St. Regis explodes with Fourth fun
Kathleen Woodford Mineral Independent | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 4 months AGO
St. Regis Fire Chief Jerry Dockter hands out balloons to kids lining the parade route.
The grand marshals for the St. Regis Fourth of July parade were Bob and Nicki Clyde followed by Jonna Warnken and Madison Hill carrying the Montana and American Flag on horseback.
Kids scramble along the parade route picking up candy thrown by passing floats.
An ATV passes the crowd and cools them off with a squirt of water during the Fourth of July parade in St. Regis.
Members of the American Legion lead the Fourth of July parade in St. Regis.
Brightly colored ATVs joined the parade line-up along with a special pink pumpkin mobile.
World War II veteran Joe Magone dressed up as Uncle Sam and rode down the parade route for the Democratic Party float.
A string full of red and blue balloons fly high into the summer sky at the end of the parade.
Macy Hill and her lamb get into the spirit of Independence Day.
Members of the St. Regis Fire Department toss taffy from their truck. The Department sponsors a large portion of the July 4 celebration in St. Regis.
Cub Scout Troop 4953 celebrates the birth of the nation in their red, white and blue float during the parade.
This year’s Fourth of July parade did not disappoint as red, white, and blue decorated floats, people and even horses made their way down Old Highway 10 in St. Regis.
The festivities started at 11 a.m., after a town breakfast in the school cafeteria. St. Regis Fire Chief Jerry Dockter and other members from the fire department walked along the parade route and handed red and blue balloons to eager children. The holiday festivities are largely sponsored by the St. Regis Fire Department and members carried fire boots down the line asking for donations to help fund the fireworks display held at dusk in the town park.
The parade started with the American Legion carrying the American flag as people saluted and held their hands over their hearts to show their allegiance. Next came other military vehicles and the Disabled Veterans’ new van. That was followed by the parade’s Grand Marshals Bob and Nicki Clyde, who rode down the street in a red convertible Mustang. Behind them were mustangs of a different breed — the riding kind — where Jonna Warnken and Madison Hill carried the Montana and American flags and led a group of fellow horsewomen.
There was a variety of costumes ranging from revolutionary war heroes, hunting camouflage, a mime, Frankenstein and Smokey the Bear. World War II veteran Joe Magone dressed up like Uncle Sam and rode in the back of a blue balloon-filled pickup for the Democratic Party float. The crowd was also treated to patriotic red, white and blue decorated bikes, ATVs, a lamb, roller bladers, riding lawnmowers and a variety of floats. Gobs of confectionary treats were tossed to the kids as they spilled into the side of the street to get their share of candies.
There was a big orange float for Childhood Leukemia making its way down the parade route, along with a flatbed truck carrying Cub Scout Pack 4953. Then the big rigs lumbered down the street, a green U.S. Forest Service fire truck, a Superior Ambulance vehicle, and a bright red St. Regis Fire truck. As the parade came to an end, a large string of red and blue balloons launched into the blue, sunny July sky.
As the day progressed, kids were treated to a park full of games where they played all afternoon and at dusk was the traditional fireworks display. Thrilling onlookers with crackling, sparkling bursts of explosions echoing down the walls of the Clark Fork Valley.