Retrospect: Cheerleaders fondly recall parade

Twenty-five years ago this week, Jay County High School cheerleaders rode atop a Portland firetruck in the school’s homecoming parade, just as they will again Friday.
"We used to love riding on that firetruck," said Kristin (Rees) Millspaugh, featured in the photo waving to parade-goers. "That was a big deal for us."
"It was awesome," agreed Kristen (Stout) Schoenlein, who is standing next to Rees in the photo. "The only thing is, it was always scary, because they always told us that if they get a call, they had to just leave, and we would just be dropped off wherever to walk the rest of the parade. But it was always really cool that we got to be up on top of there. … That was neat."
While their cheerleading days well behind them, Millspaugh and Schoenlein still have a connection to the school’s homecoming.
For Schoenlein, it’s as a mom. Her daughter, Lizzy, is a JCHS senior this year. She’ll be in the parade, likely as part of the FFA float.
For Millspaugh, it’s as both a wife and mom. She’s married to Patriot football coach Tim Millspaugh, whose team will play South Adams at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
This year Kristin Millspaugh will be the only member of her family not in the parade. Her daughter Aubrey, a fourth grader at General Shanks Elementary, will ride the football team float with Tim, as she has since she was about 2. Her son, Brady will ride the Jay County Pee Wee Football float.
"It’s fun that I’m still in this community," said Millspaugh, who is a guidance counselor at JCHS. "And that’s something I forget … that not everybody is still where they went to high school."
The homecoming theme in 1991 was "History Marches On." And while it does, the girls who cheered for the Patriots then are happy that traditions live on.
"I’m glad they keep it up … the parade and all the spirit night stuff, even though I know a lot of it has changed in 25 years," said Schoenlein. "I’m glad they keep doing that."
Schoenlein lives just north of JCHS and still enjoys spirit night from a short distance.
"I love to be outside," she said. "You can hear them out there playing the music and just hear all the kids and everything. It’s really cool."