2014 christmas greetings

People need cats

By Patience WhitehorseFirst place, kindergarten

Virginia Grainger Elementary School

My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that people have cats.

Play in the snow

By Chrysander PerezSecond place, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that everybody has a good timeplaying with snow and making a snowman.

Wish is for Bulldog win

By Remi CosinoThird place, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is the Bulldogs win the big game.

Bulldog wins are a wish

By Kaydence FloresHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is the Okanogan Bulldogs won eachyear.

Playground would be nice

By Jude PritchardHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that we have the biggestplayground ever.

— 2014 Chronicle Christmas Greetings

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From our family to yours:

we’d love to wish you aMerry Christmas and the

best in the New Year.��

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Kitty cats and snowmenand Bulldogs — oh my

Childrenshareholidaywishes

Welcome to The Chronicle’s annualchildren’s Christmas Writing Contest.

Youngsters through fifth-grade agewere asked to write an original storyon the theme “My Christmas Wish forOkanogan Country is ...”

Many teachers incorporated thewriting contest into their lessons, withstudents producing dozens ofthoughtful stories and detailedpictures.

Youngsters wrote on a variety oftopics, with many touching onhomelessness, hunger, concern foranimals and the desire for everyone tohave a present for Christmas. CarltonComplex fire victims also are onchildren’s minds this season.

A contingent of first-graders wroteon a football theme, with severalwishing for a visit by the Seahawks.Another group lobbied for a waterslide.

So, on this Christmas Eve, we inviteyou to grab a cup of hot cocoa andsome cookies, settle into a comfy chairand enjoy children’s Christmas wishesfor our area.

—The Chronicle

Christmas Greetings© 2014 The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle

Owned and operated by Eagle Newspapers Inc.

Roger Harnack, publisher • Dee Camp, section editor

Teresa Meyers, advertising manager

P.O. Box 553, Omak, WA 98841 • 509-826-1110 • 800-572-3446

509-826-5819 fax • www.omakchronicle.com

Cover art: Emiley Reed, third-grade, East Omak Elementary

Ray Miller, third-grade, East Omak Elementary

Here’s a big wish for Christmas inOkanogan Country: Lots of people shouldhave cats.

Andrew Lopez, second-grade, Virginia Grainger

A wish for the biggest playground.

2014 Chronicle Christmas Greetings —

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Alpine Veterinary ClinicDr. Denise Krytenberg, D.V.M. • Dr. Rachel Ross, D.V.M.

741 Riverside Drive, Omak • 509-826-5882

Don’t get stuck in a tree

By Ikaika ShumpertHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is people don’t get stuck in thetree.

Have fun in the snow

By Jayden WadkinsHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is for everyone having fun inthe winter snow.

Everyone gets a present

By Alivia WaddellHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that everyone has a present.

A wish for presents

By Isaac ArevaloHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that everybody getspresents.

Wishing no one is poor

By Elsa RobeckHonorable mention, kindergarten

Virginia GraingerElementary School

My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that nobody will be poor.

Everybody gets food

By Victor GonzalezHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is to give everybody food.

Healthy food is a wish

By Tabitha LoeHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that everybody has healthyfood.

Long live the Okanogan

By Ben HuffstetlerHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that it will never getdestroyed.

Let there be food for all

By Allisah HallHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that everybody has food.

Technology is a wish

By Alexis AngelesHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that everyone gets an iPad.

Brennen Smith, second-grade, Virginia Grainger

Wish: No one getsstuck in a tree.

No one should die

By Alejandro ValdovinosHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that nobody dies.

Uncle’s safety is tops

By Paxton HillHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that my uncle never getshurt.

Best wishes for brother

By Victoria AlvarezHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is my brother don’t get hurt.

Nobody should be hurt

By Cylus YusiHonorable mention, kindergarten

Virginia GraingerElementary School

My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is that nobody gets hurt.

A wish for no crashes

By Adriana GarciaHonorable mention, kindergarten


My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry is nobody dies in a car crash.

And finally, safety for all


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First-graders offer their holiday wishesWe always have school

By Lia PalomaresFirst place, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country is that wealways have school.

Everyone should be happy

By Presley SomesSecond place, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country iseverybody is happy!

Waterslides, houses for all

By Finlay WestonThird place, first-grade


I wish Okanogan Country people hadwaterslides and everybody had a house.

Wish for championship

By Isaac Henderson-AldridgeHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country is achampionship cup and everyone has a house.

Wants football team to win

By Trace LaDouxHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan is the football

players will win the championship.

