LOCKHART — The Town of Lockhart celebrates Christmas — like the rest of Union County’s communities — with a parade.

It will also celebrate another religious holiday with a parade this year.

The Lockhart Town Council gave the nod to parade committee chairman Barry Canupp and Miss Society Hill Teen Destiny Knox to plan a new Easter Parade for the east central Union County community.

Knox came to the town council meeting Tuesday evening to make the request as part of her journey and platform — focusing on schools and education — for the Miss South Carolina Pageant. If she wins in that competition, she will move on to the Miss Teen America Pageant.

Canupp — who Dixon contacted earlier Tuesday about her parade idea — representing a newly formed parade committee and told council members he and committee members were seeking another community event outside of the annual Christmas Parade. They plan to meet sometime in the next several days to discuss options and, with council’s approval, plans for the new Easter event.

The new parade will be held the Saturday prior to Easter, April 3, and some discussion was held by council members, Canupp and Dixon about the possibility of involving food and local craft/jewelry vendors. There also was thought about maybe collecting donations and possibly giving hot dogs away.

Canupp’s main objective in supporting a new event like the Easter Parade was to give the community something more than a single annual event.

“We need something to pull the community together more than once a year,” he told council members.

Council member Lee Brannon was going to bring the idea of having a Fourth of July celebration in Lockhart, but was fine with the idea of having an Easter Parade. Council member Glen Stein said he would like to see the Easter Parade focus on the community’s children.

“That’s what I’d like to see,” he said, adding it would be great if the streets were full of kids from Lockhart and surrounding areas during the parade.

The town will be responsible for writing the necessary letters to officials requesting the closing of streets for the event.

No other details were decided Tuesday night but Canupp said he and his committee will be discussing the options. Lockhart Mayor Ailene Ashe also asked Dixon to keep the council informed on the new parade and offered her thoughts on who should lead the new event.

“I think Destiny should be the parade marshal leading it,” she said.

Watch for more details on the new Easter Parade in Lockhart as they are announced.

In other business Tuesday night, Lockhart Town Council members:

• Heard updates on several projects, including sidewalk repairs which have started but now are on hold because of the recent wet weather the area received and the smoke testing for town sewer lines to determine where excess runoff water is getting into the town’s system. Ashe reported the liquid smoke had arrived, it’s just a matter now of waiting for the official to arrive in town to conduct the testing.

• Learned the Christmas lights were taken down.

• Approved waiving the water tap on fee for the Church of God for the home of its new pastor.

• Received a request to become a member of the Union County Chamber of Commerce. Council members said there was nothing budgeted for that expense in the current fiscal year but are willing to discuss the opportunity to become a chamber member again possibly next year.

• Heard updates on several upcoming meetings and courses for council members and on recent census testing at town hall. Ashe reported eight people came to town hall either Jan. 15 or Jan. 18 to take the test to become a census taker.

MAYOR’S REPORT:

Lockhart Mayor Ailene Ashe discussed two items not originally on the agenda with town council members at Tuesday evening’s meeting.

Book Mobile

Ashe reported the Book Mobile is in town every other Tuesday and she hopes people in the community will use this service. Ashe also would like to see more Lockhart residents visit the Union County Carnegie Library and said the Book Mobile is a great option for residents of the east central Union County community because it brings books right to them.

Septic tank and well question

The mayor also informed council members she had a phone call from a town resident who asked if he could put in a septic tank and well at his property. He was contemplating these measures because of how high his most recent water and power bills were.

Ashe contacted the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control about the request and was informed if there is a sewer system available, a septic tank would not be an option for that resident. That would mean — because Lockhart has a sewer system — no one inside the town would be able to install a septic tank.

The mayor was told by DHEC a well would be an option; however, a resident would be required by the state to have a state-certified well digger do the work and the correct DHEC permits would need to be obtained before the well could be dug.