Char-Koosta News

The Official Publication of the Flathead Nation online
July 9, 2008

Arlee 4th of July parade christens new Highway 93 northbound lane through town

By B.L. Azure

The Mission Valley Honor Guard broke trail on the new Highway 93 southbound lane through Arlee during the 4th of July parade. (B.L. Azure photo)
The Mission Valley Honor Guard broke trail on the new Highway 93 southbound lane through Arlee during the 4th of July parade. (B.L. Azure photo)

ARLEE — It has been a handful of years since the Arlee 4th of July parade has marched on the in-town portion of U.S. Highway 93. But that changed this 4th of July, which was the 50th anniversary of the parade. The new northbound lane of Highway 93 looked like a plump near-ripe cherry ready for picking Saturday. And it was.

All traffic on Highway 93 has been routed around Arlee on the new Southbound lane a couple of blocks west of the in-town strip while road construction contractors have been working to complete the latter portion. Most of the paving is done now so whether by plan or happenstance the point of the parade, the Mission Valley Honor Guard, broke with recent tradition and forged a new trail on the new roadway. And it was just like old times again as the rest of the parade followed the Honor Guards lead onto the new roadway which was lined with hundreds and hundreds of folks of all ages.

Sister Delores Shortall and Sister Joan Bartin were honored as the Grand Marshals of the Arlee 4th of July parade. (B.L. Azure photo)
Sister Delores Shortall and Sister Joan Bartin were honored as the Grand Marshals of the Arlee 4th of July parade. (B.L. Azure photo)

There were 35 entries in the parade with the “Freedom Built Upon Sacrifice” theme. Red, white and blue were the dominate colors of the rainbow-colored entries that paraded under a bright blue sky in toasty temperatures.

The parade Grand Marshals were Sister Joan Bartin and Sister Delores Shortall who have served in the Mission and Jocko valleys Catholic Church for more than 50 years. The retiring Sisters will be honored with a community gathering and dinner at the Arlee Community Center this Thursday (July 9).

• The Grand Prize winner was the Bill and Wendy Adams family with their American Indian themed float featuring a tipi, campfire and several youngsters in traditional regalia.
Hundreds of folks lined the parade route and the young and nimble among them made mad dashes for the goodies tossed at them. (B.L. Azure photo)
Hundreds of folks lined the parade route and the young and nimble among them made mad dashes for the goodies tossed at them. (B.L. Azure photo)
• The Best Use Of Theme trophy went to the Morin, Morin-Ferguson and Pfau families that featured the grandchildren upon the float dressed in military garb and as Red Cross doctors and nurses attending wounded soldiers with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop. Arlee High School student Jesse Pfau at the front of the float wore his grandfather Lyle Adamson’s Army 4th Division Class A uniform from the Korean War.
• The Float trophy winner was the O’Neill-Marks family entry featuring Uncle Sam and other patriotic themes.
• The Commercial trophy winner was the Arlee Rodeo entry featuring some young cowboys in a makeshift hot tub in the back of a pickup. The Cool Truck entry placed second.
• The Clubs and Organization trophy winner was the Tribal Health and Human Services Department entry. The Jocko Valley Library entry placed second.
• The Indian Outfit Group trophy winner was the Mahseelah family entry.
• The Indian Outfit Adult trophy winner was the Adams family entry.
• The Indian Outfit Youth trophy winner was the Austin and Nelson families’ entry.
The Clubs and Organization trophy winner was the Tribal Health and Human Services Department entry with Margene Asay and a bunch of youngsters promoting the value of not smoking. (B.L. Azure photo)
The Clubs and Organization trophy winner was the Tribal Health and Human Services Department entry with Margene Asay and a bunch of youngsters promoting the value of not smoking. (B.L. Azure photo)
• The Western Outfit Group trophy winner was the Gillette and Sykes family mule team pulled buggy in honor of the late Dean Gillette. The Schall family entry featuring 14 cowboys and cowgirls on horseback as well as family members in a Ford Mustang placed second.
• The Western Outfit Adult trophy winners were Wes and Carol Mapston. The second place trophy went to Grey and Colt Mapston.
• The Novelty-Humorous Adult trophy winner was Jim Pablo. Denny Orr placed second.
• The Novelty-Humorous Youth trophy winner was the Outoupalik family. Callie Schmutz and Kara Mapston placed second.
• The Novelty-Humorous Child trophy winners were the O’Neill and Marks families entry. Conner and Cade Schmutz placed second.
• The Novelty-Humorous trophy winner was the Disabled Veterans entry. Paul Kirchman placed second.
• The Patriotic trophy winners were the Morin and Morin-Ferguson families. The Big Sam family placed second.

Sharon Stevens, Cathleen Whetzel and Greg Willoughby judged the parade.

Advertise with us!