Race cars would be nice

By Carter WorkmanHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country is racecars came (to) race here.

Don’t abandon Pokemon

By Landin EvansHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan is to not havePokemon abandoned.

Lia Palomares, first-grade, Virginia Grainger

The yellowschool busapproachesschool — awish foralwayshavingschool.


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Wish for ‘Hawks to come

By Evelyn AlvaradoHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country is theSeahawks to come over.

Another Seahawks wish

By Ryder HarvyHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country is to letthe Seahawks come over.

The 49ers should lose

By Nathan Boettger-GrantierHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country is 49erslose and Seahawks win.

Water park would be nice

By Logan BordnerHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country is that wehad a water park.

Another vote for water park

By Wyatt HarmonHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country is we geta waterslide park.

A wish for a water slide

By Kamilla PichinteHonorable mention, first-grade


I wish Okanogan Country had a waterslide.

Long hair ... and water park

By Kaden PriceHonorable mention, first-grade


Every people have long hair and I wish for

a water park.

Still more for water park

By Lily YusiHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country is to havea water park.

Wish for a water park

By Adalee StanfordHonorable mention, first-grade


My wish is that we will have a water park.

Ryder Harvy, first-grade, Virginia Grainger

Seahawks or water park? You decide

Isaiah Moore, third-grade, East Omak Elementary

A water park would be a fun addition.


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Tyler Duchow, fourth-grade, Tonasket

Mom is decorating the tree — that means it’s almost time for Christmas.

By Gracie HubertyFirst place, second-grade


My wish for Okanogan Country is for allpoor people to find good homes, because if

you were poor, would you want a home?Poor people are homeless, poor, cold, no

money, sick and starving. Please help poorpeople. Give them a dollar or more. Givethem a blanket, medicine, food and, ofcourse, a home.

Gracie Huberty, second-grade, Virginia Grainger

A wish for Christmas: The poor should be able to find a good home.

Would you want a home?

By Olivia YusiSecond place, second-grade


What is my wish?One day in Christmas, I went to the store.

I saw some people that were sad because theycouldn’t buy any presents for their kids.

So, I decided to do something about it.I went to the store. I put a table up and

asked people to buy presents for kids in need.My Christmas wish is every body’s wish.

I decided to do something

I would sing door to doorBy Hannah Heindselman

Third place, second-gradeVirginia Grainger Elementary School

I like Christmas and people likeChristmas. What if people sing carols and notbe scared to sing carols door to door. It willbe amazing if all of that happened.

It would be amazing if I will sing door todoor.

I even love Christmas so it will all bewonderful.

Jose Sanchez, second-grade, Virginia Grainger

Singing door to door would be amazing.

By Selah DowneyHonorable mention, second-grade


Christmas is coming. Just one more day

left. We are so happy right now. My mom isdecorating the tree. My sister says mommade the tree fall two times.

Now we have to go to bed. It is Christmas,time to open the presents. Merry Christmas!

Christmas is just one day away

Health, happiness for all

By Emma SwayneHonorable mention, second-grade


My wish for the Okanogan Country is thatwe have health and happiness forever. I justwant to say merry Christmas everybody,including you!

Trees should be free

By Steele RicoHonorable mention, second-grade


I wish every body got Christmas trees forfree in Okanogan Country, and get blanketsfor Christmas and boots and warm clothesand Christmas ornaments and had lots offood.

Food, clothing are tops

By Maviss FloresHonorable mention, second-grade


My wish for the Okanogan Country is thatpeople have enough food to eat and clothesto wear and be safe.

Gold for everyone

By Carter KuchenbuchHonorable mention, second-grade


My wish for the Okanogan Country is thatOkanogan could have huge mines of gold.

Housing is important

By Jose SanchezHonorable mention, second-grade


I wish everybody had houses.

Everyone should be happy

By Eva RobeckHonorable mention, second-grade


My wish for the Okanogan Country is fornobody to be poor, homeless or starving. Ialso wish for everybody to be happy and havea merry Christmas.

Some don’t get presents

By Owen EichHonorable mention, second-grade


My wish for the Okanogan Country ispresents. All of the kids need presents. Somekids don’t get presents. Presents are foreverybody!

Christmas: Being together

By Nevaeh KelleyHonorable mention, second-grade


Christmas is not about presents. It isabout being together.

It is about family, friendship andsharing.

Everyone needs a tree

By Deanna MartzHonorable mention, second-grade


My wish for the Okanogan Country iseverybody has a Christmas tree.

