Scio Summer Fest Parade to highlight community pride, honor local leaders

The Scio Summer Fest Parade will be held Saturday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m., with this year's theme celebrating Scio's spirit of service, tradition and natural beauty.

The 2025 parade theme, Scio: Serving, Shining, Scrambling & Scenery, pays tribute to several longstanding community events and organizations:

— Serving honors the Scio Dining Fork Ruritan Club, which has served the community for 65 years. — Shining celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Scio Show & Shine Car Show. — Scrambling recognizes the 40th anniversary of the Scio Scramble 5K run. — Scenery marks 25 years of enjoying the scenic Conotton Creek Trail.

Grand marshals representing each area of the theme have been selected for their contributions and dedication to these events:

Representing the Scio Scramble are Ray Markley and Jim Custer, both graduates of Jewett-Scio High School. The pair served as race directors for over 25 years. Custer also coached cross country at Jewett-Scio for several years.

Tom Wilson, a 1961 graduate of Jewett High School, will represent the Scio Show & Shine. He and Ron Davis co-chaired the event for more than 25 years.

Representing the Conotton Creek Trail is Harry Horstman, a 1955 graduate of Scio High School, who has chaired the trail committee since its inception.

E.D. Shumaker, 97, and Jack Ourant will represent the Scio Dining Fork Ruritan Club. Both are charter members of the organization, which was founded in 1960. Lifelong friends and 1945 graduates of Scio High School, they are the oldest living residents of Scio and have spent their lives serving the community they were born and raised in.

The public is invited to attend and celebrate these individuals and the rich legacy of community involvement they represent.