Ritzville Community Parade deemed successful, despite inclement weather

Though rain was falling, the Ritzville Community Parade went cruising down Main Avenue Saturday morning. The Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the parade and 53 entries were on display for all to enjoy.

The Junior Parade consisted of four entries, with Claire and Grace Borth winning the Grand Prize for their ‘Frozen’ theme. Margaret Reidt entered with a ‘Rapunzelle’ theme, Justyce Mosher, Sadie Towne, Molly and Megan Fisher had a ‘Princesses in Training’ theme, and the final entry was ‘Cinderella’s Fan Club’ consisting of Brayden, Jax, Camden, Henry, Elliot and Blake.

After the Junior Parade, the Ritzville Community Parade began with the Grand Marshals, Larry and Diane Swift. Larry drove them in a 1965 convertible. Nicholas and Taylor LeBlanc, the Swift’s grandchildren, also rode with them.

In the mounted unit division, Quartermaster Ken Nash with the First West Virginia Cavalry was awarded first place. Columbia Basin Composite Squadron Color Guard received first place for the marching/drill unit division.

In the community float division, the grand sweepstakes award went to the Spokane Lilac Festival float. The float, ‘A Festival to Remember’, was meant to represent the history of Spokane from the era of Native American tribes, the progression of the railroad era and the dawn of the flight era with Fairchild Air Force Base. On the float was the 2015 Lilac Royalty: Queen Meghan and Princess Danica.

Davenport won the community float division with their Mario’s Mushroom Kingdom float. The ‘Celebrate Davenport’ float displayed Queen Aslyn Morris as Princess Peach. Chewelah took second place with their “Get Your Kicks on Route 66’ themed float. Odessa’s ‘Fun in the Sun’ float received third place.

In the classic/collectible auto division there were three first place winners. The first was AK Farms with a 1962 international Fire Truck, driven by Trevor Jantz. The next winner was Senator Mark Schoesler, driving his GMC 1954 pickup. Ron Hennings also won first place for his 1961 Thunderbird.

Spokane Conservation District won first place in the antique tractors division for their 1954 International Farmall 300. The tractor is the mascot of the Vets on the Farm program, which is sponsored by the Upper Columbia RC&D and the Spokane Conservation District.

In the antique autos and trucks division the Ritzville Classic Car Club won first place with their 1941 Ford Super Deluxe driven by Randy Flyckt.

The Barbecue in the Park, sponsored by the Ritzville Gun Club, was also a success. All of the food was sold, and most was provided in to-go containers to let people get out of the rain.