Warm clothes and shoes

By Ayari Arellano GonzalezHonorable mention, second-grade


I hope the Okanogan Country has warmclothes and warm shoes and lots of presents.


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Emma Swayne, second-grade, Virginia Grainger

This Christmas, there’s a wish for health and happiness for everyone.

Carter Kuchenbuch, second-grade, Virginia Grainger

Huge mines of gold woud be great for Okanogan Country.


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By Ashlyn KeithFirst place, third-grade

Virginia Grainger ElementarySchool

I had a wish for OkanoganCountry once.

It all started at the beginning ofthe year on Jan. 5. It was a littlepast the first day of the year,though it was half way until the endof the school year.

But as the days passed, itstarted getting warmer and closerto summer. At last! It was the last

day of school. I could not wait toget out of school.

When it was finally summer Istarted to hear on the news thatthere was the biggest fire inWashington history. I started to getworried.

When I heard how many housesit burned down, I got scared for allthose people.

When it was Dec. 22, I waswondering where those people livenow.

I started to wonder if Santa willleave a present for them. But then I

knew what my Christmas wish wasand how I can make it come true.

My wish was that I wantedthose people to get a present, too.

So what I did is pretty simple. Iput on black clothes and snuck outwith a big bag of presents.

When the bag was empty and allthose people got their presents, Iwent back home.

When I got home I looked onmy doorstep. There was a presenton the last step.

When I looked up at the moon Isaw Santa.

Yadhira Fregozo, third-grade, Brewster

After delivering a big bag of presents to fire victims, there was a present on my doorstep.

Something for after the fire

By Jalen KielyHonorable mention, third-place

Tonasket Elementary School

My Christmas wish forOkanogan Country is for morecaring around Okanogan Country.Like our elementary food drive to

all of Okanogan Country.Some more family activities and

some more learning time toOkanogan Country. Thank you.

Wish is for more caring in the area

By Daniel GarciaSecond place, third-grade


My Christmas wish forOkanogan Country is for everyoneto have a good Christmas day.Everyone gets presents and has a

banquet.On New Year’s Eve, everyone

has a campout and eatsmarshmallows with a fire.Everyone gets warm clothes,mittens and jackets.

Everyone gets to be with friendsand family.

A good Christmas for all

And that’s all I wish forBy Magdalena CarrionThird place, third-grade

Brewster Elementary School

My Christmas wishes forOkanogan Country are for lonelypeople to be happy, for everyone toget along, to be very healthy, tohelp kid, family and people who arein the hospital, to stop littering andkeep it clean, to help kids who arestruggling in school, to have morefood for everyone in OkanoganCountry, to make people’s dreamscome true and to have a wonderfullife and that’s all I wish forOkanogan Country.

Emma Wilson, fourth-grade, Tonasket

I have a wish for Christmas.

By Jade RamonHonorable mention,

third-gradeTonasket Elementary School

My wish is for the peoplewho got their house burnt. Iwish they will have a safe andfun Christmas.

Houses and clothes wereburnt. I hope that people willgive them food. Our schoolraised over a ton of food andsome of that food went to them.

I know some people havegiven some clothes to them.

People let them sleep in agym or church. So that’s mywish for Okanogan Country.

A safe and fun holidayfor those who lost homes

Damion Savage, fourth-grade, Tonasket

I wish they will have a safe and funChristmas.


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Happy Holidays from all ofus at North Cascades Bank!

By Savannah RomineHonorable mention, third-gradeEast Omak Elementary School

My Christmas wish for OkanoganCountry, is, well I have several wishes. Myfirst wish is that every person (includingadults) gets a Christmas present onChristmas day. Maybe even more than one.

My second wish for Okanogan Country isthat there are no robbers, which would mean

no jail cells. In the empty spot that the jailused to be in, I would put a children’s “WildFish Aquarium,” where kids could learnabout exotic fish.

My third wish for Okanogan Country isthat all of the plastic bags are picked up bypeople from a volunteering program for kids.

My fourth wish for Okanogan Country isthat everyone gets what they need to behappy and healthy. Those are my wishes forOkanogan Country.

By Emily ReedHonorable mention, third-gradeEast Omak Elementary School

Dear Santa, Okanogan Country is a great place to live

because you can go sledding on themountains and go skiing.

You can go ice fishing when the icefreezes.

When we have snow we get coldwinters.

It is peaceful when you are in the woods.You can go hunting in the mountains. I wishOKC was happy and everyone had a nicehouse.

