Good Old Days goes for 40
KRISTI NIEMEYER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 1 month AGO
Hold up on Main Street! A gunslinger from the Red Barn Theater troupe tries to steal some parade candy, but gets a hard, cold glare in return. He wisely retreated. (Christa Umphrey photo)
Robert Martinez closes in on the finish line during the seven-mile portion of Saturday's Buffalo Run. (Max Dupras/Leader)
Daniel Oraivej celebrates completion of the four-mile Buffalo Run course on Saturday during Good Old Days in St. Ignatius. (Max Dupras/Leader)
Small fry were tugged through town during the Good Old Days parade. (Christa Umphrey photo)
The Mission High Class of 1973 trundled through town Saturday during the Good Old Days parade. (Christa Umphrey photo)
Sydney Brander and her cute Corgi, Peaches, are ready to run at the Good Old Days dog races. (Christa Umphrey photo)
Kristi Niemeyer learned her newspaper licks at weekly newspapers, beginning at the Mission Valley News in 1981, then at the helm of the Ronan Pioneer and, eventually, as co-editor of the Lake County Leader until 1993. She launched and co-published Lively Times, a statewide arts and entertainment monthly, before returning to the Leader in 2022, and serving as its editor until July 2026. Reach her at [email protected] | July 20, 2023 12:00 AM
Good Old Days celebrated 40 years last weekend with a flurry of family activities in St. Ignatius. Community spirit prevailed as runners huffed across the finish line in the Buffalo Run, fire trucks spouted a plume of water on steamy parade spectators, and athletes of all kinds (and species) competed in the tug ‘o war, dog races, family games and an obstacle course.
Among the winners in Saturday’s events:
Buffalo Run
A healthy roster of 135 runners hit the starting line for this year’s Buffalo Run, sponsored by St. Luke Community Healthcare.
Tyler Courville claimed $300 for his first-place finish in the seven-mile run with 38:53; Ashley Martin topped the women’s category with a time of 48:03.
Top honors in the four-miler went to Andrew Rush who received $300 for his first-place finish with a time of 21:34; Madeline Hamilton was the fastest woman in that run with a time of 25:24.
Christopher Holland claimed first in the one-mile fun run, with Fern Rigles topping the women’s category.
Zakai Silk won $50 as the youngest participant and Jerry Hicks won $50 as the oldest, which he donated back to the event.
Parade Results
Main Street was awash with floats, fire trucks, classic and custom cars and other innovative conveyances during the 40th Good Old Days parade. Winners are:
Custom Cars: 1 and 2. Dennis Wheeler; 3. Jeremy Zempel
Farm Equipment: 1. Karl Darby, 2. Tim Orr, 3. Gene Erb
Classic Cars: 1. Rod Arlint, 2. Andrew Jensen, 3. Leroy Morin
Commercial: 1. Stuart’s Hometown Auto, 2. Rod’s Harvest Foods, 3. Valley Banks, Lake County Branch
Clubs/Organizations: 1. Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, 2. Class of 2013, 3. Lazy DC Bar Ranch
Novelty/Humorous: D&J Meat Processing, 2. Western Melodrama, Red Barn Theater
Youth 12 and under: 1. Ashers Spidey Wagon, 2. Alan Green, 3. Peanuts – Leischmans and Jensens
Baking Contest
Old Timer’s Café sponsored the baking contest, which attracted a scrumptious array of entries in the adult category. Proprietor Jim Burckhard is hoping a few more junior bakers enter goodies next year so they can award a third place in that category too.
Baking contest winners:
Adult: 1. Nicole Jensen with Lemon Raspberry Cookies, 2. Barb Plouffe with Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars, 3. Sarah Barley with Almond Roca
Junior: 1. Quincey Jensen with Lemon Bars, 2. Grant Jensen with Angel Food Cake.
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