Saturday News » Community News Dec. 22

Unique celebration will welcome 2008

By Peggy Blackburn - Managing Editor
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Long before most people start making their Christmas list, Jack DeVenney is planning for an occasion a week further down the line -- New Year’s Eve.

Every year since Dec. 31, 1992, DeVenney has organized a New Year’s Eve celebration in Wetumpka. And the event has grown steadily larger ... evolving from a handful of spectators watching the descent of a small lighted globe to a crowd of more than one thousand mesmerized by the sight of a fiery ball streaking across the courthouse square in downtown.

For the third consecutive year, the centerpiece of the night’s activities will be an “asteroid drop” with a faux meteor plummeting downward at 37-1/2 feet per second.

The miniature reenactment of the asteroid strike that created the Wetumpka impact crater 83 million years ago brings visitors to the city from as far away as North Carolina.

“Last year the story was picked up and it ran in newspapers in 10 states,” said DeVenney. “One of our former students called us from Notre Dame and said she saw it in a paper up there.

“Someone else called to tell us they had seen the story on CNN in Florida,” he added.

The metal “asteroid” was constructed by machining students at the Elmore County Technical Center, and the flames surrounding it are the result of rockets mounted on the sphere. When the meteor “hits” the flag pole at midnight, fountains of sparks will erupt and the lights of the traditional ball will flash on, as will lights placed on the courthouse patio. Fireworks will explode in the wake of the impact.

Activities leading up to the finale will begin at 11 p.m. To open the evening, a POW/MIA remembrance service will be held at the flag memorial on the courthouse lawn. Flags of all of the service branches, and the city, state, and nation will be on display; as well as several other organizational banners. Then, torch bearers will approach and meet at the memorial.

“I’m very excited that we have new flags this year,” said DeVenney. “The county commission replaced the old ones, which were getting worn out.”

An illuminated American flag will be on display for the 11th straight year to honor servicemen and veterans. Attendees are encouraged to bring candles to place around the flag in honor of loved ones currently serving in the military or who served in the past. The candles will be placed at the base of the flag.

As during the past seven years, a digital countdown clock will ensure that those gathered for the event will know the precise moment that midnight arrives. Father Time and the Baby New Year will also be featured.

“I got the idea for a lighted ball drop one day as I drove past the courthouse,” said DeVenney. “With the square and the flagpole it seemed like the ideal place for a Times Square-style New Year’s ball drop.”

The New Year’s celebration is a family affair, and dress for the occasion is casual. No reservations are necessary and there is no admission fee.

Those attending are reminded that the courthouse is county government property and no alcoholic beverages are permitted. Everyone is encouraged to come armed with hats, noisemakers and candles to place at the lighted flag.

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