Clarkston council discusses Pony Express Day schedule, pickleball tournament and parade timing

Council members spent part of the April 12 meeting planning the town’s Pony Express Day events, discussing changes to activities, race timing and vendor coordination.

Officials said the 3‑on‑3 basketball event will be replaced with a pickleball tournament and team games, and the schedule will include a shotgun‑style shoot, a chicken chase and a foot race. Organizers noted some events (flag-raising, the foot race) are scheduled for early morning; the parade is traditionally at 11 a.m. but members of the public asked whether moving it to noon would improve participation by avoiding conflicts with other nearby parades.

Kelby Dodge Creek, who identified himself as a town member during public comment, said he has "always wondered why the parade's at 11" and suggested noon might help visitors who attend other parades. Council members and organizers said the town has many activities after the parade and that attendees will likely have to prioritize events; they asked event leads to coordinate with the fire department and vendors (Roadhouse) and to confirm whether breakfasts and races can shift start times.

Council asked staff to follow up with the fire department about the pancake breakfast, to check vendor willingness to provide a dinner, and to finalize race start times so multiple events do not force participants to miss key activities. No formal vote or binding schedule change was recorded in the meeting minutes; organizers were asked to return with confirmed schedules.