Free to celebrate 100 years
Throngs line Fourth of July parade route to salute Polson and America
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Not only was the 2010 Polson Fourth of July parade a celebration of Polson’s Centennial, but the beginning of an engagement for two young people.
On the corner of Main Street and Third Street E., two men held up a sign that said “Rossie, will you marry me?” Zak Taylor, Winnett, stopped the antique automobile he was driving, hopped out of the car, ran around to the passenger side, dropped to one knee and proposed to his girlfriend, Rossie Regli, Lewistown. Regli, riding in the passenger seat, apparently said yes; and there was lots of hugging and whispering and an engagement ring. Taylor is the son of Janna and Mike Taylor of Rollins.
As well as the Taylor car, the parade had 35 to 40 other entries. Ethel McAlear Montgomery was the grand marshall of Polson’s Centennial Parade and cruised the parade route in a golf cart. McAlear is the niece of Fay McAlear, author of “The Fabulous Flathead” and Polson supporter.
Everything from a pony in a tutu to all manner of fire trucks to military vehicles and even Rudolf the Scotch Highlander steer gathered behind Cherry Valley and paraded through Polson on a cool Fourth of July. A flotilla of children in paper boats circled the Polson Library shuttle, asking voters to approve the North Lake County Library District. One marching band and one seated band on the Mission Mountain Realty truck provided patriotic music. Since a parade isn’t a parade without horses, there were two mounted Search and Rescue members, the McKee girls riding Angel and Smokey and a wagonload of Valley View students pulled by two teams of work horses.
Kids along the parade route were showered with candy, and crowd members commented the parade was longer than normal
After the parade, the crowd headed over to the Polson Flathead Museum. The museum hosted an ice cream social after the parade with Wilcoxsin’s ice cream, vanilla, chocolate or huckleberry, donated by The Cove. Almost 700 people came for ice cream, according to Gay Cochrane, museum volunteer. So many, in fact, that the museum ran out of ice cream.
“I couldn’t believe the throng of people,” Cochrane said.
Many of the museum visitors stayed to check out the exhibits, and the museum sold several centennial prints, Cochrane added.
Chair Joan Hart and Cora Pritt from the City of Polson provided float placings and winning entries for the parade.
Results of this year’s judging are as follows:
Floats
1. Miss Debbie’s Pre-School
2. Republican Women
3. Eagles
Vintage Cars
1. Janna Taylor-Model A
2. Jim Brown-1930 Model T
3. Community Bank-Model A
Antique Cars
1. Warren Hammas 1939 Hudson
2. Midway Rental 1947 Ford Truck
3. Wendell Burrows 1947 Ford Coupe
Classic Cars
1. Rob Hanson-Woodie
2. Warren Hammas-1962 Olds
3. Chris & Jenny-1966 Chevy Truck
Band/Music
1. Great Scots Bagpipe Band
2. Polson High School Swing Band
3. Polson High School Summer Band
Equestrian
1. Valley View School
2. Erica Dentler
3. McKee Horses
Miscellaneous
1. Salon Envy Hummer
2. Youth Soccer League-Heidi Howell
3. Polson Library
Mayor’s Award - Boy Scouts-Iwo Jima-James Raymond
Winners may pick up their awards at Polson City Hall, 106 1st St East, after Thursday, July 8, or contact Joan at 883-8212 or Cora at 883-8214.
