Wrestlers save fair's parade

PLAINS – After word was announced that the Sanders County Fair’s parade had been canceled, the Plains/Hot Springs Savage Horsemen wrestling team stepped up to save the day.

Typically the Plains-Paradise Chamber of Commerce hosts the event, however, after a lack of volunteers and talk of dissolving the chamber as a whole, the parade was canceled last week.

In an email from the Plains-Paradise Chamber of Commerce sent to members of the chamber at the beginning of July, a lack of participation has led to talk of disbanding the chamber.

“Due to the declining membership and lack of volunteers the Board of Directors is considering dissolving the chamber,” stated the email.

In order to keep a Plains tradition alive, the wrestlers decided to take over the event. According to Fair Manager Mike Hashisaki the fair entered into a contract with the wrestling team to produce the annual fair parade.

Janice Arnold, who sells tickets for the fair, was happy to see the wrestlers take on the event.

“I think its great,” Arnold said. “I really think it’s something that everyone looks forward to.”

The parade is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. The grand marshal for this year’s parade will be John Halpop, recently retired county extension agent.

Carol Day, president of the Plains-Paradise Chamber of Commerce did not return phone calls or emails.