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DAILY NEWS“In The hearT Of The TrIllIOn DOllar COalfIelDs”

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Vol. 100, Number 303 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 50 cents daily/$1.00 Sunday

Kermit resident charged with animal crueltyRachel Dove-Baldwinstaff writer

KERMIT — Misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty were brought against Maxine Maynard, 48, of Kermit, after she allegedly failed to feed, water or properly shelter a 6-year-old Doberman Pincher that belonged to her ex-

boyfriend after the pair split and went their separate ways.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Mingo County Sheriff’s (MCSD) Deputy E. Wil-liams, he was notified that the dog belonging to David Chaney, who had been in a relationship with Maynard, had to be taken

to a local veterinarian for treat-ment after a friend of the dog owner identified as Walter Davis had picked it up from Maynard’s residence.

The deputy explained that af-ter splitting up, the couple had obtained emergency protection orders against one another, thus

preventing Chaney from going onto Maynard’s property to get the dog. After sending a friend to pick the canine up, it was dis-covered that it had not been ad-equately cared for by the female. The complaint stated that medi-cal care had to be immediately sought for the dog, which was in

an extremely frail state of health.Maynard was taken into

custody and was arraigned by Mingo County Magistrate Pam Newsome and was released after posting a $200 personal recogni-zance bond and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 3.

Mingo Spelling Bee winners announcedRachel Dove-Baldwinstaff writer

DELBARTON — Mingo County Schools held their 65th Annual Spelling Bee on Dec. 18, 2012, at Burch Middle School. Pictured is (front row): Seth Jude, sixth-grade student at Matewan Middle School; Isabella Grace, fourth-grade student at Riverside Elementary; Chloe Ray, fourth-grade student at Dingess Elementary; Joshua Conn, seventh-grade student at Lenore K-8; (back row): Summer Lawrence, fourth-grade student at Gilbert El-ementary; Emily Smith, fourth-grade student at Mate-wan Elementary; Abigail Kozee, sixth-grade student at Kermit K-8; Richie Smith, seventh-grade student at Gil-bert Middle, Jacquelyn Compton, fifth-grade student at Lenore K-8; and Selena Francis, seventh-grade student at Burch Middle. Not pictured, but participating in the event were Bianca Vance, eighth-grade student , and Tera Evans, sixth-grade student, both from Burch Middle. Seth Jude was the winner, Bianca Vance was the runner-up, and Selena Francis is the alternate to participate in the Regional Spelling Bee held at Capitol High in Charleston in March.

KCA president: Too early to tell impact of closureRalph B. Davisheartland news service

For an industry still reeling from rounds of layoffs, weak financial reports and an uncertain future, Wednesday’s an-nouncement that Ken-tucky Power plans to stop burning coal at its Big Sandy Power Plant, in Louisa, comes as unwel-come news for coal opera-tors.

Bill Bissett, president of the Kentucky Coal As-sociation, said Thursday that, while it is too early to tell just what impact the plant’s closure will have on coal mining, industry insiders had already been “very concerned” about the future of Big Sandy. Still, they were aware that stopping coal burning at the plant was a distinct possibility.

“This is very concern-ing news, but not a major surprise,” Bissett said.

The Big Sandy plant currently burns 2 million tons of coal a year. That demand on the local coal economy would disappear, if the plan to shut down the plant’s 800-megawatt Number 2 generator is ap-proved by the state Public Service Commission. The company would instead obtain its electricity for the region by acquiring a 50 percent stake in a Moundsville, W.Va., plant.

The plant’s older, 276-megawatt Number 1 generator is already slat-ed to stop burning coal in 2015, but company of-

ficials say it is uncertain how Kentucky Power will replace its generation ca-pability. The company will seek proposals next year for replacing the gen-erator’s production and could also consider con-verting it to natural gas.

But Bissett said the cur-rent trend away from coal and toward natural gas is extremely short-sighted. He said he believes with certainty that natural gas prices will soon undergo a dramatic rise.

“What is inexpensive today may not be tomor-row,” Bissett said.

Bissett says there are other reasons for concern, “from what we’re seeing in the coal market and a second term for President Obama.”

“We’re a country that is going to use more elec-tricity in the future, and we’re not building power plants, of any kind,” Bis-sett said.

Bissett said it would be difficult to say what im-pact the closure will have on Kentucky coal miners, because there is no good way to determine how much of an impact the plant currently has on lo-cal coal production or what markets might be available to offset the plant’s loss. He said coal producers are seeing increasing de-mand for Kentucky coal overseas, and that demand might counter declining demand at home.

“International demand looks very attractive,” Bissett said.

Southside students Christmas art becomes postage stampsJulia Roberts Goadstaff writer

BELFRY, KY — Fifth grade

students at Southside Elementary recently were given an opportu-nity to use their creativity to cre-ate a postal stamp to show what they think is the true meaning of Christmas.

The U.S. Postal Service offers a Photostamp promotion, where photos can be used to create us-able postage stamps. Belfry Post-master Kathy Howard uses it as an opportunity to commemorate her daughter’s growth.

“Every time the price of a stamp goes up, I make a stamp with a picture of my daughter at that time,” Howard said. “I think it is a great way to create something to remember her growing up.”

Howard sponsored a program on her own, utilizing the Photo-stamp program, to reach out to students at Southside Elementa-ry. She created a contest in which fifth graders submitted artwork depicting what they felt was the ‘true meaning of Christmas.’

The classes submitted 63 pic-tures they had drawn, Howard she, mail carrier Carolyn Lyons,

and retired Forest Hills Postmas-ter Rachel Thacker judged the entries.

“We were going to chose a win-ner, but once we saw how won-derful all the entries were, we couldn’t choose just one,” Howard said. “So we had three winners.”

Celia Wiedel, Jalyn Hackney, Jaley Adkins each won for their design of what they felt was the true meaning of Christmas.

Each girl received a gift from the Postmaster and a sheet of stamps printed with her design.

For more information on Photo-stamps, visit usps.com.

Julia r goad | daily newsCelia Wiedel, Jalyn Hackney and Jaley Adkins with the artwork that won them a sheet of custom-designed Photostamps.

TOP LEFT, from left Thomas Taylor and Chamber Director Natalie

Young share laughs with Chamber Vice President Leigh Ann Ray and Chuck Ray. TOP RIGHT, from left, Chamber members June Blevins

and Chris Atkins and Board Member Joyce Roddy enjoy food

prepared by Mark Mitchell and ap-petizers provided by the Hatfield

family. The Young and Taylor fami-lies made desserts. More than 20

Chamber members and friends attended the event. AT RIGHT, from left, Adam Warren, Scott Poole, Debbie and Andy Young

enjoy some holiday cheer at the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce

Holiday Mixer Thursday evening at the Mountaineer Hotel.

Joshua Byers | daily news

Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts Holiday Mixer

Hotline 831-3450 12/21 - 23$5.75 ALL SHOWS BEFORE 6PM

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In Loving MemoryMerry 7th Christmas In HeavenWilliam David Phillips

(April 24, 1974 - June 13, 2006)

Dear Angel of Christmas, who once brought Good NewsTo the shepherds with songs of love,

Can you bring us a message this Christmas, we pray,From our son and brother in God’s Heaven above?

We miss him so much since he left this earth,And our lives not the same as it was then;

We would give anything for a moment alone,Just to hug him and ask how he’s been.

If he can’t come in person, will you bring us his wordsThat our hearts are longing to hear?

That he’s happy and watches his family with love,That he’s always hovering near.

Dear Angel, we’ll give you some words to take back,As well as some hugs and a kiss,

For the message we want him to know he’s loved,And each day he is dearly missed.

We know that he’s happy with Jesus above,We’re glad there’s no pain and no tears;

But, Angel, please tell him we’ll join him someday.

Whatever time until we join him again,He’s always enshrined in our hearts,

And we hold dear the promise that Christ made to us all,That in Heaven we never will part.

We Love and Miss You So Much! Dad, Mom, Brother Adam (Megan), Children- Gracie & Seth, Lil’ Niece Avery, MaMa Maggie, &

All Your Family & Friends.

Son of David & Joyce Phillips of Matawan

DEMPSEY HOUSING

Call (606) 395-5854For further information

For hearing impaired, TDD 1-800-648-6056

Dempsey Housing Is Located OnRt. 292, Warfield, Ky.Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-5

St. Paul ’s Episcopal Church411 Prichard Street at 5th Avenue-Williamson, WV

A very special invitation is extended to you, your family and friends to

worship with us on Christmas Eve, December 24th at 11:00p.m.

The service will be Holy Eucharist, Rite I. Fr. Nick

England will be the Preacher and Celebrant. Come join us for a traditional, candlelight service,

to celebrate the birth of our Savior!

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2 ■ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

Community CalendarDec. 23

First Baptist Church, on Fifth Avenue, will conduct its Christ-mas cantata at 5 p.m. in the sanc-tuary. Everyone is welcome.

Jan. 10A planning meeting for the Ru-

nyon Elementary Reunion will be held at the Belfry Fire Depart-ment at 6:30 pm. The Reunion will be held in May 2013. For more information, call 304-235-3939.

OngoingSouthside Elementary School

will conduct a preschool story hour program for children be-tween 2 and 4-years-old and not currently enrolled in school. For

more information, call the school at 606-353-1284.

Narcotics Anonymous meets Sunday at 3 p.m. and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Harry L. Joyce Community Center.

The West Virginia Army Na-tional Guard is taking applica-tions for qualified applicants only. Applicants must be be-tween the ages of 17 - 35 unless they have prior military service. No drug violations of felonies, meet height and weight require-ments, be a high school gradu-ate, or have completed the ninth-grade. We offer up to $50,000 student loan repayment, state and federal tuition assistance, medical, dental and life insur-ance and a part-time career with

the opportunity to become full-time. For more information, call recruiter SSG Donna Smith at 3047 201-3196 or email her at donna.smith24@us.army.mil.

Workforce West Virginia will take all new unemployment claims at its office at 300 Pros-perity Lane, Logan, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to complete an ap-plication. This does not affect the intenerate office in William-son DHHR office on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The Parsley Freewill Baptist Food Panty will continue to pro-vide USDA commodities. The pantry gives out the commodi-ties once, monthly, on the fourth Thursday.

Mingo Extended Learning Center (formerly Mingo Career and Technical Center) is cur-rently accepting applications for the Medical Office Technology and Legal Office Technology pro-grams for the 2012-2013 school term. For more information, call (304) 475-3347 ext. 25.

The GED is changing from the current paper-and-pencil test to a Computer-Based test begin-ning Jan. 1, 2013. The paper test will be offered for the last time on the December test date. If you have taken the GED, but not passed all of the tests, all scores will be cancelled after Decem-ber 31, 2012. Thus, if you have one or more tests you still need to re-take, you must get it done

not later than the December test-ing. After that, you must meet all the requirements for the new Computer-Based Test. If you have questions, call John Webb (304)235-3347, ext. 13 or Mary Oliver (304) 235-2022.

Hatfield and McCoy Feud de-scendants are being sought for a special project by Leah Hatfield and Kim McCoy. Specifically, only direct descendants of the feud still carrying the last names of Hatfield or McCoy. Hatfields may contact Leah Hatfield at 843-575-0594 or by email the-onenurse@yahoo.com. McCoys may contact Kim McCoy at 502-751-5200 or by email derby130@insightbb.com.

W.Va. veteran’s dream of WWI memorial in jeopardyVicki SmithThe Associated Press

M O R G A N T O W N , W.Va. — A bill that U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller twice introduced to create a World War I memorial in Washington, D.C., no lon-ger bears the name of the late Frank Buckles, the West Virginia veteran who pushed for it.

Nor does the version the Senate was considering Fri-day now call for a memorial on the National Mall.

Rather, the bill that Sens. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and Roy Blunt, R-Mo., fast-tracked Thursday night calls only for the creation of a centennial commis-sion that would consider how to appropriately com-memorate the “Great War” between 2014 and 2018.

Their state is home to

the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City.

The bill was in the Sen-ate Judiciary Committee, where Rockefeller has no seat. But a spokesman said Rockefeller supports cre-ation of the commission so the U.S. can begin plan-ning for the centennial.

Buckles, the last Ameri-can doughboy, died last year at 110 in Charles Town.

He devoted the last few years of his life to cam-paigning for greater recog-nition for his former com-rades, enlisting Rockefeller to his cause. Rockefeller first introduced the Frank Buckles World War I Me-morial Act in 2009, then reintroduced it earlier this year with Republican Vir-ginia Sen. Jim Webb.

It would have rededicat-ed the District of Columbia War Memorial to include the wording “National World War I Memorial.”

Though Buckles sup-ported the Missouri mu-seum and its mission of education, he also believed there should also be a place in D.C. for people to pay their respects.

But his idea has been thwarted by legislation limiting construction of monuments and memori-als in the capital, and with Congress winding down for the year, chances are slim his dream will sur-vive.

Buckles biographer Da-vid DeJonge, president of the WWI Memorial Foundation, said support-ers have long hoped Con-gress would recognize the

oversight and pass a law requiring a memorial on the mall.

“This is a very public and historic decision,” he said, “and we feel that an overwhelming public poll would show that America would agree this memorial needs to be approved and on the mall.”

Rockefeller’s office issued a statement Friday saying it was regrettable that “oppo-sition from others” led to the compromise bill now moving through the Senate by unanimous consent.

A memorial on the mall “was the family’s wish and Senator Rockefeller’s goal,” his staff said.

Buckles was buried at Arlington National Cem-etery after hundreds of people, including Presi-dent Barack Obama and

Vice President Joe Biden, paid their respects.

His grave is on the side of a hill ringed by cedar trees with views of the Washington Monument, Capitol dome and Jeffer-son Memorial to the north. At the crest of the hill sits the grave of Gen. John Pershing, under whose command Buckles served, along with a plaque com-memorating the 116,516 Americans who died in World War I.

