Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
The Stein Club engine and train welcoming SynSel to Ontonagon took second place in the Ontonagon Labor Day Parade Sunday. Passengers boarded and left the train along the route. The entry also added to the back that "Labor Builds Tracks" and expressed hopes that the rail would soon return to the area.
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon - The rains stopped in time Sunday for the 62nd annual Labor Day Festival parade in Ontonagon. The parade was a salute to SynSel Energy, which has announced it is building a bio-fuel plant in Ontonagon. The parade marshal was Tim Tawoda, the CEO of the company.
Several of the large, home-built floats welcomed the company as well as celebrated the 175th birthday of the village of Ontonagon.
The reputation of the community for its float building wowed the large crowd with more entries than in any past parade. The judges had a tough time deciding the winners as the first three floats were separated by just three points. Willie Wonka Wonka and the chocolate factory entered by the Bauer family and friends claimed first prize. The large chocolate factory, with its flowing chocolate and dancing Oompa Loompas delighted the audience. In second place, the Stein Club welcomed SynSel with its train. The large engine and the attached coach welcomed passengers off and on.
The Norwich County Club claimed third with its Budweiser (Norweiser) float. The title of the float was "This Bud's for you SynSel." The human Clysdales pretened to pull the float while the ever present dalmations road atop.
The Ontonagon Golf Club took forth with its salute to Las Vegas and some of the stars associated with it. The fifth place entry was the Agate Social Club of South Ontonagon County with its "Remabessy."
Henry's Inn of Rockland MargaritaVille and salute to Queen Sally won the commercial Trophy
In the youth division, United We Stand claimed first place followed by the Lake of the Clouds Little League and the U.P. Rodeo Queen Grace Lundberg.
Marty's Goldenaires presented a concert after the parade as well as performing in the parade. Music was also provided by the Bessemer, Hurley and Ontonagon Bands and The Copper Country Clown Band.
