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Show From the Trenches B2 YouthEducation B3 Church Life B4 Sports B5 Calendar B8 Thursday, December 2, Parade was fun, but kids still need help This y ear's Clipper Electric Light Parade is history. Conditions were almost balmy on Monday night as the paiade wound its way through Kaysville and then on through Clearfield. It was gratifying to see thousands of people jamming the parade routes m both cities to catch the magic of more than 40 floats, marchers and musical entries. It was een more gratifying to watch the faces of children all along the parade routes light up with excitement as Santa Claus showed up at the end. Our Grand Marshals this year were a pair of special ladies, both of whom are over 100 and have lived to see the entire 20th Century unfold. We were happy to have Bee Fisher serve as our Grand Marshal in Gearfield, but saddened that Beth Tall became ill and was unable to ride as Grand Marshal m the Kaysville segment of the parade. In fact, illness and other challenges felled at least two other entries Monday night, but that didn't seem to dampen the spirits of those who showed up for an evening of magiROLF D. KOECHER cal adventure It was our pleasure to Executive Editor have been able to spon- but we couldn't have done it without sor this event the help of our the North Davis Chamber of Commerce and the Kaysville Chamber of Commerce, along with city officials and police officers of Kaysville and Gearfield. The event took place only because many people gave of their time and energies to take care of the multitude of details required. One unusual twist in our Bountiful parade on Friday was the proposal and subsequent engagement of Aaron Wernli and Amy Keddington. Aaron drove a float with a sign that popped the question (see bottom of page), stopping it right in front of the Bountiful Tabernacle where Amy was watching the parade. A nice touch and one that underscores Aaron's confidence was a new sign that poppied up nght after the proposal that told the rest of the story': She said ves" It was especially helpful for those farther down the line and clued them m to what was going on. A serious note For those of us at the Gipper. a lot of our attention taken up m November with the details of putting on the annual Electric Light Parade. Its all a lot of fun, but hundreds of contacts need to be made, hundreds more details need to be sorted out and lots of coordination needs to be kept up with float builders, the city the police department, and many other groups. At the same time were enjoy mg the beauty and joy of the season, there are others among us who are struggling and for whom this is a time of uncertainty. These are the people we are trying to assist with our Santa's I lelpers program. Now that the holiday season has been kicked off with its due, it's important that we remember those who are still in need. We have already matched dozens of needy families with eager and willing people who are volunteering their time and means to help bnng Oinstmas to deserv ing boys and girls. We are grateful that so many of you have come forward with a zeal and determination to help. The problem is that there are still many more families needing a Santa's Helper. If you have the ability to assist some of Davis County's children in need, we'd still like to hear from and their nervous you. We still have lots of children who aren't certain if Santa will arrive this parents year. If you can help, please call us at is 295-225- 1. New feature: "Notes from the Field" Some weeks. I just can't get everything in. Due to the parades and the need for Santa's Helpers, a few new features haven't received the attention they deserve. One of them is the new Notes from the Field" section on our Giurch pages, and the other is our Inside Dav is" feature. Our goal for Notes from the Field" is to help give glimpses of what is transpiring throughout the world thiough the eyes of Davis County people who have served as missionaries in key areas. The stones won't always focus on religious aspects but will try to give a report of unfolding world conditions as seen by the people actually going through those events. If you know someone we should interview, please contact Melinda Williams, our religion wnter, at 295-21- ext 131. "Inside Davis" Melinda has also launched our first installment of our Inside Davis" senes. This is meant to be a more comprehensive look at the inner workings of things we often take for granted. We ask our reporters to spend an entire day or more living with or working alongside people doing noteworthy things. In our first of the series. Melinda spent a day at the Young Farents School in Kaysville, talking with them, attending classes, eating lunch with them and generally sharing their experiences. Her three-pareport, which begins in this issue, is an insightful look at how these students are dealing with their future and the struggles they go through as both high school students and young parents. By the time you finish reading her reports, w e hope you will have a belter understanding of their hopes. rt f i'ifJ Aaron Werntis float In Bountiful even popped the questii Bft) and came prepared for the happy answer (right). 1 999 B 1 |