'That was incredible:' Inaugural July 4 Parade a success in Loomis

Randy Green was conducting an interview in a parking lot just off the intersection of Taylor and Horseshoe Bar roads on Friday morning when Michelle Klebofski pulled up close and hit the brakes. "That was incredible!" she shouted with enthusiasm through her lowered window as she exited her car and approached Green. "You did such a good job. That was so good. Wasn't that phenomenal? That was magical. That was utter perfection. I am so proud." A crowd estimated at well more than 1,000 was still folding chairs and exiting the area, floats and other vehicles being driven away and animals being led away from the Town of Loomis' first Fourth of July parade when Klebofski pulled up. Green, a member of American Legion Post 775, and Russ Kelley, 2nd vice commander, along with Post Commander Doug Walters, spearheaded a group that included VFW Post 904 in organizing the inaugural Independence Day parade downtown. "We always talk about bringing the community together," Green said. "This is a great opportunity to bring the community together." A sign stating "We Love Loomis" led the parade up Taylor Road, accompanied by Town Councilpersons Jan Clark-Crets, Danny Cartwright, Stephanie Youngblood and Mayor David Ring, who handed out mementos and chatted with parade watchers seated along the route. "It was a fantastic day for Loomis," Clark-Crets said, feeling the energy of the first-time event. "Everybody was just so excited. It was an amazing day for our town. You see saw horses and a bull and goats. This is Loomis. We are a small town, an agriculture town and proud of our roots." There were about 45 parade entries, according to Green, though individual numbers ran up to more than 60 total, including two horse groups, Jazz the longhorn steer, hot rods from the Townsmen Car Club, tractors as new as 2018 models to as old as 1931 and several first responder vehicles from area fire departments and the Placer County Sheriff's Office. "Absolutely amazing," Green said. "It's a little town with the big heart in the big parade." Jeff Walters, a lifetime resident of Loomis, walked with his Golden Eagle 7U Black baseball team, including pitcher/catcher/shortstop son Logan Walters, in the parade. The players and coaches waved to the crowd and were among the entries who tossed candy toward the sidewalks. "It was an absolutely great environment," Walters said. "Anytime we get to come together as a family – it's what Loomis prides itself on is being a big family – and celebrate how lucky we are to be in small-town America I think is a wonderful experience. I was so, so pleased to see so many families come out and participate. It was a really, really cool event. I'm looking forward to next year." Said Mayor David Ring, "It's a great turnout for year number one. Let's get year number two through 100 going. That would be awesome."