Put in an aquariumMarques Noecosno, second-grade, Virginia Grainger

Here’s a wishfor no more

robbers and aprogram for

children to pickup plastic bags.

By Perla IbarraHonorable mention,

third-gradeEast Omak Elementary

School

Dear Santa,Okanogan Country is a

great place to live!OKC is a great place to

live because it is peacefuland you can go ice fishing.You can go sledding and itis an open area.

My and my family liketo go to places. Like we gotto go to a basketball gameand we got to see my sisterCinthya dance there. Mywish is for my sisterCinthya to do good atdancing at a basketballgame.

Sledding, skiing and ice fishing are great

Sister’s dancing brings a wish

Josie Oakes, third-grade, Tonasket Elementary

Wish is for agood danceperformanceduring thegame.


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By Josie OakesHonorable mention, third-grade


My Christmas wish forOkanogan Country is thateverybody will read the poem Iwrote for you.

It was Christmas Eve. The farmwas very quiet.

Then a baby sheep woke up and

saw Dasher and Dancer andPrancer and Vixen, Comet andCupid and Donner and Blitzen, andRudolf, too!

It woke every person andanimals and everybody up and theyall came running outside to see ifSanta was headed down thechimney and he wasn’t.

The kids looked up the chimneyand they saw that he got stuck. One

big pull and Santa’s free!Then the family saw that it was

Santa.After the kids opened all the

presents they fell fast asleep beforethey got upstairs.

So mom and dad carried themupstairs and it woke them up for amoment and the first words theysaid was “Merry Christmas andHappy New Year.”

Food drive helps out

By Marrissa TimmHonorable mention, third-grade


My Christmas wish forOkanogan Country is for all thepeople and animals to have food.

The Tonasket ElementarySchool food drive helped save thiswish because it gave peoplesomething to eat.

The food drive helpedOkanogan families.

The food drive helped thepeople who lost their houses andlost their food.

Snow, but be careful

By Karla BandaHonorable mention, third-grade


One wish for Okanogan Countryis that I wish that snow will comehere for people to slide, snowballfight and have fun.

But be careful with snowbecause people can slip and crashon snow or ice, too.

Snow is even fun to play with.Friends and family together havefun.

That is what I wish for.

Shelter for everyone

By Chase BarrocaHonorable mention, third-grade


My Christmas wish forOkanogan Country is for everyoneto have shelter. I hope everyonehas blankets, coats and Christmasjoy.

Christmas joy is for everyone tobe happy and not be on the naughtylist.

More firefighters

By Kash VandelacHonorable mention, third-grade


My Christmas wish forOkanogan Country is for a littlemore firefighters so they can getfinished with all the fires and thefirefighters can spend time withtheir family on Christmas.

Aaryn Marchand, second-grade, Virginia Grainger

A baby sheep woke up and saw all the reindeer, but Santa got stuck in the chimney.

The farm was very quiet

Kash Vandelac, third-grade, Brewster

Firefighters need a little help to get Christmas off.

By Valerie ReyesHonorable mention, third-grade


My Christmas wish forOkanogan Country is that thereshould be a little bit of snow and alittle bit of ice, too. That way no one

can fall or cars cannot crash. Or eventhat Santa’s hat won’t fly away.

That was my Christmas wish forOkanogan Country.

Not too much snow this year, OK?


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Remember the real reason for

Christmas:It’s Jesus’s birthday!

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By Eddie MooreSecond place, fourth-grade


It was Christmas eve, 8 p.m.Mom and Dad said I could openone present.

I chose the second-biggest one– that way I could save the biggestone for tomorrow.

I got excited but I shrugged atthe same time. What if the presentwasn’t good enough?

Maybe it was a bat from Dad,maybe it was a control helicopterfrom Mom. But then again, maybeit was a sweater from Grandpa.Ooooh, I hate that. He sends me asweater every year. Hopefully he’llsend me something different thisyear.

Turns out, it was a plain blackT-shirt.

The Mom said, “It’s time forbed.”

I didn’t want to go to bed, but atthe same time, I did. Tomorrowwas Christmas.

When I woke up, it was just adream. I was at Grandpa’s houselike always. I lost my parents threeyears ago. The Grinch stole myparents.

I got to thinking maybe I shouldgo get my parents. I went up to themountain. It took me a couplehours.

I finally arrived. I broke throughthe door.

“Hello,” said the Grinch.“Do you have my parents?” I

said. After that, the Grinch ran out

the back door. He took my parentswith him. They ran miles with theGrinch running and me chasing.

