Christmas Greetings

Inside today’s newspaper is our special section featuring letters to Santa Claus from many of the children in Jasper County.

I had the privilege/obligation/job of formatting the letters that were emailed in and typing many of the letters that were brought in.

It’s hard for anyone in the office to be particularly productive when anyone is working on letters to Santa. It’s just hard to resist reading out loud what some of the children want.

You have those who want everything under the sun and others who ask for very little. But sometimes it’s other stuff that is interesting. Like the names. And the fact I know so few of them.

One class the teacher had the children write what snacks they were going to leave for Santa. It was cute.

But I have to tell you…we had to squeeze to get all the letters in. So if you see some where the children sound greedy because there is no salutation or promises that they have been good, realize we had to shorten some of the letters. I’m sorry, but that’s the only way to get as many as we did in.

But I digress.

Please take the time to read at least some of the letters, and by all means pay attention to the ads. Many of our businesses are taking this opportunity to thank their clients for their patronage this year, and wishing them a very Merry Christmas.

Newspapers, including this one, are struggling these days. We appreciate our advertisers more than ever! And, many of them appreciate you more than ever, and took the time to say it in these pages. So please, support these advertisers, and maybe even tell them you saw their message in The Monticello News. We know advertising works, but it helps the merchant if you let him or her know you saw it in the paper.

Also, on the front page, you’ll notice that the football contest has ended and the grand prize drawing is next Monday. There’s been a lot of excitement all year with the contest, and now that the Georgia Bulldogs are playing in the Peach Bowl, those finalists are more excited than ever to possibly win the tickets.

And don’t forget, we had a coloring contest in last week’s paper and the deadline to submit artwork is tomorrow, Dec. 16, at 4 p.m. If by chance the office is closed when you bring them in, there is a drop box by the front door.

For those who don’t know, we have a very small staff. And, I think I’m taking off Friday to shop, so there will only be one person here, pretty much all day. And she has a lunch obligation, so we will close for lunch. Sorry for any inconvenience.

It’s tough sometimes, as many of our small businesses can attest, to even have time to use the restroom, because someone may walk in the building. So bear with us. We appreciate you! Merry Christmas!