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Better weather expected for Star City Parade

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By HILARY KINDSCHUH / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Dec 01, 2006 - 12:03:08 am CST

When Deb Pohlmann became high school band director in Deshler, she thought the idea of a parade in December sounded a little crazy.

But she soon realized how much her students looked forward to marching in Lincoln’s annual Star City Parade, and Deshler is a regular marching band entry.

Last year, it was the only marching band entry.

Story Photo
Joey Decker, left, and Troy A. Vesely, right, play in their inflatable gingerbread man costumes in preparation for Saturday's Star City Holiday Parade on Thursday night, November 30, 2006. (Michael McNamara)

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With temperatures in the teens and 2 inches of snow by noon, most bands — including the 43rd Army Band, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhusker Marching Band and Lincoln’s six public and one private high school bands — canceled.

Twenty bands were scheduled. Only Deshler showed.

“It was cold, but we knew it was going to be cold,” Pohlmann said. “We were prepared for that.”

This Saturday, musicians and fans can expect partly cloudy, “blustery” weather, said Scott Dergan of the National Weather Service. The temperature should be about 25 degrees when the parade begins at 11 a.m.

Saturday’s high is expected to be 32, but northwest winds of 15 mph to 20 mph will drop wind-chill values into the teens, Dergan said.

Last year, the weather scared off potential parade spectators as well as bands.

Courteney Schroeppel, parade chairwoman for the Updowntowners, said about 50,000 people watched last year’s parade. The parade typically draws closer to 85,000, she said.

This year, 14 bands are slated to march.

But not the Cornhusker band. It opted to perform at the Big 12 Championship Game in Kansas City, said Carolyn Barber, the university’s director of bands.

All six of Lincoln’s public high schools expect to send their bands, said Raymond Lowther, LPS supervisor of music.

“We would have loved to have our bands march (last year),” Lowther said. “The main factor was the safety of the kids.”

Schools that pulled bands last year received some criticism, said Lincoln High band director Terry Rush, but a combination of low temps, low wind chills and falling snow — which could damage uniforms and instruments and cause safety risks for students — were factors into the decision.

The Star City Parade is generally a fun experience for students, especially if crowds are receptive, Rush said.

The students work hard to prepare for the parade, he said.

Spectators who see the bands are looking at the finished product, Rush said.

“They don’t know how much time and effort kids put into it,” he said.

Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com.

If you go

What: The 2006 Star City Holiday Parade, themed: “Making Spirits Bright”

Where: Begins at 10th and O streets and ends at 13th and M.

When: Starts at 11 a.m.