Then the Grinch and I came to aplane. Before the Grinch could geton the plane, I tripped him.

The Grinch dropped myparents, but he got back up and got

in the plane. He left, crashed theplane in the Pacific Ocean, and gothit by a yellow submarine.

Ed got his parents back. Theywere all a big, happy family, andthey all loved each other.

“I wish everybody had a familyfor Christmas,” Ed said.

By Leslie MoralesFirst place, fourth-grade


My wish for Okanogan Countryis that people had somewhere tolive, like the people that don’t havehomes.

I want them to have money toeat. When people don’t have foodwe should help them out.

For example, if we see a ladycold and hungry, do we just leavehere there? No! We help her out.

If we have food we should give itto her. If we have a blanket wecould give it to her.

Now we all know that noteverybody has a house or food orsomewhere to sleep.

What if one day you turn outlike the others and don’t have ahouse or food

What if one day a personchanges y our life, and helps you?

You should do that for othersbecause it can be really importantto change your and their lives.

Christmas wish is forothers to have a home

Joshua Martin, fourth-grade, Tonasket

People should have a place to live, food and a blanket.

The Grinch stole my parents

Jonathan Kirk, third-grade, East Omak Elementary

“I went up to the mountain” to see the Grinch.

By Ethan LaurentThird place, fourth-grade


My Christmas wish forOkanogan Country is that everyfoster kid finds a home so he orshe can have Christmas with a

family.So help me make that happen.

Adopt a kid or two, or donate somemoney so they can have a presentfor Christmas.

Make a life better by makingkids happy and other people, too. Itwill do good for children like me.

I want this to happen so fosterkids can play and have fun with afamily.

But you’re the only one that canmake that happen.

Find a home for a foster kidand that’s my Okanogan Countrywish.

Every foster kid needs a home


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By Shoah NybergHonorable mention, fourth-gradePaschal Sherman Indian School

My Christmas wish for Okanogan Countryis more homes will be completed, since thefire destroyed more than 40 homes.

Also, I wish that for families that lost theirhomes because they didn’t pay their rent.

And the houses that were damaged in themudslides we had after the fire. I hope thatthey will get fixed.

And the houses that are in foreclosure. Ihope the families will get to keep their house.

I hope everybody in Okanogan Countrywill have a warm place to stay and spend theholidays.

Elisa Gilbert Christensen, second-grade, Virginia Grainger

They sold T-shirts and brought the food back just in time.

Wants morehomes to becompleted

By Joseph ThorntonHonorable mention, fourth-grade


One night, Jim was leaving the food bankin Tonasket. Every night he would lazily slamthe door shut.

So, just like every night when it was dusk,Jim went to shut the door. This time, though,he still shut the door lazily. It didn’tcompletely secure itself, though.

Since Jim was sluggish, left it partiallyopen.

“Who would bereave a food bank?” hesneered.

He was right, but he forgot that animalswill hijack food. It was 5 o’clock and the skywas violet. When Jim got to the blue door, itwas wide open. He walked into the foodbank. It vividly smelled like animals.

All of the rainbow Skittles were gone, andthe tender, T-bond steak was gone. Even thetaste smell that made you starve seemed to

have walked out with the food.So he went to downtown Tonasket. He

found his friends Bob and Jason. They werestarting to sell a bunch of T-shirts. Theyneeded $150.

The first day, they earned only $30.“We’ll never earn enough money,” cried

Bob.“Yes we will,” replied Jim.The next day they earned $60.“Getting $60 two days in a row. I don’t

think so,” Bob whined.The next day they counted up the totals.Everyone was sweaty as they counted up

the last couple dollars. They earned exactly$150.

“YES!” all three of them cheered.So they bought all the food back the day

before Christmas. After that, they celebratedwith spare money, and Jim never shut thedoor lazily again.

I wish that everyone in Okanogan Countrygets plenty of food for Christmas and next year.

By Miguel AlvarezHonorable mention, fourth-grade


It was dark. Bob was in bed. He smelledsmoke. He got scared.

Someone was bullying.He ran outside. No one was there. He ran

to his room. He heard noises and he did notgo any more. He woke up in the morning.

He heard five guys were bullying twoguys. He ran outside and he told them tostop.

