CARROLL COUNTY - Carroll County towns will kick off the yuletide season with Christmas parades beginning this weekend. McKenzie and Bruceton's parades will be Saturday and Sunday, respectfully, with Huntingdon to follow on Tuesday, December 5, Trezevant on Monday, December 11 and Clarksburg on Thursday, December 14.

McKenzie - As part of McKenzie's Hometown Christmas, the Junior Christmas Parade will begin at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2, according to Parade Chairman Herb New. Participants will include children ages 12 and under. Registration begins at 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church parking lot.

Parade units will travel onto Stonewall Street, turn onto Cedar Street and disband at McKenzie Banking Company parking lot. Four-wheelers will be allowed in the junior parade, along with decorated bicycles, tricycles, and costumed Christmas characters.

Entries will be judged prior to the parade and winners will display a blue ribbon for first place, red ribbon for second place and white ribbon for third place as they travel along the parade route.

McKenzie's Main Christmas Parade will begin at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2, according to New. Participants may begin lining up for the parade at 3:30 p.m. at McKenzie Middle School.

Local civic leader and volunteer Joan Gibson will serve as this year's grand marshal and will be accompanied in the parade by her husband, Harold "Hoot" Gibson.

Marty Marshall, owner of McKenzie Depot building, will serve as honorary marshal. Accompanying Marty along the parade route will be his wife, Lynne.

Bands, floats, decorated vehicles, marching groups, churches and organizations are invited to participate. Four-wheelers will not be allowed in the main parade. Decorated horses will lead other horse entries near the end of the parade. Santa Claus will also be a special guest on the Lions Club float.

Parade units will travel onto Stonewall Street, turn onto Cedar Street, Waldran Street, Lee Street, Broadway Street, back onto Cedar Street and disband at McKenzie Feed and Grain.

Entries will be pre-judged with winners bearing blue, red and white ribbons to depict first, second and third places respectively.

For more information, contact Herb New at 731-676-4363 or Violet Patterson, co-chairman at 731-352-5897.

BRUCETON - Bruceton's Christmas Parade, sponsored by the city of Bruceton and Bruceton Woman's Club, will begin at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 3. A grand marshal will be announced prior to the parade.

Units will travel from the former H.I.S. Outlet parking lot to Broad Street, turn onto Rowland Avenue and disband at the new City Park.

Participants may obtain a pre-registration form at city hall or sign-up at the HIS parking lot prior to the parade. Lineup begins at 2:00 p.m. at municipal parking lot.

There will be an award ceremony and program following the parade at the park. For more information, contact Bruceton City Hall at 731-586-2401.

HUNTINGDON - The annual Bill Willoughby Memorial Christmas Parade, sponsored by Huntingdon Police Department, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, according to Joe Parker, chairman. A grand marshal will be announced prior to the parade.

Bands, floats, decorated vehicles, marching groups, organizations, antique vehicles, four-wheelers, and horseback riders are expected to participate. Santa Clause has promised to make a special guest appearance.

"We also welcome all fire, police and emergency services vehicles and personnel to participate," said Parker.

Participants must pre-register by 5 p.m. Monday, December 4 to be eligible to win a cash prize. Those desiring to be judged should call Huntingdon Police Department at 731-986-2906 or go by the office.

The parade will line up at Jackson Clinic parking lot (beside Domino's) on East Main Street and travel to Court Square downtown and on to West Main Street. Units will disband at Carroll Bank & Trust parking lot.

Christmas lighting in the downtown area will be an added attraction for spectators this year. This is the first time in two years the parade route will travel through the downtown area, said Parker, who noted the lighting is an attraction as well.

TREZEVANT - Trezevant Christmas Parade will be Monday, December 11 at 7:00 p.m. Participants are asked to line up at 6:00 p.m. at the churches parking lot. The route will continue down Highway 79 to the school, turn onto Holmes Street, Hurt Street, travel to Highway 105 and back to the churches.

First and second place trophies will be awarded.

For more information, contact Danny or Phyllis Curtis at 731-669-7150 or Loretta at Trezevant City Hall at 731-669-4831.

CLARKSBURG - Clarksburg Christmas Parade is scheduled for Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. Registration and line up begins at 6:00 at Clarksburg School. A grand marshal will be announced at a later date.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting participants as they arrive to register for the parade and will also travel the parade route to greet the spectators. Units will disband at Clarksburg Church of Christ.

Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners. A grand champion will also be selected from all the participants.

For more information, call Clarksburg City Hall at 731-986-5547.

Renaissance Photo by Deborah Turner

MCKENZIE - Bethel College's Renaissance performing arts group has been preparing for over a month for its second annual Christmas show slated to begin this weekend and continue next weekend.

This year's review-style show is high octane and more spectacular than last year's, said Renaissance director Peter Jeffrey. The 75 to 90-minute show features 80 vocalists (55 last year), a six-piece rhythm section, 15 theatrical actors and several dancers. Special effects will add to the ambiance. Additionally, the Renaissance Regiment will present a musical prelude.

"A Bethel College Christmas, which is a part of McKenzie's Hometown Christmas, is a great way for the Bethel students to show that they are truly a part of the community," said Bethel College President Bob Prosser. "It's a great show that is both entertaining and inspirational, and it will help all of us get in the spirit of Christmas."

A Bethel College Christmas will be held at the 114-year old historic Bethel Performing Arts Center on Stonewall Street in McKenzie (across from City Hall). It is one of three buildings in Carroll County listed on the National Historic Register. Its brick walls, wooden tongue and groove floors, and wooden crucifix on the ceiling add to the building's character and history.

Show times are: Friday, December 1, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 2, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, December 3, at 2 p.m.; Friday, December 8, at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, December 9, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

"This year's show is even better than last year's," said Jeffrey. "It will provide wonderful holiday music and promises to be even more entertaining than ever before."

Jeffrey said one part of last year's show is being repeated by popular demand.

The vocal and instrumental production includes local students Roger Morris, Bethany Ellis, Daniel Turner, Jalisa Brown, Jessica Reed, and Jacob Hudson.

Tickets for A Bethel College Christmas are now available for $5. Children 10 and under will be admitted free with a paying adult; however, advance tickets are required as seating is limited. To reserve your tickets, call (731) 352-6445 or (731) 352-6414.

"Tickets are going fast," added Jeffrey.

 
HUNTINGDON (November 15) Carroll County Watershed Authority authorized attorney Robert Keeton, II, to exercise the power of eminent domain if necessary to acquire the necessary real estate to construct 1,000-acre Carroll County Lake for recreational purposes.

The Tennessee General Assembly rewrote the eminent domain laws last session. "It is the intent of the General Assembly that the power of eminent domain shall be used sparingly, reads Chapter 863 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. The intent of eminent domain is for public, not private use.

Construction of the lake's dam is to begin in 2007. It will be parallel to Highway 70 in the Leach Community. The entire lake project will be complete in 2009 or 2010, according to Dale Kelley, secretary of the CCWA.

Necessary parcels of property have been purchased from two of the more than 50 landowners. John and Virginia Cole and Alvin T. Hoffman, Jr. have sold parcels to the CCWA. All properties have been appraised as required by law.

Eminent domain requires the property owners and the CCWA to negotiate in good faith with the CCWA's offer to purchase the property for an amount equal to or in excess of the fair market value determined by the average of at least two appraisals by independent and qualified appraisers. If an agreement cannot be reached, a petition must be instituted for condemnation. The owner would have 30 days to respond. If the right to take the property is challenged within 30 days of the notice, the chancery court shall promptly determine whether the condemnor has the right to take the property.