Noxon shows off community spirit

Noxon was bursting with community spirit for their annual Fourth of July celebration at the Noxon Bicentennial Park on Saturday.

In February, a fire destroyed three businesses in Noxon - Toby's Tavern, Angry Beaver General Store and Noxon Mercantile. After the fire, many people wondered if the Independence Day celebration would continue. On Saturday, there was no question about Noxon's revival as hundreds of people gathered for the event.

Along with showing off the community spirit, organizers wanted to honor Sharon Larkin, who passed away in July of last year. A pillar of the community, Larkin was central to many of the celebrations at the Noxon Bicentennial Park. Joyce Hilt, one of the organizers of Saturday's celebration, was excited to see so many people out in the community. "I'm so glad it's all coming together."

The morning kicked off with VFW Post 5556 hosting a pancake breakfast at the Noxon Senior Center. Commander Gary Searle said all of the money from the breakfast, as well as a gun raffle they were holding, goes back into the community. About 10 volunteers served pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon and ham on Saturday morning. "It's more of a community service that we do," Searle said, "and if there is any money left, that goes back into the community." VFW member John Trochman said this was the 25th year for the organization to hold the breakfast on the Fourth of July. Volunteer Linda Yeargin served up pancakes in a festive red, white and blue apron which she made herself.

Also Saturday morning, a fun run in memory of Andy Koonce drew 67 participants. The oldest was Carol Burroughs of Sandpoint, who is a sister to Hilt. Burroughs had no doubt that this year's Noxon July 4 celebration would be bigger than ever as the community came together after the fire. Burroughs is 85 years old with a motto of "Move it or lose it." She said she has completed 33 Bloomsday races in Spokane, and still does 5K and 10K races. "I have to keep doing it to prove I can," she said of competing. Burroughs even made a quilt out of all her Bloomsday race shirts. Burroughs joked that she never wants to be the last one to cross the finish line in a race. She wasn't the last on Saturday during the Noxon fun run either. Burroughs said she enjoys the Fourth of July in Noxon because she gets to see nieces, nephews and other family members.

Justin Jessop of Pullman, Washington, was the first to cross the finish line on Saturday in 20 minutes, 55 seconds. Money from the fun run, including participants' $15 entry fee, goes to the Noxon Bicentennial Park for maintenance and events. Mary Chaboya said the run first started in 1983. On Saturday, participants completed a 5K from Triangle Pond to Noxon.

A central event in the Noxon celebration is the parade down Noxon Avenue. The streets may be short in Noxon, but they were packed with parade watchers as fire trucks sprayed water and groups threw candy. Gale Therrian, who owned Toby's Tavern, served as grand marshal of the parade. Therrian said she enjoyed serving as grand marshal.

While vendors and food were offered throughout the day at the park, Noxon graduate Ian Newbill played music under the pavilion, filling the park with a mix of country and rock music. This was the first time in several years that the celebration included live music, and many residents and visitors gathered around in lawn chairs to listen to Newbill.

Perhaps the most competitive event at the Noxon celebration on Saturday was the annual turtle race. Competitors brought turtles - or borrowed one from a friend - and stomped and clapped around the creatures as they encouraged them from a small circle in the center out across the red line of a bigger circle. The big winner of the day was Jackson Nelson of Colfax, Washington. He won the 8-13 age group after a faceoff against his sister Ella. Jackson then challenged Dominic Nelson of Noxon, the winner of the 0-7 age group, and Bryce Nelson, winner of the adult category, to a final match. A family from North Dakota brought a turtle across state lines for the event. They named their turtle "Speedy," though he was not the winner on Saturday. Noxon Turrell of Rathdrum, Idaho, demonstrated the best way to stomp and clap to get your turtle to move. The grand prize for Jackson Nelson was a one-of-a-kind wooden plaque created by Noxon shop teacher Shannon Mercer.

Overall, the day was a success for the community and a fantastic effort to show off the spirit of Noxon.