Thumbs down to the changes to Country Christmas, especially the daytime parade.

After more than a quarter century, Powell’s Christmas celebration has gone off the rails in the last two years. In 2013, the parade was canceled because it was deemed too frigid. Imagine, cold in Wyoming in December.

This year, the parade was shifted to the morning after always having been held during the evening. We questioned this decision earlier but supported the effort to see if it would prove to be a boost for downtown.

We do not see much evidence of that. In fact, we have heard a lot of complaints from local merchants who said the parade was too short — just 18 entries — and disappointing in general. No prizes were awarded this year, another break with tradition.

By the middle of the afternoon, downtown Powell was quiet. Many people went to Cody to witness its lighted parade. The cancellation of the Tour of Homes was another loss.

We are not blaming the people who tried this and realize they were trying to reinvigorate the event. But we propose some other options for 2015.

First, return the parade to the late afternoon/ evening. Christmas lights are best appreciated in the dark. Second, bring back the Tour of Homes. It’s a special part of the holidays for many people. Third, find a path to the future by taking a look at what worked in the past.

Let’s fix this in time for next year.

Thumbs up to Powell High School’s winter athletes.

Starting today, PHS’s boy swimmers, boy and girl basketball players and wrestlers will begin competing. They have been a successful group in the past — the grapplers are seeking their fourth straight state title, the swimmers were second at state last season and both the hoop squads show promise after making it to the state tourney last spring.

We wish success to the teams and coaches while appreciating the effort and sweat that goes into building winning teams. Go Panthers!

Thumbs down to the Park County Fire Protection District No. 1 Board of Directors for not seeking competitive bids for a project.

The board voted to accept a $68,520 bid by Sanders Plumbing and Heating, Inc. to install a fire hydrant, hydrant components and labor this spring. Calvin Sanders is a former Powell fire chief, but that doesn’t mean other bids should not have been sought.

We agree with Director Kelly Spiering, who asked why no other bids were being accepted and then voted against it when other directors said they saw no need to do so.

Directors Roger Easum, who is the district secretary/treasurer, Bear May, TJ Bell and Scott Heny voted to award the contract without seeing if someone would provide a lower bid. That was wrong. This involved public money — if a lower price could be obtained, it should be.

The board should reconsider this decision. From now on, all projects should be bid out and the lowest one accepted, as long as it is from a firm capable of providing the needed service or product.

We admire and appreciate the volunteers who so selflessly serve our community. But this was a wrong turn that needs to be corrected.

Thumbs up to the news that the 2015 Cycle Greater Yellowstone tour will stop in Powell in August.

The tour passed through town in 2013, but next summer, hundreds of riders will spend the majority of Aug. 21 in Powell. They will tour the area, visit with locals, drop a few dollars at our businesses and see what a truly wonderful place this is to live, work and visit.

It’s nice to have warm thoughts about August during this cold time of year. We look forward to the cyclists wheeling their way to Powell.