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Statement At School Board Meeting Needs Clarification
Dear Editor:
First things first. Before I thank the many people who helped make our Christmas Parade successful, I need to clear up a misunderstanding.
After reading the article in The Oxford Eagle about the Water Valley School Board meeting as to why the Water Valley High School Band did not participate in the Water Valley Christmas Parade, I was SHOCKED when I read that Band Director Victor Steen said he was notified of the Christmas Parade the Thursday before the Saturday parade by the Christmas Parade Committee.
Nobody from the parade committee called him on Thursday. He may have received a call from someone from the garden Club wanting the band to participate in the Christmas in the Park.
Somehow Director Steen seems to have forgotten that I called him around the first of October to see which Saturday in December would be best for the band’s participation. Mr. Steen said the first Saturday was the best time for the band.
We set the date and time as the first Saturday of December at 1 p.m.. and I informed him that the band line-up spot would be the same as previous years. From the conversation with Band Director Steen, I filled out the request form with the City of Water Valley to have the Christmas Parade on December 2 at 1 p.m.. and ran the Christmas parade announcement twice in our local paper in the month of October.
The parade notice was also run a couple of times in the local newspaper during the month of November. I can understand that someone may not get the local paper, but I personally called Band Director Victor Steen.
Maybe he just didn’t want to come back to the Valley on a Saturday. However, I will just give him the benefit of the doubt, and think he just plain forgot that I called and talked to him and he set the date on the phone with me as December 2.
In the past years, I have always either contacted the band directors or the principals first to set the parade date. My idea is to set the parade date to accommodate the best date for our band, due to band competitions that happen on some Saturdays in December.
Any future contacts, I see I will have to make with Principal Kitchens. If Mr. Steen doesn’t want to participate in our annual Christmas Parade, I am sure Principal Kitchens could handle assisting the drum major with the band. I like to see our school children participating in our annual Christmas parade, the Band members (both High School and Elementary), the Homecoming Court, the Cheerleaders and the Devil Dolls, and any other school organizations.
It is bad that a band director or a school sponsor would not want to participate because they might have to do a little extra. The joys and happiness of participating in our annual parade should be part of all of us. Water Valley is our Home. Enough said on this matter.
Once again another year has almost rolled around. The Christmas parade is over and there are many people, whom I need to recognize for helping. I have never had to worry about the Grand Marshals being picked up and being there for the line-up on time. Linda Shuffield does a great job of chauffeuring the Grand Marshals. I never worry about the line-up of the many fire trucks.
We have had 12 to 14 fire trucks, but thanks to Herbie Rogers I can rest assured that the fire trucks will be in the correct order listed to be announced and videoed at the bandstand. Thanks to Tracy Varner, who assisted in having all the cheerleaders and Devil Dolls, ready to ride in the parade.
Sixty Devil Dolls are a lot of dolls to take care of. This year, thanks to Taylor Trusty helping to line up the Watermelon Royalty, making sure each was in the correct order and on the correct side of the street.
Our thanks go to all the antique car and truck owners for showing their vehicles. Thanks, also, to the Dream Rider Club, who rides in the parade each year. After the parade they proceed on to Christmas at Reedy Acres.
Thanks to all the four-wheelers who rode in the parade. Also to all those who entered float-type entries: Springhill North Church, Woodland Hills Baptist Church; George Payne Cossar State Park; Water Valley Head start; Town creek Learning Center; Pat and Paul Rodrique; and the U. S. Corps of Enid Lake.
Thanks to those who decorated golf carts: Loyd Thompson, Dale Wilbourn, and Melissa Smith. Thanks to the Yalobusha EMS Ambulance and the Yalobusha Nursing Home Van with residents for participating. Thanks to Miss Hospitality Lacy Harris, and Homecoming and Watermelon Royalty for riding in the cold weather parade.
There are still more people who need to be recognized, who help to make our city an attractive place year around. The city employees are to complimented for their services before and after the parade. Many things are taken for granted.
The electric department puts up the Christmas Decorations on Main Street; the Police Department directs the traffic prior to and during the parade; and then the Street and Park Department cleans up afterwards so our city still looks pretty and clean.
Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce and Bonnie Cox for participating and having the gift drawing prior to the parade. Thanks to each merchant who donated gifts for the drawing. Thanks to Town and Country Garden Club for decorating the Downtown Bandstand each year and maintaining the concrete planters which make our city so attractive year around. The Garden Club of Water Valley is to be complimented for decorating the City Park Gazebo each year and for hosting Christmas in the Park.
I encourage anyone who wants to participate in the next Christmas Parade to please do so. Any church, organization or group is welcome. For the past four years the Rodrique family has participated in the parade just as a family, who wanted to be part of the parade. We all need that kind of Christmas Spirit. Instead of just watching the parade, they want to help and participate. Thank-you to the Rodriques.
Thanks to everyone who helped with any part of the parade. It’s hard to list and recognize everyone, but what ever part you played has touched someone's life with a little happiness. God Bless You.
Now I feel better with everyone knowing all the facts.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays,
/s/J. C. Womble
Parade Chairman
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