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Show - - MWHOTMffrifyini'MB 500 Volume 111 www.moabtimes.com Number 51 (PjSiotmng 1 "Zj&sgirnbariir IWB"W WEATHER FORECAST Thursday M' Partly Cloudy Low 4 High 32 Friday Partly Cloudy High 32 Low 8 Sunday fVi 'tfx-Hig- Mostly Sunny 45 Low 19 Weather forecast courtesy National Weather Service Grand Junction office. Christmas Tree . . . O And other artwork for children to color. Look on B9 Trail Mix . . . They always have a project going. See wassup B6 Inside T he T imes Business Directory: BIO Classifieds: B11 Editorials, Letters: Historic Photo: B1 A6-7-- 8 previously-- overlooked Greetings from the gang at the l From left, Jose Santana, Lisa Church, Jeannme Wait, Adrien Taylor, Jed Carrie Switzer, Dorothy Anderson, Zane Talor, Sadie Warner, Sam Taylor and Tom Taylor. T-- h B2-- 3 LAST WEEK'S j W Date High Low Precip. Dec. 15 51 25 Dec. 16 52 27 Dec. 17 52 22 Dec. 18 52 21 Dec. 19 48 20 Dec. 20 42 20 Dec. 21 47 26 o f f it i! h v EOTKA SPECIAL THANKS Good News! Reliable sources tell us that Christmas is on the way! time to deliver our sincere thanks and best v ishes to our readers, advertisers, associates and friends. We hope you all have a wonderful holiday and want you to know that we really appreciate your loyal readership this past year. Moab's many holiday helpers spread happiness by Jeff Richards Beginning in early December, Santas legion of jolly adjutants makes numerous With Dec. 25 fast approaching, Santa Claus and his elfin workforce are presumably working overtime to get ready for Claus, age unknown, of the North Pole, was not available for comment following a recent interview request, but an unnamed spokes-el- f directed our inquires to a handful of Santas helpers living right here in Moab. Its no secret that Santa Claus, beextraordinarily ing busy during the holihas season, day traditionally relied upon an army of helpers who don the famous crimson costume and make appearances on Santas behalf throughout the world. public appearances, visiting schools, churches, clubs, day care centers, parades, and company parties Each of Santas special delegates is equipped with his own official naughty and nice list, and reports his findings directly to Big Red himself at his Arctic headquarters. and Moabs current longest-runninSantas are perhaps most Max Irish and Ron Pierce. Irish portrayed Santa for more than 40 years until he had to give it up a few years ago because of e knee problems. Piefce, the longest local Santa, has over 20 years of experience under his wide black belt, characteristically adorned with sleigh Louise Jensen, 84, sits on Santa's lap during a recent party. Ron Pierce has been helping embody Santa Claus in the Moab area for 20 years. Jim Walker has an unconventional sleigh and seems to enjoy spreading holiday cheer around when he's not doing duty on the Slickrock Bike Trail. Photo by Tom Taylor contributing writer WEATHER Jeff Richarads, d Continued on Page A3 3, 5 Taylor. M f VH Its Council member Jim Lewis said the Recreation Commission will likely sup- - I o in-ki- Region Review: B1 TV Guide: The Grand County Council made a few changes before adopting the final budget for 2005, most notably a $60,000 increase in the Sheriffs budget. Half of the $60,000 will come from the general fund, and the other half from a surcharge available to the Sheriffs Department. This would provide funds to allow the third car in the sheriff budget and an additional staff for the deputy position, wrote County Clerk Fran Townsend in her recommendation to the council. Adjustments were made after a public hearing on the budget two weeks ago and a work session held last Friday that resulted in shifting around some revenues and expenses and a net increase of about $6,000 to the budget. This adds $65,962 to the budget expense, and $60,000 revenue, Townsend said. Other changes include a reduction of $2,000 in the Miss Grand County Pageant and the addition of $2,000 to the Humane Society. In other budget areas, $10,000 was taken out of the Ambulance Fund, and $20,000 out of the Sandflats Fund. Sandflats was in good financial shape already, with a balance of $71,317 - with the decrease in county funds Sandflats still gained $15,000. In the end, the county balanced the budget by taking $202,847 from its fund balance. In other county council action, the council voted to support Moab City Planner David Olsens grant application for a Highway 191 bike trail enhancement, but declined to promise the $50,000 match the grant would require from each the city and the county. The expansion of the road is down a ways, five or ten years, said County Administrator Judy Bane. It will be 2006 before we have to come up with our porsertion, and some of it can be vices. Notices: B4 Obituaries: A4 Sports: B1, Sheriff gains in final budget adoption Carrie Switzer staff writer Mostly Sunny High 41 Lew 14 now on pg rZZ3 by Christmas page WJ Thursday, December 23, 2004 -- their annual Christmas visit during --- Saturdays early morning hours. g well-know- n still-activ- bells and a large silver buckle. Irish, 71, says he started portraying Santa when he was in his early twenties. I might have needed a pillow or two under my suit back then, but not anymore! the rotund Irish recalls with a chuckle. Irish used to make Santa appearances all over southeastern Utah, including regular visits to communities such as Thompson, La Sal, Green River, Price, Monticello, and Blanding. Irish says he wishes hed written down the things that children have said to him over the years, which he notes would rival Art Linkletters old program Kids Say the Darndest Things. For ex- ample, Irish recalls that an admiring little girl seated on his lap once looked up at him and said, You know, youre kinda cute. Irish says his disguise fooled een his own children and grandchildren over the years. He says that one of them once confided in him (as Grandpa) after a Santa visit, You know what? Santa Claus sounds just like you. I never promised that I would give a kid what they asked for," Irish adds, underlining one of the most important unwritten Santas helper rules - that of always deferring to parents While some of the stories Irish has heard over the years have been heartbreaking, he says the overall experience has been well worth it. I would have just been tickled if I could have turned into Santa and actually become him," Continued on Page A2 First in the Nation mm f (t l n ( w unity First Place In Four Categories Group II TheTimes- - To subscribe to The Times-Independe- nt call subscribemoabtimes.com The nt This news-pap- is er 7X) XUy7 printed on recycled paper and is recyclable. Santa Claus has a number of local helpers, including Max Jensen, who donned the famous red suit for the first time at a Moab Photo by Jeff Richards party Dec 7. Dave Warner plays the part of St. Nicholas each year at St. Pius Xs annual Christmas celebration, which was held Sunday. Dec. 1 9. |