Encore performance for pandemic graduation events

WORLAND — Two graduation events that came about due to the pandemic return this year in what might become a regular tradition for Worland.

The Worland City Council Tuesday night approved a request for a Class of 2021 graduation parade on Thursday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. They also approved a request to hang banners on the downtown street lights for the members of the Class of 2021.

Kara Anderson said with graduation looking like it will be “a little normal this year,” she had not planned on the parade until some seniors and parents approached her to organize it again because of the huge success last year. She said the parade is an opportunity for the graduates to be creative and relax.

“We might look at doing something every year. People want it to continue as a tradition,” Anderson said.

She said the parade is organized by a parent group and is not an official high school activity.

Worland Police Chief Gabe Elliott said a Thursday night parade is a different time than when parades have been held in the past but traffic should be light.

He told the council that it does mean overtime for police and city staff.

But, he added, he received the most positive comments of any event after last year’s graduation parade.

Gail Carver said, “Keeping with the theme of good ideas to continue” she had requests from parents to hang banners of all the seniors in the Class of 2021. She said there are at least 88 graduates this year.

She would like to hang them the first week of May for four to six weeks.

Both requests were approved unanimously.

The council also approved a request for an event in July by Washakie Museum Events Coordinator Chloe Stine. Stine said she is planning a new event with music, food and dancing on the side lawn of the museum. The event would run from 6 to 10 p.m. and music would be performed past the 9 p.m. deadline in the city’s noise ordinance so she was requesting an exception.

Chief Elliott told Stine he could work with her on ways to plan to serve alcohol appropriately and also directed her to Kara Anderson who has planned successful outside events for Goose’s Liquor.

He said they often ask organizers to notify neighbors about noise after the 9 p.m. deadline but 10 p.m. should not be a problem. He said they would have dispatchers notify any callers that the event will be ending at 10 p.m.

Stine said they want to feature Big Horn Basin and Wyoming products at the event.

Her request to allow music after 9 p.m. was approved unanimously.

More on Tuesday’s city council meeting, including information on the Extra Mile Award winners Scott Fritzler and Kay Fritzler, will be published in next week’s Northern Wyoming News.