“We’re getting Park Rapids ready for the tree-lighting ceremony, putting on the star and stringing lights,” Kevin George with Itasca-Mantrap Electric Cooperative explained Monday as linemen from both Itasca-Mantrap and Minnesota Power worked together.
The approximately 45-foot-high Colorado blue spruce had gone up Sunday in the middle of Main Avenue in downtown Park Rapids, and now four bucket trucks surrounded it, along with yards of lights, boxes of colorful glass bulbs and a big, illuminated tree-topper.
Robin Fish / Enterprise
“It’s just the power companies giving back during the holiday season,” said George.
Derek Ricke, president and CEO of the Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, said the community Christmas tree is a 38-year tradition.
Robin Fish / Enterprise
“What it stands for is really about shedding a little light in our downtown and in our community,” said Ricke. “We partner with CHI St. Joseph’s Health Hospice Care on the tree-lighting ceremony. We call it the Light of Hope. I think, really, that’s what the tree downtown stands for. It provides a light of hope for our community throughout the holiday season.
“Winter can be a dark time. We want to shed a little joy. We want to put a little light and a little hope in people’s lives.”
Robin Fish / Enterprise
Ricke said it’s incredible how the community comes together for the downtown tree. “We have somebody donate the tree – this year it’s Charlie’s Boat and Marine,” he said. “Kimball Logging donates their time and their equipment to put the tree up. This morning, we got Itasca-Mantrap and Minnesota Power out. These guys are donating their time in chilly weather to light it up.
“There’s just a lot of different people, businesses and organizations that come together to make this happen. It’s not just one entity. It really is about the community pulling together. I think that’s one of my favorite parts of the whole thing.”
Robin Fish / Enterprise
Doing the hard part were four linemen in raised buckets, riding a stiff, cold breeze after the city’s first significant snowfall this winter. They included Roth Munson and Matt Bade with Minnesota Power and Andy Sandberg and Mike Moen with Itasca-Mantrap.
Ricke looked up at the linemen in the raised buckets and added, “Man, the fact that people are willing to do this is incredible. You don’t have to ask twice. You don’t have to pry. For the most part, people want to be a part of it. I think it’s pretty amazing. We’re grateful to be a part of it.”
Robin Fish / Enterprise
Robin Fish is a staff reporter at the Park Rapids Enterprise. Contact him at rfish@parkrapidsenterprise.com or 218-252-3053.
