DECATUR — Santa Clause is lined up, and candy, apples and oranges are ready and waiting to be passed out to children at Friday’s Christmas Parade, Chamber of Commerce president Royce Johnson said at Monday’s meeting.

Line-up for the parade will be at 5:15 p.m. at city hall, and the parade will begin it’s route down Main Street at 6 p.m.

Santa Clause will be greeting children inside the Decatur General Store before and after the parade, and Gene and Norma Jean Wilmoth will be taking Polaroid pictures of children on Santa’s lap.

After the parade, community member are also invited to the First Baptist Church on Roller Avenue for refreshments, including snacks like cookies and hot chocolate, according to Darleen Holly.

Fire chief David Flynt offered to let the Chamber of Commerce use the fire station for Santa Clause. He suggested pulling the fire trucks out of the station and putting them on display for the children, while allowing families to line up to see Santa inside the fire truck bays, out of the cold.

Flynt offered to let Santa sit inside the fire department office, and decorate the office with a tree. The office wouldprovide more room, and the fire department already has a digital camera and printer the chamber could use for pictures, he said.

“I like the idea,” Johnson said. While it’s too late to change plans for this year, he suggested using the fire department next Christmas.

News, Pages 1 on 12/09/2009