Rockford to honor Freeman High School at Southeast Spokane County Fair

The small town of Rockford plans to honor the victims of the Freeman High School shooting with a moment of silence at this weekend’s Southeast Spokane County Fair.

Along with shirts, banners and signs bearing the words “Freeman Strong” in the high school’s signature cornflower blue dotting the fairgrounds, fair organizers said also they’re expecting the fair’s hundreds of patrons to show up in support. Especially during the royalty ceremony, where two Freeman juniors will be crowned princess and queen of the fair.

“We’re going to have a moment of silence,” said Heidi Johnson, vice president of the fair board. “Sheriff Ozzie [Knezovich] and some of the local ministers will come up and acknowledge what happened.”

The fair’s parade, which will snake through Rockford’s downtown and parts of Highway 278 off Highway 27, closing the road near town from 10 a.m. until noon, will also honor the high school with banners and colors representing the Freeman community. Organizers said there won’t be any floats specifically dedicated to the school, since float entries happened before the shooting, but they will honor them in some way.

“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a pretty strong theme throughout the entirety of the fair,” said Taylar Franz, the parade’s coordinator.

Organizers recommend travelers headed south to Worley, Idaho, to exit off Highway 27 at Elder Road East, about 2 miles south of Freeman, to reach U.S. Highway 95 in Idaho. Those headed northbound on Highway 95 are advised to take Elder Road East to connect to Highway 27.