“Touching The World For Christ” Judged Best In Annual Parade

Oneida, TN (2011-12-03) An entry by the local affiliate of Operation Christmas Child took top honors in the 63^rd Annual Scott County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Touching the World for Christ, an entry by the Operation Christmas Child Scott County Relay Team, was judged the best of show in Saturday’s Christmas Parade. The float featured metal jet shoeboxes, which replicated the Operation Christmas Child logo flying around an 8 ft. rotating metal globe, not only took the Judge’s Choice Award, but also first place in the parade’s special category. The float, which was fabricated by students at Tennessee Technology Center of Oneida/Huntsville under the direction of Chris Chambers, was towed by a Ford truck donated by Ted Russell Ford on Parkside Drive in Knoxville. Operation Christmas Child spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ through gift filled shoeboxes.

A Candy Land Christmas, an entry by 10^th Inning Cards and Heather King Photography, was awarded first place in the traditional category. The candy land themed float, which was constructed solely of cardboard and plywood, featured a gingerbread house and gingerbread men. Second place honors were bestowed on Tim and Zena Owens for their entry, the Lil’ Christmas Village. The float included a series of miniature cabins, a barn, sawmill and church, along with a covered bridge and grist mill. Great Day in the Morning, a local bluegrass band took third place in the traditional category. Their float, It’s a Tennessee Bluegrass Christmas, featured the group performing bluegrass music throughout the parade.

The New Light United Baptist Church in Winfield took top honors in the religious category. The congregation’s entry, titled Jonah’s Dark Day, depicted the great fish that swallowed Jonah. While inside the belly of the fish, Jonah realized his disobedience to God and repented. Jonah was seen just in the mouth of the fish, and the fishermen that threw Jonah overboard were also represented. The Last Supper, an entry by the Byrges Creek Baptist Church was judged second best. The float represented the last supper of Christ and the twelve disciples before he was crucified. The First United Methodist Church of Oneida received third place honors in the religious category. The float, titled Everyone Home for Christmas, depicted the reunion of family the return of college students and military personnel, as well as the un-churched, to share the joy of the Christmas story in the book of Luke.

Tony Litton Presents brought the classic Christmas story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, to life. The float, which depicted the Grinch in Whoville surrounded by children wishing everyone a Merry Merry Christmas, earned second place honors. South Fork Physical Therapy’s entry, the North Pole Gets a Physical, was the judge’s third choice in the special category. The float depicted the residence of the North Pole, including Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Rudolph elves and elves in training, getting ready for Christmas by exercising.