Buckles lied about his age to enlist at 16, then went on to outlive 4.7 million other Americans who served.

Born in Missouri and raised in Oklahoma, he never saw combat. He served as an ambulance driver in England and France, and after Armi-stice Day, he helped return

prisoners of war back to Germany.

He returned to the Unit-ed States in 1920 as a cor-poral. During World War II, Buckles was working as a civilian for a shipping company in the Philippines when he was captured as a prisoner of war. He spent more than three years in Japanese prison camps.

The last of the WWI veterans, Florence Green, died in February at 110. She served with the Wom-en’s Royal Air Force as a waitress at an air base in eastern England but wasn’t officially recognized as a veteran until 2010.

The last known combat-ant, Royal Navy veteran Claude Choules, died in Australia months after Buckles. He, too, made it to 110.

Ala. trucker killed by police officer in W.Va.HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A

Huntington police officer fatally shot a tractor-trailer driver from Alabama after police say the trucker attempt-ed to attack him with a knife.

Police Chief Skip Holbrook identi-fied the trucker as 32-year-old Joshua Johnie Emerson of Hamilton, Ala., according to the Herald-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/U3He5J).

Holbrook said the deadly confron-tation occurred shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday after the officer on routine patrol went to investigate a collision between a tractor trailer and a small car.

The chief said Emerson bran-dished the knife toward a security guard then turned it on the officer when he attempted to intervene.

The officer responded by firing several rounds from his service re-volver, killing Emerson.

The officer was not identified. The officer is on paid administrative leave while the deadly force shooting is be-ing investigated.

Information from: The Herald-Dispatch, http://www.herald-dispatch.com

Visit us online atwww.williamsondailynews.com

Mountain State loses final appeal bidBECKLEY, W.Va. (AP)

— Mountain State Uni-versity’s bid to regain its accreditation has been denied.

The rejection this week

by the appeals panel of the Higher Learning Commission is the final word on the matter. It is not subject to appeal.

The board of the com-mission in June voted to yank Mountain State’s ac-creditation, but continued its accreditation until the appeal was settled. The revocation was based on leadership, organizational and integrity issues.

The commission has approved the University of Charleston’s expansion to Mountain State’s facili-ties in Beckley and Mar-tinsburg. UC had taken over both campuses so students could complete their degrees after Moun-tain State lost its accredi-tation.

MSU President Richard Sours said UC-Beckley will lease the buildings from MSU and be respon-sible for paying insurance and utilities.

“It’s not like we’re making money from the lease,” Sours said.

Mountain State has al-ready sold two aircraft it owned and was assessing other properties ahead of its scheduled closure.

“The closing of Moun-tain State University is bittersweet,” Sours said. “I’m very sad to see the university go out of ex-istence, but I’m glad the students will be afforded an opportunity to finish their educational goals.”

A number of the law-suits filed by former nurs-

ing students have been grouped together to be heard before a mass liti-gation panel, Sours said.

The lawsuits name Mountain State’s former president, Charles Polk, and the Board of Trustees. The lawsuits contend the school’s revoked accredita-tion renders the degrees it awarded worthless.

The lawsuit also states Mountain State told stu-dents it was in sound shape when it knew oth-erwise.

Mountain State said it enrolled more than 8,200 students annually at its peak. A majority of its students were nontradi-tional, with a median age of 34.

Mountain State was founded in 1933 as Beck-ley College.

Holly RamerThe Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. — Hospitals across the coun-try recommended hepa-titis C testing for about 7,900 patients last sum-mer after a traveling medi-cal worker was accused of stealing drugs and infect-ing patients with tainted syringes in New Hamp-shire. But five months later, nearly half of those who were possibly ex-posed to the liver-destroy-ing disease in other states have yet to be tested.

Described by prosecu-tors as a “serial infector,” David Kwiatkowski is ac-cused of stealing syringes of the powerful painkiller fentanyl from the cardiac catheterization lab at New Hampshire’s Exeter Hos-pital and replacing them with saline-filled syring-es tainted with his own blood. In jail since his ar-rest in July, he pleaded not guilty to 14 federal drug charges earlier this month and is expected to go to trial next fall.

Before April 2001, when he was hired in New Hampshire, Kwiatkowski worked as a traveling car-diac technologist in 18 hospitals in seven states, moving from job to job — despite being fired twice over allegations of drug use and theft.

Thirty-two people in New Hampshire have been diagnosed with the same strain of hepatitis C that Kwiatkowski carries, along with six in Kansas, five in Maryland and one in Pennsylvania. At least 3,700 people outside New

Hampshire have yet to be tested, hospitals and pub-lic health officials told The Associated Press.

For example, in Michi-gan, where Kwiatkowski grew up and started his career, about 2,300 pa-tients at five hospitals were notified that they may have been exposed to hepatitis C by Kwiatkows-ki. As of early December, only about 500 had gone in for testing, none of whom were diagnosed with a strain linked to the New Hampshire outbreak, according to the Michigan Department of Commu-nity Health.

In Pennsylvania, 2,280 patients at the Univer-sity of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian were notified that they should get tested, but only 840 have, one of whom was di-agnosed with a matching strain of hepatitis C.

Kwiatkowski was fired a few weeks into his tempo-rary job at UPMC in 2008 after a co-worker accused him of swiping a fentanyl syringe from an operating room and sticking it down his pants. Citing a lack of evidence, hospital au-thorities didn’t call police, and neither the hospital nor the medical staffing agency that placed him in the job informed the national accreditation or-ganization for radiological technicians. Within days, Kwiatkowski was starting a new job at the Baltimore VA Medical Center, where one patient also has since been diagnosed with hepa-titis C linked to Kwiat-kowski.

Though the VA center

initially said it had identi-fied 168 patients who may have been exposed, that number was later lowered, and 68 patients ultimately were tested. Two other Maryland hospitals where Kwiatkowski worked also have completed their test-ing, with no diagnosed cases of hepatitis C match-ing Kwiatkowski. But at the fourth, The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Bal-timore, four patients have been diagnosed with the strain of disease linked to Kwiatkowski.

About 500 of the 1,567 patients notified by Johns Hopkins have yet to be tested, according to hos-pital spokeswoman Kim Hoppe. Kwiatkowski had been referred by a staff-ing agency that assured Johns Hopkins that it had followed a vigorous vet-ting process, Hoppe said. He worked there for two 13-week stints, from July 2009 to January 2010.

Saint Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where Kwiatkowski worked in late 2007 and early 2008, notified and tested 31 patients without finding any linked cases to Kwiat-kowski. In Kansas, nearly all of the 416 patients who may have been exposed at Hays Medical Center have been tested and six have been diagnosed with in-fections linked to the New Hampshire outbreak.

There have been no cases linked to Kwiat-kowski in Arizona, where about 300 patients from two hospitals have been asked to get tested and about 280 have done so. Kwiatkowski worked at

Maryvale Hospital in Phoenix in 2009 and the Arizona Heart Hospital in 2010. He was fired from the latter job after 10 days after a co-worker found him passed out in a bath-room stall with a stolen fentanyl syringe floating in the toilet.

That incident was re-ported to police, Kwiat-kowski’s staffing agency, a state regulatory board and the national accreditation organization, but the ac-creditation group dropped its inquiry after learning police hadn’t filed charges.

Days later, Kwiatkowski landed a new job filling in for striking technicians at Temple University Hospi-tal in Philadelphia. That hospital has recommend-ed testing for 312 patients but won’t say how many have followed through or have been diagnosed with hepatitis C. A hospital spokesman referred ques-tions to the city health de-partment, which did not return calls.

ADJUNCT FACULTYBusiness

Wyoming and McDowell Counties Part time faculty are needed to teach business courses in Wyoming and McDowell counties.

Courses include:

Intro to Business, Business Mathematical Applications, Intro to Customer Services, Professional Image, Business Communications, and Services marketing.

Successful candidate must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in business Administration or Business Education. Master’s degree preferred. Teaching experience preferred.

Applications will be accepted until positions are fi lled. Applications are available on line, at any location or call (304) 896-7408 or e-mail Patricia.Clay@southernwv.edu. Submit application and transcript copies to Human Resources, Southern WV Community and Technical College, PO Box 2900, Mount Gay, WV 25637. Visit our web page http://www.southernwv.edu/jobs for information and additional employment opportunities.

AA/EO/ADA 60379234

Monie K. Layne

March 30, 1916 - January 28, 2006

Dear Mom,

Thank you for being God's gift to your children.

Thank you for teaching us that love, faith, hope and charity are the true ingredients to

eternal life. Thank you for being Christ like and always seeing the good

in others. Thank you for your gentle, kind hearted love that carried our burdens as well as your own. And, thank you for lighting the light that burns in our hearts

each Christmas morning reminding us of God's greatest

gift to us all - His Son!

Forever grateful - missing and loving you always..

Mil, Bud, Doug and Kaye

60380073

Merry Christmas!

We Love You Sooo Much!Granddaddy & MeMe

Grandchildren of David & Joyce Phillipsof Matewan

Seth

Gracie Avery

Hotline 831-3450 • Christmas Day Only$5.75 ALL SHOWS BEFORE 6PM

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 ■ 3WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

NationParents struggle to find gender-neutral toys

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A 13-year-old girl’s campaign to get Hasbro to make an Easy-Bake Oven that isn’t purple or pink so it would appeal to her little brother is a fresh sign of movement in an old debate. Parents who hope to expose their children to different kinds of play — science sets for girls and dolls for boys, for example — can find themselves stymied by a toy industry that can seem stuck in the past when it comes to gender roles.

Hasbro wasn’t the only target of criticism this year.

One of the year’s hottest toys, the “LEGO Friends But-terfly Beauty Shop,” specifically aimed Legos at girls, but turned to tired gender stereotypes with its focus on a beauty shop and inclusion of characters with curves and eyelashes. Barbie turned builder with a new con-struction set. But while some praised it, others criticized it for being too pink.

Toy experts say the industry reflects cultural norms, and toy companies are giving people what sells. Plenty of parents find nothing wrong with buying pink frou-frou toys for their girls and avoiding stereotypically “girl” toys for their boys in favor of guns and trucks. But other par-

ents are sent into knots by an unapologetically gender-specific toy industry.

“There’s a lot of pressure to conform to those gender ste-reotypes from the time you’re pregnant,” said Teresa Graham Brett, a higher-education con-sultant from Tucson, Ariz., and mother to two boys, ages 6 and 11.

Children naturally begin to identify themselves as boys and girls around the ages of 3 and 4, said Dr. Susan Linn, a psycholo-gist at Harvard Medical School, who cofounded the advocacy group Campaign for a Commer-cial-Free Childhood.

“When a child’s environment is filled with rigid messages about, ‘This is what boys do, this is what girls do,’ it limits their ability to reach their full capac-ity,” Linn said. “It’s not like girls are born with the predilection to pink, but they’re trained to it, so it becomes what they want and need. There are neurological dif-ferences between boys and girls at birth. But our goal should be to provide them with a range of experiences so they can develop all of their tendencies.”

Large toy stores and most large online retailers often di-vide toys up by gender. On Ama-zon, or on the websites for toy

makers Mattel or Hasbro, for example, toys are sorted by age, category and gender. A person who wants to buy a baby doll on the Toys R Us website will find hundreds of choices categorized for girls and five for boys. Three of those are dressed in pink.

In recent years, Toys R Us was criticized for an ad selling three microscopes, silver, red and pink. The pink one was the least powerful.

“Toy companies are busi-nesses, so they are responding to and making their products based on consumer demands. They’re meeting with moms, fo-cus groups. They’re doing what makes sense,” said Adrienne Appell, a spokeswoman for the Toy Industry Association.

Chris Byrne, content director for timetoplaymag.com, said the market ultimately decides what makes it onto store shelves and into people’s homes.

“The toy industry is always going to reflect the culture at large, and it’s going to reflect the market,” he said.

That’s even true for a soon-to-be-released toy that has gotten a lot of attention for seeking to subvert gender stereotypes. GoldieBlox, a construction toy, was invented by Debbie Ster-ling, who holds a degree from

Stanford in product design engi-neering and who aimed to make a toy to spark an interest in girls in science and engineering. She was turned off by what she saw in a visit to a toy store.

“I felt like I was in the 1950s,” she said. “The girls section was pink. It was teaching a girl how to be a housewife, and a prin-cess and pop star.”

Meanwhile, she described the boys section as dynamic, with kits to make interesting things like roller coasters and “smart-er more complex, engineering math and science toys.”

The toy’s main character is Goldie, a female engineer, and it is scheduled to be on store shelves in April. In a concession to commercial realities, the toy’s color scheme includes a liberal dose of pink.

“There’s a lot of parents out there, they’re conditioned by this. They won’t even pick up something if it doesn’t cue that it’s a girl,” she said. “I don’t want girls to miss out on Gold-ieBlox because it wasn’t overtly messaged for them, at least in the early stages.”

Some things are changing in the industry. This year, the Lon-don department store Harrods redesigned its toy department to organize it by theme rather

than by gender. Swedish toy firm Top-Toy published a gender-neu-tral catalog in which boys were shown playing with a kitchen set and hair dryer and a girl was shown shooting a toy gun.

Hasbro this week announced it has spent the past 18 months developing an Easy-Bake Oven in the gender-neutral colors of black and silver. It made the an-nouncement after meeting with McKenna Pope, the Garfield, N.J., 13-year-old whose online petition asking the company to make one attractive to all kids gathered tens of thousands of signatures. Hasbro says it knows both boys and girls have fun playing with the Easy-Bake.

Even parents who are sensi-tive to gender issues say they sometimes have to challenge their own notions. Brett said her older son was interested in toys aimed at both genders as a little boy. But when son number two came along five years later, she was surprised to see he had a stronger preference to play with guns and Army men.

