By Dave Vrbas

The Wauneta Breeze

PLEASE NOTE: We are working on a slideshow of photos from this year's Pioneer Days. The slideshow is done, but we're working through getting it posted to the site. 

The rainy weather took a break long enough for the crowd to enjoy Palisade’s Pioneer Days bash.

Organizers reported 315 registered attendees at the parade and estimated approximately 650 served at Saturday night’s free barbecue. Approximately 80 people stuck around to attend the potluck picnic in the park and the Gospel Songfest on Sunday.

The traveling prize was given to Owen Magorian, who attended his family’s reunion at the Methodist Church, traveling more than 6,000 miles from Ireland.

JoAnn Ward, a perennial Pioneer Days staple, was honored as this year’s parade grand marshal after 26 years of serving as one of the event’s main organizers.

The daughter of Kenny and Lena Sailors of Palisade, Ward graduated from Palisade High School in 1950, marrying Harley Ward that summer and raising her family in Palisade. Her children are Cindy Monnahan, Dwana Flaig and Bill Ward, all of Palisade, Cheri Hahn of McCook, Cathy Dunham of Bennington, Kan., and deceased daughter, Glenda, who passed away in the early 1970s.

Though stepping down from the Pioneer Days committee now after a quarter-century-plus of dutiful service, Ward plans to stay busy with her other civic organizations, especially the Legion Auxiliary. Ward is a 62-year member of the United Methodist Church, serving on several boards during that time. She still serves as pianist/organist for the local church, and is a 25-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary having served in all offices at the unit and district level, three chairmanships at the department level, and is currently a candidate for department historian. She also serves the county as president of the Hitchcock County Historical Society and its museum. 

During her time on the Palisade Pioneer Days committee, Ward has held the offices of president, secretary, alumni chairperson, BBQ chef and clean-up committee.

Other results from Pioneer Days follow: 

Photo contest

Family category: 1. Lisa Suda; 2. Colyn Suda; 3. Donna Schluckebier.

General category: 1. Michele Stretch; 2. Donna Schluckebier; 3. Melinda Stretch.

People’s Choice: 1. Lisa Suda; 2. Lisa Suda; 3. Donna Schluckebier.

Parade

Grand Marshal: JoAnn Ward

Alumni: 1. Class of 1989; 2. Class of 1979.

Business: 1. Heritage of Wauneta; 2. Pioneer Federal Credit Union; 3. AmFirst Bank.

Automotive: 1. Merrill Maris; 2. Dan Vogel; 3. Gary Klumpe.

Tractors: 1. Nadine Bley; 2. Joseph Sramek.

Organizations: 1. Cast of HeeHaw; 2. Trinity Lutheran Bible School; 3. American Legion Auxiliary Post 318.

Other: 1. Dawn Pinkal; 2. Sunny Sramek; 3. Sheridan Matthews.

3K Walk/5K Run

3K Walk — Women’s Overall: Cathy Humphrey; Men’s Overall: Marshall Erickson. 

5K Run — Women’s Overall: Jill (Yarberry) Laybourn; Men’s Overall: Jacob Maris.

Horseshoe Tournament

Winners: Kenny Jankovitz and Jeff Lytle.