No rain on this parade
<p>Gary and Beth Dagastine of Post Falls ride in their Stomp Out MS float.</p>
<p>Veterans Ron Barnett, left, and George Minas wave to the crowd during Saturday's parade.</p>
<p>Spencer Callister holds on to candy he collected while watching the parade.</p>
<p>The float of the Post Falls Lunch Ladies was joined by Josh Croyle, dressed in a banana suit, Mariah Nickerson, center, and Jasmine Croyle.</p>
<p>Todd Tondee holds the corner of the giant American flag carried through the Post Falls Day Parade on Saturday on Seltice Way.</p>
<p>Dawn "Opal Kate" Pearson and Edward "Zoomer" Deming drew laughs with their clown act.</p>
<p>A hot dog on roller skates slaps hands with Isabella Short, as others reach out to do the same.</p>
<p>Girl Scout Hannah Trueblood carries a flag.</p>
<p>Keenan Marianno performs with the Post Falls High School marching band.</p>
<p>Boy Scouts carrying flags and banners through the Post Falls Day Parade were, from left, Trent Gritts, Kaden Reagan, Ryan Miller, Carter Sorenson, Samuel Schuster and Noah Lewis.</p>
POST FALLS - When Marg Dunkle of Post Falls looked out the window Saturday morning, she saw rain. Heavy, pouring, relentless rain.
So she called her daughter with this question: "Are you going to the parade?"
"She said, 'No, it's raining.'"
Still, Marg and husband John refused to let the weather keep them from the Post Falls Day Parade, which they've attended each year for the past 20.
They hoped, they trusted, they believed, the rain would go away.
It did.
"I just called my daughter a few minutes ago," Marg Dunkle said as she sat in her chair set up along Seltice Way. "I said, 'Look out the window. There's an orange ball in the sky.'"
Thousands who turned out for the annual parade were rewarded when the rain gave way to sunshine, some clouds and wind.
About 75 parade entries traveled the mile-long route that started at Frederick Street and ended at Idaho Street.
Veterans, bands, floats, hot dogs on roller skates, kids in banana suits, and wig-wearing mini-bikers glided, walked and rode down the center of Seltice, much to the delight and cheers of young and old.
Girl Scouts showed spirit, singing "We are the Girl Scouts, the mighty mighty Girl Scouts," as they marched together.
Jerry Lyon, Post Falls Citizen of the Year, served as grand marshal of the parade, which was sponsored by Community 1st Bank and Ground Force Manufacturing.
Tanner Short, 14, turned out, along with friends and family including Rachel Callister, 13; Maddie Short, 5; Spencer Callister, 2; Isabella Short, 7; and Timberlyn Short, 13.
Asked why they wanted to be at the parade, Tanner offered two words: "The candy."
Maddie and Isabella sat ready to fill plastic bags with treats tossed by those in the parade.
When Spencer was handed his plastic bag before the parade, he had a question: "Where's the candy?"
It came soon enough.
Dawn "Opal Kate" Pearson and Edward "Zoomer" Deming were festive in clown outfits outside as they passed out pretzels, cheese and fruit snacks.
"It's healthy stuff," a smiling Pearson said. "The parents have come up and told us how much they appreciate that they're getting something nutritious for their kids at a parade."
But the parade was about getting laughs from the crowd, too. Pearson held a giant plastic peeler, and Deming a large pretend potato.
"I was chasing him around trying to peel the potato because Ronald McDonald wanted French fries," Pearson said.
The Dunkles enjoyed the hourlong parade, as usual.
"It's nice and small," she said.
Perhaps best was that they arrived just a few minutes before it started, and still claimed a front row seat. And they didn't have to walk far, either, which made both happy.
"His legs are wobbly and I've got a cane," Marg said, laughing.
By the way, it was no surprise to Kerri Thoreson the skies cleared just before the parade. This year was her 21st as parade director.
"In those 21 years it's rained before or after the parade but it has never rained ON or during the parade," she wrote.
The winning entries for the 2012 Post Falls Days Parade:
• Float: The Hut/Puttin' Around
• Marching Unit: Spotlight Studios North Star Cheer
• Antique/Classic Cars: Dixie Services (1959 Cadillac convertible, 1963 Astin Mini)
• Equestrian: Kootenai County Sheriffs Mounted Posse
• Commercial: Jordan Sales & Service
• Parade Committee Choice: River City Animal Hospital