“I really needed to let go of controlling what I thought he should play with as an enlight-ened boy,” she said. “They may choose to do what is stereotypi-cal, and they should have the right to choose that as well.”

Authorities arrest suspectin school threats

CORDELL, Okla. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a 21-year-old Oklahoma man who alleg-edly threatened to “shoot up” a school in Cordell.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Saturday that Christopher Thomason of Cordell was booked into the Washita County jail on two counts of terrorism hoax and one count of violating the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.

A dispatcher at the jail said he didn’t believe Thomason had an attorney.

A woman who answered the phone Saturday at a number listed for Thomason declined to comment.

Investigators say they identified Thomason as the suspect behind the threats made online earlier this week.

Authorities arrested Thomason Friday and served a search warrant at a home in Cordell. It’s not clear what investigators found at the home.

Investigators say Thomason once attended high school in Cordell.

Hepatitis C tests continue after NH tech’s arrest

A4

4 ■ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

Editorial

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will to men.” Luke 2:14

As we read God’s word about the birth of the Christ child, our hearts are lifted as we praise the Father for His special gift to mankind. Because of their sin against God, the Israelites had suffered much through the cen-turies. The great turmoil of the wars of the Assyrians, Babylo-nians, Medes and Persians were difficult times, and at the time of Jesus’ birth there had not been a prophet in their land since the prophet Malachai had served as God’s spokesman to the people 400 years before the birth of Christ.

During the early days of the history of how God called Abrahan, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph to be a part of His plan to raise up a people that He had chosen as His own, we see how the Israelites failed to live up to God’s expecta-tions. As God dealt with Abraham and his decendents, they learned firsthand that it is always safe to trust the Lord in times of famine and feasting, blessings and bond-age. From Abraham down through his descendants, God’s promise begin to come to pass as a great nation possessed a great land, in captivity in the land of Egypt, the nation had grown and multiplied until God sent Moses to deliver them.

As we read the biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ, Luke revealed how the angel appeared to shep-herds watching over their flocks by night. What an awe-some sight that must have been! The angle told the shep-herds not to be afraid because he brought good news of great joy which shall be for all people. The Saviour, Christ the Lord, had been born. A multitude of the heavenly host suddenly appeared with the angle, praising Gos and say-ing, “Glory to God the highest, and on earth, peace, good will to men.”

The Messiah who would bring peace and good will brought hope to the world, and still instills in God’s peo-ple the same hope. In a world wracked with war and fear, we pray that the peace and good will spoken of by the angle will come in our own day. May we pray for peace among men, realizing that only God can bring the peace we so desire. May this be our daily prayer as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

We celebrate the birth of our LordWith love and thanksgivingPraising God for His special giftThat makes life on earth worth livingAnd may we strive to liveAt peace with our fellow menSeeking to live for HimUntil He comes again]Father, we praise you for sending Jesus to save us from

our sin. For Christ’s sake, Amen.

And on Earth, peace

Treasure the momentsAs we approach the

holidays this year, our emotions in West Vir-ginia and across the na-tion are torn.

With love for our own children and grandchildren and joy at the thought of their excitement just around the corner, our hearts remain heavy for the families and commu-nity of Newtown, Con-necticut.

The newspapers and headlines have said it all. Unspeakable. Senseless. A commu-nity turned upside down. A nation stunned.

To take the life of a child - the lives of 20 children and their dedicated teachers - is simply inconceivable.

And the deep grief those parents, grandparents, siblings and classmates are feeling is hard to imag-ine - but West Virginians’ hearts and minds are cer-tainly with them.

Across our state that day, parents picked up their children from school with a full embrace. Gave them an extra treat that evening. Rocked them a little longer to sleep.

West Virginia cherishes our communities - neigh-borhoods where we don’t lock our doors, with chil-dren at play and places,

like schools, that we just trust to be safe.

So we’re shaken by the thought that such a tragedy could happen in a town just like one of ours to families

just like our own. And it’s the nature of West Virginians to hurt right along with them.

As a fully brokenhearted nation grapples with what happened, we also face the very real truth that we’ve seen far too many of these trag-edies in recent years.

We’ll all be searching for answers about how to prevent this from ever happening again. Because protecting our children is so sacred, so deeply important - and so needed.

But for the coming days and the holidays approaching, it’s my hope that - with our innermost thoughts and prayers still with those in New-town - we can treasure the moments.

Sharon and I get such joy from our grandchildren. This Christmas, we’ll enjoy their laughter, their humor and their hugs even more. And that’s my wish for all West Virginians.

The candlelight serviceLast night was our

candlelight Christmas service at church. (It’s always a favorite.)

My beloved, the pastor, calls it “Jour-ney to Bethlehem”. We began in the sanctuary and sang the first verse of sev-eral Christmas carols. Then he led everyone to the parking lot. Candles were given out when we exited the building. Voices were lowered to whis-pers as we spread out, looking for the Nativ-ity scene.

Mary and Joseph had been cho-sen with much consideration. Our “Mary” recently found out she truly is expecting after months of prayer

and procedures. “Jo-seph” is definitely her other half. (I often call them Salt and Pepper, they go together so well.) The young cou-ple was bundled up with multiple layers of cloth. (Pretend) Baby Jesus was swaddled with care in the arms of His mother. They sat on a bench with raffia everywhere. (I learned my lesson with real hay.)

Candles were lit, one by one, as neigh-bor shared their flame

with neighbor, friend with friend. Soon the parking lot was filled with flickering lights. No one was speak-ing.

Then, my beloved began to read

the Christmas story from Luke 2. (I’m getting chills as I type!) His voice was strong and it carried amazingly across the large crowd in the parking lot. It made me think of when Jesus spoke to the masses without a sound system: with God…all things are possible. I closed my eyes as he read the beau-tiful, familiar words. I could feel the warmth from my candle as it fanned under my chin.

I listened closely to the voice I love-my husband’s, as he read the Words I love-my Father’s. It was a moment I will long remember. I smiled at Mati, a nine month-old in the arms of her Dad just in front of me. She smiled and I blew a quick kiss-a brief distraction.

The preacher ended with…”The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were

just as they had been told.” (I love those shepherds!) He made a few comments and asked us all to grab a hand-without getting burned. He was going to dismiss us in prayer.

I don’t know about you, but I always try to make sure nobody’s left out. I want everybody touching everybody-in a good way. It looked like a short game of Twister as I grabbed pinkies with my candle hand and held two hands on my right. We quietly giggled as we tried to keep from burning each other.

It had been such a warm and tender service. Everyone was quiet. With tears in our eyes, we bowed our heads. Just a few moments into the prayer I felt a terrible stinging in my head! It came out of nowhere! I hadn’t had a headache earlier, and now, suddenly, there was stabbing pain! If I hadn’t had my eyes closed

I KNOW it was have struck me blind! Then I realized it was in one central place… Mati had reached back when my head was down and grabbed a handful of my hair! I wanted to laugh but it hurt and she wouldn’t let go! (No doubt, my gray hair had been sparkling in the candle-light.) Her Dad and I silent-ly wrenched my locks from her tiny hand-that held more strength than you’d think. I shook with laughter but didn’t make a sound…we were still in prayer. When the prayer was over, Mati smiled at me-again. (I can’t wait to tell her the story when she’s older.)

I had prayed at the beginning of December that God would stir my heart anew with the Scriptures re-garding Jesus’ birth. I was praying for new insight, for excitement as I read and/or hear the Christmas Story. Praise the LORD, He has!

■ An Upward Look

Mae Stallard

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■ Family Life

Dawn Reed

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A5

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 ■ 5WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

DAILY NEWSSUNDAY,

DECEMBER 23, 2012 SportS

Photos by Kyle Lovern | Daily NewsThe Belfry student cheering section was out in full force at Min-go Central this past Tuesday night. Many of them were adorned in red body paint and cheered loudly for their Pirate squad.

The Mingo Maniacs have become a regular part of the home games for Miner basketball games. They were also out in full force with costumes, signs and loud cheers.

The Mingo Central cheering section celebrated after their team won on Tues-day night. One fan, complete with face paint and a sign, showed his exuber-ance and pride after the win.

Atmosphere great at Belfry-Mingo gameKyle LovernSports Editor

NEWTOWN — The atmo-sphere was fantastic Tuesday night for the Belfry versus Mingo Central basketball game played up on the mountain at the MCHS gym.

The game, the third since Min-go Central was formed due to consolidation, was exciting and hard-fought.

The student bodies from both schools had their respec-

tive cheering sections adorned in school colors, costumes and body paint.

There was a Spiderman in the Mingo Maniacs section.

There was plenty of red body paint in the Belfry student sec-tion.

Cheers, chants and applause were plentiful from both sides.

There were plenty of adult fans on hand for the contest too.

But, for the most part – it was just a friendly, boisterous crowd

as both sections cheered for their respective schools.

There were occasional boos, but that is to be expected. For the most part the excitement the students sections brought to the game made for a college-like am-biance.

Free-lance filmmaker Wes Wilson had the debut of his 2012-13 Miner basketball film for the crowd prior to the intro-duction of the Mingo Central squad. Wilson does not disap-

point and his talents are enor-mous.

Both coaches seemed pleased to have the fan support. It was coach Brad Napier’s first taste of the Belfry-Mingo Central rivalry. He wasn’t disappointed.

He called the game “intense.”Randy Casey, the longtime

Belfry coach, was also pleased to have such a huge number of Pi-rate fans for a road contest.

By the way, the game was good too. It has been dubbed the Tug

River Rivalry. In the end Mingo Central pulled away to win 75-54 victory.

The series between MCHS and BHS was tied (1-1) heading into this season. The Miners won on the first-ever meeting, 65-51 on December 13 of last year, while the Pirates edged the Miners at Belfry 70-69 last February.

The two squads will meet again on Tuesday, February 19 for the rematch.

It is sure to be another exciting game for these two new rivals.

Submitted PhotoThe local traveling AAU team coached by Derek Rash and Tim Manamee recently won the 2012 Knott County BCI Christmas Tournament. The team members pictured above in no particular order are Ben McNamee, Brayden Rash, Brenden Rash, Brett Coleman, Caden Long, Caleb Spears, Garrett Smith, Jarius Jackson, Head Coach Derek Rash, as-sistant coach Tim McNamee and statistician Dagen Rash. They have a record of 27-1.

AAU team wins Christmas TournamentLouisville coach Pitino supports gun controlThe Associated Press

The Louisville coach was asked Friday during a news conference at the team’s practice facility about his reaction to Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s comments Monday as-sailing the nation’s gun culture following the school shoot-ing in Newtown, Conn. Pitino agreed with Boeheim, and said he couldn’t understand why people wouldn’t support gun control.

On consecutive days, Boeheim and Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey used postgame news conferences to express sympa-thy for victims’ families and stress the need for reforms to avoid another tragedy.

Pitino followed by adding that society doesn’t need guns.He says, “The fact that every single person does not

want it would be a mystery. This is not the beginning of American civilization where we need guns like it’s the wild, wild West.”

Pitino said he was unaware of Boeheim’s comments fol-lowing the Syracuse coach’s milestone 900th career victory Monday night. Told what his colleague said, Pitino said Boeheim was right and similarly expressed empathy for victims’ families.

The Louisville coach seemed saddened over the griev-ing process the town is going through, believing it might never end. He said he still grieves for brother-in-law Billy Minardi, who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

Pitino created an annual game in Minardi’s honor — beat-ing his son, Richard, and Florida International on Wednes-day night — but said he thinks about his good friend every day. And he figures the families, friends and neighbors in Newtown will be hurting for a long time as well.

“I don’t know how anybody can ever close their eyes in those families,” Pitino said. “There can be no good that comes out of that except immediate gun control.”

Pitino went more political, believing that members of Congress on both sides have been around too long to effect change. If they were doing what’s right for the country, he said, the nation “would demand” gun control.

He had little to say about the National Rifle Association, which held a news conference Friday in Washington saying that schools should have armed officers for protection.

“I don’t care about those people. They have their own agenda,” he said. “I don’t respect people who have their own agendas.”

Marshall basketball: Kane makes most of opportunityDerek ReddContributor

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Moving to point guard might have brought the best out of Marshall junior DeAndre Kane.

He became just the fourth Thundering Herd player, and the first since Tyler Wilkerson in 2010, to be named Conference USA player of the week after re-cording the fourth triple-double in Herd history in a 103-100 double-overtime loss to Hofs-tra on Saturday. He averaged 22 points, 5.7 rebounds and nine assists over three games of the 2K Sports Classic.

But the Herd (2-3) is still reel-ing after the weekend, when it dropped two of three Classic games. With 3-1 Nevada com-ing to the Henderson Center on Saturday at 7 p.m., Marshall is

hoping Kane continues his hot streak.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Pittsburgh native had one ab-breviated stint at point guard, playing there the first semester of the 2010-11 season when nor-mal starter Damier Pitts was academically ineligible. That didn’t stop Kane from fitting in comfortably after the NCAA declared highly touted freshman Kareem Canty ineligible for the 2012-13 campaign.

“I’m not surprised at all,” Kane said of his early success. “It’s not that hard to bring the ball down the court and set up the offense and get my team involved. I’m great at that, so I think that’s why Coach put me there.”

Kane is a proven scorer, lead-ing the team last year with 16.5 points per game and ranked fourth in C-USA this year at

18 points per game. Now he’s gaining acclaim as a distribu-tor. He’s tops in the conference and fourth in Division I with 8.4 assists per game. The next clos-est C-USA competitors are the University of Central Florida’s Isaiah Sykes and Memphis’ Joe Jackson at five assists per game.

