Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
AKRON - Members of the Akron Town Council will serve as grand marshals of the Fourth of July parade, which kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday. The theme for this year's festivities is "From the Past to the Future."
Roger Gearhart, Jean Conner and Phil Allen will lead the parade. It will run down Ind. 19S and Front Street.
Gearhart has lived in Akron since he was a toddler and is in his first year as president of the council. He graduated from Akron High School in 1956 and later married the former Janet Thompson. He operates Kristal-Klear Car Wash and Kendall Fast Lube, both in Akron.
The Brentwood Addition, north of town, was named by the Gearharts in memory of their late son, Brent. They also have a son, Kris, and three grandchildren.
Conner hails from the Old Santa Fe in Miami County and moved to the Akron area in 1951. She and her husband, Harold, are the parents of four children: John, deceased, and Rod, Dean and Judy; four granddaughters; and four great-granddaughters.
The first female council member, Conner also served four years as Henry Township trustee, four years as a member of the Township Advisory Board, and 3-1/2 years as Akron clerk-treasurer.
Allen is a native of Niagara Falls, N.Y., and a graduate of Beaumont (Texas) High School. He moved to Akron after serving in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam. He is employed by Pike Lumber Co.
He has two daughters, Brandi and Kelly, and two granddaughters.
Also among the parade participants will be the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment.
The group, formed in 1975 to re-enact the Black Watch of the late 1700s, features bagpipes, rope-tension drums and fifes. The Lafayette-based group will also perform from 1-1:45 p.m. Saturday at the park. That event will include Highland dancers.
Parade entries will be awarded prizes in the following categories: bands, floats, saddle horses, novelty, horse drawn, antique tractors, antique cars, classic cars and marching units.
While many people will turn out for the annual parade, other activities are scheduled as well.
On Friday, there will be an ice cream social at 5 p.m.; Mr. Firecracker/Miss Sparkler contest at 6 p.m.; cute baby contest at 6:15 p.m.; and the talent contest and queen preliminaries at 6:30 p.m. at the park.
A pancake and sausage breakfast will take place from 6-10 a.m. Saturday at the fire station; a flag-raising service is planned for 7 p.m. at the War Memorial; 3-on-3 basketball gets under way at 1:30 p.m.; and a petting zoo will be available from 4-6 p.m.
Also, Risner's Taekwondo will offer a demonstration from 5:30-6 p.m. and entertainment by OBCG Guitar Ensemble and Off-Roads will take place from 6:30-10 p.m. The queen coronation is set for 8 p.m. and fireworks for 9 p.m.
