Dale Fowler lights last Christmas tree as mayor
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">HARRISBURG - State Sen.-elect Dale Fowler lit the city Christmas tree in a ceremony Tuesday evening, signaling both a start to the holiday season and an end to his time as Harrisburg mayor.
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"It's been an honor to serve as the mayor of Harrisburg," he told the crowd of about 100 gathered around the unlit tree.
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Fowler will be sworn in as senator of the 59<sup><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></sup> State Senate District on Jan. 11. He said City Commissioner John McPeek, also in attendance, likely would succeed him as Harrisburg mayor.
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For the past 10 years, the Saline County Historical Society has hosted a tree-lighting ceremony for the city along with county residents at the Saline County Museum grounds on South Feazel Street.
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Traditionally, the Harrisburg city mayor lights the tree. At the same event, youngsters visited Santa Claus, and the Saline County Homemakers provided cookies and hot apple cider.
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Also, the Saline County Chamber of Commerce had an excited line of bundled-up children eager to get a cup of hot chocolate.
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Delores Vick, a member of both the historical society and the homemakers group, said former Harrisburg Mayor Ron Morse presided over the first such tree-lighting ceremony.
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The choir of Bankston Fork Church also sang Christmas carols at the ceremony, providing a welcome break from the cold temperatures and wind.
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Fowler also told the crowd he was ready to start his job in the Illinois Senate.
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"I'm just excited to go where the Good Lord leads me," he said.