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Rains don’t hamper King Coal Parade

By Kris Schiffbauer 4 min read

CARMICHAELS – The bands kept playing, the cheerleaders kept cheering and the rain came in waves as the King Coal Parade of the 49th Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Show wound its way Saturday afternoon through borough streets. It started to sprinkle 15 minutes into the two-hour event, and then the first of several downpours hit the crowd that lined the parade route.

“I’m telling you what, we’re wet now. We might as well stay,” announcer Bill Groves said when the rain slowed.

Most spectators did stay, some pulling out umbrellas or huddling under awnings and overhangs. Others just stood their ground.

“I was OK until my umbrella turned inside out,” said 2002 Pennsylvania Coal Queen Rachel Marie Burack.

Burack rode atop the Carmichaels Chamber of Commerce float with her court: Wendy Kalasky, Brooke Whoolery, Brynn Cirota and Holly Bukovitz. The float was the final attraction.

Posing for photographs and chatting with well-wishers where the parade disbanded at the fire hall, Burack noticed her gown had shrunk a little.

“She is Miss Rain Day after all,” said Burack’s mother, Cyndee. “It only rained about six drops for Rain Day (July 29 in Waynesburg), and we stood outside waiting all day for rain.”

Burack is also Miss Riverfest, winning the contest held at this year’s Rices Landing Riverfest.

“It’s been a long time since we had it rain for this,” said Thelma Callaghan, head of publicity for the King Coal Association.

The skies finally cleared, and bright sunshine reigned over the last half-hour of the parade.

“I don’t think there was any less of a crowd, because they wanted to see the drilling rig and Joe Sbaffoni,” Callaghan said.

Gene D. Yost & Son Excavating & Drilling Inc. of Mount Morris drove a piece of equipment and displayed a drill bit used in the rescue of nine miners trapped July 24 in the Quecreek Mine in Somerset County.

Sbaffoni, the deep mine specialist from the state Department of Environmental Protection who was instrumental during the rescue, waved to the crowd from a convertible car.

Consol Energy’s Enlow Fork rescue team, which was involved in the Quecreek Mine situation, rode together on a flat bed truck.

The U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration, also instrumental at the scene of that rescue, drove a seismic truck in the parade.

They were all grouped together about midway into the parade and got hearty applause from the spectators.

The King Coal Car Show led the parade. Veterans groups were among the marchers, and a number of local fire departments participated.

Miss Pennsylvania 2002 Autumn Marisa, a Waynesburg native and 1997 Coal Queen, was there, wearing her crown and waving from a perch on a convertible car.

The parade is so popular that Leanna Madick of Carmichaels said some residents set out their chairs the night before, although she took her chances on finding a place in front of the borough building along Market Street with 4-year-old Emma Lowry and 2-year-old Jacob Lowry.

“The kids like it. Their sister (Carmichaels midget cheerleader Jenna Lowry) is in it, and they like the fire trucks,” she said.

Joanna and Joe Gudac of Canonsburg got a spot just 10 minutes before the parade’s starting time in the Market Street square, where they sat with their grandchildren, 12-year-old Gary Salerno and 5-year-old Matt Salerno.

“We’ve been here every year for 30 years,” Joe Gudac said.

“This is like a tradition,” his wife added.

The couple said what they like most about the parade is the fact that the town comes out in force to support the event.

Sherri Wrona of Fairchance sat for about an hour before the parade started at the corner of Vine and Morgantown Streets. Her children, 7-year-old Morgan and 6-year-old Logan, had small chairs positioned in front of her.

Wrona said she had watched and enjoyed the parade the year before last and wanted to make sure she got a good place to see her niece, Emily Hartman, in the lineup with Albert Gallatin Area School District junior high level cheerleaders.

Callaghan said highlights of the weeklong coal show that ended Saturday included the Coal Queen pageant that featured Sbaffoni crowning the queen. However, she said the Pennsylvania State Mine Rescue Contest was especially meaningful.

Randy Fogle, Tom Foy and John Unger, three of the nine men rescued from the Quecreek Mine, turned out for the contest Thursday.

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