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Erich Vierkant Flips Switch, Lights Up Noble Park

Erich Vierkant Flips Switch, Lights Up Noble Park
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By Ro Morse, WestKyStar Staff
Nov. 27, 2015 | PADUCAH, KY
By Ro Morse, WestKyStar Staff Nov. 27, 2015 | 07:19 PM | PADUCAH, KY
Paducah Power System retiree Erich Vierkant (and his grandsons) flip the switch to turn on lights for Christmas in the Park Friday night. Vierkant has been volunteering to set up the magnificent light display in Noble Park since he retired from Paducah Power System. This was his last time to complete the enormous task. He and his wife will be moving to be near their grandchildren.

"It's been fun. I've enjoyed it. I'll miss doing this but my wife and I are looking forward to moving closer to our family and these grandchildren. I'll just be a phone call away. Joe has my number."

Joe Flowers, who retired from PPS in July, will take over the massive responsibility next year. Flowers and his 94-year-old grandfather worked with Vierkant this year to learn all about the process. The operation takes a full two months to accomplish each year.

Andrea Underwood, PPS Community Relations Spokesperson, praised Vierkant for his generous efforts through the years. She said, "Erich and his wife have given Paducah a gift - the large lighted star and lighted streamers at the entrance to Noble Park...and he has made sure all the displays are in great shape - better than when he received them. We will miss Erich, but we certainly understand why he is moving. He's leaving the job in good hands with Joe."

Underwood made it clear that it takes many many folks in the community to make the park event a reality each year. She expressed a special thank you to Russell Wagner for use of Wagner Moving and Storage trucks to store and move food during the various food drives and to Donnie James for use of his warehouse to store the food until time to deliver to food pantries.

During Christmas in the Park, PPS employees and community volunteers man the Santa House at the park, collecting donations of money and nonperishable food for area helping agencies.  To date, Christmas in the Park has generated $534.644 and 679,855 pounds of food for local food pantries.  In 2014, the event raised 74,235 pounds of food and $40,043.  All donations from Christmas in the Park activities go to Paducah Cooperative Ministry, Family Service Society, the Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul Society.

In recent years, a significant portion of the proceeds have come from the annual Stuff the Truck drive involving Lourdes and Baptist Health Paducah and the School Challenge.  During Stuff the Truck, employees at both hospitals and the general public work for two days to stuff a semi trailer full of canned and dry goods.  This year’s Stuff the Truck event will take place December 15th at Lourdes Medical Pavilion and December 16th at Baptist Health Imaging Center.  The hours are 7 am until 6 pm both days.  Businesses, clubs and churches are invited to Adopt a Canned Good from a list provided by PPS and to collect as much of that one item as possible between now and Stuff the Truck.  PPS will pick up those items during the Stuff the Truck event.  If you are interested in adopting a canned good, please contact Andrea Underwood at 270-575-4025.During the School Challenge, schools in Paducah/McCracken County compete against each other by collecting canned goods.  The school that collects the most pounds of food per student wins $1,000.  Both events typically generate more than 35,000 pounds of food. 

The 2014 School Challenge winners were: Champion/Schools with 500 or more students-Concord Elementary, Champion/Schools with 499 or fewer students-Community Christian Academy Middle/High School and Best Canned Good Sculpture Winner-Concord Elementary.

Reservations to work at the Santa House at the park are taken each year, starting on the Tuesday after Labor Day.  The nights for this year’s Christmas in the Park are fully booked, except for Christmas Eve.  If your group is interested in working Christmas Eve, contact Cindy James at 270-575-4000.

Other activities at this year’s Christmas in the Park include a lighted artwork created by the Paducah School of Art and Design and sculptor in residence Cody Arnall and carriage rides by reservation by John’s Pass Carriage Company. Carriage rides may be booked by calling 618-410-6996

Information provided by Paducah Power System.

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