What else: More information at www.starcityholidayfestival.org


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???? wrote on December 1, 2006 9:58 am:
" I could never understand why Lincoln has the parade in December? I went to the parade one year, froze, and decided I would never go back as long as they hold it in Dec. Come on! Let's change it to a warmer month. "
Good Dad wrote on December 1, 2006 11:51 am:
" I agree with ???? I would love to take my daughter to the parade but it's just too cold to have kids sitting out there on the curb, theres got to be a better month. "
Fran D wrote on December 1, 2006 11:52 am:
" We need to stop making the Deschler band director look like a hero for marching in the parade. Yes they drove hours to get there and were the only ones to brave the bad weather but what about safety. Kids marching in five inches of snow in canvas shoes or in most case barefoot since the snow took their shoes is never the answer. The director should have had enough smarts to pull their band like everyone else. Let's ignore equipment and uniforms that were damaged. These are your students and someones children that you risk frost bite. I don't care if the kids wanted to do the parade, you are the adult. You should know better. "
:) wrote on December 1, 2006 12:10 pm:
" I think Joey makes an adorable gingerbread man. Way to represent LBL. "
Lynn wrote on December 1, 2006 12:24 pm:
" Sure lets have the Christmas parade in June. Dress for the weather and have a great time. "
se wrote on December 1, 2006 12:45 pm:
" Does anyone know how hard it is to play an instrument in cold weather??? Having a parade in December is nuts!!! Not only are brass mouth pieces freezing cold and reed instruments impossible to make work, but fingers aren't as agile either. My kids participated because it was expected, and sure the bus rides to and from were fun. But the marching was dreaded. Parades are for warm weather. "
I agree wrote on December 1, 2006 1:00 pm:
" I don't take my kids down for the same reason. The month of December is a little cold to have it, but it is close to Christmas-so I do understand the reasoning there. However, it could be held in October and still have the same effect, with less risk of cold and bad weather. Since we do live in Nebraska, there is always a chance of snow in October, but we would have a better shot. It doesn't matter to the children-they will be just as excited to see Santa 2 months or 2 weeks before the big day:) "
JM wrote on December 1, 2006 1:08 pm:
" I'm sorry but attacking Deshler's marching band isn't the best approach here. I marched in the Deshler Marching band and i loved going to the Star City parade. Yes, it is a very cold parade...but if you don't like it, don't go. It is in December because it is meant to be a Christmas Parade. We march in it because we are passionate about it, not because we have to. Deshler showed up last year because they are passionate about what they do. It had nothing to do with how bad the weather is. The kids had the choice not to go, they chose to go. Fran, you need to back up and mind your own business. Until you have had a part in the Deshler High School Marching Band, you know nothing about why we march and why we showed up. Good Luck DHS!!! "
Dan wrote on December 1, 2006 2:58 pm:
" I missed getting my letter from the city requiring me to attend the parade like they do in Cuba. The reason they have it in December is quite simple. It's a Christmas Parade. I marched in a December Parade in Minnesota, and survived and everybody else survived also with no problems. The continuous whining is getting old, does anything make this board happy? There will be a lot of people that enjoying the festivities, if you don't want to go then don't go, just keep your Bah Humbug opinion to yourself. "
Chip wrote on December 1, 2006 3:23 pm:
" Two points, POINT 1: when I marched in the Cornhusker Marching Band, it was so darned cold that the spit literally froze on the tone holes of my saxophone preventing me from playing ANY notes except C#. I know everybody and their dog wants the bands to march, but when the instruments don't function, the band members CAN'T be proud of their performance. POINT 2: If, God forbid, a Deshler student had gotten hypothermia or a bus would've crashed on the interstate, you parade Nazis would have been asking, "Why would anybody be so stupid to try to drive to Lincoln or march a student in the parade?" Ms. Pohlman would've been looking for a new job. Personally, I wouldn't want that sort of liability as a teacher. Suggesting that teenagers should have ANY say in a decision like this is absolutely ignorant. The administration and music staff at Deshler should take a serious look at their policies and their judgment should be called into question! Those of you who say I'm over-reacting must have forgotten about the Seward Band bus crash a few years back in GOOD weather. Put kids safety first people! "
HEY SMART ONES wrote on December 1, 2006 3:44 pm:
" That makes a lot of sense... let's have a Holiday parade in June or July or May or even April with Santa Clause and Snowmen and Christmas Trees, and WINTER HOLIDAY THINGS!!!! Makes a WHOLE lot of sense doesn't it. Dress warm! You aren't going to get frostbite if you dress accordingly. Do you take your children sledding???? What's the difference? I bet they get cold then! Why can't they sit through a Holiday parade too? I think the Parade in December is a great idea! And if a marching band WANTS to march in a parade when it's cold let them march! If they don't, they don't have too! You should all know though that marching band competitions are always held in the fall when there is a possibility of snow and freezing temperatures! "
hey chip! wrote on December 1, 2006 3:51 pm:
" So let's just stop all bus travel... heaven forbid something happens in GOOD weather! You can't help accidents. Maybe they should not have travelled in BAD weather, but your comment about good weather is just plain stupid! "
Aaron f wrote on December 4, 2006 4:31 pm:
" I think you are all forgetting why this parade even exists. It was created years ago when there were department stores in downtown. They needed a way to get people to go downtown when it was freezing outside and shop and so they held a parade. Now all those stores have left and we still trick people into watching a parade downtown. I have marched these parades before. These are never a fair representation of any school program when they aren't able to properly play their intrument or can't feel their feet because the snow has ripped their shoes off. Last I checked, having children be exposed to the elements without proper clothing, lacking shoes, and without shelter is child abuse. The argument if a band wants to march let them, if they don't then don't is an unfair argument. The bands that don't march will be riticuled by people because they aren't tough enough. There is a reason last year the Cornhusker Marching Band and the Army Band decided not to march. They are adults and as adults decided it wasn't in the best intrest for the group, the personel, the equipment to be out in the elements. They are allowed to make those decisions because they are ADULTS. High school marching bands don't get to make that choice, their directors' get that choice. Ms. Pohlman failed as a teacher because she risked her students health and safety for a parade. I am wait to see someone write a complaint that the University didn't send a band even though the game was at night. By the way marching contest in this state are done by October when the chance of snow and freezing temperatures is low. This parade is in December when it is pretty much a guarantee there will be bad weather. How about we stop arguing that children should be drug out in the snow for our entertainment. If the town wants to have a parade, have a Memorial Day Parade. Celebrate our war heros rather than commercialism. But I am sure you will complain about that too. "

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