Odessa float debuts May 20 at Lilac Parade

 

Last updated 5/26/2017 at 7:44pm

--Photo courtesy of Tammy Tokas.

Miss Odessa Danielle Tebow and Princess Maleah Davison made an inaugural run through the streets of Odessa on the community float at dusk on May 18 or to the float's appearance the following Saturday in the Spokane Lilac Parade along with the Odessa High School marching band.

The Odessa community float made its appearance before the townspeople, accompanied by police and fire department vehicles, last Thursday, May 18. The hard work of the float committee chaired by Amy and Kevin Schaefer has paid off handsomely in the "Country Life" theme representing Odessa and its rural heritage.

The following Saturday evening, May 20, the float and the Odessa High School marching band appeared in the Spokane Lilac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, gathering up a third-place award in the process. Awards won by the community float are placed on display in the front (First Avenue) window at the office of The Odessa Record.

Throughout the summer and into next fall, the float will appear in the parades of various communities in eastern Washington, spreading the news of the Odessa Deutschesfest in September and inviting other communities to visit our local festival in return.


Chamber update

At the Odessa Chamber of Commerce meeting on May 9, President Zach Schafer reported that the Desert 100 hospitality tent resulted in a net profit to the Chamber of approximately $6,000. The event is a proven money-maker, and provision of the tent has been much appreciated by the race patrons. A "go-to" person at the site will be needed for next year, as both Zach Schafer and Marlon Schafer, who essentially co-chaired the event this year, are too busy with their own businesses to be able to spend the necessary time at the site. Now is the time for anyone interested to come forward and begin learning the ropes for next year.


The Chamber board recommended acceptance of a "refreshed" logo for Deutschesfest, as well as updated advertising campaigns that utilize all types of media, including print, broadcast and social media. More information on the fresh look for the 2017 festival will be provided in the next few issues of The Record.

Tammy Smith is the Biergarten chairman for this year's Fest, and she will be assisted by another former chairman Don Strebeck. Two additional volunteers have also come forward to serve as understudies, so it would appear that Fest will continue at least for another few years.

As a donation to the Odessa Chamber, the Odessa Lions Club has purchased a commercial-grade gas range for the community center kitchen to replace the older electric household range.

Town of Odessa

Filing for government offices ended last Friday. Odessa councilmen Landon Lobe and Kelly Watkins both filed to run for their respective positions. Mayor Lois Hubbard will step down from her position at the end of the year on the advice of her doctor. Two candidates have filed for the mayoral post, Steven Siegel and current town councilman Bill Crossley.

Author Bio

Terrie Schmidt-Crosby, Editor

Terrie Schmidt-Crosby is an editor with Free Press Publishing. She is the former owner and current editor of the Odessa Record, based in Odessa, Wash.

 

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