Plains kicks off holiday season with parade, shopping deals

The streets of Plains were full of holiday shoppers Saturday  taking advantage of discounts being offered by local vendors.

Twelve local stores participated in the shop local event: 406 Outlet & Coleen’s Country Store, Plains Drug Store, Studs, Garden Gift, Posh Hippy, Wild Horse Mercantile, Wild Plains Nursery and Store, Liano Movie Theater, Mountain West Clothing, Gambles, Mangy Moose and Little Bitterroot Outlet & Thrift Store. 

Several of the stores offered fun activities for the children. Plains Drug Store had the Grinch on hand to continue his attempt at stealing Christmas from the children. 406 Outlet store owner Jessica Gergen had Plains High School Sophomore Macy Malmend painting holiday scenes on kids’ faces. Mangy Moose was having a children’s coloring contest. Posh Hippy, Garden Gift and Wild Horse Mercantile had drawings for free items. 

As the day started turning into dusk, the crowds gathered along both sides of railroad street waiting for the arrival of Santa Claus. Santa showed up at the tail end of a 24-float parade riding atop an old fire engine.  Children were rewarded along the parade path with candy being thrown from most of the floats. 

Festivities moved to the Greenway along railroad street, where the annual Lions Club Christmas tree lighting took place. Santa was in attendance to hear the children’s wish lists. Marshmallow roasting took place at the two-barrel fires. Roasting those marshmallows is a tricky business for the little ones.  Lot’s of burnt marshmallows and sticky faces abounded. 

The evening’s festivities ended with the annual Cancer Network of Sanders County lantern launching. Local volunteers launched dozens of lanterns into the night skies over the Plains Greenway in celebration of cancer survivors and in memory of those that have passed on from cancer. Cancer Network president Shelley Bertrand was on hand to help launch the lanterns along with Damian Mathis, Michael Bertrand and Nick Farrara. Each lantern was sent into the night sky, with the name and message of a loved one written on its side that has lived with or has passed on from this devastating disease. 

CNSC is a nonprofit, community based, organization that supports residents of Sanders County, who are undergoing treatment for Cancer. 

Those needing assistance from CNSC, can find forms at all medical clinics, financial institutions, Rehbein Ford, St. Patrick Center, Community Hospital Cancer Center, Logan Health, the Health Department in Thompson Falls and Johnson’s Hardware in Noxon or call them at 406-970-6242. Applicants must show proof of treatment.

    Adeline Huyghe, 6, with Mr. Grinch at the Plains Drug Store. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Children find toy horses at 406 Outlet Store during the Plains Small Business events. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Lisa Larson rides in the parade through Plains. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Josie Frankhause, 5, has her face painted by Plains High School sophomore Macy Malmend at the 406 Outlet and Coleens Country Store. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Shelley Bertrand, president of the Cancer Network of Sanders County, launches a lantern. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)