Tumbleweed weekend filled with class reunions, laughter and fun
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-EW photo by Naomi Scoggin
Pomeroy's Class of 1973 was a ship-shape bunch, celebrating their 50th reunion with a splendid float. Class reunions, the honoring of the 2023 Pioneers George Scoggin and Scoggin Families, the pairing of food and sips at the Wine & Stein all made this year's Tumbleweed Days one to remember.
POMEROY––The Pioneer Days and Tumbleweed Festival kicked off on Friday, June 9, with the All Class Reunion at the Pataha Flour Mill and the Wine & Stein fundraiser for the Seeley Theater. Saturday events began with the annual Garfield County Fair fundraiser pancake breakfast, the Pioneer Day Parade at 10 a.m., a food fair at the Spinners Maple Hall, and the 111th Garfield County Pioneer Day Program at the Seeley Theater.
The Pioneer Day Parade began with the American flag carried by Robert Koller, with Marcus Peterson playing the National Anthem on his trumpet. Gary Peters, of Hanger 180 out of Lewiston, performed a flyover with his North American P-51 Mustang.
The parade featured floats of reuniting classes from 2003 back to 1968, winners of the 2022 Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce awards, Garfield County Fire District trucks both historic and active, and Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum vintage tractors and vehicles.
The parade winners were Willy and Emily Ruchert's 1930 Model A for Best Car, the EWAM's 1952 JI Case Vac for Best Tractor, the Pirate Ponies 4-H Club for Best Horse entry, the Class of '73 for Best Class Float, and the Washington State University Veterinary Wagon, on loan to the EWAM from the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine and pulled by Dave and Sas Waldron's draft horses, won the Johnny Capwell Best of Show award.
-EW photo by Naomi Scoggin
Honored Pioneer
The 2022 Chamber award winners are Gary Houser-Life Time Achievement award; Meyers Hardware-Business of the Year; Shelly Slaybaugh-Employee of the Year; and Katie Magill-Volunteer of the Year.
The Pioneer Day Program featured the 2023 Honored Pioneers George Scoggin and Scoggin Families, descendants of James G. Scoggin, who arrived in Garfield County in 1877, and the settlement of the Alpowa-Silcott area as the Communities of the Past highlight.
Music for the program was provided by Gary Bowles and Chad Weimer, and Jim Ruchert, President of the Garfield Country Pioneer Association, presented the Pomeroy High School Alumni Association class list of 2023, featuring PHS graduates and their parents and grandparents who also graduated from PHS.
