Uncle Sam Float Judged 'Most Patriotic' in St. Ignace July 4 Parade

Enjoying a front row seat on the curb of North State Street in anticipation of St. Ignace's Fourth of July parade are (front, from left) Lydia Massaway, Jaxon Massaway, Traci Tamlyn; (middle row) Shaelynn Upchurch, sitting on Debbie Tamlyn's lap; (back) Lily Stenson and her father, Nathan Stenson. Pictured on the far right, standing, is Lily's grandmother, Roxanne Smith.

This year's winners in the float contest during St. Ignace's annual Independence Day Parade Wednesday, July 4, were the St. Ignace After School Program, which won Most Creative, Central Savings Bank, which won Most Patriotic, and Zion Lutheran Church, which was voted as Best Presentation of Scene.

The After School Program featured two full trailer hitches of children involved in the program.

Central Savings Bank featured Uncle Sam, portrayed by St. Ignace resident Leonard Thomas, atop a three-layered cake. He showered onlookers with candy and flying discs.

Zion Lutheran Church also featured a cake, in gold, red and white, highlighting its centennial year.

Father Rey Garcia leads his group of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church members along the parade route. Behind him, the group is carrying a small statue of Father Jacques Marquette. Father Rey also serves at Ste. Anne's Catholic Church on Mackinac Island.

After the parade, families and children, both local and those visiting the area, enjoyed games, karaoke, and an open house hosted by the St. Ignace Fire Department, at Dock 3.

Results of the St. Ignace Fourth of July kids competitions for boys and girls follow:

RUNNING Ages 4 and younger Boys 1. Jack Becker 2. Brady McFarland
3. Christian Earl
Girls
1. Hallie Marshall
2. Alisan Marsh
3. Alaynah Lester
Ages 5 and 6
Boys
1. Tucker Shepard
2. Cole Jameson
3. Ben Coveyou
Girls
1. Emily Coveyou
2. Libby Becker
3. Rebecca Marolf
Ages 7 and 8
Boys
1. Drew Marshall
2. Ben Doran
3. Dylan McPhee
Girls
1. Lydia Johnston
2. Kate Bentgen
3. Jessie Frazier

Military veterans of Mackinac County are represented in the St. Ignace parade by (from left) Phil Richel, Norm Smith, Don McKinnon, Michael Lehto, and Rick Litzner. Not pictured are participants John Monville and Rex Hooper.

Ages 9 and 10
Boys
1. James Cryderman
2. Ben Schieding
3. Mathias Earl
Girls
1. Morghan Jameson
2. Bailey Holtham
3. Rebeccah Becker
Ages 11 and 12
Boys
1. Dean Chase
2. Josh Holtham
3. Justin Bly
Girls
1. Haillee Becker
2. Julia Fiore
3. Alyssa Gravelle
Ages 13 and 14
Boys
1. Dennis Chase
Girls
1. Jamie Holtham
2. Alexa Thibeault
3. Taylor Becker
SACK
Ages 4 and younger
Boys
1. Chase Tallaire
2. Christian Earl
3. Silas Harper
Girls
1. Hallie Marshall
2. Jayde Fraser
3. Alaynah Lester
Ages 5 and 6
Boys
1. Cole Jameson
2. Tucker Shepard
3. Ben Coveyou
Girls
1. Olivia McNamee

The United States Coast Guard color guard marches down North State Street with one of its water crafts in tow.

2. Katelyn Buckey
3. Libby Becker
Ages 7 and 8

Boys
1. Jack Styes
2. Austin Wachnicki
3. Zak Lasley
Girls
1. Hailey Holtham
2. Madelyn Theut
3. tie - Jessie Frazier and Rachel
Jameson
Ages 9 and 10
Boys
1. Ben Schieding
2. Mitchell Snyder
3. Mathias Earl
Girls
1. Rebeccah Becker
2. tie - Sara Bly and Margo
Brown
3. Morgan Gustafson
Ages 11 and 12
Boys
1. Dean Chase
2. Jake Dodds
3. Michael Whitman
Girls
1. Julia Fiore
2. Miranda Wachnicki
3. Maria Chase
Ages 13 and 14
Boys
1. Dennis Chase
2. Nato Noel
3. D.J. Upchurch
Girls
1. tie - Jamie Holtham and
Alexa Thibeault
2. Megan Holt

THREE-LEGGED
Ages 4 and younger
Boys
1. Leah Wilson and Christian
Earl
2. Konner Rickley and Chase
Tallaire
Girls
1. Alaynah Lester and Maizy
Brown
2. Jayde Fraser and Marlee
Huskey
Ages 5 and 6
Boys
1. Ben Coveyou and Jacob
Fenlon
2. Caleb Brown and Tucker
Shepard
3. Nickolas Grassel and Sarah
Grassel
Girls
1. Olivia McNamee and Kiara
Bishop
2. Tessa Shepard and Olivia
Champion
3. tie - Sarah Doran and Allison
Smith, Allie Noel Howard and
Bella Harman
Ages 7 and 8
Boys
1. Jack Styes and Austin
Wachnicki
2. Austin Marshall and Hunter

Frazier
3. Jack Dodson and Ben Doran
Girls
1. Jessie Frazier and Lydia
Brown
2. Chloe Howard and Isabella
Singleton
3. Lorrie Forbes and Rebecca
Forbes
Ages 9 and 10
Boys
1. Dylan Marshall and Mitchell
Snyder
2. Jacob Fenlon and Taz Tasker
3. Mathias Earl and Jared
Fenlon
Girls
1. Whitney Matson and Angela
Donajkowski
2. tie - Margo Brown and
Allison Gustafson, Shelby Lasley
and Morgan Gustafson
3. Sarah Grassel and Kristin
Fiore
Ages 11 and 12
Boys
1. Tyler Snyder and Ben
Schieding
2. Martin Donajkowski and Jake
Dodds
3. Olivia Theut and Michael
Whitman
Girls
1. Haillee Becker and Molly
Sposito
2. Brooklyn Chambers and
Marina Brown
3. tie - Michaela Miller and
Kristi Gustafson, Olivia Theut and
Jack Whitman
Ages 13 and 14
Boys
1. Dean Chase and Dennis
Chase
2. Aaron Colegrove and Kris
Gustafson
3. Nato Noel and D.J. Upchurch
Girls
1. tie - Taylor Becker and Alexa
Thibeault, Jenna Fiore and Megan
Haight
2. Kacey Fitzpatrick and
Jennifer Hoolsema