Mule Days wraps

REARDAN - A sizable crowd converged on the town to enjoy the 119th annual Reardan Mule Days Saturday, June 3.

At 10 a.m. on a warm and cloudless day, the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard opened the event by leading the Mule Days parade down Spokane Avenue. They were followed by a procession of 60 entrants that included horses, fire trucks, reunited school chums, royalty floats, the high school pep band, llamas and mini donkeys.

The parade also featured special honorees like Teacher of the Year Tyler Smedley, Mr. Screaming Eagle Andrew Schulz, Miss Screaming Eagle Emma Flaa, Mayor Gail Daniels, Volunteer of the Year Joyce Nelson, Business of the Year Kickin' Koffee owned by Cassidy McCrea, Citizen of the Year Linda Dougherty, Reardan-Edwall royalty Kerstin Lundgren and AnnMarie Bolyard Grand Marshals Sam Adams and Kalae Chock, anchors of "The Wake Up Show" on KHQ News.

After the parade, many in the crowd made their way to City Park to enjoy the 98 classic and vintage autos on display.

The winners in their respective classes were: Paul Dashiell, Ralph Stratton, Kurt and Sarah Ennis, Mike Short, John Shook, Carl Owen, Nicolas Courser, Carl Nilles, Ryan Clouse, Joe Noland, Jeff Kincaid, Kelly Wilson and Judy Hutchinson.

The Peoples' Choice Award went to Barry and Lisa Gillingham.

"This was the best show yet," Nick Murray, president of the Davenport-based Road Knights said. "We had a wonderful variety of automotive history on display. We loved being in the park. It was obvious from all the smiles that everyone who came to the car show had a great time."

60 craft vendors set up shop on South Oak Street across from the park. Some items sold included laminated cutting boards, textile crafts, lavender products, jewelry, books, toys, clothing and handcrafted home décor items.

Matt and Jessica Tremblay, doing business as The Natural Chemist, attended their first Mule Days, selling homemade soaps and essential oils.

"It is so neat to be part of this community event, Tremblay said. "It looks like the whole town came out today."

Two of the parade entrants were Ritzville Rodeo queen, Carlie Loop and Charlie, her 14-year-old American Quarter Horse. After their duties were done, Loop took in the day's events.

"I really enjoyed seeing all the vendors' handmade items," she said, "and the car show was amazing. Reardan is such a nice community. I had a wonderful time."

In the center of town, kids and adults alike showed off their ability to hoop on makeshift courts in the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. 41 teams took part, one of which traveled from Colfax to match their skills against some of Reardan's best.

"Events like this bring the community together," coordinator Shannon Landt said. "Mule Days is a fun event for everyone."

The hoopsters shared the streets with other athletes - Corn Hole competitors. Both events set a record for the number of participants.

Numerous food vendors offered the hungry crowd a variety of eating options. Some people gathered in the air-conditioned Community Hall for the traditional barbeque luncheon, while others enjoyed hamburgers prepared by the Spring Creek Grange. The grange's hamburger stand stayed open until midnight when the street dance ended.

"We sold 1,000 hamburgers," Mule Days co-chairman Stan Schwartz said. "At the end of the day, we only had 28 hamburger patties left."

Twenty-two people took part in the 9.5-mile horse and mule Poker Ride. June Horton won the event and collected $330 in winnings. Loree McBride and Taylor Rettkowski placed second and third, respectively.

Town councilwoman Leanne Merkel was impressed with the guinea pig petting zoo at Roberts Park and the mini donkeys, Mini horses and rescue dogs available for kids to pet.

"I was thrilled with all the animals at Mule Days," she said. "The day was an enormous success. There were so many people in town. Every available parking space was taken."