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Today: Current:63	Saturday: 84/59	Sunday: 86/60
Complete Forecast for  May 16 2008

A celebration of nature's majesty hit the streets of Tyler on Saturday morning in the form of the 130-unit strong Texas Rose Parade

A pre-parade show in Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium at 9 a.m. included performances by the Tyler Junior College Marching Band and the Apache Belles drill team.

The parade stepped off at 9:30 a.m. on Front Street at Glenwood Boulevard. The route continued west to the East Texas Fairgrounds and ends inside Rose Stadium.

In the procession were lavish floats carrying the rose queen and members of her court decked out in their coronation gowns along with bands, drill teams, dignitaries, community groups and Shriners units. The theme is "Nature's Majesty."

Viewing was free along the route. In Rose Stadium, seating on the west side (home side) of the stadium costs $10 for reserved seats, $7 general admission and $5 for seniors.

The parade is sponsored by the Tyler Morning Telegraph and TylerPaper.com.

Streets on and near the parade route were blocked beginning about 8:15 a.m. Glenwood will be closed from Houston to Erwin streets, and Front Street will be closed from Palace to Lyons streets.

During the parade, Tyler Police Department bicycle units patrolled to ensure safety, said Don Martin, police public information officer.

The 74th Texas Rose Festival, a celebration of the area's rose-growing tradition, opened at 10 a.m. Thursday with a ribbon cutting at Rose Garden Center opening the Rose Show and continues through Sunday.

Texas Rose Parade entries include:

Tyler Police Department motorcycle escort, color guard and honor guard;

Parade banner and sponsor banner carried by East Texas Council Boy Scouts of America; and Boy Scouts walking unit;

Cars carrying Parade Grand Marshal Rosenlieb, president of the Strutters; Bill Clawater, president of the Texas Rose Festival Association; and Mr. and Mrs. Tom B. Ramey III, parents of the rose queen;

Robert E. Lee High School band and drill team

Float carrying duchess of the rose growers and ladies in waiting sponsored by Tyler Morning Telegraph and TylerPaper.com

Cars carrying Joey Seeber, mayor of Tyler; Gary Swindle, Tyler police chief; Neal Franklin, Tyler fire chief;

Sharon Shrine Legion of Honor;

Moslah Shrine Legion of Honor;

Humane Society of Smith County;

Tyler Obedience Training Club;

Hubbard Middle School band and cheerleaders;

float carrying duchesses sponsored by McDonald's of Tyler;

Ronald McDonald;

Therapet Foundation;

Hayes RV Center;

Lon Morris College dance team and cheerleaders;

Custom Truckers of Tyler;

Cars carrying Joel Baker, Smith County judge; Dr. Aubrey Sharpe, chairman of Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce; and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler;

Bishop T.K. Gorman Middle School/High School band;

Float carrying duchesses sponsored by AT&T;

AT&T cruiser;

Sharon Shrine Temple's divan and director's staff;

Dance-N-Drill's Tyler Golden Girls, students and cheerleaders;

Cars carrying Leo Berman, state representative of Tyler; Kevin Eltife, state senator of Tyler; and Tommy Merritt, state representative of Longview;

Dogan Middle School band and cheerleaders;

Float carrying duchesses sponsored by ONCOR;

Sharon Shrine Temple's Model-T unit, mustang patrol, oriental band and clown unit;

Charles Britton, TNLA chairman of the board;

Crow Towing Service;

Lake Country Antique Tractor Association;

John Tyler High School Junior ROTC, band and drill team;

Float carrying ladies in waiting sponsored by Brookshire Grocery Co.;

Cars owned by Ford Model-A Club members;

Sharon Shrine Temple's jeep patrol, mini 18-wheelers; T-model;

Dream Harem belly dancers;

Hogg Middle School band and cheerleaders;

Float carrying duchesses sponsored by Dillard's;

1957 Chevrolets;

Steppin' Out & Turning Pointe Dance Studio's drill team and twirlers;

Pappy the Clown;

Lone Star Antique Tractor and Engine Association;

U.S. Navy Sea Cadets Tyler Joint Force Battalion;

Jazzercise of East Texas;

Sharon Shrine Temple's golf unit, fire brigade and mini fire trucks;

Karem Shrine's Legion of Honor and Texas T's;

Steward Middle School band and cheerleaders;

Float carrying ladies in waiting sponsored by Southside Bank;

1937 Chevy Sadan;

Float carrying Miss Philippine and Miss Teen Philippine contestants;

East Texas Pop Warner's Lil Scholars Cheer and Dance;

Cherokee-ettes twirlers

Waller Broadcasting's The Breeze/Brisa;

Arabia Shrine's motor corps and Oriental band;

East Texas gymnastics;

Texas College marching band;

Float carrying duchesses sponsored by Flowers Banking Co.;

Barak Shrine's Yellow Jackets and clowns;

El Karubah Shrine Center;

Spirit of Tyler All-Star Cheerleaders;

Miss Tyler USA and Miss Tyler Teen USA;

Alpha Kappa Alpha's Miss Future Fashionetta, Petite Fashionetta, Junior Fashionetta and Miss Fashionetta;

Spurettes twirling team;

Moore Middle School band;

Float carrying ladies in waiting sponsored by Austin Bank;

Hella Shrine's A-La-Kart's;

Moslah Shrine's Car-Vettes;

Top Teens of America;

Tyler Organization of Men;

Catholic Charities Roses for Food program;

Chick-Fil-A

Whitehouse Junior High School band;

Float carrying duchesses sponsored by Brighton/Laura and Michael Young;

1929 Model A Roadster;

U.S. Postal Service float;

Model A antique cars

1950 antique jeep

Tyler Junior College study project;

TJC cheerleaders, Apache Belles, marching band;

Queen's float banner carried by Boy Scouts;

Tyler Police Department Honor Guard;

Rose queen's float sponsored by Order of the Rose;

Region's Bank bicycle group;

Historic Aviation Memorial Museum aircraft and vehicles;

Smith County Sheriff's Office honor guard and search team;

Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith;

Sharon Shrine Temple's mounted patrol;

Champion Texas Longhorn;

Texas Blaze equestrian drill team;

From Bud to Bloom Nature's Miracle horses;

TC Riders Equestrian Team;

Knights of the Four Winds Faire;

Cross Brand Cowboys Riders.