Ronan dressed up in green for St. Patrick's Day
KRISTI NIEMEYER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 months AGO
TRADITIONAL GREEN HORSE strolled through Ronan Sunday as part of the St. Patrick Day Parade's equine brigade. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
NEON GREEN drivers piloted a RZR through Ronan Sunday. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
THESE WEE FOLK seemed to take St. Patrick's Day in Ronan entirely too seriously. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
VETERAN PARADE WATCHERS Jerry and Marlena Burden were full of St. Patrick's Day cheer. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
The usual array of emergency vehicles brought up the end of Ronan's St. Patrick's Day Parade, with a leprechaun straddling the ladder truck. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
DAPPER DACHSHUND marched along the St. Patrick's Day parade route Sunday on behalf of Dick's Pheasant Lounge. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
Kristi Niemeyer is editor of the Lake County Leader. She learned her newspaper licks at the Mission Valley News and honed them at the helm of the Ronan Pioneer and, eventually, as co-editor of the Leader until 1993. She later launched and published Lively Times, a statewide arts and entertainment monthly (she still publishes the digital version), and produced and edited State of the Arts for the Montana Arts Council and Heart to Heart for St. Luke Community Healthcare. Reach her at editor@leaderadvertiser.com or 406-883-4343. | March 21, 2024 12:00 AM
A profusion of green sprouted along Main Street in Ronan Saturday afternoon as spectators and parade participants alike paid homage to St. Patrick – the patron saint of Ireland.
The Honor Guard led the lineup, followed by horseback riders (including the traditional green horse), a large array of green-hued floats, the Great Scott Bagpipes, a few motorcyclists and fancy cars, and a brigade of emergency vehicles, with a leprechaun perched atop the ladder truck.
The Ronan Irish Community (TRIC) sponsors the well-attended annual affair, which was praised by organizer Carlene Bockman for “incredible and enthusiastic participants.”
Bockman offered “a big shout-out” to the many entries, parade judges, security, and spectators. She also expressed appreciation to those who dropped money in donation boxes to help defray costs.
“Even the weather was an awesome contributor,” she said.
This year’s winners are:
Best Irish Animal – Golden Templer
Best Kids – Two Eagle River School
Most Irish – Great Scott Bagpipes
Green Team – Ronan Wrestling
Most Likely to go to Jail – O'Leary's Old Ladies
Biggest Shamrocks – Cheers Bar
Most Likely to Cause a Riot – Pheasant Bar
Pub Wars – 2nd Chance Saloon
Best Overall – Tenas Day Care
Remember, Bockman added, "if you're lucky enough to be Irish (or wanna be) then you're lucky enough!”
NEON GREEN drivers piloted a RZR through Ronan Sunday. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
THESE WEE FOLK seemed to take St. Patrick's Day in Ronan entirely too seriously. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
VETERAN PARADE WATCHERS Jerry and Marlena Burden were full of St. Patrick's Day cheer. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
The usual array of emergency vehicles brought up the end of Ronan's St. Patrick's Day Parade, with a leprechaun straddling the ladder truck. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
DAPPER DACHSHUND marched along the St. Patrick's Day parade route Sunday on behalf of Dick's Pheasant Lounge. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
ARTICLES BY KRISTI NIEMEYER
Missing Middle: County looks for solutions to housing shortage
The “missing middle” is how housing advocates sometimes describe the lack of affordable housing for middle income residents of Lake County, or almost anywhere in Montana.
Nearly 30 runners compete in Sorry ’Bout That
Josh Krantz took top honors in Polson Running’s Sorry ’Bout That Half Marathon, held Saturday in Polson, clocking a time of 1:37:34, followed by Tristen Flagen with 1:45:36.
Polson biochemist earns Green Chemistry Award
Polson biochemist Ed Gannon nudges a nondescript gray chunk of rock, and then shakes a pile of round pellets into his hand. Both contain phosphate – a nutrient formed millions of years ago that’s described as the backbone of DNA, and is vital for plant growth, photosynthesis and all life on earth.