SANTA SHOWS UP IN THE ‘NICK’ OF TIME!!!
By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
* Some area residents may have been a wee bit disappointed that Santa Claus
didn’t make it into the Erin Christmas parade, but those who stuck around
afterward for the annual Christmas tree lighting in the Betsy Ligon Park got to
see him.
* The Chamber-sponsored event was kicked off with great holiday music by the
Houston County High School / Middle School Band.
* “I am so proud we got Mr. Whitt,” said Chuck Blakely during the band’s
opening Christmas melody. “He is sincerely interested in all the kids.”
* The band did sound great, with a variety of woodwind, horn, and percussion
instruments. There were clarinets, a piccolo, saxophones, baritones, trumpets,
French horns, snare drums, bass drums, bongos, and even lyre bells.
* Band members looked festive in Santa hats as they were introduced by Houston
County Area Chamber of Commerce President Becky Averitt.
* Averitt said the band had won several awards recently and even participated
in state competitions for the first time in 25 years. For being the sole
marching band in the parade, they also took home a nice trophy to add to their
collection.
* Band Director Matt Whitt said the musicians had been practicing for about a
month in preparation for three Christmas parades–one last week in Dover, the
one this week, and one next week in Clarksville.
* The middle and high school bands also invites everyone to their annual
Christmas concert Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in the HCHS forum.
* Crowds seemed enraptured by the band’s version of “The Holiday Chorus” from
Handel’s Messiah.
* After the music, Averitt spoke to an expectant crowd who eagerly held tickets
to win a country ham. The Chamber, along with numerous businesses and
individuals, sponsored the give-away of 26 country hams and other giveaways.
* Averitt said that last year several people in the same family won hams, so
she asked that this year only one country ham be claimed during the giveaway by
a family.
* Little Sarah Clark, age 7, wasn’t at all interested in the ham giveaway. She
had other things on her mind.
* “I’m waiting on Santa Claus, because I like seeing him,” she said.
* She wasn’t alone. Her younger brother Alex, age 5, and her younger sister
Emily, age 3, seemed excited, too.
* When asked what she wanted for Christmas this year, little Sarah, wrapped in
a Christmasy red-and-green blanket and wearing a pink stocking cap complete
with ball, said she wanted a “Wiggly Water Baby.”
* “We haven’t mailed our letters out [to Santa],” she said. When asked if she
had been a good girl this year, the second grader replied, “Uh huh.”
* After Erin Mayor Rhyne Largent officially lit the Christmas tree, Santa Claus
made his appearance, to the delight of wide-eyed children.
* Erin Police Chief Tommy Parchman was instrumental this year in the selection
of the “mystery” Santa, although during the event he was unavailable for
comment. (Ho! Ho! Ho!)
* Mrs. Claus, also known as Mary Jean Reynolds of Mitchum’s Drug Store, helped
organize the line of children waiting to see St. Nick.
* As the ham and other giveaways came to a close and the line to see Santa
dwindled, the crowds braving dropping temperatures headed for home.
* It’s official... the Christmas season has arrived in Houston County.
* Merry Christmas!
* Stay Tuned for More Holiday Stories...
* “Tis the season for Bell Ringers”; and
* “Horse and Carriage Rides in Erin prove romantic, nostalgic, fun for all”
* Tennessee Express News Writer Teresa N. Settle may be reached by e-mailing “redwriter@hctn.net.”
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