Downtown Richmond will be a whole lot brighter this holiday season.
A fund drive by Richmond Downtown Development Committee to purchase and install white LED lights to rim the tops of buildings on the square has been met.Fifty-four businesses and individuals donated$8,694 for the project so far,which includes a$3,500 gift from Ray and Lucille Gill.
On Oct.9,Hometown Pizza sponsored"Cocktails for a Cause,"a Christmas lights fundraiser with live music by Beam and Eads.More than$300 was raised through tips and a percentage of drink sales,Richmond Downtown Development Committee President Jimmy Carter said.Around 50 people attended the"Light the Square"event.
"Everybody came together.It's been a community-wide endeavor,"he said.
Carter said he's heard a lot of interest in"bringing back the lights"to the square by businesses and townspeople.A downtown revitalization project,which upgraded sidewalks and street lights a few years ago,altered the power source for the Christmas lights atop buildings.
The committee accepted the sole$7,712 bid from Expert Electric of Richmond to provide the labor and materials.KCP&L has also agreed to provide two power boxes as an in-kind donation,said Jerry McCarter,a driving force for the project.Remaining funds will be used for future maintenance and upkeep.
Carter said the project is on track and he hopes to have an official lighting at the Nov.29 Christmas light parade and Richmond Chamber of Commerce holiday extravaganza in downtown Richmond.
List of donors
Ray and Lucille Gill,Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce,Hometown Pizza,Richmond Commercial Printing,Gene Haun,Letzig Group,David Hughes-American Family Insurance,Bob Duncan-Home Farm Realty,John W.Carter Lodge,Hockemeier Law Firm,Nathan and Kaitlin Preston,Joe Jacobson-Drug Court,Farmers Home Insurance Co.of Ray County,Edward Jones of Richmond,Richmond Rotary Club,Garner McCalley Abstract,Wolfe Jewelry,Richmond Kiwanis Club,Patty Bamman,Thurman Funeral Home,Polley Funeral Home,Rick Ridder,Bob King,Allen Dale,Kent Wollard,Margie Bowman,Cletus and Jo Ann Burnine,Swafford's Ford,Larry's True Value,The Jones Store,City of Richmond,Kountry Kuts,C.D.Holtzen,Alvin's Heating and Cooling,Outlaw Days raffle,Calvert Tire,JP's Total Image,Richmond Farm and Lawn,4 Seasons Siding and Window,Jerry and Gale McCarter,Photography by Donn,Max and Debra Hockemeier,Doug and Nina Courtney,Ray County Transportation,Larue Limited,Mr.and Mrs.Keith Miner,J.D.Allen,Will Talbert and Willow Spring Mercantile.
