NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- No wonder Brandon Mechtel is New Smyrna Beach's "police officer of the year." He fixed the lights on the partially darkened Christmas tree on Canal Street Sunday night.
Your's truly of NSBNEWS.net drove by at 10:15 p.m. and saw the the top and bottom were out and immediately called Mayor Adam Barringer who said he would contact Interim City Manager Pam Brangaccio in the morning. Your's truly saw a police car on the way home on North Dixie Freeway and alerted him to the problem.
Police officer Mechtel responded to the tree and played with the plugs -- and wah lah: The lights were back on and the beautiful 20-foot-high tree again lit up the night sky.
Mechtel, 22, said he's fond of the tree, having grown up in New Smyrna Beach.
"It builds holiday cheer for the city, said Mechtel, a third-year officer, who will be recognized for his police work during the past year at a Jan. 6 ceremony at the Brannon Center.
Asked what he did to receive the honor, the low-key officer responded: "I just did my job."
The nearly $9,000 artificial tree initially had lighting problems the night of Dec. 5, a week after it was officially lit, during a rainstorm. City officials said the tree was subsequently checked and there weren't any problems.
The nearly $9,000 tree was purchased last May by the Community Redevelopment Agency to help spur economic development on Canal Street for the holidays, along with another $15,000 for the lights on the Palm trees that line Canal Street.
The nearly $9,000 tree was purchased last May by the Community Redevelopment Agency to help spur economic development on Canal Street for the holidays, along with another $15,000 for the lights on the Palm trees that line Canal Street.
The tree request was suggested by Canal Street merchants Debbie Petersen of NSB Antiques and Cindy Jones of Southern Trends as a means to bring positive energy and to brighten the holidays.