Polk County
Living
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 12, 2017 7A
CELEBRATING
INDEPENDENCE DAY
IN POLK COUNTY
STEPHANIE BLAIR/Itemizer-Observer
Antique military trucks thrilled spectators at the Monmouth/Independence Rotary Club Grand Parade on July 4.
Itemizer-Observer staff report
MONMOUTH/INDE-
PENDENCE — The grand
parade wowed participants
on July 4 with festive floats
and plenty of charm.
Monmouth-Indepen-
dence Rotary Grand Parade
Results.
Most Patriotic — Cub
Scout Troop 38, Mon-
mouth-Independence
Judge: Chris Lopez
Best Youth — First place:
Central High School Future
Farmers of America; second
place: Stinky Feet Preschool;
third place (tie): Central
High School softball and
Friends of Panthers Baseball
Judge: Scot McDonald
Best Equestrian — First
place (tie): Polk County
Saddle-ites and Diamond
Heart Barn
Judge: Carmen Phillips
Best Float — First place:
Central High School Thes-
pians; second place: Mon-
mouth Tautzo Fiesta
Queen; third place: Camp
Creation
Judge: Rebecca Salinas-
Oliveros
Most Effort in Prepara-
tion — First place: Mid Val-
ley Christian Academy; sec-
ond place: Central Youth
Sports; third place (tie):
Petals and Vines and The
Monmouth Senior Center
Judge: Cec Koontz
Highway Trucks — First
place: Grossman and West-
on; second place: Van Wells
Building Supply; third
place: Walsh Trucking
Judge: Ryan Hall
Farm Equipment — First
place: Hunsaker Dental; sec-
ond place: Green Acres;
third place: Ag West Farm
Supply
Judge: Chad Woods
Modern Vehicles — First
place: Randy Mandarino
1982 K-5 Blazer; second
place: Rich Bailey 2001
Blown Alcohol Drag Car;
third place: Salvador McGee
1970 Pontiac Catalina
Judge: Will Bergey
Antique Cars — First
place: Bette Jo Lawson and
Diane Weaver 1903 REO
Runabout; second place
(tie): Gary Fuszek 1960 Ford
F100 Pickup and Dave and
Arleta Thiel 1937 Chevy
Sedan; third place: Rey
Cantu 1956 Chevy Pickup
Judge: Robert Beck
STEPHANIE BLAIR/Itemizer-Observer
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Falls City kicked off its celebration with a parade on July 1.
King George III antagonized the crowd in Independence, but was met with boos and
was assaulted with water cannons by some of the youngsters.
STEPHANIE BLAIR/Itemizer-Observer
Carpet Hero flexed atop a moving truck making its way
down the Monmouth/Independence parade route.
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys performed classic rock in Dallas City Park during Freedom Fest.