CULDESAC - Bigfoot came out of hiding in a big way Saturday, overrunning Culdesac's Shebang Days and leaving his trademark prints all over town.
The first signs were spotted as visitors to the annual festival rolled into town, as giant ghostly footprints could be seen traversing some roads. Then, when the parade started, the wily hominid appeared in the fur, jumping down from his float to dart into the crowd and terrorize children with baggies of donut holes labeled "bigfoot poop."
While that specimen - which suspiciously looked like a tall guy in a rented gorilla suit - was the only live one on hand for the bigfoot-themed 17th annual festival, there were several carcasses on display during the parade. One hung from the back of a 1925 Studebaker, and another was draped across the haunches of a horse.
"One shot, that's all it took," the rider told onlookers of his trophy.
Parade grand marshals Larry and Sharon Abele also came out of hiding, Larry joked. In fact, he said they ended up in Culdesac 11 years ago as part of the witness protection program.
"They thought they'd hide us away here among the 380 people and 4,000 cats," said Larry, 80.
The true story of how the former Tacoma residents came to Idaho is directly tied to Shebang days, however. Sharon's father retired to Culdesac in 1979, and she often visited him and her two sisters here as his health declined. They were attending the 2004 edition of the festival when they happened across Bill and Betty Solder's old home, which had a "for sale" sign planted out front.
"My husband was an Iowa farm boy, and I grew up in Moscow," recalled Sharon, 72. "We both liked smaller communities. We both had good jobs in Tacoma, but we were feeling the pinch of the traffic and the dense population."
So when they saw the Solder home, something clicked.
"It's kind of weird what happened," Larry said. "We just kind of looked at each other, and decided it was time."
After the move, Sharon ended up serving as the city clerk for seven and a half years, while Larry did a short stint on the city council and started the town newsletter. And even though they are obviously pillars of the community, Larry said he doesn't know why the Gem Community, which organizes Shebang Days, chose them as grand marshals.
"There's a lot of people who probably deserve it more than we do," he said, noting his own membership on the committee. "I voted no, but they insisted."
Pam Earp of Gifford and her grandchildren, Tristan Shaffer, 17, and Mackenzie Shaffer, 13, kicked back on the sidewalk as they waited for the parade to begin on the sunny but temperate morning. Like the Abeles, she said her family is a relative newcomer to the area.
"We've only lived here about 39 years," Earp said with a straight face. "There's some that have lived here their whole life."
The Shaffer kids said they've pretty much been coming to the festival their whole lives, and it marks the kickoff to the fun summer season.
"The last time I came here I just hung out with my friends, and we just messed around," Mackenzie said, adding that not all would be fun and games this year because of her involuntary commitment to summer school.
Daneta Taylor of Clarkston and her family found a shady spot about halfway down the parade route. She said Shebang days is always a good chance to visit the relatives she has in the area, and sample the delicacies on offer at the various food booths around town. Her mom, Sheila Jabeth, said she relishes the opportunity to cut a rug at the community dance Saturday night.
"I like to check all the people out at first," she said of sizing up the crowd before hitting the dance floor. "I have to see what I'm up against."
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Mills may be contacted at jmills@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2266.