AFAD draws excellent crowds

Organizers were more than pleased with the turnout for the 48th Annual Air Force Appreciation Day celebration last weekend.

"It was fantastic," said AFAD parade organizer Sue Gross.

Perfect weather helped bring out one of the best crowds along the parade route and in the park in the last several years.

New city police Chief John Walter, observing his first AFAD, said that in his lengthy career in law enforcement "it was the largest parade and the most enthusiastic crowd I've ever seen."

Crowds were thick throughout the parade route, and in some cases that caused problems. Every year parade organizers are concerned about children running into the streets to pick up candy thrown from floats and vehicles. This year, trying to hold them back was like pushing back water. In some sections they were so thick on the streets that vehicles barely had enough room to move down the parade route, and there were several reported close calls of children (and in some cases adults) running directly in front of vehciles to recover candy that hadn't been thrown far enough. "A lot of that goes to parental responsibility," Walter noted. "You wouldn't normally let your child dart into the streets in front of traffic."

But overall, the parade ran smoothly with approximately 145 entries and more than 2,000 people taking part.

As the parade ended, the crowds moved quickly into Carl Miller Park where 135 booths were set up, plus a number of inflatable game stations that had been placed on the East Elementary playground. The highlight of the youth activities seemed to be the climbing wall set up by the Idaho National Guard.

Throughout the day thick crowds kept the park full, and while most of the time AFAD begins to wind down by 5 p.m., the park didn't actually empty until around 7 p.m. The entertainment for the day, the band "Third Take," even added an extra set at the end of the day.

Emcee Jack Jensen spent the afternoon announcing the winners of the AFAD raffle. They were:

2008 AFAD Prize Winners

* $1,000 Shopping Spree, DeMeyer Furniture -- June Lonigro.

* $500 Cash Prize -- Don Erickson.

* $500 Cash Prize -- Robert Zumbrun.

* Sears Tool Kit -- Ken Brewer.

* Camping Equipment -- Connie Paquette.

* Barbecue grill, Intermountain Gas -- Paul Bargman.

* Cactus Petes, one night stay/dinner for two -- Ruben F. Lopez.

* Lowes Saw -- Tracey Mangrum.

Winners did not need to be present to win. Prizes can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office.

The winners of the various parade categories also were announced. They were:

AFAD Parade winners

ANIMAL

1st -- Optimist Ag Group

2nd -- Elmore County 4-H

3rd -- Knight's Vet Clinic

CLASSIC VEHICLE

1st -- Wonder Bread-Hostess

2nd -- Affordably Priced Cars

3rd -- R & H Garage Doors

COMMERCIAL I

1st -- JT'S Auto Repair

2nd -- Knight's Vet Clinic

3rd -- Rodiguez Racing

COMMERCIAL 2

1st -- Pioneer Federal Credit Union

2nd -- Jovial Jerry's

3rd -- A Bright Beginning Montessori School

Honorable Mention -- Bastida Towing/Andy Anderson

YOUTH

1st -- Optimist Cheerleaders

2nd -- MHHS Cheerleaders

3rd --MHHS Band

MILITARY

1st -- 726 Air Control Squadron

2nd -- Army National Guard

3rd -- 366th Medical Group

ORGANIZATIONS

1st -- Mountain Home Fire Department Streetwalkers

2nd -- Crimson Crafters Red Hat Society

3rd -- American Legion Honor Guard

RELIGIOUS

1st -- Christian and Baptist Church

2nd -- Faith Lutheran Church

3rd -- Nazarene Church

SERVICE

1st -- American Legion Voiture 336 40 & 8

2nd -- Boise Director's Staff

3rd -- Magic Carpet

BEST REPRESENTATION OF THEME

Christian and Baptist Church

STATIC DISPLY (PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD)

1st -- Optimist Cheerleaders

2nd -- Walmart 2

3rd -- 366th Medical Group

Parade winners' plaques can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office.

Local law enforcement received assistance from motorcycle units from Nampa, Twin Falls and Canyon County.