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ASHDOWN, Ark.—From catching the crown to catching and cooking catfish, contests held Friday and Saturday kept downtown chock-full of fun seekers for the 15th annual Whilstlestop Festival.

This was the first year for the Miss Whistlestop beauty pageants and the “Hookem N Kookem Katfish Cookoff.”

“This is the only cooking contest I’ve ever been in,” said Steven McAllister of Ashdown, who won the catfish cook-off. “We had a good time and won $500.”

Part of the Red River Runners cooking team, McAllister and J.R. Bishop of Ashdown won over the judges while their ...