By Brian Livingston / staff writer
There is an area just outside Pachuta from which a warm glow emanates at night.
The glow comes from the Christmas spirit of those who live at Lake Eddins and this year there are many reasons why lights pierce the night sky.
"We have had a tough year out here," said James Poole, who is the President of the Lake Eddins Board. "But we have survived and are ready to show why."
Those who live out and around the gated community that surrounds the 780 acre fishing paradise can see just from the 42,000 Christmas lights at the front gate that the 116 full-time and 225 part-time residents are serious about their illumination. Joy McClinthen, who is a realtor for Mossy Oak Properties and Eddins Land Management, said there are about 40 homes that are in full Christmas light regalia to trumpet in the season.
"Some of the homeowners do more than others but even for the residents who have small cabins they are putting up very nice and classy light displays that just complement the large, more elaborate displays," said McClinthen.
When the lights hit the calm waters of the lake itself they seem to double in size and scope. As one resident told Poole, "All the lights off the water just seem to make everything much better."
Poole said credit for the displays, especially those at the front gate, goes to Randle McCraw, who in the past several years has served as the lake manager. Poole said McCraw and Lake Eddins' two full-time maintenance workers, Danny Kirkland and Tommy Cannon, worked tirelessly to make this year's twinkling lights something to remember.
"These men have done an outstanding job and then the home owners got into the act," said Poole. "What it amounted to was a beautiful Christmas scene."
Given that for many months work on the dam has meant the lake levels have been way below normal, Poole said this display is just what the residents needed. He said the dam is fixed and the lake is almost at normal levels. The lights are just an extension off the good feeling filling the community again.
Maybe McClinthen said it best when she said, "The lights seem to correlate with the overall mood of the community. Everything is brighter."