“I think that, with him playing the point, it helps his all-around game,” senior forward Dennis Tinnon said. “Everyone knows he can score at will. He can get the ball and do whatever. He can create for himself. With him be-ing at the ‘1’ and being a bigger point guard, he can contribute a lot more, finding open guys, hit-ting the open shots and do a lot of things in defending the posi-tion also.”

Marshall Coach Tom Her-rion said the Herd lineup with Kane running the point re-

mains a work in progress. The way Kane’s playing, though, has made that work a little less strenuous.

“It’s been a balance,” Herrion said. “It’s still a process for us to find a balance for him being a scorer, but also being a fa-cilitator. His assist-to-turnover ratio is high. He’s done a really good job of finding guys and he’s logged a lot of minutes.

He has to get better, there’s no doubt about it, but he’s really risen to the challenge of playing at the point a little more than we initially thought.”

That gives Herrion more time to solve the rest of Marshall’s is-sues, which have contributed to the Herd’s early stumbles. Mar-shall remains one of Division I’s worst free-throw shooting teams, ranked 282nd and hitting just 62.9 percent from the line.

But now the Herd has a surpris-ing new issue - rebounding.

Marshall led Conference USA in rebounding margin last sea-son, but is only sixth in the con-ference to start this season. The Herd has been out-rebounded twice this year, 37-23 against Villanova and 57-43 against Hof-stra, a team that has no player on the roster taller than 6-foot-8. The Herd has seven players standing 6-8 or taller.

The team might need to lean even more on Kane, a preseason all-C-USA first team pick, but he’s up to the challenge.

“I’m just out there playing, do-ing what I can do every day to give it my all,” he said. “I’m do-ing whatever I can do to put my team in the best position to win every night. If that’s playing the point, the ‘2’ or the ‘3,’ whatever it takes.”

A6

6 ■ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

Letters to Santa 2012Dear Santa,1. I want a xbox game

with football 132. a new bike3. I wont a Michael Jor-

dan basketball jersey and a basketball

4. I wont a drawing set5. I wont a mote controll

hellacopter6. I wont a bb gunand most of all a football

and maybe a Ipod touch. I will leave you cookies and warm milk.

Love you,Preston SmithDear Santa,I would like a dirtbike,

a popcorn machine, some boots, a remote control car, a building set and games. I will leave milk and cookies.

Love,Zayden JewellDear Santa,I would like a Barbie

Doll, a Doll house, Twlight Movie Collection, TV, a bike, and some boots. Also I would like for you to bring my mommy a new bracelet and earrings.

I love you,Hailey Nicole SmithDear Santa,My name is Brayden

Robertson. I am 2 years old and my mom is writing my letter for me this year. But she sure knows what I want and like. I want any-thing Blue’s Clues, Yo Gab-ba Gabba and all the cray-ons and notebooks you can spare! Also would like all the tub pain you can spare to! Every color! Mom says to also send as many magic erasers you can spare also! But next year I will try to send my own letter! Don’t forget to stop and get your milk and cookies!

Merry Christmas,Brayden Robertson Dear Santa,I am a very good boy this

year. What I want is Epic Micky 2, legos and a WiiU.

Love,BlakeDear Santa,I haved tried being good

this year. So what I want for Christmas is for my mom and aunt to make up. I want a Wii U, Lego Nin-jago, lego city, Lego Harry Potter, all of the Harry Pot-ter books and a electric scooter.

Sincerely,Jasper McCoyDear Santa,What I want for Christ-

mas is Boots and one di-rection dolls and justice clothes and my own com-puter, one direction book bag and a safe and a big marker board and a make up kit and monster high doll.

Your friend,KalieDear Santa,I have tried being realy

good this year. This year for Christmas I want a 32 inch flat screen tv, a udraw, and if you could I want the 1st movie of Harry Potter.

Your friend,CassidyDear Santa,I have been a good girl.

I don’t want alot for christ-mas. I want my mom to be ok because she is having surgary after Christmas and she won’t be able to do anything for six weeks and I want her to be okay when it’s my birthday. If that hap-pens, I won’t be mean or anything. I love my mom and I’ll do anything to her ok, so if you can make that happen, I won’t wan’t any-thing for christmas. I just want my mom okay. I also want you to give my pres-ents from you to kids that don’t get anything. That is all I want for Christmas.

Love,Sarah DeatonDear Santa,What I want for Christ-

mas is something for the baby, a ipad and some-thing for my dog. I think I’ve been good. Thank you.

Love, your friend,KayleeDear Santa,I wish for my family to

be together again. I have good and bad but I really want my family back to-gether. My brother Matt Wellman moved out and I’m sad so if you could make my family as one I would be happy.

Your friend,

Amy WellmanDear Santa,I like to have a doll for

Christmas. Ty SantaDeanna, :)Dear Santa,All I want is a laptop and

a remote control air hoge airplane. Maybe a wii u. I think that is all.

Your friend,AndrewDear Santa,I would like a iPod touch,

new boots, clothes, a foot-ball, Halo 4 for my x-xbox and some new books to read. Also anything Duke. I love you and I have been good.

Love,Joe-Hayden JewellDear Santa,My name is Noah Cross

and I am almost 3 years old. I have been a very good boy this year. I can’t wait to see all the surprises you bring me. I want Mickey Mouse Barnyard, Jake and the Never Land Pirates sword, a lawn mower that blows bubbles, new and different dinosaurs and a golf game. Also, I have a new baby brother, Luka. He is only 3 months old. Could you please bring some Mickey Mouse toys and baby toys for him. He is a very good boy too. We will leave you lots of cookies! Bye bye! Ho ho! We love you!

Your friends,Noah and Luka CrossDear Santa,My name is Kailey and

I am 8 years old. I have been very good this year. I would love to have the following things for Christ-mas. Ipod, bicycle, justin biber. please bring me thse toys. I will leave cookies for you. I am in Mrs. Cross second grade.

Your friend,KaileyDear Santa,My name is Alven and

I am 8 years old. I have been a very good boy this year. I would love to have the following things for christmas. I pod and a bull-dog and a skateboard and a bike and a toy car and a christmas movie and a lap-top. please bring me these toys. I will leave cookies for you. I go to Riverside Elementary and Im in mrs. cross second grade.

Your friend,AlvenDear Santa,Hi! My name is Ryan.

I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas. For Christmas I would like to have Jake and the Never-land Pirates stuff. Any-thing Mickey Mouse Club-jouse. I would also for you to get my sister Kaylee any itunes gift card. She would also like accessories for her cell phone. Thank you. P.S. I will have mommy leave milk and cookies for you.

Your friend,Ryan RabinDear Santa,Hi. I ama second grader

at Riverside Elementary. What I would like to have Christmas is a laptop, ipod, barbie boat, barbie dreamhouse, austin ally cd and tshirt. We will leave you milk and cookies. P.S. hi.

Your friend,SydneyDear Santa,Hi. I am a second grader

at Riverside Elementary. What I would like to have for Christmas is Dr dread-ful phone, yoyo, ramocen plane, iplad, snaping gum, gun, iphone, laptop, bas-ketball, candle, gift card, boat.

Your friend,DonovanDear Santa,Hi. I am a second grader

at Riverside Elementary. What I would like to have for Christmas is a roller skates, ipad, ipod, spin brush, sqare hair brush, kendle fire, justise make up kit, Junie B. Jones books, justice clothes.

Your friend,HannahDear Santa,I want a pup and a elf

and a ipad and justice clothes and a phone and makeup. I want money and all monster hi stuf all zebra stuff.

MaddyDear Santa,Hi! My name is Haven. I

am a second grade student at Riverside Elementary. I would like to have some toys for Christmas. My favorites are Kindle Fire, Stompy’s, fake finger nails, and Gunner wants a movie Cars 2 please. And on mov-ies cars.

Your friend,HavenDear Santa,I want a elf on the shelf

and a zedra ice skates and biuld a bear elf and a Xbox and the rezident evil for the wii and a fake cast and a wii u and a mine ipad and a otr box for my ipad and my ipod and a big tv and a bene bag cher and ai want it like the elf on the shelf.

Trista MarcumDear Santa,I want legos skylanders

xbox 360 wiiu ps3 sky-landers spyros adventures stater pack build-a-bear elf angry birds star wars death star jenga mini ipod mini ipod lego goldmine romote control crocodile romote control shark angry brids plush green bird

Your friend,BradenDear Santa,I want a WiiU games for

it, some skylanders and cars one cars, toy trailers, star wars legos, army men stuff, a ps3, life size mickey mouse, angry birds hogs, all angry birds plush, corse objects plushes, thats all I want. I will leave you milk and cookies.

Your friend,AidanDear Santa,I want a xbox360, the

lego gold and two mote control and 5 games, mote control aligator art kit and all of the skylanders and all of the toy reslors and a pet lizard and all of they toy animals africa and a mote control airplane and 50 toy dionasors and 18000 dol-lars and a netend and ipad.

Victor GenadDear Santa,Hi. I am a second grader

at Riverside Elementary. What I would like to have

is a lego gold mine a a lego city police set and a lego water rescue set and a lego city bus and a lego city school and a lego city bus garage and a lego city hotel and a lego city court house and a lego city uner ground subway.

Your friend,Braydon ThackerDear Santa,A justice soccer ball and

a zebra outfit and zebra shoes snowflake bag, a monster high cup. Thank you. I will leave milk and cookies.

Alexis 14Dear Santa,I want a remote untro

monster trck. a a blue blacket also unting bots. blue slipers. i wont a pet a turtle. a a pet buney. and a xbox. and i want lazer tag. lego sitey police. res-cue sitiy and water rescue set. I wont indein Jones legoset. I want a toy dum chruk.

Brad WorkmanDear Santa,I want a babrie doll and

a monster high dolls and a dog you can walk and Tunes Tuens and a mon-ster high make up and baby alive. and a ipod.

Your friend,LeahDear Santa,I am second grade stu-

dent at Riverside Elemen-tary. What I would like for Christmas would like axbox and xbox games and legos mining set and epic micey two the power of two.

Keith B.Dear Santa,I want Blingles and I

want go go walking puppy and I want a baby alive doll and I want a ipod and i want a ipad.

Your friend,MarabethDear Santa,Hi I am a second grader

at Riverside Elementary. What would like to have for christmas is I pad, I phone Kindle fire and a ta-blit laptop.

Your friend,MikeyDear Santa,I want ten skylanders

and a mini ipad, I wish for chippy come back, I want a elf on the self at my moms house, stoppes, dream lite, ten books, laptop, barbies.

Your friend,Trinity RowDear Santa,I wont a game and

IPhone and controllers my xbox 360. I wont be bad I wont my toy doy I wont to a big flat screen tv I wont scileler jiyis

ZionDear Santa,My name is Kyrsten and

I am 7 years old. I have been a very good girl this year. Things for Christmas a iPoud, Justice Cup and I wuld like a stanta claus movies these toys, please bring me. I will leave cook-ies for you. I go to Riveside Elementary and I min mrs cross second grade class.

Your friendKyrstenDear Santa,My name is Megan and

I am 8 years old. I have been a very good girl this year. I would love to have the following things for Christmas. Halo 4 Xbox. Monster High doll Ro-chell, Mini lokcer, big chalk bord, Justin Bieber doll. Justin Bieber blanket. Monster High Doll Rebec-ca. Please bring me these toys. I’ll leave some cook-ies for you. I go to Rierside Elemtary and I’m in Mrs Cross second grade class.

Love, your friend,Megan C.Dear Santa,My name is JB and I am

eight years old. and I am a very good boy this year. I would love to have the fol-lowing things for Christ-mas. I want a bike. I want a dog. I want mokatroll car and I want a scooder. Please bring me these toys. I will Elementary and I min Mrs. Cross second grade class.

Your friend,

AdenDear Santa,My name is Carly and

I am 7 years old. I have been very good this year. I would love to have the following things for Christ-mas. Justice Clothes and Ariel PJ and a pink brace-let and a doll house and boots from Justice. Please bring me these toys. I will leave cookies for you. I go to Riverside Elementary and I’m in Mrs. Cross sec-ond grade class.

CarlyDear Santa,My name is Katilyn and

I am 7 years old. I have been a very good girl this year. I would love to have the following things for Christmas: moster hie dolse, labtop, doehase, justice books, please bring me these toys.l I will leave cookies for you and I go to Riverside Elementary and I min Mrs Cross Second grade clas.

Your friend,KatilynDear Santa,I name is Jenna and I am

7 years old. I have been a very good girl this year. I would love to have the fol-lowing things for Christ-mas: a remote control heli-copter, a german shepherd puppy, a mini science set, please bring me these toys. I will leave cookies for you. I go to Riverside Elemen-tary and Im in Mrs Cross second grade class.

Your friend,Jenna CurryDear Santa,My name is Genesis and

I am 7 years old. I have been a very good girl this year. I would love to have the following thing for Christmas, a bow and rar-row, orbes and a bladoy and a knew labtop. Please bring me these toys. I will leave cookies for you. I go to Riverside Elementary and I min mrs cross second grade class.

Your friend,Genesis

See LETTERS | 7

Santa receives vast amounts of letters from children all across the world.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 ■ 7WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

Dear Santa,My name is Cody and I’m

eight years old. I have been a very good boy this year. I would love to have the following things for Chrismas: eletric helacopter, eletric car, eletric matercicul, kendle fire, the wrecket rough movie. Please bring me these toys. I will leave cookies for you. I go to Riverside Elementray and I’m in Mrs Cross second grade class.

Your friend,CodyDear Santa,My name is Rylee and I am 8

years old. I have been a very good girl this year. I would love to have follwing things for Christmas, or-bit puppy, ipad, cat tramplen, jus-tis. please bring me these toys. I will leave cookies for you. I go to Riverside and I min Mrs. Cross second grade class.

