Athol throws a party

ATHOL – Lightning flashed and thunder’s bass drums played a symphony across the sky. Torrential rain and hail pounded the ground just two hours before the Athol Daze Parade kicked off.

Undaunted by nature’s fury, the residents and guests of Athol soldiered on, glancing nervously at the sky. By parade time, the sun was back out, the skies had cleared and the show went on.

More than 30 entrants paraded down Highway 54 heading for City Park where the real party began.

Parade award winners by category were: Community, Bob Pekar with his senior float; Marching groups, unnamed bagpiper; Floats, American Legion Auxiliary post 149; Commercial, Carol Harms, in her Chipmaster float; Specialty groups, Timberlake Fire District; Children, Athol area home-schoolers, riding bikes; Equestrian, Don Hollen; Classic cars, Roger Haines, driving his ’57 T-Bird.

Farragut Fire Engine won first prize for the 1942 Pirsch that, having served as the Navy Base fire truck during World War II, found its way back after being sold, resold and then retired. Numerous top-flight volunteers spent hundreds of hours restoring the truck. Disabled American Veterans won first prize in the military category with the van they use to carry vets to the Spokane VA Hospital every weekday. Several volunteers serve as drivers from both the DAV and the Athol American Legion, plus the Marine Corps League.

Political entrants were many, all from the Republican Party, headed by Rick Currie. Currie was tickled that for once, as they were throwing candy, he got to throw something at a reporter for a change. Judges for the parade were Mayor Lanny Spurlock, Denise Hollen and Susan Wachter.

Wrapping up was the Grand Marshall, Myrtle Dane, 77. Stricken with cancer, she held court in the parade and when she was awarded Athol’s “Citizen of the Year” award.

After the parade, games began in the park with the ever-popular “money in the straw,” as well as watermelon- and pie-eating contests, a piñata, the annual fundraising auction and booths featuring arts, craft, food and drink. Pekar, ever the benefactor, brought wash tubs full of free soft drinks for anyone that wanted them, along with half the local supply of ice.

Down the road at Farragut State Park, the tribute concert was in full swing. Without an accurate estimate, park personnel were unable to provide information about the number of fans in attendance. We do understand, however, that it was a success, with more to come in September at the second of the two dates.

Timberlake Fire District had a very busy weekend with the concert, where they attended six people with various problems but no fires. “The storm that blew through Friday night and early Saturday morning dampened the ground sufficiently to lessen the fire danger,” said Randall Butt, park manager.

“Everything went well; we had six EMT calls and transported one case, but we had fortunately borrowed a second ambulance from Kootenai County, which we really needed,” said Timberlake Fire Chief Jack Krill. “We answered two lightning-caused fires late Friday night and an alcohol-related automobile accident on Perimeter Road, early Saturday morning. Overall, the department had 12 EMT calls with the Kootenai County team taking three of them, including a serious bee sting allergy reaction and a broken bone up on Bunco Road. Fifteen volunteers put in 18-hour days to keep things under control.”