The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1488754
John Burns stepped in. "I have been doing it so long I don't remember when I started or even who asked me to help," said Burns. He said he and several other guys were elec- tricians, most working at the power plants, who started helping. Back then they used traditional incandes- cent lights, which since have been switched to LEDs. The new LEDs are more dependable and use less electricity. Burns is still heavily involved in the set up, but Steve Hamilton is stepping up to take a big- ger role in the project. While the actual set up of the displays doesn't start until late October or early Novem- ber, planning and work on the displays starts much earlier. This year a new lighted tunnel along the dam of Lake Ashley was being planned and built since the month of May. Several groups includ- ing the Main St. Presbyterian Church, Time- less Classic Car Club and Petersburg Church of the Nazarene contributed to the purchasing new materials. Carey Thorne and Hamilton fabricated the pieces that make up the structure. They were put in place in mid-November and required a new series of extension cords to make the display work. Hamilton said because of sup- ply chain problems with China they didn't re- ceive the cords they had planned and designed for the display. Instead they had to make due with a makeshift of cords. After a couple of hours of being on his hands and knees, plugging the cords into each sec- tion of the tunnel, they strung a cord from a power supply to the display. It didn't light. They plugged it into another receptacle – nothing. After about 15 minutes of conferring be- tween a council of electricians they decided another switch on the other side park needed to be flipped. Once that was done, viola! the lights came on. Hamilton threw his hands up in a celebra- tion. "Success! I have been working on that since July," said Hamilton. While the group tries to work on nice days, they often don't get many nice days and work in the cold. Getting the displays set up is only half the job. Come January 2 they start taking it all down. Burns said, "It is always cold," when they take down the lights in January. The group of volunteers includes: Lowell Thomas, Sonny Houchins, Sy Ashley, Bill Ev- ans, Bill Blaize, Delmas Culbertson, Gene Keepes, Dave Adams, Kenny Lewis, Jerry Har- bin and Danny Blake work on the lights on the ground. Steve Miller and Charlie Mathias use a lift to put up the displays on light poles around the park drive. "It's an opportunity for these guys to come together, hang out for a few days and recon- nect. Some of them don't get to see each oth- er throughout the year. But mostly it is a way for them to serve their community," said Ham- ilton. The group has a good time joking and visit- ing with each other as they work through sort- ing out the displays and keeping the numbered sets together. They supposedly have a map of where each display goes, but in reality the map used is mostly in Burns' head. The guys complain and joke about all their aches and ailments as they beat the fence posts into the ground and carry the displays to their appointed location. "We have enough volun- teers. What we really need is young volun- teers," said Burns. Anyone interested in volunteering or do- nating to the displays can contact Hamilton through his email: pastor@petersburgnaz.com Each year the lights reappear on cue to the delight of the young and young at heart, then disappear and reappear 10 months later right on cue as the volunteers work mostly anony- mously, which is the way want it. 450 11th Avenue, JAsp er • 812-634-8001 COMPUTER SYSTEMS • MANAGED SERVICES • NETWORK SERVICES • TELEPHONE SYSTEMS "OUR SOLUTIONS KEEP YOUR BUSINESS ON TOP" Thank You for letting us serve you this year! 245 S. Glezen Center St., Petersburg • 812-354-9909 SUNDAY MORNING Worship and Children's Church 10:15 a.m. WEDNESDAY Transformed Youth Ministries 6:30-8 p.m. anks be unto God for His unspeakable gi. 2 Corinthians 9:15 (KJV) Merry Christmas and may God bless you and protect you this holiday season. Continued from page E-2 Top: John Burns tries to repair a display by resoldering a connection. Below: Sonny Houchins plugs a display in to check if it is working properly. Christmas Greetings Wednesday, December 21, 2022 The Press-Dispatch E-3