Your frind,RyleeDear Santa,My name is Mallory. I am

sevon years old. I have been a very good girl this year. I would love to have the following thing for christmas. Golden retereaver puppy. Please bring me this toy. I will leave cookies for you. I go to Riverside Elementary and I min Mrs. Cross second grad class.

Your frand,MalloryDear Santa,My name is Jenna and I am

7 years old. I have been a very good girl this year. I would love to have the following things for Christmas: Beaneball reame pjz, neamo dory raindeer ping win jack in the box. please bring me these toys. I will leave cookies for you. I go to Riverside El-ementary and I’m in Mrs. Cross second grade class.

Your friend,JennaDear Santa,My name is Malanki and I am

7 years old. I have been a very good boy this year. I would love to have the following things, hot wheels, sonic doll, ipod, mario game, mario kart, sonic heros, hot wheels, wall tracks, baskit-ball. Please bring me these toys. I will leave cookies for you. I go to Riverside Elementary and I’m in Mrs. Cross second grade class.

Your friend,MalankiDear Santa,My name is Jordan and I am

8 years old. I have been a very good girl this year. I would love to have the following things for Christmas. Sonic bed, sonic he-ros, sonic dolls, sonic stuffed animals, sonic ipod, all sonic games, sonic wall paper, sonic carpet, sonic rag, sonic kart, sonic dvds, sonic t.v., sonic t.v. stand, sonic computer, sonic pic-ture, sonic chalk board. please bring me these toys. I will leave cookies for you. I go to Riverside Elementary I’m in Mrs. Cross second grade class.

Your friend,JordanDear Santa,I would all of the dairy of the

wimpy kid books, 4 concert tick-ets to Cher Lloyd.

Love, Graci McCoyDear Santa,What I want for Christmas a elf

on a shelf, one direction cd, and to never get grounded again, and a four wieller. my electric scooter to be fixed for dewie to get me something good for Christmas.

Your friend,EmilyDear Santa,How are you? I am nine years

old. I go to Southside Elemen-tary and I am in the 3rd grade. I think I’ve been very good be-cause my bee never gets on the hive. My teacher is Mrs. Angela Tackett and she is a very good teacher. You don’t have to get me this, but I’ll tell you what I want: 3 American Girls – Caro-line, Rebecca, and Mary Grace Also, I would like the Elf on the Shelf. Don’t for get to give my baby brother a kiss please, you dear old man. You make every-one happy because you take your time to be so very nice to people.

Love,Carley PinsonPSTell your reindeer I said hi and

“Merry Christmas! I will leave you some cookies and milk, and an apple for your reindeer.

Dear Santa,My name is Donavon Puck-

ett and I am 8 years old. I go to school at Southside Elementary. I have been very good this year and I am in third grade. My teacher is Mrs. Angela Tackett. She says that I have been good too! What I want for Christmas is some headphones and other stuff but the big gift is a PS Vita! How are your reindeer? Are they ready for the big trip?

Your Pal,Donavon Puckett

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas! I hope an elf comes to my house! We have one at school watching over us!

Dear Santa,I am 8 years old and I am in

Mrs.Tackett’s homeroom at Southside Elementary. I think I have been good this year because I haven’t been in a lot of trouble. This is what I want to ask you. How is your reindeer? Are they still flying? Can you still remem-ber the first time that I held my baby boy named Derek Adams? I love him so much. He is my little baby brother. My big brother has been very good this year and he wants an Xbox live. Please get it for him. Now is the time to tell you what I want for Christmas, I want: a Baby Alive, 1 dollar can-dy bar, electric guitar, and every-one to wonderful Christmas and get to celebrate it with family.

Love your little Elf,Brooke WilliamsP.S I hope you have a good

Christmas! Be careful on your sleigh! I love you! Guess what, our elf on the shelf at school has been on the metal cabinet, be-side a red dog, on a cord on the ceiling, the flag, and the Christ-mas tree, too!

Dear Santa,I think that I have been good

this year and I am in Mrs. An-gela Tackett’s 3rd grade class at Southside Elementary School. For Christmas, I would like Epic Mickey 2, Operation Game, a liz-ard game but I am not

really for sure if I want it or not, a mini motorcycle.

Love,AlexPS Have a safe tripDear Santa,My name is Steven Banks and

I attend Southside Elementary School. I live up Forest Hills. My teacher is Mrs. Tackett and I am in the third grade. We have an elf at home. His name is Elvis and he is jolly. He flies from place to place every morning and hides somewhere. Our elf at school does the same thing. I have been nice this year, because my mom says that I have been.

How are you doing? How are your reindeer? Are you ready for Christmas? Now let’s get to what I want: I want a PS Vita, a new dirt bike helmet, an orange power band, and a razor scooter.

Your friend,Steven BanksPS. Merry Christmas and a

Happy NewYear!Dear Santa,My name is Dalton Hatfield

and my teacher is Mrs. An-gela Tackett. She teaches third grade at Southside Elementary School. I live up Forest Hills. I want a new WII, a DS, and a 3 DS games, the new Transform-ers WII game, an Ipod, and a Playstation 2. Also I would like a PSP. My sister Hannah has been a good girl so would you please get her an IPod 5?

Your Pal,Dalton HatfieldDear Santa,My name is Jonathan Banks

and I have been very good this year because I hardly ever get my bee on the hive. I attend South-side Elementary School with my brother, Steven. Our teacher is Mrs. Angela Tackett and she is a very good teacher.

My elf, Elvis, comes to my house every December and leaves on Christmas. He has be-come part of my life. I cannot wait until Christmas! I am going to tell you what I want. I want an I phone, a charger for it, a case for my I phone, an ITunes card, and a new stocking for next year.

I hope that my family is good this year. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I hope that your rein-deer do great flying across the world.

Love,Jonathan BanksDear Santa,I am 8 years old and in Mrs.

Tackett’s 3rd grade homeroom at Southside Elementary School. I live at Dix Fork Rd. How is Ru-dolf the Red Nosed Reindeer? For Christmas, I want Butter-scotch the horse, a Furby, some cars, and I hope that everyone has a warm, safe, happy Christ-mas. Last give daddy coal be-cause I like tricking him. For mommy, we are going to get her something so you might want to leave her something too. I can-not wait to go visit my family and Michael Shawn. When I visit my family I feel so happy!

Love,Maddie MaynardPS…. I will leave you some

cookies and milk! Merry Christ-mas!!!

Dear Santa,I am 8 years old and in Mrs.

Tackett’s 3rd grade class at Southside Elementary School. I know this year is your time to shine! I have been very good this year because my mom told your elf that I had cleaned up the liv-ing room for her. We hope that you have a very Merry Christ-mas! I will leave you some milk and cookies and a surprise! For Christmas, I want a 3DS and a tablet. Also, I would like for ev-eryone to have joy and peace in their life.

Love,Lucas SmithPS. Happy Christmas! Tell the

reindeer that I said hi! We think that you are wonderful and tell Mrs. Claus that I said hi and Merry Christmas!

Dear Santa,I am 8 years old and in Mrs.

Angela Tackett’s 3rd grade home-room. My school is Southside El-ementary School and I believe in you. How is everything? Would you please let my daddy feel re-ally good because he is getting a kidney removed. I worry about him a lot. I know that you can make him feel good. The joy of Christmas should be every day! Your Elf came to our classroom and he ate all of the red rice crispy treats. For Christmas, would you please get me a pair of ballerina shoes, Baby-Alive All Gone, and an Elf on the Shelf? Also, I would like to ask you if you could help all of the home-less get a home and food.

Love,Jeanna EndicottPS…I will leave you some cook-

ies and I have been good too.Dear Santa,I am 8 years old and in Mrs.

Angela Tackett’s 3rd grade home-room at Southside Elementary School. I hope that I am on the nice list because I have been helping people and Mrs. Tackett says that I am a good girl! How are your reindeer doing? Santa, how do you go around the world in one night? For Christmas, I want a dog and some Barbies. I want a Baby Walk with Me, some Cinderella dolls, Bouncy the Fur-ry Little Dog, and people all over the world to have food to eat and a warm house for Christmas. I want more stuff, but I don’t want to write it all. I will tell the elf and he can give you my list.

Love,Kailey WolfordPS. I will leave you a note! You

are the best man in the world! I love you!

Dear Santa,

My name is Seth O’Brien and I am 8 years old. I am in Mrs. An-gela Tackett’s third grade class at Southside Elem. How are you doing this year? This is what I want for Christmas: a 3 DS, Ma-rio Bros 2, Mario Kart 7, Mario Olympics, Halo 4, and a Unit 13 for the PS Vita. I have been very good this year, because I have been a helper at home by doing my chores. Mrs. Tackett says that I am good too. My sister has been really good this year, would you please get her a Monster High Girl’s Rule movie? That is all that I want this year. Merry Christmas!

Love ,Seth O’BrienPS…I will leave you some

cookies and milk!Dear Santa,I am 8 years old and in Mrs.

Tackett’s 3rd grade class at Southside Elementary School. I have been a very good student! I hope that you have been having a very good year! Santa, how is Rudolf? For Christmas, I want my cousins to come visit me, a Leggo set, DS games, and a new gun. Santa, I would like for peo-ple that are hungry to have some food.

Love,Brodi LowePS. We will leave you milk and

cookies and carrots. Eat the car-rots first.

Dear Santa,I am 8 years old and in Mrs.

Tackett’s 3rd grade homeroom at Southside Elementary School. I live at Forrest Hills, KY. How are your elves? My elf is doing great, but he is crazy! I want and IPad, a new bike with no train-ing wheels, Barbies, new clothes, my cousins to come home, and lots of candy in my stocking. My sister Nea’ wants a Mac for Christmas. Mom says that if she doesn’t straighten up, she isn’t going to get it. I think she needs to work on this a little bit, Santa because she has gotten in a little trouble lately. I know that she is going to grow up to be a good girl though. I love my sister and I hope that she gets that Mac com-puter!

Love,Kinzie JacksonPS …I will leave you some

cookies and milk! Also, I will leave the reindeer some food too! Merry Christmas!!!

Dear Santa,My name is Kyleigh Carroll

and I am 8 years old. I am in Mrs. Angela Tackett’s 3rd grade homeroom at Southside Elemen-tary School and I have been a good student this year because I get honey money for being such a good girl. How have you been and how are the reindeer? Santa, I love you and hope that you are having a great year. For Christ-mas, I want a bookshelf, dolls, and clothes. I am praying for the kids that do not have a family to spend Christmas with.

Love,Kyleigh CarrollPS …I will leave you some

cookies and milk! Merry Christ-mas!!!

Dear Santa,My name is Felicity Tan and I

am 8 years old. I am in Mrs. An-gela Tackett’s 3rd grade home-room at Southside Elementary School and I have been a good girl this year because my bee never gets in the bee hive and I get honey money for being such a good girl. How have you been? How are Rudolf and Clarice? She is one of my favorite reindeer! You don’t have to get this, but I would like a password journal and a real tea cup puppy. My

little brother, Eli has been very good too. Please get him some-thing. He wants a Switch and Go Dino and a tea cup puppy, too. Thank you for reading my note.

Love,Felicity TanPS …I love you and give Peace

to the World!!Dear Santa,My name is Alexis Taylor and

I am 9 years old. I am in Mrs. Angela Tackett’s 3rd grade class at Southside Elementary School. Will you tell Rudolf that I love him? I will leave you some milk and cookies. I want to wish you a jolly Christmas! I love my teach-ers and they love you too! All I want for Christmas is: Love, hope, and peace for the world! You don’t have to get me this, but I really want a mini laptop. I have been a good girl this year.

Love,Alexis TaylorPS …I love you and everyone

loves you too!!Dear Santa,My name is Kylee Phillips and

I am 8 years old. I am in Mrs. Angela Tackett’s 3rd grade class at Southside Elementary School. I have been very good this year. How are all of your reindeer? For Christmas I would like an Elf on the Shelf, an I Pad, and an I Phone, but you don’t have to get me all of this stuff. You know that I really don’t need all of this stuff. Anyways, I’m also praying for some children to go home with a mom and a dad.

Love,Kylee PhillipsPS …I’ll give you some milk

and cookies.Dear Santa,I am 9 years old and in Mrs.

Tackett’s 3rd grade homeroom at Southside Elementary School. How are you? Santa, I believe in you! For Christmas, I want an Ipod. If you get me this, I would love it! Thank you so much! Love,

Keilee BaileyPS I will leave you some cook-

ies and milk! Merry Christmas!!!Dear Santa,I am 8 years old. I am in the

third grade at Southside Elem. My teacher is Mrs. Angela Tack-ett. How was your day?

Anyway, what I want for Christmas is:

• Ipod Touch• Wreck it Ralph WII game• PSP• Some extra presents are:• Houses for the homeless• A toy for you(find some-

thing free)Your pal,Daniel SmithDear Santa,I am 8 years old. I am in the

third grade at Southside Elem. My teacher is Mrs. Angela Tack-ett. I think that I have been a good boy and I have been won-dering how are the elves doing? How are the reindeer? How are you and Mrs. Clause doing? For Christmas, I would like an Xbox, Xbox live and a connect for it. I would like for the homeless peo-ple to have a nice warm home and everyone to have money.

Your pal,Joey WorkmanPS..Have a safe trip and I be-

lieve in you and your elves! I be-lieve in the reindeer too!

Dear Santa,I am 8 years old. I am in the

third grade at Southside Elem. My teacher is Mrs. Angela Tack-ett. I think that I have been a good boy because my mom told me that I was. How are you and the reindeer doing? You don’t

From Page 6

Letters

See LETTERS | 8

Did you get your letter mailed in time?

From Page 7

Letters

8 ■ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

have to get me this but for Christmas I want:

• PS Vita• Sky landers• A new four-wheelerI have 2 brothers and

they have been very good this year too Santa. Would you please get them some things? My big brother needs a motorcycle and get my little brother something with Thomas the Train on it. He loves Thomas the train. Have a safe trip and be careful!