“Stop!” Bob said.The guys didn’t stop.“We don’t want to stop.”“Do you like when they bully you?”“No, I did not like it because they were so

mean,” said the bully.They ran to their car. They said, “We will

tell all the bullies to stop.”They found some bullies and they heard

the car, so they ran to hide.“Why are you hiding?”They yelled, “We will come out.”And do not get bullied any more. I wish

kids in Okanogan Country will not getbullied.

By Tyler DuchowHonorable mention, fourth-grade


Joe, Sally and Bob were sitting on Sally’sliving room floor. Bob came up with a goodidea.

“Let’s come up with Christmas wishes,”said Bob.

“Great idea,” they all agreed.They all were coming up with good ideas,

but none of them agreed on any of them.Finally they all came up with one ideatogether.

“Let’s get enough food for everyone tohave a big Christmas dinner,” they all said.

So they started a food drive to help peopleget food. They days they had were Mondaythe 15th through Monday the 22nd. That wasa big success.

On Tuesday the 23rd they had fivefamilies come get food.

That Christmas was the best Christmasever, all the people said. Joe, Sally and Bobalso had a fantastic Christmas, too.

Everyone being able to eat is my wish forOkanogan Country.

One night, the animals got the food

Three friends have aChristmas food drive

Putting a stopto bullying

By Jennifer L. McClungHonorable mention, fourth-gradePaschal Sherman Indian School

I believe peace for people would be veryuseful for many things. I think it would savelives around Okanogan Country.

Maybe it would stop littering. I thinkpeace of Okanogan Country can do manythings, if you believe.

If littering ends, many animals would bevery thankful. I can picture animals living inpeace everywhere.

Maybe your hopes will start and yourfears will end. So dream enough to where itcomes true. God bless you.

Peace for peoplewould be usefulin many ways


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Presents were gone

By Jacie DeebachHonorable mention, fourth-grade


I will tell you a story aboutTommy, Lilly, Jinger and me, Star.

In 2014, at my house was a hugeChristmas tree in my yard. I was onthe street. There were lots ofpeople.

They were having food and hotcoffee around a Christmas tree. Iwas walking by when I saw them.

I was excited because myfriends were coming over. Lilly,Jinger and Grandpa were drivingup the driveway. He had a muddycar. We had a snowball fight. Wewent to go check on the horse.

Then we went outside. Then wemade presents. I set them underthe tree. We went to bed in themiddle of the night.

We woke up Tommy, and thehorses were gone. All the presentswere gone.

We went outside and caught thehorse. Then there were bells ringing.Then a present fell from the sky. Welooked up. There was nothing.

We got our coats on and didsome searching.

Then Santa came down fromthe sky.

He said, “Sorry I took yourpresents. I thought they were mine.Here they are back. I won’t touchthem. Goodbye. See you nextChristmas.”

Santa left before I could say asingle thing.

So what I’m trying to say is Iwish everyone in OkanoganCountry could have a family forChristmas.

No more wild horses

By Aja CondonHonorable mention, fourth-gradePaschal Sherman Indian School

For Okanogan Country I wishthere was no more wild horses sowe can get more places.

The second thing is that we

need more homes for people whodon’t have homes and for peoplewho lost their home in the fire.

The third thing is that we needmore clothes for people so that theycan be cool in the summer andwarm in the winter.

My last thing is that we can havebaby wild animals so they canprotect us and we can play withthem and care for them if they losttheir mothers.

Put an end to litter

By Silvia HahnHonorable mention, fourth-gradePaschal Sherman Indian School

My Christmas wish. No litteringon the reservation. No littering onthe side of the roads. No littering inyour yards. No littering on therivers.

Wish for more police

By Dre’a JamesonHonorable mention, fourth-gradePaschal Sherman Indian School

I’m hoping for more police tokeep people safe. Also, to makesure people don’t do bad things.

We need more police since it’swinter, to make sure people don’tget in car wrecks or get murderedby a murderer. Police could save

people, like if they were in a giantfire.

So please protect people fromgetting badly hurt. Please be apolice man or girl.

Keep stores open

By Jovan MercadoHonorable mention, fourth-gradePaschal Sherman Indian School

I have a huge crisis.Stores are usually not open on

Christmas. But I think I have asolution.

So please, can we have somevolunteers to work on Christmas?Just until 12:00.

I hope to see you there. WhenI’m an adult, I will be willing towork on Christmas.

Shelters are needed

By Arela NanpuyaHonorable mention, fourth-gradePaschal Sherman Indian School

Dogs and cats get thrown out oftheir homes every single day. Evenother wild animals get bites,rashes, diseases and broken bonesevery day.

