melton, 10 and Coalton Camden, 4, who won for having the best decorated bikes.

The loud roaring sound coming from the 1924 John Deere motor churning a canister inside a five-gallon freezer container drew people to the ice cream booth.

Vendor Brian Neaville of Mount Pulaski brought along family members to help make and sell the homemade ice cream in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry flavors.

"I let the machines be loud, so people can hear them and come over to see what it is," Neaville said. "It's like a magnet."

Even Rob Shuemaker with S&N Fireworks in Lincoln had his wife and brother helping out in preparing the 400 fireworks that were to light up the sky Tuesday evening. "It will be an 18-minute show that will have a lot more color, but not as many booms this year," he said.

Sheila Smith can be reached at sheilas@herald-review.com or 421-7963.