Pemberton Grand Marshal Of 60th Annual Christmas Parade

Huntsville, TN (2008-11-03) The 60th annual Scott County Christmas Parade will be held on December 6, 2008. This year’s Grand Marshal will be Oneida businesswoman Bromma Pemberton.

The annual Scott County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2008, beginning at HBD Industries parking lot and traveling north to Claude Terry Drive. Leading this year’s event will be Bromma Parnell Pemberton. Ms. Pemberton came to Oneida during her early adulthood, where she began working at Star Drug Store. In 1930 she began her career at First National Bank, working as a stenographer and bookkeeper on a trial basis. Today, she often jokes of her so-called "trial basis" job which lasted more than 50 years! During her career with the bank, she has served as Assistant Cashier, Cashier, Vice President, and Senior Vice President and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1979. She was the first woman officer of First National Bank, as well as the first woman to hold the position of Director and she was the first Senior Vice President.

According to event organizers, the parade will leave the parking lot of HBD Industrial and turn east on Industrial Lane, and then north on Alberta Street. The procession will travel north on Alberta Street to Traffic Light #5 and turn right onto Claude Terry Drive. In a change from last year, all floats will disband in the parking lot of Oneida Elementary School, while the remaining entrants will continue along Claude Terry Drive. Those entries must turn onto Municipal Drive, and then turn at Traffic Light #6 back onto Alberta Street. Participants cannot enter the parking lots at Oneida Plaza (Wal-Mart and Peebles) or Walgreens during the parade.

Floats and float riders should report to the HBD Industrial parking lot after 10:00 a.m. and no later than 12:15 p.m. All floats, even if not being judged should be in place by 12:15 p.m. Pictures of float entries will be taken no later than 12:15 p.m. and judging of floats will begin at 12:30 p.m. Floats not in place by 12:15 p.m. will not be judged nor will a picture be taken of the entry. Each float entry must have adult supervision.

Vehicle, pageant entries, ATV riders, bands and marching units will report to gate # 1 by 1:15 p.m. All participants who will be driving a vehicle must have a valid driver’s license. ATV riders must wear helmets during the parade.

Horses and riders will off-load in the field near the Mt. People’s Health Clinic on Industrial Lane no later than 1:15 p.m. Horse entries will be merged from Industrial Lane into the parade at the appropriate time.

Vehicles transporting parade participants will enter at gate # 1 of the HBD parking lot and exist through gate # 2, and turn right onto Industrial Lane.

Deadline for entry to the Parade will be 4:00 p.m. on December 3, 2008. Applications for the Parade may be obtained by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 423-663-6900 or at the office, 12025 Scott Highway, Helenwood, Tennessee.

Any changes made as a result of inclement weather will be announced on this station. Rain date for the parade will be Sunday, December 7, 2008 beginning at 3:00 p.m. In the event that the Parade is reschedule; float entries should report by 1:00 p.m. and all other entries by 2:15 p.m. on Sunday.

The Chamber of Commerce encouraged parade participants to cautiously toss wrapped candy. As in years past, WBNT Radio will provide a live radio and television broadcast.

Adult supervision is required for all parade entries. The Scott County Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Annual Christmas Parade.