Amy Roh/Tribune
Children from St. Paul's Lutheran Church sing Christmas carols while
participating in Minden's Christmas Traditions parade Friday.

MINDEN — As a lifelong resident here, Amy Nielsen was excited to be part of a nearly century-old Minden tradition.

The 18-year-old Minden High School senior was crowned Miss Christmas City Friday evening and her first official duty was to ask for the more than 12,000 Christmas lights hanging from the Kearney County Courthouse to be turned on for the first time this winter, lighting downtown Minden.

Nebraska’s Christmas City has been illuminated with Christmas lights streaming down from the courthouse every year since 1915.

The Christmas lights were turned on right before the lighted Christmas parade began.

To read more, see Saturday's Hastings Tribune or the Tribune e-edition.>>>