Westward Ho! prep began early this morning
By Terry Murry on Friday, September 17th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Westward Ho! Parade rolls through Pendleton at 10 this morning (Friday). The historical procession does not allow any motorized vehicles, but there’s plenty of livestock, from horses to oxen. The route is the same as last Saturday’s Dress-Up Parade going through downtown Pendleton to the Round-Up Grounds.
Pendleton police, helped by personnel from the Pendleton Public Works Department, started policing the parade route at about 4 this morning, posting “No parking” signs. Then, around 7 a.m., they begin trying to contact vehicle owners to ask them to move their cars and trucks off the route. The vehicles that still remain are towed, free of charge, to a parking lot.
Officers take up posts at key intersections to keep the parade route closed. The biggest trouble spot for police is the area around Westgate and Southwest 18th Street. Chief Chuck Byram said that parking permits are issued in advance to those who live or work in that area, but some people are still convinced they should be given access.
“We just ask people to be patient,” Byram said. “Some way or another, we’ll work it out. Being angry and using derogatory language against my officers doesn’t get you where you need to be.”
Photo of past parade via Pendleton Round-Up
