Inaugural lighting ceremony set for November 29

It may be a bit early for some to start thinking about Christmas, but that doesn’t mean one local committee isn’t getting into the holiday spirit.

The Donley County Courthouse Lighting Committee is currently in the design stages of lighting up the courthouse square and has been meeting monthly to make plans and raise funds.

The inaugural lighting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, November 29, and the volunteer committee, headed by Justice of the Peace Denise Bertrand, hopes to make the annual holiday lighting of the courthouse the official start of the Christmas season in Donley County.

This historic building will be enhanced by new lighting and scenes to inspire the adults and awe the children. Current plans include lighting the large trees on the east side of the square, a wreath in the courthouse’s round window, and other lighting features with plans to expand each year until the entire lawn is decorated on all sides of the square. In addition, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 7782 has agreed to decorate the Liberty Tree located east of the annex.

“We hope the courthouse lawn will be the center of attention for our county residents and a reason for visitors to detour off of highway 287,” Bertrand said.

To date $11,136.92 has been raised, which includes a $6,000 contribution from the Clarendon EDC.

The committee is currently selling collector ornaments featuring a snowy scene of the courthouse, and only a limited number are available – so get yours before they’re gone. The ornaments will be available at the Saints’ Roost Museum’s Chuckwagon Cook-off on September 27 or by contacting any member of the committee.

If you’d like to help light up our courthouse this holiday season, donations may be mailed to Courthouse Lighting Committee, P.O. Box 825, Clarendon, TX 79226 or given to Derlene Graham at Pilgrim Bank or Jacob Fangman at Herring Bank.

The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the courthouse. Anyone interested in assisting is encouraged to attend.