American ranching community shines in Charlo parade
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Kelly and Jeff Wilson of Portland snap a “selfie” before the parade, above.
Linda Sappington
Friends scatter to pick up candy.
Linda Sappington
Jackson Holte rides with Montana Bob Marshall Wilderness Outfitters.
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
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CHARLO — Stopping traffic on Highway 212 isn’t a problem on the Fourth of July. Travelers don’t honk and drivers in the parade readily stop to chat with spectators as the Charlo parade meanders through the middle of town, then U-turns and returns.
“You get more candy, and you get to see it again,” Londyn Bauer, 5, said.
Before the parade, Londyn wanted clarification about which holiday they were celebrating, according to her mom, Jamie.
“She asked, ‘Is this where we go get candy in the dark? Or where we catch candy?’” Jamie Bauer said.
Candy was as abundant as the red, white and blue on both floats and parade-goers. Streams of water from the Charlo Volunteer Fire Department trucks and Charlo softball player’s fierce water guns gladly soaked spectators of all ages.
A special honor was dedicated to longtime Charlo Schools coach Bret Thompson, who was inducted into the Montana Coaches Hall of Fame this year. Normally deferring the limelight to his players, Thompson looked a tad uncomfortable in his lawn chair throne in the back of a pickup truck and endured good-natured teasing before the parade began — comments insinuating he needed a rocking chair, or about “tanning his hide” because he wasn’t wearing a hat.
“I feel pretty fortunate, not only because of the kids, but also the community,” Thompson said. “They have been very supportive of what we’ve tried to do.”
Many of his former athletes still keep in touch with him, he added. Thompson will continue coaching track, cross-country and girls’ basketball when school begins in August.
High school ended 50 years ago for classmates from Charlo High’s Class of 1965. The friends rode the route on a float that declared they were “Still Groovin’.”
About 17 or 18 classmates traveled from North Dakota, Washington, California and Alaska, according to reunion organizer Julie Herak “Out of a class of about 27, that’s not bad,” Herak said.
Jack Collins cruised his 1957 Chevy Bel Air in the parade, restored by his brother in 1974.
“It sat for a lot of years, and it has a few dings,” he said. “But it still looks good from a distance.”
