Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND — Inspired by a tree lighting program in Rock Springs, RT Communications vice president and general manager Becky Dooley and marketing and sales supervisor Linda Weeks are bringing the trim-a-tree program to Worland.
Dooley and Weeks presented their program to the Worland City Council Tuesday night seeking approval for the project that would light up 10 trees in Pioneer Square
Dooley told the council their idea to make Pioneer Square more festive for Christmas.
Weeks said one of the objectives is to showcase “community spirit and partnership and unity to create a beautiful holiday focal point in Worland during the Christmas season.
Weeks said there are 45 trees in the park but not all are suitable for decoration so this year they are seeking 10 families to decorate 10 trees. The large city tree will again be decorated by the city as it has in the past.
Dooley said she is calling longtime Worland families to participate in the inaugural trim-a-tree event.
She said her family has been in the area since 1898 and will be decorating a tree.
Each family will be responsible for the purchase of LED lights and responsible for decorating and undecorating the tree. Trees will be decorated with lights only Weeks said.
She said RT and Carrell Tree Service will provide bucket trucks with operators on two weekends before Thanksgiving in November to assist the families in decorating.
“Our intent it not to disrupt the grounds so trees will be selected based on easy access to the tree,” Weeks said, adding that they are looking at trying to get a scissor lift.
A sign will be placed by each tree with the family name.
Dooley said Rock Springs does this every years and started in one area, such as
Worland is planning with Pioneer Square, and they have expanded. They start a sign-up for families on Nov. 1 and have a waiting list of families who want to participate. She said she hopes this for Worland as they would like to expand it to other parks.
“I was so impressed. I thought this is something Worland ought to be doing. It’s something I hope they want to do every year. We’ll make the town pretty at Christmas,” Dooley said.
Dooley said the reason they seek families to participate is to get them involved in the community.
In addition to trimming the trees, RT is also planning on a lighting ceremony on Nov. 23, the Friday after Thanksgiving. The festivities will run from 5-7 p.m. with the official lighting at 5:30 p.m. Santa Claus will be in attendance with transportation for the Jolly Old Elf provided by the Worland Volunteer Fire Department.
They are organizing some caroling and other holiday music, and refreshments.
Weeks said the Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce will be coordinating and encouraging businesses to light up and decorate in time for the event.
Mayor Jim Gill said, “Personally, I just think it’s wonderful. We’ve got to try it.”
The council, with Loresa Brinkerhoff and Mandy Horath absent, voted unanimously to allow the project at Pioneer Square.