By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The ninth annual Nephi City Christmas Light Parade will be held on November 25 this year. The parade will begin at 6:15 p.m. and will follow the route from 300 South to 600 North along Main Street. Chad Brough, a former Nephi City mayor, has agreed to chair the parade this year and met with Nephi City Council members on Tuesday to review plans for the event. “We have about 25 entries,” said Brough. One of those was a large $15,000 entry from out of town and it needed a 15-foot clearance, said Brough. He was concerned that the street, in places, could only accommodate 14-feet height clearance but said he would check on that and then determine what to do. “Miss Nephi will turn on the Christmas lights at 6 p.m. at the Old Mill Park and the parade will start 15 minutes later at 6:15 p.m.,” he said. “I contacted Miss Nephi and I asked her to inform her royalty,” said Mark Jones, mayor. “I would like them all to be there.” Light Parade entry applications are available at Nephi City Hall. Since the event is at night, there will be nothing allowed to be thrown from any of the entries. In addition, for safety’s sake, glow sticks will be distributed by walkers along the parade route so that children can wear them. A lot of the parade planning had to be done in advance, said Brough. For example, there needed to be waivers obtained beforehand from the state because Main Street is a state highway. In order to close it for the parade, there needed to be permits to allow the parade to take place. “Everything is in order,” said Brough. He said he also appreciated the city making advertising signs. “The theme is ‘Making Memories,’” Brough said. Prizes will be offered for first, second and third place once again this year. “I want the budget to stay the same this year as it was last year,” he said. “I prefer to run everything through the city.” Billings and payments should be handled that way because, in his opinion, it provided the necessary checks and balances needed for city expenditures. It eliminated the middle-man. There will also be volunteers stationed at the park so that the customary doughnuts and hot chocolate can be served. Brough said that Mike Morgan, city police chief, had wondered about changing the date to one a bit earlier. During the Thanksgiving weekend, officers wanted to be home. “I told him that we would entertain the idea,” he said. However, Thanksgiving weekend was a good time to have the parade because there were many people who came home to Nephi to celebrate the holiday with family. “You are rolling the dice as far as weather is concerned in November,” said Brough. The parade has been held shortly after Thanksgiving since its inception in 2008 when it was held on Saturday, November 28. Jones said he wanted to thank Brough for all his time and effort and for his willingness to take on the challenge and opportunity to be over the parade this year. Debbie Zirbes had been over the parade for the past eight years until Brough agreed to do the job this year. “In Nephi we have had and will have people willing to volunteer,” said Jones. “In a community this size, we can’t afford to pay for everything.” Only through the help of the volunteers, like Brough, was the city able to have some of the events it sponsored. Otherwise, such things as the Light Parade could not be held. He appreciated Brough taking on the chairmanship of the parade. “I commend you for your work and thank you,” he said.
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