Special Edition February 2017 Dalton Utilities …...Lori McDaniel said. “Ken was a retired...
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EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER MISSION: Dalton Utilities will deliver the highest VALUE in service to our customers. Dalton Ulies Christmas Wrap-Up Special Edition February 2017 Mount Rachel Christmas Star Lighng Dalton Ulies lit the Christmas star on top of Mount Rachel on Thursday, Dec. 1, connuing a tradion that has been a part of the Dalton community for 81 years. The star, owned and maintained by Dalton Ulies, is lit on Dec. 1 each year and shines throughout the holiday season through New Year’s Day. “This year, the Finch family lit the star in memory of Ken Finch,” ulity spokeswoman Lori McDaniel said. “Ken was a rered electrical supervisor who worked at Dalton Ulies for 34 years from 1976 to 2010. Ken passed away July 18, 2014. To com- memorate Ken this holiday season, Mike Ogle and Brad Tallent, co-workers of Ken’s, organized the lighng of the star and were on site with the Finch family.” “It was an honor to be there with the Finch family to help them celebrate Ken’s life in the lighng of the star,” ulity worker Jennifer Latour said. “As a Dalton nave, it was really special to see the star light up for the first me this season.” The Mount Rachel Star measures 40 feet in diameter and towers 65 feet above the mountain. More than 230 bulbs illuminate the star that can be seen several miles away all season long. The original Mount Rachel Christmas star was built in 1935 by the late Carl McCamy, former superintendent of Dalton Ulies. The original structure was a 30-foot tall wooden frame with 150 light bulbs aached to a pole. The temporary structure was placed on top of Mount Rachel each December. A local tradion, the Mount Rachel star is an integral part of our local Christmas cel- ebraons. According to McCamy’s daughter, the late Ann Henderson, “The star was lit every year aſter 1935, except during the blackouts during World War II.” In 1947, V.D. Parro Jr., former Dalton Ulies president, and the Board of Water, Light and Sinking Fund Commissioners replaced the original wooden star with a per- manent structure made of iron. The star was completely overhauled in 2005 when Dalton Ulies personnel rebuilt the frame, replaced all the lights and rewired the structure so that this beacon of the holiday season can connue to shine for future generaons. Thanks to research done by Judy Alderman and Jane Harrell, we now know more about Rachel Hamilton who the mountain was named for. Mount Rachel was named aſter the wife and daughter of John Hamilton, a wealthy landowner who lived in the Hamilton House located near the mountain on Chaanooga Avenue. The Hamilton House is now owned by the Whiield-Murray Historical Society and is listed on the Naonal Register of Historic Places. John Hamilton died in 1853. Leſt with seven children to raise, Rachel ran their plantaon successfully by herself. Five of her sons served in the Confederate Army with all of them surviving the Civil War. During the war, Rachel nursed wounded soldiers in her home. She lived at the house on Chaanooga Avenue unl her death in 1876. The family of the late Ken Finch lit the Mount Rachel Christmas Star on December 1 in his memory. At leſt, Mark Dean and Blake Baldridge replace light bulbs on the star.
Transcript of Special Edition February 2017 Dalton Utilities …...Lori McDaniel said. “Ken was a retired...
EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER
MISSION: Dalton Utilities will deliver the highest VALUE in service to our customers.
Dalton Utilities Christmas Wrap-Up Special Edition February 2017
Mount Rachel Christmas Star LightingDalton Utilities lit the Christmas star on top of Mount Rachel on Thursday, Dec. 1, continuing a tradition that has been a part of the Dalton community for 81 years. The star, owned and maintained by Dalton Utilities, is lit on Dec. 1 each year and shines throughout the holiday season through New Year’s Day.
“This year, the Finch family lit the star in memory of Ken Finch,” utility spokeswoman Lori McDaniel said. “Ken was a retired electrical supervisor who worked at Dalton Utilities for 34 years from 1976 to 2010. Ken passed away July 18, 2014. To com-memorate Ken this holiday season, Mike Ogle and Brad Tallent, co-workers of Ken’s, organized the lighting of the star and were on site with the Finch family.”
“It was an honor to be there with the Finch family to help them celebrate Ken’s life in the lighting of the star,” utility worker Jennifer Latour said. “As a Dalton native, it was really special to see the star light up for the first time this season.”
The Mount Rachel Star measures 40 feet in diameter and towers 65 feet above the mountain. More than 230 bulbs illuminate the star that can be seen several miles away all season long.
The original Mount Rachel Christmas star was built in 1935 by the late Carl McCamy, former superintendent of Dalton Utilities. The original structure was a 30-foot tall wooden frame with 150 light bulbs attached to a pole. The temporary structure was placed on top of Mount Rachel each December.
A local tradition, the Mount Rachel star is an integral part of our local Christmas cel-ebrations. According to McCamy’s daughter, the late Ann Henderson, “The star was lit every year after 1935, except during the blackouts during World War II.”
In 1947, V.D. Parrott Jr., former Dalton Utilities president, and the Board of Water, Light and Sinking Fund Commissioners replaced the original wooden star with a per-manent structure made of iron. The star was completely overhauled in 2005 when Dalton Utilities personnel rebuilt the frame, replaced all the lights and rewired the structure so that this beacon of the holiday season can continue to shine for future generations.
Thanks to research done by Judy Alderman and Jane Harrell, we now know more about Rachel Hamilton who the mountain was named for. Mount Rachel was named after the wife and daughter of John Hamilton, a wealthy landowner who lived in the Hamilton House located near the mountain on Chattanooga Avenue. The Hamilton House is now owned by the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. John Hamilton died in 1853. Left with seven children to raise, Rachel ran their plantation successfully by herself. Five of her sons served in the Confederate Army with all of them surviving the Civil War. During the war, Rachel nursed wounded soldiers in her home. She lived at the house on Chattanooga Avenue until her death in 1876.
The family of the late Ken Finch lit the Mount Rachel Christmas Star on December 1 in his memory.
At left, Mark Dean and Blake Baldridge replace light bulbs on the star.
A lot of great Dalton Utilities and OptiLink folks braved the cold to ring the Salvation Army bell at the Walnut Avenue Kmart! Thanks to all those who helped this GREAT cause!! Thanks to Alicia Walker, Allen Peters, Amber Deanda, Becky Cox, Candice Peeler, Charlie Morrow, David Keaton, Edwin Galloway, Gary Hill, Guy Jackson, Hank Blackwood, Jane Means, Kathy Dannel, Kay Phillips, Jennifer Latour, Keith Coffey, Kelly Jones and helpers, Keri Coram, Leslie Rush, Megan Hobbs, Michael Brown, Mitchell Hughes, Randy Poplin, Renee Hammontree and helpers, Rhonda James and husband Dave Betty, Ricky Johnson and Sandy Bennett. And, DU’s Lori McDaniel also featured the Salvation Army on her WDNN show, “The Local Scene.” Keep up the great work, Salvation Army! What’s our Red Kettle Reason? We love our community!!
Thanks To Our Salvation Army Volunteers
The Financial Services Department went all out with their decorated cubicles this Christmas. As you can see from the photos, we have some very creative employees. First place went to Keri Barton and Trish Francis for “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”. Second place was Emily Pratt with her “Gingerbread House” theme and third place went to Jane Means for “The Red Baron” from the Peanuts cartoon. We can’t wait to see what creative ideas they come up with next Christmas!
Milk & Cookies With Santa
More photos on the next page