For animal shelters, they needmore volunteers to help animals.Even veterinarian clinics need ahome and help.

By Reese VassarHonorable mention, fourth-grade


One day on Connor’s 10thbirthday, he started to get bored.

When he was bored, he thought,“Maybe if I go up, get my bat andmy glove out of my room, I can getmy dad to play baseball with me atthe green baseball field we got forChristmas.”

Connor got the field because hehelped Santa. This is how it went.

“Hey, tomorrow’s Christmas.You better make a wish list fast,”Connor’s dad said annoyingly.

“I already told you andeverybody else, I want a green

baseball field!” Connor yelled.“That’s all I want for Christmas,Dad,” Connor barked.

Connor traveled to the NorthPole to tell Santa that he wanted agreen baseball field.

“I’m sorry Connor, I’m afraidthere’s going to be no Christmasthis year. My sleigh broke.”

“I can help. I brought mytoolbox.” He fixed up the sleigh andConnor said, “Can I have a greenbaseball field for Christmas?”

Connor asked nicely.“Of course you can,” said Santa.Then a few days later he had a

birthday. That’s where we began.I hope everyone in Okanogan

Country gets green fields to play on.

Jessica Calderon, fourth-grade, Tonasket Elementary School

Santa’s sleigh broke, but Connor fixed it — and was rewarded.

Green fields for everyone

Leysi Valdovinos, fourth-grade, Tonasket

The trees were setunder the tree, butthe next morningthey were gone.


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By Quaid McCormickSecond place, fifth-grade


‘Twas the night beforeChristmas and all through thehouse, not a creature was stirring,not even our silly kitten, Destiny,sleeping in a doll house.

I was asleep, then I heard such aclatter, I spring out of bed to seewhat was the matter.

I tore open the shutters andthrew up the sash.

To my surprise, what did I see,but a sleigh with eight little kittens,Destiny in the lead.

A jolly old driver, Santa I amsure, landed on the lawn and said,“I hope you don’t mind meborrowing Destiny to saveChristmas.

“Vixen brought back a bad caseof frostbite (go figure) and thewhole team caught it. Do notworry, after I deliver all the gifts, Iwill put Destiny in a little packageand you will find her under thetree.”

After that last line, with atwinkle of light, the kittens tookflight, a sparkling light trailingbehind.

My wish for everybody in the

Okanogan Country is for everyoneto have a faithful and sweet pet,and if they don’t may they find acute little fluff ball under the

Christmas tree.

*Based on “’Twas the Night BeforeChristmas,” by Clement Clark Moore

By KayLynn GorrFirst place, fifth-grade

Paschal Sherman Indian School

Who? My family and I wish forother families to be together for theholidays. If we can all cometogether as a town, we can make ithappen.

How? We can make it happenby helping the homeless and givingtips to the coffee people and

helping friends and family. We cantry to keep people warm by givinghot chocolate and keeping theirhopes up.

Dream. I once had a dream. Thedream was we all came together.

There was no more fighting. Weall cared for each other. We helpedeach other. We bought all the littlekids toys for Christmas.

We believed in other people. Weall had happiness.

Marrissa Timm, third-grade, Tonasket

‘My family and I wish for other families to be together for the holidays.’

We can help each other

‘Twas an Odd Christmas Night*

Jaylene Hubbard, second-grade, Virginia Grainger Elementary

Santa landed on the lawn and asked to borrow Destiny the kitten.

By Joe HamnerThird place, fifth-grade

Paschal Sherman IndianSchool

My wish is to have a perfectcountry. I want people to likethe country for how it is.

I would like the animals tokeep their traditions.

I want people to havehappiness in their homes, peacein their lives and keepdreaming. I will remember theschool, friends, education andmy freedom when I’m an oldman.

Wish: A perfect country

Gisel Hernandez, third-grade,Brewster Elementary

People should have happiness intheir homes.

By Owen PershingHonorable mention, fifth-grade


The horrible desireInside me was like a fire

For my own chickens did vanishWhat took them, I wished to

banish

There were paw prints on thesnow

The anger in me did growMy coop was unnaturally soaked

in redI followed the tracks on which

something bledA rifle on my shoulder

I will not let the predator getolder

As dawn rose, I heard a howlThe menace is not an owl

A horrific smell hit me like awall

I saw a coyote standing tallThere was a chicken in its snout

Fifty yards away I heard her

shout

I heard the coyote’s roarI took aim, squeezed the trigger,

and saw bits of flesh soarMy heart raced, and my eyes got

biggerI sat there as still as a stone

I heard its horrific groanI didn’t hear my chicken cry

But I knew she would die

My wish for Okanogan CountryIs that all pets are safe

Fire! A wish for pet safety

By Gabrielle TonasketHonorable mention, fifth-gradePaschal Sherman Indian School

My Christmas wish for this yearis all of the people could have allkinds of traditions, styles andlooks.

