Pancake breakfast, parade ring in 4th of July in Arlee
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Elaina Wells, 13, prepares the One Voice Children’s Church.
Megan Strickland
Cowgirl Kylee Wells, all dressed up.
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
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Almost everything that is quintessentially American — good eats, a melting pot of culture, even a tiny spark of rebellion — was on hand in Arlee on July 4, as red, white, and blue-clad folks gathered in celebration of the nation’s birth.
For several hundred folks the day started off with the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast hosted by the Arlee Fire Department. Sizzling eggs and fluffy short stacks filled the air as people came out to support the rural and volunteer department’s major annual fundraiser.
“I grew up here, so it’s a tradition,” Dennis Lackmer said of why he came to the breakfast all the way from Frenchtown. “Mom is 92, so we keep bringing her out.”
The yummy food had people lined up to get into the fire hall until closing time, right before the Arlee Parade.
Parade organizer Alvaretta Morin said this year’s parade turnout was likely impacted by the abnormally hot and dry conditions. The Wilson Foods weather display noted the mercury was resting at the 97-degree mark by the parade’s end.
“The heat impacted us,” Morin said. She also said the parade’s route, which twisted around the neighborhoods on the east side of Arlee, instead of following Highway 93, could have impacted turnout. The change to the route was made because of liability concerns about directing traffic.
But that did not stop dedicated patriots from coming out to show their pride.
Appearances were made by a geeky science women trying to save the planet, Darth Vader, a hearse, and a cast of other Star Wars characters, teens on unicycles, glittered up cowgirls, and Native Americans boasting traditional regalia.
In a display of free speech Matt Whetzel and the Sled Patriots loaded a trailer full of snowmobiles to bring attention to the closure of snowmobiling areas because of what the group believes to be overzealous environmentalism.
Sherry Crepeau rode her Hiawatha bicycle in the lineup. Husband Jim didn’t say exactly how old Crepeau was, but did say that Crepeau is old enough to be retired, and has been wanting to ride the bike in the parade for many years.
“She probably got that bike when she was 10 years old,” Crepeau said.
The diversity of floats keeps people coming year after year.
“It’s great,” said Linda Giess. “Arlee parade is the best.”
Giess spent most of her time before the parade hanging out with 3-year-old Ridge Weidmann, who waited excitedly for the parade by trying to get a doggy friend named Harley to wear the plastic fireman’s hat gifted to him. The hat wasn’t quite Harley’s style, but once the floats started coming, Ridge forgot all about the dog, and used the cap as a holder for all the candy he hauled in.
Higher-end chocolate might be the most coveted of parade candies on a cooler day, but as the sun beat down, kiddos were wrestling over popsicles thrown into the crowd. They also clamored to Smokey Bear and fire trucks, hoping for a small squirt of refreshing water to cool off. Anyone who was missed by the sprinkle, but appeared to be melting, likely received a complimentary bottle of water from the One Voice Children’s Church crew, who were handing refreshment out along the parade route.
Three-year-old Amani Antoine got her ya-ya to open up one of the cool treats and snacked on a purple popsicle as her favorite part of the parade passed by: the horses. Young Ridge, just across the way, agreed; the best part of the parade is the horses.
The judge took their time figuring out which entries were their favorites, and people waiting for trophies had the opportunity to go through the Arlee Jocko Museum that honors every Arlee veteran killed in World War II, and a number of other townsfolk also. A resident who splits his time between the Flathead Valley and Alaska remarked about how well-organized and interesting the displays were. Parade Grand Marshal Harold Tanner said he enjoyed the museum, though he couldn’t put his finger on what his favorite part was.
“I liked it all,” he said.
By the time the judges emerged from the museum basement they had determined the following winners:
Commercial
Burnett-Oler 59th family reunion, 1st place
Orange Acres, 2nd place
Valley Bank of Arlee, 3rd place
Clubs and Organizations
George Ducharme Post 113 American Legion, 1st
Circle of Trust, 2nd
Indian Outfit/Group
Clark Matt and family, 1st
Western Group, three or more
Wyatt Schulz and Tabitha Hill, 1st
Jesse Johnston Horse Services, 2nd
Western Outfit Adult
Kylee Wells, 1st
Kyia Hendrickson, 2nd
Western Outfit, 12 and under
Amber Oliver, 1st
Sader Saber and Madison Kelly, 2nd
Novelty, Adult
Sherry Crepeau, 1st
Dennis Block, 2nd
Reed Roseleip, 3rd
Novelty, Youth
Jay Samsel, 1st
Tim Fisher, 2nd
Novelty, Child
Raven, Lucie and Ellis Parson, with grandpa Jerry, 1st
Harley Lytle, 2nd
Novelty, Children under 6
Emma Lytle, 1st
Manny Barber, 2nd
Novelty Group
Leslie Millar, Protect the Earth, 1st
Matt Whetzel, 2nd
Most Patriotic
One Voice Children’s Church, 1st
Mackenzie Merwin, Big Sam Family, 2nd
Best Float
One Voice Children’s Church, 1st
American Legion Auxiliary, 2nd
Grand Prize
Burnett-Oler Family Reunion
