TERRE HAUTE —
America’s birthday party kicked off to the sound of hoof beats Wednesday morning, as more than a hundred horses and their riders weathered the heat, celebrating Terre Haute’s 67th Annual Frontier Day Parade.
Ninety-five entrants trotted along the route from Fourth and Cherry streets, down Wabash Avenue and up Ninth Street, bringing carriages and antique tractors along for the ride.
Hundreds of spectators sought the shade of store canopies as temperatures were in the upper 80s well before noon on a 100-degree day.
The Wabash Valley Horseman’s Association dates back to its founding March 24, 1945.
Parade committee member Sharon Hartman stood on the reviewing stand near First Financial Bank, trying to remember a hotter season than 2012.
“This is probably one of the warmer we’ve had,” she said.
But a little sweat didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits, with participants dressed in western wear, vying for a number of prizes.
Jack Roberts was named 2012 King of the Cowboys, with Emily Edington winning 2012 Frontier Gal.
According to information provided by parade chairwoman Christina Durham-Muncy, Roberts has participated in the Frontier Day, Cory and Riley parades for more than 20 years, volunteered with local 4-H horse clubs and helped found the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department’s mounted posse.
Edington began riding at age 3 and has participated in the Frontier Day Parade for 16 years. A 10-year 4-H member herself, she now volunteers as an adult leader while working at Thompson Farm with their quarter horses. A St. Mary-of-the-Woods College student, she minors in equine studies.
This year’s oldest riders were Tony Dragon, 75, and Bill Grimes, 72.
Durham-Muncy said organizers hope to continue building on the parade’s multi-generational tradition.
“We hope the parade each year can be bigger and better than the last year, adding more spectators too,” she said.
This year’s festivities included three new categories, including “Judge’s Choice” won by Jason Sample, the “Retta Mason Helping Hand Award” won by Hartman, and the “Most Creative” won by Payton and Bailey Halloran.
Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett and his wife, Pam, threw candy from a bicycle-drawn carriage as four police officers led the way on motorcycles.
Lance Fagin, 11, got his first taste of parade showmanship, driving a 1952 Farmall Cub tractor bearing an American flag on back.
“It was fun,” he said, adding he’ll show pigs at the Vigo County 4-H Fair next week, in addition to participating in the threshing demonstration hosted by the antique tractor club. This was his first year to ride a tractor in the parade, and fun as it was, he said other plans were in store for the afternoon. “Probably jump in the pool when I get home,” he said.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Red: Kaitlyn Ray, red riding hood and all, rides along Wabash Avenue on Wednesday morning, in full control of her horse, outfitted with a big bad wolf mask. She was taking part in the Frontier Day parade.
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Variety: Horses and their riders were the main attraction of the Frontier Day parade Wednesday morning
-
A scene from Wednesday's Frontier Day parade in downtown Terre Haute.
-
MET070412frontier2.jpg
Discussion
HORSE COUNTRY
Horses and riders delight spectators at annual event
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A proposal that revamps sex education in Illinois public schools to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases has cleared the state Senate.
-
Gregg pondering 2nd run for Indiana governor
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg is pondering another run at the state's top job, but has yet to make a decision.
-
Illinois senator apologizes for Nazi remark
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter has apologized for remarks that compared a member of Gov. Pat Quinn’s cabinet to a Nazi.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 22, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on jail records.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 21, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
UPDATE: Damage surveys show 2 weak tornadoes hit near Indy
INDIANAPOLIS — The National Weather Service says storm surveys show two weak tornadoes struck central Indiana.
-
Storm causes scattered Indiana power outages
INDIANAPOLIS — A line of thunderstorms that moved across Indiana caused scattered building damage and power outages for several thousand homes and businesses.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
UPDATE: 5 killed, 6 injured in I-70 van crash in Illinois
ST. LOUIS — A van carrying church members returning from a California gathering careened off of a southern Illinois freeway and overturned several times today, killing five people and sending six others to hospitals, authorities said.
-
2 children reported dead from Indianapolis fire
INDIANAPOLIS — Authorities say some autistic children lived in the Indianapolis condominium unit where a fire has killed two children.
-
Tighter Indiana drunken driving law seems unlikely
INDIANAPOLIS — Some key Indiana legislators say it’s unlikely that the state will any time soon go along with a federal safety board’s recommendation that the threshold for drunken driving be cut nearly in half.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 20, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, based on jail records.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” - More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Today in History May 22
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod
Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom
Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life
The all-new Xbox One
RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma
Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial
VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City
