TEN - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Rietmanns grand marshals
-Continued from PAGE ONE
“When the Ione exten-
sion club was no longer
having meetings, Brian
and I took over the annual
Easter egg hunt until after
I started working at the
bank,” says Sharon. “Fran
Barnett—manager at the
time—and I were the last
members of the extension,
and she offered the bank
as the headquarters for the
egg hunt.”
One of Brian’s main
areas of service for several
years has been as the Ione
American Legion Post 95
commander. While he had
been with the Legion post
for some time, he wasn’t
as sure about serving as
commander.
“They came to me and
asked if I wanted to be the
commander, and I said no,”
he recalls. They came back,
he says, with promises that
it wasn’t that much work.
Eventually, he caved and
said yes.
Despite promises,
American Legion post com-
mander has kept him busy
in the years since then.
He’s been involved in the
Honor Guard since becom-
ing commander, whether
marching in parades or
organizing appearances. At
least, he says they used to
march in the parades.
“Now we drive, be-
cause we’re ‘too old,’” he
says.
He also works with the
Legion keeping track of the
schedule and hall rentals,
making repairs, attending
meetings, and even going
to conventions like one he
recently attended in Coos
Bay.
“And he just helps peo-
ple around town,” Sharon
adds, saying he helps neigh-
bors with yard work and
small repairs.
Sharon is also involved
in American Legion Post 95
as a member of the Auxilia-
ry. She is also a long-time
volunteer on both the City
of Ione and Ione Library
District budget committees.
And, of course, both
have a long history of in-
volvement with Ione’s
Fourth of July celebration.
Both can recall the cele-
bration as it was in decades
past—when, for instance,
the yearly fireworks were
set off by the school.
“I remember going up
on south hill, and you could
see Condon’s fireworks
from there,” adds Brian.
As an adult, Sharon
spent “a lot of years” volun-
teering with the yearly duck
race down Main Street.
“When our daughter
was a cheerleader, we were
looking for fundraising
ideas. I had heard about
Heppner’s duck race and
thought that would work in
Ione,” says Sharon, adding
that one problem was that
Willow Creek is really low
in July. “I was looking for
Ione Fourth of July Schedule
solutions when Frank Hal-
vorsen mentioned asking
the fire department if we
could use their water truck
to run the ducks down Main
Street. That is how we start-
ed the first duck race on the
Fourth of July.”
The duck race has since
helped raise money for the
annual easter egg hunt and
sports teams.
Brian has helped with
the straw money pile in the
Ione park, as well as with
the fireworks as a member
of the Legion.
“I helped light fire-
works one year,” he recalls.
For them, though, their
main enjoyment always
came from spending time
with friends and family
during the annual event—
the little things that make
life special.
“I just always enjoy
getting together with fami-
ly and listening to music,”
says Sharon.
In fact, the down-to-
earth couple seems a little
stumped as to why they
would be chosen as grand
marshals.
“It’s an honor,” says
Sharon.
“An honor,” agrees
Brian.
Anyone attending the
Fourth of July festivities in
Ione next week can give a
shout out to the Rietmanns
during the parade, which
begins at 1 p.m. on July 4
on Ione’s Main Street.
Monday, July 3
Golf Tournament
Willow Creek Country Club, Heppner, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, July 4
Fireman’s Breakfast
Ione Fire Hall, 7-10 a.m.
Creative Care Preschool 5k Walk/Run
Ione City Park, 7 a.m. registration, walk starts at 7:30 a.m. ($10)
Ken Turner Memorial Horseshoe Tournament
Horseshoe Pits, 9 a.m.
Cruz-in Car Show
Ione City Park, 10 a.m.
Vendors & Booths
Ione City Park, 11 a.m.
Fish Pond & Bike Raffle
Fire Hall/Park, 11 a.m.
Parade – Grand Marshals: Brian & Sharon Rietmann
Main Street, 1 p.m.
Duck Races
Main Street, After Parade
Free Swimming
Ione High School Swimming Pool, 445 Spring Street, 1-5 p.m.
Knockerball Tri-Cities Free Games
Main Street & Ione City Park, 2-6 p.m.
Laser Tag, Putt Putt Golf, Soccer Dart Board, Archery Target, Ax Throwing
Bingo
Legion Hall, 2 nd Street, 2-4 p.m.
Soul Patch (Luke Basil & Frazer Wambeke)
Amphitheater Stage, 2-3 p.m.
Cory Peterson Band
Amphitheater Stage 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Talent Show
Amphitheatre Stage, 4 p.m. registration, show at 4:30 p.m.
Featured Entertainment
Amphitheater Stage, 6:30 p.m.
James Dean Kindle & His Country Combo (6:30 p.m.), Wicked Mary (8:30 p.m.)
Fireworks Display
Visible throughout Ione (weather permitting), Dusk
All events, times and locations are subject to change.
Ione’s Fourth of July Celebration is sponsored in part by
Morrow County Unified Recreation District.
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