Rosalia resident leads royalty program, float

One Rosalia community member saw the need and stepped in to continue the Rosalia royalty program.

Tanya Charles, USPS employee and long-time Whitman County resident, in Nov. 2016 created a nonprofit called the Rosalia Community Float and Royalty Association.

The Rosalia Chamber of Commerce had sponsored the program before, but in 2016 the coordinator went on maternity leave and was unable to lead it.

"I saw the need; someone had to do it," she said.

Charles said the nonprofit continued the pageant for high school students, who are juniors, to run for Mr. and Ms. RHS. In April of 2017, the group held its first pageant.

She said the process to design a float and select royalty members usually takes months to coordinate, but this year the program only had two weeks.

Participants have to show up to rehearsals, learn dance routines, perform a talent and spend time creating the float.

After selection of a theme, a design drawing is made to reflect what the royalty members want the float to look like, Charles said.

Props for the float are constructed and laid aside, as the float deck is covered in colorful paper.

"You have to make decisions on the fly," Charles said. "What works on a drawing doesn't mean it'll work in reality."

After all the elements are constructed, the float is pieced together, she said.

Charles said Rosalia has used different themes in the past, such as "The Lorax," but this year, the theme is "Come Celebrate With Us" to commemorate the 50th Battle Days.

The float includes a ferris wheel, a replica of the bridge outside of Rosalia and is lined with lights, she said.

For 2019, Mr. Rosalia is Riley McLain and Ms. Rosalia is Hannah Ballou.

Those who win the title of Mr. and Ms. Rosalia also win a scholarship. This year the two students each received $300.

"The biggest thing I want to emphasize is I want this to return to a community effort," she said. "Not only for donations, but also for volunteers."

With eyes on the future, Charles said she wants to add a new engine for the float, after it had to be towed during this year's Spokane Lilac Parade due to engine problems.

Charles said they also want to replace the trailer bed to make the float bigger.

The Rosalia float can be seen at parades during Tekoa Slippery Gulch, Battle Days and Old Mill Days.