Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

To the Editor:
When the Chamber of Commerce decided to look for someone new to organize the Frasier Fir Tree Lighting a couple years ago, a small group of us gathered in the chamber conference room to discuss a vision. The vision was to move the event from Tuesday night to a Saturday night and make an event that would highlight our wonderful downtown area. While we were able to add some color to the tree and wrap the lights on the tree in 2020, COVID held us back. On November 20, 2021 we were able to make that vision a reality. The event this year drew between 1,000-3,000 people to the event. Many of those moved over to the Covered Bridge Park to take part in the Candy Cane Quest, where 4,000 candy canes were found in approximately 15 minutes.
I would like to take time to thank those who have made this vision a reality over the last two years. The rest of the committee members are Emily Barton, Beth Hilbert, Jarrod Ellis, Kelly Kitchens and Jennifer Greenwell. Debbie Alexander worked diligently with Jerry and Charlie Rotenberry to order colored lights and have the tree wrapped. Mohler Crane provided and operated the crane to wrap the tree. Ross Garland worked with Elizabethton Electric to remove power from the tree and add power service to the house. Ron Kirby did the electrical work to establish a new power connection for the tree. The Boys and Girls Club and Kiwanis Club brought volunteers down the day lights were placed on the tree to assist in any way possible. As you can, see this was a collaborative effort on the part of many.
Last but not least, thank you to those who performed, spoke, or lit the tree virtually in 2020 and live this year. Those include the Bowers Family, Sycamore Shoals State Park carolers, Harold McCormick Elementary School singers, Happy Valley High School Ensemble, Lilly and Greta Anglin, Hope Gilford, the family of Mayor Rusty Barnett, and Major Margaret Eggers.
Carter County Bank has tremendously enjoyed our role in this celebration and we look forward to assisting with this event for many years to come.

Andrew McKeehan
Carter County Bank President