The International Brotherhood of Coon Hunters Local 1092 won first in the civic category with their float 'Fall Coon Hunt'.

Eighty-three Centralia Halloween parades now live in the history books…and, according to parade chair and Wamac Mayor Jackie "Butch" Mathus, in the memories of the children who watched it.  "Seeing the smiles on their faces and just hearing them clapping, and enjoying the wonderful entries that we had in the parade:  it was a great success," Mathus said.

Mathus said all the floats entered this year were great considering the current economy.  He says they should be even better next year.  "One thing I will gather to the parade committee is that we're going to have to increase our prize awards so we can get some bigger floats," Mathus said.

Mathus said the parade committee will start looking again in a few months for suggestions from school children for a new parade theme, retiring this year's "Cultures around the World."  From there, floats can be created and a new day of fun will be planned for the thousands of spectators at next year's 84th annual Centralia Halloween Parade.