Trees light community's Christmas spirit
It seems cliched each year to say that Columbia County's Christmas tree lighting gets bigger and better. But it's true.
With the sponsorship of many businesses and individuals in the community, and dedicated help from a core of volunteers, Columbia County each year brings the Christmas in America ceremony to the grounds of the Columbia County Justice Center.
Saturday's event, following tree-lighting ceremonies in Grovetown and Harlem, was superlative in the number of children singing with the Columbia County Elementary Schools Mass Chorus, and in the number of new lights added to the display.
The kids, as emcee Jennie Montgomery of WJBF-TV News Channel 6 noted, just seemed to keep coming from their staging area to the courthouse steps. Hundreds lifted their voices to the delight of the thousands of spectators crowding the closest thing unincorporated Evans has to a town square.
The lights are pretty incredible, too. The city of Grovetown's display generally ranks at the top in the number of lights; the Evans display isn't nearly that bright, but the impact of lighting the 20 magnolias in front of the courthouse is spectacular nonetheless.
Those lights came courtesy of a donation from Zaxby's. The entire event is made possible by such corporate and personal generosity, and the donors are publicized each year in the event program. We're also including them on this page today to further thank them for their participation.
There are still plenty of Christmas observances coming, with Harlem's parade on Saturday and lots of church events (as noted today on page 13) ahead. There's still lots of time to get in the Christmas spirit!
Christmas in America Donors
Corporate Sponsors
Zaxby's
Pierwood Construction Co.
The Sit & Sleep Shop LLC
Renaissance Fine Furnishings
The Columbia County News-Times
Columbia County Community Events
Franklin's Printing
Platinum Sponsors
Neal and Barbara E. Johnson
In Memory of Mr. and Mrs. O.G. Emory Sr.
Shannon, Kyle, Laura, Mary and Stewart Cartledge
In Memory of Stewart Cartledge III
Marian S. Pittman
In Memory of U.H. Pittman
Mrs. Jack B. (Gloria) Patrick
In Memory of Jack B. Patrick, former President of Augusta Tech
Ken Richards
In Honor of Mary Frances Richards
Ken Richards
In Memory of Bob Richards
Ken Richards
In honor of Caroline and Catherine Richards
Patricia Vanderhoof
In memory of Mabel Chantler
Juanita Davis
In Memory of Clinton R. Davis
Wilhelmina Perrin
In Memory of Mattie Lenora Perrin
Duane and Sandy Hensley
In Memory of Sheriff Otis L. Hensley
Augusta's Foot Loose and Fancy Free Cloggers
In Honor of Our Armed Forces
The Paschal Family
In Memory of Grandma Janie & Pop
Silver Sponsors
Mrs. Matthew B. Aitken
In Memory of Dermot A. Cronin
Susan Harbin
In Memory of Jim Harbin
Patricia Hestand
In Memory of Gladys Clark
Patricia Hestand
In Memory of T.G. Winfrey
Barbara E. Dickerson
In Memory of Dot Evans