By Peter Day
Senior Reporter
LUCERNE VALLEY — Hundreds of parade-goers braved 90-plus temperatures Saturday to line up in the heart of Lucerne Valley and watch the town's annual Fourth of July Parade.
With the theme "God Bless America," 35 entries slowly made their way down Highway 18 from Trade Post Road to Pioneer Park.
This year's grand marshals were longtime Pastor Gary Schlenz of Crossroads Chapel and his wife, Linda, a popular English teacher at Lucerne Valley High School. Riding near the front of the procession, the Schlenzes exited their vehicle when they reached the Chamber of Commerce building, walked over to the broadcaster's booth and announced the remainder of the parade.
Winner of the Sweepstakes award, which was presented along with other awards at Pioneer Park following the parade, was a float that carried a red, white and blue quilt. Called the "Star of Bethlehem," the quilt was made in honor of the Bicentennial in 1976 by the late Betty Cochran. The fifth generation of Cochran's family rode on the float Saturday.
Other parade participants included a colorfully dressed Honorary Mayor Lyle Thomas, who passed out candy and squirted attendees with water, a large contingent of bike riders from Xroads BMX, the American Legion Color Guard, Trinity Riders, ETI Corral, the Outriders, the Red Hat Calendar Girls, the LVES Booster Club, the Lucerne Valley Roadrunners, the Moose Lodge, Cafe 247, USA Septic and Drain Cleaning, the High Desert Antique Power Association, local firefighters from Cal Fire and San Bernardino County Fire Dept.'s Station 8 and others.
The night before the parade, more than 3,500 attended the "Red, White and Boom" fireworks show at Pioneer Park. The event, which was sponsored by Community Service Area 29 and two local solar developers, included a concert by a Tom Petty tribute band, food and games.
For the first year, the Lucerne Valley parade procession had to negotiate a new center median, which was constructed to accommodate eastbound traffic turning left into a Dollar General store scheduled for completion in the fall.
The slow-moving vehicles fared better than a deputy from the Apple Valley Sheriff's Station who on June 22 broke his arm during an early morning incident. The deputy, who was responding to a call at a high rate of speed, apparently didn't see the new structure. His patrol car hit the median, causing the two left tires to blow out. The patrol car ended in a nearby flood channel.
After Saturday's parade festivities were completed, some residents stopped by local businesses including Cafe 247, which earlier displayed its spirit with a colorful float making its way down the highway.
Freelance writer Caroline Lieber contributed to this report.