CELINA-The city of Celina and the Clay County Rescue Squad are continuing preparations for the Annual Clay County Christmas Parade to be held on November 14, starting at 5 p.m.

As Mayor Willie Kerr announced earlier, this year’s parade will focus on four events to use as a Christmas decoration on all entries: the city of Celina 100th anniversary celebration, a salute to veterans (Veterans Day November 11), Thanksgiving (November 26) or a traditional Christmas decorated float, truck, car, etc.

Mayor Kerr stated you can make your float with multi choices–100 years, patriotic, or a  Thanksgiving Christmas.

The city and Rescue Squad are asking that everyone participate. Factories, businesses, banks, civic groups, churches, clubs, schools and private citizens are urged to plan now to participate in some way at the 2009 Clay County Christmas Parade.

The rules for this year’s parade are he same as last year. No excessively noisy entries (to save the children and elderly ears), no sirens to be blown by emergency vehicles, “music only,” no motorcycles, (ATV okay) but must be decorated and pulling some type of trailer, only the official Santa is permitted in the parade, only signs related to Christmas permitted, all entries must be decorated: other rules might apply. All entries must begin lining up by 3 p.m.

Plaques will be presented again by the city of Celina, to the best float, best car/truck, mayor’s choice, best horse, best decorated house and best decorated business on the parade strip, and best wagon. To be judged you must be lined up by 3:30 p.m.

The Rescue Squad asks that everyone in the parade bring canned goods for the food drive (see related story below). They will drive by and pick up the food before the parade starts, or you can drop off food at the boat on the square with other citizens.

The parade will line up on the bypass near Save-A-Lot and Subway (please keep the driveway clear for the businesses) at 5 p.m. The parade will travel Lake Ave. past the square with Santa stopping on the square to meet with children.

Christmas Parade food drive scheduled again

The Clay County Rescue Squad has announced that they will hold their Christmas Parade Food Drive again this year after such a successful drive last year.

The food received will be presented to local churches for distribution. The Clay County Rescue Squad prays that everyone will drop off food this year.

No perishables will be accepted, only can goods, cereals, oats, etc. The Rescue Squad will have a boat sitting on the square from 12 noon until after the parade. Bring your food so the boat can be filled up. 

If you forget food, you can make a money donation to a Rescue member at the drop-off boat to be presented to the church to buy the needed food. The Squad thanked everyone in advance for their generosity.