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8 Thursday, July 11, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com

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SHELLY KEHRLE-SULSER
Executive Editor

When the grand marshals of

Thursday’s 40th Newton Township

Fourth of July Parade learned they’d

occupy this year’s seat of honor, Jane

and Larry Roberts said it was quite a

surprise.

“It was a nice thing to get to be

a grand marshal,” said Jane, sitting

next to her husband of 60 years.

Larry is a former Newton Township

firefighter of 40 years including sev-

eral years as chief.

Larry also worked for 25 years as a

City of Battle Creek firefighter.

The couple has lived in Newton

Township for 60 years.

“I loved it,” said Larry who added

when asked what he loved about it:

“Oh my gosh. Have you got a couple

hours?”

The couple said the parade, former-

ly hosted by the Home Grange No.

129, has grown in its 40 years.

This year, the parade was organized

for the first time by the Newton

Township Fire Department, led by

Chief Mike Wilson, and its auxiliary.

“We’ve always been involved but

this is the first year our auxiliary’s

taken it over 100 percent,” said

Wilson. “We didn’t want to see it

go away and we had the resources.

We’re giving away free hot dogs,

water and soda down there (in the

township hall formerly known as the

Home Grange.)”

He said while the parade was fairly

large for the one-mile route from 8 ½

Mile Road to the township hall, the

spectator numbers were down.

More than 40 entries in the patriotic

parade included candidates for area

public offices including in Newton

and Emmett townships, bicyclists,

equestrians, tractors, a classic tow

truck owned and restored by cousins

Nathan Ditrapani and Trent Belote,

vintage cars, fire department appa-

ratus from surrounding departments

and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s

Office Mounted Division.

Jane and Larry are the parents of

Jane, Larry Roberts preside over 40th Newton Township July 4th parade

Newton Township residents of more than 60 years, Jane and Larry Roberts,

presided over the 40th July 4 parade Thursday as grand marshals. Larry is a

former Newton Township Fire Chief and Battle Creek Fire Department retiree.

(Shopper News photo by Shelly Kehrle-Sulser)

Crowds lined the streets to see the mile-long Newton Township July 4 parade,

formerly known as the Home Grange Fourth of July Parade. (Shopper News photo

by Shelly Kehrle-Sulser)

Curtis and Craig Roberts who own

Finish Line Laundry, Roberts Story

and Roberts Auto Sales and Jane

works in the business office for their

sons and has for more than 30 years.

Larry first joined the Newton

Township Fire Department in 1964

and over the years, he climbed the

ladder to the chief’s job while at the

same time, he reached the rank of

lieutenant at the City of Battle Creek.

See PARADE on 10