LITTLE ROCK — Christmas in Bryant may not be quite as jolly this year.
It won't be because the Grinch came through and stole all the decorations, though. The Bryant Chamber of Commerce is the one taking down the holiday cheer.
Kristy Byrd, chairwoman for the Chamber's Christmas committee, explains:
"Some of the pole-mounted decorations are aging and we are considering replacements," she said. "This is more difficult than it sounds because the ornaments themselves are not the only piece to change. The old hanging hardware has to be removed and new installed. In addition, if there is any electrical usage, the wiring has to be reworked by a certified electrician."
As a result, no lights will be on Arkansas 5 this Christmas season, and Reynolds Road will have fewer than the 24 that were there last year, but how many fewer is anyone's guess.
"I can't answer that question," Chamber Director Rae Ann Fields said. "Entergy went through and completely replaced the light poles as they were improving their infrastructure andthey did some of [the current lights] over, but on some they used a whole different kind of pole and our hardware would not that fit that pole .... All your old [decorations] won't fit the new design."
She added, "I don't know how many new poles there are, so I would have to physically go out and count them and I haven't done that, but I will."
Fields said that as a result, the Chamber is looking at banners for next Christmas season, but even those are expensive.
"It costs about $150 for everything for just one banner," said Carol Simmons, a volunteer who is helping with the Christmas committee. "The banner is about $75 and the brackets to put them on the pole are about the same. We wanted to put more banners up this year, but the bracket wouldn't fit on the new poles that [Entergy] put up," just like the lights.
So this year, Fields said, is a transition, but for now the lights won't be quite as bright.
Part of the problem, in addition to the new poles, is a change on how Entergy operates.
"They require you to have a certified electrician to do that work," Fields said. "So if you need to replace anything that involves the wiring or upgradeit, you need an electrician. And they are doing that for safety reasons and that's really a smart thing to do, but it has gotten really problematic when you are talking about lighting Christmas decorations."
The Chamber is also paying for the Christmas lights, and to help raise funds, a golf tournament will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19, at Longhills Golf Course. Lunch will be served at noon. For more information, call the Chamber at (501) 847-4702.
- jpeppas@ arkansasline.com
Tri-Lakes, Pages 123, 131 on 10/07/2007