Whitley Co. Board of Ed to display student and staff built parade float

Three teachers and numerous students at Whitley County High School designed and built the district’s 2021 Christmas parade float, but because the Williamsburg parade was canceled, it is currently sitting at the bus garage.

The parade was canceled Saturday because of forecasted rain.

The float which features student designed wrapped presents, a mechanical rotating colonel head and wooden Christmas trees sits upon a trailer loaned by John Pfoutz, a Whitley County bus driver.

“We are really proud of our teachers and kids and the effort they put into this,” said Whitley County Superintendent John Siler. “It showcases their skills. Our welding class, those students used a torch and metal skills to make the colonel and the device that rotates it. Our art students handpainted the gifts that are on the float and wrapped those, and our students from the vo-ag [vocational agriculture] department used some of the woodworking skills they have learned in that class to do the woodwork that can be seen on the float with the trees and other things.”

Brian Prewitt’s vocational agriculture students, Anthony Osborne’s art students, Ryan Moore’s welding students worked together to create the float.

The float will be at the Whitley County Board of Education on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. for community members to view. The float will be lit up and ready for photo opportunities.