The Moslem Shriners provided a large contingent of parade units Saturday, including the only clowns in the parade, carried in a vehicle with a Shrine Circus license plate.
The Shriners brought smiles and applause from the appreciative crowd as it led off the hour-long parade with big Keystone Kops on small motorcycles, a stagecoach robbery, a bagpipe band, and other treats. The Moslem Shriners won a Best of Show award in the parade.
Belleville Police Chief Gene Taylor said, as with any large gathering, they had the usual handful of drunk and disorderly people, a couple of drunk drivers, a missing child, a missing person, some minor skirmishes and one big fight at the beer tent at 9:30 p.m. Saturday where a few were arrested for being disorderly and one for assaulting a reserve police officer. All in all, it was a very good festival, Chief Taylor said.