Love,Issac StaffordDear Santa,My name is Kaden

Smith. I am 8 years old. I am in the third grade at Southside Elem. My teach-er is Mrs. Angela Tackett. I think that I have been a good boy because my mom has told me this. How are you and the reindeer do-ing? For Christmas I want:

• Sky landers• The new Xbox• IPhone 5I have a sister and she

has been a good girl this year, Please get her some-thing nice! Your Buddy,

Kaden SmithPS… Have a safe trip

and be careful! Dear Santa,Hope you will find my

name on the nice list. I have tried to be on my best behavior and stay out of trouble. This year for Christmas, I would like to have the Talking Tom Cat stuffed animal, a new blan-ket, a monkey that plays music that I have also seen. If you can, my sister would like to have “Just Dance 4” for the WII.

Your friend,Chandler MarcumDear Santa,My name is Allyssa Gan-

non. I am in Miss Christy Webb’s Classroom at Southside Elementary. I would love to have a Bar-bie Jeep and a doll. Please bring a toy to my brother and sisters too. We have all been really good. I will leave milk and cookies.

Allyssa GannonDear Santa,Thank you for my Easy

Bake Oven last year. I am working on being nice to my brothers. I would like a big teddy bear, Orbies Massager and a PS3.

Love,Teresa WilliamsDear Santa,I have been a good girl.

Please bring me a Barbie Dream House.

I love you, Santa.Alyssa MullinsDear Santa,I would like to have a toy

motorcycle and a present for Nick. I will leave cook-ies for you Santa.

Love,Zach FiteDear Santa,My name is Ace Cau-

dill. I am in Miss Christy

Webb’s Classroom at Southside Elementary. Will you please bring me an Easel and an I Pad. I have been a good boy.

Love,Ace Caudill Dear Santa,My name is Isabella Din-

gess. I have been a good girl this year. I would like you to bring me a monster high doll house, a new bi-cycle, monster high dolls, more of them, please. There are a few I don’t have that I would like. I would like some Hello Kitty Lego’s and a Crayola Airbrush. Milk and cook-ies will be waiting!

Isabella DingessDear Santa,I have a special present

for you. I would like a bat, baseball and glove.

I love you.Caylea McCoyDear Santa,I want a mommy doctor

doll, a new pink clock, a swing set and a pink lap-top computer.

Merry Christmas!Love,Bailee StanleyDear Santa,I would like to have

Monster High Make-up. I also want a Monster High Vampire Doll. I need Hello Kitty P.J.’s and new Cray-ola’s. I want a pink Bike with stickers and extra wheels. I will be good till you get here. Thank you.

Love,Danica HurleySanta,I want a motorcycle, and

a four wheeler trailer.Love,Luke ScottDear Santa Clause,My name is C.J. I want

the Hulk Smashers and a Hulk Costume. I would like to have a Wolverine action figure and a Hulk shirt and a Monster Truck. I have an Elf on the shelf.

Love,C. J. HackneyDear Santa,I want Barbie’s, an I

Pad and a Nintendo DS SI. I can take pictures. I would like a Barbie Dream House also.

Love,Megan SwigertDear Santa,I want an I Pad. I also

want a toy Transformer. Please do not forget to stop at my house.

Love,Matthew ThomasDear Santa,All I want is a car, air-

plane and a book about Jesus and clothes and submarine. I have been a good boy this year. Could you bring something spe-cial for Miss Webb and Mrs. A?

Love,Zachary DavisDear Santa,I want a DS, Hello

Kitty Headphones, and an American Doll. I have been a good girl this year.

Love,Matayen RashDear Santa,My name is Jeremiah

Austin. I want a trampo-line and a little black pup-py. I hope it is a little one so it doesn’t jump on me.

Jeremiah AustinDear Santa,I want a Spy Watch,

Kentucky Helmet, Ben-gals Helmet, Spider-man backpack, a Batman Back-pack and a Wrestler.

Love,Isaac DutyDear Santa,I want a Doctor Mc-

Stuffins Doctor Kit and a toy for my sissy.

I love you,Emily PiercHi Santa,My name is Caidence

Brock. My mommy takes my big sister to school at Southside Elementary. Mommy drops me off in Miss Christy Webb’s Classroom on her way down the hall to my sis-ter’s classroom. I help take the student folders up each morning. I am not old enough to go to school but I do go to Pre-School Story Hour on Friday at Southside Elementary. I would like a doctor baby doll, some new cars and a toy for my sister Sydney. Thank you for our elf Tin-ker.

Love,Caidence BrockDear Santa,I would like a Nook and

a Monster High doll. Also wish Jesus “Happy Birth-day”.

Love,Kyla Jo VippermanDear Santa,I would like a DS,

DS Games, Dora Toy, Clothes, Baby Alive that walks, Shoes, Bows, Baby Clothes, Belts, Ear Rings, Barbie’s, a toy dog and a baby doll.

Thank you,Shelby SteppDear Santa,Please bring me a Box-

ing Set for Christmas. I have been a good boy.

Love,Noah HaleDear Santa,My name is Ryan. I

have been good this year. I would like a Nintendo DS and a Mario game.

Thank you,Ryan Hall Dear Santa,My name is Morgan

Nunley. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. I will lev you cockes. Please bring me a ipod and a drem lit unicorn and a ds and a ds game and a new wii game and a Mario back pak and a Mario lunch box and a Brbe doll.

Love,Morgan NunleyDear Santa,My name is Alex Bucci.

I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First

Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a pet hamster for Christ-mas and git me a cage for my pet hamster for Christ-mas and a wvx and a plan for Christmas.

Love,Alex BucciDear Santa,My name is Katie

Brown. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a des and des games.

Love,Katie BrownDear Santa,My name is Jaxon

Staggs. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a drt bick and a lot of toys.

Love,Jaxon StaggsDear Santa,My name is Ian Griffith.

I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a new pair of shoes. And a pogostick. I want a art set. Can you get me a moshi monster fun park game for Ds?

Love,Ian GriffithDear Santa,My name is Gary Davis.

I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a remot control To-mus and a pogosick and a umanjnary x ogar and a umanjnary x casl.

Love,Gary DavisDear Santa,My name is Trevor

Maynard. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a dirt bike and a pogostick and a grave digger poster to put on my wall and the dog-gydoo game and a live elf and a real race car and a remote contrule Thomas the train and a forwheler. I wil leave cookies and car-rots for the reindeer and some milk. I love you so so so much!

Love,Trevor MaynardDear Santa,My name is Kira Pinson.

I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a esey backe oven for my kitchen and a make over kit too. And at last a inside puppe. I’ll set a bol of olus and a bukit of milk for you and the reindeer.

Love,Kira PinsonDear Santa,My name is Karma

Good. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary.

I have been a good girl. Please bring me a mon-ster high toy house and iny thing els.

Love,Karma GoodDear Santa,My name is Michael

Ralston. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a video gam and a wii game.

Love,Michael RalstonDear Santa,My name is Brooke Ow-

ens. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at South-side Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a Elf on a Shelf. I want a pogo stick. I want a poster of your reindeer. I want a bild a bear. I want a lalaloopse. I want a bag of appals. I will leav you a gass of milk and cookies. I will leav your reindeer carrots and watter. I love you so so so so much!

Love,Brooke OwensDear Santa,My name is Lexi Grim.

I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a cat but a girl cat and a kinttin girl. I will leve you sum kooces and milk and a canecane for the bestist elf. I love you and the elfs.

Love,Lexi GrimDear Santa,My name is Jordyn

Lockard. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a rein-deer. His nam will be roodof and the slae and a new pere of irrings. P.S. I want a liv supli of pop-corn. PS. The elfs will eat olvs and the dirs will drenk woter.

Love,Jordyn LockardDear Santa,My name is Brayden

McIntosh. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me skylendrs jins and a jint robote. Git my sistr a makup kit. Tri to use your majc. I will get you sum cookie sand the rendeer whotr!

Love,Brayden McIntoshDear Santa,My name is Brooklyn

Mitchem. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a new moster hith girl and two jars of muney and a suff animals and bring me eney thing els. I love you and I will git you a cookie and a fish.

Love,Brooklyn MitchemDear Santa,My name is Jacob

Marcum. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a car.

Love,Jacob MarcumDear Santa,My name is Sydney

Brock. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a per of esrings and I want a toy cor and I want a lif supli of popcrn.

Love,Sydney BrockDear Santa,My name is Layne Var-

ney. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a jets hat and jrse and a ray muste-reo mask and a tigr. I luv you.

Love,Layne VarneyDear Santa,My name is Kayli

Whitaker. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a brbe doll, a casl, a ras cr, and a tran. I will lev you milk and cuckes.

Love,Kayli WhitakerDear Santa,My name is Nata-

lie Boone. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a ds and just dance 4 and Disny Jonr Dance. I whill live you milk and cookies.

Love,Natalie BooneDear Santa,My name is Matthew

Stanley. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a mikero charger and a ipod and wii u.

Love,Matthew StanleyDear Santa,My name is Max Dot-

son. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at South-side Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a rill live pigwin and a hamster and a dog and a rokit a dert bick and a air hog hellokopter and a airplane and a billders set and a pupit, a santa pupit, and a magik kit.

Love,Max DotsonDear Santa,My name is Laynaya

Williamson. I am in Mrs. Sanger’s First Grade Class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me make up and a pers and herbows and clos and wigs and shoos and ornamnts and a bow for the tree.

Love,See LETTERS | 9

Santa receives his latest batch of letters for 2012.

A9

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 ■ 9WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

Laynaya WilliamsonDear Santa,My name is La’Kiera and I’m

3 years old from North Mate-wan, WV. I’ve been a very good girl this year. I help my mom with my new baby sister Ker-rigan and share toys with her. This year for Christmas I would like the Baby Butterscotch pony, a Baby Alive Baby’s New Teeth doll, Dr. Mommy doll, Furby, anything Dora, and anything else you think I deserve!! Please bring my baby sister something nice too. I will be helping mom-my bake cookies for you so I hope you will like them!! I love you so much Santa….

Love Always,La’Kiera Monroe RutherfordDear Santa, I have been very

good this year. The first thing I want for Christmas is a Mon-ster high doll and the colors on it are blue and yellow, and the second thing I would like is an ipod with a zebra cover and the third thing that I would like is for everyone to have a wonder-ful Christmas with their families and friends. Santa I hope that you and the reindeers have a safe trip delivering all the pres-ents for the boys and girls on Christamas Night. I will leave milk and cookies for you and reindeer treats for them. Love Tiarra F. Anderson

Dear Santa,My name is Jaxon. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a Green Machine and two hundred cars for Christmas.

Love,Jaxon EstridgeDear Santa,My name is Hannah. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. I would like an IPod and a Furby for Christmas. I can’t wait until you feel up my stocking.

Love,Hannah HonakerDear Santa,My name is Katelynn. I am

in Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a Cuddleuppet, some gag Slushy Magic, a trampoline, nice clothes that look like prin-cess clothes, and a new bike. One more thing I want is my secret present, a Dora mermaid, an X Box, a squeaky black rat, a shiny star, and a bow and arrow.

Love,Katelynn HinkleDear Santa,My name is Kara. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me an IPod, a Furby, a My Life Doll, and a Monster High doll for Christmas.

Love,Kara PreeceDear Santa,My name is Clara. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me an American Girl doll and an Iphone for Christmas.

Love,Clara McNameeDear Santa,My name is Sydne. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me an IPhone, an IPad, a toy

truck, an American girl doll, a ballerina outfit, and an elf for Christmas.

Love,Sydne JonesDear Santa,My name is Tristan. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a remote control shark and a Sock Em Boppers for Christ-mas.

Love,Tristan BlairDear Santa,My name is Ronnie. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a toy soldier, a toy guy, and a toy bulldozer for Christmas.

Love,Ronnie Mounts Dear Santa,My name is Keturah. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me two real pups, some clothes for them, a doll, a dollhouse, a computer, an American Girl doll, a mermaid, and a ring for Christmas.

Love,Keturah RobinsonDear Santa,My name is Hannah. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me an Easy Bake Oven, a pret-ty Hello Kitty camera, a Hello Kitty IPhone, an American Girl doll, an Xbox 360 game, a Smart Board, and one thousand dollars for Christmas.

Love,Hannah FiteDear Santa,My name is Quentin. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a cat, a dog, legos, Scooby Doo toys, Sonic toys, and a 3 DS XL for Christmas.

Love,QuentinDear Santa,My name is Chloe. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a five Monster High dolls, two snow globes, stockings for my Barbie dolls, clothes for my Barbie dolls, and three La La Loopsies. I want a pink bow and arrow and a target for Christ-mas.

Love,Chloe DeskinsDear Santa,My name is Summer. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a cat, a dog, a bracelet, a DS, a camera, a Barbie, and a Hello Kitty IPhone for Christmas.

Love,Summer ThackerDear Santa,My name is Jessa. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a cat, a dog, a Hello Kitty camera, and an IPhone for Christmas.

Love,Jessa O’BrienDear Santa,My name is Ashlee. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a pogo stick, a trampoline, and stuff for my dog for Christ-

mas. I love you SantaLove,Ashlee PhillipsDear Santa,My name is Halie. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me a little pup, a little cat, and real baby toys for Christmas. I love you Santa Claus.

Love,Halie MatneyDear Santa,My name is Bryan. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me an Ipad and an IPod for Christmas. Please bring me an elf.

Love,Bryan AdkinsDear Santa,My name is Mikey. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me an Xbox and games for Christmas. I want a Tony Romo poster too.

Love,Mikey HyltonDear Santa,My name is Emily. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good girl. Please bring me an American Girl doll and rain boots Christmas.

Love,Emily DuncanDear Santa,My name is Justin. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. This year for Christmas I want a four wheel-er, a truck, a bulldozer, a trailor, and toy cop car.

