Thank you from the Sandpoint Lions Club

The members of the Sandpoint Lions Club wish to thank the people of our community who devoted time and money to the 2018 Independence Day celebration. The children’s parade, Grand Parade and the City Beach fireworks are paid for by the folks buying Sandpoint Lions raffle tickets and merchant and individual donations.

Kicking off at Lost in the ’50s in May until dusk July 4, Lions Club members spent many hours selling raffle tickets to raise the money it takes to pay for the annual celebration.

Special thanks go to Yokes Fresh Market, Super 1 Foods, Walmart, Co-Op Country Store, North 40, Hoot Owl Cafe and Dairy Depot for allowing Lions club members to sell raffle tickets on their premises.

We want to thank all the people who bought those tickets, even when we often heard “I never win anything.” This year’s prize winners tell us they will never say that again!

Grand prize, a 2018 Polaris Sportsman 450 and a 2018 Polaris 110 Outlaw, was won by Caroline Lobsinger, Sandpoint.

Second prize, a $2,000 Bonner County shopping spree, was won by Justin Dick, Sandpoint.

Third prize, $1,000 cash, was won by Andrew Field, Cocolalla.

A huge thanks goes out to our sponsors:

Platinum: Ben Stein

Gold: Sandpoint Super Drug, Idaho Forest Products, Pierce Auto

Silver: P1FCU, Johnson Heating & Cooling, Waterfront Property Management, Sandcreek Schweitzer Conoco, Litehouse,Inc., Dietrich Coffee

Thanks also to Sandpoint Marine and Motorsport for a great price on the grand prize.

The celebration kicked off on the morning of the 4th with the children’s parade. We had a great turnout and the smiles and high energy of all of those young people were the perfect start to a wonderful day.

The Lions Club extends a very special “thank you” to our military veterans who led the Grand Parade, and Tom Spade for providing and driving the incoming Lions president’s vehicle. Hats off to the Elks golf cart patrol for distributing water to the parade participants. We also want to thank all of the people who entered the Grand Parade and helped make it a great success.

We thank our judges: Darcey Smith, Robert Hansell and Kendra Rader.

Thanks to Bill Brown for announcing our entries.

The Bonner County Amateur Radio Club staged their volunteers on the parade route ready to relay information or emergency communications. We appreciate their presence during the parade.

Parade prize winners by category:

Grand prize — Shingle Mill Blueberry Farm

Community/civic — Community Assistance League, Sandpoint.

Youth organizations — Bonner County 4-H project

Commercial — Advanced Offroad Trailer

Forest Products — ALTA Forest Products

Antique Transportation — Injectors Car Club, Sandpoint.

Veterans — Daughters of the American Revolution and Children of the American Revolution, Athol.

Animal — Dust Angels and Dirt Devils Drill Team

Band — The Idaho Club

The fireworks display was great again this year due to the continuing efforts of Rich Vaughn and Jason Gellhaus, Pyro Spectaculars North, Inc.

Everyone who attended the Independence Day celebration also needs to thank the Sandpoint Parks and Recreation, police, EMS and fire departments and the Bonner County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol. The folks in those organizations did a great job of keeping our residents and many visitors safe.

The annual Independence Day celebration in Sandpoint is a special time for the members of the Sandpoint Lions Club. When we see the smiles on the faces of the all the children and visitors to our community during the parade and fireworks, we are truly grateful that we get to do this each year.

Thanks again to everyone who made the 2018 Independence Day celebration a success.

FRANK VISGER

Sandpoint Lions

President

HOWARD SHAY

Sandpoint Lions

Independence Day

chairman