Learning recently that prom pictures at the courthouse conflicted with a car show downtown, the junior class representatives met April 17 with Main Street Manager Frieda Haley and Police Chief Rex Hoskins to resolve the issue.

“We didn’t think it was a big deal at first,” junior class president Hannah Hubbard said. “We were just stressing about limos and transportation.”

Assembling in junior class sponsor Natalie Cobb’s room, Haley first communicated her willingness to assist the situation.

“I know that they’ve been doing pictures on the square for a long time at prom,” she said. “It doesn’t go back as far as when I was in high school, but I completely understand it. There’s no negative thing going on between us because I think it’s really cool and I wish my class had thought of it.”

One of the main issues Haley addressed was the problem of moving the prom group and the car show in on the square at the same time.

“When we found out that prom was the same night, it became a staging issue on how to make it work,” she said. “For the car shows, we get there at two or three o’clock and we close down three sides of the square and leave Walnut Street open.”

With the help of police, coordinators plan to continue to keep State, Main and Trinity Streets closed, leaving Walnut Street open for parents to drop off students.

“Decatur Chief of Police Rex Hoskins will have officers on site to show limousines where to park,” Haley said.

Instead of ignoring the car show around the other side of the courthouse, Haley hopes that a select few car owners will lend their vehicles for the pictures.

“If we have any cars when they come in, we’re going to ask them, ‘If you are agreeable to having pictures made with your car, would you park against the courthouse’?” Haley said.

Seeing the need to stay cautious with this inquiry, Haley knows that the antique cars should be treated with respect.

“We hope to have any of our car show participants that are willing to allow prom photographs with their vehicles in a certain area so there’s no misunderstanding,” she said. “The last thing we need is somebody in their high heels and prom dress up on somebody’s hood without permission.”

Students offer differing opinions about sharing the spotlight with the car show.

“Prom is supposed to be a special dance,” senior Krista Guess said. “Sharing with a car show takes away from that.”

Senior Haven Simon readily disagrees and hopes her senior prom photos can include the cars.

“I think having the cars at the square would actually be cool,” she said. “Even though it is going to be very crowded, I think it will be fun to have the cars there.”

Realizing that a plan was in place, Hubbard felt an immense weight lifted from her shoulders after the meeting.

“It’s way better than I ever thought it would be,” Hubbard said. “It’s going to work great.”