The Daily Herald
The outpouring response following Mule Day s official cancellation earlier this month brought many supporters together over the weekend to discuss a possible revival of Columbia s largest event in May.
The grassroots effort was spearheaded by Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, who initially called the decision to cancel Mule Day for the second year in a row, absurd. Ogles was joined by several local business owners, nonprofit groups and citizens who wished the events could somehow continue.
Ogles pointed to two major gathering events the city has hosted in the past, the 9/11 Memorial concert on the square last September and the Maury County Fair. He said, according to data, there was no spike in COVID-19 case numbers reported after those events, and the same can be true for Mule Day. If anything, the city is more prepared now than it was in 2020 with access to vaccinations and antibody treatments, he explained.
Reverse parade: An event to remember
Gene Dunaway/Letters
To the Editor:
It is common knowledge that the city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has a unique perspective on community involvement. That can be said about this year s annual Christmas parade, but with a twist: the units were stationary, the spectators moved.
Sponsored by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and managed by Greta Ownby, Executive Vice President, this year s parade was to feature 39 entries, a third of the normal crop. With a constant drizzle and less than ideal marching weather, some 20 organizations, city departments, and local businesses actually participated. No bands, no choirs, no drill teams, no llamas but we had outstanding displays, such as the Chamber, Breakfast Rotary, Youth Advisory Board, Karen Walker (Realtor), Marlow Fire Department (perennial participant), Humane Society, and Solway Auto Care (new entry). And, yes: Santa Claus capped the display along with elves passing out candy.