Look at all of the people aroundus. Most of us care about ourfamilies.

The tradition can be passedaround to younger children that donot have these things.

If we don’t have this look,people can be nice or mean aboutit. But I treat my family withrespect.

People have different dancemoves in powwows.

All I want is to have hope andpeace for the people that aresuffering and don’t have food to eatand water to drink.


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A half-hour later, the ancient sleigh was up and running.Mariela Sandoval, third-grade, East Omak Elementary

A wish for Christmas: Preserve traditions, styles and looks. Take careof our families.

By Gabriellene AinsleyGunshows

Honorable mention, fifth-gradePaschal Sherman Indian School

My Christmas wish forOkanogan Country is to start takingbetter care of the beautiful land.

I want to change how the landlooks in the future. The rez shouldlook better than it is now.

I don’t want the next generationto be like us, not taking care of thebeautiful land.

I want it to be with no trash.This land used to be beautiful,

but now there is trash all over bothsides of Okanogan Country.

If I got to change the land andmake it beautiful again, I would beglad that I did something forOkanogan Country.

This is my Christmas wish forOkanogan Country.

By Aava GleasonHonorable mention, fifth-grade


Maia lived in Los Angeles. Shehad one brother, zero sisters, onemom and one dad. One ChristmasEve, something happened that shewould love.

“Ahhhh!” Maia woke up to ahorrified screaming. She randownstairs, then what did she see,her little brother Daniel staring atthe Christmas tree, screaming.

“Oh, what is it Danny?”“The presents aren’t under the

tree,” he screamed.Then they heard it. Bells ringing

right outside their door.“It’s probably Grammy Ruth,”

Maia moaned, also called CrammyRuth.

But then they heard wailing.“Oh why, why, why, why, who onthe very last stop, the very last littleitty bitty stop.”

It was a deep voice like, no,

could it be Santa? Daniel peekedthrough the snow-white curtains.

“OMG,” screamed Daniel.“It’s Santa,” he said in a very

excited voice.“Oh, let me se, let me see, Dan,”

I begged.So I peeked through the window

and sure enough, I saw him. Andwhat a mournful sight he was. Twobig, teary eyes and a humongousred nose.

We hurried over to him andsaid, “Are you OK, Santa?”

“My sleigh has crashed,” hewailed.

So we went to work helpingSanta build his sleigh. Then finally,after 30 minutes, that ancientsleigh was up and running.

We all cheered. Finally Santasaid in a very happy voice, “Youhave helped me so much youdeserve lots of presents.!”

I wish everyone in OkanoganCountry had lots of presents onChristmas day.

Help for Santa whenthe sleigh crashed Take care

of land

Have all kinds of traditions

Paige Sullivan, kindergarten, Virginia Grainger Elementary

Santa does his best to make Christmas wishes come true.

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By Brayden Owen JaneHonorable mention, fifth-gradePaschal Sherman Indian School

My wish if for everybody tocooperate with more people.

My wish is for students to talkwith each other and not be shy.This can happen with each other byencouraging each other, forparents to encourage their youngkids to not be afraid of otherpeople.

My dream is that in the futureeveryone will be talking with eachother.

Lexie Pate, fourth-grade, Tonasket

The Chronicle and children of Okanogan Country wish you and yours avery merry Christmas.

By Byron BrayHonorable mention, fifth-grade

Paschal ShermanIndian School

I want to learn the names of myfamily elders from the past.

I want to learn about what theydid for fun and what they used forclothes in the past.

I want to learn what they usedfor hunting in that time.

My dream is to know how myfamily in the past taught their littleones how to hunt and gather foodfor their family.

Learn fromthe elders

Talk more

Alyssa Russell, kindergarten, Virginia Grainger Elementary

Jayda Phillips, second-grade, VirginiaGrainger Elementary

Learn about the old ways.

Jacob Boyle, second-grade, Virginia Grainger Elementary

Evelyn Sandoval, first-grade, Virginia Grainger Elementary

2014 christmas greetings

Documents

christmas wishesfor

amerry christmas

christmas eve

big wish

christmas inokanogan

christmas writing contest

people dont

people shouldhave cats