Readers know that my primary reason for attending parades is to look out for political implications.
But what gave me the biggest kick was the Crystal Lake Strikers playing “Wipe Out” in front of the First United Methodist Church.
The Crystal Lake Strikers formed a large semi-circle and serenaded those lining the street with their version of “Wipe Out.” Women near and beyond my age were dancing to the heavy beat of the music. Councilman Brett Hopkins has a snare drum.
There was even a political angle associate with the Strikers. Take a look at the last base drummer. Isn’t that Mayor Aaron Shepley?
Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley made two passes through the parade route–first on the float and second with the Strikers.
The 2014 4th of July Parade in Crystal Lake had four Republican entries.
People expected gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner to address the crowd, but he, Congressman Randy Hultgren and U.S. Senatorial candidate Jim Oberweis were working the crowd from the Main Beach end of Dole Avenue to City Hall. You can see Sheriff candidate Bill Prim on the far left.
Before the parade, volunteers gathered behind the building next to the CL Fire Department where Walter Alarm Service is headquartered.
I caught a lot of the walkers posing before the parade started.
Volunteers for GOP candidate for Attorney General Paul Schimpf posed for a photo separately.
Volunteers for GOP candidate for Attorney General Paul Schimpf posed for a photo separately.
The crowd stood as Veterans’s entries color guards passed.
The Republican Party did not have an entry, so many candidates marched with the Young Republicans, which had a fairly early entry.
Former Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Exec. Gary Reece was the Grand Marshall. As usual, Jim Athans was at the wheel.
The first politician I caught was Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen.
Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen was wearing a Lions Club tee shirt while he passed out candy.
With a sign that pointed out the Crystal Lake is 100 years old this year, other members of the Council rode on a float.
Members of the Crystal Lake City Council and family members rode on this float. Cameron Hubbard’s family is on the left. Cathy Ferguson is in the middle. Councilman Brett Hopkins and Mayor Aaron Shepley are on the right hand side. (Hopkins is wearing a CL Stikere cap.) Ralph Dawson’s back can be seen on the left hand side of the other side of the float. City Clerk Nick Kachiroubas is at the end of the far side.
The next entry that caught my eye was the Crystal Lake Lions Club’s huge flag.
John Landon was the front row left man on the flag crew.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office seemed to have the same vehicle as last year.
The Sheriff’s Department has one vehicle this year, just as it did last year.
But there was no privately paid sign saying “Andrew Zinke, Undersheriff” below the window.
McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy waves to the crowd.
And, unlike last year, a traditional wave was the greeting offered to the crowd.
A-Tec Ambulance had two vehicles.
A-Tec’s red Cadillac had me looking for Ghost Busters.
The first made me think of Ghost Busters.
If the Sheriff’s Department is worth a mention, so is the Crystal Lake Public Library.
The synchronized Crystal Lake Library cart pushers behind the banner were in the tradition of the sorely missed lawn chair guys.
It is celebrating its 100th Birthday this year, the same as the city.
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More tomorrow.
This was a A class event.
No finger waving Zinke l.o.l. and none of Harrison’s 9,000 supporters that I could see.
He did apologize that he couldn’t make it, but Jim no one was looking for you. l.o.l.,
Big applause when Bill Prim and the team went by.
How fun!
What a great group of people!
An applause well deserved.
Yes voter it was..
This year we didn’t hear Zinke’s wife be the class tool she is, swearing f words .
And I saw Deputy Amy Knop drive the Sheriffs Tahoe this year.
.No middle fingers out the window like stinky Zinky did.
Speaking of that, did Deputy Knop submit her usual time and half over time slip for 6 hours, even though parade lasted one hour, and if you include the line up time from lets say 11 to the end of parade is no more than 3 1/2 hrs, where does this add up to 6 ?
Oh wait, thats right we are talking about Nygren mathematics .
From the looks of the proud Deputies supporting Prim in the parade, I bet that when Prim takes over as Sheriff, they will gladly drive that Tahoe in the parade as dedicated time, and not charge the tax payers .
When the parade went through Rt 14, all I heard was cheering for Prim for Sheriff !
It’s a new day in McHenry County.
Very inspiring…
I hope Cal has pictures of the old fire truck supporting Prim.
It was such a positive parade and you could feel it in the air.
Deputy Sheriff’s morale is even going up anticipating the win for Bill Prim as Sheriff!!!!!!!!!!!
What was more touching was the older World Was II veteran in a wheel chair with 2 oxygen tanks who wanted to be in the parade on a float.
Well they all carried this wonderful man,in his wheel chair, up on the float.
There he sat, proud, waving a flag and holding a Bill Prim for Sheriff sign.
I don’t think anyone knew who he was but that didn’t matter.
It made for one happy veteran for the day .
At the end of the parade someone picked him up.
That is the kind of person Bill Prim is. Making a older mans wish to be on a float happen.
The people have been listening.
They have heard the truth and made the right choice.
It goes to show that “knowledge is power”
It’s a wonderful thing they did for that vet..
I can remember as a kid when the Vietnam war ended and the vets returned home and how they were not celebrated, even after serving our country.
Some were mocked, and others were shunned. How things have changed for the better for all of our veterans.
I was hoping for a picture of the little boy peddling the whole parade route for Bill Prim!
More articles are coming.
The boy’s picture is in one of them.
Oh, how cute!