BEATRICE -- Gage County officials say the installation of holiday lights at the courthouse in Beatrice has been delayed until next week because of a squabble involving the installer and the man overseeing renovations taking place at the building.

Shawn VanLaningham has put up the lights every year since 1987. He was ordered off the roof Tuesday when Wim Kersten of Berggren Architects noticed VanLaningham was not wearing a safety harness.

J.T. Thornburg, who organizes the holiday lights tradition, said a Gage County Sheriff's deputy was called to the scene when VanLaningham did not come down right away.

VanLaningham said he told Kersten he wouldn't leave without his tools. He said he went and got his tools, and was gone by the time the deputy arrived.