Melodie Phelps, News Editor
Monticello — Harlan Ogle has been part of the annual Monticello-Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade for the last two decades, as part of the broadcast team for the local cable channel that airs the event. But this year, Ogle will add another assignment to that list‹Grand Marshal.
Ogle will lead the 39th Annual Christmas Parade on Friday, and he plans to do it in style in a 1953 red and white Cadillac Eldorado, which was restored by the late Guy Huffaker. Guy's daughter, Mary Jane Huffaker, will drive the classic car.
How are you in the parade and part of the broadcast crew as well? Easy, he's in the lead car, so he'll reach the downtown area first, where he can hop out of the car and join the camera crew.
"It will work," said Ogle with a smile.
Ogle was honored to be selected as Grand Marshal by the Chamber of Commerce this year, but he was a little surprised when he got the call.
"Honestly, the first thing I thought about was the other people I knew who had been Grand Marshal...I was not in their league at all," said Ogle."When I first heard, I was just humbled. This is an honor."
Ogle, who is Executive Director/Curator for the Wayne County Historical Museum, is a familiar face to many. He is a minister, a volunteer, a weekly columnist for The Outlook, and a history buff, and he has been involved in many community events and activities since he and his wife, Gale, moved to Wayne County 23 years ago.
Ogle noted that the Christmas Parade is a special event for many, as it ushers the official start of the holiday season in Monticello. It is a tradition for families and friends to line the streets early on parade day to get a good vantage point to enjoy the lights, the music and the floats.
He also noted that the local parade is one of the few still held at night, and it continues to include the real reason for this season.
"We still have a real religious presence in our parade, even our themes have been religious themes," noted Ogle. "It doesn't seem that we have been affected by that movement of trying to be politically correct."
It is also one of the things that this community has that brings city and county together.
"This brings us all together for one focus," said Ogle.
Ogle is hoping for good weather for parade night, so he can enjoy the trip through town with the "top down." He will lead a procession of what officials believe will be the biggest parade in history.
Last year's parade contained 118 entries with over 1,200 participants.
As of Monday, there were 15 float entries for this year's parade, according to Penny Thompson, with the Chamber of Commerce.
"Participation is outstanding...We expect it will top the numbers from last year and we are really pleased," said Thompson.
This year's theme is a "CHRISTmas Promise." The parade is slated to begin at 6 p.m. Friday. Lineup will begin at 4 p.m. on Hardwood Drive, and Thompson noted that street will be closed to through traffic for the parade lineup.
The parade route will begin on Main Street at Hardwood Drive and will conclude on Columbia Avenue near the Justice Center.
In addition to the parade, the Chamber is also sponsoring the Main Street Holiday Decorating Contest again this year. There is no entry fee to participate and the contest is open to all businesses and residents located on Main Street.
"Our goal it to get everyone on Main Street decorated," said Thompson.
"We already had more people involved in the contest this year than last year."
The deadline to register for the decorating contest is 4 p.m. on December 1. For more information, contact the Chamber at (606) 348-3064.
