Fourth of July Celebration
July 4, 2008
The 19th Annual Keene Fourth of July Parade rolled, trotted and walked down Old Betsy Road on Friday under clear skies and a blistering sun.
The heat didn't cool the enthusiasm, as riders on 54 entries threw candy and kisses to a huge throng of spectators. After the parade, it rained tears at Callicott Student Park on the Southwestern Adventist University campus as 133 people became United States citizens at the emotional Naturalization Ceremony.
America's birthday celebration continued inside and outside the Leiske-Pultar Gymnasium as hundreds enjoyed the wide variety of food booths and entertainment. There, Lanette Sanker sang the National Anthem and Bugger Putnam led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Parade organizers said the number of parade spectators appeared to be higher than usual and the number of participants at the celebration events at the gymnasium also was higher.
Mickey Johnson served as parade starter. Staging areas were the First State Bank Texas (vehicles) and Chisholm Trail Academy (animals).
Once again, the parade was led by County Sheriff Bob Alford, carrying the United States flag.
Tim and Tracy Sinclair served as grand marshals. The parade marshals were top academic students Kenny Collins and Jordan The from Chisholm Trail Academy and Frashy Erazo and Mikkel Weeks from Keene High School.
Parade judges - Conway and Lois Campbell, Jimmy and Tina Hudgins, Kevin and Vickie Sellers and Phillip Sparks - determined that the float entered by Clayton and Donna Read was the overall winner. The float was a takeoff on "There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe", and satisfied the theme of "Symbols of Freedom", because, as the Reads said, "there's is freedom when the family is safe and secure."
Other parade winners included: Best All-Terrain Vehicle - Lonnie and Mandy Ballenger and their son Zander, 1960 Willys Jeep; Best Decorated 4-Wheel Vehicle � Today�s Girl; Best Decorated 2-Wheel Entry - scooters ridden by the Texas Bunch, Tom and Lynda Bunch; Best Decorated Antique Vehicle - a 1953 Cadillac Coupe DeVille driven by Stylle and Nancy Read; Best Decorated Float - Old Woman in a Shoe by Clayton and Donna Read; Best Horse Entry - Southwestern Adventist University (after placing second for two consecutive years in this category); Best Business Entry - Reid's Car Care; Best Children's Entry - Eva Iguaran and her children, Luis Enrique Channell Iguaran, 18 months, and Elianna Iguaran, 5.
Celebration Committee chair Joyce Shaw said proceeds from the celebration's drink and food sales go toward the purchase of a pavilion at Elisa Carver Park.
Music at the celebration was provided by Lanette Sanker, Sarah Jilge, Clayton Read, Henry and Bunny Reid, Eva Iguaran, the Fairview Fiddlers and Texas Tradition, a female a capella group. Unicyclists Doug Peterson and Randy Peterson also entertained.
The celebration planning committee included Coleman, Karmy and Shaw plus Gwen Beeson, Lillian Davis, Donny Gore, Dale Hainey, Dale Janes, Yddo Ortiz, Robby Psencik, Mayor Roy Robinson and Raymond Shaw.
The parade planning committee is the Keene Chamber of Commerce board of directors, which has planned and organized the parade since 2000. Chamber board members include Glen Ball, Gwen Beeson, Sarah Layton, David Phillips, Jere Putnam, Phil Robertson, Jorge Velez and Justin Woods.