Love,Justin SmithDear Santa,My name is Jimmy. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. This year for Christmas I want a truck, a toy, a new four wheeler, and some Snoopy toys.

Love,Jimmy BlackburnDear Santa,My name is Dalton. I am in

Miss Staton’s first grade class at Southside Elementary. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a monster truck, new shoes, and some new Xbox stuff for Christmas.

Love,Dalton AdkinsDear Santa,My name is Sara White. I am 8

years old and I attend Southside Elementary in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. This year I have been very good. I would like following things for Christmas if you can bring them to me: new clothes

from Justice, a Furby, a Barbie doll. Merry Christmas Santa!

Love, Sara.P.S. Hope you have a safe tripDear Santa,My name Wyatt Webb. I am 9

years old and I attend Southside Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. I have been very good.

I would like the following things for Christmas if you can bring them to me: I want a Cy-coeCycle, a NFL 2013 a PSP Vita

Dear Santa,My name is Hannah Hatfield.

I am 9 years old and I attend Southside Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. I have been a good girl. This year for Christmas I would like an iPod, world peace and an iPod. I will leave you some cook-ies.

Love, HannahPS Tell the reindeer I said hi.Dear Santa,My name is Caleb. I am 8

years old and I attend Southside Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. This year I have been very nice. I would really like the following thigs for Christmas if you can bring them to me: the new iPod, WiiU, Chriss Angle Mind Freak set. I will be waiting for you.

Love, CalebPS I will leave you some cook-

ies, Merry Christmas Dear Santa,My name is Joseph D. I am 8

years old and I attend Southside Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. I want a RC rock crawler, RC race truck and an iPhone.

Love, Joseph D.PS Hope you have a good day.Dear Santa,My name is Anaya Ali. I am 8

years old and I attend Southside Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. Can you bring these three things please: Bouncy the Dog, Butter-stoch the horse, blingles.

Merry Christmas Santa Claus,Love, Anaya Ali.PS I will be wating for you on

Christmas Even with milk and cookies.

Dear Santa,My name is Mason Lambert.

this year I have been nice. I’ll be waiting for you with milk and cookies. My wish list is as fol-lows: the orange toy crossbow, a not from you about your rein-deer, a bebe pistle. I am 9 years old and I attend Southside El-ementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class.

Love, Mason LambertDear Santa,My name is Alex Edward. I

am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. This year I have been very good. I am in Southside Elemen-

tary. I want a Hot Wheels car, a houns and a bade blade. ‘

PS I ant all of our dede to have a lot of food.

Love, AlexDear Santa,My name is Madison Slone.

I am 8 years old and I attend Southside Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. This year I have been great. I would really like the following thing for Christmas if you could bring them to me: Bouncy, GlowBook, Marker air-brush.

Dear Santa,I am Keionna Smith. I am 8

years old and I attend Southside Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. If you could get me these three things: Kindle, 3Ds xl WiiU.

Merry Christmas SantaPS I’ll leave you extra cookiesDear Santa,My name is Taylor Stafford. I

am 8 years old and I attend South-side Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. This year I have been very nice. I would really like the following things for Christmas if you can bring them to me: WiiU, iPhone 5, 3DS

Dear Santa,My name is Dorion Campanella.

I am 9 years old and I attend South-side Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. This year I have been very nice. I would really like the following things for Christmas if you can bring them: Green Machine, Pocket bike, Psy-cho cycle.

Merry Christmas SantaDear Santa,My name is Devin Warren. I am

8 years old and I attend Southside Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. This year I have been very nice. I would re-ally like the following things if you can bring them to me: a Nerf gun a rocket bike and Legos.

Merry Christmas SantaI will be be waiting for you on

Christmas Eve with milk and cookies.

Dear Santa,My name is Nick Runyon.

I am 9 years old and I attend Southside Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class. I have been bad, but in my hart, I’m very good. I would like the following things for Christmas: an medium ATV, a magic madisin formy lip, ex-plorers.

Love, Nick RunyonDear Santa,My name is Bobby Davis.

I am 9 years old and I attend Southside Elementary School. I am in Ms. McCoy’s 3rd grade class.I would like the toys: green machine, pockit bike, Kofi Kingston, WWE flex force light.

Merry Christmas SantaLove, Bobby DavisPS I will make you milk and

cookies

From Page 6

Letters

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10 ■ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

NationMexico frees ex-Marine jailed for bringing in gunCurt AndersonThe Associated Press

MIAMI — A Marine veteran jailed for months in Mexico after trying to carry a family heirloom shotgun across the border has been freed, U.S. officials and his lawyer said late Friday.

The attorney for 27-year-old Jon Hammar tweeted Friday night that his client had been re-leased from a detention center in Matamoros, Mexico.

“Jon is out, going home!” Ed-die Varon Levy tweeted.

Patrick Ventrell, the acting deputy spokesman for the State Department, confirmed Ham-mer’s release and return to the U.S. in a statement Friday night.

“Officials from the U.S. Con-sulate General in Matamoros met him at the prison and es-corted him to the U.S. border, where he was reunited with members of his family,” the statement said. “We sincerely appreciate the efforts on the part of Mexican authorities to ensure that an appropriate reso-

lution was made in accordance with Mexican law, and that Mr. Hammar will be free to spend the holidays with his loved ones.”

An aide to a legal represen-tative of the Mexican attorney general’s office had told U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s staff about the pending release after the Florida Democrat’s office got word from Hammar’s mother, according to a press release from Nelson’s of-fice.

“No American should be in a Mexican jail for five months without being able to have his case in front of a judge,” Nelson said in that statement. “We’re grateful; this is a good Christ-mas present.”

Earlier Friday, Varon Levy said he was flying from Mex-ico City to Matamoros to pick up his client. After that, the attorney said, they intended to cross the border at Browns-ville, Texas. “I’m very happy. I feel that the Mexican legal system came out the way it should have,” he said.

U.S. immigration and State Department officials had been at the Mexican detention center waiting for Hammar’s release.

A defense lawyer said Mexi-can authorities determined there was no intent to commit a crime, Nelson’s office said. The senator was among a handful of elected officials who urged the State Department to help get Hammar out of Mexico. His family had said he was being held in isolation after threats to his safety were received.

“These past few months have been an absolute nightmare for Jon and his family, and I am so relieved that this whole ordeal will soon be over,” said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., in a statement. ” I am over-come with joy knowing that Jon will be spending Christmas with his parents, family and friends.”

The attorney, Varon Levy, said the path for Hammar’s re-turn was cleared when Mexican officials decided not to appeal the judge’s ruling.

Civilian gun ownership is

illegal under Mexican law un-less the owner purchases the weapon from a special shop run by the country’s Department of Defense.

“The Department of State warns all U.S. citizens against taking any type of firearm or ammunition into Mexico,” the U.S. Embassy in Mexico writes on its website. “Entering Mexi-co with a firearm, certain types of knives, or even a single round of ammunition is illegal, even if the weapon or ammunition is taken into Mexico unintention-ally.”

Mexican law also bans shot-guns with barrels of less than 25 inches. The family said Ham-mar’s shotgun has a barrel of 24 inches.

Tourists are allowed to bring guns for hunting on rare oc-casions, but Mexican officials said all visitors must receive a special permit before entering the country. Mexican customs agents do not issue gun permits. As a result, anyone crossing the border with a firearm or ammu-

nition without a previously is-sued government permit is in in-stant violation of Mexican law, which stipulates long jail terms for breaking weapons laws.

Hammar and his friend were on their way to Costa Rica in August and planned to drive across the Mexican border near Matamoros in a Winnebago filled with surfboards and camping gear. Hammar asked U.S. bor-der agents what to do with the unloaded shotgun. His family said agents told them to fill out a form for the gun, which belonged to Hammar’s great-grandfather.

But when the pair crossed the border and handed the paper-work to Mexican officials, they impounded the RV and jailed the men, saying it was illegal to carry that type of gun. Ham-mar’s friend was later released because the gun did not belong to him.

Before Hammar’s release, Va-ron Levy said he was not sure of his client’s immediate plans upon being freed. “Probably some down time,” he said.

■ News in BriefA sweeping bargain

seemingly out of reach, Obama calls for scaled-back deal to avoid ‘cliff’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has throttled back his ambi-tions for a sweeping budget bargain with Republicans. Instead, he’s calling for a scaled-back measure suffi-cient to prevent the govern-ment from careening off the “fiscal cliff” in January by extending tax cuts for most taxpayers and forestalling a painful set of agency budget cuts.

In a White House appear-ance Friday, Obama also called on Congress to ex-tend jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed that would otherwise be cut off for 2 million people at the end of the year.

Obama’s announcement was a recognition that chances for a larger agree-ment before year’s end have probably collapsed. It also suggested that any chance for a smaller deal may rest in the Senate, particularly after the collapse of a plan by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to permit tax rates to rise on million-dollar-plus incomes.

“In the next few days, I’ve asked leaders of Con-gress to work towards a package that prevents a tax hike on middle-class Americans, protects unem-ployment insurance for 2 million Americans, and lays the groundwork for further work on both growth and deficit reduction,” Obama said. “That’s an achievable goal. That can get done in 10 days.”

Maybe, maybe not. The latest plan faces uncer-tainty at best in the sharply divided Senate. GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Ken-tucky, who wields great power even in the minor-ity, called Friday for Senate action on a House bill from the summer extending the full menu of Bush-era tax cuts. He promised that it will take GOP votes for anything to clear the Sen-ate, where 60 votes are re-quired to advance most leg-islation. Democrats control 53 votes.

New details emerge about gunman and his mother a week after Connecticut school

massacreNEWTOWN, Conn.

(AP) — He was the awk-ward, peculiar kid who wore the same clothes to school every day.

He rarely spoke and even gave a school presentation entirely by computer, never uttering a word.

He liked tinkering with computers and other gad-gets, and seemed to enjoy playing a violent video game, choosing a military-style assault rifle as one of his weapons.

New details about Adam Lanza emerged Friday, as the nation paused to mark one week since he slaugh-tered 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in New-town.

Multiple funerals and vis-itations were held Friday, and at the hour of the at-tack, 9:30 a.m., a bell tolled 26 times, once for each vic-tim killed at the school.

Predicting who is at risk for violence isn’t easy,

but experts say there are sometimes signs

CHICAGO (AP) — It happened after Colum-bine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, Colo., and now Sandy Hook: People figure there surely were signs of impending violence. But experts say predicting who will be the next mass shooter is virtu-ally impossible — partly because as commonplace as these calamities seem, they are relatively rare crimes.

Still, a combination of risk factors in troubled kids or adults including drug use and easy access to guns can increase the likelihood of violence, experts say.

But warning signs “only become crystal clear in the aftermath, said James Alan Fox, a Northeastern Uni-versity criminology profes-sor who has studied and written about mass killings.

“They’re yellow flags. They only become red flags once the blood is spilled,” he said.

Whether 20-year-old Adam Lanza, who used his mother’s guns to kill her and then 20 children and six adults at their Connecti-cut school, made any hints about his plans isn’t pub-licly known.

Mass. voters brace for yet another Senate race as Obama taps Kerry for

secretary of stateBOSTON (AP) — Mas-

sachusetts voters weary from one of the nation’s costliest and most divisive U.S. Senate races are all but certain to find them-selves thrown back into an-other tumultuous election now that President Barack Obama has nominated Sen. John Kerry for secretary of state.

If confirmed by the Sen-ate, as expected, Kerry would have to resign the seat he’s held for nearly three decades, prompting a special election — the state’s third Senate contest since 2010.

Already, jockeying is well under way. The big ques-tion is whether Republican Sen. Scott Brown will go for the seat, after losing his last month to Democratic challenger Elizabeth War-ren.

He kept the door wide open to another run during a farewell address on the Senate floor, declaring that both victory and defeat are “temporary” things. “De-pending on what happens, and where we go, all of us, we may obviously meet again.”

And perhaps as soon as next year.

Police trying to verify motive after man fatally shoots woman at church,

2 others in rural Pa.HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa.

(AP) — Authorities in cen-

tral Pennsylvania are trying to determine why a man fatally shot three people along a rural road before being killed in a gunfight with police.

Police were still trying to piece together a timeline in the arduous investigation of the Friday shootings that began in Frankstown Town-ship and spanned five crime scenes within a 1.5-mile ra-dius.

A woman decorating a church hall for a chil-dren’s Christmas party was among those killed. Three state troopers were injured.

Authorities haven’t re-leased a motive for the shootings.

“It’s going to take us some time to put this all together … and know ex-actly what occurred,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens, a deputy state police com-missioner.

NM peanut butter plant shuttered after outbreak can resume harvesting under deal with fedsALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

(AP) — A peanut butter plant shuttered by a wide-spread salmonella outbreak has been given the go ahead to start harvesting a bumper crop of prized east-ern New Mexico Valencia peanuts next week under an agreement that ends a tense, monthslong standoff with federal regulators.

A consent decree filed in federal court Friday says Sunland Inc. can reopen its plant in Portales if it hires an independent expert to develop a sanitation plan, which then must be ap-proved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Conditions at the plant, which is the largest organ-ic peanut butter producer in the country, prompted the FDA in November to use new authority for the first time to revoke the company’s operating cer-tificate without a court hearing. The action came after the plant was linked to a salmonella outbreak that sickened 42 people in 20 states this fall.

Friday’s filing reinstates Sunland’s food facility registration. But the com-pany cannot process or distribute food from its peanut butter or peanut mill plants in Portales un-til it has complied with the consent decree’s require-ments and receives writ-ten authorization from the FDA.

“This consent decree prohibits Sunland from selling processed foods to consumers until it fully complies with the law,” Stuart F. Delery, principal deputy assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s civil divi-sion, said in a statement. “As this case demon-strates, the Department of Justice and FDA will work together to protect the health and safety of Americans by making sure that those who pro-duce and sell the food we eat follow the law.”

