Although the spring semester just got underway, Northwest College leaders are already making plans to kick off the fall 2020 semester in style.

NWC intends to host its fourth annual “Paint the Town Red” event on Friday, Aug. 21, in downtown Powell. Created as a way to bring local residents and college students together, past gatherings have featured a slew of food trucks, musicians, face painters, balloon animals and other activities for the entire community.

“It’s turned into quite a remarkable event,” NWC Foundation Executive Director Shelby Wetzel told the Powell City Council on Feb. 3. “It keeps getting bigger and bigger.”

The council agreed to allow the college to again use The Commons for the event, voting unanimously to waive the roughly $320 in fees that the city would typically charge for the use of the venue. The college asked for the waiver because “it is an event for the entire community and promotes business in downtown Powell.”

Wetzel said college officials would present more information about the 2020 “Paint the Town Red” in the spring, as details are finalized.

“We value everything you do to make that a community and college event,” she told the council.

Wetzel, who is the wife of Mayor John Wetzel, represented the college at the council meeting because President Stefani Hicswa was attending a concurrent NWC Board of Trustees meeting.

—By CJ Baker