By Rebecca Dopp
Times-News Correspondent
It has been nine years since the Nephi Light Parade first made its way down Nephi Main Street to kick off the holiday season. In those nine years, Debbie Zirbes has served as the chairperson of the committee. This year she has decided to hand over the reins to another person.
"We've had many past years of a beautiful parade and lights in our community that have brought in the Christmas and holiday spirit and it's thanks to volunteers that all of that happened," said Mayor Mark Jones.
Zirbes said she had been helped immensely with the light parade over the years by several people including Jennifer and Amy Zirbes, Jeff Sanders, Niels and Judy Jensen, Wayne and Connie Jarrett, Carla Brooks, Beckie Henrie, Jalena Warner, Mary Winn, Patty Bowles and Robert Painter. She also said The Times-News had been a big help by sharing photos and helping with advertising the event. She said Kimo's Kamera had also helped with sharing pictures. Jones said that there were some great people who had participated as announcers for the parade including Skip Worwood, Troy and Trish Rindlisbacher, Mike Price, Shaler Jensen, Donni Pay, Nyle Robinson, 4-D Plumbing and Ian Mahara.
"I hope I didn't leave anyone out," Zirbes said. "I apologize if I did. They've all been a big help."
Jones said that the town was very appreciative of all the help from those named and expressed his thanks for their volunteer efforts.
The mayor then appointed Chad Brough as the new light parade committee chairperson and the council ratified that appointment.
Brough then outlined his plans for the upcoming event which will be held on November 26 at 6:15 p.m.
"It takes a ton of effort to make things happen in a small community. especially a lot of volunteers," said Brough. "It was never one of my prime goals to be the chairman of the lighting parade, but I'm also a sucker for when someone needs help, and they're asking for volunteer effort, if I can, I step in and help do that."
As the new chairperson, he wanted to make sure that he was on the same page as the council.
He asked about getting a waiver from UDOT to shut down Main Street for the parade, obtaining a parade permit from Nephi City, and requested that Miss Nephi and her royalty and the Nephi City Council submit entries to the parade.
He requested that the city crews put out the five advertising signs. He pointed out the entry forms and said that each entry would need to sign the state waiver. He said that there would not be any candy throwing permitted during the parade due to safety reasons.
"The glow sticks are a good thing," he said. "If every little kid has a glow stick, waving them around, they're visible. It's a safety issue, and not just a fun thing."
Something the committee would like to implement this year is online voting for winners of the parade. Zirbes said they would still have paper ballots at the park that could be filled out if people did not have access to the Internet.
Greg Rowley, council member, said the town would be willing to help with setting up the online voting.
Brough said he wanted to contact the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and Kiwanis Club about donating doughnuts.
He hoped that the weather would cooperate so everyone could have a great time.
He said there could be some leeway in regards to the budget for the event, not knowing exact prices on specific things. He said other items would cost about the same. Prize money could also go up if there was extra money available. He said there would be proper accounting for all money going in and out.
He wanted to verify that he would have the support of the Nephi Police Department to shut off the roads and handle traffic control, and also the city crews help with turning the lights on and off.
He said that if the Main Street project, if for some reason, was not finished by the time of the parade, they would look for an alternate route. Mayor Jones assured him that the project would be done.
Brough said he was still in need of some volunteers and asked that if anyone wanted to help out to please contact him. He needed some adults to help with distributing the glow sticks along the route, and also another adult couple to help as needed.
Larry Ostler, council member, said he was asked if the committee could forgo a theme so participants could do whatever they wanted. Zirbes said the purpose of the theme went along with the grand prize, but the new committee could do whatever they wanted.
Brough said that he was trying to keep this year's theme as general as possible. This year's theme is "My Favorite Things at Christmastime."
"My favorite things at Christmastime could be a new gun, a set of tires, it doesn't matter," he joked. "The one thing I hesitate about that [the theme] is that some people's favorite things might not be presentable to put on a float. We do have the power to shut them down."
Brough said he was excited to head up the committee this year and hoped that this event would continue to make people happy and get into the holiday spirit.
