Perfect weather greets parade’s 72 entrants

Seventy-two entries lined Main Avenue on Saturday morning to celebrate the start of the Kiddie Parade and Ritzville Community Parade, hosted by the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Ritzville Festivals Association.

The Kiddie Parade started the morning’s festivities with eight total entries in the parade. The grand prize winner in the parade went to Hunter and Ryan Allen, and Justyce Mosher, who portrayed Little Red Riding Hood characters alongside their grandmother, Vicky Johnson.

Thane Akins and Canyen Whitaker took home the first place finish in the kids with pets category, as the two young cowboys walked two miniature donkeys dressed up to match their owners during the parade.

The first place prize in the entries with wheels division went to two-year-old Cameron Newton and two-year-old Claire Borth who dressed up like Peter Pan and Tinker Bell.

In the individual category, five-year-old Elle Borth took home first place. In the group division, the kids from the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints won the division as the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

In the novelty division, first place was awarded to the Spirit of America Memorial, a statue memorializing those who lost their lives in the 9/11 tragedy. Second place went to South Spokane El Katif Shrine.

In the mounted royalty division, Miss Colorama Rodeo Erin Wieldraayer and Miss Rodeo Othello Stephanie Jo Tolley tied for first place. Receiving a second place finish is Miss Cheney Rodeo Hannah Hayduk.

Receiving first place in the mounted horse-drawn division is Albert Lundberg, who had a covered wagon pulled by two mules.

In the general mounted division, Ken Nash earned first place.

In the community float division, the grand sweepstakes award went to Chewelah for the “Sunken Treasures” float. Aboard the float were Distinguished Young Woman of Chewelah Naomi Miller, and DYW finalists Josie Mott and Patti Hernandez.

Connell received first place in the community float category with the “Footloose” float, while Davenport took home second place with “Moonlit Summer.” The Reardan-Edwall float titled “A Day at the Beach” received the third place award.

In the antique pre-1949 automobiles and trucks division, Mark Schoesler took home first place with his 1954 GMS pickup. The second place award went to Randy Flyckt for his 1948 Desoto Club Coupe “Fluid Drive.”

Ed Reiderich received first place in the classic/collectible automobiles and trucks division for his 1955 Plymouth Belvedere. Evergreen Implement earned a first place finish in the commercial division for their entry.