Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
By Garth Meyer
Gazette Reporter
For the 92nd year, Tekoa Slippery Gulch Days arrived Monday and will culminate this weekend with a series of events, both new and perennial.
It all started June 10 with the kids’ Fishing Derby in Hangman Creek. Weigh-ins are at Tekoa Hardware. Kids up to age 12 fish in the creek, on a designated stretch from the Idaho border to Fairbanks Road, then turn in their biggest fish for weighing/measuring.
On Saturday, announcer Chris Smith will present a bike to the winning girl and boy.
The weekend begins with Slippery Gulch Market open Friday afternoon at the community center from 1 to 7 p.m. Tekoa Booster Club will hold a free-throw contest at 4:30 p.m. at the Lower Park Court, with cash and food-certificate prizes.
A teen lock-in swim follows at Tekoa Pool from 8 to 11 p.m., sponsored by Healthy Tekoa Coalition. Later, comedy and music will be featured at the Event Center on Crosby Street for people 21 & over with admission at $7.
Saturday will begin with the traditional Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the high school from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Afterward, the Tekoa Ambulance will sponsor horse-drawn wagon rides from the breakfast to the parade route.
Slippery Gulch Fun Run will begin at 8 a.m. at the high school, with two- and five-mile courses. Check-in is at 7:30 a.m.
Slippery Gulch Market opens again at the community center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
At 10:45, kids lead off the Kiddie Parade followed by the grand parade with Grand Marshals George and Debbie Dean. George is a U.S. Marines veteran and former 27-year employee of the Whitman County road department. Debbie is a former teacher and 30-year principal at Tekoa Elementary.
The parade will feature a full slate of reunion classes: 60-year, 50, 40, 30, 20 and 10.
The Tekoa town float, built to this year’s theme of “Vintage Farming,” showcases Miss Tekoa Madison Kalmes and princess Avery McFarling.
Honored veterans will be John Heaton, U.S. Marine Corps, and Jequetta Lucki, U.S. Coast Guard. Following the parade, awards are given out for previous events and a raffle drawing for items such as a fire pit and a set of patio furniture.
Next, nearing noon, is the showcase Slippery Gulch egg toss, to stretch up and down Crosby Street.
“We’re expecting the biggest and best ever,” said Joanie Hay-Smith, a member of the Tekoa Slippery Gulch committee.
Announcer Smith will again call the action from the top of a flatbed truck at the middle of the parade route.
Last year, Kyle and Mallory Kraemer won the egg toss, the 26th annual for Tekoa, claiming a $500 bonus from Smith for being the first winners with a female team member.
The egg toss distance record stands at 93 feet, set in 2014 by Jeff Bruce and Gabe Smith.
At 1 p.m., kids games begin at the Lower Park, including a three-legged race, gunney-sack race, wheel barrow, leap frog, forward-backward and more, all for prizes in half-dollar coins. A basketball scramble follows for all ages as wagon rides continue. Across from the park, vintage tractors will be on display.
In the afternoon, the Tekoa Pool and the Tekoa Museum/library are open from 1 to 5 p.m.
At 2:30 p.m. curtains open for the live stage show, a “Tribute to Disney,” at the Empire Theater.
A softball game starts at 5 p.m. at the field and the dance at 9 p.m. in the Event Center with music by the JamShack band from Harrison, Idaho. Admission will be $7 for 21 & over.
Slippery Gulch Days will conclude with fireworks at 10 p.m.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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