Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Things got competitive Saturday morning during the mile-long run/walk before the Sportsman’s Holiday Parade, with proceeds to benefit the high school track program.
Among the 49 runners and walkers who participated were the Sportsman’s Holiday Court, who walked the course.
Princesses Chelsea Gregory and Jamie Burcham played it smart and used 15th Avenue as a shortcut to the finish line on Long Street. Princesses Zuri Van Cleave and Ashley Byrns turned a little competitive near the end, breaking into a run.
First Princess Kimberlee Bell just edged out Princess Amanda Basham for last place when Basham’s tag was taken first in the finish chute.
Caleb Goins of Scio was the winner of the second annual Sportsman’s Holiday Mile, run immediately before the parade. (For more on the race results, see page 12.)
Meanwhile, parade participants were getting ready in the Husky Field parking lot and the sidewalks on both Long and Main streets were quickly filling with spectators.
The parade started out on 22nd Avenue, turning left onto Main Street and traveling to 10th Avenue to reach Long Street and head back to Husky Field.
As the parade started, police and fire sirens were clearly audible to those gathered on Long Street, sparking a spectator migration to Main Street to catch the parade earlier.
Grand sweepstakes winner was Little Promises Preschool and Daycare.
“It was awesome,” said Carli Erickson, Chamber of Commerce executive director. “Spectator turnout was fantastic. I heard lots of really positive things about it.”
She thought the new route, now in its second year with some small changes, still confused a lot of people.
“I really got positive feedback about the quality of the parade and how long it was,” Erickson said. The parade had 55 registered entries and a handful more who showed up Saturday, probably 60 total.
She also said the Sportsman’s Holiday run was a good addition to the day’s events and is something that will keep growing.
She thought the parade captured more of what it used to be, she said. People are looking for that sense of history. She thought that showed up in a growing level of community involvement.
As the parade ended, Sweet Home folks headed for the Singing Christmas Tree Arts and Crafts Fair and stick horse rodeo at the high school, to the East Linn Museum bazaar and the East Linn Christian Academy barbecue chicken stand at Thriftway.
The Logger Olympics was soon underway at the Events Center, with defending relay champion Rice Logging carrying away the top trophy of the day to lead into Saturday’s Sweet Home Rodeo program.
The rodeo had strong attendance this year, said Kellie Kem, a rodeo board member. She did not have exact figures Monday, but “we’re way up. We’re pleased with that. The weather was in our favor.”
She is certain the rodeo didn’t lose money this year, she said. “We should walk away in the black.”
Figures will become available in coming weeks.
The crowds on Friday and Saturday were excellent, Kem said. Sunday’s performance had a lower turnout, but it was better than the past couple of years as well.
“I felt like we had a very successful year,” Kem said. “We received several compliments from the barrel racers that the grounds were very good.”
A newly certified cowboy told her that Central Oregon cowboys were telling him to go to Sweet Home, Kem said, and a corporate official from Dodge, a sponsor, complimented the rodeo.
To top it off, Sweet Home residents had the chance to cheer on their own hometown bull rider, Leif Erickson, during the Saturday night show (see story on page 1).
Sunday, cowboys and officials wore pink as part of the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign, which is supposed to raise awareness about breast cancer as well as honoring the victims and survivors of the disease.
The rodeo gave special recognition this year to a local, Susan Fitzsimons, who died in 2005 as a result of breast cancer.
Kem also reported that Queen Larissa Bjornsen and her daughter, Princess Cera Kem, were doing fine after they collided during the grand entry Sunday.
Both are expected to see doctors again, she said, but they will recover from their injuries.
Cera had a sprained back, she said. Larissa may have suffered torn knee and shoulder ligaments.
Cera was transported by ambulance to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital where she was anxious to get back to the rodeo and finish her work, Kem said. She returned later and signed autographs for children who were still straggling out at the end of the show. Larissa was able to walk away and was not transported, but she was unable to finish the show because of her injuries.
A cowboy also was injured while bull riding Sunday, Kem said. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance but is doing fine now. He had been injured the night before at Cottage Grove.
Sunday’s events also included the 37th annual Gospel Jamboree, hosted by Ed Knox and featuring the Cornerstones, Perry Crocker, Karen McMillan and Sherry Dawn and Hosanna.
Parade Results
Grand Sweepstakes: Little Promises Preschool and Daycare
Commercial: A&W, first place; Samaritan Wiley Creek Community, second; Collins’ Kids Daycare and Preschool, third.
Religious: Little Promises Preschool and Daycare, first place; East Linn Christian Academy, second.
Bands, Dance and Drill Teams: Sweet Home High School Huskiettes Dance Team, first place; Sweet Home Cheer, second.
Youth Groups: Foster School 21st Century Learning Centers, first place; Oasis softball team, second; Sweet Home Softball Association, third.
Civic and Fraternal Organizations: Sweet Home Squarenaders, first place; Veterans of Foreign Wars, second; Linn County 40&8, third.
Horses and Other Animals: B&B Riders 4-H Club, first place; Shena Kay Spears, second; Calapooia River Rat Terrier Kennel, third.
Royalty and Courts: South Santiam Sweet Potato Queens, first place; Sweet Home Rodeo Court, second; Sportsman’s Holiday Court, third.
Dignitaries: Fred Girod, House District 17, first place; Scott McKee Jr., Sweet Home City Council, second; Craig Fentiman, Sweet Home mayor, third.
Antique Cars: Richard Minor, first place; Henry Wolthuis, second; Edmond Murray, third.
Classic Cars: Out of Town Clowns, first place; Sweet Home Choppers, second; Mike Speck in his 1978 Ford F350 4×4, third.