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Huge crowds enjoy AFAD
Organizers called it one of the best ever as the 46th Annual Air Force Appreciation Day celebration drew thousands of people to the state's largest parade and the free barbecue in Carl Miller Park Saturday.
Well over 5,000 people took advantage of the free barbecue, which followed the two-hour parade.
The parade featured over 150 entries, more than 200 vehicles, half a dozen genuine floats, and more than 2,400 participants. Jack Jensen served as the parade announcer.
The parade was led by Grand Marshall Diane Ferrell, Gov. and Mrs. Jim Risch, and Sen. Larry Craig, and also featured Congressman C.L. "Butch" Otter, congressional candidate Larry LaRocco, and gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brady.
"It was a great day," said Chamber Director Debbie Shoemaker,"and the weather was perfect," with bright skies, comfortable temperatures, and considerably less smoke in the air from the region's fires than there had been earlier in the week.
An estimated 10,000 people visited the park, where more than 125 booths were set up providing food, fun and games.
The Golden West Air Force band performed in the park in the afternoon, along with the Kuk Sol Won karate team and the Mountain Home Optimist Cheerleaders
The theme for this year's event was "Keep the Flags of Freedom Flying," and American flags were prominent among the parade entries.
As usual, there were problems with children running into the street to grab candy thrown from the floats and vehicles in the parade, but this year there seemed to be an unusual number of adults also crowding the children in their rush to grab candy.
Throughout the afternoon drawings were held for a number of raffle prizes offered by the Air Force Appreciation Day Committee.
2006 AFAD Prize Winners
Scooter by Yamaha -- Christina Van Dyke.
$500 Cash Prize -- Charlene Wyman.
$500 Cash Prize -- Melinda Liercke,
Cordless Combo Tool Kit -- Casey Ferrell.
Camping Equipment -- Mary Ethel Langfitt.
Natural Gas BBQ -- Valerie Lavender.
18-ft. Swimming Pool -- Joe Dunn.
All prizes can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office.
The commitee also announced its winners of the various categories in the parade Saturday afternnon. Plaques can be picked up at the Chamber office.
AFAD Parade Winners
PEOPLE'S CHOICE -- 1st, 366th Medical Group; 2nd, Home Federal; 3rd, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
JUDGES CHOICE (for best representation of theme) -- Jovial Jerry's.
COMMERCIAL 1 -- 1st, Jovial Jerry's; 2nd, Wondertrail; 3rd, Think Q Painting.
COMMERCIAL 2 -- 1st, DECA Base Commissary; 2nd Johnson Brothers Hospitality, Nascar #99, Valley Towing; 3rd, Advanced Services.
MILITARY -- 1st, 366th Civil Engineering Squadron/CEX; 2nd, MHAFB Child Development Center; 3rd, 390th Fighter Squadon Boarmobile.
CLASSIC VEHICLE -- 1st, Lee Bagley's 1967 Camero; 2nd, Corbus John Deere Classic Tractors; 3rd, 1919 Model T Ford Montgomery Ward Conversion.
RELIGIOUS -- 1st, Faith Lutheran Church; 2nd, Independent Baptist Church of Mountain Home; 3rd, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
SERVICE -- 1st, Mothers of the Military; 2nd, Little Red Hen Red Hat Society; 3rd, Alumni of MHHS.
YOUTH -- 1st, Optimist Youth Ag Group; 2nd, MHHS Band; 3rd, Optimist Cheerleaders.
ANIMAL -- 1st, Elmore County 4-H Club; 2nd, Elmore County Fair and Rodezo Junior Queen Karmen Metzer; 3rd, Ireland for Commissioner.
OTHER -- 1st, Idaho Motorcycle Club; 2nd, High Desert Travelers; 3rd, Republican Party.