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'Priddy' holiday lights brighten the streets in De Soto

BY SCOTT FITZGERALD, THE SOUTHERN

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 11:32 PM CST

DE SOTO - Motorists looking at holiday lights in this northern Jackson County hamlet will see a residential yard in the 300 Block of East Douglas with five inflatable Christmas figures including Santa Claus on a motorcycle.

Keep going east, Christmas onlookers. One will see the Christmas light display of longtime De Soto residents Bob and Irene Priddy in the 200 Block of North Reed Station Road.

There is an assortment of everything from light displays that hang from the trees to plenty of inflatable Christmas figures.

"I get people driving by real slow. Certain neighborhood kids get anxious every year asking when I'm going to put up my lights. They ought to help me do it," Priddy, a longtime volunteer firefighter and motor vehicle service technician, said with a laugh.

He's been hanging lights here since 1980 and started out piece by piece. Each year he would add a new ornament or hang another display that slowly became the montage it is today.

About six or seven years ago, Priddy added a new dimension to his outdoor Christmas light display - inflatable Christmas characters and scenes that could be blown up much like a beach ball.

"These things blow up once you start shooting the juice in 'em," Priddy said.

When it's windy out or icy conditions prevail, Priddy chooses not to ignite his display.

He knows about potential fire hazards. In fact, his knowledge about electrical fire sources from years of battling residential blazes helps when he sets up his lights the weekend after Thanksgiving.

"My energy bill is not that bad. I can turn on the lights from inside the house from any receptacle or switch. There's no overload in the wiring. I have one electrical cord with three outlets, and they all have surge protectors," Priddy said.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

351-5076