Round-Up reminders: Friday 9-15
By Terry Murry on Thursday, September 14th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Westward Ho! Parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. The historical procession features everything but motorized vehicles. Indians in full regalia, cowboys and cowgirls, flag bearers, buggy riders – and livestock from horses to oxen power it through the streets of the Round-Up City.
Pendleton police begin locking down the parade route at 8 a.m. and Chief Chuck Byram has a warning for people who are trying to go from the east side of town to the west or vice versa.
“They’re not going to be able to get where they want to get,” he said. “That’s the big thing that I just want to express to everybody. We have to lock that parade route down.”
It’s also important to note that due to the livestock and the potential for alarm and harm, drones are banned from flying over the parade route.
Before the parade, the Indian Beauty Contest is being held on Main Street at 9 a.m. Also rodeo attendees will want to have their cameras ready at 1:15 p.m. as the Oregon National Guard’s F-15s from the 173rd Fighter Wing will fly low over the arena at the beginning of the rodeo.
A number of law enforcement agencies help the Pendleton police keep the peace during Round-Up week. One of them is the Oregon State Police. They are enhancing their patrol efforts through Sunday. Troopers are on foot, on bicycles, and in vehicles helping cope with the increased traffic.
OSP will be focused on reducing violations of what it terms SOLID, the fatal five categories of crashes. They are speed, occupant safety, lane usage, impaired driving, and distracted driving
