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T he C olumbia P ress
July 6, 2018
July 6, 2018
T he C olumbia P ress
Fourth: Cool cars, hot motorcycles, loud
fire trucks, plus wind, cold and a bit of rain
Continued from Page 1
aunt lives on Main Street,” said Lindsey
Burns of Astoria, who entered her 1966 Ford
F100. “I’m 27 and I haven’t missed a parade in
all this time. Except this year, I have to work at
3 o’clock.”
There were floats and entries from Costco,
Fred Meyer, KOA, Big River Excavating and
dozens of other local businesses.
Clubs, children’s groups and professional
organizations all brought cheer and plenty of
candy to toss to the thousands of people lining
Main Avenue.
“I find it remarkable that everybody’s so will-
ing to be cooperative so we can have a good,
safe parade,” said D.B. Lewis, who was staging
the parade at First Street and Alder Avenue.
There were more than 75 entries, many of
them including dozens of people or several ve-
hicles.
It was the first year for the Oregon Air Na-
tional Guard’s F15 flyover. The 142nd Fighter
Wing had already made flyovers at parades
in Manzanita, Independence and Rockaway
Parade Awards
Beach before passing above Warrenton.
“I’m pretty stoked!!!” Mayor Henry Balensifer
wrote after learning he was successful in ar-
ranging the F15 flyover after he and City Man-
ager Linda Engbretson toured their facilities in
March.
“Their mission goes unnoticed by many, but it
is critical,” he said. “They are the only American
air assets ready and able to respond to threats
against the homeland between California and
Alaska.”
Their pass over Warrenton was 1,000 feet
above ground and at 400 mph, according to the Above: Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival’s Float.
142 Fighter Wing. The Coast Guard’s rescue he- Below: Kids wave from Big River’s big truck entry.
licopter was much closer and slower.
Car Show Awards
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Mayor’s Award: Terry McCleary of Asto-
ria, ‘57 Chevy Chevelle
People’s Choice: Bob Torppa of Grays
River, ‘68 Pontiac Firebird
Best Restoration: Name unavailable,
Black Chrysler
Flashiest: Dave Pedegana, ‘37 Ford
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Mayor’s Award: Fur &
Feathers 4H
Clatsop Award: Infinity
Gymnastics Academy
Astoria Award/Most Patri-
otic: Columbia Bank
Hammy Award: Bayview
Transit Mix
Warrenton Award: Ore-
gon Army and Air National
Guard units stationed at
Camp Rilea
Peggy Yingst/The Columbia Press
Dan Jordan and his old military bike take a lead position in the pa-
rade.
Cindy Yingst/The Columbia Press
A patriotic young lady rides in a pink Barbie car in the 2018
Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Parade down Main Avenue.
Left: Mayor Henry Balensifer
gives the Mayor’s Trophy to Fur
and Feathers 4H Club.
Photo by Kelsey Balensifer
Bottom left: Parade judge Paul
Mitchell hands out the Hammy
Award to the crew from Bayview
Transit Mix.
Photo by Mike Moha
Bottom right: Local Commer-
cial Fisheries brought a large
cable hoist as part of its entry in
the parade.
Cindy Yingst/The Columbia Press
Bottom left: Bob Torppa of Grays River holds on to the hood of his ‘68 Pontiac Firebird as winds
kicked up Wednesday afternoon. He won the People’s Choice trophy.
Bottom right: Visitors look at Mike Brewer’s 1926 Dodge Bros. Brewer said everything on the car
is original, “but I made it run.” It was first sold in Kent, Wash.
Cindy Yingst/The Columbia Press
Peggy Yingst/The Columbia Press
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Costco’s colorful float had bulk shopping items and lots of
cute kids.