Giddings selected Sprague grand marshal

SPRAGUE – A local civil leader and businesswoman has been named grand marshal of the Sprague Days parade.

Dorothy Giddings, 90, will lead the parade on Saturday morning, Sept. 11. The theme of the event is "Remembering 9/11." Local veterans are invited and expected to join the patriotic event.

Giddings fell in love with the area in the early 1980s when she and her husband, Gary, visited on weekends to help his cousin operate Four Seasons Resort.

The couple was hooked and bought a home on the lake to spend weekends fishing and getting to know the community.

Giddings has spent the last forty years giving her time, money and effort to improve Sprague.

She's volunteered for the Feed Sprague food distribution, co-organized youth summer activities, and served as president, vice president and a board member for the local chamber of commerce.

In 2016, Giddings was named Citizen of the Year.

Giddings recently ran for mayor, saying, "Let's get the council together... And get the peoples' voices heard... And build the city of Sprague our children will be proud of."

In addition to her civic involvement, Giddings has also owned and operated antique stores here, she says, "using her business as a window to Sprague outsiders" to promote the benefits of living in Sprague.

Giddings was born in Texas and moved to the Tri-Cities area as a young lady.

She was married 31 years to her first husband and has four adult children living in the state.

Then she was married to Gary for 33 years before he passed away.

The couple owned and operated antique stores – at one time owning a 7,000-square-foot store that she traveled Europe to find unique pieces for it.

She also operated hardware and auto parts stores, a tavern and a masonry business.

Giddings then worked as a supervisory inspector at Hanford Nuclear Site for the electricians, pipe fitters and welders. While there, she was exposed to radiation and, as a result, has battled cancer and other health issues. She was also a 4-H Leader and Superintendent at Benton County Fair.

At 90 years old, Giddings runs circles around many people, volunteering to make Sprague a better place to live, parade officials said.

The parade begins at 11 a.m. on Main Street.

Prior to the parade, car and motorcycle enthusiasts can register for the annual Sprague Days Car and Bike show between 9-10 a.m. Cars and motorcycles will then be on display until 4 p.m. downtown.

Sprague Days will also include a beer garden hosted by Renegade Restorations of Sprague.

There will be live music in City Park from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30.

Additionally, there will be an acoustical program at Sprague Centennial Plaza during a family dance from 4-7 p.m.

From 1-3 p.m., Sprague High School FFA will be sponsoring family activities, also in City Park.

The event will also include vendors, food and a raffle to help cover the cost of Sprague Days.