Parents hesitant about NRA armed schools proposalChristine ArmarioAP Education Writer

MIAMI — The nation’s largest gun-rights lobby called Friday for the place-ment of an armed police officer in every school, but parents and educators ques-tioned how safe such a move would keep kids, whether it would be economically feasible and how it would alter student life. Their reactions ranged from support-ive to disgusted.

Already, there are an estimated 10,000 sworn officers serving in schools around the country, most of them armed and em-ployed by local police departments, ac-cording to a membership association for the officers. Still, they’re deployed at only a fraction of the country’s approximately 98,000 public schools, and their numbers have declined during the economic down-turn. Some departments have increased police presence at schools since last week’s shooting rampage at a Connecticut elementary school that left 26 dead, but say they can only do so temporarily be-cause of funding.

The National Rifle Association said at a news conference that it wants Congress to fund armed officers in every American school, breaking its silence on the Con-necticut shootings. The idea made sense to some anxious parents and teachers, but provoked outright anger in others.

“Their solution to resolve the issue around guns is to put more guns in the equation?” said Superintendent Hank Grishman of the Jericho, N.Y., schools on Long Island, who has been an educator for 44 years. “If anything it would be less safe for kids. You would be putting them in the midst of potentially more gunfire.”

Where school resource officers are al-ready in place, they help foster connec-tions between the schools and police, and often develop a close enough relationship with parents and children that they feel comfortable coming forward with infor-mation that could prevent a threat, said Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers.

But an Oklahoma educator who teaches at a school with armed officers described the NRA’s proposal as a “false solution,” though she’s not opposed to the presence of more police.

“I teach at a school that has four armed police officers on campus every day, but it’s more than a quarter of a mile from the main office to my room, and I’m not even the farthest room away,” said Elise Robil-lard, a French teacher at Westmoore High School. “If (a student) put a loaded gun in their bag and came to my classroom and pulled it out and started shooting, by the time the police officer figured out what was going on and got to my classroom, we’d all be dead. This whole hallway could be dead before a policeman got here.”

Around the country, school systems sometimes rotate armed officers through schools or supplement them with un-armed safety agents. New York City’s school district is the largest in the country with more than 1 million students. The NYPD has 350 armed officers who rotate throughout the school system, and they’re supplemented by unarmed safety person-nel who also report to the department. In Philadelphia, school officials have rejected armed patrols in city schools and instead use unarmed school police.

In rural Blount County, Ala., a tobacco tax is used to fund a squad of nine armed sheriff’s deputies and a supervisor who are assigned to work inside the system’s 16 schools on a full-time basis, superinten-dent Jim Carr said Friday. They also as-sist in sports games and other after-school events.

An armed sheriff’s deputy assigned to

Columbine High School the day of the mas-sacre there in 1999 was unable to stop the violence, though police procedures around the country have changed since then.

According to a Jefferson County Sher-iff’s Department report released in 2000, the uniformed sheriff’s deputy was eating lunch in his patrol car at a park near the school when he rushed to the school in response to a radio report about the vio-lence. The deputy briefly exchanged fire with one of the gunmen, but the gunman ran back inside the building to continue the rampage.

The officer radioed for assistance, and police followed the then-standard proce-dure of waiting for a SWAT team to ar-rive before entering the building. Since that tragedy, police procedures have been changed to call for responding officers to rush toward gunfire to stop a gunman first.

In his speech, NRA chief executive offi-cer Wayne LaPierre said Congress should appropriate funds to post an armed police officer in every school. In the meantime, he said the NRA would develop a school emergency response program that would include volunteers from the group’s 4.3 million members to help guard children.

The NRA’s call came two days after a Kentucky county sheriff announced on Facebook that deputies would have an increased school presence beginning in January. The announcement was met with dozens of notes of thanks and posi-tive comments from parents.

“Thank you so very much,” wrote one commenter. “I can stop stressing a little while at work now.”

“This is the best news we could have re-ceived for Christmas!” wrote another.

Monte Evans, a sixth grade teacher in Wichita, Kan., said schools should have a designated point person licensed and trained to shoot a gun.

“What am I going to stop them with? A stapler?” said Evans, an NRA member. “You need equal force.”

Rose Davis, 47, who lives in Chicago’s South Side Englewood neighborhood and helps care for her two young grandchil-dren, said she supports the idea of hav-ing armed police officers in schools. Her neighborhood is beset by gang violence and she worries about it spilling into schools.

“With the things going on today, you re-ally don’t feel secure,” she said.

Even those who support the proposal, however, questioned how practical it would be.

“The real question is sustainability,” said Ken Trump, president of the Cleve-land-based consulting firm National School Safety and Security Services. “In the long haul, how are you going to fund that?”

But Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the nation’s largest teachers’ unions, called the NRA’s idea “irresponsible and dangerous.”

“Schools must be safe sanctuaries, not armed fortresses,” she said.

Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said that posting armed guards outside schools wouldn’t make classrooms safer or encourage learning.

“You can’t make this (school) an armed camp for kids,” he said.

Jacina Haro, a college educator from Malden, Mass., and the mother of two young children said the solution shouldn’t be about having more weapons on cam-pus.

“Schools shouldn’t be about guns,” said the 38-year-old. “It should be a safe place to learn, free from weapons and the like. I understand wanting to protect our chil-dren, but I don’t know if that’s the right solution. It’s a scary solution.”

BLONDIE Dean Young/Denis Lebrun

BEETLE BAILEY Mort Walker

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE Chris Browne

HI & LOIS Brian and Greg Walker

FUNKY WINKERBEAN Tom Batiuk

MUTTS Patrick McDonnell

THE FAMILY CIRCUS Bil Keane

DENNIS THE MENACE Hank Ketchum

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CONCEPTIS SUDOKUby Dave Green

Sunday, december 23, 2012 COMICS/ENTERTAINMENT

Today’s Answers

HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Monday, Dec. 24, 2012:

This year you are grounded. You make strong financial decisions; how-ever, sometimes you will need to seek out others for ideas. Your creativity is most present when you are brain-storming and focused, and your envi-ronment affects your thinking. After mid-June, your libido energies bubble up more easily. If you are single, during this period, Cupid’s arrow is nearby. A romance could develop into more. If you are attached, the two of you have worked hard to get where you are. Come June, you’ll enjoy and celebrate this. TAURUS often heads down the conventional route, so don’t look to him or her for dynamic ideas.

The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-DifficultARIES (March 21-April 19)HHH You might be too concerned

with making sure that you have dot-ted your “i’s” and crossed your “t’s.” Stop for a moment, and try to remem-ber the true nature of this holiday. Consider all of the special people around you. Tonight: A midnight revival. TAURUS (April 20-May 20)HHHH You beam this Christmas

Eve. You will be surrounded by loved ones who are full of caring, and the joy of this togetherness feels like a Christmas gift. A call from someone at a distance brings this person closer into your thoughts. Tonight: Follow family traditions.GEMINI (May 21-June 20)HHH You might feel as if you are

at the end of a diving board, about to jump. Understand that anxiety is normal, especially during an important holiday like Christmas. Take a nap or do something specifically for yourself. Tonight: Just wait to the wee hours; you will feel great!CANCER (June 21-July 22)HHHHH You are moving full steam

ahead, trying to do as much as you possibly can. Stop and look around. Enjoy the friends and loved ones who surround you. If you need help with a last-minute detail, just ask. Others will be only too happy to pitch in! Tonight: Where the fun is.LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)HHHH Others seem to have a dif-

ficult time right now. They could be distracted or completely panicked at the thought of what they have left to do. Remind them of the true meaning of Christmas. Your warm, generous style will help everyone relax. Tonight:

Enjoy every moment.VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)HHHH You’ll be touched by some-

one’s caring gesture, and this person will be quite pleased with your reac-tion. Call a friend or loved one at a distance, and discuss plans to get together in the near future. Tonight: Make it OK to daydream a little.LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)HHHHH Let a key person get

closer to you. You have one life to live — live it well! A family member could be upset and not understand the cause. Help this person move through his or her feelings, if possible. Tonight: Make midnight calls to loved ones at a distance.SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)HHH Defer to others, as they want

control. As a result, you will have less to do. Enjoy being a little lazy and relaxed, as you don’t have to be the leader for once. Deal with a difficult person rather than avoid him or her. Tonight: Go with the flow, but do drop by the mistletoe.SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)HHH Finish up last-minute details.

Get your errands done. Once you pull everything together, you will be able to relax with a friend or a loved one. You won’t be able to predict what the next 24 hours will bring. Tonight: Come midnight, you’ll touch base with loved ones.CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)HHHH You could be pushing

someone very hard. Know that you will not be able to convince this per-son of the rightness of your ways. Give it up, and you might be surprised by what happens in the next few weeks. Tonight: Celebrate, but make it a point to get to bed early.AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)HHH Your instincts tell you to stay

close to home. Between incoming calls and people dropping by, you might end up hosting an impromptu party. If any sign can get into the moment, it is you. A child dominates the scene ... to no one’s surprise. Tonight: The fun begins in the wee hours.PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)HHHH Make calls, finish errands

and drop off a gift or two at a loved one’s place. You might be pushed by a group of friends who want you to join them at the last minute. Remember, there might not be a repeat of this cast of characters in the future. Tonight: Don’t make it too late!

Jacqueline Bigar is on the Internetat www.jacquelinebigar.com.

ZITS Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

Jacquelene Bigar’s HOROSCOPE

THE LOCKHORNS William Hoest

A11

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 ■ 11WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

Comics

Visit us online atwww.williamsondailynews.com

Christmas wishes from Judge and Pat Rutherford. Thank you for the opportunity to serve Pike County, a place where God, family and love is a way of life.Merry Christmas

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12 ■ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012 WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

StateSanta pays a visit to W.Va. Kmart

VIENNA (AP) — A lay-away angel has helped peo-ple for the holiday season by paying off their layaway bal-ances at the Vienna Kmart Wednesday around noon.

A customer came into the store and requested to pay off layaways that con-tained toy items, said store manager Kyle Chester.

“Kmart gathered 41 con-

tracts that had toys items,” Chester said. “The total of the contracts came to $8,638.12.”

Chester said the cus-tomer graciously wrote a check explaining he was afraid these children would not be able to have Christ-mas and wanted to make a difference. The donation is the biggest donation the

store has received, store officials said.

Chester said he has been with the Kmart in Vienna for about six months and has never seen a donation of this magnitude. He said the man came in and ex-plained his plan.

“First he wanted to just do toys,” said Chester. “We explained to him that most

people have a vast array of merchandise in layaway.”

Chester said employees found contracts contain-ing mostly toys and gifts for children. He said it’s a common practice to have people requesting to pay off items, but not the amount this man contrib-uted.

“It brings back the true meaning of the Christmas season,” he said. “We had to call all of the custom-ers; they would get excited and express their feelings through tears and laugh-ter.”

Store employees said about three more people

got wind of the secret Santa and had practiced the same charity that day. A few others have done so in the weeks leading up to Christmas, said Chester.

Erin Sims said gifts she had put on layaway for her three children were taken care of by the mysterious Santa.

Sims said she was shocked her 1-, 5- and 9-year-olds were given such a blessing.

“This is the best Christ-mas present I could have,” she said. “Now I wish I could go out and pay-it-forward.”

Sims said she wasn’t

sure the message she re-ceived on her cellular phone at work was real. She didn’t want to get too excited.

“Sure enough, I called back and it was the real Kmart,” she said. “I almost cried when I found out.”

Chester said the man who made the sizable con-tribution wished to remain anonymous but hoped through his story others would be moved to join in on the Christmas spirit.

“He said hopefully it would spark (other peo-ple’s) interest in the pro-gram,” Chester said of the anonymous Santa Claus.

Santa Run held in Oak GroveMARIETTA (AP) — A

Christmas tradition for more than half a century, the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department made its annual Santa Run in Oak Grove and surround-ing areas Sunday after-noon.

Every year Santa Claus boards a fire truck that carries the old elf from home to home where he visits with area children and hands out treats.

Three of Diane and Mick Sullivan’s grand-children, including Brad-ley Mace, 9, and 4-year-old twins Avery and Jackson Fisher, met San-ta in front of their home on Waterford Road.

“We usually get a cou-ple of our grandkids and

bring them out to the house so they can meet Santa every year,” Diane Sullivan said. “They’ve been looking forward to this for two days now - that’s about all they’ve been talking about.”

Nearby Julia Malone, 6, and her sister, Baylee, 9, hailed Santa from the end of their driveway along Waterford Road.

“I want some reindeer antlers for my head,” Ju-lia told Santa.

“I asked him for pixie dust to make me fly,” Baylee added. “I really want to fly.”

Mom Jessica Malone said this is the girls’ sec-ond year on the Santa Run.

“We really wanted to

move out here - everyone seems to watch out for one another,” she said. “And the girls look for-ward to this each year.”

Up on Pineview Cir-cle, Brian and Christy Chavez said they’ve been living in the area for five years now.

“This was a big sur-prise for us the first year,” Brian said of the Santa Run, noting the fire truck’s lights and si-ren brought everyone out of the house to see what was going on.

“Now the boys watch for Santa every year,” he said.

Oak Grove firefighter Shaun Harris, 33, said the Santa Run has been a great community event for the volunteer fire de-partment for many years.

“The department did this when I was a kid, too,” he said. “We always came out to our grand-parents’ home where I’d meet Santa and tell him what I wanted for Christ-mas.”

Harris said back then Santa rode on the back of the fire truck, hopping down to meet children at every stop. Now he sits more comfortably in the vehicle’s front seat.

“Times have changed, but we still try to hit ev-ery street in Oak Grove and visit as many kids as possible who live in the surrounding country-side,” he said.